Cyrus the Great/ Jesus the Greater - Isaiah 45 part 4

"Thus says the LORD,

the Holy One of Israel and his Maker:

'Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons,

and you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.

It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it.

I stretched out the heavens with My hands,

and I ordained all their host.

I have aroused him in righteousness,

and I will make all his ways smooth;

he will build My city and will let My exiles go free.

without any payment or reward,'

says the LORD of hosts."

(vs 11-13)

Yesterday morning, I spent some time dwelling on the idea that God invites His people to inquire of Him - when they inquire rightly. "Ask me about the things to come concerning My sons...." Just peruse the Psalms, they are full of the example of David wrestling with God in prayer. Questioning is fine as long as it is accompanied by committing. "...And you shall commit to Me the work of My hands." That's verse 11.

Verse 12 begins with God's people being not only invited but encouraged to look unto the omnipotent God, the Maker of heaven and earth, when they find themselves in dire straits! When we are weak, He is strong. As we "ask" Him about the things concerning us, as we "commit" to Him the things facing us, we can find comfort that our life is in the hands of the LORD who made the heaven and earth! This is no Barney Fife like deputy in whose hands our life is left - this is Jehovah God! "It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands and I ordained all their host." Don't I think that He who did all that can take care of little ol' me?

These 2 verses speak of questioning and committing to the God who is more than able to meet all of our needs. What wonderful words. However, I think it is verse 13 that rings in my soul the most this morning.

Remember the context of Isaiah 45. God is speaking of Cyrus the Great, whom He will use to subdue Babylon, release His people from captivity, and rebuild the temple. In verse 13 we have another reference to Cyrus and in this reference we see Cyrus as a type and figure of Christ. God says: "I have aroused him (Cyrus) in righteousness, and I will make all his ways smooth; He will build My city, and will let My exiles go free, without any payment or reward,' says the LORD of hosts."

Two things are prophesied regarding Cyrus. 1) He will rebuild God's city- "He will build My city." 2) He will release God's people - "and will let My exiles go free."

Is this not exactly what Christ does for us? He is building God's Kingdom and setting prisoners free! Matthew Henry says: "Christ is annointed to do that for poor captive souls which Cyrus was to do for the poor captive Jews, to proclaim the opening of the prison to those that were bound in a worse bondage than that in Babylon."

Christ the Messiah came hearing "the groaning of the prisoner; to set free those who were doomed to death" (Ps 102:20). In Him, on Him, and through Him the church of God is being built "and the gates of Hell shall not destroy it" (Mt 16:18).

King Cyrus was great. King Jesus is greater. It is He who has set me free from sin's prison. It is He who is building His church triumphant and eternal.

Thankful to be a part of His kingdom,

Lori

Questioning My Maker - Isaiah 45 part 3

"Thus says the LORD,

the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker:

'Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons,

and you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.

(vs 11)

For many years I questioned God. I questioned His existance and I questioned His authority. I argued against Him and I argued at Him. As an unbeliever I regularly attempted to "put God in the dock". I acted as though God were on trial and I was the prosecuting attorney. That method of questioning my Maker was foolish, it was wrong, and it didn't work.

Here in verse 11, God encourages His people to question Him. They are invited to "enquire concerning their troubles." As I read Henry this morning, I thought he eloquently defined the difference between my former type of questioning and the questioning that God welcomes in this passage. He writes: "We may not strive with our Maker by passionate complaints, but we may wrestle with Him by faithful and fervant prayer."

God can handle my questions. It is clear from this text that He even welcomes them. I suppose the ultimate difference is found in my motive for asking. Am I attempting to put God on trial, and question and challenge Him as though He were foolish, unwise, immoral, and unkind to have brought about my current circumstances? Or, am I honestly struggling to understand His ways? In the midst of my questions am I fighting against His right as my Maker to do as He sees fit or am I committing to Him the work of His hands?

"Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: 'Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, and you shall commit to Me the work of My hands."

Questioning and Committing,

Lori

Causing Well-Being & Creating Calamity - Isaiah 45 part 2

"I am the LORD, and there is no other,

Besides Me there is no God,

I will gird you, though you have not known Me;

That men may know from the rising

to the setting of the sun

that there is no one besides Me.

I am the LORD, and there is no other,

The One forming light

and creating darkness,

causing well-being and creating calamity;

I am the LORD who does all these."

(vs 5-6)

As long as I live I don't think I'll ever forget an incident that happened while listening to a nationally syndicated Christian radio show back in 1997. Phillip and I lived in Selma, Alabama at the time and an incredibly powerful series of tornadoes had touched down throughout the south. One had made contact with the ground less than half a mile from our home and had remained on the ground for almost 12 miles. At the time, Phillip was working for State Farm Insurance and had to tour some of the damage. I rode with him and was amazed at what I saw.

Only a few days after these tornadoes hit, American Family Radio was discussing them on a call in show. There was much "interesting" discussion. At one point a woman called in, from my area, to talk about the calamity that had occurred. She began her conversation with, "This is a trying time for all of us, lives have been lost, things have been destroyed, but God is sovereign." She then began to quote verse 7 of Isaiah 45, "The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these." She didn't get any further in her conversation. The host was furious and actually disconnected her call. His next words, spoken with MUCH emotion were - "You don't mean to tell me that you think God had any sort of hand in this do you? God had NOTHING to do with this!"

I didn't know what to make of his reaction. Do things just happen randomly and by happen-stance? If things like this occur apart from God having any hand in them, then woe to all of us. If calamities occur simply by chance or accident and God is totally uninvolved then what hope is there when the so called bottom falls out around us. The God of the Bible is sovereign, omnipotent, omnisicient, all-wise, and good. As a Christian, I find much comfort knowing that there is not a maverick molecule in the universe, that not a hair can fall from my head, that not a sparrow can fall from the sky, that not a tornado can touch the earth apart from my God's divine purposes. Look at Job 1. God's hand is all over it - and in that Job found hope. Lori does too. The Apostle Paul declares that "He works ALL things according to the counsel of His will." (Eph 1:11).

Here in Isaiah 45:5-7 God is loudly asserting His supreme sovereignty. He is King of the universe and He "works all things after the counsel of His will." (Ep 1:11). Cyrus the great is still in the midst of this context. He is still the one being addressed. Proud Cyrus could easily begin to view himself as the great potentate. Yet the Living and True God boldly proclaims: "I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God." Cyrus is but a man. God is God!

God asserts His sole deity and He asserts His sole sovereignty. There is nothing that happens in this life apart from the touch of His fingers. No, He is not the author of sin - we are - but He in the miraculous workings of providence has His holy hand in every detail. That is why He can make "all things beautiful in their time" and cause "all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose."

I don't have time to go into all the intricate details of first and second causes, and of the differences between the decretive and declaritive will - but I can say along with Isaiah that "the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these."

For me there is divine solace in those words. When my loved one dies, when my own health fails, when my parents forsake me, when the stock-market crashes, when my job is no more, whtn the tornado hits, when every thing in this world has crashed in around me - my God who loves me more than I could ever love myself; my God who omnisciently and infinitely knows best what I need most; my God who will always do right by me even if everything within me is screaming "this is wrong"; that God has His hand in the events of my life.

What is my reaction to Isaiah 45:7? Do I find comfort as the lady who called the radio station did or do I find fury as the DJ did? My reaction will tell me alot about my view of my God. Do I trust Him to be God? Will not the judge of the earth do right?

Thankful for the LORD who does all these,

Lori

Cyrus the Great and the Word of God - Isaiah 45

"It is I who says of Cyrus,

'He is My shepherd!

And he will perform all My desire.'

And he declares of Jerusalem,

'She will be built,' and of the temple,

'Your foundation will be laid.'"

"Thus says the LORD to Cyrus His annointed,

Whom I have taken by the right hand,

to subdue nations before him,

and to loose the loins of kings;

to open doors before him

so that gates will not be shut;

'I will go before you and make the

rough places smooth;

I will shatter the doors of bronze,

and cut through their iron bars.

And I will give you the hoarded treasures

of darkness, and hidden wealth of seceret places,

In order that you may know that it is I,

The LORD the God of Israel,

who calls you by your name.

For the sake of Jacob My servant,

and Israel my chosen one,

I have called you by your name;

I have given you a title of honor

thought you have not known Me."

(44:28-45:4)

My son, Joshua, is 6. He's in first grade and he LOVES learning. Most particularly, he LOVES learning about history. A portion of our daily school day this year is devoted to ancient history. Several months ago we studied Cyrus the Great, King of Persia. We learned the story of his childhood. How his grandfather, King Astyges dreamed that Cyrus would overthrow him and therefore ordered Harpagus, his chief advisor to have him killed. Harpagus didn't quite follow orders fully and passed Cyrus off to a shepherd ordering him to do his dirty work. The shepherd and his wife had no children of their own, so they took Cyrus in and raised him as their son. Cyrus grew to be a mighty man - tall and strong - and eventually took the kingdom away from his grandfather.

Providence directed the path of Cyrus the child. The baby sentenced to death was spared through amazing events. The poor shepherd's adopted son became the great ruler of all Media and Persia. Satan may wish to squelch and squash those whom God intends to use as instruments of redeeming mercy, but God's sovereign hand will always prevail.

So, here I am this morning in Isaiah 45 and Cyrus' name appears on the pages of God's Word. Interestingly, these words were most likely written around 683 B.C. Cyrus became king in 559 B.C. and Babylon fell to the Persians in 539 B.C. That means that this prophecy of Cyrus, the annointed who would free Israel from Babylonian captivity, is written 144 years before it occurred. God's Word can be trusted!

History is His story. God is the King of kings and the Lord of lords and all of world history finds its ultimate end in redemptive history. Cyrus the great is a prime example. God is working all things together for His own glory and for His people's ultimate good. There is marvelous comfort in that - especially in times such as we find ourselves now living. God has His purposes in whatever we are facing. Will we trust Him and submissively leave ourselves to His care?

God did great things for Cyrus. Isaiah says that God took him "by the right hand to subdue nations before him, and to loose the loins of kings; to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut." God declares through the prophet's lips that He "will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze, and cut through their iron bars." If you've ever read much ancient history, you know that this is so. Cyrus was a mighty warrior. He "subdued nations." He conquered Media and Asia Minor and ruled all of the land between Asia Minor and the Indus River. Great cities willingly surrendered themselves into his hand simply because of his reputation. Truly in his conquering they opened "doors before him so that gates will not be shut."

His was an enormous empire for his day. He ruled a great kingdom and yet, he wanted to add Babylon to his conquests. That's just what he did in 539 B.C. It is interesting that Isaiah writes "I will shatter the doors of bronze, and cut through their iron bars." I was just reading an account of Herodotus from a book in our local library and it reports that the city of Babylon had "100 gates all of bronze and posts and hooks made of the same metal."

Cyrus was powerful. Cyrus was rich. Cyrus was "the man"! Why? "In order that you may know that it is I, the LORD the God of Israel who calls you by your name. For the sake of Jacob My servant, and Israel My chosen one, I have called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor, though you have not known Me."

Israel was in Babylon by the disciplining decree of their God. Through this Babylonina captivity, He was reproving them for their sin and driving them to repentance. The rod and reproof had done their duty and now it was time for their bonds to be loosed. Cyrus was to be the looser!

Matthew Henry says: "Though Cyrus knew not God, God bespoke him for His shepherd. He called him by his name, Cyrus, and called him his anointed. And why did God do all this for Cyrus? Not for Cyrus's sake, whether he was a man of virtue or not is questioned. Xenophon, when he would describe the heroic virtues of an excellent prince, made use of Cyrus's name, but other historians represent him as haughty, cruel, and bloodthirsty. The reason why God preferred him was for Jacob's his servant's sake. Cyrus was to serve as a type of Christ, victorious over principalities and powers, entrusted with unsearchable riches, for the use of the benefit of God's servants."

This is just what Cyrus did. When Cyrus took over Babylon he also took over Canaan and as their king he sent Israel back to the promised land, helped them rebuild the temple, and allowed them to once again worship their God. Absolute Providence!

God is working in and through all the affairs of history - past, present, and future. Even the greatest figures in world history - like Cyrus the Great - are instruments in the hands of our Redeemer. What current events, that will soon be historical events, frighten me this day? The God who ruled and reigned over His people in 539 BC is the same God who rules and reigns over me in 2009 AD.

World history and my history are His story and as a King who loves His subjects He is working all things "for the sake of Jacob My servant, and Israel My chosen one."

A safe servant,

Lori

Remember & Return - Isaiah 44 part 4

"Remember these things O Jacob,

And Israel, for you are My servant;

I have formed you, you are My servant,

O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.

I have wiped out your transgressions

like a thick cloud,

and your sins like a heavy mist.

Return to Me, for I have redeemed you."

(vs 21-22)

This section of chapter 44 is obviously beautiful. It echos Isaiah's words in the previous chapter. In 43:25, this same gospel language is proclaimed: "I, even I am the one who wipes out your transgressions, for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins."

I will never grow tired of that gospel truth. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us" (Ps 103:12). "Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be white as snow" (Is 1: 18). God, through Christ's redeeming work accomplished and applied to us by grace through faith, wipes out our transgressions.

What particulary strikes me this morning though, is the gospel language within this particular context. The previous verses speak of idolatry. The Israelites have found themselves in Babylonian captivity because of their idolatry. God has called them to leave the foolishness of that sin and return to the fear of the LORD which is the beginning of wisdom.

Here He graciously commands His people to "Remember these things." We need to remember the foolishness of graven images (see yesterday's post) and we need to remember the greatness of the God of the Bible (see last Friday's post). We need to meditate on the fullness of His character as it is held forth to us in the pages of Scripture. Each year that I walk with Christ I see more and more how full and beautiful, how logical and practical, how amazingly marvelous all of God's attributes are. No man could conceive of a God like this. No hands could create Him, nor minds invent Him. We need to "remember our creator in the days of our youth" and all the days of our life.

The Living and True God has made us, we have not made Him. "I have formed you." Israel is called to remember that their God is Creator not created. He is not like graven images.

The Living and True God is the Master whom we were created to serve. "I have formed you, you are my servant." Israel is called to remember that they were created to serve not to be served! We were created for His glory not He for ours. Now, that can make us bristle in our sinful pride and selfishness. We naturally tend to think - "What a domineering God! I'll be servant of no one!" Oh, but our Master is a good and gentle master. He is no tyrant. He loves His people. They are the apple of His eye and just as we will do anything to protect our own eye from harm, so He will deal with any who attempt evil against His dearly loved servants. Being the servant of this King is the best of all positions to be in. "For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand in the threshold of the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness." (Ps 84:10). Israel needs to remember this. I need to remember this.

The Living and True God is our Redeemer. "I have redeemed you." Israel is called to remember what God has done for those who are trusting in Him. Graven images cannot save us, they can't save themselves. They can do NOTHING, for they are nothing. Remember what God has done. Remember what He has promised yet to do for those whom He has redeemed with His own precious blood.

What struck me this morning was that our remembering of these things calls for an action. We are to remember and we are to return. "Return to Me, for I have redeemed you" (vs 22). Yesterday I had to honestly ask myself, what graven images have I created in my heart and mind? What idols do I fall down before and worship by my actions and affections? Today, in response to these verses, I need to remember just who the real God is - the God who formed me, the God whom I am created to serve, the God who has redeemed me. I need to remember Him and I need to return to Him with every ounce of my thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Help me Lord to do just that!

In His glorious grace,

Lori

Worth Less than Burned Wood - Isaiah 44 part 3

"Those who fashion a graven image are all of them futile,

and their precious things are of no profit."(vs 9)

There is a flat-out illogical foolishness to graven image making. That which we have made with our own hands could certainly not have made us. The creature could never create the Creator! Silly yes, yet idol makers abounded in Isaiah's time. (They abound in our own time as well.)

Chapter 44:9-20 shines logical light on the illogical actions of these god makers. "Who but a mad man, or one out of his wits, would think of forming a god, of making that which, if he make it a god, he must suppose to be his maker? The workmen that formed this god are of men, weak and impotent, and therefore cannot possibly make a being that shall be omnipotent." (Matthew Henry)

Here's the breakdown as Isaiah presents it:

1. Graven images are made by craftsmen. "The craftsmen themselves are mere men" (vs 11). The same guys who make your forks, plows, hoes, tables, benches and beds are making your gods. God-making is tossed in the mix with tool making. As has already been stated - these gods are MADE, fashioned, carved and created. Mere men will never be able to make the majestic God! God, by very definition cannot be made. He is THE craftsman not made by one.

2. Graven images are made of "stuff!" "Another shapes wood...." (vs 13). These particular images are made out of a tree fetched from a forest. At other times idols are said to be made of gold or silver or brass - perhaps considered a bit more precious to certain eyes than wood. Regardless they are all made of common, ordinary things. Even the most precious of gems and jewels are still "stuff." God, by virtue of what the term means must be more than "stuff," He is the Maker and Sustainer of all "stuff." He must be above the ordinary. He must be beyond the common.

3. Graven images are made in the "image" of some-thing. "Another shapes wood...and makes it like the form of a man, so that it may sit in a house" (vs 13). Here in this passage of Isaiah that image is a man. The Scripture teaches that we were created in the image of God and ever since the fall we've tried to distort that distinction by imagining God to be created in our own!

"He makes it according to the beauty of a man, but altogether unfit to represent the beauty of the LORD God. God put a great honor on man when, in respect to his soul, He made him after the image of god. But man does a great dishonor to God when he makes Him, in respect to bodily parts, after the image of man. All the beauty of the body of a man, when pretended to be put upon Him who is an infinite Spirit, is a deformity and dimunition to Him." (Matthew Henry)

4. Graven image "stuff" is used for all sorts of purposes besides just graven images! Isaiah writes: "Then it becomes something for the man to burn, so he takes some of it and warms himself; he also makes a fire to bake bread. He also makes a god and worships it; he makes it a graven image, and falls down before it. Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat as he roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, 'Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire.' But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, 'Deliver me, for thou art my God.'" (vs 15-17)

Part of the tree was used for the image, part of the tree was used for heat, and part of the tree was used for cooking. It's a tree! An ordinary, everyday tree! It wasn't even able to protect itself from being chopped down, cut up, or burned. How will it ever protect you?!

Matthew Henry points out that "certainly the part of the tree which served him for fuel, the use for which God and nature designed it, does him a much greater kindness and yields him more satisfaction than ever that will of which he makes a god."

Verses 18-20 close this section with a clear declaration of the foolish inability to reason that these idolators are overcome by. "They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so they cannot comprehend. And no one recalls nor is there knowledge or understnading to say, 'I have burned half of it in the fire, and also have baked bread over its coals. i roast meat and eat it. Then I make the rest of it inot an abomination, I fall down before a block of wood!"

Paul, speaking by inspiration of the Holy Spirit says, "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."" (Ro 1:21-25)

These idolators "fall down before a block of wood!" Sin makes us stupid! Sin makes me stupid! Whenever I turn from the living and true God, whenever I put anything or anyone before Him I am literally falling down before a block of wood!

Verse 20 states that the idolator "feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliever himself, nor say, 'Is there not a lie in my right hand?'" These folks are self-deceived. They need to heed Peter's admonition to "examine themselves." We need to heed Peter's admonition to "examine ourselves." I need to heed Peter's admonition to "examine myself!" "Self-suspicion is the first step towards self-deliverence" (Henry).

Suspicous of myself I must ask: What "wood" am I worshipping this day? While I may not be carving graven images from the cedars of the forest, I am quite likely creating images in the halls of my heart? What people, what desires, what "rights", what dreams, what goals of good intention are being formed into "god stuff" within me? What creatures, what creations am I placing above the Creator? Those things I need to lay on the altar. That idolatry I need to repent of while turning fresh and anew to loving the Lord my God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.

May God help me to view the things of this world rightly, to use them for their created purposes, and to have no other gods before Him.

A repenting idolator,

Lori

No Other God - Isaiah 44 part 2

"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel

And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:

'I am the first and I am the last,

and there is no God besides Me."

(vs 6)

Verses 3-5 pointed out the blessings that are ours as the people of God. David well sums up those verses when he says: "O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the LORD, you His saints; for to those who fear Him, there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing." (Ps 34:8-10)

Ultimately the "Israel of God" are blessed because the God of Israel is great. In His commentary, Matthew Henry says:

"There is abundant satisfaction to all that trust in Him. The God we trust in is a God of incontestable sovereignty and irrestitable power. He is the LORD, Jehovah, self-existent and self-sufficient; and He is the LORD of hosts, of all the hosts of heaven and earth, of angels and men.

He is the King of Israel and his Redeemer; and those that take God for their King shall have Him for their Redeemer. He is God from everlasting, before the world was, and He will be so to everlasting.

If there were not a God to create, nothing would ever have been; and, if there were not a God to uphold, all would soon come to nothing again.

He is God alone. "Besides Me there is no God." There is no God besides Jehovah. He is all-sufficient, and therefore there needs be no other. His people needed not to hope in any other God. Those on whom the sun shines need neither moon nor stars, nor the light of their own fire."

This King, this Redeemer, this LORD of hosts, the First and Last, the only One true and living God - is MY God. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, this God has become my Father and my Friend.

The promised blessings of Isaiah 44:3-5 are sure because the God who has made the promise is sure.

I fall again to the words of David: "O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the LORD, you His saints; for to those who fear Him, there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing."

May we daily taste of His goodness and see Him for who He truly is.

Tasting,

Lori

Promises to Me and to My Children- Isaiah 44

"But now listen, O Jacob, My servant;

and Israel, whom I have chosen:

Thus says the LORD who made you

and formed you from the womb,

who will help you,

'Do not fear, O Jacob My servant;

and you Jeshurun whom I have chosen.

For I will pour out water on the thirsty land

and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring

and My blessing on your descendants;

and they will spring up among the grass

like poplars by streams of water.'

This one will say, "I am the LORD's'

and that one will call on the name of Jacob;

and another will write on his hand,

'Belonging to the LORD',

and will name Israel's name with honor.

(vs 1-5)

The first 8 verses of chapter 44 give an interesting description of who we are and what the resulting blessings of who we are in Christ consist of.


As the people of God we are said to be His servants, His chosen, and His creation (vs 1-2). I'm struck by the intimate language which is used regarding our creation. God says "I formed you from the womb." God is acquainted with us. He doesn't mass produce mankind but personally and individually knits each of us together. The Psalmist declares "For You did form my inward parts; you did weave me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Ps 139:13-14).


That personal "knitting" is true of every person. God is the Creator of all and as the Grand Potter He has formed all of His creation for His own divine purpose (Ro 9:21-23). All of mankind is made in the image of God - and because of that there is a value upon every human. However, there is a special mark placed upon the redeemed - not because of any intrinsic difference between them and others - we are all sinners who are deserving of His wrath and displeasure (Ro 3:9-23) - but we are specially marked out because of His grace!

Isaiah says we are not only created by God but that we have also been "chosen" by Him. The book of Ephesians declares this same truth:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.

In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." (Eph 1:3-8)

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works that no one should boast." (Eph 2:8-9)

God is our Creator, Redeemer, Father, Friend, and Master. We are formed by God and we are chosen by God. He has adopted us into His family and into His service. In light of the intimacy of this relationship we are reminded once again "do not fear", for our good Master will be our help. He has promised to meet our needs. "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?" (Mt 6:26). "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Ph 4:19)


While our God daily meets a bountiful amount of our needs, in this text three particular needful blessings are mentioned.


1. He "will pour out water on the thirsty land." Several times prior to this passage Isaiah has pointed out the thirst quenching kindness of our God. Each time I have run across those references I am reminded of Christ's words in the beatitudes: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Mt 5:6); and of His words to the Samaritan woman in John 4: "whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." Spiritual thirst shall be slaked. "Those that are sensible of their spiritual needs and of the insufficiency of the creature to supply them shall have abundant satisfaction in God." (Matthew Henry). O Lord, make me sensible of my needs that I might drink fully of the living water.


2) He will pour out "streams on the dry ground." He will make "streams in the desert" (Is 35:6). When His people find themselves weary, He will give them the refreshing and reviving rivers of grace that their desert-like souls so desperately need. "Those that are barren as the dry ground shall be watered by the grace of God." (Matthew Henry). O Lord, when I am weary and heavy laden, when I find myself parched in the desert of this world have mercy and pour out reviving grace.


3) He will "pour out [His] Spirit on your offspring." Here is the culmination of the promise. He will give us His Spirit - the "life giving" Spirit (Jn 6:63). And not only will He pour out His Spirit upon us but the text says to "our offspring." The covenant blessings are to our descendants, to our children and to our children's children. As a parent there is great comfort for me in these words. I am striving by God's grace to point my children to the glorious hope that is found in my God. I am daily pointing them to their need for Christ - and daily acknowledging to them their Mom's continued need of God's grace. Here, as in many other places, God's promises to me are said to have an application to Joshua and Elizabeth. As I am faithful to my responsibilities (which in itself is an act of free grace) He will be faithful with His promises.

"It is the Spirit who gives life" (Jn 6:63). It is the Spirit who "guides us into all truth" (Jn 16:13). It is the Spirit who "helps us in our weaknesses" (Ro 8:26). It is the Spirit who bears in us the fruit of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Gal 5:22-23). It is the Spirit who "seals us for the day of redemption" (Eph 4:30).It is the Spirit that will assure us that we "abide in Him and He in us" (1 Jn 4:13). This is the Spirit that He says He will "pour out on our offspring."

And here are His own words regarding our descendants: "And they will spring up among the grass like poplars by streams of water. This one will say, 'I am the LORD's'; and that one will call on the name of Jacob; and another will write on his hand, 'Belonging to the LORD,' and will name Israel's name with honor." (vs 4-5)

In a world of fading grass they will be like tall poplars planted by nourishing water. They will own my God to be their God!

My Great covenant keeping God, You who supply all of my needs, my greatest need is your Spirit and in mercy You have given Him to me. My children's greatest need is your Spirit. In Your mercy, remember Your own promises to my children and make Your life-giving Spirit effectual in and to them. "For the promise is for you and your children...." (Acts 2:39).

A child of the King and a mother of covenant children,

Lori

Transgressions Erased - Isaiah 43 Part 2

"I, even I, am the one

who wipes out your transgressions

for My own sake;

and I will not remember your sins."

(vs 25)

Let me begin with some contextual background of this chapter. That background sets the stage for verse 25 which so wonderfully speaks of the forgivenenss that is ours in and through Christ.

Beginning in verse 8 of chapter 43 God proposes a challenge to the worshippers of idols to offer valid proofs of the existence of their gods. He asks them for witnesses. He asks them for testimony. There is none to be had. In verse 10 God's own people are summoned to "give a witness" to His Divine character and deeds. If you know Him, you realize that's not a very hard request. In the latter part of the verse the Messiah, that Chosen Servant, appears as the star witness. His testimony is given "in order that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He."

Christ's testimony is that God is eternal - past, present and future. There never was, nor ever will be any God but this God. "Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the LORD; and there is no savior besides Me." (vs 10-11)

This God of whom Christ speaks - this God who Christ is - goes on in verses 14-21 to assure His people that He will crush the cruel hold that their oppressors have on them. He is their "Redeemer, the Holy One" and He has not and will not abandon them.

To spur them along in their faith He reminds them of all the marvelous things God has done for His people in ages past. He made a "way through the sea and a path through the mighty waters." He brought His captive people out of Egypt and rescued them from the chasing hordes of Pharoah's army. If He could do that, He can do this. Remembering God's faithful dealings with us in times past is a great encouragement to us in times present!

He even goes so far as to tell them that the former things will pale in comparison to the latter things He will do (see verses 18-21). While there will be great and amazing things surrounding the release of captive Israel from Babylon, the greatest thing will come to fruition in Christ the Messiah. The most amazing work of bondage breaking that God will accomplish for His people will be seen not in freeing them from Egypt or Babylon but in freeing them from the wages of their sin! A strong man might be able to free captives from a strong kingdom but only the God-man can free prisoners from the kingdom of sin, self, and Satan.

In verses 22-28 we get glimpse after glimpse of the effect the fall has had on us. We have fallen in Adam. "Your first forefather sinned" (vs 27). We continually sin with Adam in both our omissions and in our commissions. We do not do that which God has called us to (omission) and we do that which He has called us NOT to do (commission). Sin is serious - it is said here to be a burden to the omnipotent God - that is serious! "You have burdened Me with your sins, you have wearied me with your iniquities" (vs 24).

Yet God, who rightly despises our sin, does not treat us as our sins deserve. Instead, in amazing mercy, He sends His Chosen Servant - the spotless Lamb of God - to live the life we could not live (a sinless one), to die the death we deserved to die (a retributive one), and to rise again on the third day that we would rise again on the last day! "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive." (1 Co 15:20-22)

Now, all of that said, here is the kicker for today - this is marvelous! Verse 25 of Isaiah 43 sums everything up. God says, "I, even I am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins."

My head shakes in disbelief, yet my very life is a testimony of the reality of these wonderful words. My sins were as scarlett but He has washed me white as snow! I am a new creature in Christ, the old has gone the new has come. He no longer calls me a child of wrath but has adopted me as a child of God! The Lord Jesus Christ has wiped my slate clean!

"I, even I am the one who wipes out your transgressions." Notice it is "I {God}, even I {God} who wipes out your transgressions." God is the one who has done this marvelous work of blotting out our sins. God has done it of His own free grace.

"Thy works, not mine, O Christ, speak gladness to this heart;

they tell me all is done; they bid my fear depart.

Thy pains, not mine, O Christ, upon the shameful tree,

have paid the law's full price and purchased peace for me.

Thy cross, not mine, O Christ, has borne the awful load

of sins that none in heav'n nor earth could bear but God.

Thy righteousnesss, O Christ, alone can cover me:

no righteousness avails save that which is of Thee.

To whom, but Thee,

who canst alone for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?"

(Horatius Bonar, 1857).

"What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus." (Robert Lowery, 1876).

"I, even I am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake." It is God who has done this marvelous work and He has done it for His own glory. "He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us." (Eph 1:5-8).

I am saved not to bring glory to myself but to bring glory to the God who has so marvelously saved me from the pit that my thoughts and actions deserve. Our chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. That is why He created us and even more specifically, that is why He saved us. The more I find myself conscientiously seeking to glorify Him, the more I find myself consistently enjoying Him. It's a good place to be!

By grace, through faith in the redeeming work of Christ the slate of our sins has been wiped clean. "As a debt is blotted out not to appear against the debtor. The book is crossed as if the debt were paid, because it is pardoned upon the payment which the surety has made" (Matthew Henry). What shall I say in response to these wonderful things?

"Arise, my soul arise, shake off your guilty fears; the bleeding Sacrifice in my behalf appears: before the throne my Surety stands, before the throne my Surety stands, my name is written on His hands." (Charles Wesley, 1742).

"And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having cancelled out the certificate of debt consisiting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross." (Col 2:13-14).

I am now a debtor to mercy alone.

And here's the kicker, not only has He wiped the slate clean but He has promised to NEVER bring it up again. He won't throw it in my face. He won't rub my nose in the sins of my past. "I will not remember your sins." How gracious and above us is the omniscient God - who knows our sins better than we do - yet will not hold them against us.

Here is the glorious blessing of the gospel to us - "I, even I, am the one who wipes away your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins."

Wiped clean,

Lori

Sidetracked by a Smelly T-Shirt - Romans 7

"For we know that the Law is spiritual: but I am of flesh,

sold in bondage to sin.

For that which I am doing, I do not understand;

for I am not practicing what I would like to do,

but I am doing the very thing I hate....

For I know that nothing good dwells in me,

that is in my flesh,

for the wishing is present in me,

but the doing of the good is not.

For the good that I wish, I do not do;

but I practice the very evil that I do not wish....

Wretched man that I am!

Who will set me free from the body of this death?

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

(Rom 7:14-25 selected verses)

In yesterday's blog I wrote the following:

The sooner I get it in my head that this life is not about me but that it is about Him, the happier I will be. Selfish living produces fear, fatigue and failure. I will never be happy while living for myself - been there, done that, tried it for years, threw the t-shirt away! True joy, true purpose, true meaning, true peace come from living for Him. "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you" (Mt 6:33). "Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it" (Ps 37:3-5).

I received an encouraging note from a friend regarding that section. In it she mentioned that she wasn't sure she'd yet "thrown away the t-shirt." It's funny that she wrote that because I've been really thinking about that very thing all morning.

I absolutely KNOW the truth of the words that I wrote. I believe them with my whole heart. I really do hate my sin, and yet sinner that I am I regularly find myself running back to it and embracing it. "O wretched [woman] that I am, who will set me free from the body of this death?

I so clearly remember the days when my lusts were my God and when my own glory was my chief end. God, in Christ, has radically changed Lori Sealy - some of you have seen that first hand. I owned an entire wardrobe of self-gratify, self-glorifying "t-shirts" and I wore them proudly in all the affairs of my life. In August of 1988 God began to re-invent my "closet."

Several years later, as I became exposed to reformed teaching, I began to see much more clearly who God is according to the Scriptures. My view had been a bit abstract and warped - like a Picasso painting. God had a BIG nose of love and a GIANT mouth of mercy yet only a tiny little ear of holiness, and an even smaller eye of justice. Sovereignty didn't even rank in the nose hair section of the canvas.

The more I studied the entire Word of God, the more I sat under sound expositional preaching, then the more I began to see that the picture God paints of Himself is much more like a Rembrandt - full and beautiful and with resounding and purposeful clarity. "What is God? God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth" (Westminster Shorter Catechism Q 4).

The Confession of Faith puts it this way:

"There is but one only, living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions; immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will, for His own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him; and withal, most just, and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.

God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them.

He alone is the fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever He pleases. In His sight all things are open and manifest, His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent, or uncertain.

He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands. To Him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience He is pleased to require of them."

Wow! Now - there's a Rembrandt for you! If you didn't read those words, please go back and do so. (By the way, if you need biblical references for any statement in there I'll be glad to send them your way.)

So, what does all of that have to do with yesterday's post, my friend's comments, and the price of tea in China? Everything!

This full-orbed God is the God who made us and if we are in Christ, He is the God who has saved us. He is not a genie in a bottle who is there to do our bidding - we are here to do His. We were created by and for Him (Is 43:7). "What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." It is in glorifying God that we will truly learn to enjoy God. Apart from living for the glory of God we will NEVER find full enjoyment in ANYTHING else - not in any thing, not in any person. All is vanity, chaff, fading flowers, and withering grass apart from Him. It is in and through Him that everything in this life, including the difficult things, have real and lasting meaning!

I KNOW that to be true, I've experienced the reality of it time and time again. I spent so many years searching for something of lasting value and unfading beauty. The creations of this world don't cut it - but the Creator of this world does!

I have, by grace, tossed the t-shirt that says life is about me and about my desires and delights. Yet, I am just like Paul in Romans 7. "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish."

Lori is fully aware of the nasty nature of that old "t-shirt." I threw it in the garbage. I watched the trash man take it to the dump. Yet, I seem to have a dumpster diving fetish and at times find myself going out of my way to dig that wretched, ruined, disguting, filth-ridden "t-shirt" out of the refuse heap and put it on again. I am at times so foolish!

Well, now you know. So, if you happen to be hanging out with me and notice a stinkiness oozing from my presence, would you be so kind as to check my "t-shirt" and help me send it back to the dump and would you graciously point me back to the Savior in who's righteousness alone I need to be clothed.

"Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

(Rom 7:24-25)

Ever in need of a good laundering,

Ever thankful for the cleansing mercies of Christ,

Lori

Not Formed for Fear - Isaiah 43

"But now, thus says the LORD your Creator O Jacob,

and He who formed you, O Israel,

'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name; you are Mine!

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be scorched,

nor will the flame burn you.

For I am the LORD your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...

...you are precious in My sight...

...do not fear, for I am with you;

I will bring your offspring from the east,

and gather you from the west.

I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'

and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'

Bring My sons from afar,

and My daughters from the ends of the earth,

everyone who is called by My name,

and whom I have created for My glory,

whom I have formed, even whom I have made.'"

(vs 1-7 selected)

Wow! I've literally had to just sit and drink in the streams of encouragement that flow from these verses. The Israelites were facing many fears at this point in their history. We are as well - both privately and as a nation. Do not these verses scream out of the loving-kindness of our God. He sees our frailties, He takes notice of our weakness, He comforts us and encourages us to be overcomers through His presence and through His promise. Even after the words of Isaiah 41 we may still be given over to fear. Here is another reminder to flee from fear to faith.

As the redeemed we should not fear because:

1) God is our Creator. "He who formed you, O Israel." Israel is the church of the Old Testament. Christian - we are the church of the New Testament. God has formed us individually and as a corporate body. We have been made with a purpose - "to glorify and enjoy Him forever." He who is great enough to create His people is great enough to protect His people.

2) God is our Redeemer. "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine!" Not only has God made us, but through Christ He has redeemed us. Pacian has said, “He will not allow him that is redeemed to be destroyed, nor will He cast away those whom He has redeemed with such a great price.” The very fact that God has bought us with so great a price, has adopted us into His family at the cost of His own blood, and has put His name in and on us - "You are Mine!" - should asuage our fears.

3) God is with us. "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you." His presence is ever with us in the greatest difficulties and dangers that life can hurl our way. We are never alone. He will never leave or forsake us.

4) God is protecting us. "...the river will not overflow you...the flame will not burn you." Keep in mind the symbollic, figurative nature of this language. I am not to presume upon God and tempt His merciful promises by thrusting myself into a raging river or casting myself in to a burning inferno. That is foolishness, not faith. But God will uphold His people in the trials He sends. The raging rivers, the flaming fires of life will not be able to truly hurt me but will be used by my God to sanctify me and to make me more like Him. Even if God is pleased to take my life in the midst of them - "to live is Christ and to die is gain." I need not fear, for even the worst scenarios are ultimately working for my good and for His glory!

5) God looks at us as precious. "Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you." What tender language our God speaks here. I am forced to pause and meditate on the awesomeness of these words. Here are the written experessions of love and affection. Believers, we are "precious" to God! We are considered the "apple of His eye." That which He holds as precious and dear, that which He loves He will guard. Thieves and vandals may be able to break in and ruin that which is precious to me for I am weak. But who can ransack the treasures of the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God. We are safe, we are secure, we are loved!!

6) God will gather His scattered seed at the perfect and proper time. "Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth.'" The trials Israel is facing in this context have scattered them abroad - hither, thither and yon, but He will gather them together at last. God will not lose even one of His precious little ones. We may be out of each others sight, but we are never out of His. Israel was gathered together again through King Cyrus of Persia. God will return again, in His perfect time to gather His precious, loved children to the celestial city where we will never be scattered again.

7) God has called us and formed us for a purpose - His glory! "Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made." I am not my own. We are not our own. "Do you not know...that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body?" (1 Cor 6:19-20)

The sooner I get it in my head that this life is not about me but that it is about Him, the happier I will be. Selfish living produces fear, fatigue and failure. I will never be happy while living for myself - been there, done that, tried it for years, threw the t-shirt away! True joy, true purpose, true meaning, true peace come from living for Him. "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you" (Mt 6:33). "Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it" (Ps 37:3-5).

My husband often uses the analogy of a train and the train tracks it is designed to travel on. A train, when running on the tracks has great freedom to move swiftly and to accomplish much. When the train jumps the tracks it does not find freedom but failure. In the same way - the glory of God is the track upon which our lives will run most freely. When we jump the tracks, onto the supposed freedom of self-satisfaction we find ourselves derailed, stuck, crashed, accomplishing nothing but a spinning of the wheels.

This morning, as I find myself facing so many things that could drive me to fear I am reminded once again that faith is the antidote. Faith in the God who has formed me, redeemed me, called me by name. Faith in the God who is with me, who protects me, who looks upon me as precious. Faith in the God for whose glory I was created. O gracious and loving Father would you grant me this day to live FOR you and would you cast my fears away in the process.

In His glorious grace,

Lori

Caring Not Crushing - Isaiah 42 part 2

"He will not cry out or raise His voice;

nor make His voice heard in the street.

A bruised reed He will not break,

and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish;

He will faithfully bring forth justice.

He will not be disheartened or crushed,

until He has established

justice on the earth;

and the coastlands will

wait expectantly for His law."

(vs 2-4)

These first 4 verses of chapter 41 give us such a striking and defined picture of Christ. In these words the prophetic artist Isaiah paints Christ's duty, demeanor and dominion. Verse 1 sketched out the Messiah's status as chosen and dearly delighted in Servant. This was the duty to which God the Father commissioned Him and it is the duty which He willingly took upon Himself. Verses 2-4 are filled with the beautiful brush strokes of Christ's gentle character and of His success in accomplishing that for which He was sent.

This morning I note several things:

1) Our Messiah is not a boisterous braggart. He is humble. "He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the street."

Christ doesn't toot His own horn. He has no need too. He does not call attention to Himself. He devotedly does His duty and the true character of His nature is seen in what He does and in how He lives. He did not come to be a celebrity but a Savior.

This speaks so much of the humble attitude of our Lord. Think about this - He is God. If there is anyone deserving of a "horn tooting" it is Jesus. Yet He was "gentle and humble in heart" (Mt 11:29). If He, Who is deserving of all praise, honor, and glory did not rally loud and long fanfares, how much less should we? "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips" (Pr 27:2). May we follow the footsteps of Christ in this area as in all others. "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (Jam 4:6)

2) Our Messiah is not a violent crusher of the wounded. He is the Gentle Shepherd. He is a patient Judge. "A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish."

I am so thankful for the gentle patience by which Christ has dealt with me. He was gentle and patient with me in my years of stubborn and wicked rebellion. He is gentle and patient with me now as a redeemed sinner who still so often struggles with selfishness and pride and the vast array of rotten fruit that accompanies those things.

At times, we are all bruised reeds and dimly burning wicks - all of us. "Christ's disciples were yet but weak, and many are so that have a place in his family. He will not discourage them, much less reject them or cast them off: the reed that is bruised shall not be broken and trodden down, but shall be supported, and made as strong as a cedar or flourishing palm tree. The candle newly lighted, though it only smokes and does not flame, shall not be blown out, but blown up." (Matthew Henry)

Christ is not a tyrant. No, no, not in any way! "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you shall find rest for your weary souls." (Mt 11:29)

3) Our Messiah is not a quitter. He is a conqueror! "He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not be disheartened or crushed."

Christ resolutely set His face towards Jerusalem. No one could do anything to Him until His time had come. He was in complete control of all of His Messianic duties. He fulfilled His mission perfectly and when His atoning work was accomplished His words were "It is finished."

He did what He was sent to do. The chosen Servant served well. This same chosen Servant will return again - just as He said He would and will "faithfully bring forth justice." I for one look forward to the return of the King of Kings. At that time there will be a fanfare. At that time there will be a just and righteous breaking of weeds. At that time He will "establish justice on the earth." Until that day, He humbly extends gentleness and patience to the bruised reeds and dim wicks. May we see every day that He tarries as room to repent and may His patience cause many of the bruised and broken to be made strong and stable by His grace.

Thankful for His gentleness,

Lori

Christ the Chosen Servant, God's Delight - Isaiah 42

"Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;

My chosen one in whom My soul delights.

I have put My Spirit upon Him;

He will bring forth justice to the nations.

(vs 1)

These verses paint a beautiful portrait of Christ the Messiah. Several things jump out at me this morning.

1) Christ is the Great Servant. "Behold, My Servant...."

The second person of the Trinity left the Father's side, became a man (yet without sin) in order to secure our redemption. "...Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Ph 2:6-8).

Has anyone ever served as Christ has? He served His Father willingly. He served us sacrifically. And if Christ has served us in so great a way, should we not serve Him? Philippians tells us to "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus...." (vs 5ff). A servant is not above his master, and our Master has set a grand example that we should follow in His footsteps. Are we? Am I?

• "Serve the LORD with gladness." (Ps 100:2)


• "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Gal 5:13)

2) Christ is chosen of God as the only One who could propitiate for us. "My chosen One...."

None other could do this remarkable work of redemption. None but God could live a sinless life and therefore die an atoning death. None but Christ, the eternal and omnipotent One could conquer the grave. None but Jesus could do helpless sinners good by being both just and the Justifier. "None other Lamb, none other name, none other hope in heav'n or earth or sea, none other hiding place from guilt and shame, none beside thee!" (Christina G. Rossetti, 1830-1894)

Christ was commissioned for this task for He alone could accomplish this task. He alone is the unblemished Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). He alone is the Great High Priest who offers Himself as the atoning sacrifice.

• "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Heb 9:11-14)

• "Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." (1 Pe 1:18-19)

3) God the Father delights in God the Son. "My chosen One in whom My soul delights."

Through the gospel accounts, we hear the voice of the Father clearly proclaim this truth at Christ's baptism - "Thou art My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased." God delights in His Son - and should we not as well? Is not Christ the treasure of our souls, the apple of our eyes, and the delight of our hearts? If not, then do we truly know Him for who He is? If not, then what counterfeit gods are we delighting in above Him?

• "Please receive instruction from His mouth, and establish His words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; if you remove unrighteousness far from your tent, and place your gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks, then the Almighty will be your gold and choice silver to you. For then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God." (Job 22:22-25)

• "Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Ps 37:3)

4) This Chosen Servant who is the delight of His Father is well equipped for the task that lies before Him. "I have put My Spirit upon Him." God always equips those He calls. Of course Christ, our elder brother, by His very nature was the most equipped of all servants - He had the Spirit "without measure" (John 3:34). Yet how comforting to know that the same Spirit which indwelled Christ indwells us as His adopted siblings.

• "And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Ro 5:5)

• "Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Cor 3:16)

• "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit whois in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." (1 Cor 6:19-20)

• "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and annointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge." (2 Cor 1:22)

• "Now He who prepared us for this very pupose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge." (2 Cor 5:5)

As Christians we are equipped with the same Spirit that was put upon Christ. That Spirit enables us to serve God in whatever tasks He has chosen for us.

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another.... Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these of which I forewarn you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." (Galatians 5:16-24)

5) Christ will accomplish His task. "He will bring forth justice to the nations."

This Chosen Servant, the One in whom the Father's soul delights, the One who is completely well-equipped for the task will accomplish the task for which He was sent. He will redeem His people. He will deal justly and righteously with those that mock at His mercy. He will right all wrongs. He will straighten all that is crooked. He will make beautiful all that which our sin has made ugly. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?" (Gen 18:25)

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

In His glorious grace,

Lori

One More Fearful Remedy - Isaiah 41 part 2

"Do not fear... I will strengthen you."

(vs 10)

This passage in Isaiah 41 was a great source of comfort to my heart. In the midst of the duties of the day, I found myself continually meditating on all that it contained. As the day drew to a close I happened to pick up my copy of Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening." I don't read it every day but I do pick it up and peruse its contents on occasion. Turning to the index I discovered that he had an entry on Isaiah 41:10. It is pertinent and I want to share it.

"God has a strong reserve with which to discharge this engagement; for He is able to do all things. Believer, till you can drain dry the ocean of omnipotence, till you can break into pieces the towering mountains of almighty strength, you never need to fear.

Think not that the strength of man shall ever be able to overcome the power of god. While the earth's huge pillars stand, you have enough reason to abide firm in your faith. The same God who directs the earth in its orbit, who feeds the burning furnace of the sun, and trims the lamps of heaven, has promised to supply you with daily strength.

While He is able to uphold the universe, dream not that He will prove unable to fulfil His own promises. remember what He did in the days of old, in the former generations. Remember how He spoke and it was done; how He commanded, and it stood fast. Shall He that created the world grow weary? He hangs the world upon nothing; shall He who does this be unable to support His children? Shall he be unfaithful to His word for want of power? Who is it that restrains the tempest? Does not He ride upon the wings of the wind, and make the clouds His chariots, and hold the ocean in the hollow of His hand? How can He fail you?

When He has put such a faithful promise as this on record, will you for a moment indulge the thought that He has outpromised Himself, and gone beyond His power to fulfill? Ah, no! You can doubt no longer!

O you who are my God and my strength, I can believe that this promise shall be fulfilled, for the boundless reservoir of Your grace can never be exhausted, and the overflowing storehouse of Your strength can never be emptied by your friends or rifled by Your enemies."

Selah,

Lori

Fear and the Presence of God - Isaiah 41

"Do not fear, for I am with you;

do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,

surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

(vs 10)

The goal of verse 10-20 is to stop our fears and start our faith. God's people should not be a frightened and timorous bunch. Why? Several reasons are held forth in this text.

1) We should not fear because God is with us. He is with us in all things and at all times. "Do not fear, for I am with you." No matter what frightening situation we may be facing, the omnipresent God is with us. Charles Spurgeon said: "Fear not Christian, Jesus is with thee, His presence is both thy comfort and thy safety. 'Lo, I am with you always.'" Here are some other biblical reminders of this fact:

• “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there, if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me.” (Ps 139:7-10)

• “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and your staff they comfort me.” (Ps 23:4)

2) We should not fear because the ever-present God is OUR God. If we are in Christ then He is with us not simply as "a" God or even as "the" God but once again we see covenant language expressed here in chapter 41. He is with us as OUR God! "Do not anxiously look about you, for I am YOUR God." We don't simply have the presence of the God of the Universe - we have the presence of the God who knows us, loves us, and in Christ has entered into everlasting covenant with us. "I will be your God and you shall be my people." I always feel safer when I'm with those I love and those who love me and none loves me better than my God.

3) We should not fear because this ever-present God is also an ever- strengthening God. "I will strengthen you..." The last chapter pointed out that "those who wait on the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." This omnipotent, strength possessing God is also the gracious strength giving God. Once again, hear the words of Scripture:

• "For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock except our God, the God who girds me with strength and makes my way blameless?...You have girded me with strength for the battle." (Ps 18:32, 39)



• "The LORD will give strength to His people." (Ps 29:11)



• "The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God! " (Ps 68:35)

4) We should not fear because this ever-present God is an ever-helping God. Not only does He give us strength, but he gives us help in using that strength. He equips us and aids us! "Surely I will help you." The Psalms give great testimony of this truth:

• "Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield." (Ps 33:20)



• "Since I am afflicted and needy, Let the LORD be mindful of me; Thou art my help and my deliverer." (Ps 40:17)



• "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Ps 46:1)



• "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israels will neither slumber nor sleep." (Ps 121:1-4)

5) We should not fear because this ever-present God is an ever-comforting and ever-encouraging God. "Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." This strength giving, situation helping God is also a hand upholding God. He is walking hand in hand with us in our trials.

I can't help but think of my 4 year old daughter Elizabeth this morning. She has recently entered one of those fearful times that children sometimes go through. She is afraid of the dark. At times she is terrified of the dark. She doesn't want to enter a dark room alone. BUT, if Daddy is holding her hand, she is brave and willing to go anywhere - and I do mean anywhere. With Daddy by her side she is fearless! God's righteous right hand is upholding ours, comforting us in our fears, encouraging us in our obedience. With Him holding us we can go anywhere - without needing to fear.

• "When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the LORD is the One who holds his hand." (Ps 37:24)


• "My soul clings to Thee; Thy right hand upholds me." (Ps 63:8)


• "Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou hast taken hold of my right hand." (Ps 73:23)


• "If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Thy hand will lead me, and Thy right hand will lay hold of me." (Ps 139:8-10)

6) We should not fear because this ever-present God is an all-providing God. Jesus tells us "In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage, I have ovecome the world" (Jn 16:33). Paul reminds us "and my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Ph 4:19). Isaiah is pointing out the same truths to us here in chapter 41. Clearly there will be tough, difficult times in this life. We will be "afflicted and needy." But, "I the LORD, will answer them Myself, as the God of Israel I will not forsake them" (vs 17).

Verses 19-20 go on to point out that God will provide all that is necessary for His people.

"The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst; I, the LORD, will answer them Myself, as the God of Israel I will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land fountains of water. (vs 17-18)

The great covenant keeping God will meet His covenant people's needs. Are we thirsty?

• "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost." (Is 55:1)


• "And He said to me, 'It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost." (Rev 21:6)


• "They were hungry and thirsty; their soul fainted within them, then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses.... For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good." (Ps 107:5-9)


• "Jesus answered and said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14)


• "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:37-38)


• "And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost." (Rev 22:17)

Are we parched and thirsty? God can and will make rivers from even the "bare heights." He can and will make streams in the desert and water from the rock for His chosen children. Come and drink of His free and plentious grace!

Not only will He slake our thirst but He will provide for us needed shelter. He will "place a cedar in the wilderness, the acacia, and the myrtle, and the olive tree; I will place the juniper in the desert, together with the box tree and the cypress" (vs 19). Are we in need of shelter from the thorns of the wilderness and the heat of the desert?

• "But let all who take refuge in Thee be glad, let them ever sing for joy, and mayest Thou shelter them, that those who love Thy name may exult in Thee." (Ps 5:11)


• "For Thou hast been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in Thy tent forever; let me take refuge in the shleter of Thy wings. Selah!" (Ps 61:3)


• "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!' For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark." (Ps 91:1-4)

Oh what comfort there is in these verse. How my heart leaps at the hope and help that is found in our God. I need not fear. God is with me. God is MY God. God is my strength. God is my help. God is upholding me by His righteous right hand. God is meeting ALL of my needs and many of my desires. Why do I fret and fear? "Why so downcast, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God!" (Ps 42)

Turning from fear to faith this day,

Lori

Strength From the Strong God - Isaiah 40 part 7

"Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Everlasting God, the LORD,

the Creator of the ends of the earth

does not become weary or tired.

His understanding is inscrutable.

He gives strength to the weary,

and to him who lacks might He increases power.

Though youths grow weary and tired,

and vigorous young men stumble badly,

yet those who wait for the LORD

will gain new strength;

they will mount up with wings like eagles,

they will run and not get tired,

they will walk and not become weary."

(vs 28-31)

Isaiah 40 has been rich - 7 postings on this one chapter. There have been words of comfort (vs 1-5), words on the Word (vs 6-8), words about the Good Shepherd (vs 11), words about idolators (vs 18-20), and words about the idolatry of my own heart(vs 21-26).

This morning, as the chapter closes, the words are about the everlasting, creating, never tiring, all-wise God who gives strength to His weary ones. As I have so many times in this chapter, I will defer to Mr. Henry this morning. The devotional nature of His remarks have soothed my soul.

"God Himself is an almighty God. He must be so, for He is the everlasting God, and therefore with Him there is no decay. He is without beginning or end and therefore with Him there is no change.

"He is the Creator of the ends of the earth and therefore is the rightful ruler of all, and is as able to save His church as He was at first to make the world.

"There is no searching out of His understanding, so as to defeat its intentions. None can say, 'Thus far God's wisdom can go, and no further.'

"He faints not, nor is weary; He upholds the whole creation and governs all the creatures, and has power to relieve His church, when it is brought low.

"He gives strength to His people, and helps them to help themselves. He that is the strong God is the strength of Israel. He can help the weak. He will help the willing. He will help those who, in humble dependence upon Him, help themselves, and will do well for those who do their best.

"The youth and the young men are apt to think themselves stronger than they are. And they shall faint and be weary, shall utterly fail in their conflicts, and under their burdens; they shall soon be made to see the folly of trusting in themselves. But those that wait on the LORD, and by faith rely upon Him and commit themselves to His guidance, shall find that God will not fail them.

"They shall have grace sufficient for them: they shall renew their strength. They shall use this grace for the best purposes. they shall soar upward, upward towards God. Devout affections are the eagles' wings on which gracious souls mount up ({s 25:1). They shall press forward, forward towards heaven. They shall walk, they shall run in the way of God's commandments, cheerfully and with alacrity."

This morning I am thankful for a strong God, needful of gracious strength, and prayerful that He will make my affections devout in order that I will use the strength He gives for His glory!

In His glorious grace,

Lori