Isaiah 54
COMMENTARY:
: 4 Fear not; for you shall not be ashamed: neither be you confounded; for you shall not be put to shame: for you shall forget the shame of your youth, and shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more. (3637 “confounded” [kalam] means to be humiliated, be ashamed. to be put to shame, be dishonored, or be confounded.)
DEVOTION: Once we become a follower of the LORD we have nothing to fear regarding our eternal state. We are promised a place in heaven. All those who are genuine followers of the LORD will be in heaven for eternity.
The LORD wants us to realize that HE is going to guide and direct us now as HE did through the Old Testament through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament they were given instructions on what it meant to be a follower of the LORD.
The nation of Israel had different commands than we do today. In the Old Testament there was a worship system that went through the tent in the wilderness and in the Temple after the nation was established.
The nation of Israel obeyed the LORD at times and at other times they had to be judged of the LORD for their actions. They even went into captivity at times to help them return to genuine worship of the LORD.
Today we find that many churches are not preaching the Word of God correctly and the LORD is going to have to deal with them. Those that genuinely preach and believe the Word of God will produce disciples that will honor the LORD with their words and actions. When they sin they will confess their sins and the LORD will restore them to blessings.
The nation of Israel in the Old Testament when through many trials because of their disobedience. Captivity by other nations was one of those trials. They are given promises that will happen in the future.
CHALLENGE: The people of God today are those who have genuinely accepted and follow the LORD in spirit and in truth. Those who are not following the LORD correctly will be judged for eternity. Genuine followers have nothing to fear today!
: 7 For a small moment have I forsaken you, but with great mercies will I gather you. (5800 “forsaken” [‘azab] means leave, leave off, leave behind, abandoned, to depart from, neglect, or let alone.)
DEVOTION: The relationship that the LORD has with HIS people is unique. HE gives HIS commandment to be followed and throughout the history of those who have been followers of HIM there have been times when each generation thinks they can go their own way without regard for the commands of the LORD.
When this happens the LORD allows even HIS people to face the consequences of their actions. Sometimes these consequences last for a short time or a long time from our human perspective.
Here we find that the LORD is allowing HIS people to go through a time period of chastening because of their disobedience. Those of us who read through the Scriptures see that the children of Israel were judged for forty years for rejecting the command to enter the Promised Land after they left Egypt. One whole generation except two individuals had to die before they could enter the Promised Land. To us it seems like a long time but to the LORD it is only a moment.
Our take on time periods when the LORD is chastening us seems to be so long but the LORD knows how long it will take for us to get back on the right path to follow HIM more closely.
HE never abandons HIS people forever. HE restores them at just the right time for them to have learned their lesson. Do you think that the LORD has abandon us during this time period in history? Does it seem that we are heading in the wrong direction as a nation? Could the LORD be judging us because of our attitude toward HIM?
There is going to be a gathering time in the future for the true followers of Jesus Christ. We need to live in the hope of the eternal life that is promised us in the Bible. We need to live with the facts that we deserve punishment for our sins. Christ paid the ultimate price for the sins of those who are HIS followers. We are still in this world to witness for HIM even during seeming bad times in our nation and world.
HE is a God of great mercy. We all deserve to be in the lake of fire for eternity but because of HIS love and sacrifice we can spend eternity with HIM in heaven. There is a gathering coming. Will you be one of those HE will gather to be with HIM in heaven? What is your present relationship with Jesus?
CHALLENGE: Obedience brings blessing. Are we obedient today?
: 8 In a little wrath I hid my face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you, says the LORD your Redeemer. (2617 “kindness” [hesed] means loving-kindness, mercy, goodness, favor, loyalty, loyal love, or devotion.)
DEVOTION: Throughout the Word of God we find that the LORD loves HIS people. It is not just an emotional love that some people show each other for a short time period. HE has a love for the children of Israel that lasts into eternity. HE will chasten them at times because of their sin but HE always promises that HE will restore them in the end.
Isaiah states this fact well in this verse. He conveys the fact that the wrath of God toward Israel is short lived. It is true Even though from a human perspective it lasted longer than we would like HIS wrath to come on us.
What we have to remember is that God lives in eternity and we live in time. Time seems to go on and on when we are in a time of chastening. Remember whom the LORD loves HE chastens. We are like children to HIM. HE believes that children should be disciplined by their parents. If the children don’t obey the parents they even have the right in the Old Testament to take them to the elders of the city they live in to stone them. That is harsh punishment but necessary to keep the rest of the children in line with obedience to their parents.
If children are not obeying their parents that they see, how will they obey a God that they don’t see? Obedient followers of the LORD will follow their human leaders who have been gifted by the Holy Spirit to move a church forward.
Yes, there are church leaders who are not obedient to the LORD. The LORD will deal with them. HE wants us to use HIS model that is presented in the New Testament to work through the local church for the glory of HIMSELF.
HE is our redeemer. HE paid the price necessary for us to be willing to be obedient servants of HIM. HE first loved us.
CHALLENGE: Face the fact that everyone is part of the family of God who repent and follow HIM. HE has an everlasting relationship with us.
: 17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. (5159 “heritage” [nachalah] means inherited, heirloom, estate, or possession.)
DEVOTION: Earlier in Isaiah we are told that the LORD wants to divorce HIS people because of their sin. HE is sending them into captivity because of their sin. HE also promises to restore them to their original position because HIS chosen SERVANT [Messiah] has come to take away their sin.
In this chapter we are told that their MAKER is their HUSBAND. Also they are told that HIS name is the LORD of hosts. HE is their REDEEMER. HE is the HOLY ONE of Israel. HE is the God of the whole earth. There is a restoration coming for HIS people.
At present there is a time of wrath. This time of wrath is just a little while from the LORD’S perspective. However, there is coming a time of everlasting kindness. This time HE will not depart again from the children of Israel. During this future time there will be teaching about the LORD. There will be a time of peace.
There still will be enemies against the people of God. They want to use any weapon in their arsenal to hurt the people of God. They will condemn every follower of God with every offence they can accuse them off in the world.
However, God has promised that anything they do will not prosper against them. Those that want to condemn the people of God will be judged. This is the possession of those who follow the LORD.
HIS servants are worshipers of HIM. As worshipers they have an inheritance of peace and prosperity in the future. During this time, they will demonstrate their relationship with the LORD by HIS righteousness being on them. We have no righteousness in ourselves. It all comes from the LORD. Let us honor HIM now.
CHALLENGE: Are you praying “Even so come LORD Jesus.” We should be. While we are waiting; we are serving.
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