Is the God of the Old Testament different in the New Testament?

 Read Isaiah 34.

Years ago, a man tried to tell me that the God of the Old Testament was a God of hate, while the God of the New Testament was a God of love.  The error of that false statement is immediately evident to anyone who has ever actually read the Bible.  At the root of such heresy is the concept that God has changed His character over time.  "For I the LORD do not change." (Malachi 3:6)

When Jesus returns it will be a day of worldwide judgment upon the nations, especially on those who sought to annihilate Israel.  "For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion" (v.8).  In this chapter, Edom is used as Exhibit A.  Israel's neighbor to the southeast was a constant enemy.

The descriptions in this chapter parallel with the Great Tribulation judgments as the seals are broken in Revelation.  These events then culminate in Revelation 19.  "From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron.  He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty." (Revelation 19:15)

Therefore, the time of earthly peace and blessing will only come after the returning Christ has decisively dealt with His enemies.

At the root of all current actions of man's inhumanity against others is sin.  It is not possible to negotiate that away.  There is only one cure in the universe for sin. 

For now, we look forward to the day when Messiah will right every wrong and bring true justice to this world.  The Apostle Paul wrote: "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."

 

Looking for stability in times of Trouble

 Read Isaiah 33.

God delivered a series of judgmental "woes" against those who rejected and ignored Him.  Judah knew better, but they chose to place their faith elsewhere.  In verse 1, the LORD called them traitors.  They betrayed the God who loved and cared for them.  The betrayer will be betrayed by those they trusted.  Placing one's faith in anyone or anything other than the LORD will ultimately prove to be in vain (vv.11-12).

All their efforts to negotiate alliances and bring peace to their land would not work.  When the Assyrians invade, they will make everything desolate.  But Jerusalem and the remnant of those who turn to God will be spared.

Like many of the prophetic passages, the message blends the historic happenings with future hope.  The prophets could not see the gaps between the two, unless God revealed to them an exact amount time. 

In trouble, there would some who will cry out for God's grace and deliverance (v.2).  When the LORD is exalted, "he will be the stability of your times" and provide the "salvation, wisdom, and knowledge" they so desperately needed.  However, it came with the stipulation that they respond in obedience to God's word.  Such holy fear, or respect, for the LORD is called "Zion's treasure" (v.6).

In that day when Messiah reigns, things will be different (vv.13-24).  The godless will be afraid.  The righteous will openly demonstrate their faith by what they do and do not do.  They will dwell securely and with abundance.   The focus will be on the Jesus.
"Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty..." (v.17)
"...there the LORD in majesty will be for us..." (v.21)
"For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; he will save us." (v.22)

In the meantime, we are "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

 

8 characteristics of the Millennial Kingdom

 Read Isaiah 32.

Both Old and New Testaments look forward to the literal, earthly reign of Messiah.  The prophets often provide details of such a kingdom.  This chapter, like many others, is a message to Judah of that future time.  Part of the proof that this indeed still remains unfulfilled is the fact that there has been no Jewish kingdom over that land since 586 B.C.

Jesus will sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem.  What will be the characteristics of that kingdom?
1. Righteousness. (v.1a)
God's standard of what is right will be upheld absolutely.

2. Justice. (v.1b)
All wrongs will be made right.  The Righteous Judge will be on the throne and His decisions will be carried out perfectly.

3. Security. (v.2)
Those who govern with the King of Kings will provide genuine safety and shelter for those in need.

4. Truth. (v.3-4)
In a previous message the people were chastised because they had closed their eyes and stopped their ears from the truth.  But in that day all will all see, hear, and communicate God's word with clarity.

5.  Generosity. (vv.5-8)
No longer will foolish and sinful decisions be tolerated.  No longer will leaders be in power who lie, especially about the LORD, devising "wicked schemes", and taking advantage of others.  In that day, those with influence will be "noble" or known for being generous with their service to people.

6. The Holy Spirit. (v.15a)
Verses 9-14 warn against complacency about God’s announced judgment.  Most likely, this is a reference to the immediate crisis of the Assyrian invasion into Judah and ultimately the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians.  "For the palace is forsaken and the populous city deserted..." (v.14a).  "Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high..."  This not a reference to what happened in Acts 2.  Several of the Prophets (Ezekiel 36-37; Joel 2; Zechariah 12) looked forward to a time when all of Israel would personally experience the indwelling of the Spirit of God.  He would be the One to give them the spiritual understanding and ability to live a godly life they lacked.

7. Productivity. (v.15b)
Many prophetic passages predict that even Israel's deserts will flourish with agriculture.

8. Peace. (vv.17-18)
Since the establishment of the political state of Israel in 1948, there has been no peace in that land.  Indeed, throughout history, some satanically energized leader and/or peoples have announced their intent to annihilate the Jews.  But in that day, with the Prince of Peace ruling over this world, genuine peace will come.

For those of us who have a personal relationship with Jesus, we will rule and reign with Him.  Given the current state of affairs around the world and in Israel today, we pray with the Apostle John, "Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20)

 

Do we need a powerful national Defense?

 Read Isaiah 31.

Everyone should know that might does not make right.  But might does not insure success either.  A powerful national defense is always desirable for the protection of a country.  However, if that is what the people and the leaders are depending upon for their future, their faith may be sadly misplaced.

God continued to give Isaiah messages for Judah.  They thought if they could amass a big enough allied force, the kingdom would be delivered from the Assyrians.  The problem was not military preparation but trust.  If Judah's national trust was in Egypt and their army, the plans would fail.  And, they did.

The LORD tried to teach them to "look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!" (v.1).  God's power and His plan always supersedes human efforts.  So, why not ask Him what He wants done?  Why not ask His help?  And, then living in obedience to what He wants done, why not trust Him for the outcome?

God had already announced through Isaiah that He would protect Judah against this enemy.  So, what should they be doing?

1. Turn to him. (v.6a)
The people of Judah had rebelled against the LORD and His expectations of them.  Their sin had brought the pending punishment on themselves.  God proves His mercy and His grace to us by faithfully calling the wayward to change directions.  By coming to Him, they would find forgiveness, peace, and the protection they desired.

2. Cast away false beliefs. (v.6b)
In their rebellion against God, the people had turned to other sources for direction and decisions.  They even placed their faith in inanimate objects they had made with their own hands and prayed to them for help.  Such thinking borderlines on insanity.  Instead, why not trust the One who created the elements and controls the universe?

"And yet he is wise and brings disaster; he does not call back his words." (v.2a)
No human is a match for God's wisdom.  His word is absolute.  Trust Him and see.

 

What are you waiting For?

 Read Isaiah 30.

Living in fear as they awaited the Assyrian invasion, the southern kingdom of Judah looked to Egypt for help and protection.  But Egypt was no longer a strong world power.  Representatives of Judah were dispatched anyway to secure an alliance.  The result would be "shame and disgrace" (v.5).

God had already made it clear that the northern kingdom of Israel would be conquered and the people scattered.  However, God also promised to use the Assyrians to punish Judah, but not conquer them.

How did they get into this mess?  They decided that they knew better how to run their lives and their nation than the God who created them and brought them this far.  "Stubborn children," He called them, making their own plans, seeking alliances and protection from everyone and everything except Him.  In doing so, they "add sin to sin" (v.1).

The people did not want to hear what was right.  They wanted someone to flatter them and help them feel good about themselves.  In other words, they deliberately sought to believe in fantasies instead of the truth (v.10).  None of those false ways dealt with the root issue of their sin and guilt.

God's gracious offer to them remained.  "In returning (repentance) and rest you shall be saved: in quietness and in trust shall be your strength" (v.15).  Making a U-turn toward the LORD, accepting His forgiveness, and trusting Him alone would bring them peace and the provision they needed.  All along, the LORD wanted to be their Teacher, showing them how to live (v.21).  One day Israel will listen to Him.  At that point, they will get rid of all the false ways they used to trust with a simple "Be gone!" (v.22).

In the middle of the chapter is the invitation.  "The LORD waits to be gracious to you and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.  For the Lord is a God of justice;"  But there is more.  "Blessed are all those who wait for him" (v.18).  Who are you trusting today to meet your real needs?  God is waiting.  What are you waiting for?

 

Why can't they see the Truth?

 Read Isaiah 29.

This chapter could be labeled as bad news- good news.  First, the "woe".  Ariel is a direct reference to Jerusalem, the city of David (v.1).  The city would come under siege by the Assyrians.  Indeed, Sennacherib surrounded Jerusalem in 701 B.C. but was unable to conquer it.  Notice in verse 3, that God takes personal credit for putting the city under such pressure.  And, He will protect the city this time.  Like a person with a bad dream when awakened, the frightening thing was not there.  The whole reason for God's judgment was to motivate them to repent.  But they did not.

Why could they not see what God was doing?  Why could they not hear the prophet's message and change their ways?

Their sin had caused them to become spiritually insensitive to the things of God.  They had blinded their eyes from seeing the truth and stopped their ears hearing what God was saying to them.  Their so-called spiritual leaders could not make sense of God's word.  Even reading the messages did not make sense to them.  They were religious (v.13) but their words of worship were empty because "their hearts are far from me."

Believing they had no accountability to the LORD, they took full credit for their lives.  Their thoughts toward the Creator included: "He did not make me" (v.16).

And now the good news.  What a change, "in that day," when the Messiah will return to rule the world from the city of Jerusalem.  "In that day" the Jews will hear the message and see the truth.  Justice will come to the oppressed and upon the "ruthless."  As a nation of God's people, they will acknowledge who Jesus is and give Him full credit for their lives.  

As the Apostle Paul looked forward to the day of Israel's national repentance, in Romans 9 he wrote of the same potter and clay comparison.  In Romans 11, he wrote of Israel's spiritual blindness and deafness.  His point was that this opened wide the door for the Gentiles to be "grafted" into God's plan of redemption.  As individuals, he wrote in Romans 10:12-13- "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.  For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'"  

 

Is the message too simple for You?

 Read Isaiah 28.

Woe to the northern kingdom of Israel! 
The people prided themselves in their prosperity.  But having rejected God, they became like a fading flower.  The LORD would use the Assyrians to trample upon them without mercy.  Meanwhile, the people and their leaders were depicted as drunkards, staggering, confused, and unable to make right decisions.

They even mocked Isaiah's clear message from the LORD as being too simple, formulaic, and rote.  They rejected what God was saying to them as being childish, like teaching the ABC's (vv.9-10).  But when a person will not listen to God's word, He will send a stronger messenger to teach them.  If they refused to repent of their sin, then He would have an ungodly, foreign power instruct them about accountability and judgment.  They will "be broken, and snared, and taken" (vv.11-13)

In great contrast to the fading glory of Israel, there will come a day when the LORD will sit on the throne and be a "crown of glory" to His people (v.5).

Woe to the southern kingdom of Judah!
The leaders of the south were no better.  They, too, had rejected God and His word.  Openly, they had committed their lives to false gods, to lies, and trusted in them to protect them (vv.14-15).  In short, they tried to build their lives and the nation on a foundation of sinking sand. 

In great contrast, the LORD said, "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.'" (v.16)

New Testament believers cannot read verse 16 without thinking of Jesus.  The Apostle Peter quoted Isaiah in 1 Peter 2:6 and applied it to Jesus.  The Apostle Paul wrote: "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone." (Ephesians 2:20)

There are only two ways to build a life: trust in the shifting false beliefs of this world, or trust in the sure foundation of Jesus.