Month: August 2019

1. 12. Cloud and Fire of Glory

Isaiah 4:5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense.

The pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night was a major factor in the deliverance of the people of Israel during the Exodus under Moses. The pillar assisted the crossing of the Red Sea and it led the people through the wilderness until they reached the Promised Land. The symbolism of the cloud and fire is the Presence of God in the midst of the people, both for protection and for guidance. The Presence of God is essential for the salvation of God’s people.

The cloud and the fire is the glory of God. The glory of God during this time is the Presence of God on the earth. The Presence saves; the Presence protects; the Presence guides; and the Presence is a defense for God’s people. This symbolism carries through into the New Testament as cloud and fire are involved in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. The Presence is the breaking into earthly existence and human history of God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. The Presence continues in the Church of believers in the preaching of the Gospel, the Absolution of sins, the baptism of the Spirit by water, and especially in the body and blood of Christ as the “real presence” in the Lord’s Supper.

The presence of the Lord comes for our salvation, protection and guidance. We enter into the Presence when we repent and believe the Gospel. God promises His Presence in the dwelling place of Mount Zion and the assemblies. This is the Church of all believers in Christ. When sins are forgiven we are saved, protected and given wise guidance, This Presence will go with us all the way through our wilderness wanderings while we are alive on earth until we reach the Promised Land. Then we will be in His Presence all the time forever, for God Himself is the Temple. Then we will no longer need the mediation of Gospel and Sacraments. The Presence is a promise for believers during their lifetime; it is available 24/7 and we may enter any time we need to. OT symbolism merges into NT symbols and it all will become reality when the resurrection of the body transforms everything.

1.  11. Washed and Purged

Isaiah 4:4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged away the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning.

God promises to wash away the filth and purge away the blood-guilt from the Church of God’s people, the invisible church which is the entire group of believers in Christ Jesus. This promise has been fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus washed and purged the sin and guilt (filth and blood) from persons who believe in Him. The Holy Spirit includes each believer in the Church, which He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies through the Gospel.

It was the spirit of judgment and burning that accomplished this cleansing. All sins were judged in Christ on the Cross. The Spirit is the fire by which we were baptized that burned away all sin. Through the blood of Jesus we are clean thoroughly. Filth is the result and consequence of sin. Sin results in a messed up life: life is confused, chaotic, stinky, messy, disgusting, and ugly because of our sin; and we have no one to blame but ourselves. We are the sinners who have sinned and brought about the troubles, pains and sufferings we experience. But Jesus washed away the filth of sin, and we are as clean and tidy as a pin, and we are as white as snow.

Blood signifies the guilt of murder. Bloodguilt stains, pollutes, corrupts, despoils, disgusts, damages and destroys the land in which it occurs and the person who commits the murder. Even we the good people who did not actually murder have murdered life with our hands, our tongues, and our thoughts. We have purposely or inadvertently hurt other people with our words, lies, gossip, and criticisms. Even if we regard anger and hatred in our hearts it is accounted as murder. We who do not treat others with love, forgiveness, kindness, and care are murderers; and thus we are guilty of blood. But Jesus purged away the blood and we are pure and holy.

1. 10. Called Holy

Isaiah 4:3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem.

Believers in Jesus Christ will be called holy. This miracle, of course, is impossible since every person is a sinner, nobody’s perfect, and holiness is a long way off for all people. Yet the promise is they shall be called holy. Believers are accounted righteous. Faith is reckoned as righteousness. God sanctifies; God makes holy. This promise is for those that are left in the Church, that remain in the Church, and that are written among the living in the Church. Zion and Jerusalem are metaphors for the people of God. Zion and Jerusalem become the Church in New Testament times. The terms include only the invisible church, the genuine believers, those who have been truly regenerated through the Gospel by the work of the Holy Spirit.

I believe in Jesus Christ as Lord, by the power of the Spirit; therefore, I am one of those who are written among the living. For me, the promise is that I shall be called holy. I am included among the saints. Saints are holy people. This is how God sees me, and it what He calls me. It is true that I am still a sinner and will be until I die. But at the same time, and all the time, I am also a saint. The paradox of sinner-saint is the most accurate and helpful description of who I am. I am not as good as I think I am, since I am a poor miserable sinner. I am not as bad as I know I am, since the sinner is forgiven and made holy by faith in Christ. Sometimes I see the sinner and I repent. Sometimes I see the saint and I believe.

I do not want to die, but at the same time I yearn for the day when I will shed the sinner and be left only with the saint. Until then, I believe the truth of God’s Word and Promise. 

1. 9. Excellent and Comely Fruit

Isaiah 4:2 In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

“That day” is the Messianic Age and the branch of the Lord is the Messiah. That day began when Jesus was born as a man on the earth and “that day” continues through the Death and Resurrection and on through the present day. The Branch, Jesus Christ, is beautiful and glorious, and no one doubts that this is true. He is the Beautiful Savior.

The promise is that in the Messianic Age of the New Testament Era the fruit of the earth will be excellent and comely for those of the people of God who believe in the Branch. Jesus stood on the earth and proclaimed that that day has come, and it is called the Kingdom of God. This glorious kingdom comes to and even into all those who believe in Christ. The fruit of that kingdom is excellent and pretty. The kingdom in our day is spiritual, and fruit of that kingdom is spiritual. The fruit is all the things described as love, peace, joy, patience, goodness, and such. Although such beautiful fruit is not seen with the eyes we know it is beautiful and glorious.

We know those who are “escaped of Israel” by their fruits. The fruit comes out of a believing heart and Christians beautify the earth. Fruit-bearing is the whole purpose of life and salvation. The flesh does not bear fruit, and it cannot. The renewed spirit of the believer bears fruit in the life. Our focus is on abiding in Christ; we do not focus on the fruit, and we certainly cannot try to produce fruit by our own efforts. But the Jesus who lives inside produces the fruit. So we listen to Him and we hear the Word of the Gospel. We water the vine with the Word. We don’t have to know how it all works; we just need to believe the promise: the fruit will be excellent. We believe Jesus and we trust Him to produce beautiful fruit for those who believe.

1. 8. Well with the Righteous

Isaiah 3:10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

God promises the righteous man that it shall be well with him. The righteous people will eat the fruit of their doings. The conditional part of the promise is that if the righteous person does good things then he will reap the fruit of his righteous doings. The unconditional promise for the righteous person is that it shall be well with him. We know that we are accounted righteous for the sake of Jesus Christ; we are justified by faith. Faith is reckoned as righteousness. Therefore, the promise is for the believer in Jesus Christ: it will be well with him.

No matter what happens the believer will always be able to sing: “It is well with my soul.” That is a promise we can claim. First we make certain that we are justified by faith through repentance and faith in the Gospel. If we know we believe then we know we are righteous; and if we are righteous it is well with us. This promise is meant for all believers to be taken to heart in both good times and in bad times. The condition of being “well with me” does not depend on outward circumstances or on how I am feeling at the time. It is “well with me” all the time because God is good all the time. It is well with my soul always because Jesus loves me, this I know. It is well with me because I am declared righteous on account of Christ. By faith I always have the righteousness of God as a gift of grace. 

Every time I hear the Gospel, I can say, “It is well.”And I can hear the Gospel any time I turn to God in faith and receive the forgiveness of sins afresh. When someone greets you by asking, “How are you?” you can say, “I am well; it is well with me.” Or, as I once asked a shopkeeper in passing, “How are you?” she responded, “I am loved.” Confess the righteousness of God, and confess, “It is well with me.” That is not pretending or faking it. It is truth and fact. God says so, and so it is.

1. World Peace

Isaiah 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

God promises world peace! This would be a startling headline, but it would not be believed by anyone who lived very long. And Jesus also predicted: “There will be wars and rumors of wars.” Our own experience and our study of world history shows us that Jesus’ prediction is true, but the promise of “World Peace” is not true. It is almost a mockery that the “swards into plowshares” quote is etched on to the United Nations building. In actual practice it seems to us that the promise remains a dream. The world strives for peace, but it is never attained.

The promise of peace is not literal and historical. The promise of world peace is twofold: 1) Peace is spiritual, and it is in the process of being already fulfilled with the coming of Christ. 2) Peace is future, in that after Jesus comes to judge perfect and beautiful peace will be absolutely beautiful and universal in the Eternal Kingdom of God in the new heavens and the new earth. This will be true after“He shall judge among the nations.”

We can presently take hold of this promise and enjoy peace in our own hearts and peace among the hearts of believers. We are, and always will be, in the midst of war and strife both within and without. “Fightings within” continually break out and ‘fears without” are erupting in marriages, families, neighbors, communities, churches, politics, and nations. The believer can find peace by turning to Jesus. The Prince of Peace came to us to bring “glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” Jesus also promises: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Peacemakers are those who are not experiencing peace but truly desire it, and for those who yearn for something better than they have Jesus makes them sons of God by faith in Him.

We also take hope and comfort in the promise and guarantee of an eternity of peace with God, in ourselves, and among all people. That Day will come. Wait for it, hope in it, and eagerly long for That Glorious Day.

1. 6. The Word out of the Church

Isaiah 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

The mountain of the Lord is the Church; the house of the God of Jacob is the Church; Zion is the Church; Jerusalem is the Church. Each of these terms is a metaphor for the New Testament Church, the people of God who believe in Jesus Christ. The promise is that the Word of God comes to the world’s people out of the Church.

The prophecy is that people will invite people to the Church, saying. “Let’s go to church.” The promise is that God will teach us in the church; God promises that His Word will go out from the church. It is the Word of Gospel that changes lives. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. The Gospel saves, not the Church, but it is the Church that sends out the Gospel. 

The Church will preach the Gospel in all the world. People will be invited to the church in all the world. People in all the world will be saved by the Gospel. Because this promise is true there are several implications for us: we need to go to church for the purpose of hearing the Gospel; we need to make sure we are going to a local church that preaches the Gospel (not all do so); we need to invite other people, “Let us go to church to hear the Gospel;” we need to be willing to do all we can to support the true work of the church, which is the preaching of the Gospel to all people.

The promise is being fulfilled: the Church preaches, teaches, translates, publishes, prints, distributes, and converses about the Word of the Lord. The Word of the Lord is disseminated through the people of God, the believers in Christ. The unbelieving world is invited to “go up to the mountain of the Lord.” There the Word goes out, and there the Gospel saves.

1. 5. Mountain of the Lord’s House

Isaiah 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

The Last Days are the days in which we are living, all the days since the Resurrection of Jesus Christ until today and on through until the Last Day, the Day of Judgment. In these days God promises that the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established as the highest house, and all the peoples of the world will come into it. This mountain is the Church of the New Testament. The Church is the Lord’s house. The Church is the mountain. The Church invites, welcomes, and brings all people into it through the preaching of the Gospel. The Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth by the Gospel.

This promise is fulfilled and is continually being fulfilled through history. The Church continues to grow by the nations flowing into it from everywhere. This is the promise; this is the reality and truth we do not see. The Church doesn’t look like a mountain, and it surely doesn’t look like it is the top of the mountains. But God says it is; therefore it is. Our physical senses cannot verify it, for it is spiritual. The Invisible Church is invisible. We don’t see the spiritual world, so God must reveal to us how it really is. If we could see what God sees, we would see the church of all believers in Christ as a mountain, even over all the other mountains and hills.

We, as believers in Christ, are a part of something really big, something glorious, something eternal, something really important, something influential, and something that matters. Why would we come into any other mountain or human institution? And we don’t have to climb far: we simply go within where God dwells in the spirit of the Christian. By repentance and faith in the Gospel we touch Eternal Life when we touch God in ourselves and in other believers.

1. 4. City of Righteousness

Isaiah 1:26, 27 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

God promises a City. It will be the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven. The Bible begins in a Garden and ends in a City, both are called the Paradise of God. It will be a beautiful, peaceful, wonderful place to live and enjoy Life and enjoy God forever. This is the goal toward which all history is definitely heading. The Lord promises us a place in that Eternal Kingdom. Our life is meaningful; it is going somewhere; there is a grand purpose for everything that happens to us. Isaiah calls it the city of righteousness, the faithful city.

Jesus calls it the Kingdom of God; He brought it to us and it is within us, even now while we live in the midst of an evil world. There is a place we can go; that place is Jesus in us. We do not turn to God just for escape; we turn to God for life and peace and love and joy. We do not only escape the sin and evil of the world and the flesh, but we also enter into forgiveness, life and salvation. We have the peace that passes understanding, not a peace that the world gives. We have the joy of the Lord, not the momentary thrills that the world offers. This kingdom, this city, is within us, and it is always there, open to us to enter by repentance and faith in the Gospel.

This place is also called Zion. Zion is the place where the people of God gather together to hear the Gospel and praise the Lord, wherever and whenever that might be. Zion will be redeemed with judgment. Judgment is a fearful thing, but for the believer it is a good thing; sin and death the devil are judged at the Cross and the Tomb. By faith we go to that place and joyously receive forgiveness and new life. We are converted with righteousness, the very righteousness of God. We come to that City every day and we are converted constantly. Redeemed and converted, we walk the streets of the city and the paths of the garden. What we enjoy by faith and hope today, we will enjoy by sight on That Day. Praise the Lord for His Promise!

1. 3. Eat the Good

Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.

This is a conditional promise: if you are willing and obedient, then you will eat the good of the land. The promise is based on the Law: keep the Law, obey the Ten Commandments, do what the Lord says, be a good boy, and faithfully submit to your part of the covenant. If you do then the blessings of the covenant will come about in your life. Disobey, then the curses of the covenant come into play. This is the embedded nature of God’s Law, the Covenant based on Moses’ revelation. “I will be your God and you will be My people.” You do your part and I promise to keep my part. There are clear good and bad consequences resulting from good or bad behavior.

The Moral Law of God revealed in the human conscience and revealed clearly in the Word of the Covenant is rigid, black and white, and blessings and curses are directly related to the degree of obedience and disobedience. This promise for obedience includes eating the good of the land. Historically, this applies to prosperity enjoyed in the Promised Land, the land flowing with milk and honey. Material and physical and temporal blessing and abundance is promised to the whole nation, the people of God living as a whole in general compliance with the Covenant stipulations. God’s people in the Old Testament lived out the story of sin and idolatry, and ultimately they did not eat the good of the land; eventually, they were taken out of the land.

But the promise is expanded to include all people on earth, and it includes spiritual and eternal blessings as well. The specific promise of the covenant, which Israel broke, is no longer in effect since Jesus came to earth; but the general principle of this promise still applies to all people of all time. “Obey, and live well; disobey, and live poorly.” This is living with hope, or not; it is living eternally, or not. “Eating the good of the land” means for NT believers: “Enjoy the spiritual benefits of the kingdom of God.” In other words: believe in Jesus and enjoy the blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation.

We can claim this promise by repentance and faith. Jesus was willing and obedient for us, in our place. His obedient life is given to us by grace. Thus the condition of the promise is fulfilled; therefore, the promise is fulfilled. It is true: “Because of Jesus we enjoy the good things of the kingdom of God.”