Isaiah 30:1-2, 9-11: "'Woe to the obstinate children,' declares the LORD, 'to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh's protection, to Egypt's shade for refuge . . . . These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the LORD's instruction. They say to the seers, 'See no more visions!' and to the prophets, 'Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!'"
In the recent euphoria of the Presidential inauguration of 2009, America seems to be experiencing a level of of hope and celebration not seen in previous inaugurations. As 1.9 million people personally witnessed the 44th President taking his oath of office, a sense of national pride, joy, and unity seemed to envelop the crowd. People were crying and cheering this momentous occasion. To be sure, our nation is experiencing a milestone in that race no longer is an inhibitor to one being elected to the top political position in our nation; and for this reason, we do have cause to celebrate.
Still, we would do well to remember the Israelites from the passage cited above, that placed their confidence and security in political alliances and not in the Lord Almighty. These Israelites of Isaiah's day did not honor the commands of the Lord; instead, they willfully rebelled against the Lord, choosing to serve their own selfish desires (and in effect choosing themselves as their own gods). As these Israelites swelled with national pride and confidence, they refused to seek the ways of the Lord; in fact, they silenced Godly prophets who attempted to proclaim that the nation was not honoring the Lord (and therefore would be subject to His Divine judgment). The Israelites found pride in their political alliances with perceived world powers . . . they believed that they were invincible enough that they did not need the Sovereign Lord. Although the Lord desired to be compassionate and gracious to these people (see Isaiah 30:18), the Israelites shunned such offerings because they refused to surrender their own selfish wills to the One True Lord.
In the end, such obstinacy would bring sudden judgment from the Lord. Like a wall suddenly collapsing upon its residents bringing devastation, so too the Lord would bring calamity upon the people (Isaiah 30:13). For the covenant community's defiance to His Holiness and Sovereignty, the Lord's wrath would be poured out upon His covenant people.
Again, as much as we should rejoice in this historic Presidential election, let us not turn our eyes away from the Lord and believe ourselves impervious to His wrath. We already are witnessing our national rebellion against the statutes of the Lord through our irresponsible, irreverent, and immoral behavior (e.g. abortions, financial deceit, flagrantly inappropriate sexual relations, et al). Let us turn from such despicable ways and collectively yield ourselves to the Lord of Hosts. Let us not resist the eternal truths of God; instead, let us renounce any vain philosophies that would assert our own quest for lordship over the One True Lord. Let's open our ears and our hearts to His petition for us to return to Him and enjoy the intimate fellowship that He desires for us to experience with Him.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Still Another Look at the Economic Downturn
Isaiah 33:6,14-17,22: "He (God) will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure . . . . The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: 'Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?' He who walks righteously . . . . His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him. Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar . . . . For the Lord is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us."
With all the discussion of the global recession (and possible depression) today, we would do well to seek God's Word and glean His Sovereign insight concerning our present problems. God is the only one from whom we will be able to find remedy to such a mess as we have today.
Much of the problem that we have economically has been fueled by unsound (even ungodly) behavior in our financial markets. Whether it has been the financial service industry leveraging too much money in unwise lending practices (something Proverbs 11:15 warns against) or brokers that abscond with people's retirement savings, there seems to be widespread chicanery spurred on by personal greed. Coupled with this self-absorption is a lack of regard for the will of God as clearly communicated in Scripture. Our society is consumed with itself, and it is willing to destroy anyone or anything that would impede its quest for veneration. As one person manipulates, cheats, sues, defrauds, or steals from his neighbor, we as a nation implode in the lost time and expense of our self-idolization. There is no unity of purpose and certainly no respect for the Lord and His ways.
As God has demonstrated historically in Scripture, He is a blessing to the nation that submits to Him as Lord, and He destroys the nation that would go its own way in defiance against His Sovereignty. To be sure, the Lord "longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion" (Isaiah 30:18); still, only the one who walks righteously will be supplied with his material needs (Isaiah 33:16b).
If we continue to chart our course in the direction that we have been travelling, we should not expect anything good to come from it; for, the hand of blessing from the Lord will not be with us. If we continue to propagate sinful, disobedience against the LORD and His commands, we will only see His hand of judgment upon our nation and its economy. Just as the wicked of Isaiah's day trembled at the sudden collapse of their nation, so too we should expect such loss unless we repent.
Let's consider our evil ways and return to the Lord, for He is gracious and just. He will forgive us of our sins and will heal our land if we simply surrender ourselves to His Lordship (2 Chronicles 7:14).
With all the discussion of the global recession (and possible depression) today, we would do well to seek God's Word and glean His Sovereign insight concerning our present problems. God is the only one from whom we will be able to find remedy to such a mess as we have today.
Much of the problem that we have economically has been fueled by unsound (even ungodly) behavior in our financial markets. Whether it has been the financial service industry leveraging too much money in unwise lending practices (something Proverbs 11:15 warns against) or brokers that abscond with people's retirement savings, there seems to be widespread chicanery spurred on by personal greed. Coupled with this self-absorption is a lack of regard for the will of God as clearly communicated in Scripture. Our society is consumed with itself, and it is willing to destroy anyone or anything that would impede its quest for veneration. As one person manipulates, cheats, sues, defrauds, or steals from his neighbor, we as a nation implode in the lost time and expense of our self-idolization. There is no unity of purpose and certainly no respect for the Lord and His ways.
As God has demonstrated historically in Scripture, He is a blessing to the nation that submits to Him as Lord, and He destroys the nation that would go its own way in defiance against His Sovereignty. To be sure, the Lord "longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion" (Isaiah 30:18); still, only the one who walks righteously will be supplied with his material needs (Isaiah 33:16b).
If we continue to chart our course in the direction that we have been travelling, we should not expect anything good to come from it; for, the hand of blessing from the Lord will not be with us. If we continue to propagate sinful, disobedience against the LORD and His commands, we will only see His hand of judgment upon our nation and its economy. Just as the wicked of Isaiah's day trembled at the sudden collapse of their nation, so too we should expect such loss unless we repent.
Let's consider our evil ways and return to the Lord, for He is gracious and just. He will forgive us of our sins and will heal our land if we simply surrender ourselves to His Lordship (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Let's Praise the Lord!
Isaiah 25:1,7-9; 26:3-4, 8-9: "O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago . . . . (you) will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; (you) will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken . . . . You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal . . . . Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you."
The prophet Isaiah lived in a transitory period in the life of the Jewish people. When God first called Isaiah to his ministry, the land of Judah had been experiencing prosperity under the rule of King Uzziah. But with the steady decline of the moral/spiritual condition of the people, God introduced political and economic turmoil eventually culminating in the utter destruction of the land by the Assyrians and Babylonians.
Despite in the decline of the nation of Judah, Isaiah was able to keep a proper focus on God, knowing that the Sovereign Lord had planned salvation for His people even before the beginning of time. Even though the righteous would have to endure the painful trials of this life, a day will come when the Lord will return to destroy sin, pain, and death once and for all. He then will wipe away the tears of the redeemed and usher them into His glorious presence forever. Hindsight will be perfectly clear as those saved by the grace of God will be able to see that their faith in their Lord was not in vain, for the Lord will fulfill His promise by rescuing them from their perilous condition in a world filled with wickedness and calamity.
Therefore, as the world of Isaiah's day seemed to be spiraling out of control, the prophet by faith assured the people that God would "make the way of the righteous smooth." Therefore, Isaiah (and the righteous with him) were able to follow the Lord in faithful obedience, waiting for the day of their salvation. They feasted on the intimate fellowship that they had with the Lord as they set aside time throughout the day to commune with the Almighty. Their souls yearned for the fellowship because they knew that only God could be the Rock that could bring comfort and peace in an otherwise turbulent time.
We today need to hear this timeless message. Our souls need to yearn for the Almighty throughout each day, and we need to commit focused time with the Lord in order that we might cultivate our love relationship with Him. And as the Lord keeps us steadfast in our faith, He will give us perfect peace in this life and a hope of the blessedness that is to come in eternity.
The prophet Isaiah lived in a transitory period in the life of the Jewish people. When God first called Isaiah to his ministry, the land of Judah had been experiencing prosperity under the rule of King Uzziah. But with the steady decline of the moral/spiritual condition of the people, God introduced political and economic turmoil eventually culminating in the utter destruction of the land by the Assyrians and Babylonians.
Despite in the decline of the nation of Judah, Isaiah was able to keep a proper focus on God, knowing that the Sovereign Lord had planned salvation for His people even before the beginning of time. Even though the righteous would have to endure the painful trials of this life, a day will come when the Lord will return to destroy sin, pain, and death once and for all. He then will wipe away the tears of the redeemed and usher them into His glorious presence forever. Hindsight will be perfectly clear as those saved by the grace of God will be able to see that their faith in their Lord was not in vain, for the Lord will fulfill His promise by rescuing them from their perilous condition in a world filled with wickedness and calamity.
Therefore, as the world of Isaiah's day seemed to be spiraling out of control, the prophet by faith assured the people that God would "make the way of the righteous smooth." Therefore, Isaiah (and the righteous with him) were able to follow the Lord in faithful obedience, waiting for the day of their salvation. They feasted on the intimate fellowship that they had with the Lord as they set aside time throughout the day to commune with the Almighty. Their souls yearned for the fellowship because they knew that only God could be the Rock that could bring comfort and peace in an otherwise turbulent time.
We today need to hear this timeless message. Our souls need to yearn for the Almighty throughout each day, and we need to commit focused time with the Lord in order that we might cultivate our love relationship with Him. And as the Lord keeps us steadfast in our faith, He will give us perfect peace in this life and a hope of the blessedness that is to come in eternity.
Monday, January 12, 2009
The Reason for Our Tragedies
Isaiah 24:5-6: "The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt."
If there is one certainty in our world, it is the uncertainty that unfortunate (even tragic) circumstances present to us in life. When we are faced with an unexpected medical diagnosis, a financial catastrophe, or a natural disaster, our souls tremble at the lack of control over our lives. And in our helpless state, we burst forth with questions as to why these tragedies occur in the first place. After all, would not a Sovereign Creator who has the power to prevent such events intervene to remove such loss?
We find ourselves asking God the "Why" questions? "Why God did you not divert this catastrophe in my life?" ; "Why God do you let such a thing happen in the first place?"; "God, are you even there?"; "Are you even real?". When the cumulative effect of substantive loss begins to overwhelm us, we are tempted to disassociate ourselves from a God who presumably is either not real or not interested in us.
The cited passage above gives us an explanation as to why we experience tragedies in this life, both globally and personally; specifically, we find that God placed a curse upon His creation as a result of man's cosmic treason against God's rightful reign as the Sovereign Lord. To be sure, God had warned Adam (the first man), that his rebellion would bring a Divine curse leading to the death and destruction of man and his habitation. Whereas God originally gave man the blessing of a perfect, sinless environment in which he might live . . . free from the calamities that we've mentioned above, man chose to forsake God's blessings by determining to be a god himself. The consumption of the forbidden fruit was an assertion by man to claim his own divinity, in open defiance against the One True God . . . the One who created him and blessed him with his perfect habitation.
Man has no one to blame for such problematic circumstances in life but himself. It is our sin that drove us from the place of serenity and protection to a place of tragic uncertainty and pain. Now we and our world must bear the consequences of our rebellion against the Lord.
Romans 8:19f reinforces this idea when it tells us that God's created universe waits in eager expectation for Jesus' return, when it will be liberated from the bondage to which it was subjected as a result of the curse. In fact, the passage uses the imagery of the earth and its inhabitants "groaning as in the pains of childbirth" until the coming restoration/redemption of creation with the return of Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ returns in ineffable glory, He will "make everything new"(Revelation 21:5); our Lord will make a new heaven and a new earth for the redeemed to inhabit for all eternity . . . freed from the bondage of this cursed creation. This is the hope to which we long; this is the eternal deliverance that we eagerly await.
Therefore, we must not ascribe culpability to God for the misfortunes that we experience in this world. We must understand that our tragedies are the result of original sin that brought the promised curse for such disobedience. Whereas we might not be able to control our circumstances in this life, we can rest in the assurance of Divine deliverance that is offered to us through God's gift of eternal life. When we surrender to God as our Righteous Lord and receive His gift of salvation solely through Jesus' death and resurrection, then we can press on in hope to our eternal glorification . . . a state in which we will not have to endure the ramifications of the earth's defilement from sin.
If there is one certainty in our world, it is the uncertainty that unfortunate (even tragic) circumstances present to us in life. When we are faced with an unexpected medical diagnosis, a financial catastrophe, or a natural disaster, our souls tremble at the lack of control over our lives. And in our helpless state, we burst forth with questions as to why these tragedies occur in the first place. After all, would not a Sovereign Creator who has the power to prevent such events intervene to remove such loss?
We find ourselves asking God the "Why" questions? "Why God did you not divert this catastrophe in my life?" ; "Why God do you let such a thing happen in the first place?"; "God, are you even there?"; "Are you even real?". When the cumulative effect of substantive loss begins to overwhelm us, we are tempted to disassociate ourselves from a God who presumably is either not real or not interested in us.
The cited passage above gives us an explanation as to why we experience tragedies in this life, both globally and personally; specifically, we find that God placed a curse upon His creation as a result of man's cosmic treason against God's rightful reign as the Sovereign Lord. To be sure, God had warned Adam (the first man), that his rebellion would bring a Divine curse leading to the death and destruction of man and his habitation. Whereas God originally gave man the blessing of a perfect, sinless environment in which he might live . . . free from the calamities that we've mentioned above, man chose to forsake God's blessings by determining to be a god himself. The consumption of the forbidden fruit was an assertion by man to claim his own divinity, in open defiance against the One True God . . . the One who created him and blessed him with his perfect habitation.
Man has no one to blame for such problematic circumstances in life but himself. It is our sin that drove us from the place of serenity and protection to a place of tragic uncertainty and pain. Now we and our world must bear the consequences of our rebellion against the Lord.
Romans 8:19f reinforces this idea when it tells us that God's created universe waits in eager expectation for Jesus' return, when it will be liberated from the bondage to which it was subjected as a result of the curse. In fact, the passage uses the imagery of the earth and its inhabitants "groaning as in the pains of childbirth" until the coming restoration/redemption of creation with the return of Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ returns in ineffable glory, He will "make everything new"(Revelation 21:5); our Lord will make a new heaven and a new earth for the redeemed to inhabit for all eternity . . . freed from the bondage of this cursed creation. This is the hope to which we long; this is the eternal deliverance that we eagerly await.
Therefore, we must not ascribe culpability to God for the misfortunes that we experience in this world. We must understand that our tragedies are the result of original sin that brought the promised curse for such disobedience. Whereas we might not be able to control our circumstances in this life, we can rest in the assurance of Divine deliverance that is offered to us through God's gift of eternal life. When we surrender to God as our Righteous Lord and receive His gift of salvation solely through Jesus' death and resurrection, then we can press on in hope to our eternal glorification . . . a state in which we will not have to endure the ramifications of the earth's defilement from sin.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
God Humbles the Proud
Isaiah 23:9: "The LORD Almighty planned it, to bring low the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth."
When reading through the chapters just preceding the cited verse above, one finds an interesting dichotomy. In chapter 19, one reads that God brings judgment upon the Egyptians, but relents from His wrath when the Egyptians respond to the Lord's judgment with fear and surrender. Whereas they had vaunted themselves in brazen arrogance, feasting upon their status as a powerful nation and the material spoils that come with such dominance, now they "shudder with fear at the uplifted hand of the LORD Almighty against them" (19:16). As God began to punish the Egyptians for their self-consumption, the Egyptians responded with contrition and submission. They would build an altar in the heart of Egypt for the LORD and would cry out for deliverance from their oppressors. The Scriptures record that the LORD would hear the petitions of the Egyptians and would bring a savior to rescue them from their demise. The Egyptians would worship the Lord with sacrifices and offerings and they would make vows to the Lord and faithfully fulfill them. Because the Egyptians responded with surrender to the Lord's chastisement, the Lord would withdraw His punitive measures and would heal their land.
In Isaiah 22, one finds that the Israelites were faced with similar judgment from the Hand of the Lord, presumably for having the same arrogant, self-absorbed disposition as the Egyptians. The Israelites' disdain for the Lord and His commands would bring His wrath in the form of invading pagan armies from the north. Yet even as the defenses of the city of Jerusalem were being breached and the enemies of the Israelites were entering the City of David, the Israelites did not cry out to the Lord. Instead they attempted to remedy their own problems through their own efforts (e.g. they stored up water in reservoirs and strengthened the walls around the city). Still, the Israelites did not repent and surrender themselves to the LORD. Rather than mourning for their chronic rebellion against the Lord, the people feasted in "joy and revelry" . . . deciding that if they were to die, they would go out in style . . . drinking wine and eating rich foods. The LORD determined that such arrogance would not be atoned, and He would bring judgment upon the Israelites for their recalcitrance.
When reading through the chapters just preceding the cited verse above, one finds an interesting dichotomy. In chapter 19, one reads that God brings judgment upon the Egyptians, but relents from His wrath when the Egyptians respond to the Lord's judgment with fear and surrender. Whereas they had vaunted themselves in brazen arrogance, feasting upon their status as a powerful nation and the material spoils that come with such dominance, now they "shudder with fear at the uplifted hand of the LORD Almighty against them" (19:16). As God began to punish the Egyptians for their self-consumption, the Egyptians responded with contrition and submission. They would build an altar in the heart of Egypt for the LORD and would cry out for deliverance from their oppressors. The Scriptures record that the LORD would hear the petitions of the Egyptians and would bring a savior to rescue them from their demise. The Egyptians would worship the Lord with sacrifices and offerings and they would make vows to the Lord and faithfully fulfill them. Because the Egyptians responded with surrender to the Lord's chastisement, the Lord would withdraw His punitive measures and would heal their land.
In Isaiah 22, one finds that the Israelites were faced with similar judgment from the Hand of the Lord, presumably for having the same arrogant, self-absorbed disposition as the Egyptians. The Israelites' disdain for the Lord and His commands would bring His wrath in the form of invading pagan armies from the north. Yet even as the defenses of the city of Jerusalem were being breached and the enemies of the Israelites were entering the City of David, the Israelites did not cry out to the Lord. Instead they attempted to remedy their own problems through their own efforts (e.g. they stored up water in reservoirs and strengthened the walls around the city). Still, the Israelites did not repent and surrender themselves to the LORD. Rather than mourning for their chronic rebellion against the Lord, the people feasted in "joy and revelry" . . . deciding that if they were to die, they would go out in style . . . drinking wine and eating rich foods. The LORD determined that such arrogance would not be atoned, and He would bring judgment upon the Israelites for their recalcitrance.
If there is a word of warning for us today, it is the guarantee that the Lord will humble the proud . . . those who would determine to dictate their lives according to their own selfish ways, with no regard for the Lord and His commands. It is only when a nation repents of its sins of rebellion against the Lord that He in turn will heal their land (see 2 Chronicles 7:14). Let us not bristle up in selfish determination to live in opposition to the will of God Almighty; instead, let us submit ourselves to Him as Lord and receive His blessed healing. We will never regret the decision to yield ourselves to His rightful reign in our lives.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
God the Almighty Will Accomplish His Purposes
Isaiah 14:27; 16:5; 17:13: "For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back? . . . . In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it-one from the house of David- one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness . . . . Although the peoples roar like the roar of surging waters, when he rebukes them they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweed before a gale."
Whenever we as followers of Jesus Christ look at our world with its global unrest and ubiquitous profligacy we quickly can lose hope in our future. Despondency settles into our spirits leaving us with fearful expectations of what is to come. We lose the joy of our salvation, because in our faithless disposition, we begin to wonder if God is in fact the Sovereign One that He claims to be. These spiritual wars that we face need to be challenged by the truth of God's Word; in fact, we know from the Scriptures that our faith is fueled in the hearing of God's precious Holy Word (see Romans 10:17).
In the above cited Scriptures, we are able to see that no person, thing, or spiritual being will be able to thwart the purposes of God. Whereas God has permitted evil to exist in the world, His ultimate purpose is being accomplished through the establishment of the eternal Sovereign throne of Jesus Christ, who will be the Faithful Judge "seeking justice and speeding the cause of righteousness." Even though the nations would attempt to challenge the purposes of the Lord through their reckless, wicked rebellion to His rightful Lordship, in the end they will be destroyed. God's act of eternal redemption for those who have surrendered themselves to His Lordship and His righteous wrath poured out upon those who have challenged His Lordship will continue to be revealed until the Final Day of the Lord!
With this blessed assurance that has been given to us through the Word of God, let us not become weary in our obedience to the Lord, "for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). Let us not become discouraged at the events unfolding in our world, but let us ever have the bold determination to be the faithful followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us be the instruments that He uses to reflect His glorious light of truth to the darkened world around us. Let us glorify Him, knowing that our eternal purpose will be to praise Him as Our Sovereign King.
Whenever we as followers of Jesus Christ look at our world with its global unrest and ubiquitous profligacy we quickly can lose hope in our future. Despondency settles into our spirits leaving us with fearful expectations of what is to come. We lose the joy of our salvation, because in our faithless disposition, we begin to wonder if God is in fact the Sovereign One that He claims to be. These spiritual wars that we face need to be challenged by the truth of God's Word; in fact, we know from the Scriptures that our faith is fueled in the hearing of God's precious Holy Word (see Romans 10:17).
In the above cited Scriptures, we are able to see that no person, thing, or spiritual being will be able to thwart the purposes of God. Whereas God has permitted evil to exist in the world, His ultimate purpose is being accomplished through the establishment of the eternal Sovereign throne of Jesus Christ, who will be the Faithful Judge "seeking justice and speeding the cause of righteousness." Even though the nations would attempt to challenge the purposes of the Lord through their reckless, wicked rebellion to His rightful Lordship, in the end they will be destroyed. God's act of eternal redemption for those who have surrendered themselves to His Lordship and His righteous wrath poured out upon those who have challenged His Lordship will continue to be revealed until the Final Day of the Lord!
With this blessed assurance that has been given to us through the Word of God, let us not become weary in our obedience to the Lord, "for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). Let us not become discouraged at the events unfolding in our world, but let us ever have the bold determination to be the faithful followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us be the instruments that He uses to reflect His glorious light of truth to the darkened world around us. Let us glorify Him, knowing that our eternal purpose will be to praise Him as Our Sovereign King.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Jesus: The Righteous Judge & Redeemer
Isaiah 11:1,3-5, 10; 12:1-2: "A shoot (Jesus Christ) will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his (Jessie's) roots a Branch will bear fruit . . . . He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist . . . . In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious . . . . In that day you will say: 'I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.'"
In our world today, we have rulers whose execution of justice is swayed by personal preference and benefit, even if that "justice" is not fair and just. One of the assurances that we have in Scripture is the justness of Jesus Christ, the Supreme Judge, who will judge the nations with the purity of His Righteousness and Holiness. We can have the security of knowing that Jesus is not fickle or preferential but will rule according to His eternal truths that have been made known unto man since the beginning of time.
What we do find in Jesus' Word is that He will bring judgment upon the wicked, who have treated His Holiness with contempt. Those who would attempt to assert their own will over the One True God will find that they will stand before the Righteous and Faithful God without the hope of deliverance. God in His Holiness will enact His wrath against those rebellious people, and that judgment will be eternal (see Revelation 20).
Still, we find in the above cited passage that the very One who will judge the wicked will offer Himself as a Banner of Protection for His people, and He will offer deliverance from His wrath by granting His chosen, entrance into His eternal rest (i.e. Heaven). Lest one think that he is able to merit this Divine favor by his own stature or accomplishments, one should look to Isaiah 12 to see why God's mercy has been bestowed to His remnant. Specifically, we find in that chapter that these people have received salvation not from their own doing, but from the Lord, who has offered Himself as the source of salvation. These redeemed have engaged in glorious praise of the Glorious Lord who has saved them from the eternal judgment that is due them (as with all of the wicked). As these people praise the Lord for His providing Himself as the ransom for their sins, they celebrate that God now is their Strength that drives away any fear of eternal damnation. They can't help but want to share with the world this incredible offering of redemption made possible to an unholy people by God's love and sacrificial atonement for their sins. This is love at its finest.
As we reflect upon our own status, we must conclude that none of us can stand before the Lord worthy of His eternal blessings, for all of us have sinned and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23); this is why God HAD to come into the world and offer Himself as the atoning sacrifice for our sins (I John 2:1-2). Jesus Christ, the Branch from the root of Jessie, came into the world in order that we might be justified freely by His grace, made manifest through His death and resurrection (Romans 3:24).
God's Faithfulness and Righteousness demand that all sin be judged. Were we left to our own defenses, we would stand condemned by His Righteousness. Therefore, our only hope of rescue is to surrender ourselves to Jesus Christ as Lord, repent of our sins of rebellion against His Holiness, and receive His offering of grace through His solely sufficient act of atonement. For those of us who are willing to yield ourselves to Him, we can celebrate with those in Isaiah 12 that He (Jesus Christ) is our Rescue, giving us the joy of "drawing water from the wells of (His) salvation" (12:3).
In our world today, we have rulers whose execution of justice is swayed by personal preference and benefit, even if that "justice" is not fair and just. One of the assurances that we have in Scripture is the justness of Jesus Christ, the Supreme Judge, who will judge the nations with the purity of His Righteousness and Holiness. We can have the security of knowing that Jesus is not fickle or preferential but will rule according to His eternal truths that have been made known unto man since the beginning of time.
What we do find in Jesus' Word is that He will bring judgment upon the wicked, who have treated His Holiness with contempt. Those who would attempt to assert their own will over the One True God will find that they will stand before the Righteous and Faithful God without the hope of deliverance. God in His Holiness will enact His wrath against those rebellious people, and that judgment will be eternal (see Revelation 20).
Still, we find in the above cited passage that the very One who will judge the wicked will offer Himself as a Banner of Protection for His people, and He will offer deliverance from His wrath by granting His chosen, entrance into His eternal rest (i.e. Heaven). Lest one think that he is able to merit this Divine favor by his own stature or accomplishments, one should look to Isaiah 12 to see why God's mercy has been bestowed to His remnant. Specifically, we find in that chapter that these people have received salvation not from their own doing, but from the Lord, who has offered Himself as the source of salvation. These redeemed have engaged in glorious praise of the Glorious Lord who has saved them from the eternal judgment that is due them (as with all of the wicked). As these people praise the Lord for His providing Himself as the ransom for their sins, they celebrate that God now is their Strength that drives away any fear of eternal damnation. They can't help but want to share with the world this incredible offering of redemption made possible to an unholy people by God's love and sacrificial atonement for their sins. This is love at its finest.
As we reflect upon our own status, we must conclude that none of us can stand before the Lord worthy of His eternal blessings, for all of us have sinned and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23); this is why God HAD to come into the world and offer Himself as the atoning sacrifice for our sins (I John 2:1-2). Jesus Christ, the Branch from the root of Jessie, came into the world in order that we might be justified freely by His grace, made manifest through His death and resurrection (Romans 3:24).
God's Faithfulness and Righteousness demand that all sin be judged. Were we left to our own defenses, we would stand condemned by His Righteousness. Therefore, our only hope of rescue is to surrender ourselves to Jesus Christ as Lord, repent of our sins of rebellion against His Holiness, and receive His offering of grace through His solely sufficient act of atonement. For those of us who are willing to yield ourselves to Him, we can celebrate with those in Isaiah 12 that He (Jesus Christ) is our Rescue, giving us the joy of "drawing water from the wells of (His) salvation" (12:3).
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