LOCKET VERSES WEEK 50

In this chapter of Isaiah, God is strongly contrasting those that are unteachable with the ones He can actually teach knowledge and those who will understand doctrine. His plea goes out: Whom will these be? They are not those who have erred, who are out of the way, or those who err in vision...stumble in judgment. Those who fail to understand are they who sit at unclean tables of strong drink, where no place [is] clean. Isaiah 28:7-8 After this description, comes the plea and contrast, to those whom the Lord can instruct. He wants us to see the difference, for if others are like the erring ones then who can have the promise of verse six, of the gift of a spirit of judgment....and strength for the battle, except those who are ready to be instructed and desiring the full meat of the Word. To them will be given discernment and victory. To these are the glorious possibilities of verse twelve: To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing... These assurances are given not to those who turn aside to the lusts of the world, but to those who have grown up! We must be weaned from our dependence on that which is meant for the "young." New Christians need the milk, the comfort, the nourishment, the protection of that special sort for young "babes" in the Lord, but one day, they must draw away from the "breasts" and start to grow. Most often that growth will be just as with a toddler who explores his new world of learning and independence, little by little, precept upon precept. Suddenly, the young believer who had to constantly turn to others for the interpretation of Scripture and foundational truths, begins to draw increasingly mature knowledge and judgment from his own study of the Word and the evidences of his own daily walk with the Lord. The graduation in growth for the Christian is not to be here on this earth, we are to be in a constant state of "schooling." There is always another precept, another knowledge, another area of learning to be done. Whatever stage of growth we are in, whether it be infancy, toddler, adolescent, young, middle or senior adult, we must always remember, there are things we have not yet learned. Woe to the Christian who thinks he has "learned it all." His heart will become haughty, and pride will harden his spiritual learning center. Such an attitude can actually stunt growth and develop a retardation that can limit service and Christian character. To stay an infant in Christ is a tragedy, to retard our steps at any stage of growth is deplorable. As a pastor deals with many in his congregation, he must sometimes feel like saying "grow up!" to those who seem to wrestle with the same problems in attitudes of immaturity. His heart must break for those who are still crawling when they should be running life’s race for the Lord. How sad that in the fellowship of many churches, this diversity of stages is like an imaginary fellowship dinner where, after the tables are all set up and the banquet arrayed on a serving table, individual after individual must be led away to the nursery to suck on their bottles and be lulled quietly to sleep. Only those that have spiritual muscles and appetites can feast on the bounty that has so carefully been prepared. To those who are growing, their appetites will not only be increased but continually satisfied with the delightful morsels of the Word of God. While they enjoy the seven layer cake of a week spent in service to God, the infants will still be napping. The imagery is even more poignant when we realize that the teacher of our verses is the Lord Himself. How rewarding to be a pupil of honor in the classroom of the Instructor, Christ. The bumper stickers of many a parent’s car in America states: "My Child is an Honor Student (at the local school)." God has placed us into a school of instruction as Christians, He wants us to be busy about the tasks He sets before us, learning His knowledge and His doctrine. Even if we can not all seem to earn "A’s," He promises to reward us with His honor and His glory for the proper motivational attitudes of desiring to learn and grow. Our "bumper sticker" could read: "My Christ is Honored Above All!" Each of us is placed into a classroom of individually planned learning. We are not graded on a scale but according to our own growth and potential. God patiently instructs us precept upon precept, giving us helpers in our classroom of learning: And he gave some...pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine...But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Ephesians 4:11-15 This growth principle is designed so that, not only will individual Christians grow, but the body of the church will increase unto the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:16 As we reach out to implement our new found learning, we must remember that we can be used at whatever stage we are in. The successful oration of our learning is not always in the eloquent, stately way some would imagine. God can use us even in our childish, toddler speech. Often the enthusiasm of a "young" Christian will have as much impact as the scholarly dissertations of the older sage. God can use us where we are. Years ago, my husband and I had a co-worker on a bi-lingual mission field. Even though that field was in a city founded in the colonial times of America, it had come to house a culture that was known as America’s Little Portugal. After the establishment of the mission church, its growth was so rapid that we were unable to handle a total bi-lingual ministry on our own. We asked that our mission put out a plea for a retired couple, perhaps from a former Brazilian ministry, who would like to serve with us. One such couple, Jack and Betty, answered the call. Jack was from Ireland originally and had a wonderful brogue. He also sometimes stuttered. One day he told the testimony of his call to missionary service, using Isaiah 28:11. As a young lad, in his home church, he responded to a plea for youth to dedicate their lives to full time missions. When he came forward, many remarked, "Oh, not Jackie boy." He knew it was because of his stumbling speech. Surely, these folks thought, a missionary would have to be one of clear speech in order to communicate God’s message. Not only did he stutter, but he was also very shy. He knew God’s call and could not be dissuaded. That night, in reading the Bible, he came upon this verse in a most unusual way. He had remembered the reference number for a verse that had impressed him in the sermon of that night, but could not remember the book of the Bible it was in. So he started from Genesis and went from book to book, reading each 28:11 verse. When he got to Isaiah 28:11, he stopped with awe. It was not the verse he was looking for, but it was the verse that would speak clearly to his heart as from the Lord, the verse to meet his question and his need. It was God’s promise that one day he would speak to the people God would call him to, even with stammering lips and another tongue. This promise helped to give him the confidence and steadfastness to pursue the calling of God upon his life. No matter what counsel others gave to abandon the thought of being in full time service, he knew God’s counsel. He served in the land of Brazil for many years. The interesting thing is that he never stuttered when he spoke Portuguese, so truly the "other tongue" was one given to him in freedom and clarity! We may stammer in our speech, physically, intellectually or emotionally, but God can still use us to proclaim His Word. The tongue of His speech and His Word, spoken though lips given to Him in service will produce a message that is understandable to those that listen. It is not always the eloquent speaker that wins the soul of the common person next door. It is more often the heartfelt "stammering" words spoken by the humble committed servant of God. Whatever your lack, however you stammer, God can use you!

The Master Architect of the Universe, He who planned and framed the worlds, speaks with authority on soundness of structure. As all around in Israel, others were building structures of flimsy deceptions, the God of all Truth had planned the sure foundation. The other builders had this testimony: ...for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves. Isaiah 28:15 They desired a dwelling place that would give them a safety from the overwhelming scourge [which] shall pass through, one that would put up walls so that it shall not come unto us, but their efforts had necessitated a contract with the very enemy they sought to escape. In fear, rebellion and ignorance, they had made a covenant with death and with hell...agreement. Man cannot make a contractual agreement with Satan’s forces and expect to stand the victor in the eternal conflict. Their dwelling places will be like the feeble efforts of the first two little pigs, whose houses of straw and sticks fell flat when the wolf blew on them. So while they thought to appease their enemy, they found no safety. All around their sparse dwellings, everything else was being swept away, torn down, and overflown. To the unbelieving rebel, lies were to be their refuge and in exposure, they would fail. There would be no hiding place there, but only a heap of fallen purposes and framework laid bare by the blast of the scourge. God had always held out His master plan of safety and redemption. His "office doors" were always open in the building department of Soul Architecture. He had the sure and only plan fitted for all safety requirements, of the highest quality material and with the best investment returns. Therefore, The Master Architect says, because I will provide for my people, I will lay a foundation stone, a rock so strong it can not fail, for a building that will stand amidst the floods. When all else will be laid flat, this foundation will stand. In this passage we can note subtle, ironic contrasts between the vain attempts of man and the perfect plan of God:

        broken covenants – a tried stone

        overflowing scourge (temporary) – corner stone (permanent)

        flowing (destructive) – firm (building)

        falsehoods – sure foundation of the God of Truth

        compromising covenant makers – he that believeth God

        have to flee – shall not make haste

        overthrown – standing firm

Note the significance of the little word "a" repeatedly used in this verse. A foundation, a stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation... "A" is the only One, the chosen and tried One, the precious One! God lays this specific stone to be the only foundation for His people. For our dwelling place, the foundation was laid here; in Christ the building was fitly framed together. In Isaiah, that building, the Church, could not be shown as complete because it was the mystery only to be fully revealed by the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ. We now can stand in the completed building! It is one of eternal dimensions, with the same sure foundation, Christ the Cornerstone. It is interesting to note that this is the first verse in the chain of references for "Foundation - Spiritual" in the Thompson Chain Reference system. The idea of "guarantee" is enhanced by the subtitle of the section: "Furnishes perfect security." That foundation laid by God is Perfect and that perfection in Christ gives us perfect security! The chain includes: I Corinthians 3:11: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ; I Timothy 6:19: Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life; II Timothy 2:19: Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his... God’s surety is our guarantee. Thus the term "rock bottom" takes on a new meaning. The rock bottom line of our covenant with the Master Architect is found in Christ, the Stone, our perfect security. God gives a description of this stone. It is one that is tried. Uniquely, this word for tried is only used here in the Bible. Its singular use is like an arrow pointing to the uniqueness of the only foundation stone that could pass the test of perfection, Christ Jesus our Lord. It is precious, that beautiful descriptive word of Jesus used in I Peter 2:7: Unto you therefore which believe he is precious...the same is made the head of the corner. To us who believe, He is to be prized, rare, splendid, excellent and of value as of a great cost. He is the corner, or chief, bulwark and precise corner of our faith. He is the sure foundation, that fixed and established foundation. This stone, this Christ, meets all the righteous requirements of the Master Architect. Every tensile test has been run for strength, every purity test for flawlessness, every specification of the prophesies of old, He has passed them all. Likewise, Psalm 118:22, Matthew 21:42 and Acts 4:11, all cite the importance of our recognizing this stone, refused of others, but believed upon by God’s redeemed and made their cornerstone: Jesus sayeth unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Matthew 21:42 This stone is the cornerstone of our faith: For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father, Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:18-22 In I Peter 2:6, we are given the New Testament companion for the phrase in our verse: He that believeth shall not make haste, when we are told that he that believeth on him (the chief corner stone, Christ) shall not be confounded. While the unbelieving are swept away or try to run in terror from the judgment, God’s people do not have to run, their confidence is strong, based upon the strength of the cornerstone of their faith. We never need be ashamed or fearful, our relationship in His household is established. Can you rest in your sure foundation when the scourges of life seek to overflow your valley? Will your "anchor" hold midst the storms of life? Can you safely hide in the basement of His love and find safety from the storm? When I was a child living in the Midwest, I was taught that in a tornado the safest place to be was in the foundation area of whatever dwelling I was in. Even if a house would tumble and all around fall in, you could be safe in the basement. While man may want to climb to the heights he has built himself, yet in the storms of life, the security and steadfastness of the sure foundation of God can never diminish. In drives through the country, we have seen old ruins of former houses where nothing is left but the foundation. I've often wondered what the structure looked like that once stood there, and also realized that if the debris were cleaned up, a new house could be built upon that same solid rock foundation. In Massachusetts, we helped reclaim and renovate a deserted old building that had originally been a church in 1851. In the basement, we tore up three layers of old rotten flooring, removed decayed walls and were amazed at the solid rock foundation underneath. When the rotten "additions" of men had been removed, even the horrible odor of decay was replaced with a clean smell. That which had been dangerous upon which to walk, became a sturdy footing for our children’s footsteps. The work of men had all decayed. Every material they had chosen to build with had failed except for what had been formed of solid rock. It is interesting that the stone chosen of God is the same one rejected by men who are "self builders." (Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11) Is it any wonder that unregenerate man would so easily reject that which should be their cornerstone. With sinful eyes they can not "see" the inscription which God has engraved on the cornerstone of His dwelling. The wonder is evident when God removes the mist from before their eyes and they see with clarity that inscription: "Christ Jesus, The Cornerstone." Lord, help me to be so aware of Your place in my life as the Chief Cornerstone, that I can experience an established calmness in my heart, never desiring to go beyond the boundaries of the perimeter of Your building for my life. Thank You for revealing Yourself to me, clearing away the mists of sin so that I can indeed view You who are so precious to me.

While to some, the word judgment speaks only negative harshness to be feared, to the Christian it should speak of the sterling character of our God. His judgment is righteous altogether, a court system that is above reproach or bribery, a Lawgiver in whom there is no variableness of turning, a God to trust. We are not to be frightened of God’s judgments, for they are a unique foundation of His true dealings with those of us who have been redeemed by His mercy. ...The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them is great reward. Psalm 19:9-11 As His judgments are righteous, so God’s line and plummet are true. Years ago, I had the experience of watching some one who tried to hang wallpaper without the aid of a plumb line. They insisted that they could do it by "eyeballing" the paper. The result was most disconcerting. The expensive paper ended up being off level just enough to be obvious to beholders. None of the pattern was able to be matched perfectly or aligned with the walls. Only the use of a true plumb line could have given the pattern a pleasing expression. Humanly "eyeballing" the paper had proved a failure. So it is with life. When we try to determine the alignment of any area of our life with solely human means, it will be out of "kilter" with God’s plan. Only God’s plumb line of judgment can cause us to stand straight and tall in His sight. What starts as one little sin of misalignment, can lead to a life where God’s beauty and pattern can not be matched into the fabric. God’s plumb line is always true. Its definition line for the fabric of our lives is always straight to the grain. Only when we align ourselves to that plumb line of His Word can the intricate, lovely design of our lives be what God, the pattern maker, intended. Otherwise, the life of the Christian will cause dizziness to the eye of the beholder and will seem all "eschew." Again, with the mention of hail, we see another jexiposition of concepts. The icy purity of the hail, while viewed as destructive by man, is used by God to sweep away the refuge of lies. What our human hands and minds cannot tear down, God can utterly "sweep" away with an effortless ease of motion. When we lived in a high mountain town, we had a tremendous hail storm in the midst of summer. The heaviest concentration of hail fell on our housing area in just a matter of minutes. When the storm hit, we were shopping in town. As we drove toward home, we were surprised to see a most unusual sight. There in the midst of summer, the road and surrounding forest floor were covered with destruction and flood. Yet there was also a beauty as the hail sparkled and shone, surrounded by a great mist rising amidst the trees. It looked like some great imagined medieval forest of fantasy. All around lay great deep piles of hail, which had fallen in just a few moments time. They were all perfectly formed, crystalline balls of pure ice, even on a summer's day. We saved some in the freezer to tell the story. Each crystalline piece testified that what would seem limiting in man’s eyes, in this case the heat and season, can never hinder the purposes of God! Returning to our verse, we see the waters which were softly flowing through Shiloah in Isaiah 8:6, can now overflow the hiding place of evil. The world, from their point of view, sees "God" as weak. Sadly, some Christians evidence the same view when they fail to turn to the Lord for help in their trials. Yet His strength is under and over all. He is the One who will in the end of time rule and reign, even over that which had thought to exalt itself against His majesty. Indeed, it is the "weak" of the world, the submitted Christians, as seen by the eyes of the unbelieving, who will live and reign with Christ and have the eternal victory. Our strength is inherent, given by God, and it should be calm and flowing in our hearts, like the waters of Shiloah, overflowing even the hidden places of evil. Let that sweet water flow through your life today, sweeping away any and all hidden places. Feel within the clean washing, the crystal clear purity descending upon your soul. Then marvel in the shining mist of His loving judgment rising from your life! How like an ancient forest land our heart will be: virgin, clean and full of beauty for all to see. Ah, the heart where Christ reigns and has rule should be a beauty land ! To think that God gives us an opportunity to have such a place of joy, contentment and beauty in our life, a literal land to dwell in, and to which we can invite others to share, should bring awe and gratitude. Because of God's loving judgment, our covenant with death shall be disannulled. That marvelous promise word shall promises assured victory in a war we could not win on our own. The contract we could not break, the one that kept us in bondage, constantly a debtor to death, is now disannulled. What an amazing fullness to this verse we find when we look up the meaning of the word disannulled in the original language. On finding this meaning, I put two exclamation points in my notes!! For this word disannulled comes from the root word for "to atone for, to redeem." In the tense it is used, it means to be covered over, to be made atonement for, to be completely purged. The word is translated only once, here in our verse, as disannulled. Otherwise, it is more often used as atonement, reconciliation and reconciled. What marvelous truth this speaks to our hearts! Our covenant with death has been atoned for with the precious blood of Christ! We know this is true by doctrine, but have we let it permeate our hearts? And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: ... For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many ... For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. ...That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:11-21 Because of the atonement of Christ, or the disannulling, the agreement with hell shall not stand! Once again, the absolute promise of the "shall" word brings glory to our thoughts! In our contractual servitude of sin unto death, Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer. Early in our marriage, my husband and I made an unwise contract at a health club, from which, after a job transfer, we could not reap any benefits. Despite our circumstances and pleas, we could also not be released from the terms of the contract which were then an over burden financially to us. Finally, hearing our plight, a close relative paid it off and the company granted him a personal transfer of our membership into his name. Even though the membership became his, he never used it, but because it was paid in full, the contract had no negative power over him! That which to us had been a bondage, burden and source of conflict, to him had no constraint. Christ paid our debt, took our sins upon Himself, yet death hath no power over Him! Not only is He free from its entanglements, but with the "provision" of the Resurrection, He has set us free! The New Covenant has been paid for in His blood and the debt has been discharged. We are free to live in our new habitation, the Kingdom of His righteousness, without a contractual tie to the old mother land of sin and death. The most marvelous commitment promise of the whole Bible is given here in the midst of Isaiah. That contract with death which was signed by Adam’s hand as he reached for the fruit, had bound men in an indebtedness from which they could never escape. Generation after generation, the contract remained in effect. The ink which was squeezed from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was indelibly imprinted with the signature of Death. Death reigned upon all men because the covenant had been made by man’s own disobedience. He had knowingly entered into the covenant agreement. It could only be disannulled by the contractual agreement which read: Without shedding of blood is no remission. Hebrews 9:22 The blood of Christ was the neutralizer of the stain of sin’s ink, it disannulled the covenant of death. To assure the validity of our understanding this covenant, God not only overwrote the contract, but established a new document which He entitled: "The New Testament in His Blood." For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:28 If this were a computer program, we would say the Master Programmer has cited the "over write" function, until our new "program" (or life) stands alone. Years ago, when we purchased our first word processor, I hastened to use it for a typing job on a document due the next day. My husband opened and started the format of the document, having read the manual thoroughly, and then left for his day’s duties. I typed and corrected the document, marveling that I could view the sentences on the little screen of the machine. Halfway through my labors, I received a phone message that required me to leave for a few hours. Not having read the manual as completely as my husband, I then endeavored to save my work. Various screen commands led me through the process successfully until the last one gave me the choice "Overwrite? Yes or No" The unfamiliar word "overwrite" frightened me and I choose the "No" command. Instantly, in one swift instant, I lost all my day’s work, as the file remained that which it was when I had begun that morning, an empty file which had not been overwritten with the new work. My hesitation to accept the program provision caused me to miss out on the Word Processor’s most important feature, the saving of my work. I was so afraid to overwrite, that I lost my entire "program." When it comes to the salvation of our soul, we cannot fear to take God’s overwrite protection!

On the battle scene of sin and death rises a great and mighty Captain. With the special emphasis of His name in large letters, the LORD is seen rising up to execute His strategic plan, this strange work...His strange act. He will suddenly stand up as He did in Mount Perazim, performing a miracle of deliverance, and be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon where He did what was humanly impossible, a one time deed unique in history. In dealing with sin and the covenant of death mentioned earlier in this chapter of Isaiah, God stands firm, visible to our eyes and "quaking with rage," the literal translation of wroth. He will do His strange act. The word do can be translated "create," and only God can create that which comes only of Himself, the unique, strange and wonderful work, that act of salvation. The word work means deed and act means service. His great deed of Calvary’s redemption gives full service to the needs of our souls. The two words for "strange" used in the verse are slightly different, the first strange can mean loathsome, the second strange, foreign, unknown, or unfamiliar. What to the world was loathsome in the crucifixion of Christ, was even foreign to the Jew and unknown to our unsaved heart. But when we come to Christ, that death becomes wondrous in love and makes us citizens with the assembly of the righteous. His strange act was the service that disannulled our covenant with death and our agreement with hell. It is the strange work of judgment on the Cross! While man had made a covenant with death, and with hell Isaiah 28:15, God’s New Covenant that disannulled that contract (verse 18), is made by the Lord Himself. The one would not stand, because the LORD shall rise up! Mount Perazim was the scene of the victory of David over the Philistines in its valley of Rephaim south of Jerusalem. And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim. II Samuel 5:20 The commemorative name Perazim was used by David because God broke forth like the breaking forth of waters upon the enemy. Likewise, God caused a destructive breach to the covenant of death by the force of His will and plan. The force of flowing water can cause a breach through a dam that will cause its walls to collapse. God can, and will, break forth with power on any area of sin that entangles us if we give that area into His hands. What might look like a trickle of water in the dam of our hearts as we quietly submit to His will, can grow to a great force, sweeping away all the refuge of sin and death there. (Isaiah 28:17) Gibeon was the place of the battle of Joshua when God caused the sun to stand still about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it...for the LORD fought for Israel. Joshua 10:12-13 God caused unique deliverance and total victory for His people that day. His strange work and act of salvation, when the whole earth stood still for the work of the Cross, gave unique and total victory for those who would let the Son of God arise in their hearts by faith. Also In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. I Kings 3:5 It was there God granted him a wise and understanding heart, and riches and honor. I Kings 3:12-13 In Christ, all those things and much more are ours. As we view the work of saving grace, we must acknowledge that it is His work, it is all of Him, not of [our] works, least any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 Salvation, whether of our souls, or our temporal deliverance, is always and totally His work. Our example is found in the ancient nation Israel. Often God would completely win the battle of war without human dealings so that they would know it was not their own strength or cunning that had wrought the victory. So it was as the walls of Jericho came down and the sun stood still at Gibeon. In our own lives, we must recognize an end to self to be able to see His mighty hand. Too often we claim the victory for battles won. In salvation, it is all His work. In all of our life, any victory of goodness is, likewise, all His work. This strange work, the one that disannulled the agreement with hell, brings to pass His act. Behind the words is the concept that this act was a plan that had been put into action long before, now brought to pass, finished in His time. His strange act, that marvelous strange deed was done by God. How strange is the work of the Cross! How unique, how wonderful and how full of awe it is to us. It alone can change the destiny of our souls and our life path. Bow down before God’s way, recognize His "strange" workings in your life, even in the things thought to be ordinary. Verses 23 through 28, speak of common things: the plowing of the ground, the sowing of grain, the threshing of the harvest, the grinding of corn. This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working. (verse 29) Bow down before the "LORD, our God, our Maker" for His strange work in your life, not only in salvation, but in each area of your living. Do not resist Him or be embittered by His dealings. What seemed strange to the beholders of the death of Jesus on Calvary, became clear with the victory on Resurrection Morn. What may look strange to our temporal eye may be part of God’s glorious plan for our lives. If we but trust Him with the "ordinary," He will instruct [us] to discretion, and ...teach [us].( verse 26) Often we can look back and see the threads of the fabric of our lives woven together to make the whole. But how difficult it is to see the overall design when we dwell on each thread as it is picked up in the present. How often do we doubt the validity of its color or hue or the direction it should be woven? Perhaps with impatience or anger we want to cast aside the Master’s direction sheet without pausing to consider that this one thread of clear blue tears, or red wounding, or black sorrow would be the one unique thread that will complete the intricate design of the masterpiece God has "envisioned" for our life. Dear friend, as you have trusted God’s strange work of Calvary’s redemptive act, trust the Master Weaver with the unique threads of your life. Bow before His wisdom, let Him instruct your heart.

In a chapter containing an examination of the futility of false religion, God shows to us the blessed condition of those who will be part of His fruitful field (Isaiah 29:17), those who will truly follow Him. What glorious promises and provisions are made for His people! Though they had dwelt in the silence and solitude of spiritual death, God will give them life, open their spiritual ears and eyes, and fill them with joy and rejoicing! God had given to Israel His judgments and covenants. He had presented to them His Book that told of His righteousness and mercy. Yet they had turned deaf ears and blind eyes to Him. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed. And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me...their works are in the dark....Isaiah 29:11-15 Seeking to have "religion" by the precepts and teachings of mere men, would only leave their followers in temples of darkness and despair. Many were those in Israel who taught strict adherence to cold religion, to false teachings that gave a form of religion without any substance in true religion towards God. They were so blinded that when the Book was held out to them, they would not read it. The priest who was "learned" refused the Book saying it was sealed. How like the seeming intellectuals of today, who may have read hundreds of modern philosophies, yet refer to the Bible as a book which can not be understood, or has no relevance for today. It would seem that such should be able to read and understand, but when it comes to the Bible that "reading" must be with spiritual eyes, not with eyes of the flesh. Throughout history there have been those who profess to be unable to understand the Bible because they are "not learned." Truly in Israel there had been those who thought the teaching of religion was reserved for the Pharisees and priests. Through the Dark Ages, countless thousands were told that the words of the Bible were sealed to them because they did not possess enough learning. In fact, in many areas learning itself was hid from most people so they would not study the Truth of the Scriptures. Here in Isaiah 29, God held the Book out to the people and they said, "I cannot, I will not." They let the scales form over their eyes and the cotton stop up their ears, until they would not heed the clear words of the Lord. But what a glorious change is promised to some when ..in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book! It is as when Jesus spoke to the ears of the deaf and made them to hear! And when He touched the eyes of the blind and made them to see! So it is true that this spiritual hearing and sight is equally a miracle of God. For at one time we were all deaf and blind to the words of the Book, until the Spirit of the living God gave us understanding. In that day, may refer to a future time for Israel in this chapter of Isaiah, but figuratively it can be any day. It can be for each individual "that day" will be the day of their salvation, but it can also be those days for us as believers when God opens to us a deeper understanding of His Word, even this day. When the fullness of time was come, God revealed Himself as the Word in Christ Jesus. That time came in history, but also comes to each of us in the history of our own life at conversion. The Spirit of God will open deaf ears and blind eyes to see the light of His precious promises. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:4 Out of obscurity and darkness, God shines His marvelous Light. At times in my illness, I have been both deaf and blind. Oh, how I can remember suddenly hearing the doctor’s voice as he gave treatment or waking after surgery to see again. Tears of joy flowed down my cheeks. I do not think I will ever forget the preciousness of what I can now hear and see. I often stop to gaze at a sunset while others go on their way, or look long into the face of one of my children or grandchildren. I love the sounds of the sweet birds singing in the high meadow lands and the soft fall of rain on the roof. These were things that I almost lost in illness, they are never to be taken for granted. Likewise, we were once deaf and blind to the preciousness of Christ. Let us never forget to savor all the richness that is now ours in Him! God said that in that day they would hear. It is the concept to hear with full attention, to truly listen, to give heed. The Biblical concept of hearing is most often "to hear with the intent to obey," to hearken here to the words of the book. How in line with the rest of Scripture where the hearing must come first! For truly: Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17 Then the people shall see. Their blind eyes will be open to see with clarity what had been hid from their understanding. They will look at, inspect, perceive, consider, give attention to, observe, discern, and distinguish that which is beheld by faith. They will lift their spiritual eyes to look full into the face of the Word of God, Christ Jesus. The tenses of the two verbs of the verse, hear and shall see, are different. I thought long on what the significance of that difference could be. It was as in Romans 10:17. The people spoken of in our verse have to hear the words of the book so that they can then see with clarity. Note that the hearing is not in obscurity but the blindness is. When the Word of God is brought into the mind of the listener and received by faith, the darkness is lifted. That which was obscurity, or gloom and lack of spiritual receptivity, is even sometimes translated "calamity." Darkness includes not only lack of light but secret hidden places of sin. That is what we are delivered from when God gives light to our spiritual eyes. What was an impossibility in our natural sinful selves, when we said in our sin, "I cannot, I will not," becomes the contrast of faith when the deaf hear and the blind see. When the Word of God comes to dwell richly in our hearts by faith, we will see with clarity the words of the Book before us. Then being part of His inheritance, we become the blessed meek. Part of the character of the meek is being open to the Lord and His character. 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. Zephaniah 2:3 .....Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21 Meekness comes from the Lord as a gift of our salvation in the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 It is the meek that shall increase their joy. Joy, too, is a gift of God at salvation, also part of the fruit of the Spirit. It is awesome to consider that this priceless gift, part of the infinite character of Christ, can be increased in our lives. How can there be an increasing of that which God has perfectly given? To the totally submitted, the believer who is meek before God, there can be an increasing in access to their joy, an increasing awareness of joy, an increasing assurance of joy, and an increasing actualization of joy in their lives. How often have you appeared to have "lost your joy?" Even David prayed, Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation... Psalm 51:12 I have prayed for several born again friends to have the sense of joy restored in their lives. When the trials of life surround us, the tragedies of living assault us, let us remember the gift that is within us and in meekness cry unto the Lord, "Restore to me Thy joy, oh Lord!" What we cannot feel in our human hearts, we can experience in our reborn spirits. God’s joy is ever there, just waiting for us to "access" it to its fullest potential. It is as a shining jewel in a box of our own possession, a box whose lid must be opened by faith. In the deepest calamity, we can be aware that the assurance of joy’s presence is ever with us. It can become a reality in our lives when we submit by faith and allow the Holy Spirit to, in a sense, actualize it in our lives as the releasing of the pungent smell of the flower blossom when it is crushed. ..For the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10 This principle is found throughout Scripture: Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17, As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing. II Corinthians 6:10, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. I Peter 4:12 In view of the deliverance from the obscurity of sin and death, our joy should be an ever apparent treasure. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation... Isaiah 61:10, Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16 Whom having not see, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. I Peter 1:8 The secret of true joy is found in our verse, for the essence and substance of our joy is in the LORD. He will never change, He will always remain. The poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. Notice that they are the poor among men, not before God. What the world sees, is not always the truth of the spirit of a man, which can be rich before God even in poverty of worldly goods. The rejoicing of those that bow before the Lord is not in possessions of this world, but in the possession of Him. There is no faster way to loss our joy as Christians then to change our focus from Christ to the possessions of the world. While the shining of the glory of Christ will never dim, the glitter of the things of the world are daily being clouded by the tarnish of decay. How foolish we often are to be tricked by the deception of their allure. We once knew a young man who was being used mightily of the Lord. He had an active Bible study in his home, was being used in his local church, had a lovely family and a prosperous business. After many weeks of private prayer, he shared that the Lord had called him to full time service. He excitedly started to plan his Bible college training and future service for Christ. But then his young wife looked at the new home and its possessions, and thought of the large pay check they might have to forgo. Firmly, she said, "No." Within eight months, they had dropped out of church, the business had failed, the house had gone into foreclosure and they found themselves living in an apartment with their folks. They had not only lost the fullness of spiritual riches, but the earthly had been decayed before their eyes. It was a lesson I never forgot. Whenever I have to face a move in my missionary career, it stands as an example so that I will not cling to the earthly. May we each be caused today to gaze long into our hearts and question ourselves: "Where is our joy and rejoicing?" Oh, may it ever be found to be in The Holy One of Israel!

This quoted portion of our verse sings like a quieting lullaby to the soul. It is as if we can envision the hand of God softly stroking the feverish forehead of His child and crooning the words of promise. We can understand these words and they can bring comfort to our soul. But when we add the final words of the verse to show it in its entirety, the context of warning is shown: and ye would not. God’s solution for problems, God’s answer for safety and salvation was held out to the people of Israel, and yet, they would not take hold of the promise, they would not rest in His tender care, they would not lie quietly beneath His soothing hand. They were as rebellious children who took their counsel from elsewhere but not from God, that covered their sins, but not with the covering of forgiveness offered by the Holy Spirit’s voice. Isaiah 30:1 Instead of peace, they found confusion, instead of forgiveness, they added sin to sin, instead of strength, they found shame, and instead of help, they found their expectations to be of no purpose. Isaiah 30:1-7 Historically they fled to Egypt where they were left as broken pieces of a potter’s vessel, unable to perform the purpose they had been created for, unable to even take water withal out of the pit. Verse 14 Spiritually, the picture can apply to each of us, when we try to gain counsel from elsewhere, but not of the Lord. The promise of salvation, confidence and strength is found only in the Lord. How often our minds flee to places of other comfort to only find the shelter disappear or even cave in on us. The promise of Isaiah 30:15 is real, and so is the warning. The words of God leap out from the chapter of warning to speak these potent words to our souls. He uses His majestic title, the LORD God, the Holy One of Israel, to add import to this royal decree. Let us study and ponder the message, that if learned can bring victory to our lives. God says that in returning we absolutely will have salvation. This is the only time this specific Hebrew word is used in Scripture and it means in retirement and withdrawal. It is as if God said, "Retire, quit trying to work for your salvation, withdraw from wrong counsel and ways, return to Me, the true Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." The concept of returning is rich in the Bible. Isaiah 55:7: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Hosea 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he...will heal us...he will bind us up. Joel 2:13: ...turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness... Malachi 3:7: ...Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts... In the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15, we find that the only rest the young man had was in returning to his father, rest to his body, his mind and his soul. In the vivid description of each of us, I Peter 2:25 states: For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. Our verse also says that in rest shall ye be saved. The quest for the quietness of rest is found in each longing heart. It is heard in the plea of Ps. 55:6: Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest. But as people, we cannot "fly away." Our problems and conflicts of unrest seem to hold us to our present ground. Our only true rest is in the Lord, who helps us to rise above the confines of the earthly. The psalmist declares to his inner man, Return unto thy rest, O my soul. Ps 116:7 The message of God’s knowledge and doctrine is said to be ...the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing... Isaiah 28:12a Christ promises that when we take His yoke upon us and learn of Him we shall find rest to [our] souls. Matthew 11:29 His promise of rest is found in Hebrews 4:3, For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said... And the ultimate rest is spoken of in Revelation 14, where in glory the voice declares to John ...Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. In the returning and rest the promise is found, for so shall ye be saved, delivered and set free. In first reading, these two words of commanded obedience, returning and rest, raise an old question: "Are there steps to salvation?" While there seem to be two steps mentioned in this verse, yet both are part of the whole of commitment to Christ. Still the answer declares that there is only one step to salvation, the step of belief. In returning, or turning away from our old life, we come back to God’s intended purpose for man. In rest, we experience a complete confidence in what He has done for us to pay the price of our salvation. The next part of our verse paints an equally tranquil promise: in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength... In the quietness of tranquility and peace we shall find strength and deliverance. When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble??... Job 34:29a And the works of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Is. 32:17 In quietness we find a lack of striving. When someone is racked with fever, they are filled with restlessness, but when the fever breaks, they are calm. Before we can behold God’s hand at work, we must cease from all striving and be quiet before Him. God speaks to each heart: Be still and know that I am God... Psalm 46:10 Before we can truly hear His voice of direction, we must cease from our own striving and reasoning. Even so the Israelites found in the wilderness, when in answer to their questions concerning obedience to the law, Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you. Num. 9:8 This quiet attitude of heart is affirmed to the earnest believer in Job 37:14: Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God, and in Psalm 4:4: Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. In our busy modern world, I wonder, how often do Christians stop all to stand quietly before the Lord, listening for His voice to rise within, stilling all other voices that cry without. Again, we find in the words in confidence an "only time" that this specific word is used in Scripture, meaning abiding in trust and confidence. Once again God enjoins us to have total trust in His person. We can not have salvation or spiritual strength without it! Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust...for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength... Is 12:2 The victory of our Christian walk requires this total confidence. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith...Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised). Hebrews 10:22, 23 Our confidence and faith is in the very Faithful One and in that trust shall be your strength, a strength full of spiritual might and valor. ...he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24 It is God’s provision and promise for His people: ...but the people that do know their God shall be strong...Daniel 11:32, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. Eph. 3:16 Thinking back over our verse, it is interesting to note the two couplets of words. The first couplet, returning and rest, is related to salvation, and the second, quietness and confidence, to our strength. Both couplets are related in their source, intimately to the Lord. Where do we find salvation? At the foot of the Cross of Christ. Where do we find strength? In prayer at the feet of the Risen Christ. When God speaks to our hearts, "Be still and know that I am God," it is with the assurance that with the demonstration of the reality of Himself will come our strength. As He works in and through us, we will know His strength imparted to our being. Found in this verse is the Old Testament embodiment of the promise of Ephesians 2:8,9, the gift of God’s salvation to those who will rest by faith in His work. The quiet confidence spoken of in our verse is the embodiment of the New Testament peace of God, which passeth all understanding, [which] shall keep your hearts, and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 Any true rest and peace must be entwined with total confidence. Without it we have unrest, a sleep vainly sought when visions of possibilities of turmoil swirl in our heads, even spiritual defeat. Christians ought not to have the unrest that belongs to the wicked [who] are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest. Is. 57:20 Even the ultimate, eternal punishment is a state of NO REST!! And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day not night... Rev. 14:11 Christ’s desire for His people is to have rest, confidence and strength. He would want the unrest of the world to be alien to us, indeed to be a spiritual warning in our hearts. For He warns us in Luke chapter 12, neither be ye of a doubtful mind...fear not, trust totally in your Heavenly Father. Isaiah 30:15 has spoken of what the people of Israel should have done, but they would not. We know what we should do in our lives, the question is, will we? Will we this day rest in our Lord who alone can give us salvation, deliverance and strength? Will we find the song and gladness of heart promised in Isaiah 30:29, that is surely given only to those who trust in the Lord? Will we find quiet confidence in the arms of the One who softly sings to us as He soothes our resting souls? The choice is for each of us today.

"And therefore God...." How often the concept rings out of the pages of Scripture to reassure our hearts. "And therefore, the Lord will..." Think of all the marvelous things God will do as the promise commitment of His flawless character. He will come again, He will send the Holy Spirit into our hearts, He will save the soul of the one who calls upon Him, He will give strength for the day. Our verse for today shows what the Lord will do as a demonstration of God’s purpose towards us in grace and mercy. The word therefore shows us that something must happen first. God had held out His plan of guidance, salvation and strength to the Israelites and they would not. (Isaiah 30:15) Instead, they tried their own plans that were all of no avail. Therefore, God says, I will wait. I will wait until you have turned to Me, I will wait so that you will know My gracious hand. Often in our trials, we wonder, "God, why do You not act now?" We always seem to want immediate and permanent deliverance from the problems of life. We may not have one thousand soldiers pursuing us, but we may feel like there are a thousand arrows of Satan aimed at our hearts. (Isaiah 30:17) "Lord," we cry, "You are the God who spoke and in an instant the worlds were formed. You are the God who stood in the boat and said, ‘Peace, be still,’ and even the wind and the waves obeyed Your voice. You could speak to my problems and they would vanish away. Why, then, do they linger?" Have we ever stopped to consider that the waiting of God is so we can have more than just temporal deliverance? It may be then in His timely deliverance that we may also sense multitudes of grace, mercy and an exaltation of His very name. Though He allows the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, in His time He will feed us with the sweet bread of Himself. (Isaiah 30:20) The immature and uncommitted falter in the day of adversity, they question God’s dealings and even God, Himself. The trusting Christian waits on God without the agony of doubt as he knows God is waiting for His perfect time. The unique thought of God waiting, so that He can bless those that wait on Him, is all intertwined with the realization that His tarrying means He is the God who has all the power, purpose and plan to perform that which He already knows He will do. His omnipotent power is tempered by His omniscient knowledge. The personal testimony in my life of the "waiting of God," is one of life changing dimensions. When my husband was away from the Lord for many years, I fully expected my oft repeated prayers for him to be answered each day. I prayed for him to return to the Lord and be with me in church, honor God in his life and be like the man I knew from our first years of marriage, a "good" Christian husband. God had that and so much more in His plan, but the full work of God on my husband’s heart was more than I could have envisioned. God wanted him in full time missionary service, a dedication that would take a full turning, that would respond at just the right moment in time. How often as a couple, we have been impressed with the depth of the consequences of His "wait" in our lives. The Book of Job is a prime example of God’s waiting action (for His waiting is never passive and without action). God knew what was happening to Job, why it was happening, what He desired from Job and the end plan. Yet He waited for Job to come to the full realization of God’s presence and power. He waited for Job to sift through the "alternate" explanations, until he saw only God. And so He knows and often waits in our lives. Is there a situation in your life where you have felt the urgency to see a resolution, yet have not. Is it possible that God is waiting on you? Is He waiting so that His full graciousness may be revealed? Our verse seems to declare, "Do not become impatient. Do not take the fast and easy solution. Wait on Him who is waiting in His time." We need to add a phrase to an old cliche, "Good things come to those who wait...(on the waiting God)." The circle of the verse is found: It begins with the waiting of God revealing His true character, and ends with our waiting on Him being a test of our character. Even though the waiting should be in trust, often God will wait on us until we are done with our striving, our methods, our devises. Note that in Isaiah 30, verses 16-17, the Israelites thought they had the ideal plan to escape, but even their swiftest horse could not out ride the pursuers. At just the rebuke of five, they would flee, yet a thousand would flee at the rebuke of one. They did not realize that if the One of the rebuke had been their God, then thousands of the pursuers would have turned and fled. Our God can overthrow a troop, even of trials and tribulations. Yes, He will wait for us to "rely" on Him. How much better if we would come to Him in our difficulties first before we try other routes. In contrast to our feebleness and fear, in His victory, He will be exalted. Oh that our exaltation of praise would come from fully trusting hearts! Our patience in enduring and trusting is an exaltation of our God. James 1:4 could be read with this concept, "Let the waiting God have His perfect work" that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. The ones who resist God and go about in their own devises, trying to fulfill their own needs are left "wanting," empty and needy. Only when they turn to God will their true needs be met. Only then will they find the patient rest and its rewards promised in Scripture: Rest in the LORD, wait patiently for him...Psalm 37:7, I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1, Yea, in the way for thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. Isaiah 26:8 God will wait so that he may be gracious unto you. He is a God full of mercy and grace, favor and pity for His children. His compassionate love is shown in Deuteronomy 30:2, 3, ...return unto the LORD thy God...obey his voice...with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee... Each time in their wanderings, it seemed that Israel tarried to call upon God, but when they did, God answered. He waited for them to honor Him, and then in His great mercy, He acted and the results were glorious. They were worthy of exaltation. Part of our exaltation is to remember that, indeed, in everything, our God is gracious. The side reference in my Bible used the words "Divine Favor," as reminding us of a gracious king bestowing favor on the least of his servants from the love of his heart. That act of grace naturally produces gratitude in the heart of the servants. The gratitude swells inside until out of their mouths and lives come words and acts of honor to the king. Likewise, when we exalt our King, we lift Him up in honor, giving praise to Him who is worthy. His exaltation goes beyond what we can give, because all of creation and all of Heaven exalts Him. If even the rocks could cry out, how much more should we, the redeemed of the Lord, exalt Him each day by words and actions that bring glory to His name. He will be exalted, [so] that he may have mercy upon you. His character is shown in the demonstration of mercy, But thou, O LORD, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. Psalm 86:15 It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Lamentations 3:22 The relationship of mercy and judgment may seem foreign, but in the Scriptures it is often intertwined. Micah 7:9 declares: I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. The judgment on sin is indeed an act of mercy. His Spirit is good, [which will] lead [us] into the land of uprightness. Psalm 143:10 Where we could not find our way, submission to His divine will and judgment will lead us aright. Judgment has opened the door to that land of uprightness. Recognizing that the Lord is a God of righteous judgment, we will be blessed in our waiting on Him. The results of His judgment often help us to see His mercy. Because of this, we can learn to trust His judgment. Those who do not truly KNOW Him, do not have the trust that would allow them to wait on Him, therefore, they can only see His judgment as harsh. But we who truly know and trust Him, know His judgment as full of mercy and grace. Even then, we can pray as Isaiah, O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou [our] arm every morning, our salvation also in time of trouble. Isaiah 33:2 The message of our verse is clear: Wait I say on the Lord! For when He shows His judgment on our lives and our wanderings, He will also show us His light, power, and righteousness. Our verse has combinations of seeming contrast which all speak of the glorious unity of our God’s workings in our lives:

            God’s waiting and His grace

            God’s exaltation and His mercy

            God’s judgment and His blessings

To meditate on these couplets today will add depth to your walk and commitment to trusting God’s ways in your life. Therefore wait on God, dear Christian friend, that He may have His complete work in your life. For, therefore, will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you.  His ways are indeed above and beyond all our ways.  Let us Exalt Him!