Isaiah 64-66
How Great is the God of the Bible - Yahweh?
We will find out...
Isaiah 64.
Verses 1-2: Isaiah here, longs for the Lord to make the End of the World come soon, so that the Lord might take care of His Enemies (Demons and Evil, Sin and Death) so that the Lord would make His Name known to all, as He is the Greater God.
Verses 3-4: Isaiah, the Prophet, recounts the great things that God has done, without the ideas coming from man. Instead, it has always been God who has planned the world from the beginning. And this, One True God, has everything in His Hands and His plan is working according to His ideas from the beginning of time.
Verse 5: Here we glorify the Lord for making men clean and righteous. It is only by the Lord that men can be righteous. And we know that the Lord takes offense to sins against Him and His Holy Name.
Verse 6: Speaks of man without God. And for us who are now followers of Yahweh, there was a time that we were followers of evil and unclean. David says in our mothers womb we were evil, stating that the human heart is evil and naturally hateful towards God. It is only through God that we can be cleaned and made new. It is only through the cleansing power of Jesus that we can be saved and turned into righteous acting Christians. If we were left to gain righteousness on our own, through our own hands - it would be counted as nothing. As even in our 'good' works, sometimes selfishness still runs through. Making our motives selfish and self-serving. Thus, canceling out our 'good' deeds and polluting them with the sin that invited us to do the 'good' deed in the first place. Does this make sense to you? It's like this. Here are a couple fake examples. I helped a grandma across the road, but I saw that someone was watching me from work, and deep down I wanted to look good to them. Therefore, my motive for helping was selfish. And selfishness is sin. Or it is like this. I donated $1,000 dollars to a charity, but I know that my name will have a plague for all people to see 'How great I am'. Therefore, deep down, it is prideful to give the money. Does this make sense? Hope so. Even the good things we do, are tainted with sinful desires.
Verse 7: Do you think that you have the power to chose God? Is there such thing as 'Free Will' as in a 'Free Will to Chose God or Not'? Calvin states that we do have 'Free Will' but our 'Free Will' is the 'Will to sin freely'. The Lord states that, "No one seeks God" and that "No one calls His Name." Since no one seeks God, how can we have the "Free Will" to pick someone that we don't want to pick? Well, we can't. And since the Lord hides His Face from those who sin, we can not save ourselves. Nor can we 'pick' the right God to save us. Since we are living in opposition to Him. If you do 'Choose God' it is only because God has chosen you first:) If you can see, it is only because God has opened your blinded eyes first. If you can hear, it is only because God has opened your deaf ears. Only then, can listen to the call of the Lord.
Verses 8-9: So what now? Are we helpless and hopeless? Does God leave us there, in our sin? Does God leave us, far away from Him? No. Instead He calls us. He births in our spirit, His Spirit. He heals and opens our eyes. And He heals and opens are ears. If we are 'Seeking God' - it is only because He has first sought us out and stirred out hearts to follow Him. The Lord, reveals Himself to us, as our Father. Our protecter. This isn't a reference to an earthly father, but instead it is a reference to the ideal 'Father'. A Father who loves us. A Father who will sacrifice for us. A Father who cares for us. A Father who leads us and guides us. A Father who can not be compared to another. This God, who relates to us as a Father, created us and guides us. Even though we know that we are inadequate and we know that we deserve death and anger from the God Above. Instead of sinking to the depths of the earth in despair. Instead we call upon the mercy that we know our God is capable of. We know that we don't deserve it. But we also know that this God above is a merciful God, slow to anger and abounding in love towards us. Even through the Lords vengeance on sin and evil, He will save His people.
Verses 10-12: The pain and suffering. The destruction and judgment. The evils that have come to the Lord's people, just as Israel was conquered by Babylon, just as we have been conquered by sin. Still is up to the Lord to renew and rebuild, as well as destroy and demolish. Isaiah ends with an emotional and honest question to the Lord, "Will you keep silent and afflict us so terribly?" Or instead, like a modern day question, "Why does God allow bad things to happen?"
Isaiah 65.
The Lord answers Isaiah's question. As well as yours, if you have ever asked that to Him, or thought it.
Verses 1: States the Lord's response. Which is - "I was ready to be sought by those who didn't know me, ask for me, or seek me." The Lord is reaffirming that there is no such thing as a 'free will to chose Him'. But that the Lord is the one who makes the first move, to call people to Himself. Instead, the Lord tells of the calling that He has done, and states, "Here I am, Here I am." Which is God's way of making Himself known to people. This is what Wayne Grudem in Systematic Theology, calls 100%-100%. Which means that God somehow created Free Will to mean that we have the Free Will to obey or disobey. And that somehow, the Lord has beautifully balanced the will of man and the will of God. God is a Gentleman and He doesn't force Himself onto anyone. Nor does He make us do something that we don't want to do. Nor would He punish us for something that we didn't want to do. So instead, the Lord balances, 100% mans responsibility and consequences, to God's 100% will and sovereignty (Fancy word for God's perfect plan).Verses 2-10: So. God tells us that He reveals Himself and calls people to Himself to the rebellious people. These rebellious people aren't walking in the ways of the Lord, but instead they are walking in the way of evil. These people are sinners who have other gods that they worship, they are even people whom the wrath of the Lord would be upon. But these are the type of people that God is picking out (verse 8) to be His People. We see the fulfillment of this, when Jesus came to town, and said, "It is not the healthy who have a need for a Doctor, but the sick." These 'sick' sinners are the people that the Lord is choosing to reveal Himself to and call to them. In response, if you hear the Lord calling you, do not harden your heart to Him but instead obey Him and follow Him. And the Lord will bring His chosen from Israel and from around the World, to live in the New Earth (Heaven) with Him. Just like me and you. Our past is in the past, once we meet Jesus and our new life lived in righteousness and obedience is all we have in front of us.
Verses 11-12: There is always a Blessing and a Curse from the Lord. He mentions the blessings for those who hear Him call and obey Him. And now we enter the curse for those who seek other gods of 'Fortune' and 'Destiny' - which deny that Yahweh is in control of the future but instead other things and other ways. And the Lord will have to pronounce judgement against those who "Didn't listen when God called." You see, here is the 100% -100%. It is 100% your duty to obey and follow the Lord if He calls you. If you chose not to obey, you will be sadly punished. Because disobedience to God includes sinning, and God is a Just God and will have to discipline for disobeying. And since His Word states that He calls all people to Him, you have been called! How will you answer Him?
Verses 13-16: Yahweh leaves a blessing for His people. But a curse for those who are not His people. This echoes Deuteronomy 28, which is the same thing. It is a reminder that living for the Lord will have great rewards. And living apart from the Lord, will have terrible consequences.
Verses 17-25: Talkes about the New Heaven and the New Earth. The Lord reminds us that living a sinful life, apart from the Lord isn't a great idea as the Afterlife will be far worth the obedience to Him on Earth. And that we can do all things through Jesus, who will help us be obedience to the Lord so that we may honor Him and follow His Commandments. In living for the Lord will not be work done in vain, as He promises us safety and a new home with Him. He promises to take away our tears and promises that He will hear us. That we shall not be hurt. And we will be taken care of, personally, by the Lord.
Isaiah 66.
Verses 1-2: The Lord doesn't need a house on this Earth. For He is everywhere. And He has made all things. And who is He to look to? To be proud of? The Christian. And what does the Christian look like? A hypocrite? Nope. The Christian is to be humble, sincere in his spirit, and obedient to the Lord. The Christian is to submit to the Words of the Lord.
Verses 3-6: What about those who sacrifice to the Lord without a sincere heart? If you slaughter animals or sacrifice money to the God of the Universe, yet do not really worship Him in your heart? It is like you are participating in Levitical worship without a right heart, which is likened to involvement in idolatry. And since the Lord reads minds and knows hearts, you can not deceive the Lord. And if you are playing 'Church' without 'Being the Church' - there will be harsh judgment for those that know the ways of the Lord, yet chose to not fully submit to Him. The Lord takes some time and speaks to the 'Hypocritical Christians' (And those that 'hate the Jews') who really are marked by their hatred of others and speak godly but lives do not reflect it, will be dealt with, as the Lord considers them enemies...
The Jews are the Natural Branch. And we (Gentiles) are the Unnatural Branch that is grafted in for a time. We are to love the Jews as they are our Brothers in the Lord. And since we will live in the 'New Earth' which is the "New Jerusalem" brought down from Heaven (Revelation 21:10), we better make sure we are supportive of them and the Nation of Israel.
Verses 7-8a: The Lord speaks of the Nation of Israel. And Isaiah prophesied about the coming of the nation of Israel that happened and came true in 1948. Before Israel became a new Nation, she wasn't even 'pregnant' as the Nation of Israel was given to the Jews after World War 2. The idea of giving Israel a territory, came about so fast that it was under 9 months by the time the world announced the idea in November 29, 1947, to the time Israel was given to the Jews in May 14, 1948. The modern Nation of Israel was birthed in less time than a normal pregnancy. Which was the prophecy from the Lord. And it came about, just as He said it would.
Verse 8b: And the Jews came from around the world to enter into the gates of Israel. And since World War 2 displaced so many Jews from Europe, the amount of those who moved to Israel was astounding, as so many would not have moved if the war hasn't displaced and killed so many. Jews seeking safety in the shadows of the Almighty, wanted to get as close to Him as possible. And the destination, was Israel.
Verse 9: And the Lord makes sure that we know, that it was He who caused Israel to be born. No one else.
Verses 11-14: Have you ever seen a baby who has nursed so much, they are almost like they are in a 'Happy Nursing Coma'? My Sister-in-law calls it 'Bottle Drunk' where the babies are so happy and full, that they almost seem out of it:) Well. That is what the Lord is talking about. Those who travel to Israel will be so happy and satisfied because the will receive 'Peace' from the Lord and He will guard over them from the time Israel is a Nation. And it will be the Lord who will nurture and grow Israel to be a great Nation, as He sure has.
Verses 15-16: There always is a "But..." isn't there? But this greatness in Israel and around the world will not last forever. As we see even today, the instability of Israel in the 21st Century. As the End of Days and the Final Judgement is coming. What is that? It is the End of the World as we know it, and we won't be fine... The Lord will revenge those who are against Him and burn the world with fire.
Verse 17: The Christians, Jews, and the Pagans will all enter Judgment together at the same time.
Verse 18: And the Lord knows all of our thoughts, so He will be 'Fair' as a Judge. And He will Judge all the Nations and every person on the Planet. And those with all different languages.
Verses 19-21: The Lord won't leave us high and dry. Instead He will send 'Survivors' - which are those who are God's People to preach the Good News of Jesus to all who will hear. And they will make disciples of all nations, proclaiming God as the True Savior. And out of these people He will make new leaders, to lead future generations to righteousness and obedience to Yahweh.
Verses 22-23: The Lord has promised us "Heaven" or the "New Earth" (Whatever you want to call it) where we will all live with the Lord, serving and worshiping Him. Celebrating with Him, the Feasts of the Israelites which point to Jesus - for all eternity:) Yeay.
Verse 24: DuhDuh Duhhhmmm. Then there is the Judgement for those who reject and disobey the Lord. For those who hate the Lord and for those who love sin. For them, will they be placed in (what we call here on Earth) Hell...
Please. If the Lord is calling you to obey Him. Please.
Have the ears to hear what the Living God is saying.
Turn to Him. And live.
Surrender your life to Him.
While there is still time...
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