This sermon has a very unusual title, but it is a good sermon. It has much to think on and is very appropriate for the times we are facing in this nation.
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Hello, all. I am still studying in the book of Isaiah but have gotten stuck on the first part of chapter two for the time being. There is a subject that has become quite a discussion in both Christian and secular circles. Is the new Covid vaccine, the mark of the beast? There are many who are very frightened about this vaccine. I see this question a lot, and it is a good question. After all, it may be, in the near future, that the vaccine will be required in order for people to work, shop, go into public buildings, and so on. Many people say they will refuse the vaccine because it is the mark of the beast. What does the Bible say? Does the Bible have an answer for this? Note: I hesitated about sharing this video because of all the "extras," but this man did do a very good and simple job of answering this question from the Bible. I also don't care for the picture used as the "thumbnail." Commentary on the vaccine starts around 5:40 and ends around the 17:00 mark. God takes care of His own. Isaiah describes what it will be like when God restores Israel and the remnant is preserved and the wicked are judged. First, God will purge away anything that distracts His people from Him. “24) Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: 25) And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin.” (Isaiah 1:24,25) When all the dross is purged away, God will rest from chastising His people, “So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.” (Ezekiel 16:42) When God takes vengeance on His enemies and on those that hate Him, He will preserve His own, “Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.” (Deuteronomy 32:43) The second thing God will do is put righteous people back into places of leadership. He will cause Zion to be known as a righteous and faithful city, “26) And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. 27) Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.” (Isaiah 1:26,27) The third thing God will do is judge and destroy the wicked. None of the wicked will fight against God and win. The strongest of them will be like tow. Tow was something that was shaken or thrown away, like the broken part of hemp or flax when it was separated from the fine, fibrous parts. Flax was broken down by hatcheling or combing. A hatchel was a board with long iron teeth in it used for combing the flax. The fibrous parts of the flax would be processed so they could be spun like cotton. Tow was the part of the flax that was thrown away after combing. The wicked will be just like tow, thrown out and burned up because of sin and an unrepentant heart. “28) And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed. 29) For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. 30) For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. 31) And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.” (Isaiah 1:28-31) It is a frightening time when God pours out His hand of judgment. But God’s people do not need to be afraid because He will preserve them. In Zephaniah 2:2,3 God pleaded with Israel, “…before the day of the LORD's anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger.” Seek God. Seek His hiding place when you see the hand of the Lord ready to fall on the wicked. Find in Him your hiding place, “7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8) Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9) Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10) There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11) For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” (Psalm 91:7-11) Israel had been a place of righteousness and right judgment. Now it was filled with murderers. Israel had been faithful to God their Maker; now it was a harlot, running after and serving other gods. Israel had been a place of justice and equality. Now its princes were rebellious and its leaders were taking bribes. The widows and fatherless were not remembered and their causes were not considered. Isaiah describes it thus, “21) How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. 22) Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: 23) Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.” (Isaiah 1:21-23) Israel was God’s chosen people. God would not destroy them, but He would chastise them and purge away their dross. “24) Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: 25) And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin.” (verses 24 and 25) What would be the result of God’s chastening and cleansing? Sin and sinners would be removed, and judgment and righteousness would be restored. “26) And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. 27) Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. 28) And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.” (verses 26-28) God is merciful and longsuffering, but He does not lightly pass over sin. Sin will be dealt with. Even in His own people, God chastises and purges to remove sin. He wants no uncleanness among His people and will do whatever is necessary to remove any dross, so that they come out vessels which are fine and fit for His service. Hebrews 12:11 says, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” God wants a clean and pure people. The process of refining may be painful and difficult, but the results are fruit of righteousness and peace. What about America? Do we see any of these things here? Are our streets places of peace and righteousness, or are people afraid to be out? What about the man who was beaten by a stranger while waiting for the bus? What about the woman who was killed after wielding a knife around and stabbing an officer? What about the woman pushed in front of a moving train? What about the widows and the fatherless, the elderly, and the poor? Are they considered in judgment? Are their causes heard and their grievances addressed? Are they represented and treated fairly in courts of law or matters of judgment? Are the vulnerable protected? Have we seen any people in elected office acting dishonestly? Perhaps some have taken bribes? Are those holding office fulfilling their oaths to uphold the Constitution? Who is honest in our government? Is anyone honest in our government? How do we know who is telling the truth? Or if any of them are telling the truth? As a nation, America does not have the promise of restoration as Israel did. However, we do have the knowledge that God is a merciful God. We have the example of Nineveh, perhaps the most wicked nation on earth, being spared God's judgment because the leaders and the people humbled themselves and repented. God is the same now as He was in those days. We can humble ourselves and repent and cry out to God and seek His face. "Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?" (Jonah 3:9) Texas (and now Louisiana) have filed suit against several states regarding violation of proper procedures during the election. This video explains a little bit about the suit from Texas. Our country is in a state of tenseness and division at this point. Praying the Lord's will be done and praying as we have no hope outside the mercies of Almighty God. A friend of ours has agreed with a pastor to take today as a day of prayer and fasting for our nation. They will also have a time of prayer specifically at 3:00 p.m. (EST) for about 15 minutes. This is to pray about our elections, the unrest and fear in our nation, and about the situation with the Corona Virus. I hope as many as possible will join in this time of prayer, and also fasting if you are able. We need God's help for our nation now more than ever.
In the early days of the nation of Israel, God set a choice before them. He was about to give them the Promised Land, but He wanted them to think about some things. Would they remember Him and all that He had done for them? Would they be obedient to Him and His way, or would they choose to walk in their own ways? Through His servant Moses, God gave them laws – laws because He is Almighty God, and laws that were specific for them as a nation. If they walked before Him in obedience, He would bless them. If not, curses would come upon them. Moses spoke to Israel, “19) I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20) That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days.” (Deuteronomy 30:19,20a) Now Israel had come to a time when they had forgotten the words of Moses and the promises and curses of God. They set about to do things in their own way. He would not accept their offerings, their sacrifices, their feast days, their assemblies and solemn meetings. These were but vain worship and a form of godliness with no power. Things did not have to be this way though. Even though they had sinned and forgotten God and did not consider His ways, there was a remedy for their trouble. God pleaded with them, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) This verse is often used in pleading with folks about salvation. It can surely be applied in this way; but the context of the verse is a pleading with God’s people who had forgotten and rejected Him and walked in disobedience. They were having only a show of worship and had gone astray from the right way. How did God reason with Israel? He said, “19) If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20) But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 1:19,20) If Israel, God’s chosen people, would be willing and obedient, they would be blessed. This was promised them by God through His servant Moses, “15) See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16) In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.” (Deuteronomy 30:15,16) Very specific blessings were laid out for God’s people if they would obey. They would live and multiply and receive God’s blessings in the Promised Land. If Israel, God’s chosen people, chose to disobey and allow themselves to be drawn after other gods, “17) But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18) I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.” (Deuteronomy 30:17,18) Blessings would be taken away from God’s people if they disobeyed. Instead of blessings, their time in the land would be shortened and they would perish. This is not just a judgment for Israel. All nations that forget God will receive of His judgment. The Bible says, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalm 9:17) Is there a remedy to escape this judgment of God? Yes. It is found in Psalm 2:10-12 “10) Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11) Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12) Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” In Isaiah’s day, the people of Israel had a form of godliness. They came to the temple and gave offerings and offered sacrifices and observed their feast days and new moons. But their worship was vain because their heart was not right with God. Isaiah had this solemn message from God to bring to the children of Israel. “10) Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. 11) To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. 12) When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? 13) Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 14) Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.” (Isaiah 1:10-14) What would be the result of this false worship? “And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.” (Isaiah 1:15) All this vain worship and empty show of a form of godliness were not acceptable to God because there was no repentance. Their hands were full of blood. They were guilty. They may have called upon God for help and gone through all the motions of following the law, but they had no desire for God in their hearts and no desire to do things His way. Because Israel had sinned and had not repented, God would not hear them, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2) It is not enough to simply say “I'm sorry” and to bring offerings. Repentance must be accompanied by evidence. When the Pharisees and Sadducees came to John to be baptized, John said to them, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” (Matthew 3:7b,8) There is no record that John baptized them because he knew their repentance was not real. They were coming for baptism because that was what they were expected to do. It looked good. But their life showed no evidence of repentance. In Luke 3:10-14, John explained what lives should look like if there is true repentance. What did God want to see in the lives of the children of Israel? What did He expect to see as evidence of true repentance? “16) Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17) Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” (Isaiah 1:16,17) God is looking for a right heart. Deeds of the hands and “good” actions are not acceptable to God if the heart is not right with Him. David explained in Psalm 51, “14) Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15) O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16) For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (verses 14-17) God will accept the sacrifices of a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart. He is looking for sorrow for sin (godly sorrow that leads to repentance) and humility. Then the heart will be changed and the lips will show forth the praises of the Lord. |
AuthorI am a concerned citizen of the United States of America. And I am a Christian who believes in salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray this blog will honor the Lord.
My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. Hosea 4:12
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