Whom Do You Fear?

Isaiah 51:6-8: "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail. Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations."

The prophet Isaiah lived during a time when it was not popular to live in obedience to the One True Lord. The people of Judah had become so grossly debased in their immorality and wickedness, that they would subject to torturous persecution anyone who proclaimed the nation's need for repentance. This seems to be what Isaiah himself experienced during his ministry; for we find in his reflections in chapter 50 that the prophet was ruthlessly beaten, mocked, and spit upon. In the midst of his torture (he even records that his beard was plucked out of his face), Isaiah would not yield to the vehement attacks of these wicked men. Instead, this prophet of God was resolved to press on in faithfulness, knowing that the Sovereign Lord was his help and deliverer. Isaiah was able to keep proper perspective in the midst of his horrific experience, in that he knew that God would ultimately bring victory over his oppressors.

Isaiah then shared this hope with others who held the law of God in their hearts and lived in righteousness. Specifically, the prophet exclaimed the Word of the Lord: "Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations" (Isa. 51:7-8).

We no less today see the oppressive behaviors of those who "shake their fists at God, vaunting themselves against the Almighty, defiantly charging against Him with a thick, strong shield" (Job 15:25). These reprobate desire their own lordship over the rightful reign of the One True Lord, and attempt to thwart anyone who would live their lives in surrender to God as their Master. Whereas we may find that the temporal path of faithfulness to God is filled with tribulation, we must keep our minds fixed upon the eternal hope of God's deliverance (see Isa. 51: 14). He will vindicate those who have suffered for His glory (Isa. 50:8). The Sovereign Creator of the universe will bring judgment upon those who would persecute the righteous; in fact, the Lord uses stinging verbiage to describe the fate of those who perpetrate rebellion: "the worm will devour them like wool." Their eternal damnation has been prepared . . . Hell even now is smoldering in anticipation of their arrival.

Let us not be discouraged in our resolve to follow the Lord. Even when we are subjected to the caustic responses of the children of the devil (see I John 3:9-10), let us like Isaiah, "set our (determined) faces like flint, knowing that we will not be put to shame" (Isa. 50:7b).