God's Word also reveals a spectacular view of the future for the Believer!
In reading the daily Scripture passages and commentary by Dr. Stanley, there is often a theme or message that arises. I like it when that happens. I suppose this is possible because there are only so many "common threads" that run through the Bible and these are repeated throughout the Scriptures. I would like to set the theme for today's reading from the commentary on Psalm 105:4, "Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore!" We will see where this takes us.
The passage in Isaiah 1:1-2:22, could easily be a description of today's world--"my people do not consider"--"they have forsaken the Lord"--"the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. . .there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; they have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment". The world is not yet even close to a healing process. When spiritual healing comes, it brings other aspects of healing also.
Throughout the Bible, we read that God has always had a "remnant" of people who belong to Him (this would probably make a good Bible study). In verse 9, of Isaiah 1, we read again of a remnant, "Unless the Lord of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah". In the following verses God expresses disgust with His people Judah for continuing to appear before Him with their "futile sacrifices" and "trample" His courts! Their incense comes across as "an abomination to Me" (v. 13). God says, "I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting". He said that "even though you make many prayers, I will not hear". The reason God won't hear?---"Your hands are full of blood" (v. 15). (In this country, our hands are unfortunately full of the blood of unborn babies--ugly, but reality!) He urges them to make themselves clean, to put away the evil--"Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow" (v. 16-17). These two verses reveal what is important to God. (Note that "doing good" is something that can be learned.) Also, God says to cease, to learn, to rebuke, to defend, to plead--these are all action words! Next, comes the familiar passage, "Come now and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (v.18). Such Good News for sinners like we!
It is discouraging to dwell on the sins that fill the earth at present and the coming judgment of God. Yet looking beyond this to Christ's return and subsequent rule brings scenes that fill us with hope! Isaiah 2, brings us glimpses of what the world will be like at that time. "The mountain (government) of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains (governments), and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it" (v.2). "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" (v.3). And, in verse 4, swords and spears will be fashioned into farm implements. "Neither shall they learn war anymore". What a glorious time!
Verse 6, specifically says God has forsaken His people, the house of Jacob, "because they are filled with eastern ways". How many Eastern religions do people today try to combine with their worship of the one true God?? Isaiah gives this description of the culture that God is addressing here: "And they are pleased with the children of foreigners. Their land is also full of silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is also full of horses, and there is no end to their chariots. Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands" (verses 6-9). These people can prepare for "the terror of the Lord" (v. 10), because "the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low" (v.17). Why? "The Lord alone will be exalted in that day, but the idols He shall utterly abolish" (v. 18). (The phrase "in that day" occurs throughout the Bible and refers to the time surrounding the day of the Lord and would make a great Bible study.) The following verses serve to record what "the day of the Lord" will be like for these idolaters when they go into the caves of the earth to flee from the terror of the Lord.
Proverbs 24:25, "But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them". God does not intend for us to just keep quiet! Ephesians 4:14, says "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ"! If we are established in God's Word, there will be no place in our lives, or need, for "eastern ways". "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace (I Corinthians 14:33). Chaos and confusion are products of godlessness, whether in personal life, church, or society. We have so much to look forward to when Christ returns. We can live in eager expectation of justice and worship of the one true God, and of the putting away of evil, the rebuking of oppressors, and the defense of the helpless. It is definitely time to "set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2)! That is the message or theme that I discovered in today's study and it does follow the theme set out in Psalm 105:4, "Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face evermore"! It will be to our advantage!
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