Isaiah 53
“Who has believed our report?” It is amazing that we can have the greatest news that anyone could ever receive and yet so many will not believe? It is the old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true.” The Old Testament prophets, the Apostles and the witness of the church could stand and sing in chorus with Isaiah and say, “Who has believed our report?” Isaiah then looks 700 years down the prophetic hallway and describes the beauty of our Lord in His crucifixion and His accomplishment. He did not take the worldly form of leadership that we desired. He took our grief, our infirmities, our sorrows. He paid our sin debt in our place. In doing so, He suffered unimaginable spiritual, emotional, mental and physical pain. The Father asked Him to do this to pay for our sin. He did it because He loved the Father and because He loved us. The result? The Father exalted Him and then gave us to Him. Unbelievable? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Monday, May 23, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
May 19
Isaiah 49
In the last ten days I have received 20 calls for help with electric bill, water bill, gas bill, rent payment or gasoline. It tells me that there is a lot of need out there, a lot of poverty. Now the typical middle class reaction is, “They must be doing something wrong to be in the position that they are in.” Granted, according to middle class values, most of those have made some kind of poor decision(s) that started a chain of events that landed them in that position. But there is a place for mercy, and in a time of need, people are sometimes open to hearing the truth. That is one of the reasons that the poor are blessed. They are open to deliverance.
That is the glory of Jesus as seen in this chapter of Isaiah. He is a deliverer. He is coming to bring relief to His people. Isaiah describes Him as having a sword in His mouth (sounds like John’s revelation). If there is a sword in His mouth, I don’t want to be His enemy. He comes with the strength of His Father. He will be a light to the Gentiles. His salvation shall go to the ends of the earth. Because of His faithfulness, Kings and leaders of the earth will bow down to Him. He shall deliver men from darkness, hunger and thirst. When He comes, He will deliver us permanently from not being able to pay the water bill, electric bill or grocery bill. We will thirst no more, bask in His light and eat at His table. We will no longer need to assist the poor for Jesus will be all that we need. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
In the last ten days I have received 20 calls for help with electric bill, water bill, gas bill, rent payment or gasoline. It tells me that there is a lot of need out there, a lot of poverty. Now the typical middle class reaction is, “They must be doing something wrong to be in the position that they are in.” Granted, according to middle class values, most of those have made some kind of poor decision(s) that started a chain of events that landed them in that position. But there is a place for mercy, and in a time of need, people are sometimes open to hearing the truth. That is one of the reasons that the poor are blessed. They are open to deliverance.
That is the glory of Jesus as seen in this chapter of Isaiah. He is a deliverer. He is coming to bring relief to His people. Isaiah describes Him as having a sword in His mouth (sounds like John’s revelation). If there is a sword in His mouth, I don’t want to be His enemy. He comes with the strength of His Father. He will be a light to the Gentiles. His salvation shall go to the ends of the earth. Because of His faithfulness, Kings and leaders of the earth will bow down to Him. He shall deliver men from darkness, hunger and thirst. When He comes, He will deliver us permanently from not being able to pay the water bill, electric bill or grocery bill. We will thirst no more, bask in His light and eat at His table. We will no longer need to assist the poor for Jesus will be all that we need. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
May 18
Isaiah 48
Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines glory with the following paragraphs.
GLORY — beauty, power, or honor; a quality of God’s character that emphasizes His greatness and authority. The word is used in three senses in the Bible:
1. God’s moral beauty and perfection of character. This divine quality is beyond human understanding (Ps. 113:4). All people “fall short” of it (Rom. 3:23).
2. God’s moral beauty and perfection as a visible presence. While God’s glory is not a substance, at times God does reveal His perfection to humans in a visible way. Such a display of the presence of God is often seen as fire or dazzling light, but sometimes as an act of power. Some examples from the Old Testament are the pillar of cloud and fire (Ex. 13:21), the Lord’s deliverance of the Israelites at the Red Sea (Exodus 14), and especially His glory in the tabernacle (Lev. 9:23–24) and Temple (1 Kin. 8:11).
Since the close of the Old Testament, the glory of God has been shown mainly in Christ (Luke 9:29–32; John 2:11) and in the members of His church. Christ now shares His divine glory with His followers (John 17:5–6, 22), so that in their lives Christians are being transformed into the glorious image of God (2 Cor. 3:18). Believers will be fully glorified at the end of time in God’s heavenly presence (Rom. 5:2; Col. 3:4). There the glory of God will be seen everywhere (Rev. 21:23).
3. Praise. At times God’s glory may mean the honor and audible praise that His creatures give to Him (Ps. 115:1; Rev. 5:12–13).
In verse eleven the Lord says, “I will not give my glory to another.” This is a repeat of Isaiah 42:8 where glory meant the honor and audible praise that should be given Him. In 42:8 it was being given to idols. Here in 48:11 it is in the context of how His glory is displayed through His people. From the very creation of His people Israel, God had intended to display His glory through them. He plagued Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt in order that they would know that He is the Lord (Exodus 7:17). But Israel had become stiff-necked and proud. They had stifled the glory due to the name of the Lord. Indeed they had given that glory to their idols.
Consequently, the Lord asks, “How should My Name be profaned?” He straightens them out by reminding them that He is the first and the last. He is the One who called them. He is the One who will bring the Babylonians and the Chaldeans. He is the One who will humble the Babylonians and the Chaldeans. He is the One who will redeem them. He is the One who causes water to flow from the rock. He waters their thirsty lives. Yet, they gave His glory to idols.
How do we do the same? We do not make idols to which we physically bow down. But we do make idols. We think that our employment or business is that which sustains us and brings us comfort. We develop our careers and invest our money and think that we have built this comfort for ourselves. Or, if you have not yet developed your career our established your wealth, it is indeed that for which you hope. And you hope that you will do it by the power of your own hand. And God does indeed have a career and a job with which He wants to bless you. But it is not just for your enjoyment, it is for His glory. And when that career or wealth is established, we must give credit to Him and use all of our wealth for His glory. The same is true for every area of our lives. It is all for His glory. When we use it otherwise or attribute our accomplishments to ourselves, it is the same as bowing down to an idol, just like Israel did.
I want my life to flow with His glory; don’t you? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines glory with the following paragraphs.
GLORY — beauty, power, or honor; a quality of God’s character that emphasizes His greatness and authority. The word is used in three senses in the Bible:
1. God’s moral beauty and perfection of character. This divine quality is beyond human understanding (Ps. 113:4). All people “fall short” of it (Rom. 3:23).
2. God’s moral beauty and perfection as a visible presence. While God’s glory is not a substance, at times God does reveal His perfection to humans in a visible way. Such a display of the presence of God is often seen as fire or dazzling light, but sometimes as an act of power. Some examples from the Old Testament are the pillar of cloud and fire (Ex. 13:21), the Lord’s deliverance of the Israelites at the Red Sea (Exodus 14), and especially His glory in the tabernacle (Lev. 9:23–24) and Temple (1 Kin. 8:11).
Since the close of the Old Testament, the glory of God has been shown mainly in Christ (Luke 9:29–32; John 2:11) and in the members of His church. Christ now shares His divine glory with His followers (John 17:5–6, 22), so that in their lives Christians are being transformed into the glorious image of God (2 Cor. 3:18). Believers will be fully glorified at the end of time in God’s heavenly presence (Rom. 5:2; Col. 3:4). There the glory of God will be seen everywhere (Rev. 21:23).
3. Praise. At times God’s glory may mean the honor and audible praise that His creatures give to Him (Ps. 115:1; Rev. 5:12–13).
In verse eleven the Lord says, “I will not give my glory to another.” This is a repeat of Isaiah 42:8 where glory meant the honor and audible praise that should be given Him. In 42:8 it was being given to idols. Here in 48:11 it is in the context of how His glory is displayed through His people. From the very creation of His people Israel, God had intended to display His glory through them. He plagued Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt in order that they would know that He is the Lord (Exodus 7:17). But Israel had become stiff-necked and proud. They had stifled the glory due to the name of the Lord. Indeed they had given that glory to their idols.
Consequently, the Lord asks, “How should My Name be profaned?” He straightens them out by reminding them that He is the first and the last. He is the One who called them. He is the One who will bring the Babylonians and the Chaldeans. He is the One who will humble the Babylonians and the Chaldeans. He is the One who will redeem them. He is the One who causes water to flow from the rock. He waters their thirsty lives. Yet, they gave His glory to idols.
How do we do the same? We do not make idols to which we physically bow down. But we do make idols. We think that our employment or business is that which sustains us and brings us comfort. We develop our careers and invest our money and think that we have built this comfort for ourselves. Or, if you have not yet developed your career our established your wealth, it is indeed that for which you hope. And you hope that you will do it by the power of your own hand. And God does indeed have a career and a job with which He wants to bless you. But it is not just for your enjoyment, it is for His glory. And when that career or wealth is established, we must give credit to Him and use all of our wealth for His glory. The same is true for every area of our lives. It is all for His glory. When we use it otherwise or attribute our accomplishments to ourselves, it is the same as bowing down to an idol, just like Israel did.
I want my life to flow with His glory; don’t you? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Monday, May 16, 2011
May 16
Isaiah 46
Some years ago I was talking with a fellow pastor, whom I considered to be conservative theologically like myself. He made a statement that really surprised me. It was out of character for a conservative evangelical. He said something to the effect of, “I don’t really see anything more godly about capitalism than socialism. I think socialism could work just as effectively as capitalism if Christians were in charge.” I have thought about that for years. Certainly over the last 50 years our country has become increasingly more socialistic and less capitalistic. But if there were a patron god for red-neck Oklahoma, what would it be? Some might say that it would be Jesus. I would certainly disagree; at least he would not be the Jesus of the Bible. Some might say that it would be that we live in a democratic republic. I think that is true of some people. Some might say that it is our sense that we should be the policemen of the world. I think that is true of some people; otherwise, why are we in Iraq and Afghanistan? Perhaps for some it is a god of war. Some might worship a god of education. That is probably true of many in Stillwater, home of OSU.
It is interesting that Isaiah addresses the gods of Babylon in this chapter.
The Babylonian god Bel (Is. 46:1; Jer. 50:2; 51:44) is the same as Marduk, the chief Babylonian god. The Babylonian god Merodach (Jer. 50:2), an alternate spelling of Marduk, was the god of war and the patron deity of the city of Babylon. Nebo (Is. 46:1) was the Babylonian god of education, literature, writing, wisdom, the arts, and sciences. The special seat of his worship was at Borsippa, near Babylon. The Akkadian form of his name is Nabu.
The Lord says that He will make Bel bow down and Nebo stoop. He eventually did that in history. Babylon is no more. He makes a point to emphasize that He will carry His people and bring us to a place where we will no longer have any idols. He declares that He is God and there is no other. There is none like Him. He warns us who are stubborn hearted that He is bringing His righteousness near. We need to avail ourselves of it while it is available. He brings us salvation for His glory, not our own.
Let us lay down our gods of economic systems, desires to be right in our own eyes, to be the wisest in the world. None of those things will save us; only His glory can transform us. Oh Lord Jesus, how I need You! Come and work Your glory in my life! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Some years ago I was talking with a fellow pastor, whom I considered to be conservative theologically like myself. He made a statement that really surprised me. It was out of character for a conservative evangelical. He said something to the effect of, “I don’t really see anything more godly about capitalism than socialism. I think socialism could work just as effectively as capitalism if Christians were in charge.” I have thought about that for years. Certainly over the last 50 years our country has become increasingly more socialistic and less capitalistic. But if there were a patron god for red-neck Oklahoma, what would it be? Some might say that it would be Jesus. I would certainly disagree; at least he would not be the Jesus of the Bible. Some might say that it would be that we live in a democratic republic. I think that is true of some people. Some might say that it is our sense that we should be the policemen of the world. I think that is true of some people; otherwise, why are we in Iraq and Afghanistan? Perhaps for some it is a god of war. Some might worship a god of education. That is probably true of many in Stillwater, home of OSU.
It is interesting that Isaiah addresses the gods of Babylon in this chapter.
The Babylonian god Bel (Is. 46:1; Jer. 50:2; 51:44) is the same as Marduk, the chief Babylonian god. The Babylonian god Merodach (Jer. 50:2), an alternate spelling of Marduk, was the god of war and the patron deity of the city of Babylon. Nebo (Is. 46:1) was the Babylonian god of education, literature, writing, wisdom, the arts, and sciences. The special seat of his worship was at Borsippa, near Babylon. The Akkadian form of his name is Nabu.
The Lord says that He will make Bel bow down and Nebo stoop. He eventually did that in history. Babylon is no more. He makes a point to emphasize that He will carry His people and bring us to a place where we will no longer have any idols. He declares that He is God and there is no other. There is none like Him. He warns us who are stubborn hearted that He is bringing His righteousness near. We need to avail ourselves of it while it is available. He brings us salvation for His glory, not our own.
Let us lay down our gods of economic systems, desires to be right in our own eyes, to be the wisest in the world. None of those things will save us; only His glory can transform us. Oh Lord Jesus, how I need You! Come and work Your glory in my life! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Thursday, May 12, 2011
May 12
Isaiah 42
Wow! There is so much in this chapter that we could meditate upon. I could spend weeks writing upon this one chapter alone! This is one of the classic Servant passages of Isaiah that clearly speaks of the Messiah and therefore of the Lord Jesus Christ. First of all, He is the elect or chosen one of God. I remember in ninth grade going out for the basketball team. I finally had started growing, but I was growing so much that my coordination was really off. I was so bad at basketball that I was the only one who went out for the team that never even suited up for a game. I was so bad that the coach wouldn’t even let me warm the bench. During practice we would occasionally divide up into different squads and scrimmage. Coach would sometimes choose captains and let them pick the teams. I was always the last one chosen, and usually there was some grumbling that I had to be on their team. There was one time when the team asked coach if they could just play without me. I knew who would usually be chosen first (because their talent was revealed in how they played), and I knew who would always be chosen last (because my lack of talent was revealed in how I played). Jesus was chosen by the Father before the foundation of the world. Were there others that the Father could have chosen from? No, (unlike Mormon theology) there were not any others. Then how is that a choice? He could have chosen to not send Him at all. In which case, we would be forever lost. But He is God’s elect, His chosen one. Now that is glory!
Note that the Father delights in Him. His soul delights in Him. Have you ever felt that your earthly father delighted in you? You are fortunate if you did. All of us grew up craving the delight of our earthly father. Sometimes we did not feel that delight, sometimes we did. For some people we were made to feel secure in His delight. For others we were not too sure of that delight. It may because our fathers did not know how to communicate it, or it may because we did not know how to receive it, or it may be because of a combination of both. For others they knew there was no delight, and because there was no delight, they fell into various vices in order to fill the empty spot. But the Heavenly Father is infinitely delighted in the Servant, His Son. It is interesting to note that two of the three times the Gospels record the Father speaking from heaven that He expressly says, “This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased!” (Matt 3:17; 1&:5; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22; 2 Peter 1:17). Wow! God the Father is exceptionally well pleased with the Son, Jesus the Messiah. How affirming that must have been to Jesus. You know most everything that is true of Jesus, is true of those that are in Him. Are you lacking your earthly Father’s delight? Remember that if you are in Jesus, the Heavenly Father delights in you because of the Son!
Note also that the Father put His Spirit upon the Son. Everything Jesus did in the flesh, He did in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was God. Why did He need the Spirit? There are several answers to that question, but the answer that I like to cling to is that, because everything that Jesus did as a man, He did in the power of the Holy Spirit, it then makes me aware that is possible that if He puts His Spirit upon me then I can do the same works as He did and even greater works. Wow, His glory takes into account the power to change me so that I can live as He did! Why do I grovel with lesser things? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Wow! There is so much in this chapter that we could meditate upon. I could spend weeks writing upon this one chapter alone! This is one of the classic Servant passages of Isaiah that clearly speaks of the Messiah and therefore of the Lord Jesus Christ. First of all, He is the elect or chosen one of God. I remember in ninth grade going out for the basketball team. I finally had started growing, but I was growing so much that my coordination was really off. I was so bad at basketball that I was the only one who went out for the team that never even suited up for a game. I was so bad that the coach wouldn’t even let me warm the bench. During practice we would occasionally divide up into different squads and scrimmage. Coach would sometimes choose captains and let them pick the teams. I was always the last one chosen, and usually there was some grumbling that I had to be on their team. There was one time when the team asked coach if they could just play without me. I knew who would usually be chosen first (because their talent was revealed in how they played), and I knew who would always be chosen last (because my lack of talent was revealed in how I played). Jesus was chosen by the Father before the foundation of the world. Were there others that the Father could have chosen from? No, (unlike Mormon theology) there were not any others. Then how is that a choice? He could have chosen to not send Him at all. In which case, we would be forever lost. But He is God’s elect, His chosen one. Now that is glory!
Note that the Father delights in Him. His soul delights in Him. Have you ever felt that your earthly father delighted in you? You are fortunate if you did. All of us grew up craving the delight of our earthly father. Sometimes we did not feel that delight, sometimes we did. For some people we were made to feel secure in His delight. For others we were not too sure of that delight. It may because our fathers did not know how to communicate it, or it may because we did not know how to receive it, or it may be because of a combination of both. For others they knew there was no delight, and because there was no delight, they fell into various vices in order to fill the empty spot. But the Heavenly Father is infinitely delighted in the Servant, His Son. It is interesting to note that two of the three times the Gospels record the Father speaking from heaven that He expressly says, “This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased!” (Matt 3:17; 1&:5; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22; 2 Peter 1:17). Wow! God the Father is exceptionally well pleased with the Son, Jesus the Messiah. How affirming that must have been to Jesus. You know most everything that is true of Jesus, is true of those that are in Him. Are you lacking your earthly Father’s delight? Remember that if you are in Jesus, the Heavenly Father delights in you because of the Son!
Note also that the Father put His Spirit upon the Son. Everything Jesus did in the flesh, He did in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was God. Why did He need the Spirit? There are several answers to that question, but the answer that I like to cling to is that, because everything that Jesus did as a man, He did in the power of the Holy Spirit, it then makes me aware that is possible that if He puts His Spirit upon me then I can do the same works as He did and even greater works. Wow, His glory takes into account the power to change me so that I can live as He did! Why do I grovel with lesser things? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Friday, May 6, 2011
May 6
Isaiah 36
The Rabshakeh was partially right. Hezekiah had torn down some altars. Listen to 2 Kings 18:4:
He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan.
First, Hezekiah removed the high places. So what is so wrong with having high places? Originally, the Lord had instructed the people that they should only bring their sacrifices to the door of the tabernacle. (See Leviticus especially chapter 4.) The purpose for that was so that the Levites and Priests could instruct the people in the knowledge of the Lord. But in a day when travel was mostly by foot, going to the tabernacle was too difficult to spend days travelling in order to worship the Lord. I am sure it was much easier to incorporate some of the ways of the Canaanites to worship Yahweh. Why not just worship the Lord where it was convenient. Why not just worship the Lord on a nearby hill or mountain. After all, the hills and mountains are closer to the heavens. Why travel for days to the tabernacle? So many began sacrificing, as did their neighbors, on the high places around them.
Second, Hezekiah tore down the altars. Centuries before when the children of Israel needed something to help them focus upon the Lord at their high places, what were they to use? Well, their neighbors used poles to help them worship. The poles represented the male sexual organ. The reason for that symbol was to represent fertility. What they wanted more than anything else was for God to bless them in their fields, fertility. That was the road to health, wealth and prosperity. If Yahweh was the true God, would He not be the one who blesses them with fertility. But they had not been coming to the tabernacle to be taught by the Levites and Priests. Consequently they did not believe that they were transgressing the Lord’s commands, particularly the one found in Lev. 26:1-2:
‘You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God. 2 You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD.
It is not clear how much the people understood of Hezekiah’s righteous acts. But it is clear he understood his acts. As the enemy always does, he twists the righteous acts and teaching of a man to cause ‘believers’ to turn on the truth. The Rabshakeh points out that Hezekiah has torn down these altars and poles. And he uses that knowledge to threaten the people of God. The Rabshakeh had defeated all of the Northern Nation of Israel. He had invaded most of the Southern Nation of Judah and now surrounded Jerusalem. What would the people do? What would Hezekaih do? The Rabshakeh appeals to them to use common sense and surrender to him. Can Yahweh truly deliver?
Today the Enemy has surrounded the church. The church has in many senses fallen into the way the world worships. We use it to approach our holy God. What do we do? If it is not of God, it should be torn down. If we do not, He will, Lev 26:30,31. How can we discern what is of God and what is not? The leaders on the Jerusalem wall said not a word. They took the Rabshakeh’s message to Isaiah. What would he do? He sought God for this was an issue concerning God’s glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
The Rabshakeh was partially right. Hezekiah had torn down some altars. Listen to 2 Kings 18:4:
He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan.
First, Hezekiah removed the high places. So what is so wrong with having high places? Originally, the Lord had instructed the people that they should only bring their sacrifices to the door of the tabernacle. (See Leviticus especially chapter 4.) The purpose for that was so that the Levites and Priests could instruct the people in the knowledge of the Lord. But in a day when travel was mostly by foot, going to the tabernacle was too difficult to spend days travelling in order to worship the Lord. I am sure it was much easier to incorporate some of the ways of the Canaanites to worship Yahweh. Why not just worship the Lord where it was convenient. Why not just worship the Lord on a nearby hill or mountain. After all, the hills and mountains are closer to the heavens. Why travel for days to the tabernacle? So many began sacrificing, as did their neighbors, on the high places around them.
Second, Hezekiah tore down the altars. Centuries before when the children of Israel needed something to help them focus upon the Lord at their high places, what were they to use? Well, their neighbors used poles to help them worship. The poles represented the male sexual organ. The reason for that symbol was to represent fertility. What they wanted more than anything else was for God to bless them in their fields, fertility. That was the road to health, wealth and prosperity. If Yahweh was the true God, would He not be the one who blesses them with fertility. But they had not been coming to the tabernacle to be taught by the Levites and Priests. Consequently they did not believe that they were transgressing the Lord’s commands, particularly the one found in Lev. 26:1-2:
‘You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God. 2 You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD.
It is not clear how much the people understood of Hezekiah’s righteous acts. But it is clear he understood his acts. As the enemy always does, he twists the righteous acts and teaching of a man to cause ‘believers’ to turn on the truth. The Rabshakeh points out that Hezekiah has torn down these altars and poles. And he uses that knowledge to threaten the people of God. The Rabshakeh had defeated all of the Northern Nation of Israel. He had invaded most of the Southern Nation of Judah and now surrounded Jerusalem. What would the people do? What would Hezekaih do? The Rabshakeh appeals to them to use common sense and surrender to him. Can Yahweh truly deliver?
Today the Enemy has surrounded the church. The church has in many senses fallen into the way the world worships. We use it to approach our holy God. What do we do? If it is not of God, it should be torn down. If we do not, He will, Lev 26:30,31. How can we discern what is of God and what is not? The leaders on the Jerusalem wall said not a word. They took the Rabshakeh’s message to Isaiah. What would he do? He sought God for this was an issue concerning God’s glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
May 4
Isaiah 34
“John Brown’s body lies a ‘mouldering in his grave. . . “ Some union soldiers were singing the song in their camp in Virginia. Julia Ward Howe and others were visiting the camp. A clergyman asked Julia to write new words to the song. The result was a poem, published first in the Atlantic Monthly, called, The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The lyrics replaced the “John Brown’s body. . . ,” lyrics in the familiar tune. Most of us are familiar with the first verse:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.
Mrs. Howe took the Apocalyptic concept of the Scripture and applied it to the Civil War situation. I guess the Civil War was a necessary evil. It did produce the freeing of slaves, but it also produced a hatred in the country that has still not been completely healed. The war probably was an outcome of the wrath of God upon the country for the sin of the nation in allowing slavery. Is God’s glory seen in His wrath?
Isaiah 34 speaks of the Apocalyptic wrath of God as it is poured out upon the earth. Yes, His glory is seen there. His glory is also seen in the depths of Hell. How? God’s justice is displayed there. God’s justice will be displayed at Armageddon. I feel uncomfortable with it. It scares me. Yet, I acknowledge that it is logically necessary. There is a Holy God. Since there is an Eternal Holy God, a sin stands eternally before Him. If He is holy, then He must eternally punish that sin. Otherwise, His justice is mocked. Therefore, He eternally judges sin because His holiness demands it. If He did not judge, He would be neither just nor holy. That is part of His glory. So, when I hear people criticize the Bible because they say that the God of the O.T. is too harsh, I cringe. If He were not harsh toward sin, He would not be holy. If He were not holy, I would want none of Him. Yes, His wrath reveals His glory, but thanks be to God, His mercy triumphs over judgment in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because Jesus is the Eternal God-man, He was able to bear eternal death upon the cross and in the grave in my place. He justly extends mercy to me when I cling to Him upon the cross. Does the wrath of the apocalypse or Hell bother you? It shouldn’t bother you anymore than does the cross. It is part of His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
“John Brown’s body lies a ‘mouldering in his grave. . . “ Some union soldiers were singing the song in their camp in Virginia. Julia Ward Howe and others were visiting the camp. A clergyman asked Julia to write new words to the song. The result was a poem, published first in the Atlantic Monthly, called, The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The lyrics replaced the “John Brown’s body. . . ,” lyrics in the familiar tune. Most of us are familiar with the first verse:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.
Mrs. Howe took the Apocalyptic concept of the Scripture and applied it to the Civil War situation. I guess the Civil War was a necessary evil. It did produce the freeing of slaves, but it also produced a hatred in the country that has still not been completely healed. The war probably was an outcome of the wrath of God upon the country for the sin of the nation in allowing slavery. Is God’s glory seen in His wrath?
Isaiah 34 speaks of the Apocalyptic wrath of God as it is poured out upon the earth. Yes, His glory is seen there. His glory is also seen in the depths of Hell. How? God’s justice is displayed there. God’s justice will be displayed at Armageddon. I feel uncomfortable with it. It scares me. Yet, I acknowledge that it is logically necessary. There is a Holy God. Since there is an Eternal Holy God, a sin stands eternally before Him. If He is holy, then He must eternally punish that sin. Otherwise, His justice is mocked. Therefore, He eternally judges sin because His holiness demands it. If He did not judge, He would be neither just nor holy. That is part of His glory. So, when I hear people criticize the Bible because they say that the God of the O.T. is too harsh, I cringe. If He were not harsh toward sin, He would not be holy. If He were not holy, I would want none of Him. Yes, His wrath reveals His glory, but thanks be to God, His mercy triumphs over judgment in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because Jesus is the Eternal God-man, He was able to bear eternal death upon the cross and in the grave in my place. He justly extends mercy to me when I cling to Him upon the cross. Does the wrath of the apocalypse or Hell bother you? It shouldn’t bother you anymore than does the cross. It is part of His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
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