Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

“Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.” (Isa 35:3-4 AV)

This instruction was just prior to Assyria coming to Judah and threatening their liberty.  Assyria, which is modern day Iran, had taken Israel’s neighbors as well as the ten northern tribes of Israel.  Now, they have defeated all the defenced cites of Judah and lay at the gates of Jerusalem.  They are demanding surrender and using their successes, specially over the northern kingdom, as incitement to fear.  Above, the prophet is encouraging the faithful of Judah to strengthen one another by the promises of the word of God.

There are times when our faith is weak.  There are other times when our faith is strong.  It is in these times that we need to encourage or be encouraged.  What is important to observe is the nature of the statements above.  There is no ‘hope for’.  There is no ‘maybe’.  There is no ‘perhaps if the LORD is gracious’.  There is no ‘if it all works out’.  And there is no ‘the LORD will’.  The statement above is an emphatic one.  Verse four is a declaration of what will be!  Of that there is no doubt.  Our challenge is knowing exactly how the LORD will work out details.  But the end is known from the beginning.  No matter what life brings to us, we know certain things to be true.  We know that God will transform us from a wretched sinner more and more to the likeness of His Son.  We know He will grow us in faith.  And we definitely know once this life is over, we will be in eternity with all our troubles and trials never to be remembered.  We know certain things to be certain.  With these absolutes, we can encourage one another.

As I get older, I have learned to take the details of life in stride.  A bit ago, my wife was given a preliminary diagnosis of a deadly condition.  The emotions and thoughts that coursed through my being were both really good, but also quite troublesome.  We began to prepare for what might have been the beginning of her journey to the glory of Christ’s kingdom.  I had to meditate on the possibility of being alone.  Each thought or fear was met with the comfort of the Holy Spirit.  He answered each fear that entered my heart.  Her final diagnosis is nothing to be concerned about and merely has to be watched year by year.  That experience, of which I am truly grateful, caused me to ponder greater promises than the ones concerning this life.  That experience taught me that God is greater than anything that He would ever ask me to go through and even when life brings the most challenging of all circumstances, God is still there and He will guide me through it.  Guaranteed.

Waiting for the Spanking to be Over

“And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.” (Isa 30:18 AV)

The idea here is that God will wait until their captivity is over.  Then He will be gracious to them.  In doing so, He will be exalted and as a result, will have mercy upon the nation.  God’s judgment here, which includes chastisement AND restoration, is seen as good.  Finally, the nation is encouraged to wait for the LORD to show mercy and grace once their years of captivity are over.

One of the most difficult things regarding chastening our children is the emotional and physical separation we suffer because of it.  No child wishes to be immediately reconciled to their father right after a spanking.  There are a lot of emotions associated with this punishment.  A lot of meditation comes as a result.  There is the coming to the truth that one deserved the spanking and that father was not being unrealistic.  There is anger or unresolved guilt at being caught.  There is a myriad of emotions that a chastened child must work through before full reconciliation can take hold.

However, on the part of the father, he is plotting some activity that will reassure his child that all is forgiven and has been forgotten.  One favorite activity of mine was going for an ice cream cone.  Other times, we would simply sit outside as I watched them play.  Still others, a trip to the park, the store, or some other activity.  Sometimes, it was simply sitting, reading a book or watching a program.  The separation kills the father more than it does his child.  The child is working through his spirit.  But dad has little to work through.  His heart breaks when his son or daughter is separated.  He is waiting to reunite, share a hug, and get things back to where they used to be.

This is what the LORD experiences every time He is forced to chasten us.  It bothers Him that we have been disobedient and He has to do something about it.  As the verse above testifies, the LORD is waiting for the time of reconciliation wherein grace abounds.  He is waiting to exercise mercy.  He looks forward to our brokenness that results in full spiritual and emotional restoration.  He is waiting!  Waiting for that time to be over that the goodness and grace of God may abound.

Looking For Meat Eaters

“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” (Isa 28:9-10 AV)

The question above is in the context of the failure of the princes and priests of Israel and Judah.  They were under the influence of wine and unable to receive instruction.  They were ruled by their flesh rather than by the Spirit of God.  This is equated as still being on the milk of the word of God.  The flesh had not been disciplined as was in need of the basics of the law before the LORD could show them the meat of the word of God.  This question above is a good one.  It is a proper one.  It is an appropriate one.

If you have ever reared children, you know it is a battle to get them to eat well.  Specially in this day and age when everything has added sugar and salt.  One of my sons despises vegetables.  He would rather eat meat than anything else.  Give him a fresh kill and open pit, and that boy would be in heaven.  Put some greens in front of him and he would rather starve.  The problem with that type of diet is the lack of necessary vitamins.  There are certain nutrients that can only come from things of which we would rather not partake.  I do not like canned green vegetables.  You can keep you canned peas and specially those disgusting waxed beans.  But my dear mother loved heating up those dreaded waxed beans.  I need them fresh or sautéed before I will eat them.  Brussel sprouts as well.  cauliflower was made for rabbits!  Unless doused with salt or cheese.  These things are necessary for a healthy diet.  We may not prefer them, but they are needed.  I don’t really care for oranges or orange juice.  From where else will I get my vitamin C.  The point is, my mother would not allow us the sustenance of meat without also taking in the vegetables.  The discipline to partake of the less enjoyable opened the pleasure of that which we really wanted.  Eating the vegetables allowed for protein which is needed to build muscle mass.

The point of this passage is God found it hard to teach men knowledge and wisdom from the word of God because those who were entrusted with this task could not control the flesh.  They were still on the milk of the word.  They were still trying to master the does and don’t.  They were still trying to overcome the weakness of our human desires.  There was no one disciplined and mature enough for God to entrust the deeper things of God’s word.  No vision for the people. No leadership to take them to higher goals.  They couldn’t tell themselves ‘no’.  Therefore, God could not find a man to teach him His word.

Constant Inquiry

“The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.” (Isa 21:11-12 AV)

Dumah is a tribe and region of Ishmael in the Arabian desert.  Some believe it is another name for Idumea. These are not Hebrews.  These are Gentile nomads who were experiencing prosperity at the time of the Babylonian invasion of Palestine.  The idea here is they observe the coming trouble in Israel and rightly assume the same will happen to them.  The prophet encourages all to consult him as to the will of God.  If they will, then come and enquire.  If one is in night time, or a time of trouble, come and consult the prophet of God.  The morning, or better times will come, but then trouble will follow.  The point is very simple.  Regardless of circumstances of life, we should be consulting the man of God who preaches the word of God to learn the will of God.

What motivates Dumah to inquire of the prophet is the night.  The prophet says the morning is coming.  But, if you wish to inquire, then inquire.  This is typical of all of us.  In times of distress, we are more prone to seek the face of God.  We are in the Bible more.  We are at church more faithfully.  We seek advice from those who seem to walk with God or know a lot of Bible.  Yet, when things are not so bad, we forget the God who gave us comfort in time of trouble.  The Prophet says, come no matter what time it is.  Come when things are good.  Come when things are bad.  Just come.

I think that is really sound advice.  For many reasons.  When we come when times are good, we are challenged.  When we come when times are bad, we are comforted.  There is blessing to be had no matter our circumstances.  But one thing I have learned the older I get is that if we come to the LORD and listen to His word as a pattern of life, then life becomes far more even.  Or, far less dramatic.  The troublesome times are not nearly as troublesome as others may see.  The prosperous times are taken with a grain of salt and our faithfulness is not affected.  When we walk with God on a daily basis, no matter the circumstances, we may be pushed to our limit.  But it would be a whole lot harder if we were not walking with God.

Removing Obstacles to the Presence of God

“Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel. At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.” (Isa 17:6-7 AV)

There are times when the LORD takes away that which He gave so that we will return to Him.  This is the context of the above passage.  Israel had experienced the blessings of God because they finally trusted Him.  They took to heart the law of God and served Him faithfully during the reign of Saul, David, and Solomon.  Even following the split of the kingdom, there were times Judah followed the LORD with their whole heart.  Yet, over time, they descended into the wickedness of their neighbors.  In doing so, the LORD was moved to chasten them.  This finally ended in their loss of the kingdom and captivity to Babylon.  Yet, God left them a small remnant in the land of Palestine to care for the land.  This small remnant turned their heart back to the LORD and this is to what Isaiah is referring.  Sometimes, the LORD has to remove all those things that were a result of obedience because in that prosperity, our hearts have strayed from God.  This is sometimes painful.  But definitely necessary. 

As I get older, I have realized those things in life I once thought to be important are not as important as I thought they were.  Life is becoming simpler.  When you are young, have the energy, and the desire for greater things, priorities can often conflict.  As one ages, he discovers the simple things of life are far more precious than all those other things he has piled up and surrounded his life with.  A simple stroll in the park with good Christian music playing in the ears is more pleasurable than a day at an amusement park being entertained more than we can stand.  A fresh salad with a clear glass of water is more delightful than a five-course meal.  And, simple Bible study with a season of prayer is greater than a two-week revival filled with business and lack of sleep.  We have lost the simple pleasure of the presence of God because we have too much.  We do not read our Bibles and pray because we are too busy caring for the estate that has come by obedience to God’s command to work.  We spend little to no time in prayer because we are too busy with the kids or grandkids.  We begin the slippery slope of backsliding because we are overwhelmed with the demands of our career.  When in good health, we enjoy the ability to venture into the outdoors, experiencing the hand of God in creation, all the while ignoring the God who created it all.

There are times when the LORD has to take it all away.  When He moves all your children and grandchildren more than a day’s travel away because He wants you to walk with Him.  He may take away that homestead because we need to spend the time in His word rather than the endless hours caring for our castle.  Sometimes, the LORD takes away our good health so that we will sit or lay long enough to hear the still small voice of God which we have forgotten a long time ago.  This may be uncomfortable, but it is necessary.  In the end, it is precious. 

Fast Fidelity Forthcoming

“And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.” (Isa 16:5 AV)

The ‘he’ here is the lamb that was spoken of in verse one of the same chapter.  The direct application is pretty clear.  This verse is a prophetical one.  It speaks of the time wherein Christ shall return and bring righteousness to the world.  The heathen will be destroyed.  The reign of Christ will begin with souls who are saved.  There may be those too young to have made a choice at the time of the battle of Armageddon, but those entering the reign of Christ will not, as yet, have their names blotted out from the book of life.  In this sense, Christ will hasten righteousness.  It will happen in an instant.  Judgment upon the wickedness of mankind will be swifter than the flood of Noah.  It will be over in a moment.  Righteousness will be the rule of the earth for one thousand years.  There is, however, a more practical application here.   One which we can take heart in this, our day and hour.

As a child of God, we get impatient at the rate of growth which we experience.  We want to be made into the image of Christ yesterday.  As Paul expressed his frustration with his own wickedness in Romans chapter seven, we concur it is equally difficult.  The new man battles against the old man.  The new man, made in the image of Christ, it trying to grow stronger as the old man, made in the image of Adam, is fighting against it.  The Spirit of God gives us the desire to do right while the old man rears up the desires of the flesh to fight against it.  The promise above is not only for the nation of Israel as their Messiah establishes His kingdom.  This promise is for the child of God no matter the dispensation.  This promise will come to pass.  In a different way, sure.  But it will come to pass.

When the trumpet sounds or our soul is required, whichever comes first, like the valley of decision, our nature will be completely and wholly changed.  The old man will be dead and gone.  Only the new man will remain.  All our sin and ability to sin will be destroyed and left here on this planet.  Only the glory which the Father has promised will remain.  Talk about hastening righteousness.  This change will be complete and instantaneous.  No more battles to fight.  No more frustrations.  No more forgiveness.  No more guilt.  The Lamb will hasten righteousness.  In the world at His second coming.  To those who know Him in this dispensation, at the moment of our departing.  I say, Amen!  Let it come!  All we want to do is to have the ability to please our God without any temptation otherwise!  Hasten the righteousness dear Jesus!

Draw Deep

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” (Isa 12:2-3 AV)

Regardless of the trials we face in life, if we are saved, there is a well from which we can draw that will bring joy to the heart.  That is not to minimize some of the deep water which the LORD asks that we experience.  However, no matter how deep the water is, there is a deeper well from which we can draw.  This water is fresh water.  This water is filtered water.  This water is cool water.  This water is refreshing water.  This water restores the soul.  This well of water will never run dry.  All we have to do is to draw from it.

I am a city boy.  I don’t have a whole lot of experience with well water.  I definitely do not have any experience with drawing water from a well.  In my life, there were three wells that played a major part in my life.  The first was at Scout Camp.  Although the camp was on domestic water, there was a functional well with a pump on it.  Summer camp was hard work.  It was trials by fire.  For a teenager to work a summer of camp meant being pushed to one’s limit.  Specially in the heat of the afternoon, there was one source of water better than all others. That was the well with the red pump.  I remember sticking my head under that pump.  Filling my hat with well water and dumping it on my head.  But particularly, I remember cupping my hands for the water that would spew so that I could splash my face or drink from it.  This well of salvation was the well needed in times of hard labor.

Then there was the well my father put in at our family camp site.  When we camped, we truly camped.  Tent camping all the way.  Absolutely no electricity.  No running water.  No furniture.  It was roughing it.  At first, we had to use pond water for bathing and washing.  We would trek into town to fill gallon jugs with well water from a park.  But then my father had a company dig us a well.  This well provided what we needed in times of our pilgrimage.  Our day to day water that was needed for cooking and drinking.  Fresh, clean water that was always there and would never run out.  Water to get us through the day.  Water that was better than anything the surface could provide.  This well of salvation for our pilgrimage refreshes the soul on a daily basis.

Lastly, there is the well water at my in-laws.  They live in the woods away from most civilization.   Their water comes from wells dug that have in them fresh mountain water filtered by the gravel of the under-earth.  This water is the best tasting water I have ever tasted.  In our younger years, our family would go to the in-laws for times of keeping company and fellowship.  Whenever I went, I must have drunk a gallon of water.  It is simply the best tasting water of all.  This is the well water of salvation in times of fellowship.  The sweetest of all.  Water that is available to all.  Water that is free for the taking.  This water tasted even more wonderful when surrounded by the log cabin filled with laughter, love, and lounging. 

It is important to remind ourselves often of the reality of our salvation.  Whether we are going through times of trial or tribulation, growing in the journey of our pilgrimage, or simply enjoying the fellowship of the saints, it is our salvation which is our source of joy.  Not our circumstances.  If we are going through a hard time, draw from the well of salvation.  There is joy to be had therein.