his strange work

Posted on April 18, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

April 2015 (18)Isaiah 28:16-22

16 Therefore the Lord Yahveh says this: “See me! laying a stone in Zion, a testing stone, a precious cornerstone, an ultimate foundation: ‘The one who trusts will not worry and hurry. 17 And I will make justice a measuring line, and righteousness a plumb line; and hail will sweep away a lie’s refuge, and waters will flood over a hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death will be canceled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; you will become a trampling place for the overpowering flood when it passes through. 19 Each time passing through each morning it will pass through, each day and each night, and hearing the warning will bring only terror.” 20 Because your bed time is too short to get enough sleep, and your covering is too small to protect oneself. 21 Because Yahveh will rise up like he did at Mount Perazim; he will rave like he did in the valley at Gibeon to do his work–his strange work — and to work his work–his alien work! 22 And now you must not ridicule it, or your captivity will be severe, because I have heard from the Lord, Yahveh of armies: complete destruction decreed upon all the land.

his strange work

The apostle Paul quotes from this passage in Romans:

“What shall we say then?–that the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness got it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith, but Israel even though pursuing a law of righteousness did not get it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by having faith but (as if it were possible) by doing works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written, “See, I am laying in Zion a stone that will cause people to stumble and a rock that will make them fall, yet the one who puts faith in him will not be put to shame.”[1]

Paul saw what Isaiah meant by Yahveh’s strange work. First, the LORD will take his chosen people and reduce them to ruin. Then, upon that leveled ground, he will place his foundation stone (Jesus Christ). If his people will dare to trust that he (God) knows what he is doing, they will put their faith in Christ. Otherwise they will stumble over the very stone which is God’s plan for their restoration. If they insist on seeking righteousness by their own works, they will never be able to take advantage of God’s work, however strange it may seem.

Perhaps God is doing a strange work in your life right now. Maybe even in your prayers, you find yourself saying, “Lord, this does not make sense.” Don’t worry, don’t hurry to find a solution. Wait on the Lord and trust in him. Some day you will look back on his work in your life and realize that he had a plan, and was carrying it out. But, for now, you need to be content in knowing that it is he who is doing this strange work.

Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy, and may your whole being (spirit and soul and body) be kept blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

[1] Romans 9:30-33.

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baby talk

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

April 2015 (17)Isaiah 28:7-15

7 And these also wobble because of wine and stagger because of strong drink; priest and prophet stagger because of strong drink; they are swallowed by wine. They stagger because of strong drink; they err in vision. They stumble rendering of a decision, 8 for all tables are filled with disgusting vomit, without a clean spot. 9 “Who will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain his message? Those who are weaned from milk, just taken from the breast? 10 Because we hear command upon command and rule upon rule,[1] a little here, a little there.” 11 Because he speaks with stammer of lip and another tongue to this people, 12 to whom he has said, “This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose”; yet they were not willing to hear. 13 And to them the word of Yahveh will be “command upon command and “rule upon rule, a little here, a little there,” so that they may try to walk and stumble backward and be broken and trapped and captured. 14 Therefore hear the word of Yahveh, mocking men, rulers of these people in Jerusalem: 15 Because you have said, “We have cut a covenant with death, and we have made an agreement with Sheol. The overwhelming flood, when it passes through, will not come to us, because we have made a lie our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves in falsehood.”

baby talk

Isaiah’s words to the nobility were falling on deaf ears. He kept giving them God’s words, and they accused him of being too simplistic and naïve. They were big shots, and Isaiah was treating them like babies. He kept embarrassing them by telling them the same thing, over and over again, as if they were too immature to understand.

How ironic it was, because from Isaiah’s standpoint (and God’s) they were babies. They were stumbling around as if they had not yet learned to walk straight. They were blurping all over the table, so it no longer had a clean spot. They were living in a fantasy world of make –believe, where they could hold back judgment and death by merely wishing it away. Their refuge was a lie, and they had chosen to hide in it, instead of seeking truth from God.

LORD, your word can bring us into a right standing with you. Your word is the means of our growing into maturity and stability. Teach us to respect your word, giving you the authority in our lives that you deserve.

[1] The Hebrew may have been intended to sound like baby talk: “tsav lasav, tsav lasav, kav lakav, kav lakav.”

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transformed by invasion

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

April 2015 (16)Isaiah 28:1-6

1 Oy! The majestic garland of Ephraim’s drunks, and a withering flower of the his glorious beauty, which stands at the head of a fat valley – people attacked by wine! 2 See! The Lord has someone mighty and strong, like a rainstorm of hail, a wind storm of destruction, like a rainstorm of mighty overflowing waters, he will toss him to the land by hand. 3 The majestic garland of Ephraim’s drunks — they will be trampled by feet, 4 also that withering flower — its glorious beauty which stands at the head of a fat valley will be like its early fig before summer, which, when the one who sees it sees it, he swallows it straight from his hand. 5 In that day, Yahveh of armies will become a beautiful garland and a glorious crown to the survivors of his people, 6 and a spirit of justice for the one who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back battle from the gate.

transformed by invasion

Isaiah describes a people – his own people, transformed spiritually. They begin as spoiled, proud drunks whose pride is in their own majesty and beauty. Then, the LORD tosses in an invading army, and that invasion strips all such foolishness away. Suddenly, the only prize worth having is the LORD himself. The people are no longer a withering flower, attacked by their own addiction to wine. It suddenly makes sense to have honest judges and brave warriors. The coming invasion would do what generations of peace had not. It would sober the people and get them interested in having a relationship with God, and living in maturity as a result of that relationship.

War is a terrible thing, and it should not be sought after. But sometimes a society gets so drunk with pride in itself that it no longer listens to reason. Sometimes an invasion is the only thing that can shake a people enough to get their eyes off themselves and back on the LORD.

LORD, invade our lands with your Holy Spirit. We fear that if this does not happen, other invaders are the only thing that can stop our runaway immaturity.

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the difference

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

April 2015 (15)Isaiah 27:7-13

7 Does he strike him like the striking of one striking him, Or is he killed like the killing of his killed ones. 8 By expelling her, by her sending away, you argue with her. He removed with his strong wind, on an east wind day. 9 Therefore by this he will atone the guilt of Jacob, and this all of the removal fruit of his sin: in his setting all altar stones like crushed stones of chalk, no worship Asherah poles or incense altars will stand. 10 Because our fortified city is solitary, a settlement deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness; a calf grazes there, lies down there and destroys its branches. 11 with her branch being dry, they are broken; with women coming, setting light to it. Because it is not a people of understanding; therefore his maker will not have compassion on him, and his creator will not show him favor. 12 And this will happen: on that day, Yahveh will thresh from the floodwaters of the Euphrates to the wadi of Egypt, and you, you will be gathered one by one, sons of Israel. 13 And this will happen: on that day, a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were lost in the land of Assyria will come, and those who were scattered in the land of Egypt, and they will bow down to Yahveh on the mountain of holiness at Jerusalem.

the difference

The difference between Israel and the nations surrounding it is this: although Yahveh crushes both in judgment, he will ultimately restore Israel. The lost from Assyria and Egypt (and Auckland, and Williamsburg) who come to him in repentance, he will bring into his own family, and they will worship on the mountain of holiness. God cannot abide sin in anyone, but he can forgive sin committed by anyone.

LORD, thank you for your holy hatred of our sin, and your holy love of us sinners.

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vicious vintner

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

April 2015 (14)Isaiah 27:1-6

1 On that day, Yahveh will punish Leviathan with his cruel, large and strong sword, that fleeing serpent, and Leviathan, that twisting serpent, and he will kill the sea monster that lives in the sea. 2 On that day: “A vineyard of beauty! Sing in praise of it! 3 I, Yahveh, am her keeper; I water it moment by moment; so no harm comes to it, I guard it night and day; 4 There is no wrath against me. Whatever brings me thorns and briers, I will fight against in battle. I will burn it up completely. 5 Or let it grasp at my protection; let it make peace with me; peace let it make with me.” 6 The ones who come, he will root in Jacob; Israel will blossom and send out shoots, and they will fill the world’s face with fruit.

vicious vintner

Israel is depicted as a vineyard, and Yahveh as a vicious protective vintner, determined to grow his vineyard and destroy all obstacles. The great sea monster, Leviathan, can not stop him. No one dares display wrath toward that vineyard keeper. He does not take prisoners. He waters the vineyard, but he burns up the thorns and briers. His goal is to fill the world’s face with fruit from his vineyard. The only way to avoid destruction from this vicious vintner? Make peace with him – become part of his vineyard. He can root you in Jacob. Have you made peace with him?

LORD, we surrender. Make us part of your eternal vineyard.

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He brings life

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

April 2015 (13)Isaiah 26:16-21

16 Yahveh, in distress they have approached you; they poured out an whispering prayer, feeling your discipline upon them. 17 Like a pregnant woman at the time of giving birth, she writhes; she cries in her labor pains. So we were because of your presence, Yahveh. 18 We became pregnant, we writhed; we produced wind. We cannot bring about deliverance to the land, and no residents of the world are born from our efforts. 19 Your dead will live; my corpse will rise. Wake up and sing for joy, dust dwellers, for your dew is dew of light and the land will resurrect its ghosts. 20 Go, my people, enter into your chambers and shut your door behind you; hide for a little, a little while, until wrath has passed over. 21 Because, watch! Yahveh –about to emerge from his place to punish the iniquity of the resident of the land against him, and the land will disclose her blood and will no longer cover her slain.

He brings life

Isaiah uses two figures of speech to describe his people’s inability to help themselves in the midst of their crisis. They face annihilation by a foreign enemy because of God’s judgment for their immorality. But they are not able to affect the means of their own deliverance.

  • When they weakly offered last-minute prayers, it was like coming to the point of delivering a child, only to produce wind.
  • When the land around them was full of ghosts, so there was no hope of a deliverer emerging from among the people, God steps in and says that he is going to raise the dead.

By means of both figures of speech, Isaiah reminds his people that no matter what their condition, God is not helpless. When he so chooses, he will fulfill his promises. We cannot force him to act. He is under no obligation to regard our feeble attempts at last-minute repentance in order to prevent his judgment. But neither can we prevent him when he wants to raise the dead. The LORD stands as a constant island in a sea of uncertainties. The wise thing to do is put our trust in him, even when our situation seems hopeless.

LORD, we are watching. We trust you to bring life into our barrenness and deadness.

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the role of cultural heritage

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

April 2015 (12)Isaiah 26:12-15

12 Yahveh, you will ensure peace for us, because even all of our works you have done for us. 13 Yahveh, our God, lords besides you have once ruled over us, but we remember your name alone. 14Those dead gods are not alive now; their dead spirits do not rise because you have punished and destroyed them, and you have destroyed all memory of them. 15 You have increased the nation, Yahveh. You have increased the nation; you are honored. You have extended all borders of our land.

the role of cultural heritage

The prophet reflects on the heritage of his people. The ancestors of the Israelites were pagans, and had worshipped other gods. Although Isaiah acknowledges that, he does not look back on that heritage with pride. Those were false gods, and Yahveh punished and destroyed them. They are dead in their graves, and will not rise again. Everything good that Israel as a nation had done is by the power and providence of Yahveh. Yahveh has increased the nation, and extended its borders. Yahveh alone is to be honored.

It is popular in many lands today to celebrate all the cultures for their distinctiveness. There is nothing wrong with that, but it can be taken too far. God has given us a reflection of himself in every culture and ethnic group on the planet. But sin has also infected every culture and ethnic group. We need to be careful that we do not elevate a culture’s sinfulness as we celebrate it. The role of cultural heritage is to reflect on the diversity of God’s gift of life, not to replace God.

LORD, we thank you for the wonderful diversity you have given humanity. May we celebrate that diversity, and see your hand in who we are. But may we be careful to worship you, not ourselves.

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what the wicked do not see

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

April 2015 (11)Isaiah 26:7-11

7 The road the righteous take is a straight path; a level path for the righteous that you make level. 8 Without doubt we wait for you on the path that you decided for us, Yahveh, because your name and renown are what the soul desires. 9 My soul looks for you during the night, my lungs within me seek you at dawn, because when your judgments come upon the earth, those who live in the world learn about justice. 10 Even if a wicked person is shown compassion, he does not learn righteousness; he acts unjustly in an upright land, and he does not see the majesty of Yahveh. 11 Yahveh, your hand reaches high, but they do not see that. Let them see, and let them be ashamed of your strong desire for people. Indeed, let the fire of your enemies consume them.

what the wicked do not see

All around us today will be glimpses of the beauty and majesty of God. The poor and hurting will be helped by strangers. The hopeless will find hope – maybe just enough to get through a bad day, but enough. Angels will protect the innocent from possible harm. A sunset will inspire a poet or artist.

But millions will only see what they are prepared to see. They will decry the duplicity of a politician, or lambaste the latest criminal or foolish celebrity. They will not see any good things in life, and their predetermined cynicism will be affirmed.

No matter what your attitude, no matter how much of a prophet you think you are, don’t ignore the good in the world that you see. It may be as simple as a good meal, a nice smile, or a kind word. Appreciate it. The world around us is looking for people with the faith to see God at work every day. Be one of those people.

LORD, show us your love and kindness, and help us to enjoy it so much that the cynical world around us notices it too.

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song of the coming city

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

April 2015 (10)Isaiah 26:1-6

1 On that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “There a strong city for us. The Savior[1] will set up walls and a barricade! 2 Open gates and a righteous nation who keeps his truths will enter! 3 You will protect with complete well-being the one who is faithful because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in Yahveh for the future, because in Yah, Yahveh is a rock of ages. 5 Because he has thrown down those residing in the high place, he lays low the superior city. He lays it low to the ground; he throws her to dust. 6 A foot tramples it, poor feet, needy footsteps.”

song of the coming city

The epitome of strength, protection and security in Isaiah’s day was a walled-in fortified city. He encourages his readers to take their eyes off the high, formidable city of their conquering nation, and think about the city that God promises. He has told them truths, and he expects his readers to be faithful to those truths. The payoff for faithfulness is ultimate protection, complete well-being. The literal term is “shalom-shalom.” Many translations render this phrase “perfect peace.” But our minds are too used to thinking of peace as a merely mental attribute. In an age of warfare and conquest, perfect peace can only come with the complete destruction of all enemies, and the protection from harm. This is what Isaiah offers for the faithful. This is what our coming city offers us. While we wait for Jesus to fulfill that promise at his coming, we can know that peace by trusting in him, and being faithful to his words, regardless of what happens today.

LORD, give us the peace only known by those who are faithful to your truths.

[1] Hebrew: Yeshua (Jesus).

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resting or flailing?

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

April 2015 (9)Isaiah 25:9-12

9 And one will say, on that day, “See! This God of ours! We have waited for him and he delivered us! This Yahveh; we waited for him! We should be glad, and rejoice in his deliverance.” 10 Because the hand of Yahveh will rest on this mountain, and Moab will be trampled down under him as the trampling down of a bale of straw in a manure pile. 11 And he[1] will spread out his hands in the midst of it, just as the swimmer spreads out to swim, and his pride will be brought low with the flailing of his hands. 12 And he will throw down the fortification of the high point of your walls; he will bring it low; he will cause it to touch to the ground, to the dust.

resting or flailing?

A hermeneutical question presents itself in verse 11, when a pronoun “he” is left for the reader to interpret. Is it God or Moab who is spreading out his hands here? My take on the passage is that God’s hand is resting on Mt. Zion (in verse 10), so it is Moab’s hands which are spreading out, flailing about, because he is being crushed by the LORD in verse 11. The flailing is of no use, however, because Moab cannot keep the LORD from knocking down his walls.

Each generation, new walls go up, and societies pride themselves on the ways they have kept God out. But God is not worried. Those walls are no match to his mighty hand. Let today’s culture flail about, spreading its hands in a futile attempt to stop God from getting through. When the LORD decides to act, he will.

LORD, prove the overwhelming power of your mighty hand today. Destroy the walls that keep our friends and neighbors from you.

[1] Moab.

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