Month: January 2020

155. An Everlasting Light

Isaiah 60:19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

The Lord promises to be for us an everlasting light and our glory. This will be true in the New Heaven and New Earth when there will be no need for sun or moon, for the light of God Himself will be ever present all day long and will be always more light than we would ever need. And, like life, it is eternal. This will be unusual for us since we are used to the sun being the source of light for all our physical needs. But when God created the universe the first thing He created was light, just light, before he even created the sun and stars and moon. God is the source of light. And this is another way of saying that God is all we ever need; He is the source of all good things, including light.

However, a further and deeper meaning involves the inner light, the spiritual light, which shines in the darkness of our souls. This truth shows us that we do not really need any of the things of this present world or the created things that God gives. The only thing we really need is God. Once we have Him He will give us everything we need to support this body and life. Light comes from God, Life comes from God, Provision comes from God, and indeed, everything comes from God. We don’t need the sun, but the Lord has chosen to give us light by the creation of the sun. Everything in Creation was given to us for our enjoyment, provision, protection, and sustenance. Therefore, we look to God alone for every good. He alone is the source of every blessing and good thing. The First Commandment sin is having another god before God; we must not worship, believe in, and look to any created thing for our good. Worship not any creature or any created thing, like the sun and moon. Trust God alone for Light, and Life, and any good thing you need. And what He gives is everlasting.

154. The Glory of the House

Isaiah 60:7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, andI will glorify the house of my glory.

Many different Gentile nations and peoples will come into the house of the Lord, the Church. This is fulfilled prophecy that many different tribes and nations and languages and peoples will be saved and come into the kingdom of life by faith in Jesus Christ. The Book of Revelation lists all these people groups inhabiting heaven and praising the Lord for eternity.

The promise here is that God says He will glorify the house of His glory. The house of God’s Glory is the Kingdom of God: on earth the kingdom includes all the believers in Christ who are presently apart of the invisible Church; in heaven the kingdom includes all the believers over all of history who will live with the Lord forever in the Eternal Kingdom of Glory.

The Lord promises to glorify the Church on earth. We don’t see the glory, and many of the churches we know about do not appear very glorious to our eyes. That does not mean God did not glorify it; it just means we can’t see the glory. But glory comes every time the Gospel is preached, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed, and the Sacraments are administered. Even though we don’t see it, we believe it because God promises: “I will glorify the house of my glory.” Where the Gospel is preached and shared with people there believers will be created; believers immediately become a part of the house of His glory. 

If we could see and feel the glory of the house we would have a different opinion of the churches we see and of the individual believers in the Church. They are filled with glory, because the Lord promised to glorify it. If we could only see the glory shining on another Christian our respect and regard for them would certainly change. Even if we could see the glory in our own selves we would feel differently about life than we often do. But faith does see the glory. Faith believes that I myself and other believers are filled with the glory of God. It would also be helpful for us to see the potential glory of those who are not yet believers.

It is easy to love the glory of God, to bask in it, to enjoy its beauty, and be overwhelmed with the loving presence of God. That is, it would be easy if we could believe the promise and see it by faith. Unfortunately, our sin and the sins of others cloud our vision, and so we cannot see clearly. Daily repentance and faith in the Gospel sharpens our focus and clears our vision. Faith sees the glory. And so we pray, “Thy kingdom come.” There is life-changing power in that prayer.

153. Light and Glory

Isaiah 60:1, 2 Arise, shine; for thy light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

God promises light and glory. Light and glory has come with the birth of Jesus of Nazareth on the earth. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Darkness covers all the earth and deep darkness all the people of earth. The sun, moon and stars give and reflect light to the world, but spiritually the people are living in darkness inside in the soul. Humans are blinded by sin and spiritually cannot even see the darkness they are in. They are blind but they think they see. They do not have the light of the Lord and since they haven’t seen the light they cannot know the darkness.

But God says we are in darkness, and so we are. There is no use arguing with God about this fact. We can only call out for the Lord and for the light and He will come. When He comes He brings light. Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. Jesus is the Light. He has penetrated the darkness that covers and fills the soul. The darkness has been pushed back; darkness has no power. When light shines darkness disappears. 

When we find ourselves in darkness, and we cannot see and don’t know what to do or where to go we may turn to the light that has come. Repentance senses the darkness while faith sees the light. When we believe the Gospel light arises and shines. The darkness is gone but it doesn’t want to leave, so it lies and tempts and deceives us into believing that the only thing real is the thing we can see with our physical eyes. The Word of God says, “But you don’t see. Let the Light shine. Believe the Gospel Light of Jesus Christ.”

The true light was coming into the world. This promise was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. The world, still in darkness, did not receive Him, but to all who did receive Him, who believe in Him, He gave the right to become children of God. We who did hear and believe this glorious message have received Him and now we see. And we need to receive Jesus again and again, over and over, and day after day, because we are always in darkness and at the same time always in light. In the midst of death we are in life. When we receive Him the glory of God will be seen on us. We do not see the glory, but God does see the glory on you and in you, and He rejoices to see the star. Let the light rise and shine upon you.

152. Spirit and Word not Depart

Isaiah 59:21 As for me, this my covenant with them, saith the Lord, My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.

The Word and the Spirit are equally important in converting the person, sanctifying the soul, and making salvation effective in the individual believer. The Spirit uses the Word to create faith, to justify, and to sanctify. The Word depends on the Spirit to reach the soul with life-changing impact.

The Lord sends forth His Word to accomplish Salvation and Redemption, and it will always accomplish the purpose for which He sent it. The Lord sends forth the Spirit with the Word to make it alive and reach the goal of forgiveness and salvation. The Spirit applies the Word of Law to convict of sin and prepare the heart to believe the saving Gospel. Then the Spirit applies the Word of Gospel to change lives forever. The Word has profound and eternal meaning; the Spirit makes it meaningful, real, and personal. 

Without the Spirit the Word can be distorted by human sin and faulty reasoning. The life-giving Word can become a dead letter, treated like a scientific object without spiritual life. And without the Word the Spirit can be empty of meaning or substance, and humans can get carried away and drift away by every wind of doctrine subjectively believing false teachings.

But God promiseS us both Word and Spirit to unerringly put us on the path of truth and life. This Word and Spirit were put in the mouth of Jesus, who is the Word of God. Jesus says, “My words are spirit and they are life.” This Word and Spirit shall never depart from the Servant, ever. That same Word and Spirit continues in and will not depart from His Seed or from the mouth of His seed’s seed. The seed of Christ includes all those who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. His seed is the Apostles and Prophets who are inspired by the Spirit to write the Word. His seed’s seed is us who read and hear the Word written by the Spirit and transmitted to our ears and hearts by the Spirit. This very Word and Sprit will never depart from us forever. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the words of the Lord will never pass away. Every Word that the Spirit has implanted in our hearts lasts forever. Our bodies and our earthly lives are temporary and will pass away, but the engrafted Word dwells in us and will be with us in eternity. This eternal promise is ours.

151. Redeemer

Isaiah 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the lord.

The Redeemer is the Anointed Servant of the Lord who will come to the people of God on the earth. Jesus comes to the Church to redeem them. The Christ is our Redeemer. We have been redeemed! Jesus entered Israel, the called out people of God, as Israel and for Israel, in order to redeem them and all other people who will turn from sin. 

The Redemption accomplished by the Redeemer is effective and powerful for those who repent and believe. They repent of sin and believe in the Redeemer. Those who turn to God and believe His promise are actually redeemed. We have been enslaved by Sin, kidnapped by Satan, and tyrannized by Death. But the Redeemer has paid the price and bought all sinners back from these enemies. These enemies have no effective power to hold us any longer.

Not only have we been redeemed from, but we have also been redeemed for. We were bought back so that we may truly belong to the Lord and be a complete member of the family of God. As sons, not slaves, we have privileges and rights, and we are heirs of everything that is God’s. Belonging to God is a big deal; being heirs of the Kingdom is a big deal. God shares His Life and all His goodness with us. This is what redemption promises and provides. Faith rejoices in the gifts and blessings of the Lord. 

Since God sent a Redeemer to redeem us He has taken upon Himself the responsibility for our life and wellbeing for time and for eternity. When we repent and believe we have effectively turned all of our life and cares over to the Lord. Now He has them and He is working out the solutions for our problems. Yes, the Redeemer will come to us.

150. A Standard against the Enemy

Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

The Lord promises us a standard against the Enemy. The Spirit of the Lord will lift up this standard against Him. The Enemy is a personal real person, not an idea or a force. The Devil is the personal enemy who comes in like a flood seeking to sweep us away into oblivion. Death is a personal entity that takes away life; Death is the last enemy to be defeated, and so he will be at the end of the age. Sin is the ever-present enemy attempting to bring us down and keep us away from God. Sin entered through Adam, Eve, and Cain. Sin is pictured as “crouching at the door…its desire is for you.” Cain is told, “You must rule over it.” All people have failed to rule over Sin until the One Sinless Man came to earth and ruled over Sin forever for all of us.

Sinful human beings, like us, cannot clearly see Sin crouching or Satan coming in like a flood; so we get caught unawares and suddenly we find ourselves in a mess. Therefore, the Lord reveals to us what is really going on: Sin crouches, Death kills, and Satan floods. The Lord also reveals that a Standard will stop the enemies from destroying us. The Spirit of the Lord blew and the Red Sea opened up a way where there was no way for His people; then the waters rushed back and drowned the charging enemy army. 

The Standard is the Cross, where the wind of the Spirit blew away the Enemy, and “the Flood” of destruction ended up destroying him. In Revelation 12 the Serpent is shown spewing a river of water out of his mouth after the woman, but the earth opened and swallowed up the flood. These fantastic pictures reveal to us what is really going on in the heavenly realm: The Enemy is stopped! This reality occurs every time we pray and believe, “Deliver us from evil.” Pray it; believe it; God does it.

The Dragon continues to make war on us, but we have a promise of victory, repeated for us many times and many ways in the Scriptures. The promise is sure, and because of God’s promise we can stand. Ephesians 6 tells us: “stand against the schemes of the devil. Stand therefore.” We have a standard.

149. Salvation and Righteousness of God

Isaiah 59:16, 17 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

The Lord looked over the earth and could find no one who was able to intercede and bring people to God. So He had to do it Himself: God Himself came to earth and became a human being, but without sin. God loved the world in this way: He sent His Son. His arm brought salvation unto him = God’s power saved people. The power of God unto salvation is the Gospel. The Gospel is the arm (power) that forgives, saves, and gives eternal life. Salvation belongs to God: it is His idea, His initiative, His implementation, and His success. God did it; God did it all.

The righteousness of God carried out the salvation needed to bring people to Himself. God could find no righteousness on earth. No one is righteous, no, not one. Therefore, the Lord had to bring His own righteousness to the earth, and through the merits of Jesus Christ He freely gave His own righteousness to those who believe the Gospel. If we had to trust our own righteousness, of course, we would be lost and have no hope of salvation. But we can trust the righteousness of God: it is more than good enough to grant forgiveness and salvation. “His righteousness sustained him.” 

The Lord uses the armor metaphor to help us understand what He has done for us. Righteousness is a breastplate: salvation is a helmet; vengeance is clothes; and zeal is a cloak. This armor is given to us to put on every day, according to Ephesians 6. We wear the breastplate of righteousness so that nothing can penetrate into our heart and vital organs; we cannot be wounded or put to death. We wear the helmet of salvation so that the brain is protected from deadly injury; nothing can harm us for the proclamation is sure, “I am saved.” Vengeance is the clothing we wear, meaning that vengeance and punishment of sin, death, and the devil are rendered impotent to do us harm. Vengeance upon the Enemy is our protection. The coat to keep us alive and warm is the zeal, or fire, of the Holy Spirit. We are zealous, even jealous, for the Lord. God loves us with a zealous (fiery) love and a jealous (allowing no rivals) protection.

The promise of righteousness and salvation is abundantly clear in the NT unfolding of the promise in the person of Jesus Christ. We cannot be more safely secure with any other hope of salvation.

148. Delight in the Lord

Isaiah 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

The Lord is my delight; He is pleasantness; He is the source of all joy; He fills me with gladness; and so on. Not only is it true that, “I delight myself I the Lord,” but this is a promise from God. God promises: “You will find delight in the Lord, and you will rejoice in Him.” But this is a conditional promise in Isaiah 58. The condition is prayer and fasting, but not the outward ritual of giving, praying and fasting: this is condemned by Jesus in Matthew 6:2, 5, 16. It is honest and heartfelt repentance, being convicted of sinfulness by the Word and Spirit, and believing in the forgiveness of sins by grace in Christ. Thus the condition is seeking the Lord with an honest and good heart through repentance and faith in the Gospel. We do not seek the joy and thrill, although when the condition is met, joys and thrills will come according to God’s will and promise.

Joy is a promise; it is pleasant result of believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The delight is not always in the emotions, but it is guaranteed to be present, deeply abiding in the heart. He promises that we shall “ride upon the high places of the earth.” This is a metaphor for the soul soaring above the circumstances of life on earth surrounded by sin and death. The Lord will lift our spirits, and He gives us a new perspective on life when we look at it from God’s point of view. He can see things in the invisible world and in the future age that we cannot see, except by faith in the revelation of the Word of God. We will indeed soar like eagles, and when we see our life from God’s perspective the things that drag us down look a lot different. The sin that besets is forgiven; the death that frightens is defeated; the devil that lies is overcome. A secondary meaning of “high places” is that we ride over and defeat the evil spirits and demon gods that are worshiped on the high places. Jesus is Lord of all, and He tramples on all the enemies that pull us down.

The Lord also promises to feed us with the inheritance of God’s people. This inheritance is the spiritual and eternal kingdom of God, where the Lord’s gracious and beneficent reign holds sway in our lives and hearts. All the promises given to Abraham and Jacob have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the incarnation of the love and promises of God. We confess Jesus is Lord, we submit to His Kingship, and we pray “Thy kingdom come.” To pray this prayer is to deny oneself and my own way, and trust the Lord to do the right thing in every aspect of life. We need faith to see that this will mean nothing but good for us. So we pray and believe this petition.

147. Guidance, Satisfaction, Refreshment

Isaiah 58:11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Here are some amazing promises of the Good Shepherd’s love and care for us. The Lord promises to guide us to still waters and green pastures continually. He will never stop leading us onto the pleasant path. The guidance of the Lord Jesus Christ never fails us. Sin leads us astray and leaves us lost in a wilderness of worry and stress. While we might mistakenly blame God for our predicament, He still loves us, searches for us, finds us and brings us back to the good and safe place. We will go astray and lose the Way, but The Guide knows, cares, finds, and restores.

Sometimes we experience spiritually dry periods, but during the drought the Lord will satisfy the soul. In any and every condition we can always be content, satisfied, fat, full, and happy. Our outward circumstances may make us spiritually poor, empty and unfulfilled. When the world, the devil and our flesh cause us to be hungry, thirsty and empty in the soul, it is time to turn to the Lord in repentance and faith: He will satisfy the soul and make fat the bones. “Fat” is a Biblical metaphor for luxurious fullness, actually having more than we really need. The Lord is extravagant in forgiveness, love, and kindness, always providing even more than the basics of life and health of the soul. We don’t deserve it and we didn’t work for it, but Jesus earned it for us, and from His bursting store of grace He abundantly provides. The Gospel is “for us” all the time.

The refreshments of the Spirit are often likened to fresh and flowing water. The Holy Spirit is like constantly flowing rivers of living water flowing out of the belly. By faith we live in a lush and beautiful garden with a constant irrigation stream of goodness and mercy all the days of our life and forever after. Though we are always close to living is parched and dry conditions, we are promised fresh flowing life-giving water for the soul. Listen to the Gospel Word and believe the promises.

146. Light in the Dark Soul

Isaiah 58:10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day.

The light that rises in the soul shrouded in obscurity and darkness is a conditional promise for those who feed the hungry and help the afflicted. This conditional promise is simply: if you care for the hungry and afflicted, then light will shine in the dark soul and the darkness will flee.

“Draw out thy soul” has the same meaning as “your heart goes out.” That simply means that the life and spirit of God within the believer cares about and seeks to help take care of the poor and hungry. God cares about and cares for the humble, poor, hungry and afflicted. It is the Lord who gives us such a heart. 

This kind of “caring about the afflicted” is the kind of heart that Jesus refers to during the final judgment of the sheep and goats: “Inasmuch as ye have done to the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me. [Matthew 25:40]” The outward evidence of an inward faith that saves is caring for the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick and in prison. This behavior shows a heart that has been changed by faith in Christ. It is still faith that saves, but it is works that give evidence to it. According to James, it is not dead faith, but faith that is alive and actually does things that saves. Once the heart is changed by faith the new person “satisfies the afflicted soul.”

The promise is that day or night, in light or in darkness of soul, in good times or bad, in smooth or rough times, in comfort or in difficulty, light will rise in the soul; all the time it will be high noon. Every soul is afflicted with something, and everyone you know is facing a struggle; therefore, we are kind to all, for every person is in need. It is a well-known fact and an often-preached sermon that the giver receives greater blessing than the receiver. It is often said that one way out of depression is to focus on being kind and doing good to another person. This is the promise: light will rise. We may not see the blessing right away, but it is still true. The afflicted soul becomes the blessed soul.