an end by fire and sword

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

August 2015 (11)Isaiah 66:12-17

12 Because this is what Yahveh says: I will extend wholeness to her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like a stream overflowing; and you will nurse and be carried on her side, and rocked back and forth on her knees. 13 Like a mother calms her child, that is how I will calm you; you in Jerusalem will experience this calm. 14 You will see, and your heart will rejoice; your bodies will flourish like the vegetation; and it will be known that the hand of Yahveh is with his servants, and his indignation is against his enemies. 15 Because you will watch Yahveh come in fire, and his chariots like the storm wind, to pay back his anger in fury, and his rebuke in flames of fire. 16 Because Yahveh will execute judgment by fire, and by his sword, on all flesh; and those slain by Yahveh will be numerous. 17 Those enemies who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following the one in the centre, eating the meat of pigs, detestable things, and mice, will come to an end together, says Yahveh.

an end by fire and sword

God’s enemies had all kinds of rituals and ceremonies by which they sanctified themselves so they could enter their “holy” places and worship their gods. The righteous remnant in Judah detested those religious practices, and so did Yahveh. He promised a day of calm and protection for his true followers, but an day of judgment and destruction for all who lived falsely. His enemies would be destroyed by fire and sword. They would come to an end together.

Many teach that God cannot do this. They think that God has created all his human creatures with asbestos at our core. None can really come to an end, because God has made us endless. Don’t believe it. Hell is terrifying, not because it is perpetual, but because it is permanent. It should be feared not because it will be an on-going process, but because it will result in everlasting destruction. That is the fate of all God’s enemies. But our LORD has provided a resurrection unto an eternal life of wholeness and calm for his own. Seek him, or suffer his punishment and come to an eternal end.

LORD, we seek you. We know the fate you have planned for all those who rebel against you. We also know your promise to those who seek you, and we want to be in that number.

Posted in conditional immortality, destruction in hell, judgment, wrath of God | Tagged | Leave a comment

the “show me” State

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

August 2015 (10)Isaiah 66:5-11

5 Listen to this word from Yahveh, you who are anxious about keeping his word: Your own people who hate you and exclude you for my name’s sake have said, “Let Yahveh show his glory, so that we may see why you are joyful”; but it is they who will be put to shame. 6 Listen, an uproar from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of Yahveh, dealing retribution to his enemies! 7 Before she was in labour she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son. 8 Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be delivered in one moment? Yet as soon as Zion was in labour she delivered her children. 9 Will I open the womb and not deliver? says Yahveh; will I, the one who delivers, shut the womb? says your God. 10 Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her with joy, all you who are mourning over her– 11 to testify that you will nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious full breast.

the “show me” State

Long before Missouri, Israel was the “show me” State, but it was not a compliment. The atheistic Jews looked at the righteous remnant and dared them to show evidence of the glory of Yahveh. They said, sarcastically “Let Yahveh show his glory, so that we may see why you are joyful.” But they really didn’t mean it. Yahveh was going to prove his existence to them, but in a coming destruction. Meanwhile the righteous remnant of true believers within that nation are urged to keep rejoicing in the future deliverance. It will be like Jerusalem has given birth in a day. And the joy in worship that true believers show in anticipation of that deliverance is a testimony of faith in its sure coming.

There are plenty of “show me” sceptics today. They also demand proof before they will ever acknowledge the claims of true believers. The proof that we have to show them is the joy of the anticipated deliverance that is coming. Even if the residence of the “show me” State do not get it, and brand us all as lunatics, we should keep singing. The king is coming!

LORD, come and deliver your holy city. We will keep singing with joy as we watch for your return.

Posted in joy, new birth, second coming, worship | Tagged | Leave a comment

revival is not enough

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

August 2015 (9)Isaiah 66:1-4

1 Thus says Yahveh: The sky is my throne and the land is my footstool; where is this house that you would build for me, and where is this — my resting place? 2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine already, says Yahveh. But this is the one to whom I will show regard to, to the humble and contrite in spirit, who is anxious about keeping my word. 3 Whoever merely slaughters an ox is like one who kills a human being; whoever merely sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering, like one who offers swine’s blood; whoever makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and their souls take pleasure in their detested things; 4 I will choose to mistreat them too, and bring upon them what they are terrified of; because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; instead they did what was evil while I looked on, and whatever did not please me, that is what they chose.

revival is not enough

Isaiah’s people longed for a revival and to go back to the glory days of the temple. But this brave prophet speaks to these people and warns them that mere revival is not enough. The LORD wants a people who do not merely go through the motions. He wants a people who respect him so much that they are anxious to obey all of his words. These descendants of Abraham had chosen to walk both roads at the same time, and it has led to disaster for them. So, it will not be enough for them to return to the glory of the old days. They need more than revival. They need a new heart, a loyal heart that seeks only those things that please their God.

This generation also has those who long for the old days, and sometimes I am one of them. I see all the changes taking place in society and I wonder if there is any hope for us. But the last thing I should do is fixate on a past time and try to recreate it. The soul within me longs for a stronger relationship with God, and I know when I find it – all my past experiences will pale in comparison.

LORD, we will not settle for a return to the glory days of the past. Create in us new hearts that beat with a stronger relationship with you.

Posted in commitment, obedience, relationship with God, renewal | Tagged | Leave a comment

progeny blessed by Yahveh

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

August 2015 (8)Isaiah 65:23-25

23 They will not struggle for nothing, nor bear children for disaster; because they will be progeny blessed by Yahveh– and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer, while they are still speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, the lion will eat crushed stalks like the ox; but the snake– its food will be dust! They will not injure or destroy on all my holy mountain, says Yahveh.

progeny blessed by Yahveh

There is no heartache like that of a parent who has no hope for his children. Year after year, a father sees his son make mistakes which set the stage for further pain and disappointment. Isaiah promised a future where the children would be blessed by their God. The change in them would produce a protected society, where no harm came to the innocent. The most important change will be in the people’s relationship with God. He will not seem distant. As soon as they start praying the sons of Israel will start receiving their God’s answer.

Let us not be too quick to relegate all of these promises to some ultimate heavenly destiny. Isaiah is speaking of a time when evil still exists, struggling still exists, and the saints are still marrying and bearing children. So, let us not be too quick to ignore this text’s promise as if it only applied to a future time. Isaiah’s purpose for sharing these words was to encourage his people to raise children who are so blessed. I know the joy of children who are raising their children in the LORD. I pray that you will know that joy as well. In a fallen world, we will never gain utopia. But we can know that joy.

LORD, we pray for our children and grandchildren. Show them your light, that they may walk in it, and defy the darkness of their generation. Bless them, LORD.

Posted in family, future, holiness, relationship with God | Tagged | Leave a comment

the days of a tree

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

August 2015 (7)Isaiah 65:18-22

18 But rejoice and keep shouting joyfully over what I am creating; because I am creating Jerusalem as a reason to rejoice, and its people as a joy. 19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem, and have joy because of my people; the sound of weeping will be heard in it no more, nor the cry of distress. 20 No more will there be in it a nursing infant who lives only a few days, nor an old person who does not live out a lifetime; because one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. 21 They will build houses and inhabit them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They will not build for someone else to inhabit; they will not plant for someone else to eat; because the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, and my chosen will get long use from the work of their hands.

the days of a tree

I recently enjoyed another walk among the Redwoods in Rotorua, New Zealand. Some of the trees there are quite old, and we saw one which has a memorial plaque dedicating it to the memory of one of the forest’s early developers. These trees are designed to last. Isaiah knew trees like that. His message from the LORD spoke of a renewal in Jerusalem. He spoke of an era when the inhabitants of that city would not see the disappointments that they saw in Isaiah’s day. He promised them a new place where everyone would live lives that lasted – like a tree.

· Infants would not die before getting a chance to live in that wonderful place.

· Old people would know the security of a long life filled with joy.

· Builders would enjoy the homes they build.

· Planters would enjoy the harvest of their crops.

These promises are just examples of the new age, and the new Jerusalem that God is creating for his people. The promises are there to get us through the difficulties and disappointments of living in this age, when things almost never go as planned.

Isaiah tells us that we do not need to wait for those promises to be fulfilled. We should start rejoicing now, because God is in the process of creating a new dwelling place for his people. That new Jerusalem is being prepared for us now, and will come down from the sky. But God’s word for us now is to start rejoicing now, while we wait.

LORD, give us the faith to worship in response to your promise – to rejoice while we wait.

Posted in faith, future, joy, worship | Tagged | Leave a comment

the real God

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

August 2015 (6)Isaiah 65:13-17

13 Therefore thus says the Lord Yahveh: Watch, my servants. They will eat, but you will be hungry; my servants will drink, but you will be thirsty; my servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame; 14 my servants will shout because of a joyful of heart, but you will cry out for pain of heart, and will wail for anguish of spirit. 15 You will leave your name to my chosen to use as a curse, and the Lord Yahveh will put you to death; but to his servants he will give a different name. 16 Then whoever invokes a blessing in the land will bless by the real God, and whoever takes an oath in the land will swear by the real God; because the past plight will be forgotten and hidden from my sight. 17 Because I am about to create new sky and a new land; the past things will not be remembered or come to mind.

the real God

The LORD predicts through Isaiah a time when a new people will worship the true God, the real God in the land. It will be a new land and a new sky, a third sky. This new people will be the descendants (either physically or spiritually) of the old people – the people who now call themselves by his name. But these new people will not know the past plight. They will not know the hypocrisy and syncretism that is making Isaiah’s generation idolaters. God is going to create a new sky and a new land for them. Christians are used to terminology like this from Revelation 21:1-2. But that image should cause us to reflect back on this text. The newness of our future will involve a cosmic re-creation, but it is primarily a promise of a new and genuine relationship with God.

LORD, make us so new that we no longer remember the old ways, the old hypocrisy and evil.

Posted in genuineness, hypocrisy, integrity, new birth | Tagged | Leave a comment

choices matter

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

August 2015 (5)Isaiah 65:6-12

6 Watch, it is written before me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will really repay into their laps 7 their iniquities and their ancestors’ iniquities together, says Yahveh; because they offered incense on the mountains and reviled me on the hills, I will measure into their money pouches full payment for their actions. 8 Thus says Yahveh: Like the wine is found in the cluster, and they say, “Do not destroy it, because there might be a blessing in it,” so I will do for my servants’ sake, and not destroy them all. 9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah inheritors of my mountains; my chosen will inherit it, and my servants will settle there. 10 Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for my people who have sought me. 11 But you who forsake Yahveh, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fate and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny; 12 I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter; because, when I called, you did not answer, when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my sight, and chose what did not please me.

choices matter

Isaiah’s generation had made the wrong choices, and it mattered to God. By their wrong choices, they had settled their destiny. Yahveh would bring his judgment upon them, but not destroy them completely. Because he also has made choices. He has decided to bless the world through this people. If this generation would not step up to the plate and be a blessing, then it would be another. But one day all the nations would be blessed by these people. The king of kings would come from them. A people who choose to serve God will settle in his land, and spread his word throughout the planet.

LORD, make us a people known for our right choices; our commitment to you.

Posted in commitment, relationship with God, sovereignty of God | Tagged | Leave a comment

aggravating God

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

August 2015 (4)Isaiah 65:1-5

1 I allowed myself to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that did not call on my name. 2 I stretched out my hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk on a road that is not good, following their own plans; 3 a people who aggravate me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and offering incense on bricks; 4 who sit inside tombs, and spend the night in secret places; who eat swine’s flesh, with a stew of repulsive things in their spoons; 5 who say, “Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.” These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns me all day.

aggravating God

The LORD speaks of his relationship with his people here, and it is not a happy relationship. He has made his presence known to them, saying “Here I am, here I am,” and they pretended to acknowledge his existence. But the things that they chose to do told a different story.

  • First, they rejected the road he had prescribed for them to travel, choosing their own plans, not those laid out in his covenant.
  • Next, they deliberately flirted with the nations around them, taking up their secret religious magic practices, which aggravated and irritated the LORD.
  • They even adopted some of the cultural and ethnic practices, like eating the food which was not acceptable for a Jew under the covenant. This was a deliberate choice which was a consistent irritation to God.
  • All the while, they pretended to be a holy, separated people, and prided themselves on being different that the nations around them. This aggravated God for two reasons: it was hypocrisy, because they had stopped being so much different that these people when they chose their own road, and it served to prevent these other nations from seeing God and seeking after him as well.

Look at your lifestyle. Is it pleasing to your maker, or aggravating to him? You say that you have repented, but has it resulted in a life that your LORD would be pleased with? Reform, don’t hide behind a name, and keep living like a pagan! Such a lifestyle is hypocrisy, and it irritates God.

LORD, forgive us for taking our own road, living like those around us who have no relationship with you, and pretending to be holy when we are not. Show us how to reflect your righteousness, so that we draw others to you, and stop aggravating you.

Posted in commitment, discipleship, hypocrisy, relationship with God, repentance | Tagged | Leave a comment

the stalemate

Posted on August 3, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

August 2015 (3)Isaiah 64:7-12

7 There is no one calling on your name, or stirring himself to take hold of you; because you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand we deserve for our iniquity. 8 Yet, O Yahveh, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9 Do not be exceedingly angry, O Yahveh, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people. 10 Your holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a deserted place. 11 Our holy and glorious house, where our fathers praised you, has been burned by fire, and all our enjoyable places have become ruins. 12 After all this, will you restrain yourself, O Yahveh? Will you keep quiet, and oppress us so severely?[1]

the stalemate

Isaiah laments a long period of waiting for God to act, a period that seems like forever. He describes that awful time using the word oppression – a word that the Israelites are so familiar with. He is equating God’s quietness with the harsh reality of oppression by foreign rule. In his mind, they are one and the same. The very reason these foreign rulers can have dominion over the Israelites is that their God has refused to intervene.

Isaiah knows that God is good, and he knows that God can intervene. That is why this long period of silence and lack of demonstration of God’s power is so intolerable to him. Isaiah also knows that this intolerable time is not Yahveh’s fault. He freely admits that this time of God’s hidden face is directly due to the people’s own sins. Sin creates distance, and distance creates more sin. What can happen to overcome such a stalemate? Stay tuned. The New Testament is coming.

LORD, we are calling on your name. We are stirring ourselves to take hold of you. We come to you through the Way that you have provided – Jesus Christ, your Son and our deliverer.

[1] verses 7-12 are verses 6-11 in the Hebrew.

Posted in commitment, dependence upon God, future, Isaiah, prayer | Tagged | Leave a comment

confessions of the fallen

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

August 2015 (2)Isaiah 64:1-6

1 O that you would tear open the sky and come down, so that the mountains would shake at your face–[1] 2 like when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil– to make your name known to your enemies, so that the nations would scurry at your presence! 3 When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains shook at your face. 4 From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God except you, who works for those who wait for him. 5 You encounter those who enjoy doing right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. 6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous works are like a menstrual cloth. We all fall like a leaf, and our iniquities sweep us away like the wind.[2]

confessions of the fallen

After Isaiah had complained to God that his people are far from the righteousness he expected, he now confesses just exactly how that happened. He wishes that God would make another one of his amazing miraculous encounters, like he did in the old days. But he also know that God chooses to encounter those who enjoy doing right and remember his ways. That is hardly the case for Isaiah’s generation. Instead, Isaiah confesses that God became angry and hid himself, and the people got lost in their own disobedience. Now, they are like a leaf that has fallen, and is swept away by those same sins. Any attempt at works of righteousness, or works of law, is like a woman putting on a menstrual cloth during her period. It merely covers, but does not cleanse. That is how Isaiah sees his generation. It is very much like this generation, isn’t it?

LORD, we do not deserve a miraculous encounter. But we need you. Come and rescue us from our own sinfulness and neglect of your ways!

[1] this verse is part of 63:19 in the Hebrew.

[2] verses 2-6 are verses 1-5 in the Hebrew.

Posted in confession, depravity, hypocrisy, sin | Tagged | Leave a comment