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Tag: Isaiah

  • Disaster From Disobedience, A Savior From Before Eden – 1

    Disaster because of Disobedience

    Jeremiah 6:16 

    This is what the Lord says:

    Stand by the roadways and look.
    Ask about the ancient paths:
    Which is the way to what is good?
    Then take it
    and find rest for yourselves.
    But they protested, “We won’t!”

    Perhaps in these last days one might ask, who wants to hear from the Lord? Yet even now, as in the days of the Prophets and fall of Jerusalem, ‘We won’t.’

    Isaiah 41:1

    Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.

    Will we even seek the presence of the Lord in humility and silence? Though we claim His righteousness we speak judgment to the nations without counsel of His Word.

    Ezekiel 12:2

    “Son of man, you live among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear. For they are a rebellious people.

    Have we not heard these words before, “you with eyes to see, you with ears to hear?” Yet we also remain a rebellious house, a rebellious nation, a rebellious claimant of God’s favor.

    Why will we not seek God’s leading before the disaster by which the Lord will judge? What difference could it possibly make?

    Exodus 32:

    “Come, make us a god who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!”

    7 The Lord spoke to Moses: “Go down at once! For your people you brought up from the land of Egypt have acted corruptly. 8 They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them…

    9 The Lord also said to Moses: “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave Me alone, so that My anger can burn against them and I can destroy them… But Moses interceded:

    Turn from Your great anger and relent concerning this disaster planned for Your people. 13 Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel—

    The Writing on the wall

    The Lord has warned man, made in His Image, over the generations and millennia. 

    Prophets of the Lord have both pointed us backward toward our disobedience and forward to its consequences.

    Daniel 9:

    Ah, Lord—the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him and keep His commands— 5 we have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled, and turned away from Your commands and ordinances. 6 We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land.

    7 Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but this day public shame belongs to us…

    11 All Israel has broken Your law and turned away, refusing to obey You. The promised curse written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, has been poured out on us because we have sinned against Him… 13 Just as it is written in the law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not appeased the Lord our God by turning from our iniquities and paying attention to Your truth.

    14 So the Lord kept the disaster in mind and brought it on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all He has done. But we have not obeyed Him.

    Some indictment! Those who have claimed the Lord and righteousness have disobeyed the Lord God. Therefore God will judge our sin. Does the Lord our God not have this right – to judge sin and execute justice or show mercy?

    Grace of a Cross and Judgment of all Righteousness

    Some in these last days yet claim that disaster will not come upon us. Others claim that the Lord will not return. After all, it’s been a long time just like with Israel did not know what had happened to Moses.

    Many claim that Christ will tolerate false teaching and false prophets, that the Lord would not punish those who put their trust in the idols of our own desires.

    Yet if Jesus IS, if He IS the true and only Son of the Living God; how can the Lord not faithfully return in fulfillment of all Scripture?

    How can Jesus not return once more, when He IS risen and ascended and He has prophesied a glorious eternal new Kingdom?

    The Final Defeat of Satan

    Luke 9:

    18 While He was praying in private and His disciples were with Him, He asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” … 20 “But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am?” 

    Peter answered,

    “God’s Messiah!”

    21 But He strictly warned and instructed them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.”

    Luke 10:18

    He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning…

    John 8:

    21 Then He said to them again, “I’m going away; you will look for Me, and you will die in your sin. Where I’m going, you cannot come.” …

    25 “Who are You?” they questioned.

    “Precisely what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them…

    33 “We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered Him…

    34 Jesus responded, “I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin…

    42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I came from God and I am here…

    58 Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.”

    He IS before those who prophesied, before David and Moses and Abraham. Jesus IS before Eden and before Adam, created in His Very Image! 

    And as the Lord has promised, He will return. Sin and death will reign no more. All flesh living and dead will be judged and all souls will bow before Him, making account for our sins or proclaiming His own Sacrifice for those He loves.

    Jesus IS Lord. He has saved us from sin and death to dwell in His love forever and ever. 

    As these last days draw to a close, we will examine predictions of His certain return, God willing.

    To be continued…

     

  • That you may have Certainty – 7 – An outsider’s view from a Gentile

    That you may have Certainty – 7 – An outsider’s view from a Gentile

    That you may have Certainty in these Uncertain Times

    Our post-resurrection series is witness from the introduction of Luke-Acts and Jesus’ assurances to followers. In our previous post we pointed out: “The ultimate outsiders were Gentiles, and Luke emphasizes that God’s salvation extends even to them.” We began with a Hebrew view of a Gentile, noting that Prophets compared Jews who turned from the Lord to the Gentiles.

    Today we will view the meaning of Gentile in the first century context of Luke. Judea, Samaria and other Roman-ruled provinces had all spoken Greek since Alexander’s rule in third century before Christ. Therefore we’ll take a cultural view of the Gentile from a Hellenist or Greek usage.  (After all, most Greeks were considered Gentiles by Jews living in any land.)

    We ourselves are Jews by birth and not gentile sinners – Paul’s letter to the Galatians 2:15

    A Gentile in the time of Christ

    Luke, of course, was born a Gentile. Yet Luke does not refer to any person as “a gentile” and Christ’s only naming a person as a gentile makes connection to a groups of people.

    Matthew 18:17 ἐὰν δὲ παρακούσῃ αὐτῶν εἰπὲ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐὰν δὲ καὶ τῆς ἐκκλησίας παρακούσῃ ἔστω σοι ὥσπερ ὁ ἐθνικὸς καὶ ὁ τελώνης

    If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

    Matthew (a Jew and a tax collector) quotes Jesus’ instructions to the church (plural) about differences with individuals. Gentiles is a plural reference to nations not of Jewish heritage.

    ἔθνος – ethnos

    • a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together
    • a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus: the human family
    • a tribe, nation, people group
    • in the OT, foreign nations not worshiping the true God, pagans, Gentiles
    • Paul uses the term for Gentile Christians

    Strong’s Definitions 
    ἔθνος éthnos, eth’-nos; a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan):—Gentile, heathen, nation, people.

    Refer to someone as a gentile and we may not get it, but ethnos or ethnic we understand as culture.  Luke’s gospel is clear witness of the importance of Jesus to both Jew and Gentile.

    Luke 2:

    30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
    31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
    32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

    Luke expounds further on Jesus’ importance to the Nations (other ethnicities) in the Acts of the Apostles. Mathew’s gospel also addresses the ethnos of the Messiah and like Luke, also quoting a Prophet.

    Matthew 4:

    … he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

    15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
    the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
    16 the people dwelling in darkness
    have seen a great light,
    and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
    on them a light has dawned.”

    17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

    A Gentile not like us

    Therefore, gentiles (ethnos) are those not like us. Different skin color, different language, different food, a different culture and yes, different gods.

    The following excepts are take from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

    Gentiles – jen’-tilz (goy, plural goyim; ethnos, “people,” “nation”): Goy (or Goi) is rendered “Gentiles” in the King James Version in some 30 passages, but much more frequently “heathen,” and oftener still, “nation,” … commonly used for a non-Israelitish people…

    Under Old Testament regulations they were simply non-Israelites, not from the stock of Abraham, but they were not hated or despised for that reason, and were to be treated almost on a plane of equality, except certain tribes in Canaan…

    But as we approach the Christian era the attitude of the Jews toward the Gentiles changes, until we find, in New Testament times, the most extreme aversion, scorn and hatred. They were regarded as unclean… All children born of mixed marriages were bastards.

    If we inquire what the reason of this change was we shall find it in the conditions of the exiled Jews, who suffered the bitterest treatment at the hands of their Gentile captors and who, after their return and establishment in Judea, were in constant conflict with neighboring tribes and especially with the Greek rulers of Syria. The fierce persecution of Antiochus IV, who attempted to blot out their religion and Hellenize the Jews, and the desperate struggle for independence, created in them a burning patriotism and zeal for their faith which culminated in the rigid exclusiveness we see in later times.

    A Centurion’s Faith

    Perhaps the best illustration of Jesus’ love for the Gentiles comes from Luke’s story of an encounter initiated by genuine love of a Roman official for his Jewish servant. In it Jesus highlights an exemplary example of faith in this Gentile Roman.

    Jesus returns home to Capernaum after teaching the people in other places. A Roman Centurion had messengers waiting to see Jesus. The local Jews in Capernaum understand both the message and the reason for this Gentile Roman soldier wanting to see Jesus. They had been asked to have Jesus come to heal this man’s servant.

    Luke 7:

    6 And Jesus went with them.

    When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

    9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

    10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

    Jesus heals a Jewish servant of a Gentile (without even enter the servant’s room). Faith of the Roman Centurion illustrates the love of Jesus also, His great compassion. For the Jews of Capernaum had told Jesus of this man, ” “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.”

    The local Jews praise a Roman Gentile for building a place to worship to the Lord. Think about it. A Gentile man of faith has already stood before Capernaum as an example of a man who loved others. This Gentile meets the Lord Jesus, who heals one he loves.  Consequently Jesus says, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

    Our Gentile faith

    Jesus doesn’t look much like a Roman. For that matter our Lord does not look European or African or American. In so many ways Jesus does not look like other Jews or even Galileans. Yet He comes to you and encounters you personally.

    Will the Lord find such faith in me or in you, even though we differ in so many ways?

    In personal encounters with His followers for forty days Jesus has so much to tell Disciples now sent to all the nations. After His victorious Resurrection from the Cross of Sacrifice the Gospel is sent out not only to a faithful remnant of the Jews, but to the world.  Gentiles of the generations have this same faith until His certain return that we are chosen by the Lord, Christ Jesus.

    Isaiah 42:

    The Lord‘s Chosen Servant

    42 Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
        my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
    I have put my Spirit upon him;
        he will bring forth justice to the nations.
    2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
        or make it heard in the street;
    3 a bruised reed he will not break,
        and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
        he will faithfully bring forth justice.
    4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged
        till he has established justice in the earth;
        and the coastlands wait for his law.

    5 Thus says God, the Lord,
        who created the heavens and stretched them out,
        who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
    who gives breath to the people on it
        and spirit to those who walk in it:
    6 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
        I will take you by the hand and keep you;
    I will give you as a covenant for the people,
        a light for the nations,
    7     to open the eyes that are blind,
    to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
        from the prison those who sit in darkness.
    8 I am the Lord; that is my name;
        my glory I give to no other,
        nor my praise to carved idols.
    9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
        and new things I now declare;
    before they spring forth
        I tell you of them.”

    Faith’s Certainty in Christ

    Jesus will send the Holy Spirit of the Lord to dwell with men and women of faith. He sends out disciples, Jews and Gentiles, in faith. The Lord IS the Good News, the Gospel of Light to those with eyes to see. 

    A Day of His return, the judgment of all flesh and restoration of all righteousness draws near. Shall His wrath not justify making the end of all sin and death?

    Beloved believer, your sin and mine did cause His suffering and Sacrifice. Does your love for Jesus and faith anticipate the grace of His return?

    Jesus IS LORD! 

    May He draw us together into the glory of His eternal love.

    Amen.

  • That you may have Certainty – 6 – Gentiles

    That you may have Certainty – 6 – Gentiles

    “I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness,
    And will hold Your hand;
    I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
    As a light to the Gentiles…

    Behold, the former things have come to pass,
    And new things I declare;
    Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

    Isaiah 42:6,9 NKJV

    What is a Gentile?

    The NLT Study Bible’s introduction to the Gospel of Luke summarizes the perspective of Gentiles to the Jewish mind in this way:

    “The ultimate outsiders were Gentiles, and Luke emphasizes that God’s salvation extends even to them.”

    Jewish daily practices had been refined into an exclusionary culture of separation from Gentiles who observed worship from a distance. Have you ever entered a worship service and felt like an outsider? I have.

    We'll address a first century meaning in our next post, but first Isaiah's context from seven centuries before Christ.

    What makes Gentiles different from Jews?

    גּוֹי – gowy from the Hebrew – nation or people, usually of non-Hebrew people

    Although used generically as description of people from any nation, Gentile may be used as an insult to a foreigner. (Of course, no one today would do that, would we?)

    Hear Isaiah’s tone with this word (גּוֹי) here translated, ‘nations.’

    Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Isaiah 1:4

    Which one of the Nations does Isaiah address, which people to which the LORD is foreign to their lives?

    Isaiah speaks specifically to Judah and Jerusalem!

    Faithfulness to the LORD is what is supposed to separate Jews from Gentiles. The Prophet of God warns that because of their sin (iniquity), these Jews are no different than other nations.

    Does any of this have a contemporary ring?

    Like ‘sin,’  ‘iniquity’ is accusation too intolerant for ears of leaders unwilling to obey the Lord God.

    Iniquity – עָוֹן – `avon – perversity, depravity, guilt or punishment of iniquity

    Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth;
    for the LORD has spoken:
    “Children have I reared and brought up,
    but they have rebelled against me. – Isaiah 1:2

    By the time of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, Isaiah’s rebuke from the LORD fell on deaf ears of a broken Israel. But God’s warnings had been constant for Israel, then neglected by generations even back to Moses.

    Deuteronomy 8:

    “The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers…

    3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna… that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord… 19 And if you forget the Lord…

    20 Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.

    Nations, Gentiles (the same word): make yourself like them by turning from the Lord and you shall perish. As Isaiah concluded more than six centuries later: they are utterly estranged.

    Why does a Jewish Messiah matter to the Nations (Gentiles)?

    Zechariah 2:
    [circa 5th Century Before Christ]

    10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord.

    Were these the songs of Palm Sunday, praise from Jews and the Gentiles?

    11 And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.

    The Messiah, Jesus, Emmanuel, God With Us; here entering Zion (Jerusalem) and joining Himself also to the Gentiles. How will He do that? How will the Nations know that Jesus is sent also to them?

    12 And the Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.”

    Here gathered the Jews for a Passover festival in a Zion ruled by Gentiles. Romans, Greeks, people of the Nations all present for an event of witness. Yet the witness would be of a New Covenant of Blood on a Cross. Their witness would be of a resurrection and a new hope. The Gentiles were now joined to God in the Blood of the Messiah!

    13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

    To be continued…

    That you may have Certainty – 7 – An outsider’s view from a Gentile