August 12, 2011
But then once again the focus shifts and God clearly lays out His anger and judgment. "His anger is like a fire with thick clouds of smoke. His mouth is filled with anger, his tongue like a burning fire. His breath is like a rushing river, which rises to the throat. He will judge the nations as if he is sifting them through the strainer of destruction. He will place in their mouths a bit that will lead them the wrong way." Cross Reference Isaiah 37:29 - "Because you rage against me, and because I have heard your proud words, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth. Then I will force you to leave my country the same way you came."
Strong words. We don't like to think about the anger and judgment of God. We prefer to think about God's love and grace. It is God's love and grace that requires justice and His anger and judgment. To have one without the other would be meaningless—a watered down, valueless religion. Why was it necessary for Christ to die on the cross for our salvation if all is "feel good" do whatever you want, love and grace? Christ's death was to save us from something as well as to give us something.
God is patient, kind, and loving beyond our comprehension. He is also a just God, which demands His anger and judgment. The Bible uses so many word pictures. His anger is like a raging fire with thick clouds of smoke. In my mind I see the picture of a forest fire, consuming everything in sight and uncontrollable. God's anger is also described as a rushing river, rising and again uncontainable or controllable. In verse 13 & 14 Isaiah talks about the utter destruction that will happen because of their refusal to obey Him. Verse 28 talks about sifting them through the strainer of destruction. Utter and total devastation. No getting away from it. God's timetable. God's plan. No avoiding it.
And then another word picture. "He will place in their mouths a bit... my hook in your nose." A horse or bull can be totally controlled by a bit in their mouth or a hook in their nose. They may try to fight against it at first but they cannot continue to battle against it, they must surrender to it. God's will WILL be done. We can try to fight it, but it is a useless battle. God's will WILL be done. How much better to willingly surrender and submit our will to God's authority rather than to face judgment and go through the pain of destruction and God's anger at our refusal to obey Him.
Isaiah 30:29 - When you go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel, you will find happiness. God is our strength. The Psalm/song "God is our refuge. God is our strength. A very present help in trouble... therefore I will not fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be buried into the midst of the sea" comes to mind. When we go to God HE is our strong tower of safety.
Isaiah 30:30 - All will know it is/was God. Pharaoh never surrendered, but in the end he knew that Israel's God was THE LORD.
Isaiah 30:31–33 - Assyria. Strong and mighty Assyria who did things their own way, who rejected God's ways, who refused to listen—will be afraid when it hears the voice of the LORD. They finally "get it," but it is too late. The punishment has been set. It is when the punishment happens, not if. The plan is in place. Topheth—a place where garbage and criminals were disposed of, has been prepared. (CF - Jeremiah 7:32) The LORD will punish Assyria with a rod, to the sound of music from harps and tambourines, the very things we associate with praising God. He will fight against them with His mighty weapons. "The LORD's breath will come and set it on fire."
God IS a God of love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. He is also a God of justice, fairness, anger, and judgment. We get to choose which attributes of God we will receive. He wants us to be His children. He longs for us to surrender to Him. He does everything in His power to facilitate that. He pursues us. He allows things and brings situations into our lives to draw us to Him. Over and over He says, "Come to me." But there is one thing He cannot and will not do. He will not force us to accept Him as Savior. It is our choice. It must always be our choice. One day all will know, but not all will surrender their will and accept His salvation. All will acknowledge Him (every knee will bow) but not all will be saved. Our will must be surrendered to His will. When we surrender we have salvation, peace, joy, contentment—no matter what.
Wow! ALL this (ten plus pages in my journal) on Chapter 30 of Isaiah. And in September of '07, I thought it was Greek. Isaiah 30 boils down to this: You have a choice. Follow me—I will show you mercy; I will guide you; and I will bless you. Refuse to follow me and my teachings—and a day of judgment and utter destruction will come.
Isaiah 31 starts out with, "How terrible it will be" for those who go to other people for help instead of going to God; who think they can save themselves; who rely on their own (supposed) strength and power for their salvation. Verse 1 - "They don't trust God... or ask the LORD for help." Verse 2 - "But he is wise and can bring them disaster. He does not change his warnings. He will rise up and fight against the evil people and against those who try to help evil people." They just don't get it.
"Man" cannot help. Man's "things" (Verse 3 - horses are only animals and are not spirit) cannot help. "The LORD will stretch out his arm, and the one who helps will stumble, and the people who wanted help will fall. All of them will be destroyed together." Trying to rely on self or others is useless. Only the LORD can be/is your salvation. An alliance with others (without God) cannot stand up to THE LORD. All will be held accountable. Both those who sought help from others and those who encouraged them to seek man's help or promised them help instead of going to THE LORD for His help.
Nothing (no power of hell or scheme of man) can prevent God from accomplishing His plan. Nothing. (Verse 4–5) Then in Verse 6 God once again pleads for them to come back to the God they fought against. Because what He has said—will happen. Assyria will be defeated by a sword but not man's sword. Assyria will be defeated by the sword of God. They will be caught. They will panic. Their protection will be destroyed. They will be terrified when they see God's battle flag.
Addendum: 5/11/15 ~ Isaiah 28:1–31:9 is a contrast of choices/paths with sharply contrasting results.
The choice of stubbornness: "These people are like children who lie and refuse to obey; they refuse to listen to the LORD's teachings. They tell the seers, "Don't see any more visions!" They say to the prophets, "Don't tell us the truth! Say things that will make us feel good; see only good things for us. Stop blocking our path. Get out of our way. Stop telling us about God, the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 30:9–11) A complete refusal to surrender to God's control—which leads to a life of misery and eventually utter destruction.
The choice of surrender: "The LORD wants to show his mercy to you. He wants to rise and comfort you. The LORD is a fair God, and everyone who waits for his help will be happy." (Isaiah 30:18) Total submission—which leads to a life of peace, joy, and contentment.
Our choice has been made. We will follow Him no matter where His path leads.
Next Entry: Isaiah 32:1 – 35:10
But then once again the focus shifts and God clearly lays out His anger and judgment. "His anger is like a fire with thick clouds of smoke. His mouth is filled with anger, his tongue like a burning fire. His breath is like a rushing river, which rises to the throat. He will judge the nations as if he is sifting them through the strainer of destruction. He will place in their mouths a bit that will lead them the wrong way." Cross Reference Isaiah 37:29 - "Because you rage against me, and because I have heard your proud words, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth. Then I will force you to leave my country the same way you came."
Strong words. We don't like to think about the anger and judgment of God. We prefer to think about God's love and grace. It is God's love and grace that requires justice and His anger and judgment. To have one without the other would be meaningless—a watered down, valueless religion. Why was it necessary for Christ to die on the cross for our salvation if all is "feel good" do whatever you want, love and grace? Christ's death was to save us from something as well as to give us something.
God is patient, kind, and loving beyond our comprehension. He is also a just God, which demands His anger and judgment. The Bible uses so many word pictures. His anger is like a raging fire with thick clouds of smoke. In my mind I see the picture of a forest fire, consuming everything in sight and uncontrollable. God's anger is also described as a rushing river, rising and again uncontainable or controllable. In verse 13 & 14 Isaiah talks about the utter destruction that will happen because of their refusal to obey Him. Verse 28 talks about sifting them through the strainer of destruction. Utter and total devastation. No getting away from it. God's timetable. God's plan. No avoiding it.
And then another word picture. "He will place in their mouths a bit... my hook in your nose." A horse or bull can be totally controlled by a bit in their mouth or a hook in their nose. They may try to fight against it at first but they cannot continue to battle against it, they must surrender to it. God's will WILL be done. We can try to fight it, but it is a useless battle. God's will WILL be done. How much better to willingly surrender and submit our will to God's authority rather than to face judgment and go through the pain of destruction and God's anger at our refusal to obey Him.
Isaiah 30:29 - When you go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel, you will find happiness. God is our strength. The Psalm/song "God is our refuge. God is our strength. A very present help in trouble... therefore I will not fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be buried into the midst of the sea" comes to mind. When we go to God HE is our strong tower of safety.
Isaiah 30:30 - All will know it is/was God. Pharaoh never surrendered, but in the end he knew that Israel's God was THE LORD.
Isaiah 30:31–33 - Assyria. Strong and mighty Assyria who did things their own way, who rejected God's ways, who refused to listen—will be afraid when it hears the voice of the LORD. They finally "get it," but it is too late. The punishment has been set. It is when the punishment happens, not if. The plan is in place. Topheth—a place where garbage and criminals were disposed of, has been prepared. (CF - Jeremiah 7:32) The LORD will punish Assyria with a rod, to the sound of music from harps and tambourines, the very things we associate with praising God. He will fight against them with His mighty weapons. "The LORD's breath will come and set it on fire."
God IS a God of love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. He is also a God of justice, fairness, anger, and judgment. We get to choose which attributes of God we will receive. He wants us to be His children. He longs for us to surrender to Him. He does everything in His power to facilitate that. He pursues us. He allows things and brings situations into our lives to draw us to Him. Over and over He says, "Come to me." But there is one thing He cannot and will not do. He will not force us to accept Him as Savior. It is our choice. It must always be our choice. One day all will know, but not all will surrender their will and accept His salvation. All will acknowledge Him (every knee will bow) but not all will be saved. Our will must be surrendered to His will. When we surrender we have salvation, peace, joy, contentment—no matter what.
Wow! ALL this (ten plus pages in my journal) on Chapter 30 of Isaiah. And in September of '07, I thought it was Greek. Isaiah 30 boils down to this: You have a choice. Follow me—I will show you mercy; I will guide you; and I will bless you. Refuse to follow me and my teachings—and a day of judgment and utter destruction will come.
Isaiah 31 starts out with, "How terrible it will be" for those who go to other people for help instead of going to God; who think they can save themselves; who rely on their own (supposed) strength and power for their salvation. Verse 1 - "They don't trust God... or ask the LORD for help." Verse 2 - "But he is wise and can bring them disaster. He does not change his warnings. He will rise up and fight against the evil people and against those who try to help evil people." They just don't get it.
God
↓
Man
"Man" cannot help. Man's "things" (Verse 3 - horses are only animals and are not spirit) cannot help. "The LORD will stretch out his arm, and the one who helps will stumble, and the people who wanted help will fall. All of them will be destroyed together." Trying to rely on self or others is useless. Only the LORD can be/is your salvation. An alliance with others (without God) cannot stand up to THE LORD. All will be held accountable. Both those who sought help from others and those who encouraged them to seek man's help or promised them help instead of going to THE LORD for His help.
Nothing (no power of hell or scheme of man) can prevent God from accomplishing His plan. Nothing. (Verse 4–5) Then in Verse 6 God once again pleads for them to come back to the God they fought against. Because what He has said—will happen. Assyria will be defeated by a sword but not man's sword. Assyria will be defeated by the sword of God. They will be caught. They will panic. Their protection will be destroyed. They will be terrified when they see God's battle flag.
Addendum: 5/11/15 ~ Isaiah 28:1–31:9 is a contrast of choices/paths with sharply contrasting results.
The choice of stubbornness: "These people are like children who lie and refuse to obey; they refuse to listen to the LORD's teachings. They tell the seers, "Don't see any more visions!" They say to the prophets, "Don't tell us the truth! Say things that will make us feel good; see only good things for us. Stop blocking our path. Get out of our way. Stop telling us about God, the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 30:9–11) A complete refusal to surrender to God's control—which leads to a life of misery and eventually utter destruction.
The choice of surrender: "The LORD wants to show his mercy to you. He wants to rise and comfort you. The LORD is a fair God, and everyone who waits for his help will be happy." (Isaiah 30:18) Total submission—which leads to a life of peace, joy, and contentment.
Our choice has been made. We will follow Him no matter where His path leads.
Next Entry: Isaiah 32:1 – 35:10
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