A promised peace with a Price

 Read Isaiah 26.

In the last chapter, Isaiah wrote prophetically what believers in Jesus will say "in that day."  Here, now, is the song we will sing when Messiah rules and reigns.

Notice all the benefits of the redeemed.
1. A perfect peace because our trust is in the unchanging and sovereign LORD. . (v.3)

2. A clear and smooth path for life because God takes care of the consequences of our obedience. (v.7)

3. A living Savior. (vv.13-14)

4. A joyful resurrection. (v.19)

In the meantime, the Apostle Paul encouraged:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ( Philippians 4:7)

"The price tag of renewing the mind with Scripture is time and discipline, but the benefits are always disproportionate to the expenditures.  If we are shallow in the Word, we will be superficial in our knowledge of God and less effective in our relationship with others."-Ken Boa

A hope worth the Wait

Read Isaiah 25.

Knowing the truth about God's judgment against unbelievers may cause distress.  In the previous chapter, Isaiah felt the weight of the message and cried out, "I waste away, I waste away.  Woe is me!"  But for those who have placed their eternal faith in the LORD, there is hope and joy in our future.

Isaiah wrote this beautiful song to praise the LORD as he looked forward to that day when God would once and for all deliver His people.

There is no mistaking the fact that this speaks of an earthly kingdom where Messiah will rule and reign.  That will be when the Prince of Peace will rule and all the nations will glorify Him.  Don't miss all the descriptors of how the LORD will protect those who love Him.  It will be a time of great celebration.

From the prophet's view, all of the future events blended into one picture.  The New Testament provides many details, filling in some of the gaps the prophets could not see and did not know.  It is always best when we have the Scriptures commenting on other Scripture, enlightening our understanding.  For instance, the same wording of verse 8 appears in Revelation 21:4.  After the Millennial kingdom on earth, Revelation 22 explains that there will be a new heaven and a new earth.  In that eternal place, there will be no tears and no such thing as death.  We will never say good-bye to our love ones who are with us because of our mutual faith in Christ.

Like us, how Isaiah longed for that day!  In verse 9, he even wrote what we will be saying: "It will be said in that day, 'Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.  This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.'"

Worldwide judgment is Coming

 Read Isaiah 24.

There is decided shift in Isaiah's messages from the LORD, beginning here and continuing into the next several chapters.  No longer is the predicted judgment directed against individual neighboring nations and the obvious threat is no longer the immediate Assyrian invasion.  The subject now is a worldwide devastation from God Himself.

During this unprecedented time, everyone on earth will suffer loss and devastation. Why?  Verse 5 explains that the earth is defiled by human sinfulness.  God's laws, statutes, and His eternal covenant have been violated.

This will be followed by a period of time when the nations from the ends of the earth will "sing for joy; over the majesty of the LORD" and "give glory to the LORD" (vv.15-16).  But then, there will come a time of final judgment.

Since sin entered the Garden of Eden, God has always been implementing His plans of redemption, judgment and cleansing the earth of its corruption.  In Noah's day, He sent a worldwide flood to cleanse the earth.  "But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly." (2 Peter 3:7) 

These descriptions and their sequencing fit perfectly with the Biblical understanding of the Great Tribulation (Revelation 6-19), then the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth (Revelation 20:1-10), followed by the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). 

It should be remembered that God's wrath is not aimed at believers.  Just as in Noah's day, He provides protection and escape from such judgment for those who turn to Him.  Jesus said, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (John 3:36)

 

Pride and God's Purpose

 Read Isaiah 23.

Tyre and Sidon were two of the most important trading centers in the Mediterranean at the time.  Buying and selling with nations from Egypt to Spain, these merchants of Phoenicia became extremely wealthy.  The people deemed themselves self-sufficient and sensed no need of God.  Like many port cities, they had also become places known for carousing and open sin.  But their "pompous pride" and self-glorification were to come to an end.

To be sure, the Assyrians were marching in their direction.  The trade fell to the control of the Assyrian Empire for the 70 years, exactly as prophesied here, from 700 B.C. to 630 B.C.  However, behind the visible threat was the power of the invisible God.  There is a question in verse 8 with the answer in verse 9.  "Who has purposed this" destruction of these great cities?  "The LORD of hosts has purposed it."

A heart full of pride, the sense of self-sufficiency, and the actions of living life the way one wants are the very reasons Jesus was nailed to the cross.  Those form one of the key Biblical definitions of sin.

Isaiah later wrote, "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Though we are not told how, at the end of the chapter there will be a brief time of restoration of commerce.  But this time the prosperity will be dedicated, or holy, to the LORD.  And, isn't that what God is after all along?  His desire is for everything and everyone in His creation to bring Him glory.

 

Facing an impossible Situation

 Read Isaiah 22.

God used the Assyrians to put pressure on Judah to repent.  But instead, they fortified Jerusalem's defenses.  They armed themselves with weapons (v.8).  Those who tried to flee were captured.  Judah was helpless to save themselves.  The LORD called to them to repent and turn to Him.  Instead of mourning and repenting, they feasted.

Shebna evidently was one who could have been in a position to negotiate with the Assyrians.  However, it seems he wanted to use this opportunity to make a lasting name for himself.  Therefore, God rejected him as an unfaithful "steward" and replaced him with Eliakim.  Eliakim served as a father figure to Judah, with the full royal authority that God place upon him.  In verse 14, he had God-given power to make things happen on behalf of his people.  But as secure as Eliakim's leadership was even it would one day come to an end.

At the heart of the problem was their unbelief that God could deliver them and that He wanted to deliver them.  That sin of unbelief "will not be atoned for..." (v.14). 

The writer of Hebrews stated, "Without faith it is impossible to please him." (Hebrews 11:6)  When facing impossible situations, we first and foremost gladly cast our full dependence upon the God of the impossible.  He alone can forgive sin.  He alone can deliver us. 

"Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees and looks to God alone;

Laughs at impossibilities, and cries it shall be done." -Charles Wesley

Protection from pending Disaster

 Read Isaiah 21.

Judah looked to any nation that could possibly stay the invasion of Assyria.  In His faithfulness, God told Isaiah what was about to happen and then the prophet delivered the word of God.

Looking to the east, there were the desert peoples of Dumah (Elam), Media, and the city of Babylon.  Surely, one of these could help.

A rebellion against Assyria did take place from the area of the desert sea, now known as the Persian Gulf.  But while Isaiah emotionally and physically felt the awfulness of the coming battle, some sat down to feast as if nothing was going to happen.  Then, the prophecy stated the news would come that Babylon had been "shattered to the ground."  Isaiah described Judah's dashed hopes as grain that had been threshed.

The message from the LORD even included the time.  The rout of the region would happen within one year.

Though a similar wording is used concerning Babylon in Revelation 14 and 18, these are two distinct events.  Isaiah wrote concerning the Assyrians' defeat of Babylon.  Later, in Daniel's time, the demise of the Babylonian Empire took place at the hands of the Medes and Persians.  Then, prior to the return of Christ the new Babylon will be destroyed.

God will be faithful to Judah and protect them from the cruelty of the Assyrians.  The lesson here is that they needed to stop looking to other sources of help and turn to the only One who can truly protect them.  That is a good word for all of us today.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the LORD, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" (Psalm 91:1-2)

 

The awesome consequences of Neglect

 Read Isaiah 20.

In a graphic display, God instructed the prophet to deliver His message.  Assyria would cruelly conquer and humiliate the nations.  With hopes dashed for any regional alliance, Judah would have to stop and take stock about their future.  There is an evaluative statement and then a question that applies to everyone who ever lived.

1. The statement. (v.6a)
"This is what happens to those who ignore the LORD and put their hope in something else." 
In predicting the demise of Cush and Egypt, God declared that they will evaluate what happened to them and why.  There proved to be no one to come alongside them to help.  They put their trust in the wrong place and in the wrong people.  They were sincere but sincerely wrong. 

God provided all they needed for forgiveness, restoration and protection.  But His plans were not accepted.  They thought they knew better than God.  Therefore, they suffered the consequences.

2. The question. (v.6b)
"How shall we escape?"
Some will trust that there is no such eternal accountability.  They will not escape eternal punishment.
Some will trust in other beliefs.  They will not escape eternal punishment.
Some will trust in their own good works.  They will not escape eternal punishment.

There are not two answers to that question.  There is only one.  It is not a sectarian belief, but the gracious offer of the living God.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) 

In a different context, the writer of Hebrews included the same question: "For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:2-3)