Main Idea: The people of God are to find their refuge and help in Him.

A Quick Backdrop:

As we’ve already seen, the eighth century BC was a very turbulent time for Israel and Judah. Assyrian dominance was unavoidable, and for Judah this was a fearful thing.

The Assyrians had already conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC and had defeated the important city of Ashdod in Philistia in 711 BC. Assyrian pressure was growing ever closer to the land of Judah as their neighbors to both the north and west were overcome.

A Look at the Text:

Understanding this pressure that would have been on Judah, we now see a harsh criticism from the Lord through His prophet.

The people of God are called “stubborn children” (Isa. 30:1) and a “rebellious people” (Isa. 30:9). Why? They were running to Egypt for refuge from the Assyrian threat. Ironically, the Philistines had already tried a similar tactic to no avail.^[1]

God was upset with His people, for they were carrying out plans and making alliances that weren’t from Him (Isa. 30:1-2). They sought refuge and shelter in Egypt, whereas the Lord offered them an invitation:

Their hope wasn’t to be in Egypt and its horses and chariots (Isa. 31:1). Rather, their refuge was to be in the Lord.

He was waiting for them, eager to be gracious to them (Isa. 30:18). He even had future plans for them (Isa. 30:19-26), but it would hinge upon their return to Him, rather than their return to Egypt.

Bringing it Home:

Life was never promised to be easy. In fact, the Lord Jesus said that we would have tribulation in this world (John 16:33). The question for the believer, then, is when hard times come, where do we run?

Do we seek worldly means of resolving our problems? Do we exhaust every natural solution before we seek a spiritual one? Do we possibly seek to dull our sorrows with bad habits or distractions?

Or do we run for refuge to the One who both designed and created the entire universe in which we find ourselves as He intended?

This does not mean that God cannot use natural things, as He certainly does at times. We must simply be careful not to put our hope in them. God alone is to be our Refuge.

As the psalmist once so powerfully concluded:

Armies weren’t a problem in and of themselves. In fact, God used armies on many occasions, and certainly they had war horses. However, the hope of the people could not be in these natural means, but only in the God who would grant them victory (Ps. 33:18).

He is ready, willing, and eager to help us. In fact, He is waiting.

Will we go to Him and wait patiently for His answer?

Challenge:

When God doesn’t work on my timeframe, do I quickly run to other things? Or am I willing to wait for the One who was already waiting for me?

^[1] Tremper Longman III, “Isaiah,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1070.

Main Idea: God’s Word must be received with humility.

A Look at the Text:

After looking to the future, Isaiah’s writing shifts in today’s text back to his day, around 700 BC. With this, there were decrees of judgment against both Israel and Judah during the divided kingdom; apparently, the clock has turned back ever so slightly in Isaiah’s chronology before Israel was fully conquered in 722 BC.

Israel was characterized by drunken pride (Isa. 28:1). Their priests and prophets were in such a drunken stupor that they couldn’t give prophetic direction or render sound judgment (Isa. 28:7). They even mocked Isaiah’s ministry as if he were talking to children (Isa. 28:9-10).

Judah wasn’t much better. They likewise scoffed at the threats of coming judgment, believing that based upon God’s covenant with David, they were immune to destruction (Isa. 28:15).

To this, God promised judgment. The whip they thought they could avoid would certainly fall upon them (Isa. 28:18). Ariel (Jerusalem) would be subjected to siegeworks (Isa. 29:3) as they had rejected their God.

Perhaps they hadn’t done so in word, but they had in their heart. They drew near to God with their lips, while their hearts were far from Him (Isa. 29:13). They didn’t really fear God; the fear of God was just a lifeless command that never penetrated deep within.

God was going to bring judgment and wake up His wayward people.

Isaiah pleaded with them to listen. Just as God had set up the natural world with certain laws and principles (Isa. 28:23-28), in the same way, He had set up the rest of the universe, too. His moral law is just as binding as the laws of agriculture.

He is the Creator, and He established the way things work, as He pleased. Would they humble themselves and respond in kind?

Bringing it Home:

The antithesis of mockery is humility. A healthy heart yearns to hear God’s Word and to apply it, knowing that He knows what is best. We cannot claim to love God and then to shrug off His Word as if it is of little consequence. We must take what He says seriously, for again, He is the One who established all things.

Those in Isaiah’s day scoffed at God’s prophet, but God was sending another—a Cornerstone (Isa. 28:16). Many stumbled over that cornerstone. He became unto them a rock of offense, but those who believe, “will not be put to shame” (1 Pet. 2:6).

Many today scoff at God’s Son and His claim to exclusivity.

But God runs His universe as He pleases. If we are to be right with Him, it hinges upon Jesus Christ. We must receive Him who was the Word, with meekness. We must humbly come to Him and acknowledge that God is God, and we are not.

Just as you can’t argue with how crops work, you can’t argue with how salvation works. It is God’s work, not another’s.

Challenge:

Do I ever struggle with how God does things when it comes to salvation and faith, when I can readily accept that planting and harvest work as He designed?

Main Idea: One day, the Lord will rule over His people unrivaled.

A Look at the Text:

Today’s chapters wrap up the vision of the end that began back in chapter 24 with the same twin themes of future salvation and judgment. The text opens with praise to God for His wondrous works and a call to trust in Him. There will come a day when the dead will live again (Isa. 26:19). A day of hope.

Yet, once again, that day is also a day of judgment. No longer will the earth conceal bloodshed, but it will disclose it (Isa. 26:21). In effect, no one will get away with murder forever. God’s justice will take every sin and every sinner into account.

This is true even of Leviathan, the great serpent (Isa. 27:1). No one will be able to hide their rebellion on the day when the King’s rule is finally established. He will rule over His people, drawing them back from the ends of the earth (Isa. 27:12-13), and they will worship Him.

Bringing it Home:

We can take heart today that the day of restoration is coming. A day of justice for the wicked is coming. The day of Leviathan’s final and sure defeat is coming (see Rev. 20:10). Though in the present much of life can seem backwards, God will right every wrong.

It seems that people get away with murder both literally and figuratively all the time, but not in the sight of God. He sees all. He knows all. One day, an account will be given before the Lord who reigns on high.

In the meantime, we put our trust in the Lord, believing that He will do what is good in His eyes. As it is reflected so beautifully in that future song:

God offers a peace that surpasses understanding (see Phil. 4:7). A perfect peace, in Hebrew the text says it is a shalom, shalom—perfect and unshakeable tranquility and wholeness. This is the portion of the one who puts their trust in their trustworthy God.

The world might seem to be unravelling, but if we fix our eyes on the King of Heaven, we can experience peace. He is on His throne. One day, the prayer “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10) will be finally answered.

In the meantime, we can place our trust in His faithful nature as the God who does not lie (see Titus 1:2). His promises are irrevocable. His Kingdom is unstoppable. His will will be done.

If our minds are stayed on earthly things, they will be as turmoil-laden as the news. But if our minds are stayed on Him, they will be at peace—perfect peace.

Challenge:

What typically hinders peace in my life?

If we put our trust in earthly things, peace will be elusive, but through trusting in our trustworthy God, we can always experience peace.

Main Idea: There is coming a day of blessing when faith will be made sight.

A Look at the Text:

Today’s chapter continues the look at a future time that is the focus of chapters 24 through 27 of Isaiah. Yesterday’s text addressed judgment, whereas today’s forecasts salvation. We now see a greater picture of what the King’s reign will look like.

He will be a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat (Isa. 25:4). Contrasting the desolation of chapter 24, there will be a feast (Isa. 25:6). Even more, death itself will be swallowed up forever, and God will wipe every tear away (Isa. 25:8). It is a day when faith will be made sight. The people on that day will cry out:

“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” (Isa. 25:9).

While there is a day of desolation coming for those who reject Him, the end of the story is entirely different for those who are His.

Bringing it Home:

While the previous chapter illustrated so vividly the terrors of those who are subjected to His wrath, this chapter presents the picture of a God who is a refuge to His people. As one scholar concluded in a summary of Psalm 2, “There is no refuge from Him, only in Him.”

The Scripture, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, gives us previews of that final day. It is a time when faith will finally be made sight. The believer will be able to point to their God, saying, “This, this is the One whom we have waited for! Here He is! He has come!”

No longer will it be a future hope.

No longer will it merely be imagined.

No longer will we wait by faith, but it will be our experience.

While the present can be fraught with disappointment and difficulty, we cannot lose sight of the sure hope that we have that is yet to come.

Every tear will be wiped away.

Our God will have come, finally.

Challenge:

Have I ever considered that faith is a temporary installment?

Presently, we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). Yet on that future day, there won’t be a need for faith, for we will behold the One who has been our hope.

Main Idea: The Day of the Lord is a day of inescapable destruction for the ungodly.

A Look at the Text:

After a final judgment oracle upon a specific people, Tyre, the judgment oracles of chapters 13 through 23 climax in Isaiah 24 with a picture of future judgment upon the whole world in the eschaton. The Lord reveals through Isaiah that this judgment would be inescapable for the ungodly.

Human beings have transgressed the laws of God. They have violated His statutes. They have broken His everlasting covenant (Isa. 24:5); therefore, they will suffer for their guilt (Isa. 24:6).

As a result of human sin, the curse devours the earth (Isa. 24:6; see also Gen. 3:14-24). Yet, there would be a remnant (Isa. 24:6d). A remnant of those who would give glory to the Lord (Isa. 24:14-16).

For those who reject God, His judgment is inescapable. One might be able to flee from the terror, but would then fall into the pit. One climbing out of the pit would then get caught in a snare (Isa. 24:17-18).

Even the host of heaven that rebelled against God will be held as objects of His wrath (Isa. 24:21). Kings of the earth will waste away before the King of Heaven.

There will come a day when the Lord’s reign will be established on Mount Zion, and no rebellion will stand.

Bringing it Home:

Human beings have an intrinsic sense of right and wrong that God has placed within our conscience. The apostle Paul argues:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth (Rom. 1:18).

Human beings aren’t naturally innocent. There is sufficient knowledge of God and His attributes in the created order that no one is without excuse on that judgment day (see Rom. 1:19-20).

In Isaiah’s terminology, it is a transgression of God’s laws, a violation of God’s statutes, and a breaking of His everlasting covenant (Isa. 24:5). Human beings cannot plead ignorance when God has, to some degree, written His law on the human heart with the conscience and revealed His glory in creation.

Yet people go their own way. They don’t want to be told what to do. They reject God and suppress the truth that is all around them.

For those who go from suppressing the truth to professing it, there is hope for that remnant of people whom God has called. While we stood under a curse because of our sin, there is One who bore the curse, in fact, became a curse for us, so that we could inherit blessing instead (see Gal. 3:10-14).

It is in this One, the wrath-bearer, the One who is called the way, truth, and life, that we must hope in the face of God’s inescapable judgment. We must turn to Him, giving glory to the Lord before it is too late.

Challenge:

Do I struggle with the seeming innocence of people in passages that talk about God’s judgment?

Remember, God is just, and according to Romans 1, no one can plead ignorance on the day they stand before their Maker.

Main Idea: Times for repentance are not times for celebration.

A Look at the Text:

In the midst of judgment oracles upon many nations in Isaiah 13 through 23, the Lord issued a decree through Isaiah against Jerusalem.

The historical context is one of partial victory for Jerusalem, where their enemies were fleeing. It might refer to the siege they faced under the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, which we will see later in chapters 36 and 37 of Isaiah.^[1]

Regardless of the specific historical backdrop, the problems in Judah were pretty clear. The people celebrated deliverance (Isa. 22:2), even though it didn’t come through their military might. Many people had died shamefully. Isaiah saw no cause for celebration and concluded, “Do not labor to comfort me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people” (Isa. 22:4).

Isaiah knew that their problems weren’t actually resolved at all.

They still stood under God’s judgment. The Lord of Hosts had a day of “tumult and trampling and confusion in the valley of vision [Jerusalem]” (Isa. 22:5). It was He who took away their covering (Isa. 22:8).

The problem for the people of Judah wasn’t Assyrians, it wasn’t Babylonians, it wasn’t any other enemy nation. Their problem was actually their God, who was disciplining them for their sins.

God called for repentance. He wanted to see His people sorry for their rebellion. He sought weeping, mourning, baldness, sackcloth, really anything that showcased the people were sorry (Isa. 22:12). Instead, the people were partying (Isa. 22:13). They didn’t see that this deliverance was merely a delay in their inevitable judgment if they wouldn’t turn back to God.

The Judeans didn’t know what time it was. They didn’t see that it was a time to seek God and to come before Him with sackcloth and ashes and true heartfelt repentance.

Instead, they relied on themselves. They relied on the water storage that Hezekiah implemented. They strengthened the city walls with the homes of its citizens. They did everything they could to avert coming destruction, not knowing that it was purposed by Yahweh (Isa. 22:11). He alone could fix it.

Bringing it Home:

The Teacher in Ecclesiastes famously noted that there is a time for everything (see Ecc. 3:1-8). There are times that are appropriate for celebration, and there are times that are appropriate for mourning.

In Jerusalem, it was time to repent. It was time to turn back to God. It wasn’t the time to celebrate. Judgment was still on their doorstep.

The surety of death is not a reason to party; it’s a reason to get right with God.

Their conclusion was, “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die” (Isa. 22:13). Yet the knowledge of our end ought to cause us to live wisely, not foolishly. The knowledge that one day we will stand before our Maker on the grand day of resurrection (see 1 Cor. 15:32-34) should shape the way we live in the present.

No matter what “time” it is, it’s always the right time to get right with God. As Paul once concluded, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

Challenge:

How do I live in response to the understanding that “tomorrow we die?”

^[1] Tremper Longman III, “Isaiah,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1071.

Main Idea: The only hope that will not disappoint is the living God.

A Look at the Text:

In today’s text, the scene shifts. While the previous chapter focused on a future blessedness for some of Israel’s neighbors as they turned to God, destruction was in the immediate future.

At this point in biblical history, Israel was conquered by Assyria (see 2 Kings 17). Now the Assyrians were marching against the Philistine city of Ashdod (Isa. 20:1). Assyria seemed unstoppable, and for quite some time, they were. Desperate times forced alliances between various nations as one people would depend upon another for their deliverance from this superpower.

This in mind, God tasked Isaiah with a very unusual mission—walking naked and barefoot for three years (Isa. 20:2-3).

This unusual prophetic sign was given to showcase what would happen to the Egyptians in short order. Just as God’s prophet went about with his backside bare, so would the Egyptian captives when the Assyrians were done with them.

This message was a warning to Judah, who might have been tempted to put their trust in neighboring nations for their deliverance. Instead, their hope was to rest in God alone. In fact, biblical history would later reveal that the Judean plight was resolved by a miraculous deliverance that only God could have accomplished (see 2 Kings 19).

The people of God might have been tempted to trust in weapons of war or mighty neighboring nations, but the only hope that wouldn’t disappoint would be the Lord Himself.

Bringing it Home:

Sadly, it can be very easy for God’s people to flee to any number of things for their help without even considering that God could solve their problems. At times, God will allow us to see the folly of our ways when these other things don’t work. This was the tale of the naked Egyptians, or what could also be called a naked hope.

Sometimes prayer is our last resort when it should really be our first stop. Seeking God should be the steering wheel of our lives, not the emergency brake. From ancient times even unto the present, it can be easy for people to exhaust every natural solution before divine help is sought.

Let this not be said of us. Instead, let us firstly and fully rely on the God who raises the dead (see 2 Cor. 1:9). Hardships should drive us to Him. While He may use any number of means to resolve our plight, let us never neglect to go to the Source of all help first.

We can trust that God is both sovereign and good. He is able to do as He pleases, and this same God cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7). If we, being evil, desire good things for our children, how much more does our Father in Heaven care for us? (see Matt. 7:11). If we have access to this God, why would we not take our cares to Him?

Challenge:

What is my first stop when hard times come knocking on my door?

Main Idea: God is the Savior of all who will put their faith in Him.

A Look at the Text:

As the judgment oracles of Isaiah continue, there is a slightly different tenor in the judgments on the nations of Cush and Egypt that we see in today’s text. There would come a day when Cush would bring tribute to Yahweh at Jerusalem (Isa. 18:7). Likewise, though Egypt would go through an incredible time of turmoil, ultimately, there would be those who would turn to God.

One day, there would be cities in Egypt that would speak the Hebrew language, the language of the covenant people (Isa. 19:18). There would be an altar in the center of Egypt and along its border (Isa. 19:19). All in all, the Egyptians would know the Lord (Isa. 19:21). They, alongside Assyria, would be known as being His people (Isa. 19:25).

Bringing it Home:

The story of the Bible is one of God progressively making Himself known.

When Moses showed up before Pharaoh and said, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go,” (Ex. 5:1), the Pharaoh initially responded, “I do not know the Lord” (Ex. 5:2). Through the subsequent plague judgments, God made Himself known. Yet, there was no allegiance to Him.

Still, there would come a day when people from all nations would worship the true and living God and leave their idols behind. In Christ, both Jew and Gentile can be reconciled to their Creator.

God’s grace was never to be harbored by one people, but to be shown to all. As in God’s initial blessing to Abraham, there was the promise, “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:3, emphasis added).

Millennia later, prior to His ascension, Christ gave the great commission, “Make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). Later, when John saw a vision of heaven, he saw:

The grace of God wasn’t to be reserved for one nationality or special people, but it’s available to all who would put their trust in Christ and believe (see 1 Cor. 1:21).

Challenge:

Do I truly see that the offer of salvation is extended to all peoples?

Main Idea: Judgment is certain for those who reject God.

A Look at the Text:

Today’s text continues the judgment oracles that began back in chapter 13. Chapter 16 picks up with the prophet’s address towards Moab, and chapter 17 finishes with decrees against Damascus (Syria) and Israel, who had allied themselves together against Judah (see 2 Kings 16:5).

Moab had three years left on the clock (Isa. 16:14). Though some came to find refuge, ultimately Moab would be judged for its pride (Isa. 16:6). Their prayers would not prevail, for their idols could not hear them (Isa. 16:12).

Likewise, Israel, who at present had rejected their God, would not be heard (Isa. 17:10-11). When destruction was coming, some would look to their Maker, rather than idols that they had made (Isa. 17:7-8). Yet, when God’s decree of destruction stood against the nation, Israel would fall to Assyria within a few years (2 Kings 17:6).

On the other hand, Judah, though seeing the thunder of nations raging, would be spared in a moment at God’s rebuke (Isa. 17:12-14). At least, for a time.

Bringing it Home:

It can be hard to keep track of cities, nations, and promises in God’s Word. Nevertheless, we can see a clear pattern in these sections of Isaiah. As God had forewarned in His law, if His people would follow Him, things would go well for them. If they abandoned Him, things would go badly.

Seeing Israel (the northern kingdom) listed amongst the nations that stood under God’s judgment is truly a sobering reality. They had abandoned the One who made them in favor of the products of their own hands. When judgment day came for both Moab and Israel, they quickly found that idols offered no help.

Even up until now, many reject God.

They spit in His face. They don’t believe they have any need for Him, or that He has any rightful claim on their lives. Yet there will come a day when they will cry out for deliverance to the very One whom they spent their lives rejecting. On judgment day, idols will be of no avail. The only hope is for mercy at the hands of the true and living God.

That mercy hinges upon our response to Jesus Christ, the One who bore our sin and the righteous wrath of the Father.

Yet, Christ has come not only as Savior, but as Lord. To receive Christ’s forgiveness is to also acknowledge His lordship. You can’t have one without the other. Salvation isn’t merely a “get out of jail for free” card. It is a lifelong and all-consuming allegiance to the One who first loved us.

When the Assyrians came with their hosts, none of the nations in their sights would be spared by calling on a God they didn’t know, who neither knew them. In the same way, some will one day call on a Lord who will reply, “I never knew you” (Matt. 7:23).

Challenge:

Does my life ever put a split between Christ as Savior and Christ as Lord?

Main Idea: God is sovereign over the nations and His purposes are irrevocable.

A Look at the Text:

Yesterday, in chapter 13, we saw a message of judgment coming upon Babylon. That chapter marked a transition in Isaiah’s prophecy. Now, many nations will be addressed for their sins, and especially their sin of pride.

Today’s text continues God’s decree against Babylon. With future hope for Judah came future desolation for Babylon. A day was coming when the scepter of kings would be broken by the King (see Isa. 14:5-6). Though Babylon was mighty in the present, its pride would be cut down. The same would be true for Assyria, Philistia, and Moab as well.

For the Lord of Hosts, the God of angel-armies was ruling over His creation. His plans and purposes would stand (Isa. 14:24), and they could not be annulled (Isa. 14:27).

Bringing it Home:

To know that every earthly ruler is subjected to the One who has made all things should greatly encourage us. While there are many earthly kings down here that seem to do as they please, we cannot lose sight of the fact that the true Sovereign will actually do as He pleases.

The Lord revealed so clearly through Isaiah that God’s hand “is stretched out over all the nations” (Isa. 14:26b). There is only one King whose authority is undeniable. There is but one Ruler whose decrees are always carried out.

Earthly kings might make their plans, but ultimately God’s purposes cannot be annulled. So we can trust that when things seem to be falling apart, they are merely falling into place.

In the midst of a fallen world that is fraught with war, this comforts the heart. We see rulers rise and fall, kingdoms rise and fall, and it can be unsettling. This is especially true in today’s day and age, with the capabilities of nuclear warfare and other technological advancements that make destruction that much easier.

Yet above them all there is but One whose will is ultimately done. The kings of the earth might rebel against His reign and the reign of His anointed, and He will simply laugh at how futile their efforts are (see Ps. 2:4).

Perhaps then, we ought to find it laughable too, that any human leader would think they stand a chance against the purpose of God, no matter how mighty they seem to be in our eyes.

Challenge:

Do I trust, by faith, that there is only one King whose will is irrevocably done?

Main Idea: There is coming a day of salvation filled with praise and joy.

A Look at the Text:

Our text opens today with a celebration of the promise from chapter 11. Yesterday, we saw a return to Eden and the certain hope that one day the Lord’s glory would cover the earth as the waters cover the sea (Isa. 11:9).

The inevitable response will then be praise and thanksgiving to God for His wondrous works and salvation. Salvation will be as an ever-flowing fountain (Isa. 12:3), and God’s praise will go throughout the earth (Isa. 12:5). Although that day is awaited, it is worth waiting for.

Contrasting this, we see that Babylon, though mighty in the present, had a future of destruction coming.

While David’s dynasty seemed as though it were a stump while everyone else prospered, what mattered most wasn’t the present, but the future. Babylon would one day be utterly cast down. The proud would be brought low (Isa. 13:11). Babylon would be as Sodom and Gomorrah (Isa. 13:19). While the present might be a miserable time for the people of God, the end of the story was yet to come.

Bringing it Home:

The Scripture says that it is impossible to please God without faith (Heb. 11:6). It’s not easy to believe in promises that are yet unfulfilled. To this, we must remember that the whole Christian life is one of faith. We are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). In the present, we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). Yet we trust that one day our faith will be made sight.

During our earthly sojourn, life is oftentimes backwards. The wicked prosper. The righteous suffer. It can seem as if God doesn’t care about the plight of His people. Yet the end of the story matters much more than the present chapter.

There is a grand contrast coming. Those who have trusted in Christ will enjoy eternal bliss in a new creation. The beautiful picture we saw from chapter 11 will be our portion. There will be everlasting peace. There will be eternal blessedness. We will dwell with our God, and He will dwell with us (see Rev. 21:3).

We must hold to the picture of that future day where we can “drink deeply from the fountain of salvation” (Isa. 12:3, NLT) when in the present life is hard.

The great reversal is yet to come.

Challenge:

Do I encourage myself with God’s eternal promises when the present seems backwards?

Main Idea: God’s purpose of a renewed creation and return to Eden will prevail.

A Look at the Text:

Our text picks up today with another message of hope. First, it is a message of hope rooted in the judgment of Assyria.

Assyria was arrogant and boastful of their great prowess (Isa. 10:12-13). Yet they were totally unaware that they were merely an axe in the hands of Yahweh (Isa. 10:15). Soon, Judah would have no need to fear Assyria, for God’s purpose would prevail (Isa. 10:24-25).

Yet the people of God had an even greater reason to hope. Not only would their enemies be destroyed, but there was coming a day when they would be ruled by one who would be endowed with the Spirit of the Lord, one whose reign would be characterized by righteousness (Isa. 11:4-5).

Though at the present David’s house seemed to be a mere stump, a new shoot would come forth with a fruit-bearing branch. Through the reign of this ruler, not only would Judah experience great blessedness, but there would be a return to Edenic conditions. Wolves and lambs would dwell together and a child could play by a cobra (Isa. 11:6-9).

A day of hope was on the horizon and it was tied to the reign of the Branch.

Bringing it Home:

As we come to the New Testament, it is explicit that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of David that was long-awaited (Matt. 1:1). Although at the time of His coming it certainly would have seemed there was nothing left of God’s promise to David, the dead stump sprouted new life.

His reign is characterized by righteousness. He never sinned. He never erred in perfect obedience to the Father. He both loved the sinner and upheld justice. In Him, we find the hope of a return to Eden even today.

It’s hard to remember at times that humanity’s fall into sin didn’t just simply introduce a sinful propensity into the lives of humans, but that it had cosmic implications bringing about death and decay into the whole created order (see Gen. 3:17-19; Rom. 8:20-22).

However the curse was not to be the end of the story. There is still coming a great return.

At present, he promises are partially fulfilled. The Branch’s reign has been inaugurated, but as yet has not been consummated. However, the day is coming when:

It is a day of hope. A day of perfect peace. A day where creation will have finally returned to Eden.

In that day and the God who always keeps His promise, we can hope.

Challenge:

Do I ever lose sight of the cosmic effects of the fall, forgetting that all that is “not good” is ultimately sourced in human rebellion?

Main Idea: Though the present is filled with turmoil, there is coming an end filled with peace.

A Look at the Text:

Isaiah’s day was turmoil-laden. War was on the horizon, and war was everywhere. There was fighting between Judah and the Israel-Syria alliance that was only halted by Assyrian help. The Assyrians would then conquer much of that area of the world.

With this, Isaiah predicts in greater detail the invasion that was mentioned in the previous chapter.

Assyria would conquer Syria (732 BC), then Israel (722 BC), and nearly conquer Judah as well (701 BC).^[1] However, even though the floodwaters of Assyrian rule would swallow Judah until they were neck deep, they wouldn’t finally prevail (Isa. 8:8-10). For Immanuel wasn’t just a slogan, but a reality—God was with them.

Even more, a day was coming when a descendant of David would ascend the throne whose Kingdom would never end:

For that future day, Isaiah waited (Isa. 8:17), and in that day the people could hope. Though presently overwhelmed by darkness, a great light would dawn (Isa. 9:2).

Bringing it Home:

While the prophets of old could only anticipate His coming, the new covenant believer knows Jesus Christ. Through Him, a great light has dawned that will never die (see Matt. 4:13-16).

His Kingdom will never fade or wane—it will always grow. His Kingdom will bring peace. His reign will be known for justice and righteousness, the very things that were lacking in Isaiah’s day.

Yet these promises haven’t yet reached their full fulfillment. Like Isaiah, we wait for a final day. We know more of the picture. We know the name of Jesus. We stand on the other side of the cross. We know He is coming back again, and in that day we hope.

One day it will be said, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (Rev. 11:15).

There is coming a time of eternal peace. The world has been afflicted by violence since Genesis 4. War is an inevitable part of our earthly experience while fallen humans rule nations. Yet, that isn’t the end of the story. The Prince of Peace will have the final word.

One day, every tear will be wiped away. There will be no more sorrows. In the heavenly Jerusalem, the gates needn’t be locked (see Rev. 21:25) because it is a place of perfect peace. For that final day we wait, and we hope.

Challenge:

Am I ever overwhelmed by the ceaseless fighting of nations down here, losing sight of the eternal peace that is on the horizon?

^[1] David Jackman, Teaching Isaiah: Unlocking Isaiah for the Bible Teacher, ed. Robin Sydserff, Teach the Bible (Ross-shire, Scotland; London, England: PT Media; Christian Focus, 2010), 78.

Main Idea: God is a God who intervenes in history and visits His people.

A Look at the Text:

In Isaiah 6-7, we see God’s intervention in the lives of His wayward people. First, there is the commissioning of Isaiah. Isaiah, though unclean, wasn’t unclean beyond the reach of God’s grace and mercy. While human beings cannot resolve their own sinful plight, God is able to cleanse even the most vile sinner.

With this, the cleansing of Isaiah becomes a paradigm for what God intends to do with Judah as a nation.^[1] God is a God who intervenes in the lives of His people in acts of redemption, and this becomes no clearer than what is foretold in the seventh chapter.

King Ahaz, a wicked king, was presently on the throne of Judah. We met him back in 2 Kings 16, last week. It was a rough time for Judah. The Assyrians were consolidating their power, and there was pressure for Judah to join an anti-Assyrian alliance with Israel and Syria. Yet, Ahaz refused, choosing rather to pay off the king of Assyria (2 Kings 16:7-9).

To this, Isaiah offered the hope of deliverance. With a message from the Lord, Ahaz was assured that these two nations and their threats would come to naught. He was even allowed to ask God for a sign to prove His Word.

When Ahaz refused, the Lord responded that He Himself would give a sign: a special son would be born, Immanuel, one who showcased that the Lord was with them (Isa. 7:14). Before the boy even knew right from wrong, Ahaz’s plight would be over (Isa. 7:16).

God was going to show off His mighty power by delivering them. Even more, the consistent sending of messengers and messages to His wayward people showcased God’s amazing grace towards His undeserving people.

Bringing it Home:

Yet, God’s grace is shown nowhere greater than in the coming of the Immanuel—Jesus Christ (see Matt. 1:23). The initial fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in his own day would showcase that God was with them as He delivered them from their enemies, yet that was only a partial fulfillment of this grand promise.

In Jesus Christ, God literally came down. For Christ is the incarnate Word (see John 1:14) who was both with God and who was Himself, God (see John 1:1-2). “God with us” wasn’t just an assurance that was proven through divine action; now it was proven through divine presence in the incarnation. The coming of Christ reminds us that God is forever with us. Though He seems distant, He is present. Though the world is dark, His light forever shines.

This message, “God with us,” is eternally shown in the incarnation. The coming of Christ should forever be a source of hope for us, even in the most hopeless situations. There is nothing too hard for the God who fashioned the heavens as the work of His fingers, and this same God is with us.

Challenge:

Do I ever feel God has abandoned me?

Let us never forget that God has forever drawn near in Christ. We can have the sure hope He will never leave us nor forsake us (see Heb. 13:5).

^[1] David Jackman, Teaching Isaiah: Unlocking Isaiah for the Bible Teacher, ed. Robin Sydserff, Teach the Bible (Ross-shire, Scotland; London, England: PT Media; Christian Focus, 2010), 74.

Main Idea: God desires good fruit from His people.

A Look at the Text:

After promises of judgment and redemption, Isaiah 5 begins with a song. A song about God’s vineyard—Israel. They were His planting, planted in a good place. God prepared the ground, clearing it of stones. He prepared a winepress, eager for good grapes from His vineyard.

Yet, when the time came for harvest, they were wild or bitter grapes. They weren’t what the Owner of the vineyard was looking for. As a result, the vineyard was going to be destroyed. He had done all that He could to make it prosper (Isa. 5:4), and it disappointed Him again and again.

The Lord then recounts how He came to Israel looking for good grapes, that is, justice and righteousness. Yet, instead, He found bloodshed and cries of distress (Isa. 5:7).

Israel was to be God’s holy, separate, distinct people. They were to reflect Him and His values. They were to bear good fruit that resembled His character. Yet they failed Him again and again. Instead of bearing good fruit, they bore bad fruit. They reflected the world around them more than the God who had called them.

Bringing it Home:

In the New Testament, we see very similar ideas regarding fruitfulness. The Word of God, that is, the gospel, is likened to a seed (see Matt. 13:1-23). When cast upon various kinds of soil, some bore no fruit, but the good soil, those who heard the message and accepted it, bore good fruit (Matt. 13:23).

The apostle Paul once wrote:

These things are proof that the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in the believer. God is still looking for fruit in the lives of His people, but the good news is that those who are the good soil, those who have the Holy Spirit within, do bear good fruit.

Let us then always be diligent to cultivate good fruit on our end. Fruits are by definition not the root, or the source of our salvation; however, they are a necessary evidence that one is a genuine believer. While not saved by works, we are saved for good works (see Eph. 2:8-10).

When God comes looking for these things, will He find what He is looking for? Or will those whom He has called to be holy and distinct look like everyone else?

Challenge:

What fruit is growing on my tree?

Main Idea: The Lord will humble the proud and restore His people.

A Look at the Text:

Isaiah 3 continues the call of judgment against a godless people. For one, God would empty them. He would empty them of their provisions (Isa. 3:1). Furthermore, He would empty them of their leaders and officials (Isa. 3:2).

Judgment was coming on Judah for their pride.

Their sin wasn’t secretive—it was boastful. It wasn’t hidden—it was public. It wasn’t shameful—it was celebrated. As a result, God was going to humble the proud. Using symbolic imagery of a beautiful woman brought to humiliation (Isa. 3:16-17), God was going to reveal their sinful practices for what they truly were—shameful.

Yet, in the midst of dawning destruction, there was a hope for a future day. The Branch of the Lord would one day be glorified. A Messianic age was coming (Isa. 4:2-6). There would be a day of restoration for Israel as it was in the wilderness with God amongst them as a cloud and fire. He would dwell amongst them. They would be His people. He would be their God.

Bringing it Home:

Today, we likewise await that final day of restoration. The coming “Day of the Lord” will one day be fulfilled when Jesus Christ, the Branch, descends from heaven to set up His Kingdom. It will be a day of judgment and a day of salvation.

In order to be right with God before that final day, humility is essential. You cannot be saved until you first realize your guilt. There is no appreciation for the good news of Christ without an understanding of the bad news—the depravity of man. Without a genuine need for salvation, people will not call on the Savior.

For those who have trusted in Christ, we must remember to always submit humbly to God’s Word regarding our sin. Repentance is by nature a humbling thing. It’s an acknowledgement that we are wrong and God is right.

The Christian life is one of continual repentance. We recognize our only hope is God’s mercy, and we cast ourselves at the foot of the cross. Let us always remember we have no reason to boast in His presence. Our only boast can be in the cross (see Gal. 6:14), for apart from mercy we would have no hope.

Challenge:

Does my pride ever hinder my repentance?

Main Idea: Though wrathful against sin, God isn’t quick to give up on people.

A Quick Backdrop:

Isaiah the prophet came on the scene in the eighth century BC during a turbulent time. It was during this period that the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyria. Judah was likewise afflicted by the Assyrians, barely escaping conquest. Isaiah came with a message of both judgment and hope. He came with a call to repentance and a promise of future blessedness for the people of God.

A Look at the Text:

At the outset, Israel (as a whole) is called to task. Though an ox or donkey know their master and his care, the people of God had utterly forsaken God, their Creator and Redeemer (Isa. 1:3).

As a result, they were experiencing destruction at the hands of the Assyrians (Isa. 1:7-9). Assyrian records recount the destruction of 46 Judean cities at the hands of King Sennacherib during this time.^[1] Isaiah responded, noting that their destruction nearly paralleled Sodom and Gomorrah’s (Isa. 1:9; see also Gen. 19).

The primary issue at hand was Judah’s superficial religion.

The people outwardly served God when inwardly their hearts were far from Him. The hands that brought sacrifices also shed blood (Isa. 1:15). As a result, God concluded that He couldn’t tolerate them. Their offerings must stop (Isa. 1:13a). He could not endure their hypocrisy (Isa. 1:13d). He hated their feasts and was weary of putting up with them (Isa. 1:14).

God instituted these things, but they weren’t to be done apart from a genuine heart. God didn’t want their worship if He didn’t have them.

So God, through His prophet, issued an invitation:

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. ¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; ²⁰ but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isa. 1:18-20).

The choice was theirs. They could turn and be washed clean. Or they could remain and be devoured by the sword. While there was coming a day of blessing for the people of God (Isa. 2:2-4), that day was coming after a time of judgment. The proud would be humbled (Isa. 2:17) and their idols would be destroyed (Isa. 2:18).

The Day of the Lord is a frightful thing, but they could turn to Him before judgment came and experience salvation.

Bringing it Home:

With the dawning of a new age through the coming of Christ, the invitation now goes to all peoples to repent and turn to God (Acts 17:30). A day of judgment is coming, but we can be spared if we turn to Christ in faith.

As in the days of Isaiah, we can have the hope of cleansing. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, we can be washed clean. The apostle John once noted:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9, emphasis added).

As the old hymn so powerfully states, “There is a fountain, filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.” While people on their own are irreparably wicked, God made a way for us to be forgiven by grace.

Let us then respond to Him as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1), wholly devoted to Him. Not just in lip-service, but in life-service. Not just in words, but also in deeds. Not just in worship, but also in our walk. Not just outwardly, but at the heart-level. For the God who cleanses the most vile sinner is worthy of our uttermost devotion.

Challenge:

Do I see how bad my sin truly is?

If we don’t see our sin for what it is, we will never fully appreciate God’s mercy.

^[1] John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Is 1:7.

As it has now been two months since the launch of From Vanity to Joy, I wanted to share a companion article for anyone who would be interested in some really practical application from the book. If you still haven’t picked up a copy, I’d love it if you’d do so here.

If you haven’t read the book and aren’t super interested in something that long, these 10 things should still be helpful to you.

Here are 10 things I try to do every day that help me to find joy in a seemingly vain life:

1. I strive to begin each day with thanksgiving for another day.

In light of Ecclesiastes 11:7, “Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.” I try to have my first thought of the day, even before getting out of bed, to be gratitude for another day. Life is a gift. Each day is a blessing that is hand-crafted by my Creator.

2. I have a routine for morning self-talk.

I know for many it might seem silly, and I used to roll my eyes at the concept altogether. However, I have found this practice very helpful. Your brain will believe what you tell it to believe—trust me.

With this, I try to “renew my mind” with a few truths that I need to hear and believe. A few of my daily affirmations are found below:

• I am a joyous person. Today I will control my perspective and choose joy.

• If things don’t go according to my plans, I will trust that God’s plans are better and that He is working all things together for my good.

• Today is a gift from God that I will not squander with a bad attitude.

• Today I will fear God and enjoy the ride.

These help to orient my perspective for the day. People create their own sayings all the time, try it.

3. I have a practice of filling out a daily gratitude journal.

Every morning after my morning prayer time, I handwrite at least one thing that I am thankful for.

A gratitude journal ends up being a huge list of reasons why my life is awesome. If I ever feel down, I have this massive vault of evidence that proves I am blessed. I begin each entry with, “I am thankful...” and end it with, “I am blessed.”

This is not a prosperity gospel, health and wealth sort of deal. It’s simply acknowledging that God has been gooder to me than I deserve.

4. I thank God genuinely for my food and strive to find little things that I enjoy regularly.

I genuinely believe coffee is a gift from God. I also regularly thank God when I have raspberry jelly on my morning toast. Raspberries are awesome. You can find extraordinary in the ordinary if you’re willing to see it.

5. I try to use the “I get to” mentality (as I share about in Chapter 7) for things that can drain me.

Thankfully, there are very few things in my life presently that really fit this. I really love what I do. However, I still try to remind myself every Sunday, for example, that I get to preach.

Some weeks, it can feel a bit burdensome when the week has been long, and I’m not as prepared as I’d like to be. It is nonetheless a great blessing and privilege.

6. When life seems particularly dark, I try to remind myself of the eternal tomorrow that is to come.

All suffering in this life is temporary. The apostle Paul put it best:

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17).

In light of eternity, the suffering of this life is of little consequence and is very momentary. That perspective really helps when hardship feels like it’s eternal. It’s not.

7. When I’m feeling down, it can be helpful to ask why.

The psalmist gives a great example of this in Psalm 42. Essentially, the question is not why am I down, but instead, “Why am I so down when my God is so good?”

We can always choose to respond to despair, whether it is justified or not with the self-exhortation “Hope in God.”

8. My family and I strive to spend intentional unplugged family time together, at least once a week.

Monday nights are a nonnegotiable night together. We don’t schedule things where we are apart. Likewise, to the best of our ability, we try to spend the time at home or doing something fun together if we are out.

9. I limit my social media intake.

I recently summarized Facebook as being “a waste of time that is fraught with negativity.” I stand by my words. We weren’t supposed to have this illusion of omniscience. As I mention in Chapter 3, bad news sells. It’s not good for us. Unplug.

The most helpful tool I have found of late is an app called “Onesec.” It adds a solid one-second delay on “blocked” apps when you try to open them. Then it asks you whether or not you really want to get on... [Facebook.]

My answer 99.9% of the time is, “No. I really don’t want to be doing this. It’s just a bad habit.” This app has been the most helpful implementation for me in limiting screen time.

While I still use Facebook on my computer here and there, I don’t scroll on my phone anymore at all. I never really wanted to, I just did out of a bad habit. I was never on my phone for hours, but it was still time squandered that I have now gotten back.

10. I try to give myself grace—sometimes life is hard, and I’m just tired.

I have found on a regular basis that I am much more like Elijah than I’d like to admit.(Triumphs lead to depression and a death wish). Some days when I feel down, it’s not because I need to change my life; it’s just because I need to sleep.

Usually, a night or two of ensuring I have eight hours fixes most of my blues.

In Conclusion:

I am a recovering Eeyore, and as I mention in my book, I’m not quite bouncing like Tigger yet. Nevertheless, I am light-years more joyful than I used to be.

The book of Ecclesiastes really helped me come face to face with the things that I would like to change but can’t. With this, it helped me to choose joy in the midst of vanity. We have more control over our perspective than we often realize.

These things have helped me on my journey, I pray they help you on yours.

If you haven’t grabbed a copy of my book, I truly believe that it will be a blessing to you. I didn’t write the subtitle “How Ecclesiastes Changed My Life & Could Change Yours Too” without really meaning it. If any of these 10 things resonated with you at all, then the book probably will too.

Lastly, if you did buy my book, and managed to read it. I would love to hear if it helped you, and if you’re willing I would love it if you’d leave a review on Amazon.

Thanks, and God bless.

Main Idea: Judgment delayed is not judgment denied.

A Look at the Text:

2 Kings 17 is a very important text in Old Testament history. In today’s chapter, we see the fall of Israel. The Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom in 722 BC as a result of the ceaseless rebellion of God’s people.

God had warned the people ahead of time in Deuteronomy that if they rejected Him, He would cast them off from the Promised Land (see Deut. 28:15-68). Even more, God in His great mercy, sent prophet after prophet to the people to plead with them to turn from their wicked ways and return to God (2 Kings 17:13).

As we have seen in previous weeks, Elijah, Elisha, Hosea, Amos, and surely countless other prophets were sent by God. God gave His Word in the Torah. God gave His Word through the prophet. Yet the people wouldn’t turn from their idols and return to Yahweh.

As such, judgment day came. God warned them again and again. He gave them plenty of chances. Eventually, He kept His promise to bring destruction. Just as God had promised blessings for covenant-faithfulness, so He promised judgment from covenant-disobedience. In the end, God was faithful to keep His Word—all of it. Israel was no more, and only Judah remained.

Bringing it Home:

Many people struggle with the idea of God’s judgment. With this, we must see that with God this is never the first response, but it is the last resort. God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast, covenant-keeping love (see Ps. 103:8). However, God being slow to anger does not mean that He does not get angry.

God pleaded with His people through both His written and spoken Word time and time again. Yet they remained resolute in their pursuit of idols. So God kept His Word, and this portion of the Promised Land was now called Assyria, not Israel.

Even at present, God has foretold a day of coming judgment when His Son will return in glory. Yet, God, in His great mercy, has delayed that day:

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).

God desires that people would turn from their wicked ways and come to Him. This is seen to be true in both the Old and New Testaments. There is a delay in judgment as the direct result of God’s confounding mercy.

Yet, just because the day is delayed does not mean that it is not coming:

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed (2 Pet. 3:10).

The Father has revealed Himself in creation (Rom. 1:20) and in Christ (John 1:18). He has given ample evidence and ample time for people to return to Him.

There is a door of mercy wherein people can be forgiven, but one day that door will be shut, and the bridegroom will come suddenly. The God who is merciful is also just, and He keeps His Word. All of it.

Challenge:

Do I see the merciful patience of God in delayed judgment?

Main Idea: The people of God aren’t supposed to resemble the world and its ways.

A Look at the Text:

We left off yesterday looking at a king who started well but finished poorly. Sadly, by the time of Uzziah’s grandson, King Ahaz, we see a much different picture of Judean life. While Uzziah served God faithfully most of his life, and his son Jotham did likewise, Ahaz was an entirely different story.

Uzziah and Jotham served only one God, albeit imperfectly. One of their shortcomings was their failure to get rid of the high places that were illegitimate sites for worship. While these places weren’t inherently idolatrous and were sometimes used for the worship of the true God, the lack of connection to the temple in Jerusalem often made them a place for idolatry.^[1]

By the time of Ahaz, we see that he offered sacrifices to other gods there. What the previous generations hadn’t dealt with was now a stumbling block to Ahaz. Even worse, Ahaz fell to the most vile practice of Canaanite religion—sacrificing one of his own sons by fire.

God had made a covenant with Ahaz’s ancestor, David, that one of his descendants would remain on the throne indefinitely. Yet now, one from David’s lineage was actually sacrificing one of his own sons, who could have been the next fulfillment of that promise.

Ahaz wasn’t just wishy-washy. He was diametrically opposed to the worship of Yahweh. He had no problem following the practices of the Canaanite nations whom the Lord had driven out before the people of Israel (2 Kings 16:3). God’s people, rather than being a kingdom of priests that reflected their God, became like everyone else and abandoned Him during this time.

Bringing it Home:

Without the bedrock of morality that is God’s Word, the descent into immorality is truly a bottomless pit. As it was seen in the days of the judges, when people do what is right in their own eyes, there is no limit to the atrocities that occur.

When truth is subjective, nothing is off limits, even the sacrifice of children.

Let us always remember that God, as Creator, is the source of all truth. He engineered this universe in which we find ourselves, and both natural and moral laws have their source in Him. As such, we must follow His decrees, not our feelings. We must accept His Word, not our wants.

If we have no bedrock for morality, we will always keep digging in an endless descent into deeper and deeper sin. If we stand upon God’s Word, we have a sure foundation upon which to build an upright and God-pleasing life.

Challenge:

In a world without bedrock, will I stand on God’s Word?

^[1] John H Walton, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament): 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009), 158.