TWO THINGS YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THE LORD

Transcription

1 TWOTHINGSYOUCANEXPECTFROMTHELORD Come, my people, enter into your rooms and shut the doors behind you. Hide yourselvesforalittlewhile,untilhisindignationhaspassedover. 21 Look!Jehovahis coming out of his dwelling place in order to punish the inhabitants of the earth for theiriniquity.theearthshalluncovertheblood[ithasabsorbed],andshallnolonger concealitsslain. 27 On that day Jehovah with his fierce and great and mighty sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the coiled serpent. [Jehovah] will slay the monster that is in the sea. 2 On that day [there shall be] a vineyard [that produces] wine sing about it! 3 I, Jehovah, am its caretaker; I will water it continually. I will guarditdayandnightsothatnoonecanharmit. 4 Iamnotangry.Iwishthatthe briersandthornswouldconfrontmeinbattle!iwouldmarchagainstthem;iwould burnthemallup. 5 [Iftheywillnotconfrontmeinbattle,]thenletthemcometomefor refuge.letthemmakepeacewithme;yes,letthemmakepeacewithme! 6 Indaysto come Jacob shall take root, Israel shall bud and blossom; and they will fill the whole worldwithfruit. 7 Has[Jehovah]struckthemthewayhestruckthosewhostruckthem?Orhavethey beenslaintothesameextentthatthosewhomtheyslewhavebeenslaughtered? 8 With carefullymeasuredblowsyoudrivethemaway,[andso]youcontendwiththem with hisfierceblasthedrivesthemout,likeadaywhentheeastwindblows. 9 Therefore,by these[measures]shalltheiniquityofjacobberemovedandthisshallbetheabundant fruitwhenhissinistakenaway,[namely,]hewillmakeallthestonesofthealtarto become like chalk stones that have been crushed to pieces. No Asherah poles or sun imageswillbeleftstanding. 10 The[once]fortifiedcity[now]standsempty,adwelling place that is [now] desolate and forsaken, like the wilderness. The calves will graze there;theywillliedownthereandfeedonitsbranches. 11 Whenitslimbsbecomedry, theywillbebrokenoff;womenwillcomeandusethemforfirewood.[thiswillbetheir fate]becausetheyareapeoplewhohavenounderstanding.therefore,hewhomade themwillhavenocompassiononthem,andhewhoformedthemwillshowthemno favor. 12 On that day Jehovah will do his threshing from the overflowing [Euphrates] RivertotheWadiofEgypt;andyou,OchildrenofIsrael,shallbegathereduponeby one. 13 On that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who were about to perish in AssyriaandthosewhowereexilesinthelandofEgyptshallcomeandshallworship JehovahintheholymountainatJerusalem.(Isa.26:20 27:13) Introduction SometimeagoaT.V.newsprogramfeaturedasegmentonthesubjectofcosmetic surgery performed on children. The story was about a cosmetic surgeon who devoted his practice to helping children who had been born with distorted facial features. Pictures of the children before cosmetic surgery were compared with picturestakenaftersurgery thosepicturesdisplayedawonderfultransformation intheirappearances.

2 During the course of this human interest story some filming of the actual surgical procedurewasalsoshown itrevealedtheworktobebothpainstakingaswellas painful.butwehavetobearinmindthatitwasdoneinlove,itwasdoneforthe goodofthechildren,andthefinalresultwaswellworththeprice.inasense,that cosmetic surgeon had entered into a covenant one in which he had dedicated himselftothewellbeingofthosepoor,deformedchildren. Asonewatchedandlistenedtothisstoryaboutthecosmeticsurgeonandhisspecial ministrytochildrenbornwithdeformedfeatures,onemightwellbeimpressedby the comparison between his physical ministry to such children and our LORD s spiritualministrytohispeople.thisspiritualministryofreformingandperfecting His people, preparing us for glory, is displayed for us here in Isaiah As we study this passage of Scripture let us consider what we, as the LORD s covenant people,canexpectfromourgraciouslord. I.YouCanExpecttheLORDtoDisciplineYourLife(Isa.27:7 11) Verses 7 8 describe the disciplining/reforming work of God the cosmetic surgery onthesoul thatthelordperformsinthelivesofhispeople.verse7 contraststhediscipliningworkofgodcarriedoninthelivesofhischildrenwith the way the LORD finally deals with those who remain in their sins and their hostility to their God: Has[Jehovah] struck[his people] the way he struck those [enemies] who struck them? The LORD shall visit His enemies with a judgment that, when it finally comes, shall be total and result in their condemnation a judgment that shall come upon them because of their enmity against their God andtheiroppressionofhispeople thosepeoplearedescribedashavingstruck God s people. The LORD visits His people with a chastening/disciplining that is intendedtoresultinoursanctification;i.e.;ourconformitytotheimageofchrist oursavior. Verse8aindicatesthattheLORD schasteningofhispeopleiscarefullymeasured out, literally, in measure by measure. The LORD administers nothing less than whatisneeded,butnothingmorethanwhatisrequired.verse8bindicatesthat attimesthelordmay,indeed,finditnecessarytoadministeraseveremeasureof chastening/discipline: youdrivethemaway,andsoyoucontendwiththem with his fierce blast he drives them out, like a day when the east wind blows. The imagery is that of the LORD bringing a severe and devastating storm against His people,onethatsweepsthemawayfromtheirpresentstateofcomplacencyand commitment to their sins. These severe measures are required on those occasionswhenachildofgodknowsheisdoingwrong,knowsthatgodiscalling himtorepent,andyethecontinuestostubbornlypersistinhissin. Verse8indicatesthattheLORD schastening/discipliningisaformofcontending withus: youcontendwiththem. Itisaveryrealstrivingagainstusasweclutch tightly to our sins and thus set ourselves in opposition to God, as the Apostle Jamesteaches, doyounotrealizethatfriendshipwiththeworldishatredtoward

3 God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (Jam.4:4.)Butatthesametime,theLORD schasteningisalsoaveryrealstriving for us with the intention of pulling us out of our sinful actions and pulling such attitudesoutofus,notepsalm32:4a,5, dayandnightyourhandwasheavyupon me 5 ThenIacknowledgedmysintoyouanddidnotcovermyiniquity.Isaid,Iwill confessmytransgressionstojehovah,andyouforgavetheguiltofmysin. Hereis David stestimonyasthelordcontendedwithhimuntildavidconfessedhissin andreturnedtothelordhisgod.areyoupresentlyengagedinsuchastruggleof soul with the LORD? If so, what do you need to do? The hymn writer, Eliza E. Hewittprovidestheanswer: Givemeyourheart, saysthesaviorofmen, Callinginmercyagainandagain. Turnnowfromsin,andfromevildepart, WillInothelpyou? Givemeyourheart. Verse 9 once again emphasizes the intention and purpose of this disciplining/chasteningworkofthelord: Therefore,by[thesemeasures]shallthe iniquity of Jacob be removed. The Hebrew word, rp1k2, normally meaning to cover, or to forgive, in the Pual form also contains the meaning, to remove. The LORD lovingly administers discipline in order to save us from those actions andattitudesthatwillexcludeusfromhiseverlastingpresenceandcondemnus tohell,thisisinkeepingwiththewarningcontainedinrevelation21:27, there shallbynomeansenterintoit[thekingdomofgod]anythingunclean. TheLORD disciplinesusforourprofit, sothatwemayshareinhisholiness (Heb.12:10b.) Verse 9b indicates how we may tell when the chastening work of the LORD has accomplisheditsintendedpurpose, [Jacob]willmakeallthestonesofthealtarto become like chalk stones that have been crushed to pieces. Jacob (the nation of Judah is presented under the singular name of their forefather, the patriarch Jacob) is portrayed as pulverizing the stones of his idolatrous altars, reducing themtopowder.consequently,asaresultofjacob pulverizingthestones ofhis idolatrous altars, No Asherah poles or sun images will be left standing. The pointingbeingmadeisthatthereisatrueandtotalforsakingofhissins,atotal forsakingofthosethingsthatprovokethelordtoanger.thus,theevidencethat the LORD s chastening work has achieved its desired result is repentance and reformation in the lives of His people. Note: We might say that after the initial workof pulverizing oursins,thereisalotof debris tobecleanedup i.e.;the work of sanctification, the repentance of sin and conformity to the image of Christ, is an ongoing, lifelong activity, an activity that requires our dependence upontheholyspirit,noteromans8:13, ifyouliveaccordingtothesinfulnature, youwilldie;butifbythespirityouputtodeaththemisdeedsofthebody,youwill live.

4 Verses now contrast the chastening of the LORD s people with the final punishment of the unrepentant sinner. His chastening ultimately produces the responseofrepentanceandchangeinthelivesofhispeople(vs.9b.)butupon a people who have no understanding (vs. 11), the LORD finally executes judgment, totalanddevastating.verse10againemploystheimageryofafortifiedcitythat hasbeenconqueredandleftasdesolateasawilderness:thecattlenowcomeand eat the foliage of this wilderness, causing the boughs of the trees to wither and break off; then the women come and gather up the dry sticks for firewood so totalanddevastatingisthefinaljudgmentofgoduponsinfulmankind.verse11 gives the reason for this devastating judgment: because they are a people who have no understanding. The Hebrew word,,yb3, which has the meaning of to understand, also has the meaning to discern, to mark, to heed/to pay attention. The point is that God s judgment is falling upon a people who are incorrigible and undiscerning, they refuse to recognize that the temporal judgments of God are intended to lead them to repentance, they stubbornly persist in their sins until they are finally consigned by God to final judgment, (noteromans2:4 5, do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God s kindness [is intended to] lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, youarestoringupwrathagainstyourselfonthedayofgod swrath,whenhis righteousjudgmentwillberevealed.(rom.2:4 5) BecauseofHiscovenantfaithfulness,youcanexpecttheLORDtodisciplineyour life.goddisciplinesthosewhomheloveswithafatherlylove,ashebrews12:5 6ainformsus, youhaveforgottenthatwordofencouragementthataddressesyou assons:myson,donottakelightlythelord sdiscipline,anddonotloseheartwhen he rebukes you, 6 because the LORD disciplines those whom he loves. Those who love Him respond to His discipline and yield to it. When it is necessary for the LORD to exercise such discipline in our lives, let us recognize His purpose, as expressedinephesians5:25 27, Christlovedthechurchandgavehimselfupfor her 26 inordertomakeherholy 27 andpresenthertohimselfasaradiantchurch, withoutstainorwrinkleoranyotherblemish,butholyandblameless, andmaywe allowthechasteningtohaveitsintendedresult,namely,thatofrepentanceand changefromsinfulbehaviorandlifestyletogodliness. II.YouCanExpecttheLORDtoPreserveYourSoul(Isa.26:20 27:6,12 13) In Isaiah 27:2, using the imagery of a vineyard, the LORD reveals His final purpose for His people, namely, that we should become "a vineyard [that produces] wine." Just as a well cultivated vineyard finally produces a bountiful harvestofgrapesfromwhichismadeanabundanceofqualitywine,sothelord shall cause our lives to be finally and eternally filled with the good fruit of His HolySpirit,asthatfruitisdefinedinGalatians5:22 23,"thefruitoftheSpiritis love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self

5 control."thehebrewtextliterallyreads:"onthatday,avineyardofwine sing of it!" The terse language conveys a sudden, surprising and delightful final result Christ'scareful,painstakingworkofsanctifyingHischurchshallfinally producetheblessedresultofpresentingtohimselfabeautifulbride. In verse 3 the LORD publicly pledges His protective care and provision for His "vineyard" (i.e.; His people), "I, Jehovah, am its caretaker; I will water it continually. I will guard it day and night so that no one can harm it." As a Christian, you can have confidence in the LORD s promises of His watchful care andfaithfulness: Jehovahwillpreserveyoufromallevil hewillguardyoursoul; 8 Jehovahwill watchoveryourcomingandgoingbothnowandforevermore.(psl.121:7 8) hewhobeganagoodworkinyouwillperfectituntilthedayofjesuschrist. (Phil.1:6) In verse 4a the LORD publicly proclaims the state of peace that exists between HimselfandHis"vineyard"(i.e.;Hispeople):"Iamnotangry."TheLORDhasno wrath against His people, note Romans 8:1, "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." This statement of Isaiah 27:4 all the more underscoresthefactthatourlord sworkofchasteningisdonefromthefatherly motive of love, it is not done from the perspective of administering punitive judgment. In contrast to this proclamation of peace between Himself and His people, in verses 4b 5 the LORD issues both a challenge and invitation to those who continue in their sins as His enemies: "I wish that the briers and thorns would confrontmeinbattle!"speakingofthosewhoopposehimandposeathreatto the life and well being of His vineyard, the LORD challenges them to exert themselves,sothathemayrootthemoutandconsumethem.butthenhegoes ontodeclare,"[iftheywillnotconfrontmeinbattle,]thenletthemcometomefor refuge"(vs.5.)insteadoffightingagainstgod,thealternativeistomakepeace withhim.thosewhoopposehimareinvitedtotakerefugeinhim;ratherthan havehisomnipotentstrengthoperateagainsttheminjudgment,theyareinvited tohavethatgreatstrengthoperatefortheirsalvation thetermsofpeacewith GodarecompletesurrendertoHisSon,theLordJesusChrist. TurningbacktotheLORD s"vineyard,"andspeakingfromtheperspectiveofthe present,thepromiseismade, IndaystocomeJacobshalltakeroot,Israelshall budandblossom;andtheywillfillthewholeworldwithfruit (vs.6.) Jacobshall takeroot; asopposedtothe thorns thatareuprooted,thepeopleofgodshall be planted inthelord sland andinthelord slife,andbefirmlyestablished. Israel shall bud and blossom interpreting this symbolic language in terms of New Testament fulfillment, those who are rooted into Christ have His life dwelling in them, and by His Spirit they are spiritually alive and budding with

6 thefruitofhisholyspirit. Theyshallfillthewholeworldwithfruit. Ondayof the LORD s coming at the end of the age, the day of the inauguration of His kingdominitsfullestmeasure,thechildrenofgodshallbefilledwiththefruitof righteousnessuntothegloryofgodourfather. ForourassurancetheLORDrevealsthefactthatatlastHewillgatherHispeople untohimself: On that day Jehovah will do his threshing from the overflowing [Euphrates] RivertotheWadiofEgypt;andyou,OchildrenofIsrael,shallbegatheredup onebyone. 13 Onthatdayagreattrumpetwillsound.Thosewhowereaboutto perishinassyriaandthosewhowereexilesinthelandofegyptshallcomeand shallworshipjehovahintheholymountainatjerusalem.(isa.27:12 13) Asverse8indicated,inchasteningHispeople,theLORDwoulddrivethemaway. Such was the experience of the Old Testament people of God: Israel was scattered by the Assyrians; Judah was deported by the Babylonians. Such at times may also be the spiritual experience of the individual Christian, note 1 Corinthians5:1 5, someonehashisfather swifeandyouarearrogant!shouldyounotratherbe grieved, so that he who has done this thing might be removed from your fellowship? 3 ThoughIamnotpresentphysically,yetbeingpresentbytheSpirit, I have already judged him who has done this thing, just as though I were present[withyou]. 4 WhenyouareassembledinthenameofourLordJesusand Iamwithyouinspirit,[Iexhortyou,]bythepowerofourLordJesus, 5 todeliver thismantosatanforthedestructionofhissinfulnature,sothathisspiritmay besavedonthedayofthelordjesus.(1cor.5:1 5) TheApostlePaul scounselisforthechurchtoremovethisprofessingchristian whoinsistedonlivinginsinwithoutrepentance;theintentionofthismeasure wastobringhimtorepentanceandrestoration. But now verse 12 foretells the day when the LORD will re gather His people to Himself.Theimageryisthatofthefarmerthreshinghisgrainandthengathering the kernels one by one! depicting the LORD s tender care for each one of His redeemed children in Christ, and His painstaking effort to guarantee that each oneispreservedandbroughtsafelyintohiseverlastingkingdom.wemaytake comfortfromourlord sassuranceofferedinjohn6:37 40, AllwhomtheFathergivesmewillcometome;andhewhocomestomeIwill bynomeansreject; 38 forihavecomedownfromheaven,nottodomyownwill, but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, namely,thatishouldlosenothingofallthathehasgivenme,butshouldraiseit upatthelastday. 40 MyFather swillisthateveryonewholookstothesonand

7 believesinhimshouldhaveeternallife;andiwillraisehimupatthelastday. (Jn.6:37 40) Asverse13indicates,thisre gatheringshallnotbemerelytotheland,buttothe LORDHimself;i.e.;atruerestorationtotheLORD.Thepointbeingmadeisthatthe LORDisfaithfultoHisown,andwillsavethemtotheuttermost.Hewillchastise themwhenneeded,buthewillnotforsakethem.hewilldoallthatisnecessary toaccomplishoursalvation,prepareustoshareinhisglory,andfinallybringus intothatfinalstateuntothepraiseofhisgreatname. As a Christian, you can expect the LORD to preserve your soul and to finally gatheryouintohiseverlastingkingdom. Conclusion Thecosmeticsurgeonmentionedintheintroductiondedicatedhimselftothetaskof helping children born with distorted facial features, employing his expertise to correctandrefashiontheirfeaturesintobeautiful,smilingfaces.soallthemorehas the LORD committed Himself to those souls who have placed their faith in Jesus, employinghisdivineexpertisetoreformandrefashionusintotheverylikenessand beautyofchristjesusoursavior.