what you see

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

March 2015 (29)

Isaiah 22:5-11

5 Because the Lord Yahveh of armies has a day of commotion and crushing and confusion in a valley of vision, a tearing down of a wall and a cry for help to the mountain. 6 And Elam lifted up a quiver, with a man’s chariot cavalry. And Kir uncovered a shield. 7 And this happened: the choicest of your valleys were chariot filled and the cavalry confidently stood at the gate. 8 And he uncovered the covering of Judah. And you looked, on that day, to the weapon of the House of the Forest, 9 and you saw that the breaches in the walls of the city of David were many, and you gathered the waters of the lower pool. 10 And you counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you tore down the houses to fortify the wall. 11 And you made a reservoir between the walls for the waters of the old pool, but you did not consult its maker, and you did not recognize its creator from a distance.

what you see

The spiritual condition of Jerusalem is revealed by what Isaiah says that they see. The day of commotion and crushing and confusion has come upon them, and all they see is the threat of foreign invasion. They do not see the power and wisdom of the God. They frantically seek to shore up and protect the city using the motes and barriers they could quickly construct. But they did not even see the LORD who had covenanted to be their God and protector.

God’s people are expected to see more than just the materials that are physically present, which we can use for our benefit and protection. We should see beyond those things to our creator who has promised to protect us in times of crisis.

LORD, open our eyes, so that we can see you, and trust in you when the world threatens us.

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the inevitable

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

March 2015 (28)

Isaiah 22:1-4

1 A valley of vision oracle: Why have you gone up, all of you, to the roofs, 2 full of noises, chaotic city, jubilant town? Your slain did not die by sword, nor your dead from battle. 3 All of your rulers have run away together without a bow; all of your found ones were captured. They were captured together; they had run far away. 4 Therefore I said, “Look away from me, let me be bitter in the weeping; you must not quickly seek to comfort me for the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

the inevitable

The inhabitants of Jerusalem saw its destruction coming, and instead of repenting, they merely posited themselves for the new foreign dominion. They refused to mourn the devastation and loss of life. They had resigned themselves to what they considered inevitable. They did not even organize a battle to defend themselves. The rulers were captured while trying to escape their own deaths. They had given up any faith in God, and were merely trying to save their own skins. In a time of crisis, when their people needed them to show courage and leadership, they just gave up.

It is much too easy to take this approach when crisis hits our society, our family, or our church. But the LORD puts us in leadership for just such times. When it comes time to make a stand, we need to be there to do it.

LORD, forgive us for running away from problems in the past. Give us the courage to lead in the crises we face today.

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daily news from the front

Posted on March 27, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

March 2015 (27)

Isaiah 21:11-17

11 The oracle about Dumah: He calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what are the night’s results? Watchman, what happened last night?” 12 A watchman says, “Morning comes, and also night. If you want to ask, ask; keep coming back. 13 An oracle in Arabia: You will spend the night in the thicket in a desert-plateau,[1] with caravans of Dedanites. 14 Upon encountering a thirsty one, bring water. Residents of the land of Tema came to meet a fugitive with his bread. 15 Because they have fled from swords, from drawn sword and bent bow, and from fierce battle. 16 Because the Lord said this to me: “In yet a year, like years of a hired worker, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end. 17 And the remainder of the bow tally of the warriors of the sons of Kedar will be few” because Yahveh, the God of Israel, has spoken.

daily news from the front

The watchman would be the person to go to for news of the front. He would occasionally meet a soldier who had deserted the battle, and get news of how the war was going. The citizens would ask the watchman of the city, and he would keep them informed. The LORD encouraged this, because it was a constant reminder of his promise to end Babylonian domination within the year.

I am reflecting as I write this on the past year. A major transition in my life has occurred. Within one year I broke free from a four year period of – well, like an exile. I thank the LORD for that period of my life, but I am so grateful it is coming to an end. My word from the LORD today is to keep my ear out for daily news from the front, and expect God to keep his promise to me, as he did to the Israelites.

LORD, we trust you to keep your promises. We will wait expectantly for news of the changes you are making. We will keep asking.

[1] The Hebrew for “in a desert-plateau” is the same as for “concerning Arabia.”

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a watchman in position

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

March 2015 (26)

Isaiah 21:6-10

6 Because the Lord said this to me: “Go, set a watchman in position. He must make known what he sees. 7 And he will see a rider, a pair of horsemen, a rider of a donkey, a of a camel, and he must listen alertly, paying attention, paying much attention.” 8 And the lion called, “Lord, I stand on a watchtower constantly by day, and I stand at my post all of the night, 9 and I watch this! A man’s chariot is coming, a pair of horsemen on it!” and he replied and said, “It has fallen! Babylon has fallen! And all the statues of her gods — smashed on the ground!” 10 My subjugated people and the son of my threshing floor, I will make known to you what I have heard from Yahveh of armies, the God of Israel.

a watchman in position

The watchman Isaiah set in position was himself. He saw by virtue of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that Yahveh of armies was in the process of bringing down Babylon. He saw a chariot coming to announce the downfall of the empire. He had the chance to proclaim to God’s subjugated people a hope of rescue and revival because pagan Babylon would be defeated and replaced. He saw history before it happened. That is one of the things God’s word does for his people. It gives us hope because it enables us to see what is going to happen next, and after that. The word cannot believe for us. We still have to put our faith in the word for it to give us hope. Otherwise, it is to us just words on a page. But what God says will come to pass. The LORD of armies still changes the world we live in. Will our generation be able to proclaim to this world what God is doing? — Only if we have watchmen in position, watching his revelation, paying close attention to what he has revealed.

LORD, post us to our watching positions. Enable us to see what is coming next, and proclaim that to a senseless and dull generation.

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last feast

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

March 2015 (25)

Isaiah 21:1-5

1 The oracle of seaside desert: Like storm winds passing over in the Negev, coming from a desert, from a dreadful land. 2 A hard revelation is told to me; the treacherous deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; lay siege, Media! I am putting an end to all of her comfort. 3 For this reason my insides are filled with agony; pangs have seized me, like pangs of a woman giving birth. I am bent because of what I have heard, I am distraught because of what I have seen. 4 My heart staggers; fear terrifies me; the last chance to get what I want has disturbed me. 5 Set out the table in order! Spread out the rugs. Eat! drink! Rise up, commanders; smear a shield with oil!

last feast

Isaiah describes the famous feast of Belshazzar, the events of which are recorded in Daniel 5. At the height of its opulence and pride, Babylon is struck down by the Medes and Persians. Isaiah saw it beforehand. He predicted a terrible night, which would begin with feasting, and would end with a call to prepare for battle. The commanders would leave the table and rush out to oil their shields. But oiling the shields was something that had to be done beforehand. The commanders have been caught unprepared for the battle that would end in the defeat of the empire.

Perhaps you are going from feast to feast right now. Do not think that your current comfort is evidence that the LORD approves of your life. Babylon went a long time going from table to table, never thinking that their time of comfort would come to an end. But on that fateful night, the LORD said enough is enough. He put an end to all her comfort. The attack came quickly and decisively, and before dawn, the great Babylonian empire was no more.

LORD, may our lives be lived for you, and your kingdom, not merely for our own enjoyment. Give us the wisdom to trust and serve Christ so that we have no fear of his coming judgment.

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embarrassed by false hope

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

March 2015 (24)

Isaiah 20:1-6

1 The year the commander-in-chief came to Ashdod, after Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and he took it, 2 during that time, Yahveh had spoken by the hand of Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go and take off the sackcloth from your loins, and remove each sandal from your feet,” and he had done so, walking naked and barefoot. 3 Then Yahveh said, “Just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years — a sign and a warning against Egypt and Cush, 4 in the same way the king of Assyria will lead the captive of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot, and bare of buttocks — the shame of Egypt. 5 And they will be distressed, and they will be embarrassed because of Cush, their hope, and because of Egypt, their pride. 6 And an inhabitant of the coastland will say this on that day: ‘Look! This, our hope, to whom we escaped for help, to be delivered from the face of the king of Assyria, and how will we escape now?'”

embarrassed by false hope

It would have been embarrassing to see the great prophet walking around naked and barefoot for three years. The people probably thought that he had finally lost it – that he had gone utterly mad. All this time they were thinking that God was going to rescue them from the Assyrian threat by means of Egypt and Cush. Then God tells them that it is this false hope that they should be ashamed of.

LORD, forgive us for putting our hope in flesh. It is hard to see your invisible hand, and it is easy to grasp at some other form of rescue, and assume that you are in it. May we put our hope in you alone.

LORD, may we who are being tempted to put our hope in the wrong place be reminded of your power and faithfulness.

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praying outside the box

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

March 2015 (23)

Isaiah 19:23-25

23 On that day, there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and Egypt will worship together with Assyria. 24 On that day, Israel will be third with Egypt and Assyria, one blessing in the midst of the land, 25 whom Yahveh of armies blessed, saying, “May Egypt my people be blessed, and Assyria, the work of my hands, and my inheritance, Israel.”

praying outside the box

When Isaiah chose to reveal that some day the nations would be unified under Yahveh, he chose two of Israel’s most hated and feared of enemies as examples of that unity. It was a challenge for the Israelites to see the potential for their enemies to become brothers. They believed that all things were possible for God, but they were skeptical that a world without enemies was possible for them. It was something they probably didn’t even think about or pray for.

Today’s challenge is for us to envision a life in which God actually answers our prayers, and makes changes. In fact, it is a challenge for us to imagine something so unimaginable that we are not in the habit of praying for it.

LORD, show us how to pray outside the box.

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Egypt will know Yahveh

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

March 2015 (22)

Isaiah 19:16-22

16 On that day, Egypt will be like women, and will tremble and be afraid before the waving hand of Yahveh of armies that he waves against it. 17 And the land of Judah will become a terror to Egypt, everyone who hears mention of it will be inwardly afraid because of the plan of Yahveh of armies that he plans against him. 18 On that day, there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language Canaan speaks, and they will swear an oath to Yahveh of armies. One will be called “City of the Sun.” 19 On that day, the middle of the land of Egypt will be an altar for Yahveh, and a stone pillar for Yahveh will be at her border. 20 And it will be a sign and a witness to Yahveh of armies in the land of Egypt; when they cry out to Yahveh because of oppressors, he will send them a deliverer and a contender and he will deliver them. 21 And Yahveh will make himself known to Egypt, and Egypt will know Yahveh on that day, and they will worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make a vow to Yahveh, and they will fulfill it. 22 And Yahveh will strike Egypt, striking and healing; and they will return to Yahveh, and he will respond to their prayer, and he will heal them.

Egypt will know Yahveh

Isaiah speaks to his nation, but envisions a time when their old enemy, after being stricken in judgment by Yahveh, turns to him and is healed. The LORD brings a deliverer, who will not rescue his people from Egypt – as Moses did. Instead, the new deliverer will rescue God’s people in Egypt. That is new covenant deliverance.

Perhaps you are an enemy to God and his kingdom. Maybe you read these words as a skeptic and cynical of all things religious and spiritual. Know this, God loves you. He wants to heal you. He is willing to strike you in judgment, but what he really wants is to hear your cry for help, and restore your life. Let him do that.

LORD, deliver us; heal our enmity. Rescue us from ourselves.

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a wind of confusion

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

March 2015 (21)

Isaiah 19:9-15

9 And artisans of combed flax will be ashamed, and those who weave white linen. 10 And her weavers will be crushed; all workers for wage grieved of heart. 11 Surely the princes of Zoan are stupid; the wise of the counselors of Pharaoh counsel senseless things. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I myself, a son of sages, a son of ancient kings”? 12 Where are your sages? Let them tell you now, and let them understand what Yahveh of armies has planned against Egypt. 13 The princes at Zoan have become stupid; the princes at Memphis are deceived; the leaders of her tribes have led Egypt astray. 14 Yahveh has mixed a wind of confusion into her midst, and they have caused Egypt to stumble in all of its doings, like the stumbling of a drunkard into his vomit. 15 And Egypt will be unable to do anything about it, head or tail, palm branch or reed.

a wind of confusion

How do societies fall apart and become dysfunctional? This is how it was going to happen in Egypt as Isaiah saw it. The princes from the different districts would be influenced by a wind of confusion from Yahveh. The disunity of the leaders would make the nation stumble in all its doings. Without a clear vision and objective from the leaders, no action would be successful.

It is the same for families and churches as well. It is not always a direct judgment from God when disunity leads to dysfunction, but it can be. When we find that happening to our families and churches, we need to humbly seek God, and not blindly follow one leader, and gang up on the others. The wind of confusion is intended to disorient and divide. The only hope for unity and peace is to reconnect with the LORD.

LORD, forgive us for stumbling around in confusion. Reorient us, so that we follow you and your word, rather than those who are set against others.

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I will consume his plan

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Jefferson Vann

March 2015 (20)

Isaiah 19:1-8

1 An oracle about Egypt: See! Yahveh, riding on a swift cloud and arriving in Egypt. And the idols of Egypt will tremble in front of him, and the heart of Egypt melts in his inner parts. 2 “And I will stir up Egypt against Egypt and each one will fight against his brother and each one against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. 3 And the spirit of Egypt will be disturbed within him, and I will consume his plan, and they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, and the specialists and the spiritists. 4 And I will hand over Egypt to a hand of a hard master, and a powerful king will rule over them,” – a declaration of the Lord Yahveh of armies. 5 And water will be dried up from the sea, and river will be parched and dry. 6 And rivers will become foul-smelling; the branches of the Nile of Egypt will become little and dry up; reed and rush will wither. 7 Bare places by the Nile will be dried up, by the edge of the Nile and all the sown land beside the Nile; it will be pushed about, and there is none of it. 8 And the fishermen will mourn, and all of those who cast a fishhook in the Nile will lament, and those who spread out a net on the water’s face will suffer.

I will consume his plan

Isaiah describes with perfection what was going to happen to Egypt as a result of God’s judgment. That great society which was held together by pride and power unraveled and dried up, as if the Nile itself had ceased to sustain it. The master plan that the Egyptians were living by was being consumed by the judgment of Yahveh.

The oracle explains what happens in any society where God and his word do not take first place. The things that hold that society together eventually begin to stop working. Defenses cease to protect. Collaboration and cooperation turn into competition and antagonism. People begin to ask all kinds of experts why things are happening, because they do not understand. Hard masters take over the leadership, and make things worse for those who still want to be led. Resources dry up, and mourning, lamenting and suffering are all that is left.

Perhaps you feel that you are part of a society that is experiencing those kinds of things today. Is there any hope for your nation, your family, or your church? Know this: God’s judgment is real, and if you are experiencing it, no artificial solution will help. God is the judge, and only he can rescue those whom he has condemned. Seek him, and turn back to his truth, and walk in his ways.

LORD, forgive us for relying on a plan which did not put your will at its heart and center. Restore us by your grace.

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