everyday idolatry

"Those who fashion a graven image are all of them futile, and their precious things are of no profit."

~Isaiah 44:9

In the middle of the forty-fourth chapter of Isaiah, the prophet really speaks out on the dangers of idolatry.  Many people in his time were fashioning their own household idols out of materials like wood and iron, and so were forsaking the only God who could actually save their souls.

I know what you're thinking, and no, I'm not accusing you of regularly chopping down trees and putting together some do-it-yourself idols (although if Lowe's had been around in Isaiah's time, who knows, maybe they would have had some kind of section for that!).  But the fact is, many things in our life can easily ensnare us and become idols as bad as the ones made by our ancestors so long ago.

So what makes something an idol?  Here's what I gathered from this section in Isaiah:

• An idol can be the result of some hard work or effort on your part.  In verses 12 and 13, Isaiah describes all of the labor that people engaged in in order to make an idol.  Whether they used iron or wood, making an idol usually involved "working over the coals,"  "working with a compass," and using things like "hammers," a "strong arm," and "a measuring line."  In fact, so much work is put into them that the man in verse 12 becomes hungry and weak!  Believe me, I appreciated a job well done; I feel accomplished after I finish a big project, especially if there are visual results that I can stand back and admire.  And really, there's nothing wrong with that.  But if our hard work takes us away from God, and causes us to depend on our own efforts rather than God's help, that project can quickly become an idol.
• The origin of an idol can usually be traced back to some sort of pride.  At the end of verse 13, the idol the man shapes out of wood takes on the "form of a man, like the beauty of man."  Even if this idol doesn't resemble the man himself, can you see the pride that went into the creation of that idol?  He was either worshiping man's appearance in general, or else worshiping a particular person who served as the inspiration for that idol.  We often aspire to be like others, or to look up to them for mentoring, but we should be careful that they don't become objects of worship. Even if you think your pride isn't the root of an idol, remember, pride can wear many disguises.  It can masquerade as false humility or simply just trusting your own judgment rather than God's.
• All idols are perishable and/or replaceable.  In verses 14 through 17, a man plants a tree and then uses half of it for firewood, and the other half for fashioning an idol.  He doesn't realize that his idol is useless, being made from the same perishable wood from the tree he planted himself.  Since he is satisfied by the warmth of the fire and the sustenance of the food he cooks over it, he never stops to think about whether God had anything to do with it.  Who knows, maybe these comforts are what drove him to make the idol out of the other half of the tree, and then bowing down to it rather than to God.  Anything you put before God, whether unknowingly or willingly, will not last.  If you're worshiping a person, they will let you down sooner or later, and we will all die at some point.  Anything you or someone else has made with their hands won't last either; it could rust or fall apart or be stolen or be burned.  And even though your time is intangible, it can also perish.  
• Idols can offer temporary satisfaction and comfort, but CANNOT save you.  We've already seen an example of this with the man and his tree, but let me just drive this point home.  Idols often look attractive to us because of what they have to offer, and they may come through for us for a little while.  But they can't save our souls.  And they can't help us walk in that abundant life that God has promised to all of His children (in fact, they often hinder it).
• Worshiping idols can lead to hardened hearts.  Take a look at the sobering message in verses 18 through 20.  The idol worshipers have eyes and hearts that have been "smeared over" by God, meaning they can't see or understand what they're doing.  They don't see that their idols are just perishable man-made junk.  They don't see that they're living in sin.  And they don't understand how deceived they are and how their idol worship has turned them away from God ("a deceived heart has turned him aside," verse 20).  What does this mean for us?  It means that like these men, we too can easily deny that we have any idols in our lives.  While our idols probably won't take on the form of wood or iron, they are still a very real presence in all of our lives.  Finding out what they are and how to get rid of them is critical for saving our souls and guarding our hearts.

So examine your heart and your life.  Ask God to help you pinpoint any areas where idol worship is apparent, even if it's just the start of something (since it can easily and quickly snowball into something much more serious).  Is there a certain TV show or book that interferes with your time with Him?  Is there a certain person who occupies your heart and your thoughts more than He does?  Is there a certain hobby or pastime you hold as more dear than Him?  One thing I've noticed about myself lately is how I spend my time.  I find I covet "MY TIME" too much.  When my son goes down for a nap, I often run to other things rather than spending that time with God.  None of the things I run to are necessarily bad on their own, but when they are placed as higher than God, then they become a problem.

So burn those idols and sit at the feet of the One who was not fashioned by human hands, and whose love endures forever!

Jeshurun

"...Do not fear, O Jacob My servant, and you Jeshurun whom I have chosen."  Isaiah 44:2


So who is Jeshurun?  This name is most likely unfamiliar to most Christians, and understandably so, as it only appears a few times in the entire Bible (three times in Deuteronomy and the above reference in Isaiah).  At first glance, it appears to be a synonym for the nation of Israel.  This is a correct assumption, but we would rob ourselves if we chose not to go any deeper than that!

When "Jeshurun" appears in Deuteronomy, it always occurs in poetic form.  The first time is in Deut. 32:15, when Moses teaches the rest of Israel a song written by God Himself (see 31:19-22).  God told Moses that once He brought His people into the Promised Land, their prosperity and abundance will cause them to fall away from Him, so this song would serve as a reminder to turn back to Him.  They were also to teach this song to their descendants for the same purpose.  And indeed, the verse that mentions Jeshurun (verse 15) describes the nation of Israel growing "fat, thick, and sleek" and forsaking God.  The other two references in Deuteronomy occur in the blessing Moses speaks over Israel before he dies; both describe God as the "king" or "God of Jeshurun" (see verses 5 and 26).

So what's the point here?  All these instances of the name Jeshurun are poetic, occurring in songs, blessings, or prophecies.  They don't occur in narratives or historical accounts.  God uses the name Jeshurun almost as a nickname for His chosen people.  When I googled the word "Jeshurun," here's what I found on its origins and meanings (and yes, this is mostly from Wikipedia; it was difficult to find reliable religious commentaries on this subject, believe it or not!).  My sources came from here and here.

• Derived from a root word meaning "upright, just, or straight."  You may have noticed that the song mentioned above came after a long list of rules and commandments.  God set standards for His people to live by, and although He knew that they would fall away at times, His ultimate vision was for them to embrace His standards, realize they couldn't fulfill all of them by their own power, and therefore depend on Him for the help they needed to be "upright, just, and straight."  He knew Jeshurun would forsake Him, but He used His nickname for them anyway because He also knew all they could be once they turned back to Him.
• Can mean "beloved one."  We often give nicknames to the people we love.  It suggests a closeness, or an intimacy with someone if we have a special name just for them.  God called Israel "Jeshurun" for a reason...because He loved them.  It's amazing to me that He would still use His nickname for them in the midst of sin and rebellion, but that just emphasizes the fact that His love is stronger than any sin.  And the same is true for His children today.  Our sin hurts Him, and it's not what He wants for us, but He will still call us His "beloved one" to draw us back to Him.
• A new name that brings a new chance at life.  By the end of Deuteronomy, Moses is about to die, and a new generation of Israel will soon cross over to the Promised Land.  If you're familiar with the events that happened prior to this, you'll remember that God waited until everyone from Moses' generation died before He would let Israel take possession of the land He had promised them.  This came as a result of sin and rebellion.  When God spoke through Moses and allowed him to impart His blessing on the younger generation, He used the name "Jeshurun" to drive home the fact that with the new land came a new life.  A life that would be full of blessings as long as it included Him.  The same goes for Israel in Isaiah's prophecy; although they have fallen away again and again, God offers to refresh them by "pouring out His Spirit" on their descendants.  Once again, He highlights the younger generation and tells them they have a chance for a new life, and so uses a new name to reflect that.

If you're a child of God, you've been given a new name.  It's a name that not only tells how loved you are by God, but also the unlimited potential you possess with His Spirit inside you.  Grab hold of the new life that comes with this name and allow God to lead you.

new things.

"Behold, the former things have come to pass.  Now I declare new things; before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."  Isaiah 42:9

Am I the only one who's immediately transported back to circa 1993 when reading this verse?  Come on, don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about.  If you were in any kind of youth group back then, you know everyone was all over dcTalk and sang "Nu Thang" with reckless abandon.  Or maybe that cassette was released before 1993, and I was just very slow with that trend.  Who knows.  Guess that's why I said "circa."  But I digress.  :o)

The first part of Isaiah 42 is a really awesome prophecy about Jesus (another reason why I love my New American Standard Bible; this version capitalizes pronouns attributed to the Trinity, so there's no confusion about who the writer is talking about!).  Jesus is described as God's chosen one (verse 1) who will "faithfully bring forth justice" (verse 3).

And how will he bring forth justice?  By opening the eyes of the blind and releasing captives from prisons (verse 7).  I used to read this in a literal way, but God has shown me lately that there are more ways to be blind than in a physical fashion, and there are myriad of internal or spiritual prisons that can hold us captive.

Really, until we find Jesus and trust Him with our lives, we are all blind to the fact that we need a Savior.  We can be blind to the needs of the poor or blind to patterns of sin in our lives.  Jesus came to open our eyes to these "spiritual cataracts" so nothing will blur our focus on Him and what He wants to do with us.  He trades our blind eyes for new eyes, in a way.

And we might find ourselves trapped in prisons of addiction, temptation, out-of-control emotions, or those same patterns of sin mentioned before.  I know one of my main "prisons" is depression.  God has had to release me from that prison again and again, and really it's only because of Him that I'm walking free of that today.  Jesus came to give us abundant life (John 10:10); a life in prison does not allow for any kind of abundance, unless it's an abundance of pain and regret.   With our release from prison comes a new lease on an abundant life, and the realization that as long as we're walking in-step with Jesus, there's no reason that we have to go back to our prison again. 

The best part is, God declares the "new things" He has in store for us before they even happen (check out verse 9 again)!.  Meaning He won't wait until your eyes have been opened or the prison door swings open to show you the promise He has planned out for you.  That's His blessing for us.  He may not reveal specifics, but He does offer the promise of new things again and again.  In the midst of our pain and darkness, He peels back the curtain just a bit to reveal the light on the other side, which illuminates the new things He wants to do in our lives if only we ask Him to help us see with new eyes and walk in new freedom.

Trust in Him.  He holds the salve for your blinded eyes and the keys to your prison cell.  He wants to do a new thing for you!

behind His back

"...It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, 

for You have cast all my sins behind Your back."

~Isaiah 38:17

Have you ever tried to pass off some ridiculous statement (like "Thou shalt not eat thy vegetables") as Scripture by saying it's found in the book of Hezekiah?  Maybe that's just my husband.  And if you have known us for any length of time, odds are you've heard that joke already!

While Hezekiah didn't write a book of the Bible, he was a king who received prophecies from Isaiah starting in Chapter 37.  In this chapter, Hezekiah's prayers and reliance on God resulted in the ultimate defeat of the invading Assyrians.  In the next chapter, we find Hezekiah on his deathbed.  Desperate, he prays to God asking Him to remember how he has walked before Him "in truth and with a whole heart" (verse 3).  God then decides to heals him, and also adds fifteen years to his life (verse 5).

Hezekiah's writing of his illness and healing makes up the rest of the chapter.  It describes both despair and thanksgiving.  One verse in particular stood out of me as I read it today:

"It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness,

for You have cast all my sins behind Your back" (verse 17).

Check out the word "cast."  It immediately brought me to 1 Peter 5:7, which instructs us to "cast" all our cares or anxiety on Him because He cares for us.  I'm not sure if the word "cast" is translated exactly the same in Isaiah as it is in 1 Peter, but to me the mental picture is the same; throwing something with all our might toward another source, as a fisherman would cast a net into the sea.

That's what God did with Hezekiah's sin, and what He does with all of our sins when we accept His son and ask for forgiveness.  He throws our sin with all of his might behind Him.  When He said "Get behind me, Satan!" (Matthew 16:23 and Mark 8:33) He was putting Peter's wrong thinking where it belonged...behind Him.  When something is behind you, it's not in your line of vision.  It is impossible to focus on it, or even see it, unless you look behind you.  When it comes to our sin, God is not one for looking behind, and He doesn't expect us to do that either.  If we ask His forgiveness, He forgets our sin and only looks ahead to what we could be in Him.

The point is, whether we're casting our sin or our anxieties on Him, God will greet us with open arms.  Throw that struggle, stronghold, worry, or temptation into His hand with all your might, and He will smile and throw it over His shoulder.  Remember, if God cared at all about keeping tabs on our sin even after He forgives us, He would never throw them behind Him.  He would keep them in front of Him or beside Him.  He throws them behind His back to not only put them where they belong, but to also restore us to the position where we belong.   He is able to hold us and look into our eyes because our sin isn't in front of Him, and He is able to walk with and guide us because our sin isn't beside Him.

So cast your cares and sin upon Him, and He will cast them behind Him so you can move on, powerful at His side and safe in His arms.

At ease?

"Rise up, you women who are at ease, and hear my voice; give ear to my word, you complacent daughters."  Isaiah 32:9

I've been struggling with a spirit of complacency lately.  I look at my life, I see things that need to change, and I know in my heart what I need to do to change, but I don't always make the effort.  Or sometimes God tells me to pray for someone or a situation, and discouragement takes over.  "Why try?  I might mess it up."  And often, too often, things stay the same.

These "women at ease" who are warned in Isaiah 32 seem to have the same problem.  Trouble is coming in the form of an Assyrian invasion, and rather than ready themselves for it, they remain complacent and do nothing.  Instead of trembling and trading their clothes for sackcloth (verse 11), they maintain the status quo.  How many times have I done the same when a troubling world event or another clear sign of the end times comes across my radar?  I don't always take it seriously; I make silly excuses ("I'm just not into politics," "Someone else can take care of that," "I have too much going on to think about that right now") instead of allowing the fear of the Lord take over and pray.

Which is what I think these complacent women are supposed to do.  The culture and the time in which they lived prevented them from doing much else than maintaining a household, supporting their husbands if they were married, and praying and serving the Lord.  Granted, most of us ladies have a lot more on our plate in the here and now, but it should really always come back to these basic duties.  And if I devote myself to praying for anything and everything He instructs me to, all three of those excuses I named earlier are rendered null and void.

• "I'm just not into politics" -- Well, guess what?  Even if I'm not that knowledgeable about this particular matter I can still pray that His will will be done.  
• "Someone else can take care of that." -- But I should still pray in case everyone else gives that same excuse.  And since when is it a negative thing for more than one person to pray for something anyway?
• "I have too much going on to think about that right now." -- We can't all live in a house of prayer and focus only on intercession day in and day out, but we can certainly pray in the midst of our daily lives.  Even a quick prayer is heard by the Lord if it's a heartfelt one.

Believe me, this post is mostly serving to just nail me.  I think it's something I needed to write for myself since these verses seemed to jump off the page when I read them earlier today.  As we go further and further into these end times, more and more "Assyrian invasions" are going to happen; things like war, famine, persecution, disease, and death may jump off my radar and into my own backyard, and I don't want to be caught with a complacent spirit.  With times as serious as these, complacency could easily lead to unpreparedness, timidity, and ultimately, a hardened heart.  We may not always know what or how to pray, but if we yield to His Spirit He will intercede for us (Romans 8:26-27).  

And speaking of the Holy Spirit, check out verses 15 through 18 of Isaiah 32.  It describes the wilderness becoming a "fertile field," and righteousness and peace pervading the "peaceful habitation" God's people will find themselves in when "the Spirit is poured out upon [us] from on high."  He saves His people through divine intervention, but He also pours out His Spirit in order to usher in a period of righteousness and security.

Because this chapter is all prophecy and no narrative, we don't really know if these women stayed complacent or if they rose up and interceded for themselves and for their people.  But I know this serves as a reminder for myself.  Whether a particular hardship is imminent or everything looks comfy on the horizon, I had better make my prayerlife a top priority.  Even if a situation is complex or unclear, even if my day is packed with errands and to-do lists, even if I simply don't feel like it, I know I need to get on my knees and pray.  We all do.  If you can't find the words to pray, ask for the Holy Spirit to help you; God gives His Spirit without measure (John 3:34) so I'm pretty certain He never tires of us asking!  And pray that the same Spirit who is interceding for you will also move in a powerful way over the subject of your prayer.  So rise up and say good-bye to complacency.  Maybe a fertile field will rise out of those briars and thorns.

Longing

"The Lord longs to be gracious to you..." Isaiah 30:18

What God showed me today seemed simplistic at first. Of course He longs to be gracious to me. He loves me. Didn't He "so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life?" That sounds a lot like GRACE to me.

But what caught my eye in this verse was the word "longs," and with that one word came a deeper glimpse into God's character. I've always believed that He loves me. I've always believed that He pours measure upon measure of grace upon all of us, an endless supply of a very precious commodity none of us deserves. But when was the last time you thought about God longing for you?

He sees how many times we mess up. He sees how many times we struggle with doubt. He sees all of our pain and sin and still longs to shower grace on us. And not only that, but to have compassion on us too (also in verse 18). What's the difference between being gracious and having compassion?

To me, God is gracious when He forgives my sin when I ask Him...again.
He has compassion when He wipes away the tears and bandages the self-afflicted wounds and whispers His love in my ear.

He could just show grace to us by forgiving us when we ask and leaving it at that. "Don't worry, my Son's blood covered that sin. You're off the hook. Catch you next time." Kind of like a friendly uncle that gets you out of trouble every now and then, but not someone you share an actual relationship with. No, God goes a step further and shows us compassion when we sin. He mixes His love with His grace until we realize that He is not just in the business of forgiving sins, He is also in the business of loving us, cherishing us, and having a relationship with us.

Why does this matter? To me, God seems a lot more personal when I see and feel evidence of His compassion in my life. His graciousness to forgive is awesome enough, but He goes that step further to show compassion in a special, unique way just for me.

If you stop and think about it, grace and compassion are two amazing things that we don't deserve without the blood of Jesus. And we love and serve a God who longs to do both in our lives, if only we ask Him. That's the key word: ASK. He knows the desire of our hearts, and He knows when we've sinned and need to ask for forgiveness, but so much of His moving in our hearts and lives depends on us speaking up in the first place! I'll close with verse 19 to really drive that last point home:

"He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you." Isaiah 30:19

Connections

Today I read the first half of Isaiah 30. I only had time to read half because I had a Bible study this morning, so I read verses 1 through 17. Later that morning a sister in Christ quoted verse 18 of Isaiah 30, so I figured that was a good indication from God that I need to finish this chapter up soon!

But first, something cool God showed me about the first half. God uses this prophecy to warn Judah through Isaiah because they are forming an alliance with Egypt instead of turning to Him. In fact, verse 2 says they didn't even consult Him before doing so! The latter part of that verse caught my attention though:

"...To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!"

I read that phrase a few times, thinking, It seems to me I've read these words before. Sounds like a psalm I've read a bunch of times. I'll admit, I couldn't remember which one exactly. Definitely looked it up in the back, and discovered the one I was thinking of was Psalm 91.

Check out Psalm 91:1...."He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." The words "shelter" and "shadow" are what jogged my memory in the first place, and here they are in Psalm 91! The fact is, we all seek shelter somewhere, especially when life gets difficult. We can find our refuge in the comforting shadow of God who covers us with His mercy and love, or we can settle for something far less and deal with the pain that inevitably follows when we place our trust in someone or something other than our Lord. How cool is it that God uses the same terminology in two different books of the Bible to get that point across!

But the connections don't end there. Read on to verse 6, where God's people are described as carrying their "riches" and "treasures" on the backs of their beasts of burden to Egypt, "a land of distress and anguish, from where come the lioness and lion, viper and flying serpent." And yeah, I totally got distracted with the whole "flying serpent" idea. Hopefully you did too. That way I won't feel so silly. But anyway, I looked back in Psalm 91, and in verse 13 it reads, "You will tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down." Again, similar terminology yet very different circumstances. In Egypt (or at least on the way to Egypt), God's people are prophesied to encounter lions and snakes, and I can only surmise by the tone of the prophecy as a whole that the creatures pose a real danger to them, yet they are so determined to be allies with Egypt that they don't realize that maybe these animals are simply obstacles God put in their way. If only they chose to align themselves and their "riches and treasures" with God, then the once-threatening lions and snakes would become the hunted instead (Psalm 91:13).

One more. Verse 17 of Isaiah 30 says that the rebelliousness of God's people will become their destruction, in that "one thousand will flee at the threat of one man." In the previous verse, Isaiah prophesies that the people of Judah will not take God's call for repentance seriously, and will instead put their trust in acquiring more "swift horses." (Ever tried to cling to something worldly rather than just repent and turn to God? I know I have.) As a result, they use those horses to try to outrun their enemies, and it seems they're not very successful since all it appears to take is one man to cause a thousand more to flee (verse 17). Look back in Psalm 91. Verse 7 says, "A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it [destruction] will not approach you." This verse, and the psalm as a whole, describes the peace and security we have access to when we abide with God and put our trust in His hands. Instead of being one of those thousand people fleeing from one singular enemy, we can be one singular person causing a thousand ememies to flee! Remember, Romans 8:37 says that in the face of any hardship or danger we are more than conquerors; the NASB says we overwhelmingly conquer. That means overcoming on a large scale. Why cause one nagging temptation to flee when you can cause a thousand to flee? With His help, we can.

It's always cool to me when I find similar words and phrases in different books of the Bible. The fact that they're there stresses the fact that the Bible is indeed God-breathed. Who else could have inspired such subtle yet powerful connections? It also stresses the fact that we should read the Bible as a whole, instead of picking and choosing certain books or passages or stories. True, we have our favorites, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that; it helps with memorization, application, prayer, and sharing God with others when we read and re-read our favorite sections of Scripture until they are imprinted on our minds and hearts. But especially after what God has shown me today with these two passages, one a sobering prophecy and the other a sweet song of thanksgiving, I for one want to start delving into the parts of His word that I seldom consider reading. Seeing one idea reinterated or rephrased in a different manner from one passage to another can lead to deeper understanding, more meaningful application, and more powerful prayers. Those are all things I desire in my walk with God. May His Word always speak to me in new and exciting ways.

Where do you dwell?

"Terror and pit and snare confront you, O inhabitant of the earth." Isaiah 24:17

The prophecy in the twenty-fourth chapter of Isaiah concerns the entire earth, not just a selected kingdom or group of people. It has several parallels to prophecies outlined in the Book of Revelation, but one of them stuck out at me in particular.

This chapter is basically a sandwich in structure...it starts with chaos and destruction, has a few verses that glorify and praise God there in the middle, and then ends with more chaos and destruction. Verse 13 starts the praise section, describing a "shaking of an olive tree" and "the gleanings when the grape harvest is over." Basically God's judgment has already began its terrifying work, and numerous people have been wiped out. However, there is a remnant of His people leftover who "raise their voices and shout for joy" (verse 14). In the midst of unfathomable death and despair, they choose to marvel at God's majesty and righteousness and praise His name, saying "Glory to the Righteous One" (verse 16).

The latter part of verse 16 immediately shifts focus once again to fear and trembling, saying "woe to me," and verse 17 warns the inhabitants of the earth of the "terror and pit and snare" that will inevitably find them. When I looked up this verse using an online commentary (found here) it referenced Revelation, in which there are several verses that mention those who inhabit the earth (3:10, 6:10, 11:10, 13:12, and 13:14). There is also one verse that mentions those who dwell in heaven (13:6). The first group will experience the horrific consequences of their sin and the Antichrist's deception during the end times. The latter group will be with God in heaven and sit in His presence.

Here's the point....where we dwell now affects where we will dwell later. Whether we live long enough to see the prophecies in Revelation and Isaiah carried out or not, where we choose to dwell has a huge impact on our lives and our walk with God. If we choose to be an inhabitant of the earth, we will make worldly things our focus. We will strive and chase after wealth, live for our desires, and experience the consequences of our sin in both this life and the next. If we choose to sit with God in the heavenly places, we will chase after Him. We will live for Him. And we will experience the peace and comfort that can only be possible in the midst of terrible suffering because it's from Him.

And please don't let it escape your notice that we can be seated with Him in heavenly places in the here and now. This happens the moment we accept Jesus as our Savior (Ephesians 2:6). Although we live out our earthly lives wrapped up in flesh, our spirits are already in His presence, seeing Him face to face. Jesus lived a human life but continuously lingered in His Father's presence; why shouldn't we each enjoy the same privilege?

So as you go about during this busy week before Christmas, ask yourself, "where do I dwell?" Are you seated with Him in the heavenly places and letting His majesty and peace envelop everything you do, or are you dwelling on the earth and settling for whatever semblance of comfort it can try to scrape together for you? Dwell with Him. Talk with Him. Praise Him. Then even in the midst of hardship and despair, your first impulse will be to worship and glorify Him. I can think of no better attitude to have in a time such as this.

harlot's wages

"Her gain and her harlot's wages will be set apart for the Lord..." Isaiah 23:18

Today's passage is Isaiah 23...yep, I'm still in Isaiah. Maybe one day I'll move on to the other prophets.... :o)

This chapter contains the prophecy regarding the city of Tyre, which one commentator describes as "the mart of the nations" since it was established near the sea and it served as a place for merchants to buy and sell (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, found here). The city is destroyed due to the pride of its inhabitants and their unwillingness to turn to God (verses 9-11). However, after a period of seventy years, God will again "visit" Tyre and show mercy to the city and its people (verse 17). But Tyre goes back to its old ways. It is described as "playing the harlot with all the kingdoms of the face of the earth" (also in verse 17), which is pretty much what it was doing before. Here's the kicker...Tyre's "harlot's wages" are described as being "set apart for the Lord" (verse 18). My first reaction upon reading this was, huh?

So I looked in the margin of my Bible since the phrase "set apart" had a couple of other references; I mainly studied the first reference, which is found in Exodus 28:36. In this passage God is instructing His people regarding the construction of His temple and all of its elements, specifically the priestly garments. Verse 36 describes a plate of pure gold that has the phrase "Holy to the Lord" engraved on it. This plate is then to be fastened on a blue cord and put on the front the turban that Aaron, the chief priest, was to wear. Aaron was to wear this plate because he would bear "the iniquity of the holy things which the sons of Israel consecrate...that they may be accepted before the Lord" (verse 38). All of the sacrifices and gifts that the priests brought to the temple were still defiled in a way since they were human and had a sinful nature. But if Aaron, the appointed priest, brought the sacrifices to the Lord in His appointed way, God would accept them (phrasing borrowed from here).

I think at this point I may have uttered another huh? How in the WORLD can you compare the wages of a harlot to a chief priest bringing sacrifices before the Lord? The phrase "set apart" is used in both of these instances, so they must have something in common, right?

If we read further in Isaiah 23:18, we find out what Tyre's gains are to be used for: "food and choice attire for those who dwell in the presence of the Lord." And furthermore, these wages are described as "sufficient" for this purpose, and are not to be hoarded or stored up (also in verse 18). So basically although the people of Tyre will ultimately return to their old ways, their profit will be used for the furthering of God's kingdom.

Here's where it gets a little trickier. To me, it's not clear whether this new monetary exchange is really endorsed by the people of Tyre. Are they giving their wages over to God voluntarily or are they just accepting the fact that their money is not their own anymore and doing so begrudgingly (which I would almost be afraid to do, given the massive wrath and destruction their city saw seventy years earlier)? Different commentaries say different things; some say this passage is a lesson about being a good steward no matter what your calling is, and others say it is an example of God allowing His people to slip back into their old ways but yet also furthering His kingdom by doing so.

Either way, there is a question to be asked of yourself. Just how much are you giving to His kingdom? Are you hoarding your wages or worse, playing the harlot and spending them on idols for your own personal gain? And this goes beyond money. These "wages" can encompass a bunch of different things, such as how you spend your time, how you set your priorities, and where you focus your attention. If there is one thing to be learned from the prophecy against Tyre, it is that God can set apart anything as holy to Him. No matter how worldly something may seem, it is not beyond God consecrating it and using it for His kingdom. So will you give it willingly and take part in the blessing that comes as a result, or will you try to withhold it with a clenched fist and feel the pain of it being taken away? God wants to further His kingdom, and will use whatever means He thinks necessary to get us to be a part of it, but I believe it truly blesses His heart when we do so with a willing and loving heart. It's time to give, even if it's just the wages of a harlot.

delightful plants?

"For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the rock of your refuge. Therefore you plant delightful plants and set them with vine slips of a strange god. In the day that you plant it you carefully fence it in, and in the morning you bring your seed to blossom; but the harvest will be a heap in a day of sickness and incurable pain." Isaiah 17:10-11

Sobering prophecy, isn't it? And what does it mean for us? Let's break it down, phrase by phrase, to get to the heart of the matter:

• "you have forgotten the God of your salvation" : The sin that starts it all. This act will have a profound effect on the events described in the rest of the passage. In what areas of your life to you tend to "forget" God?
  
• "you plant delightful plants" : Often, we try to control what we will reap by choosing what to sow. We want what is pleasant and desirable, so we plant "delightful plants" instead of ones that might require some work (or worse, ones that might come with thorns or thistles). What "plants" are you choosing in your life, and what "plants" are you trying to avoid?
  
• "set with vine slips of a strange god" : Not only do we try to rely on our own judgments and abilities, we often call on the help of another ("strange god") rather than the help of God. What's worse, these "vine slips" we use to bolster our efforts will most likely corrupt what we've started. What we've planted will become our worst nightmare once harvested because of this corruption. Even though we've planted flowers, we will harvest weeds. What "vine slips" are you allowing to corrupt your garden?
  
• "you carefully fence it in" : This sounds like a last-ditch effort to really make sure we've got everything under control. Rather than trust God, we "carefully fence in" what we've planted in order to protect it from the elements. But by fencing in one area of our lives, we end up fencing every area in until we are completely blocked off from all that God has for us. We protect our plants, but at what cost? What areas of your life do you try to "fence in," and just what are you trying to protect yourself from?
  
• "you bring your seed to blossom" : At this point, everything seems to be going to plan. We've thought of everything we need, and everything appears to be in place for some delightful plants to grow. We see the results of our labor in some blossoms, but these provide a false sense of security and will most likely result in complacency. "Look at all that I've accomplished on my own. I don't need God's help with this. Looks like I can make it to harvest without Him." Do you ever catch yourself thinking these thoughts?
  
• "the harvest will be a heap..." : The inevitable occurs here. Our best-laid plans crumble before our very eyes, and the plants we reap bring sickness and pain. The word "heap" in this verse suggests that the harvest was barely gathered up before its effects (sickness and pain) hit those who harvested it. Rather than bundle the crop up and bring it elsewhere (whether it is the threshing floor, a press, a marketplace, or a storehouse), the workers have hastily abandoned it where it was reaped. While we were expecting abundance and prosperity from our plants, all we are left with is a messy heap of weeds, the pain of regret, and the consequences that come with not relying on the One who created us. Can you look back on your life and see a "heap" where there was supposed to be a harvest?

We've all had times like this. They may not have always resulted in "sickness and incurable pain," but they most likely caused pain to a degree. As mentioned in a previous post, God can use that pain to draw you back to Him. And if you ask for His wisdom and guidance in everything that you do, He will be faithful in providing a wonderful harvest when the time comes. Rely on Him.

Striking to heal

"The Lord will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the Lord, and He will respond to them and will heal them." Isaiah 19:22


I'm ashamed to point out the obvious...I haven't posted anything on this blog in two months. So much has happened during that time, from my sweet boy learning how to crawl, the internet in our house not working for weeks at a time, and on my part, a bout of just sheer apathy. However, the Lord is faithful, and even though I often leave Him waiting on our time together, He is always there when I return to Him.

The nineteenth chapter of Isaiah describes a prophecy regarding the great nation of Egypt. The prophet describes a time of great turmoil, where the inhabitants will turn against each other (verse 2) and will suffer under the rule of a cruel king (verse 4). Top that off with some plagues against nature (including the rivers drying up as described in verse 6 and the fields becoming desolate in verse 7), and the nation will really hit rock bottom. Because the wisest of men cannot explain what is happening to Egypt and how to overcome it (verse 12), the people are left to literally tremble in the wake of God's hand "which He is going to wave over them" (verse 16).

One might ask what the purpose of all this devastation might be. It seems to be a common theme in most of Isaiah's prophecies thus far, in fact. Shouldn't a loving God use love to call His people to Him? Surely that would have been enough to get Egypt's attention, right?

I'm thinking no. We're talking about Egypt here, one of the greatest empires in history. Because of its affluence and wealth, it would have been all too easy for Egypt's citizens to bask in the glow of their own pride. Sometimes God allows hardship to come upon His people in order to get them to the place where turning to Him is really the only option. C.S. Lewis described pain as God's "megaphone to rouse a deaf world" (The Problem of Pain). At times it is simply the only means to get our attention.

Pain and hardship does have its purpose, though. Check out the rest of Isaiah 19, starting in verse 18. The tone of the prophecy shifts to a more promising end for the nation. It describes five Egyptian cities as "speaking the language of Canaan" and "swearing allegiance to the Lord of hosts." They will build an altar and cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors (verses 19 and 20), and then He will send the greatest Gift of all, His Son Jesus. God will "make Himself known to Egypt" through Jesus, and they will offer praise and sacrifice to Him in return (verse 21). He strikes Egypt in order to heal them. He allows them to have temporary pain and oppression, but then gives them Himself as the ultimate salve for their wounds.

Not only that, He adds Assyria and Israel in a three-fold blessing, saying "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance" (verse 25). Although Egypt was once prideful, worshiping idols and their own intellect, God will raise them up to be a nation of blessing and promise. He allows the nation to suffer for a time, but because of the spiritual longing of five cities, He will bring healing and restoration to their land.

Return to Him. Even if whatever you're going through seems to burn you inside and out, return to your Healer and He will allow beauty to rise out of the ashes.

Living Water

"Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation." Isaiah 12:3

Isaiah 12 is a brief but poignant chapter that focuses on thanksgiving. In the previous chapter, Isaiah prophesies about the reign of Jesus and how His faithful remnant will be restored. Such words of promise can only lead to songs of praise!

In verse 3, the prophet says that because God is our salvation and we have no reason to fear, we will "joyously draw water from the springs of salvation." I noticed in my Bible that the phrase "draw water" had a couple of New Testament references as well, both in the Gospel of John:

• John 4:10: Jesus is talking to the Samaritan woman at the well and tells her that living water comes from God.
• John 7:37-38: Jesus cries out in the midst of a feast, saying "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me...'from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"

Furthermore, the phrase "spring of salvation" has another Old Testament reference, this time in the book of Jeremiah:

• Jeremiah 2:13: God says through His prophet Jeremiah that His people have forsaken Him, "the fountain of living waters," and have made their own cisterns that have no hope of holding any water.

Guess you can already tell that there is a theme here. LIVING WATER shows up in all these verses. Which got me thinking...how would we explain the term "living water" to the average person? This is my weak attempt at doing so:

• The water we draw from His springs of salvation is living water. It comes from Jesus Himself; His death and resurrection allowed us access to the living water. We draw from His spring with both JOY (Isaiah 12:3) and BELIEF since we obtain the living water by believing in Jesus (John 7:37). It is active and constant, and flows through our hearts. We have a thirst that can only be quenched by a constant supply of living water. Living water brings us not only salvation, but a deeper revelation of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God Himself. Forsaking the true Source of living water causes drought in our lives, and attempting to find it on our own (via "broken cisterns") also leads to drought.

In short...God saves us when we believe in His name; that's the first time we draw His living water from His springs of salvation. However, in order to see deeper revelations of His love, mercy, grace, and other aspects of His character and His relationship with us, we need to be constantly drawing from that spring. Much like actual water, we don't find satisfaction (or even the ability to continue existing!) by just one isolated drink. We draw living water from His spring by prayer, meditation on His words, and reading His Word. And if we maintain a full cup of His living water on a daily basis, we can't help but spill that water out onto other people through humble service, encouraging words, and the exercising of our spiritual gifts.

So seek after that living water that can only come from Him. Allow your thirsty spirit to partake of the only water that will truly satisfy. And remember, one drink is never enough!

"My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Psalm 63:1

Arrogant Axes

"Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it?" Isaiah 10:15

In the tenth chapter of Isaiah, God turns His anger on the Assyrians, a nation that He initially uses as His "instrument" to attack His own people because of their prideful ways. Apparently arrogance is a universal thing, no matter who you are or who you follow, because God speaks these words through Isaiah concerning the Assyrian ruler: "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness" (verse 12). The king gives himself credit for everything his nation has plundered and destroyed, saying, "by the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this" (verse 13). God compares the king's blatant and unapologetic pride to an axe that "boasts itself over the one who chops with it" in verse 15. An axe, like any other inanimate object, cannot perform its purpose without a more powerful entity taking it up and manipulating it in such a way as to create a result. An axe cannot chop wood by itself. Similarly, the nation of Assyria, and more specifically its king, could not have successfully invaded and plundered Israel without God's intervention.

Granted, the hearts of the Assyrians are hardened; Isaiah even says that the nation does not "intend" to trample God's people, but does so because "it is its purpose to destroy and to cut off many nations" (verse 7). Much like it is the axe's purpose to cut wood, it is the Assyrians' purpose to destroy; they face their own destruction because of their haughtiness and godlessness. However, we as God's children can learn from this mistaken way of thinking; in fact, it is the Israelites' pride that caused the Assyrians' attack to begin with (see previous post and Isaiah 9:8-21). Exalting ourselves for the blessings God gives us is not only wrong, but harmful to our relationship with Him. We become deluded into thinking that we have everything under control and can do anything using our own power and devices. Remember the vine and the branches? Jesus said, "Apart from Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5). God wants to use us for His purposes, and it can be very exciting to see just what we're capable of with His help and grace. But the minute we choose to take credit for what He's done or to exalt ourselves using the gifts He gives us, we become no better than the Assyrians. Our hearts will become hard and we will bring about our own destruction.

Ask God for His help; come before Him as His child who is helpless without Him. Bring Him your empty hands to be filled with His gifts, and ask Him what He would have you do for His kingdom. And most important, exalt the One who allows you to represent Him in such wonderful and astounding ways. Remember, we are but axes who need powerful hands to fulfill a great purpose; apart from Him we can do nothing.

Cedars and Smooth Stones

"The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with smooth stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars." Isaiah 9:10

Ever tried to go your own way instead of God's? For me, it's an everyday struggle to lay my so-called "best-laid" plans at His feet, as well as to resist snatching them back up once He reveals what He actually has in mind for me!

We walk a dangerous path when we choose not to ask God for His direction and will for our lives. The book of Proverbs even goes as far as to say, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (14:12 AND 16:25. That's right, it appears twice. Must be important then, huh?). Let's face it, God knows what's best for us. The sooner we figure that out and apply it in our daily lives, the better off we'll be and the closer we'll be to Him.

In the ninth chapter of Isaiah, God's people walked the path of arrogance to the point where prophecies of death and destruction were foretold about them. In verse 10, they ignore a message from God that says they are too prideful, and then attempt to rebuild structures using different materials, trading smooth stones for bricks and cedars for sycamores. The Message translation puts it this way: "Things aren't that bad. We can handle anything that comes. If our buildings are knocked down, we'll rebuild them bigger and finer. If our forests are cut down, we'll replant them with finer trees." Rather than turn back to their God who has delivered them time and time again, they ignore His warnings and instead try to prove that they can take care of themselves without His help. All we have to do is read further to see that this arrogance greatly angers God and they encounter the grave consequences of their pride and of their unwillingness to depend on Him. They confirm the truth that we read two different times in Proverbs; their way certainly leads to death.

I'm not saying that if you decide to go play tennis instead of reading your Bible, God's going to strike you down right there on the court mid-serve. However, I am saying that there are always consequences to ignoring God and instead doing what we think is right. We may choose a more precarious path that causes us to stumble, we may walk the path alone instead of with others who could have benefited from our companionship, or we may find ourselves at a dead end and completely lost. Gratefully, God is very merciful and more often than not He disciplines like a father would His child (Deuteronomy 8:5). We serve a God of love, and He disciplines us out of His love for us: "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, therefore be zealous and repent" (Revelation 3:19). Allow Him to teach you through His discipline so in time it will become easier and more second-nature to ask Him for His direction before you take a step. Remember that our ultimate goal in everything we do should be to glorify God; He would know best of all how to help us glorify Him, so why not ask Him first?

"Lead me, O Lord...make straight Your way before me." Psalm 5:8

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord." Isaiah 55:8

"Commit to the Lord whatever You do, and Your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3

Lasting

"If you will not believe, you surely shall not last." Isaiah 7:9a

In the seventh chapter of Isaiah, the prophet is given words from the Lord to give to Ahaz, the king of Judah. Rival kings are threatening Judah with almost-certain invasion and war, and the Lord tells Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah to "take care and be calm" (verse 4), and that ultimately the evil plan "shall not stand nor shall it come to pass" (verse 7). However, He also provides a warning to the king in verse 9, saying "If you will not believe, you surely shall not last."

Interesting word, "last." My bible has a sidenote that says the phrase "be established" can be used in place of it. So if Ahaz does not believe, he shall not "be established." Here we see the true consequences of unbelief: not only will we see our demise (the end), it will be as if we never got established (the beginning) in the first place!

We see something similar in 2 Chronicles 20. In this case, Judah is also facing invasion of their enemies. King Jehoshaphat fervently prays to God before an assembly of his people, saying, "we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You" (verse 12). His prayers are answered when the Spirit of the Lord falls on a man named Jahaziel, who says that this battle is not theirs but the Lord's, and that if they face this great multitude He will be with them (verses 14-17). When the people of Judah go to fight their enemies, Jehoshapat reminds them, "put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed" (verse 20). Appointed worshippers go out before them and praise the name of God, causing their enemies to ultimately destroy one another.

Two different kings facing very similar circumstances. Both instances involve possible conflict, a seemingly hopeless situation, and a call to believe and not fear. Jehoshaphat chose to believe God and to take Him at His word, therefore he succeeded and his kingdom was established in the Lord's name. If we believe God even in the midst of battle, we will be established in His eternal kingdom; what else can possibly last that long?

One more important point. Notice that it was only after the appointed singers started worshipping that their enemies began to destroy each other (see 2 Chronicles 20:21-23). Often God calls us to go that extra mile in the midst of a trial. It is one thing to believe Him, and it is another to believe AND worship Him no matter what the circumstances. We often face difficult situations in order to stretch us and to strenghthen our belief; why not use these times to stretch our worship muscles as well?

This chapter of Isaiah does not reveal the outcome of this impending war against Judah. Without further reading, we can't be sure right now whether Ahaz chooses to take Jehoshaphat's example and believe that God will take care of him, or whether he simply chooses to take matters into his own hands.

One thing is certain, we can all relate to Ahaz's situation. We all endure times of struggle that ultimately lead to a crossroads where the signs read "BELIEF" or "UNBELIEF" and face opposite directions. Which way will you choose?

Holy Stumps

In the sixth chapter of Isaiah, the prophet himself receives a vision from the Lord in which angels cleanse his mouth with coal and tell him his sins are forgiven. And when he hears the voice of the Lord asking, "Whom shall I send?" he readily volunteers. What follows is Isaiah's commission, along with some terrifying prophecies from the Lord.

God describes the majority of people as having "insensitive hearts, dull ears, and dim eyes" that prevent them from understanding His words and returning to be healed (verse 10). Because of their lack of knowledge and their refusal to change the status quo of their hearts, great destruction and desolation will take place until the "forsaken places are many in the midst of the land" (verse 12). However, God then describes a "tenth portion" left behind that actually resonates with the remnant described earlier in Isaiah 4. Here is the verse in its entirety:

"Yet there will be a tenth portion in it [the land], and it will again be subject to burning, like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains when it is felled. The holy seed is its stump" (6:13, NASB).

Notice that this remnant, though surviving the first burning, will suffer a second burning until only the stumps remain. The NIV says "it will again be laid waste," leaving no doubt that this tenth portion will also suffer devastation. Seems kind of hopeless, doesn't it? If it weren't for that last sentence in verse 13, this would indeed be a very somber prophecy. That little sentence, "The holy seed is its stump," offers hope and restoration for God's people.

Consider the idea of "holy seed." My bible references Deuteronomy 7:6 to expand upon this idea. In this verse, God is speaking through Moses in order to tell His people who they are in Him. He says that they are "a holy people to the Lord" and that God has "chosen [them] to be a people for His own possession [or special treasure]." To be "holy" means to be set apart. So in Isaiah's prophecy, those "stumps" with the "holy seed" are not doomed to face complete destruction. Sure, they will undergo painful trials of fire ("subject to second burning"), but they will not be wiped out completely. If the stumps remain, the roots remain. And as long as those roots dig deep into God's love and provision, these stumps will grow and rise up again as God's special treasures. But if the root dig into the dry land of unbelief, bitterness, and hopelessness, the stump will rot.

Maybe you're facing a painful trial right now. Or you're dreading the next painful trial to come. Or you're fearing the most painful trials of all that are sure to come as our prayers hasten the day of the Lord and the tribulations that precede it. This may sound weird, but remember the stumps of Isaiah's vision. They experienced multiple burnings but still contained holy seed, allowing them to grow again as long as their roots were in the right place. Ask Him for renewed eyes and ears to increase your knowledge of Him, as well as a sensitive heart in order to understand and accept that knowledge. Dig deep into His love, allow yourself to be healed, and know that He is never surprised by what happens to us. And though He may allow pain and trials into our lives, He will always leave a remnant for us to grow on. And we will be stronger because of it.

"For there is hope for a tree, when it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and its shoots will not fail." Job 14:7

Good Grapes

"...Then He expected it to produce good grapes, but it produced only worthless ones." Isaiah 5:2

With Isaiah 5 comes a parable of a vineyard. It describes God diligently working in His vineyard, which in the end only produces worthless grapes. So in turn God rebukes His vineyard and leaves it to the weeds (verses 5-6). A similar thing happens in over in the New Testament in which Jesus rebukes a fig tree for not producing fruit, and so it withers and never produces fruit again (Matthew 21:18-19).

For those of us who grew up learning about parables, it's not difficult to deduce the meaning behind this one. Even so, the seventh verse in Isaiah 5 explains it for us anyway: "For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah His delightful plant." So rather than producing good fruit for the Lord, His people are instead producing worthless fruit (or worse, no fruit at all).

Why is this? The conditions for yielding good grapes seem ideal in this vineyard: it's planted on a fertile hill (verse 1), and the Lord Himself has worked within it. He digs all around, removes stones, and above all, He plants the "choicest vine" (verse 2). And it is clear that God expects good fruit to come from His vineyard, as he builds a tower and a wine vat within the vineyard in anticipation of the upcoming harvest (also in verse 2). So we can't blame any of the conditions within the vineyard; indeed, God Himself even asks, "What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have no done in it" (verse 4)?

I think the problem is within the "grapes" themselves. The next group of verses in Isaiah 5 are titled "woes for the wicked" in my Bible (NASB translation). These woes describe the sins of God's people that resulted in their present, "sour grapes" condition. These sins include drunkenness (verses 11-12), pride (verses 15 and 21), lying (verses 18-20), and justifying the sins of others (verse 23). They suffer because of their lack of knowledge of God's righteousness and power (verse 13), and also because they have rejected the law of the One who first planted them (verse 24). These "grapes" were nothing before God chose them for His vineyard, yet they refuse to be anything more if it means depending on Him.

So how are we to be good grapes? The answer comes from Jesus Himself: "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). If we abide in Him, we will bear fruit, and not just any kind of fruit, but the GOOD kind, since Christ is the actual vine we get our nourishment from. This means depending on him, since "the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me" (John 15:4). That would be like a lone branch lying on the soil, fully expecting to grow and bear fruit apart from the vine from which it came. It just doesn't work, and likewise it doesn't work for us, either, if we try to live apart from God. So study His word. Pray often. Develop the gifts He has given you. Resist sin and other temptations. And don't be afraid of God's discipline; He is only "pruning" us so we can bear even more fruit for His glory (John 15:2):

"My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." (John 15:8). May our ultimate concern be to bring glory to His name and to bear GOOD fruit for His kingdom.

The spirit of burning

"When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning..." Isaiah 4:4

The fourth chapter of Isaiah describes a time where God creates and protects a remnant of His children. The above verse caught my eye because my Bible indicated that the phrase "spirit of burning" had a similar occurrence over in the book of Matthew. This time, John the Baptist is the one prophesying. He says of Jesus, "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (3:11).

Two different prophets. Two different testaments. Two different references. Or are they actually very similar? Think about it. In Isaiah 4:4, "purge" also means to "rinse away," which reminds me of what happens during a baptism. Our sin is washed away by Jesus' blood when we believe in His name, and that "rinsing away" is demonstrated further when we are baptized in His name. In a way, we're using water to symbolize how God's fire actually works.

In addition, if you read one verse further in Matthew, you'll see that John the Baptist elaborates on this fire idea; he prophesies that Jesus will "clear His threshing floor" and "burn off the chaff with unquenchable fire" (verse 12). This mirrors with what we read in Isaiah 4; the "filth" and "bloodshed" are basically the chaff that is burned away by God's fire to create His remnant.

Notice the dual result of God's fire: It destroys what is evil, but it also cleanses and refines what is good. It "burns off" our sin and then purifies us so we can be more like Him. The same fire He will use to create His remnant on Mount Zion is the same fire He uses now when He baptizes us with His Holy Spirit.

So what does it mean to be baptized with His fire? The first thing that comes to my mind is POWER. The moment we are baptized with God's fire, we become more powerful for His purposes than we ever thought possible. The same Holy Spirit that fell on the disciples in Acts is the same that dwells in us, and when you read about all that happened AFTER that day of Pentecost, that's pretty incredible. So be confident in the One who gave you this fire and causes it to burn in you still. He has great plans for all of us if we would just allow His fire to work in us and through us for the good of His kingdom. Let His fire burn off the chaff within you so nothing will hold you back from all that He has intended for you. And allow it to cleanse you so you'll become more like Him.

Going up to Zion...

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths..." Isaiah 2:3

Ever sit down to read your Bible and all you can think is, "Shouldn't this feel more like a desire than a duty?" I do. I'm guessing it's a common problem every child of God encounters from time to time. Hectic schedules, family problems, job hassles, and other annoyances often crowd up our day to such an extent that by the time we finally get a chance to sit down, we'd rather watch TV or read a magazine. Studying God's law and learning more about His character doesn't always make it to the top of our to-do lists. And if we do get around to it, we're often too distracted anyway.

The second chapter of Isaiah describes a time in the "last days" where all the nations will gather at the mountain of the house of the Lord. Once they encounter God on this mountain of Zion, their chief concern seems to be learning more about God's laws. They want to become more acquainted with His ways and to "walk in His paths" (verse 3). True, a day of reckoning immediately follows (or perhaps coincides with) this gathering at the mountain, so one might argue that anyone might be more motivated to learn about God's laws in the midst of His terrible judgments. But there are plenty of reasons to study God's Word regardless of what is happening. Here's three of them:

• Learning and obeying God's law brings peace. I don't think it's a coincidence that the next verse in Isaiah describes the aftermath of not only God carrying out His judgment, but also of His people learning about His perfect law: they hammer their weapons into tools and "never again learn war" (verse 4). Knowing who we are in Him is the most peaceful place we can be. It helps us lay down our weapons of distrust and self-pity and to reshape them into tools that can be utilized in His kingdom.
  
• Learning and obeying God's law brings love to others. In fact, under the new covenant set in place by Jesus' death and resurrection, God's law IS all about love! Paul wrote to the Romans that "he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law" (13:8), and in James we learn that if we are obeying God's command to love others, we are "doing well" (2:8). And Jesus told His disciples that people would know that they are His followers if they had love for one another (John 13:35).
• Learning and obeying God's law helps us to work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12). While we are saved by His grace, His law is just as important if we are to know how to carry that salvation out in our daily lives. That's why the people were concerned not only about learning God's law, but also about walking in His paths. God wants us to continually seek Him and to do His will every day of our lives; knowing His laws is pivotal to doing this. That way we know if we're on the right path!

Whether we are reading the Bible, serving others, or just sitting at His feet and listening to Him intently, God can teach us all He wants us to know. We just have to be willing to climb that mountain and make it a priority. Want to climb it with me? :o)

watered-down truth

"Your silver has become dross, your drink diluted with water." Isaiah 1:22

Last night my husband and I started reading Isaiah together. It's a book full of prophetic utterances that are still relevant today in these end times. I skimmed over the above verse without thinking too much about it until my husband highlighted it for me, explaining that the "drink diluted with water" represents the act of diluting the truth with those things that are not true.

You can think of countless examples of this almost immediately. We are told through the media and through (unfortunately) popular opinion that an unborn child is not really alive until it is born, therefore abortion is okay. The production and distribution of pornography is really just "freedom of speech" being carried out. True, there are thousands of people living in poverty in the U.S. alone, but don't worry, take care of yourself. Everyday we are bombarded with some version of the truth, but it is often airbrushed, covered up, masked, or diluted with lies from those with ulterior motives.

The Enemy doesn't want us to seek after the truth, because he knows that it weakens his grip on our hearts and minds. Jesus called Satan the "father of lies" in the book of John, saying that lying is his native language (8:44). I once heard a saying that Satan will often tell us things that are true, but he never tells us the actual truth. Yes, it's TRUE that living here on earth is a struggle, but the TRUTH is that this place is not our home. The Enemy knows that if we only focus on what is "true," we will never go any further than that to seek out the full "truth."

On the other hand, all God tells us is the truth, and that truth is found on every page of His Word. Just take a look at the Gospels and how Jesus spoke to His followers. Go to www.biblegateway.com and type in "Jesus truth" in the keyword search. See how many examples pop up where Jesus says, "I tell you the truth"? And remember John 14:6 where He says He is the way, the TRUTH, and the life? The truth is, God IS the truth. "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill" (Numbers 23:19)?

If we are to be imitators of God, we are to walk not just in His love but in His truth. In a world that constantly presents us with watered-down truth, let us be the ones who are willing to speak God's truth AS IS as His unashamed children.

"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. " Ephesians 4:14-15