"Destiny's Children"; Isaiah 28-30
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
November 1, 2014
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Introduction:November 1, 2014 "Destiny's Children" Isaiah 28-30 Chapters 28-35 are somewhat linked together to show the destruction of the Northern Kingdom, called Samaria, or in this case, Ephraim. Written before the fact, when Ephraim had made treaties with Damascus, the Samaritan leadership was heady with swaggering confidence that no matter what God thought, they were capable of prosperity and a bright future. The reader will glean a sense of arrogance and disregard for all that would demand holiness and righteousness of them. The Northern Tribes were ten in number and their attitude was, "Little Judah and Benjamin would just have to fend for themselves if invasion took place." Samaria had "covered its bases and fortified itself. It had a military alliance that would be deployed upon attack. Samaria had made strategic contracts and would be safe." God canceled the contracts! Similarly, the heads of Judah, and Jerusalem in particular, claimed immunity against invasion based on a "covenant with death." They rested on their "place in God." They pointed to deliverance by Divine Intervention as their strength while mimicking the arrogance of Ephraim. God negated their contract as well. (Many have done the same today!)Isaiah 28:14-15 Isaiah 28:18-21 Chapter Twenty-Eight is one of the great "stand alone" chapters in Isaiah. Therefore, the ones that follow may or may not relate to it. What is promised, in this set of verses, is enough to cause a quake in the corporate will and shaking in the legs of the most stalwart disbeliever, but not until "events" start happening. Neither the Northern or Southern Kingdoms wished to hear what the prophet was saying and offered their defense for their lifestyle while he was giving them "God's Word." It is possible to "drown out the messenger," but not diminish the validity of his prophecy. Ephraim chose to regard Isaiah's message as repetitious and without relevance. Within this prophecy are some "sealed" issues (Verses 2, 3, 6 & 22). Isaiah 28:2 It was as if the national attitude had become one voice. No objector stood their ground and called for a return to God and repentance. Even the prophets and priests were silenced by their own indulgences. Samaria had their own temple, their own phalanx of priests and their own set of prophets, all of which had been ordained by the establishment. Why should they listen to a man from Judah and Jerusalem whose message was against them? Isaiah 28:7-8 Drunk from the wine of self indulgence, who among them remained to teach and how could they teach the unteachable? Isaiah 28:13 Parallels are no doubt coursing the minds of those familiar with the national scenes of their own countries. Ephraim becomes the sad commentary of a world drunk with its own self aims. Yes, you too have heard that either Great Britain or America is spiritual Ephraim. In such a case, the coming judgment can only be certain and without deterrent. Within the walls of this chapter is a set of verse which Pentecostals have relegated to themselves. They have equated "stammering tongues" to "speaking in tongues." Isaiah 28:11-12 But, there are bigger "fish to fry." The following verses constitute some of the greatest passages about the coming King. This "Rock of Offense" has become the chief cornerstone, so Paul could make it clear that our communion is with Him. Isaiah 28:16-17 Let me stop a minute and shout! This "Rock of Offense Jesus" still calls for justice to be the measuring line and righteousness the plummet. Those who want His tenets to be something else will find their lamps are out when He comes again. There is no fence riding with a taut line. There is no variance, once the plumb -bob ceases its circle TDC (top dead center and straight) it calls for either correction or confidence.. OH CHURCH, it still does! Amos was right. Isaiah was right. Drinking with the world leads to disaster, and the cup of communion has no place with indulgence. Isaiah uses an example of a farmer for his final appeal. The farmer doesn't farm by the "seat of His pants;" he follows the rules that God sets out-- in order to have a bountiful crop. He keeps on following good principles through the stages of growth and when the harvest comes, he, again, is not foolish. FOLLOW THE PRINCIPLES OF GOD AND LISTEN TO HIS INSTRUCTION AND STOP THIS IRRATIONAL MADNESS. (The rhetorical answer is "NO," for His God teaches Him the rules of a successful farmer.)Isaiah 28:23 Isaiah 28:26 (Does the farmer keep doing the wrong things in spite of the results? No! Only the insane keep doing the same stupid actions and expecting a different conclusion. So, Ephraim and Jerusalem had best listen…this is advice from the Lord.) Isaiah 28:29 Isaiah declared he had heard from the Lord. Isaiah 28:22 In other words, do what He says in order to obtain His result: Isaiah 28:21 (Note: The Mt. Perazim reference in verse 21 means, "Master of the Break Through.") Chapter 29: I will open the discussion of this chapter by immediately turning to some verses toward the end of the treatise. The reason for doing this is it pictures the sad state of affairs that characterized Israel in that day. Justice was turned upside down. No one defended righteousness. No one lifted a hand to throttle a system that had grown "out of hand" in its deployment of force. Lonely stood the prophet whose head would be severed…lonely, but undefeatable in his stance for God. Look, how he takes "state-ism" to task with the point of a pen. Isaiah 29:20-21 Fear of reprisal and Fear of "religious incorrectness," characterized the day. Fears of one's neighbor turning him in to the authorities for a small infraction caused silence to prevail in the community. The same ones who made a man suffer over a "word (There are those who assist in these atrocities, they Watch for 'iniquity' and make a man an 'offender' for a wrong word. [Try Islamic republics. Try probation programs.])." Does this sound familiar, "Mr. Press?" Does this sound familiar, "Mr. Superintendent for the Assembly?" Does this sound familiar, "Mr.Keeper of the Daily News?" Sound familiar, church? BUT, there is light for God's people; there is provision for the saints. There is even hope for those who repent late and come to understanding about their sin. Isaiah 29:22-24 This is a remarkable passage. I believe it is an event which will yet happen. Let's examine now the path which leads to behavior deemed by God to warrant being "annihilated."
Chapter 30: (and continuing to chapter 31, in order to complete this thought.) Isaiah 30:1-2 (Few in the church have learned the power of the Spirit in determining all matters. How foolish are ventures that are initiated and advanced without Him.) America has gone to spiritual Egypt, and it is not from God! Isaiah 30:3 Chapter 30 is content rich. (We shall touch on some of the highlights.) An "Ezekiel" type of command is given Isaiah, which he carries out to the "nth." This command is to write the word of God on a tablet of stone, as well as, a parchment scroll. The rebellious could possibly burn the scroll, as occurred to Jeremiah, but never the stone. What is written in stone is forever. Isaiah 30:8-11 (Could "Easy Believe-ism" and Hyper-grace meet the qualifications of the prophet's invective? "Get out of the way! Turn aside from the path" simply means "stop standing in our way." Ever hear those words from a sovereign board? Ever hear those words from an Agency of government? These words get results. God hears!) Isaiah 30:12-13 (The similes of Isaiah, "Breach ready to fall;" "a bulge in a high wall," "a shard at the potters place," are graphic. All are without remedy. All are tenuous and unpredictable as to the moment of closure. They are the Humpty Dumpty's who cannot be put back together.) God speaks of opportunity past: Isaiah 30:15 But God looks upon His hurting children and says, like a Father, "Let me fix it." Isaiah 30:19 His is the epitome of a compassionate heart…He hurts along with His people: Isaiah 30:18 (Notice: there are two entities waiting.) I wrote a book, En Punto, based on the following passage and it is God's answer to a life of aimless living. Oh, that we might hear and obey the voice of the Spirit! Oh, that we might experience the joy of just following His guidance. THIS is a literal passage! Isaiah 30:20-21 (It is the Spirit who has the right to say, "Stop," "turn right or left," "Do this, but not that." We, who are His People, must learn to depend entirely on those commands, shutting out all other voices but His!) The subsequent verses tell of a life filled with prosperous abundance because a people listened when He spoke. It is summed with these words: Isaiah 30:26 Rule: God pays back disobedience with punishment, and it is often rather cruel in carriage. Isaiah 30:28 BUT HIS PEOPLE: Have a Song, and it's the, Mountain Song. Isaiah 30:29-30 (Joining in with His people, the Lord's voice can be heard…singing out judgment to the enemy. [Assyria's broken army had not yet been formed, yet their demise is prophesied along with Tophet's burning pyre.] Tophet was where Moloch sacrifices were made. God is going to sacrifice the Assyrian King and his army, so He digs a large grave for them. ) Last, there comes a rather striking passage that I believe is connected to the power and prowess of Worship. I have been editing a work, Notes on the glory of God, which addresses the interactive aspects in worship when a person enters the "glory of God." Isaiah 30:32 Around Jericho, through praise and worship, came the army of the Lord. For: The next song coming out of your spirit may be the one overcoming your greatest enemy or fear. Sing it!) Until Next month, Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD. |
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