CONTINUING WITH ISA 28<\/p>\n
ONE THING ABOUT \u201cBUNNY TRAILS\u201d \u2013 they sort of are Bunny Trails, and they sort of aren\u2019t. The word of God best testifies of itself, and is best understood in context of itself. <\/p>\n
God is consistent in His personality. That personality is multi-faceted, but it is consistent. For example, God has never NOT judged sin. Also, God has never taken pleasure in the destruction of anyone. He is always righteous, fair, equitable, just, and holy. Much of how we see Him operate is in direct response to how man conducts himself. <\/p>\n
This psalm, by warrior-king David, reveals the nature of God, the faithfulness of God, and often which side of the Lord people might experience: <\/p>\n
AND REMEMBER, DAVID KNEW HIS OWN TROUBLES AND PROPENSITIES \u2013 so when he is speaking of his own righteousness, he is speaking of his own righteousness IN GOD, and by the grace of God. <\/p>\n
Psalms 18:22-30<\/strong> David is writing about ALIGNMENT-LIVING. This is our goal. <\/p>\n And we, as Paul told us, are blessed to have the words and accounts of the OT \u2013 \u201cwritten for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages has come\u201d.<\/em> (1 Cor 10:11)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n So the BUNNY TRAILS are actually digressions to get to us other scenarios of scriptures that align w what we are looking into in Isaiah, and also confirm the outlook we are developing. <\/p>\n ONCE AGAIN \u2013 as students of scripture we want to make sure our doctrines and convictions don\u2019t simply hinge upon a few choice verses and then rage against the fullness of the message of the entire story of God. It all wants to work together. <\/p>\n Tonight, for example, we\u2019ll be looking into the book of Haggai \u2013 a short book post-exilic book \u2013 written after the people had been set free from the 70 year captivity. That book will reveal a great side of God, and will also confirm some of God\u2019s personality traits that we see Him displaying about a 100 years earlier, in the portions of Isaiah we are reading. <\/p>\n And we\u2019ll also take a tour of chapter 8 in Ezekiel, which was written DURING the Captivity \u2013 because there are coordinated elements between that account and Isaiah. <\/p>\n This starts making the WHOLE BOOK cohesive \u2013 as we start seeing parallels in God\u2019s ways. This is good. This is one of the \u201cGLORY IN THIS\u201d kind of things \u2013 that we are learning to understand God\u2019s ways better, and clearer. So the Bunny Trails have divine purpose. REMEMBER we read this early on \u2013 we are told what to glory in (or rejoice in) and then we\u2019re told of the characteristics of God that we would do well to recognize as being descriptive of His personality, on His heart, and part of His intent: And then Jeremiah goes on to also confirm what we are learning in the Isaiah Apocalypse \u2013 that God will be going after everyone, both Jew and Gentile. He is at war against everything that stands in the way of perfect love: <\/p>\n Isa 28:11 – back-tracking a little because I want to tell a great story I heard after our meeting last week. (and we discussed how this would SOON apply to the Babylonian invasion, and would then be pulled down by Paul to explain the activity of TONGUES \u2013 1 Cor 14:21 – declaring it to be a sign to the unbelievers that one Kingdom has been anointed by God to invade another kingdom.<\/p>\n (Tell the story Jolene told me last week, or have her tell it)<\/p>\n 11\tFor with stammering lips and another tongue he will speak to this people, REST \u2013 a HUGE component of our success that I\u2019d like to spend some time looking at. And their disobedience instead postured the people to suffer the consequences of what was supposed to be a blessing: JUDGMENT ON RULERS GOD HEARD THEIR SECRET WORDS, AND THEIR HEARTS THEY EVEN SAW THE TROUBLE COMING, BUT WERE SO DECEIVED BY THEIR SIN THEY WERE CONVINCED OF A FALSE AND WORTHLESS \u201cSAFETY\u201d \u2013 a little bit of a \u201cpeace peace when there is no peace\u201d 16\tTherefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.<\/em><\/p>\n WEEK FOUR ACTUALLY ENDED HERE.<\/strong><\/p>\n GOD HAS PLANS to straighten it all out, upon His return. The Lord will proactively continue to work against the corruption of man\u2019s ways, and And God, in a way, is mocking their \u201ccovenant with death\u201d. There can be no covenant with death. GOD, IN STILL DEALING W HIS PEOPLE, WILL PURPOSELY MAKE THEM UNCOMFORTABLE. What we have, above is similar in part to Haggai, where the Lord at first appears to be REPORTING about tough conditions suffered by His people, and then reveals that HE is the ONE who is causing the problems: <\/p>\n HAGGAI \u2013 Actually is a great book with a happy ending \u2013 BECAUSE THE PEOPLE RESPONDED!<\/p>\n God is always willing and able to bless His people, whenever they come into line w His ways and purposes. <\/p>\n Haggai 1:3-11<\/strong> THE INVITATION TO TURN AND CHANGE THEIR WAYS: THE HAPPY ENDING TO HAGGAI \u2013 the Lord taking out the calendar to first tell the people that NATURALLY it is too late for anyone to do anything to fix their crop-problems \u2013 but then God goes and declares His SOVEREIGNTY and AUTHORITY over everything \u2013 including the seasons. <\/p>\n This is a message for US TO EMBRACE \u2013 because when things get tough \u2013 EITHER: We can rest assured, IN HIS WILL (or BACK IN HIS WILL), that we will be OK. <\/p>\n BACK TO ISAIAH 28:21 <\/strong> NOTABLE HERE is the two prior occasions that Isaiah is referencing were IN FAVOR of<\/strong> the people of God, as He came and BROKE IN (PEREZ) and invaded their circumstances, and brought forth deliverance through violent work \u2013 Joshua and then David. <\/p>\n Here in Isaiah is God declaring His intent to rise up in victory \u2013 except this time the awesome work is not ON BEHALF OF<\/strong> the people of God but instead FOR THE CORRECTION<\/strong> of the people of God \u2013 just like \u201cLINE UPON LINE\u201d had come into play for their downfall instead of their progressive blessing: <\/p>\n TWO POWERFUL STORIES FROM WHICH WE CAN LEARN MUCH \u2013 as we rightly look forward to spiritual conflict in these days, these are great lessons for us:<\/p>\n JOSHUA \u2013 GIBEON DELIVERANCE DAVID \u2013 MOUNT PERAZIM 22 Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. BACK TO ISA 28 \u2013 for continuity we\u2019ll read v 21 again\u2026(now understanding Perazim and Gibeon. 22\tNow therefore (THAT BEING THE CASE), do not be mockers, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts, a destruction determined even upon the whole earth.<\/em><\/p>\n Also of note is that Isaiah sees beyond the near-upcoming events of judgment only upon Israel, to include a later work, by God, determined for the entire earth \u2013 and he presents that revelation with a word of warning not to mock or discount the word of God in regard to these prophetic proclamations \u2013 that is a good word for the church in our days \u2013 particularly since so much is spoken from pulpits that would want to ignore the things that have not yet happened, and mock ones teaching the tougher portions of scripture as if they were dooms-day preachers. SEMI-LONG BUNNY TRAIL \u2013 to document an exemplary event of ONE man who would speak truth versus an entire LEAGUE-OF-PROPHETS who HAD JOB SECURITY because they were telling the king and his court what the king and his court wanted to hear (some things don\u2019t change).<\/p>\n OUR CHARGE, by God, is NEVER to simply preach \u201ctough stuff\u201d thinking that is the only message of the Lord. But our charge is to preach and teach truth \u2013 and we have the word of God \u2013 which is non-negotiable, and which will stand. <\/p>\n REGARDLESS of our ministry \u2013 be it worship or evangelism, teaching, etc. \u2013 our calling is to know the word of God so that HOW WE MINISTER and HOW WE REPRESENT THE LORD is in line with the word of God. <\/p>\n BUNNY TRAIL BACKGROUND \u2013 Israel and Judah are divided into two kingdoms. The king of Judah went north and was sitting w the king of Israel. Israel, because of its sin, was being troubled by Syria. <\/p>\n 1 Kings 22:1-28<\/strong> 2 Then it came to pass, in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel. 8 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \u201c There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.\u201d 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, \u201cBring Micaiah the son of Imlah quickly!\u201d 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, \u201cGo up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king’s hand.\u201d 15 Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, \u201c Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?\u201d 16 So the king said to him, \u201cHow many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n 17 Then he said, \u201cI saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, \u2018These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace. \u2019\u201d<\/p>\n 18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \u201cDid I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?\u201d<\/p>\n 19 Then Micaiah said, \u201cTherefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, \u2018I will persuade him. \u2019 23 Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.\u201d<\/p>\n 24 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, \u201cWhich way did the spirit from the Lord go from me to speak to you?\u201d<\/p>\n 25 And Micaiah said, \u201cIndeed, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!\u201d<\/p>\n 26 So the king of Israel said, \u201c Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son; <\/p>\n 27 and say, \u2018Thus says the king:\u201c Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I come in peace.\u201d \u2019\u201d<\/p>\n 28 But Micaiah said, \u201c If you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.\u201d And he said, \u201cTake heed, all you people! The world needs the saints to be speaking truth, and we need to understanding what God is DOING and what God has SAID HE WOULD BE DOING \u2013 so that people can come to THE TRUTH.<\/p>\n That is the purpose of the shaking works of God. That is why the lights of the saints is to be shining when things get darker \u2013 whether we\u2019re in END OF AGE times, or simply TOUGH times. <\/p>\n BACK ISA 28 The earth is the Lord\u2019s and all its fullness (Ps 24) \u2013 and will utilize ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to draw us into alignment with Him. <\/p>\n CONCLUDING ISA 28 I also believe this later section of Isa 28 is an admonition to not fail in seeing how God works on earth, IN THE NATURAL, for His supernatural purposes. <\/p>\n Lots of people act religious in a religious environment \u2013 a church service, a wedding, something like that. But then they live their lives worldly. That is a dismal failure. <\/p>\n The success of our own ECHAD (being one, whole, complete, holy) is our remaining in God at all times (all our heart, soul, mind and strength), and even not missing what He is doing in our fields, our gardens, w our cummin and vegetables. The work of our hands is His. ISAIAH CHAPTER 29<\/strong> Woe to Jerusalem<\/p>\n (first we\u2019re told exactly who this is for, and the city is called by its nickname ARIEL (Lion of God, or blazing hearth. The people are told their religious acts will not do the trick in appeasing God) 2 Yet I will distress Ariel; (God, by way of the enemy nation will encamp against His people in judgment) 4 You shall be brought down, 6 You will be punished by the Lord of hosts (THIS GETS PROPHETICALLY INTERESTING \u2013 because if it was ONLY looking forward to the Babylonian invasion, the wording of NATIONS makes no sense. But if you read this in the context of all the nations that the Lord has told us He would be gathering against Jerusalem at the end of the age, suddenly, it makes perfect sense)<\/p>\n Of further interest is the fact that in both situations, the nations coming AGAINST JERUSALEM are TURNED BACK. 7 The multitude of all the nations who fight against Ariel, 8 It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, So the multitude of all the nations shall be, God at this time has called for judgment, so there is a blindness upon His people<\/p>\n And yet God is dealing heavily with His people in Jerusalem by bringing these nations against the city 10 For the Lord has poured out on you 11 The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, \u201c Read this, please.\u201d 12 Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, \u201c Read this, please.\u201d 13 Therefore the Lord said: 14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work 15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord, EXAMPLE: BACK TO ISAIAH 29, and reading v 15 again for continuity: 18 In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, 19 The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord, 20 For the terrible one is brought to nothing, 21 Who make a man an offender by a word, 22 Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: 23 But when he sees his children, Isaiah 33:6<\/strong> CONCLUDING CHAPTER 39 All Scriptures NKJV<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CONTINUING WITH ISA 28 ONE THING ABOUT \u201cBUNNY TRAILS\u201d \u2013 they sort of are Bunny Trails, and they sort of aren\u2019t. The word of God best testifies of itself, and is best understood in context of itself. God is consistent … Continue reading
\n22 For all His judgments were before me,
\nAnd I did not put away His statutes from me.
\n23 I was also blameless before Him,
\nAnd I kept myself from my iniquity.
\n24 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
\nAccording to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.
\n25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
\nWith a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
\n26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
\nAnd with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
\n27 For You will save the humble people,
\nBut will bring down haughty looks.
\n28 For You will light my lamp;
\nThe Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
\n29 For by You I can run against a troop,
\nBy my God I can leap over a wall.
\n30 As for God, His way is perfect;
\nThe word of the Lord is proven;
\nHe is a shield to all who trust in Him.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nOK?<\/p>\n
\nJeremiah 9:24<\/strong>
\n24 But let him who glories glory in this,
\nThat he understands and knows Me,
\nThat I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
\nFor in these I delight,\u201d says the Lord.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n(Last week we were introduced to a non-changing and non-negotiable Kingdom precept \u2013 the progressive DESIGN INTENT of our methodical and perfect God for His creation)
\n10\tFor precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”<\/em><\/p>\n
\n12\tTo whom He said, “This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest,” and, “This is the refreshing”; yet they would not hear.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nSHABBAT \u2013 no work.
\nSHALOM \u2013 piece.
\nSHABA \u2013 Oath \u2013 coming into covenant.
\nSHALEM \u2013 loyal (attached to by decision and action)
\nAll these critical words stem from the letter SHIN.
\nAnd all these characteristics are in fact inseparable in our own ECHAD \u2013 our own become ONE and COMPLETE (of course, and ONLY, in Him, the Complete One)<\/p>\n
\n13\tBut the word of the LORD was to them, “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little,” that they might go and fall backward, and be broken and snared and caught.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n14\tTherefore hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,<\/em><\/p>\n
\n15A.\tBecause you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we are in agreement. <\/em><\/p>\n
\n15B. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.”<\/em><\/p>\n
\nMeanwhile we can see by looking at what is occurring on earth right now, both in Israel and also everywhere else, the justice is GOD\u2019S measuring line, but not yet MAN\u2019S measuring line.
\nIt will be. <\/p>\n
\nTHE PROMISE OF PERFECTION AFTER CLEANSING JUDGMENT
\n17\tAlso I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plummet; the hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n18\tYour covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nINSTEAD OF A COMFORTER, THEY\u2019D BE EXPERIENCING A \u201cDISCOMFORTER\u201d \u2013 to try to get them to repentance.
\n19\tAs often as it goes out it will take you; for morning by morning it will pass over, and by day and by night; it will be a terror just to understand the report.”
\n20\tFor the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the covering so narrow that one cannot wrap himself in it.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying,
\n4 \u201c Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?\u201d
\n5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts:\u201c Consider your ways!
\n6 \u201cYou have sown much, and bring in little;
\nYou eat, but do not have enough;
\nYou drink, but you are not filled with drink;
\nYou clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
\nAnd he who earns wages,
\nEarns wages to put into a bag with holes.\u201d
\n7 Thus says the Lord of hosts:\u201c Consider your ways! <\/em><\/p>\n
\n8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,\u201d says the Lord.
\n9 \u201c You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?\u201d says the Lord of hosts. \u201c Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.
\n10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit.
\n11 For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nA. As a result of a work of correction the Lord might be implementing in our lives to get us back on course, OR
\nB. Because He might be shaking heaven and earth, the sea and dry land \u2013 and we happen to be on that shaking earth, and therefore shaking with it – EVEN THOUGH we might be doing everything right.<\/p>\n
\n21 For the Lord will rise up as at Mount Perazim, He will be angry as in the Valley of Gibeon \u2014
\nThat He may do His work, His awesome work, And bring to pass His act, His unusual act.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nJoshua 10:8-11<\/strong>
\n8 And the Lord said to Joshua, \u201cDo not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.\u201d
\n9 Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal.
\n10 So the Lord routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
\n11 And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n2 Samuel 5:17-25<\/strong>
\n17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.
\n18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.
\n19 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, \u201cShall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?\u201d
\nAnd the Lord said to David, \u201cGo up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.\u201d
\n20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, \u201cThe Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.\u201d Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
\n21 And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away.<\/p>\n
\n23 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, and He said, \u201cYou shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.
\n24 And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.\u201d
\n25 And David did so, as the Lord commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIsaiah prophesies:
\n21 For the Lord will rise up as at Mount Perazim, He will be angry as in the Valley of Gibeon \u2014
\nThat He may do His work, His awesome work, And bring to pass His act, His unusual act.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nReligious \u201cprophets\u201d and priests and leaders ridiculed guys like Jeremiah and Isaiah. <\/p>\n
\n1 Now three years passed without war between Syria and Israel. <\/p>\n
\n3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, \u201cDo you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, but we hesitate to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?\u201d
\n4 So he said to Jehoshaphat, \u201cWill you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?\u201d
\nJehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, \u201cI am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.\u201d
\n5 Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, \u201cPlease inquire for the word of the Lord today.\u201d
\n6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, \u201cShall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?\u201d
\nSo they said, \u201cGo up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.\u201d
\n7 And Jehoshaphat said, \u201c Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAnd Jehoshaphat said, \u201cLet not the king say such things!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\n10 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, having put on their robes, sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
\n11 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, \u201cThus says the Lord: \u2018With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed. \u2019\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n
\n13 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, \u201cNow listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.\u201d
\n<\/em>
\n14 And Micaiah said, \u201c As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nAnd he answered him, \u201c Go and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n20 And the Lord said, \u2018Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead? \u2019 So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. <\/p>\n
\n<\/em>
\n22 The Lord said to him, \u2018In what way? \u2019 So he said, \u2018I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. \u2019 And the Lord said, \u2018You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so. \u2019 <\/p>\n
\n<\/em>
\nThe above warning in ISA 28 \u2013 not to be mockers, and the above BUNNY TRAIL EXAMPLE of TRUTH V POPULAR THEOLOGY, should speak volumes to us. We need to know what the Lord is saying, either IN HIS WORD \u2013 AND IN THE SPIRIT (which will never contradict) \u2013 so that the message is true and effective. <\/p>\n
\nNOW COMES A REVELATION ON NUMEROUS LEVELS \u2013 God speaking to an agrarian society, and speaking their natural language to reveal the supernatural aspects of this revelation.
\nFirst, we are shown God uses ALL THINGS to teach us ALL THINGS.
\nGod marries the supernatural to the natural.
\nIn some ways I think the supernatural Jerusalem eventually coming down to the natural Jerusalem will prove this out eternally.
\nI believe He\u2019s also telling us that we are not to separate the natural world from the supernatural world. It is ALL HIS. <\/p>\n
\nHe is THE BEST TEACHER.
\nAnd He wants us to realize that in Him being ALL, He wants to be involved in ALL, and our relationship w Him, for our success, requires us to be ALL IN.
\n23\tGive ear and hear my voice, listen and hear my speech.
\n24\tDoes the plowman keep plowing all day to sow? Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods?
\n25\tWhen he has leveled its surface, does he not sow the black cummin and scatter the cummin, plant the wheat in rows, the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in its place?
\n26\tFor He instructs him in right judgment, his God teaches him.
\n27\tFor the black cummin is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cartwheel rolled over the cummin; but the black cummin is beaten out with a stick, and the cummin with a rod.
\n28\tBread flour must be ground; therefore he does not thresh it forever, break it with his cartwheel, or crush it with his horsemen.
\n29\tThis also comes from the LORD of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nOur breath is His. And when we continue taking thoughts captive and doing all things to the glory of God, we begin to understand the depth and glory of Him saying \u201cI will never leave you nor forsake you\u201d \u2013 He wants to be OUR GOD ALL OF THE TIME.
\nAnd in that place will be our
\nAccountability
\nProtection
\nAnointing
\nAwareness of His presence and purposes
\nOur Spirit-leading (Romans 8, etc.)<\/p>\n
\nNow Isaiah, in obedience to the Spirit, prophesies about the troubles intended by God, for His favorite city, and the regions around it. <\/p>\n
\n1 \u201c Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt!
\nAdd year to year;
\nLet feasts come around.<\/p>\n
\nThere shall be heaviness and sorrow,
\nAnd it shall be to Me as Ariel.<\/em>
\n(Here, I believe that ARIEL is used to mean BLAZING FURNACE or ALTAR HEARTH)<\/p>\n
\n3 I will encamp against you all around,
\nI will lay siege against you with a mound,
\nAnd I will raise siegeworks against you.<\/p>\n
\nYou shall speak out of the ground;
\nYour speech shall be low, out of the dust;
\nYour voice shall be like a medium’s, out of the ground;
\nAnd your speech shall whisper out of the dust.
\n<\/em>
\n5 \u201cMoreover the multitude of your foes
\nShall be like fine dust,
\nAnd the multitude of the terrible ones
\nLike chaff that passes away;
\nYes, it shall be in an instant, suddenly.<\/p>\n
\nWith thunder and earthquake and great noise,
\nWith storm and tempest
\nAnd the flame of devouring fire.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThere verses therefore can be applied to the chapter 37 attack by Sennacharib during the days of Hezekiah, AND\/BUT can also be applied to the end-of-age attack by a multitude of nations who GOD HIMSELF will be drawing to Jerusalem, so that God might judge those nations.
\nAlso \u2013 these verses therefore CANNOT be ascribed any first or second century AD fulfillment by Titus\u2019 or Hadrian\u2019s armies. Both of those cataclysmic invasions were successful, and were not turned back by God, and were like vanishing visions. <\/p>\n
\nEven all who fight against her and her fortress,
\nAnd distress her,
\nShall be as a dream of a night vision.<\/p>\n
\nAnd look \u2014he eats;
\nBut he awakes, and his soul is still empty;
\nOr as when a thirsty man dreams,
\nAnd look \u2014he drinks;
\nBut he awakes, and indeed he is faint,
\nAnd his soul still craves:<\/p>\n
\nWho fight against Mount Zion.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\n9 Pause and wonder!
\nBlind yourselves and be blind!
\nThey are drunk, but not with wine;
\nThey stagger, but not with intoxicating drink.<\/p>\n
\nThe spirit of deep sleep,
\nAnd has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets;
\nAnd He has covered your heads, namely, the seers.<\/p>\n
\nAnd he says, \u201cI cannot, for it is sealed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nAnd he says, \u201cI am not literate.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\n\u201c Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
\nAnd honor Me with their lips,
\nBut have removed their hearts far from Me,
\nAnd their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,<\/em>
\n(OOPS \u2013 there\u2019s religion at its worst)<\/p>\n
\nAmong this people,
\nA marvelous work and a wonder;
\nFor the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
\nAnd the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\nAnd their works are in the dark;
\nThey say, \u201c Who sees us?\u201d and, \u201cWho knows us?\u201d<\/em>
\n(Here is the flip-side to \u201cI will never leave you nor forsake you\u201d \u2013 God has His eye on His people at all times). <\/p>\n
\nEzekiel 8:1-18<\/strong>
\n1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there.
\n2 Then I looked, and there was a likeness, like the appearance of fire \u2014from the appearance of His waist and downward, fire; and from His waist and upward, like the appearance of brightness, like the color of amber.
\n3 He stretched out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes to jealousy.
\n4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the plain.
\n5 Then He said to me, \u201c Son of man, lift your eyes now toward the north.\u201d So I lifted my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the altar gate, was this image of jealousy in the entrance.
\n6 Furthermore He said to me, \u201c Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations.\u201d
\n7 So He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, there was a hole in the wall.
\n8 Then He said to me, \u201c Son of man, dig into the wall\u201d; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door.
\n9 And He said to me, \u201cGo in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.\u201d
\n10 So I went in and saw, and there \u2014every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls.
\n11 And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up.
\n12 Then He said to me, \u201c Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, \u2018The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land. \u2019\u201d
\n13 And He said to me, \u201c Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing.\u201d 14 So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the Lord’s house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz.<\/em>
\n15 Then He said to me, \u201cHave you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these.\u201d
\n16 So He brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house; and there, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty- five men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east.
\n17 And He said to me, \u201cHave you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose.
\n18 Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them<\/em><\/p>\n
\n15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord,
\nAnd their works are in the dark;
\nThey say, \u201c Who sees us?\u201d and, \u201cWho knows us?\u201d
\n<\/em>
\nGOD, KNOWING ALL AND SEEING ALL, says this through Isaiah
\n16 Surely you have things turned around!
\nShall the potter be esteemed as the clay;
\nFor shall the thing made say of him who made it,
\n\u201cHe did not make me\u201d?
\nOr shall the thing formed say of him who formed it,
\n\u201cHe has no understanding\u201d?
\n<\/em>
\nAND HERE ISAIAH is surely looking towards the days of greatest reckoning, once Messiah returns \u2013 because these things definitely did not occur subsequent to the carrying away captive of Judah into Babylon \u2013 so we can therefore look forward in hope to these great happenings:
\n17 Is it not yet a very little while
\nTill Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,
\nAnd the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest?<\/p>\n
\nAnd the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.<\/p>\n
\nAnd the poor among men shall rejoice
\nIn the Holy One of Israel.<\/p>\n
\nThe scornful one is consumed,
\nAnd all who watch for iniquity are cut off \u2014<\/p>\n
\nAnd lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,
\nAnd turn aside the just by empty words.<\/p>\n
\n\u201c Jacob shall not now (AT THAT TIME) be ashamed,
\nNor shall his face now grow pale;<\/p>\n
\nThe work of My hands, in his midst,
\nThey will hallow My name,
\nAnd hallow the Holy One of Jacob,
\nAnd fear the God of Israel.<\/em>
\n(THE FEAR OF THE LORD will be our treasure, always)<\/p>\n
\n6 Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times,
\nAnd the strength of salvation;
\nThe fear of the Lord is His treasure.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n24 These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding,
\nAnd those who complained will learn doctrine.<\/em> \u2013 This certainly is HHY. But it will. PURE DOCTRINE WILL PREVAIL. <\/p>\n