Month: December 2019

114. The Cup of Fury

Isaiah 51:22, 23 Thus saith thy Lord the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hat laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went  over.

The Lord promises to take out of our hand the cup of trembling, the cup of His fury. He promises that we never drink it again. The cup is the just wrath of God, which is to be poured out upon us on account of our sin. The cup of trembling and fury is God’s anger and judgment on us for our sins and unbelief. We deserved God’s wrath and we have judgment justly coming to us. We may resist, argue, complain and defend our case before the Lord, but we cannot win the case. We have sinned; we have deserved the wrath of God; we have been justly sentenced to eternal death.

But God promises to take the cup out of our hand so that we shall no more drink it again. God could promise this and God can do it because His Son took the cup of fury against us in His own hands and He drank it down. Jesus suffered the punishment of our sins and endured the wrath of God. In spiritual agony Jesus prayed to the Father to remove this cup from Him, but then He prayed: “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.” It turned out to be the will of God that His Son would drink the cup instead of us. Thus He promised to take it out of our hand so that we would not have to drink it. Jesus drank it so that we would not.

The wrath and fury of God against us has been taken out of our hands and mouth, all because of the suffering and death of Christ. But there is more to the promise: the cup of fury will be given to our enemies and those who afflict us. The enemies of God and the enemies of God’s people will drink the cup of fury and suffer forever the just judgment of God. Thank God that this prophecy will also come true. It means that our enemies (Sin, Death, Satan) will be removed from our presence forever, incarcerated forever, and they will never again be able to afflict us or make us feel guilty or ashamed or afraid.

113. God’s People in His Hands

Isaiah 51:16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.

The people who believe in Jesus Christ are those whom God calls, “My People.” The promised Servant, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, has the words of the Lord in His mouth and is covered by the Lord in the shadow of God’s hand. Believers in Christ also have this promise given to them: they are covered in the shadow of His hand. Under God’s special protection and tender care the people of God (the Church) God is able to say to the Church: “You are my people.” As the people of God, they are protected from all enemies that fight against them, they are cared for and nurtured with God’s provision and personal care, and they are loved and cherished as both the children of God and also as the Bride of Christ. Being a child of God and also being engaged to the Lord of the universe gives each of us a special personal relationship with God, an intimate relationship that lasts forever. Every believer may take confident hold of all the promises of God both for the present and for the forever future.

We are in God’s hands. We are held securely in the palm of His hands, the very hands that were pierced for crucifixion; these are hands of love. If we are covered in the hands of the Lord we can trust His wisdom and guidance for every plan and purpose ahead of us, whether large or small. If our lives are in His hands we can be sure that He will lovingly and unerringly direct us in the way we should go. When we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we can be sure that the good and gracious will of God will be done. “What God ordains is always good.” That confession needs faith, because the “good” does not always appear obvious to our small, self-centered minds. Faith receives the promise, and when we pay attention to the Gospel of Grace the Spirit engenders faith in it. Thus it is wise for us to hear the Gospel often and be reminded as frequently as possible.

112. Eternal Comfort

Isaiah 51:12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass.

Many Biblical promises from God involve comfort:; God comforts. Apparently, we need comfort: it seems that mourning and sorrow is an integral part of the human condition. Because of sin, death and the devil we experience trouble, sorrow, sadness and mourning. Because of grace, forgiveness and life from Jesus we experience comfort. Jesus promises, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

God comforts. When God does the comforting you can be sure the comfort is real, deep, and abiding, and He applies it exactly and directly to our need. Our biggest problem is Sin and all the problems caused by sin. Something must be done about Sin; Sin must be dealt with. And so the Lord did: He became a human to suffer and die for our sin, so He could forgive us of sin. Then the Holy Spirit uses the Gospel to comfort us with this glorious message; and we are comforted.

The second issue we face is death. We are surely going to die, and while we wait for it many loved ones in our life die and we are separated. We are, all our lifetime, subject to death and the fear of death. So we mourn. If anyone ever died on you, you mourn the loss. The Spirit replaces the loss with the promise of life; He replaces the separation with the promise of resurrection and reunion; He replaces death with life; He replaces mourning with comfort; He replaces memory with hope.

With the comfort of the Lord we are no longer afraid of any man, nor are we afraid of anything mortal and temporary. Mortal men will die and are like grass that flourishes for a season and then perishes. We look to the things that are unseen, for the things that are not seen are eternal. This we can trust in. We trust in the Eternal God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And we are comforted.

111. Gladness and Joy

Isaiah 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

The Lord Himself will wipe the tears away from our eyes when we reach the Final State of eternity in the New Jerusalem. “Sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” This promise will come true then, but it is also true for now since Jesus came to the earth to bring joy to the world. While we live in this vale of tears we suffer with sorrow and mourning. Loved ones die, we are dying, heartaches and troubles surround us day and night. In the midst of life we are in death, but also, in the midst of death we are in life. The joyful life that is free from sorrow is with us and in us every time we hear the Gospel. 

The Gospel refreshes the soul with gladness and joy. Eternal joy is upon us who believe in Jesus Christ. This joy is eternal; it lasts forever, not like the momentary thrills and the temporary joys of life on earth. No party, no vacation, no weekend, no high lasts forever. We always crash afterward. But the everlasting joy that the redeemed enjoy fills them deeply today and lasts for millions of tomorrows. We are guaranteed gladness and joy forever after we die, but that kind of joy is presently ours right now. It is true that we live in two worlds: one is full of death and sorrow; the other is full of life and joy. By faith we may turn to the Lord any time and enter into the joy of the Lord. This joy is nearby; it is within reach; indeed, it is right within us, in our very belly, out of which flows the Spirit of joy.

We do live in depressing times; however, the promise of God is that sorrow and mourning shall flee away and be replaced with everlasting joy. Since we live in both worlds, both joy and sorrow are ever present. On which one will we focus our attention and our hope? Turn to the Lord, behold the glory, and be transformed. Why suffer sadness when joy is so close?

110. Know righteousness and salvation

Isaiah 51:7, 8 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their reviling. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.

The promise of righteousness and salvation is given to those who hearken. When we listen to the Lord, that is, when we hear and believe the Gospel (hear with faith), then we know righteousness. When we know righteousness we will not fear what people will say to us; we will have no fear of man. When we believe the Gospel we know righteousness and we have no fear.

The reproach and reviling of people, and the people themselves, will be eaten up and disappear like a moth or a worm eats up clothing. In other words, “this, too, shall pass.” We may extend the fear of what people will say to any fears we have, for any of the fears we face will fade away; they do not last. The only thing to fear is what lasts forever, God and His judgment of eternal death. At the end of the day, we fear not them that kill the body; we are not afraid of anything temporary. Our present life and this world are short, mortal, and will end. God’s life never ends. God’s righteousness shall be forever; God’s salvation goes on to every generation world without end. We learn to trust in and rely on whatever is permanent. The righteousness and salvation of God are eternal. This we have, and we know it. The certain good news of this promise is that the righteousness and salvation is by God, of God, and belongs to God; it is “my” righteousness and salvation.It does not depend even .00l% on us. It is all God. And God is forever. Salvation is not just once and done; it is over and over and again and again, always needed and never ending. And by the way, we will be forever young and strong, healthy and well, energetic and full of life. That is permanence.

109. Righteousness, Salvation, Judgment

Isaiah 51:5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.

God promises: righteousness is near; salvation has gone forth; His power will judge. All three promises are fulfilled when Jesus came to earth and finished His work.

The innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Jesus Christ has earned for us forgiveness of sins and has granted to us the righteousness of God by grace through faith. Now righteousness is near, as close as our mouth and our heart with which we confess and believe. We contact and obtain righteousness every time we repent and believe; it is that near and it is that simple. Whenever we worry and fret, doubt and wonder, become sad and depressed, feel overwhelmed and discouraged, then we may claim the near righteousness promised by the Lord. By sight and by experience we say, “I am a sinner.” By faith we assert, “I am righteous.” Use the promise and claim it when needed.

God’s salvation is gone forth when the Gospel is proclaimed and received. The Holy Spirit has the power to use the Gospel to generate, engender, and produce faith unto salvation. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. The salvation obtained by repentance and faith defeats the enemies of sin, death, and the devil. Salvation brings wholeness and healing. When we are broken and afflicted, even down and out, the Lord sends forth salvation from whatever is fighting against us and wearing us down. Salvation lifts us up, places us on the path, and sets us going.

God’s arms = God’s power. With His power the Lord will judge the people. We don’t like judgment, nor do we even like to talk about it, but it is truly a wonderful promise, for our sin and guilt, death and disease, Satan and his demons are judged. It is a good thing when bad things are judged and the good things of God are granted in their place. So judgment is good, since without it evil would run wild and we would be destroyed. Therefore, we thank God for His power to judge us. Listen to the thunder of the Law and receive the sweetness of the Gospel.

108. Comfort, Joy, Gladness

Isaiah 51:3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

Comfort is a common promise in the Scriptures. God is a God of Comfort; He promises to comfort us in all our afflictions. By the way, He also threatens to afflict the comfortable, that is, when we become too comfortable with our situation and begin to feel like we are OK in the world as it is. Then God gives the Law to convict us of Sin and lead us to repentance and faith in the Gospel. Comfortable means complacent: “I’m OK. I’m a good guy; I’m not that bad. I never intentionally hurt anybody.” After, and while, God afflicts the comfortable, He comforts the afflicted. God does not need to directly afflict us with troubles. Each day of life in this world has enough trouble of its own. But the Lord does need to convince us that it is our own sin and fault. That is why I have so much trouble. It’s Sin’s fault, but I am the Sinner. Then the Gospel comforts with forgiveness and life.

The Lord shall comfort His people, the Church. He will comfort all the waste places and wilderness areas of the heart. The waste places in the heart shall become like Eden and like the garden of the Lord. He promises joy and gladness to replace the emptiness and depression in the heart when we receive the Gospel with faith. Along with comfort come joy and gladness, thanksgiving and song. The heart is refreshed and renewed, and the response is thanks and praise, often expressed in song and melody in the heart. It is the Gospel that elicits such a response. It is the Gospel that comforts; it is the Gospel that brings joy and gladness; it is the Gospel that causes thanksgiving and song. When we rejoice with thanks and praise, sin and evil cannot reside in the same place nor exert devastating control of the heart. This is true comfort. Neither the world, nor other people, nor even our own self can give such a comfort that refreshes and changes the heart. And furthermore, no one but our own self-will can take away or diminish the Comfort of the Lord. Jesus is our Eternal Comfort, and we need His Comfort every day.

107. The Justifier is Near

Isaiah 50:8, 9 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

The Lord, through the Son, is a justifier and a contender, and He promises to do that for us. God justifies us and fights for us. This justifier is near to us, as near as our hearts and mouths. With the mouth we confess Jesus as Lord; with the heart we believe God raised Him from the dead, and we are saved, or justified.

This nearby justifier is fighting for us against our Enemy. The Enemies are overcome with the mouth and the heart, with confession and faith. The Adversary is near and they are fighting against me. So let him; the Lord is on my side and He will help me. Satan cannot condemn me, for he is already defeated. He has no right to accuse; no enemy can condemn me any longer. I simply open my mouth and open my heart; I proclaim Jesus is Lord by word and by faith. And the battle is won, finished, over. The devil must flee; sin is forgiven; death has no power.

With this knowledge and faith I may call upon the name of the Lord and I am saved. Whatever the threat, fear, worry, obstacle, problem, or obstruction that the Enemy throws up from day to day I overcome because my Justifier is near. He will fight for me and win. He will help me. This promise of salvation includes every specific issue I face.

106. Redeem and Deliver

Isaiah 50:2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water and dieth for thirst.

God’s promise to redeem and deliver is replete in the Scriptures. Here the rhetorical question the Lord asks is: “Am I able to redeem? Do I have the power to deliver?” The obvious answer is “Yes, of course.” The only other question, not asked in this verse, is “Do I want to redeem and deliver? Do I love you?” This answer is also obvious in other parts of Scripture. God can and he will redeem and deliver.

God’s proof is the Exodus crossing of the Red Sea. The Red Sea miracle and crossing is all the proof that is needed to answer the question. God says, “You saw it with your own eyes. You saw it through the retelling again and again, and through the celebration of the story every year at Passover. You were there. You were there by faith in the telling of this Gospel story.” The sea dried up and the fish died. Furthermore, the sea closed back up and Pharaoh’s warriors died.

This Exodus is a direct foreshadowing of the “Exodus” story of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is told and retold again and again. When it is told and you hear it, you believe it; you believe and believing is seeing. You were there, at the cross and the tomb.

So, you know: “I am able. And I did redeem and deliver.” The Lord redeemed us from kidnapping and slavery to Sin, Death and Satan. We are bought back and brought back to where we belong. The Lord delivered us from the authority of Sin, Death and Satan; the Enemies had a legal claim to our lives, until the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But now they no longer have a claim; we belong to the Lord. Only God, the Lord Jesus Christ, has the right to rule and the personal responsibility to our lives and our eternity. If you doubt it, go back to the Gospel story, listen and believe.

105. The Lord Fights for Us

Isaiah 49:25 But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

God promises to fight with those who fight with us. The Lord Jesus Christ has already fought with our Enemies (Sin, Death, Devil) and has overcome them. The Lord continues to fight for us: and this is the promise for us to believe in our daily lives. And Jesus will win the battle and the war at the end of the age (take a peek at the end of the book). As soon as we have been brought to faith in Christ we have been enlisted in Spiritual Warfare: our souls are the battleground between God and Satan, Good and Evil, Sin and Grace, Life and Death. The battle is finished, but the enemy tries to convince us not to believe it; he lies. We fight back with the Truth of the Gospel of Christ: God loves me because of Jesus. By faith in Christ we win the battles and we will win the War.

Meanwhile, we have this promise: the Lord contends with those who contend with us. He fights for us against those who fight against us. The entire Bible story from Genesis 3 to Revelation 20 can be read as a history of this spiritual warfare. We lose some battles, we win some battles, but we win the war in the end. The outcome is not in doubt, although we may doubt it during difficult times. That is why we have this promise. God fights for me.

God changed Jacob’s name to “Israel.” Israel can mean “fighting with God,” but a better meaning of the name is “God fights” for Jacob, and for all the believers in the God of Jacob. Believers trust in the promises of God which have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Israel is the Church of all believers. I am the Israel of God: God fights for me. And He wins.