Burunche’s Blog

The Year of the LORD’s Favor (Matthew 2:19-23; Matthew 13:53-58; Mark 6:1-6; Luke 2:39-40; Luke 4:16-30)

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release from darkness to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who grieve in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.

Strangers will stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers. But you will be called the priests of the LORD; they will speak of you as ministers of our God; you will feed on the wealth of the nations, and you will boast in their riches. Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity; in My faithfulness I will give them their recompense and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.

I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a groom wears a priestly headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its growth, and as a garden enables seed to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.”

 These verses may be some of the most glorious words Isaiah ever wrote. Once more, we realize that the prophecies God gave Isaiah work on a number of different levels. You can interpret these verses to refer to Isaiah himself, to the Messiah, and to anyone else who proclaims the Word of the Lord. And you can also number yourself among those for whom Jesus came and claim freedom, healing, etc., for yourself as well.

Centuries later, Jesus would read these verses in a synagogue in Nazareth and use them to reveal himself as Messiah. Luke tells the story in Luke 4:16-30. Jesus had returned to Nazareth and had been invited to read from Isaiah. Jesus read Isaiah 61:1-2 and then told the people that “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled while you are present and hearing.” That encounter began well, but it deteriorated when the people began questioning how the carpenter’s son could possibly be the Messiah. Finally, the people were prepared to throw Jesus off a cliff; however, Jesus simply walked through the crowd and went to Capernaum, where he continued to teach. The account in Mark 6:4 says, “But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and among his relatives and in his own house.”

These verses are a capsule description of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Even when Jesus was dying on the cross, He was still comforting others and arranging with John for John to take His mother Mary into John’s home. Let’s look at the promises in the first paragraph: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, (1)because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. (2)He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, (3)to proclaim liberty to the captives and release from darkness to the prisoners, (4)to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, (5)to comfort all who mourn, (5)to provide for those who grieve in Zion—(6)to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair.”

Wow! If this isn’t good news, what is? And as a result of this ministry, “So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.” Once people’s lives have been transformed, they will go out as transformers themselves. Others will come to assist them, and their reputation will spread throughout the world. Finally, the writer exults because God has given him “garments of salvation and a robe of righteousness.”

APPLICATION: As I am writing this, the spontaneous move of the Holy Spirit at Asbury University is continuing unabated. On Wednesday February 8, the chapel service had concluded when a number of students felt drawn to return to the chapel. Spontaneous prayer, praise, worship, , reconciliation, and healing broke out and has continued unabated ever since. At last report, four buildings with auditoriums were packed with people coming from all over the world to be part of this outpouring.

The testimonies coming out of this meeting are riveting and closely parallel the description given here in Isaiah 61. When God’s Holy Spirit moves, the results are unmistakable and long – lasting. Please notice something else: the meetings continued to gain energy throughout the weekend and participants had no desire to watch the Super Bowl, one of the biggest televised events of the year. (Incidentally, although individual players gave glory to God, the half time show evidently featured dancers making sexually explicit motions. Fake passions cannot compete with the energy and joy of the Holy Spirit.)  

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that the fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self – control. Only God knows how long He will sustain revival at Asbury; however, all those participating in any fashion will be changed for the rest of their lives. While you might not be able to travel to Wilmore, Kentucky, you can still beg God to send His Holy Spirit to transform your life. Why not do so right now?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, let everyone who reads these words earnestly beg you for the gifts and graces only Your Holy Spirit can bring. Please, Lord, transform all of our lives so that we will be instruments of Your praise, Your glory, and Your grace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Lift up your eyes and look around: They all gather and come to you; your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried on the arm. Then you will look and be radiant, and your heart will tremble and swell with joy, because the riches of the sea will be brought to you, and the wealth of the nations will come to you. Caravans of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah, and all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD. All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth will serve you and go up on My altar with acceptance; I will adorn My glorious house.

Who are these who fly like clouds, like doves to their shelters? Surely the islands will wait for Me, with the ships of Tarshish in the lead, to bring your children from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you. Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you.

Although I struck you in anger, yet in favor I will show you mercy. Your gates will always stand open; they will never be shut, day or night, so that the wealth of the nations may be brought into you, with their kings being led in procession. For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly destroyed. The glory of Lebanon will come to you—its pine, fir, and cypress together—to adorn the place of My sanctuary, and I will glorify the place of My feet.

The sons of your oppressors will come and bow down to you; all who reviled you will fall facedown at your feet and call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Whereas you have been forsaken and despised, with no one passing through, I will make you an everlasting pride, a joy from age to age. You will drink the milk of nations and nurse at the breasts of royalty; you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Instead of bronze I will bring you gold; I will bring silver in place of iron, bronze instead of wood, and iron instead of stones. I will appoint peace as your governor and righteousness as your ruler. No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders. But you will name your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.

No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor. Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease. Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever; they are the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, so that I may be glorified. The least of you will become a thousand, and the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will accomplish it quickly.”

The Book of Isaiah is an amazing book. After all the stern rebukes in Chapter 59, now Chapter 60 comes in with a glorious message of hope.

God is promising that there will come a day when His light and His glory will come to the nation of Israel.  God’s light and glory will be so amazing that people will come from all nations and world leaders will flock there. Jews will come from all the corners of the world, and nations will bring their wealth of all kinds. There will be so many caravans bringing precious things that the camels will cover the land. Not only will the flocks of Kedar come, but they will practically hop up on the altar begging to be sacrificed.  “Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you.”

“For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly destroyed.” Hmm. Obviously, this prophecy has yet to be fulfilled, for Israel’s neighbors are still bombarding her with missiles. What God will do with those nations is yet to be revealed.The temple will be rebuilt and all the most precious wood of Lebanon will be brought to adorn it.  

“The sons of your oppressors will come and bow down to you; all who reviled you will fall facedown at your feet and call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Whereas you have been forsaken and despised, with no one passing through, I will make you an everlasting pride, a joy from age to age. You will drink the milk of nations and nurse at the breasts of royalty; you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” What does it mean to nurse at the breasts of royalty? Generally, queens gave their infants to wet nurses to nurse; they didn’t put their infants to their own breasts. Now God is promising that leaders will humble themselves to such an extent that they would be willing to allow the Israelites to suck their breasts. This implies a level of intimacy and vulnerability previously unknown.

“Instead of bronze I will bring you gold; I will bring silver in place of iron, bronze instead of wood, and iron instead of stones. I will appoint peace as your governor and righteousness as your ruler. No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders. But you will name your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.” God is going to completely transform Israel. What could be better?

“No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor.” God’s presence will fill Israel, causing it to be a glowing light to the nations.

“Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever; they are the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, so that I may be glorified. The least of you will become a thousand, and the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will accomplish it quickly.” God’s timing and ours are very different. We live in the NOW and we want everything to happen instantly. But God knows human hearts and only God knows when the time will be right for the fulfillment of this prophecy.

APPLICATION: Forty-five years ago, I was in a very sad state spiritually. I had suffered a number of losses and that particular Saturday, friends who had promised to do something fun with me suddenly backed out without any notice. But I had that Saturday off from my surgery residency, so I went to a local Christian bookstore, seeking for something encouraging to read. That day, the Holy Spirit must have been nudging my elbows as I reached for books; every book I picked concerned someone who had taken a leap of faith that God had honored.

The last book I read was Prison to Praise by Reverend Merlin Carothers. Mr. Carothers was an Army chaplain who was ready to quit the ministry because he wasn’t seeing the power of God moving at all. Then kind friends sponsored him to a meeting where he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Although skeptical, Carothers was willing to try almost anything, so when his friends told him to pray and then see if there were syllables forming themselves in his mind, he did so. Carothers began speaking those syllables and found he was speaking in tongues. The rest of the book described the incredible transformation of his ministry.

Carothers assured readers that they could pray for this wonderful blessing by themselves. My prayer that night was, “God if You are really there, if this guy is not lying, please do it!” Of course, my lips were clamped shut and nothing happened. But I re-read the advice given to Carothers, that he should begin speaking any syllables that were forming themselves in his mind. My actual thoughts were NOT really reverent! I thought, “Well, here I am after four years of medical school and two years of surgery residency. But if I make a damned fool of myself, nobody else will ever know.” So I prayed that prayer again, “God, if You really do this, if this guy is not lying, please do it.” I could feel syllables forming in my mind. When I began to speak, I found I was suddenly speaking in a beautiful flowing language. I could have stopped at any time, but I didn’t want to because I could feel God turning me inside out, scrubbing off all the crud, and then turning me right side out again and filling me with love and joy and peace. That night, I came back to the Lord and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit simultaneously. Nothing has ever been the same since.

I want to emphasize that I came out of a totally non-charismatic background. I had never heard anyone speak in tongues before. And I was so innocent that I just assumed that I would receive all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and so I did. God had to do this work in me in this way because had I learned about how one was “supposed” to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I would probably still be waiting for it. That night, it’s possible that had anybody been standing outside my apartment, they might have seen God’s glory glowing through the windows. Certainly, for me, my Light came that night.  

I told my story to emphasize this fact: God is not a respecter of persons, nor does He play favorites. The promises of Isaiah 60 are for all those who will believe. If you feel as if you are in a deep dark hole, why not ask God to shine His light and glory on you? What do you have to lose? As I told myself that night, if you pray and nothing happens, nobody will ever know. But if you pray in faith, I guarantee that something wonderful will happen. Perhaps it won’t happen instantly, and perhaps it will happen gradually. But God is a good Father who does not play charades with His children. God WILL answer!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, You don’t play favorites. If anybody prays asking for Your glory to manifest itself, will You please answer them as only You can? In the mighty and matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Sin Separates Us from God

“Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.

For your hands are stained with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters injustice. No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. They hatch the eggs of vipers and weave a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die; crack one open, and a viper is hatched. Their cobwebs cannot be made into clothing, and they cannot cover themselves with their works. Their deeds are sinful deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their tracks. They have turned them into crooked paths; no one who treads on them will know peace.

Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in gloom. Like the blind, we feel our way along the wall, groping like those without eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight; among the vigorous we are like the dead. We all growl like bears and moan like doves. We hope for justice, but find none, for salvation, but it is far from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us.

Our transgressions are indeed with us, and we know our iniquities: rebelling and denying the LORD, turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart. So justice is turned away, and righteousness stands at a distance. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter. Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil makes himself prey.

The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man; He was amazed that there was no one to intercede. So His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness sustained Him.

He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.

The Covenant of the Redeemer

So He will repay according to their deeds: fury to His enemies, retribution to His foes, and recompense to the islands. So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun; for He will come like a raging flood, driven by the breath of the LORD.

“The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, ” declares the LORD. “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit who is upon you, and My words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of your children’s children, from now on and forevermore,” says the LORD.”

Sometimes people complain that they are praying but God is not listening to them. The problem is from those people, not from God. “But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.” We all have sin problems, no matter how good we think we are. Sin separates us from God, and the more we go our own ways, the farther we wander from God.

“No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. They hatch the eggs of vipers and weave a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die; crack one open, and a viper is hatched. Their cobwebs cannot be made into clothing, and they cannot cover themselves with their works.” God is still trying to get the attention of His people, and this time He employs ugly vivid descriptions. Face it, NOBODY likes spiders and snakes, particularly venomous vipers. God is comparing the sins of his people to spider webs and viper eggs; spider webs cannot possibly cover anyone, and vipers can kill with their poison.

“Their deeds are sinful deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their tracks. They have turned them into crooked paths; no one who treads on them will know peace.” Brr! Life in Judah and Jerusalem in the time of Isaiah is deteriorating rapidly. The very people whom God has called to holiness are descending into an increasingly downward spiral into the abyss of evil.

“So justice is turned away, and righteousness stands at a distance. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter. Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil makes himself prey.” Those who stand for righteousness are being attacked. “The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man; He was amazed that there was no one to intercede.” If there are intercessors, they are hiding.

“So He will repay according to their deeds: fury to His enemies, retribution to His foes, and recompense to the islands.” Retribution is coming, for God refuses to allow Himself to be mocked. But there is still hope.

“As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit who is upon you, and My words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of your children’s children, from now on and forevermore,” says the LORD.” WOW! What a promise! For those who turn away from evil and seek the Lord, He promises to give His Spirit and His words, not only to them but also to their children’s children forever.

APPLICATION: The recent Grammy Award program featured a number of overtly Satanic performances, causing many to believe that these artists were doing everything they could to mock God. Little did these performers realize that they were making horrible choices, choices that could blight their lives and ultimately send them to hell. By all accounts, it was truly an exhibition of spiritual spider webs and hatching viper eggs.

Standing for righteousness has never been easy! One friend of ours who was a retired police officer once told us that as a Christian, he found some of his fellow officers were the biggest danger to his life. Those who were taking advantage of their positions to do evil didn’t want anybody reminding them of their original calling to serve and protect. Many whistle blowers have suffered for their brave stands, even when their courage has unmasked corporate wrong – doing.

Galatians 6:7-9 tells us, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Actions have consequences, and all of us have choices. But if we choose to serve the Lord, He promises to send His Spirit to us and to put His words in our mouths and the mouths of our descendants.

We can leave a legacy of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. OR we can leave a worthless legacy of viper eggs and spider webs. Choose wisely!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, forgive us for our ridiculous efforts to make ourselves look righteous when You are the only true Source of righteousness. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for our sins so that we might be freed if we will only believe in what Jesus has done for us. Thank You for making a way for us to be with You forever. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

True Fasts and Sabbaths

“Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins. For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not forsake the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.” “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?”

“Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers. You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high. Is this the fast I have chosen, a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes?

Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will go forth in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday.

The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.

If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words, then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Ah, Jerusalem! Home of Solomon’s temple, center of worship of the God of Israel, site of religious celebrations, including fasting and prayers! Watch as religious leaders parade into the temple and prostrate themselves where everyone can admire them and praise their piety. The temple fills with incense and the scent of burning sacrifices while common people watch and say to themselves, “Now this is REALLY worship!” Too bad God doesn’t share their opinion.

“Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers. You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist…Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” By this point, form has become far more important than substance to most of the religious leaders as well as the community leaders. These people are mean as snakes. Not only are they oppressing their poor workers and neglecting the poor and the hungry but they are even neglecting their own family members in complete disregard of God’s commands.

“If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will go forth in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday.” One of the fundamental laws of God’s kingdom is that actions have consequences. God is warning these hypocrites that if they will repent and become merciful, then He will bless them.  

“If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words, then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Hmm. Evidently, these same supercilious individuals are not even honoring the Sabbath in defiance of God’s commands. All God wants is obedience, so that He can bring all the blessings He has promised to Jacob and his descendants. All these individuals want to give is lip service. And all the time, the Assyrians are coming closer and closer, bringing doom and destruction with them.

APPLICATION: It has been said that one definition of stupidity is doing the same thing repeatedly while expecting different results. That saying really describes the people of Judah and Jerusalem. God wants to bless these people; however, they think they can get away with going through the religious motions while refusing to obey God. Somehow, these individuals have conveniently forgotten the prophet Samuel’s rebuke of King Saul: “obedience is better than sacrifice.”

Once more, God is trying to correct His people while there is yet time. Listen to God’s admonitions:

1. “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers. You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high.”´ God desires righteousness, not meaningless rituals. How you treat the vulnerable, particularly your workers, is far more important than how many meals you have chosen to forgo. When you are physically or verbally abusive, God can’t hear you!
2. “Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? God wants us to break chains of wickedness wherever they exist. There are all kinds of chains of wickedness, including sexual trafficking and abuse of immigrants. Forget posting photos of your latest lavish meal on Facebook; how many homeless and starving could you feed with that money? Does your closet hold more clothes than you are ever likely to wear? Why not simplify your wardrobe while you help clothe others? Share your professional wardrobe with those who need outfits so that they can interview for jobs and lift themselves out of poverty. How do you treat your elderly parents? Are you patient and do you try to make sure they are properly cared for, or are you perpetually hitting them up for money?
3. When we turn our hearts toward God, He promises wonderful blessings. “The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.” Whose good opinion do you want? God’s approval or man’s? God’s approval is eternal while men’s opinions vary with how they are feeling, whether or not they got a good night’s sleep, etc.

Sadly, the people of Jerusalem and Judah failed to heed God’s warnings and disaster overtook them. But we have the opportunity to make different decisions. God’s righteousness or our selfishness – which will we choose?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to behave righteously and mercifully. Thank You that You will give us the power to do this when we ask You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

The Blessed Death of the Righteous

“The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; devout men are swept away, while no one considers that the righteous are guided from the presence of evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest, lying down in death.

God Condemns Idolatry

“But come here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! Whom are you mocking? At whom do you snarl and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit, who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; indeed, they are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have offered a grain offering. Should I relent because of these?

On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifices. Behind the door and doorpost you have set up your memorial. Forsaking Me, you uncovered your bed; you climbed up and opened it wide. And you have made a pact with those whose bed you have loved; you have gazed upon their nakedness. You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself.

You are wearied by your many journeys, but you did not say, “There is no hope!” You found renewal of your strength; therefore you did not grow weak. Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me? I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not profit you. When you cry out, let your companies of idols deliver you! Yet the wind will carry off all of them, a breath will take them away. But he who seeks refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.”

Healing for the Repentant

And it will be said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, take every obstacle out of the way of My people.” For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble of spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite. For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me, with the breath of those I have made.

I was enraged by his sinful greed, so I struck him and hid My face in anger; yet he kept turning back to the desires of his heart. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.” But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck. “There is no peace,” says my God,” “for the wicked.”

The longer Isaiah’s career as a prophet goes on, the more he must be suffering. As the citizens of Judah and Jerusalem descend even further into the abyss of idolatry, Isaiah has been treasuring the friendship of those remaining righteous. Now God is warning Isaiah that He is allowing the righteous to die before the coming invasion takes place. Once more, we are reminded that those who are truly called to be prophets may suffer more than anybody else, for they clearly see what will happen.

God has been observing the citizens of Judah and Jerusalem as they have sneaked off to shrines, burning their children as offerings to Molech and offering Molech perfume, engaging in sex with ritual prostitutes under every green tree, and generally fouling the land by their perfidy. From the sound of it, these same people may have been leaving live infants under rocks as offerings to pagan deities in addition to giving them up as live burnt offerings.

What makes infant offerings so attractive to demons? Infants are innocent and have not yet begun to choose to sin. Infants should also be the hope of their families; yet, such people are sacrificing that hope, blithely assuming that they will be able to have other children in the future who will carry on the family name. The God of Israel ordered the Jews to redeem their first-born sons with a blood sacrifice; now these same people are making a blood sacrifice of their children.

“And you have made a pact with those whose bed you have loved; you have gazed upon their nakedness.” DEMONS TRANSFER THROUGH SEX!!! This truth continues to be ignored throughout the world; however, it is still a fact. God has watched as religious leaders from the temple have slid off to hidden shrines for ritual sex. The Holy Spirit and Satan cannot occupy a person at the same time, so these men are choosing to become demon – possessed.

God through Isaiah is warning His people yet again to repent, offering them the peace and healing only He can give. But God is also warning that those who persist in idolatry will remain in torment. “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.” But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck. “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Now notice something: God is not the Author of confusion but the Author of peace. The wicked bring their problems on themselves by their own actions. God freely offers salvation to all who will repent; however, God will not force anyone to repent. Repentance must be an act of free will.

APPLICATION: Recently, the Chinese sent a spy balloon across America, conducting surveillance. The TikTok app has been implicated as another possible form of spying on those who use it. God has no need of spy balloons, apps, closed circuit cameras, or any other device. God knows human hearts and He is aware of every breath we take.

Evil attracts evil and holiness repels evil. The more the ancient Jews descended into evil, the more their actions attracted invaders such as the Assyrians who worshiped demons. Had the Jews continued to worship God as He commanded, His Holiness would have filled Jerusalem and Judah, protecting them from marauders. But the Jews refused, turning their backs on God.

In 1973, abortion became legal in America. The current president advocates abortion. But life begins at conception, and abortion is murder. Now some people are even advocating for killing infants after they are born. The shedding of innocent blood brings curses on a land. Was America perfect before abortion became legal? No! Far from it! But over the last 50 years America has deteriorated morally and spiritually. Proponents of abortion are attempting to force its legalization in other countries, spreading the evil. May God open the eyes of the people of the world to see that infant sacrifices only bring confusion and disaster! May God move in people’s hearts so that entire nations will repent, allowing God to deliver them from evil.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess abortion as murder and we confess that we have tolerated this sin, even if we have not condoned it. Lord, we have nothing to say in our defense. We can only beg for forgiveness and ask you to strike down this heinous practice. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Salvation for Foreigners

“This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will utterly exclude me from His people.”

And let the eunuch not say, “I am but a dry tree.” For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant—I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants—all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant—I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” Thus declares the Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.”

Israel’s Sinful Leaders

Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest. Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber. Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain: “Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”

Imagine that you are starving, wandering mean streets in search of any kind of food. You stop long enough to gaze longingly into the lighted windows of a busy restaurant. Just as you are about to turn away hopeless, the restaurant owner comes out, takes your hand, and leads you in, seating you at a table already laden with food.
“Is this for me?” you ask. “Yes, indeed,” replies the owner. “And you can return as frequently as you need to. You will always be welcome here for the rest of your life.” At that point, you might be so overcome by emotion that you throw yourself at the owner’s feet in gratitude.

There have always been people with hearts hungry for God who are searching for Him. Even in Isaiah’s time, there were many foreigners who came to Jerusalem to worship. What these people thought about the multitude of idols they encountered on the way to the temple is anybody’s guess. Once foreigners reached the temple, they could only stand in an outer court while Jews could enter further. Here God is issuing an open invitation to those foreigners. “This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

But what about eunuchs? Deuteronomy 23:1 clearly states “ No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the Lord.” Any eunuch reading these words must have felt his heart sink in despair. Eunuchs were men who had been castrated or who had lost their testicles in accidents. Obviously, eunuchs could never marry, nor could they father children, meaning that their family names would die with them. Some slaves were castrated before allowing them to serve in sensitive places such as the royal harem. Here God is assuring eunuchs that He will preserve their names. “For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant—I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.”

One of the most famous eunuchs mentioned in the Bible was the Ethiopian eunuch who served under the Ethiopian queen Candace as the head of her treasury. This man had actually been worshiping in Jerusalem (Did he stand outside the temple?) and was on his way home when God sent the deacon Philip to meet him on a desert road. The eunuch was reading Isaiah 53 and Philip instructed the man about Jesus. This man was immediately baptized and went back to Ethiopia rejoicing.

Foreigners and eunuchs – two groups that practicing Jews regarded as second or third – class citizens when it came to worship. But God knows the human heart. “And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants—all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant—I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” Thus declares the Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.”

 So far, so good, but God’s not through yet. While welcoming true believers, God also rebukes the religious leaders who should be leading by example but who have become corrupt. “Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest. Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber. Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain: “Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”

APPLICATION: It’s noon near a small Samaritan village. Jesus and his disciples have been walking for hours; now Jesus is sitting by the well while his disciples go into town to get food. One village woman approaches the well, even though everyone else has already fetched water earlier in the day. This lady is a social pariah, someone who has already had several husbands and who is now living with a man who refuses to marry her. Jesus isn’t worried; he knows this lady and he knows all the details of her life. But this lady is honestly searching. Jesus tells her, “God is a spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” The lady gets it, realizes who Jesus is, and runs off to tell everybody in town that she has met the Messiah. Too bad the religious leaders in Isaiah’s day weren’t as discerning. Those men thought that as long as they went through the motions, they could fool God.

Beasts of the field eating greedily, blind watchmen, ravenous dogs, shepherds with no discernment, drinking themselves into a stupor – this is the level to which much of the leadership in Judah has descended in Isaiah’s time. Such temptations exist for anyone in leadership in any age. As we read this description, we may find ourselves thinking of some who are in current world leadership. Let us remember that such people need our urgent prayers rather than our condemnation.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, reveal yourself to world leaders so that they will hunger and thirst for righteousness and that they will truly serve You for the rest of their lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

Invitation to the Needy

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods. Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live.

I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion assured to David. Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations, a leader and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has bestowed glory on you.”

Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will spring up; they will make a name for the LORD as an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”

This small chapter has so much spiritual meat in it that it’s tempting to break it up into tiny chunks. Certainly, many devotionals have been written using only one or two verses.

1. Food for the soul – “Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods. Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live.” God promises to nourish our souls in ways only He can. Many believers have claimed these verses as their own, begging God to open their hearts to new spiritual insights.
2. God’s covenant with David is an everlasting one. -“I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion assured to David. Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations, a leader and commander of the peoples. Wait a minute! David? David the adulterer??? Yes, that same David. David’s repentance from the Bathsheba affair may have been the most complete act of repentance ever witnessed. When God makes a covenant, He ALWAYS keeps His side of the bargain, even when we falter.
3. God bestows glory for His Name’s sake.– “Surely you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has bestowed glory on you.” Notice, these nations are running to believers because they see the glory of the Lord shining through them. Many times, we fail to realize the immensity of the God whom we serve; only those around us may see that glory.
4. God continues to offer pardon for all who will repent. – “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.” God never gives up on anybody, no matter how wicked they are. As an example, had Hitler repented just before he committed suicide, God would still have forgiven him for the mass murder of the Jews in the concentration camps.
5. God’s ways are higher than ours and His Word always gets results. ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.“ It was 1980 and my beloved mother was dying with cancer and other infections. My father was in agony one morning when a Swedish visitor suddenly turned to him and said, “Remember, Lowell, the Bible says that God’s ways are higher than ours.” This quote from Isaiah 55 comforted my father but perplexed him. Our visitor was not particularly religious; how did he produce this quote at just the right time? Well, God once used Balaam’s donkey to warn him. Why couldn’t God put those words in that young man’s heart for just this occasion?
6. God promises to lead us out of our difficulties, as the land rejoices before Him. “You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will spring up; they will make a name for the LORD as an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.” When the Holy Spirit descends, marvelous things happen! Deserts flower, dry streams flow, barren sands break forth with streams of clear sweet water, and flowers blossom as they never have before. Are you in the middle of a muddle? Have you set out to drain a swamp, only to find yourself up to your rear end in alligators or crocodiles? Take heart! God can still deliver miraculously; He’s got a great track record.

Today is my 75^th birthday. I received Jesus as my Savior and Lord 60 years ago. During those 60 years, God has taken me from a Midwestern farm to New York City to Memphis, TN, to New Orleans, LA, and then to Ghana. Never has God let me down, even when I have gone through the danger of a tribal conflict. God has provided and continues to provide for my husband and me. I can truly say that God has kept me every second and that He will continue to keep me to the end.

““Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods. Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live.” Re – read that invitation in the first verses of this chapter. That invitation is for everyone, including you. Why not accept it today?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please speak to the hearts of everyone who reads these words. Let them turn to You, the only One who can save and heal them. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Future Blessings for Zion

“Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth into song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband, ”says the LORD. “Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not hold back. Lengthen your ropes and drive your stakes deep. For you will spread out to the right and left; your descendants will dispossess the nations and inhabit the desolate cities.

Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. For the LORD has called you back, like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit, the wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,” says your God.

“For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer.

“For to Me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you. Though the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, My loving devotion will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be broken,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

“O afflicted city, lashed by storms, without solace, surely I will set your stones in antimony and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. Then all your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their prosperity. In righteousness you will be established, far from oppression, for you will have no fear. Terror will be far removed, for it will not come near you.

If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever assails you will fall before you. Behold, I have created the craftsman who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its task; and I have created the destroyer to wreak havoc. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the LORD’s servants, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.”

What Isaiah must have been thinking when God gave him this message? Clearly, God is speaking to the city of Jerusalem, describing her as a barren woman without offspring. Such a circumstance could only happen if the citizens of Jerusalem were completely carried off or destroyed. Poor Isaiah must have been looking at his friends and relatives in horror, knowing that eventually they would be massacred or captured and sent away as slaves. And yet….and yet, God is making glorious promises of restoration.

““Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth into song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband, ”says the LORD.” No matter what happens, eventually, Jerusalem will not only be inhabited, but there will be so many people that they will move into all the “desolate cities.”

“Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.” The citizens of Jerusalem earned their destruction by persistent idolatry, despite all the warnings by Isaiah and other prophets.

““For to Me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you. Though the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, My loving devotion will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be broken,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” Once Noah and his family left the ark, God promised that He would never again destroy the world by flooding. Now God is swearing that He will not be angry with the city of Jerusalem or rebuke her or remove His loving devotion. His covenant of peace will NOT be broken! Amazing.

Next God promises to rebuild Jerusalem using precious materials. Here God might be referring to the New Jerusalem which will come into being when Jesus the Messiah returns. At that time, terror will be removed and Jerusalem’s citizens will live in safety. Clearly, these verses are not describing the current state of Jerusalem or of Israel. Thousands of rockets are launched against Israel annually.

“If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever assails you will fall before you. Behold, I have created the craftsman who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its task; and I have created the destroyer to wreak havoc. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the LORD’s servants, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.” Here God is referring to Israel; however, many believers have also claimed these verses as personal promises from God.

APPLICATION: Although these promises were originally made to Israel and to Jerusalem, again, these promises work on many levels. For me personally, this chapter of Isaiah has brought me incredible comfort. “Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth into song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband, ”says the LORD.” I am a doctor who cares passionately for other people’s children; yet, I have never been able to give birth myself. But I have three stepchildren whom I love dearly, and my husband and I have scores of young people whom we have helped educate or medically treat throughout our time in Ghana. Many of these men and women and children are as close to us as any blood relatives.

“Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced…” Someone once said, “If you want to be popular, sell ice cream.” Certainly, running a bush hospital in a troubled area is not a swift route to universal popularity. Someone is always unhappy that you aren’t doing more for them or doing it differently. Many times, God has used these verses from Isaiah to remind me that I am working for Him and not for my critics.

“If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever assails you will fall before you. Behold, I have created the craftsman who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its task; and I have created the destroyer to wreak havoc. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the LORD’s servants, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.”

When we are working for God, then God becomes our Protector and He is the One who defends us. We always have a choice: do we believe God or do we listen to attackers? A popular Gospel song says, “Whose report will you believe? We will believe the report of the Lord!” If God has called you to do a work, DON’T QUIT! STAND FIRM AND WAIT FOR THE LORD TO DEFEND YOU! I love the story of Nehemiah. When Nehemiah’s enemies kept trying to entice him to do something foolish, he just kept working steadily, reminding them and himself that God had called him to that work.

Do you feel embattled? Are your critics raining insults? Or are you simply in a situation where the petty accusations make you feel as if you are being stoned to death with popcorn? Whatever your situation, if God has called you to be there, hold on and quote Isaiah 54:17 to yourself until you really believe it!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, you know there are those who are reading these words who feel overwhelmed. Help them to turn to You as their Protector and Defender. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

The Suffering Servant (1 Peter 2:21-25)

“Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and who can recount His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was stricken for the transgression of My people.

A Grave Assigned (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.”

This entire chapter describes the Messiah and Jesus Christ fulfilled every bit of it during his life, death, and resurrection. But there are a few surprises. “He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.”

 WHAT? You mean Jesus wasn’t a tall blue – eyed blond with muscles? Jesus was born to a very humble family under poor circumstances in the tiny village of Nazareth. But what did Jesus look like? Although most artists and most movie makers have portrayed Jesus as being good looking, there is no evidence to validate that assumption. Was Jesus really tall and Caucasian? Jesus was born to a Jewish mother and worked as a teknikon, a builder. Jesus likely had dark eyes, black hair, and a swarthy complexion from being out in the sun. While Jesus’ work undoubtedly gave him muscles like whip cord, there is nothing to indicate that Jesus was particularly tall. If Jesus was small but wiry, that might explain why Jewish religious leaders were so willing to scorn him and why he had to retreat to a fishing boat to avoid being trampled by crowds coming to hear him.

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.” During Jesus’ three-year ministry, he taught a number of people, working closely with twelve men; yet, one of them eventually betrayed him and all but one of the others deserted him.

“Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and who can recount His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was stricken for the transgression of My people.”

Jesus KNEW that he had been born as Messiah to be sacrificed for the sins of the world. When Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader, came to Jesus by night, Jesus told him, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up (on the cross.) In order that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:13) When Jesus was arrested and dragged before Jewish and Roman rulers, he did not say anything in his own defense. Jesus was “cut off from the land of the living” for the sins of the world.

“He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied.”

Jesus was buried in a grave donated by Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy believer. But Jesus only needed that grave for a few days because he rose from the dead on Easter. Ever since, Jesus has “Seen the light of life and is satisfied.”  

“By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.”

Not only did Jesus lay down his life for the sins of the world, but he even prayed for those who were killing him while he was dying. When Jesus hung on the cross, he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) God allowed Jesus to be crushed and killed because sin required payment by blood and only the blood of a sinless man could pay for the sins of the world.

APPLICATION: Face it, all of us have a sin problem. No matter how well we behave, no matter how much we might try to control ourselves, sooner or later we say things or do things that are evil. Left to our own devices, none of us would be able to work our way into heaven. And God knows every one of our dirty little secrets. Amazingly, despite all this knowledge, God still loves us anyway. But God is holy and cannot tolerate sin in His presence, so God Himself has made a way for us to be with Him through the blood sacrifice Jesus has made on the cross at Calvary.

There’s an old Gospel song that says, “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! What can make me whole and clean? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! Oh precious is the flow that makes me white as snow. No other fount I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”

“Ooh, blood! Yuck!” you might say. “Isn’t there any other way into heaven?” No, sorry, but there isn’t. When Jesus was briefing his disciples the night before he was killed, he told them, “I (Jesus) am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father except by Me.”

Several years ago, we attended an event at which Tony Campollo was speaking. In describing people who wanted to find shortcuts to heaven, Mr. Campollo compared them to airline pilots flying from New York City to Philadelphia. “When I get on an airplane for Philadelphia,” Mr. Campollo said, “I want the pilot to know the best way to Philadelphia and follow that plan. I am not interested in a pilot who gets behind the controls of the airplane and then states, “There are many ways to Philadelphia!”

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” How many of us need direction? How many of us long for truth? How many of us want to enjoy true life, not the imitation we might see on social media? Come to Jesus! The same Messiah who interceded for his murderers still holds out his hands inviting all of us to come just as we are.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help everyone who reads these words to realize just how much You love them and how much You long for them to come to You and allow You to heal their sins. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Deliverance for Jerusalem

Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, Holy City! For the uncircumcised and unclean will not again enter you. Shake off your dust! Rise up and sit on your throne, O Jerusalem. Remove the chains from your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion. For this is what the LORD says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.” For this is what the Lord GOD says: “At first My people went down to Egypt to live, then Assyria oppressed them without cause. And now what have I here? declares the LORD. For My people have been taken without cause; those who rule them taunt, declares the LORD, and My name is blasphemed continually all day long. Therefore My people will know My name; therefore they will know on that day that I am He who speaks. Here I am!”

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy, for every eye will see when the LORD returns to Zion. Break forth in joy, sing together, O ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD. For you will not leave in a hurry nor flee in haste, for the LORD goes before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard.

The Servant Exalted (Philippians 2:5-11)

Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as many were appalled at Him — His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness—so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For they will see what they have not been told, and they will understand what they have not heard.”

Isaiah has spent a great deal of time warning the residents of Judah and Jerusalem against their approaching fate at the hands of the Assyrians, a fate they are bringing on themselves by reveling in idolatry. But business is good, and since God has miraculously delivered Jerusalem from the Rabshakeh and his 185,000 soldiers, for now, nobody wants to listen. This hard-heartedness leaves Isaiah soldiering on as he prophesies what will happen after Israel goes into exile.

1. “For My people have been taken without cause; those who rule them taunt, declares the LORD, and My name is blasphemed continually all day long. Therefore My people will know My name; therefore they will know on that day that I am He who speaks. Here I am!”Forget the Baals, the Asherah poles, and all the high places, the portable idols hiding in homes, etc. There will come a day when Messiah will come and deliver His people, and nobody will remain confused about the nature of their Deliverer.
2. “Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, Holy City!” In that day, Jerusalem will truly become a holy city, and those who worship idols will have no place in her.
3. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy, for every eye will see when the LORD returns to Zion.” When Messiah returns, everyone will see Him and know Him for who and what He is.
4. “Break forth in joy, sing together, O ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.” When Messiah comes, Jerusalem will be restored as it never has been before. Nobody will be able to remain confused about the Messiah.
5. “Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD. For you will not leave in a hurry nor flee in haste, for the LORD goes before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard.“ When God delivers His people, He delivers completely. But God’s people need to repudiate all the false gods with which they have toyed. What is meant by the instruction regarding those “who carry the vessels of the Lord?” The time frame is deliberately vague, but God’s assurance of protection is absolute. Through the centuries, God has used these verses to warn believers to flee many times. Prophecy is dynamic and never operates just on one level. Once God gives a word, He can use it in any fashion He chooses.
6. “Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.” Jesus the Messiah was beaten almost beyond recognition by the Roman soldiers. But Jesus rose from the dead on Easter. What does the phrase “he will sprinkle many nations” mean? Perhaps these words refer to Messiah shedding His blood for the sins of the world, bringing redemption, peace, and Shalom.

APPLICATION: Recently, a Chinese spy balloon made big news as it flew over the U.S. before finally being shot down. But when Messiah returns to the earth, that will be far bigger news. “Every eye will see when the Lord returns to Zion.”

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Today we can access international news from innumerable sources; unfortunately, most of that news is bad – fires, floods, earthquakes, wars. We all need good news. We all need peace and salvation. We all want reassurance that our God really is in control and that He has not abandoned us. When Jesus was briefing his disciples on the night before he was crucified, he warned them, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

What is the source of your peace? Do you find peace by losing yourself in computer games or videos or sporting events or even online betting or pornography? Such things can give you an adrenaline rush and may even make you feel good for a little while due to elevated serotonin levels, but eventually, you must increase your involvement or the dose of drugs you are taking to obtain the same feelings. Recently there is a new syndrome called Serotonin Syndrome that has been recognized when people attempt to raise their serotonin levels too high through artificial means. This syndrome can be deadly.

Artificial peace is no peace at all. True and lasting peace can only come from knowing Jesus the Messiah as Savior and Lord and by serving Him. Why waste time and energy and resources on things that might hurt or destroy you? Come to Jesus! His return is as certain as the coming of the dawn.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us have hearts that are torn and bleeding. Help us to turn to You, the ultimate Source of peace. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.