Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Scripture:  Isaiah 7:9 (NIV):  " 'The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son.  If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.' "

Thought:  To me, we often fear what "men" can do to us when we should be "fearing" the Lord.

Question:  Am I standing firm in my faith?

These are only "men."  The enemy is not so strong.  Believe that there is another stronger force (God) Who decides who falls and who stands.  Keep that faith.

In James 4:7 we are told to do two things:  1) submit to God and 2) resist the devil.  We learn through James that when we do resist the devil he will turn tail and run away.  To me, this verse in Isaiah is saying the same thing:  "If you do not stand firm in your faith" ("submit to God"), "you will not stand at all" ("resist the devil.")  You will fall into Satan's grasp and into his intentions.  You will lose your upright position with God.

Isaiah calls Ahaz to faith.  In opposition to faith would come unbelief.  Ahaz needs to believe God will support him, defend him, help him and bring victory.  Our part in keeping faith also involves not yielding up any "ground" for Satan, where a foothold can be created against God.  Footholds for Satan are often begun in fear.

Prayer:  God of Love, cast out my fear!  Strengthen my unbelief!  Conquer my doubts!  Help me to stand firm in my faith in Christ, I pray.  Amen.

Scripture:  Isaiah 7:8 (NIV):  "for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.  Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people."

Thought:  To me, sometimes our behaviors do not reflect a trust in God's knowledge of the future.

Question:  Am I depending on the leadership of men?

God knows the future.  He allows it to comfort Ahaz through Isaiah now.  We should also rest in God because He knows our futures.

Apparently "the head of Damascus is only Rezin" indicates that Rezin is no threat, or that he is only one in number and purpose, thus making him an easy foe to overcome.  "Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people" is a prophetic statement.  It doesn't paint a prosperous future for Ephraim, the greatly feared enemy, at all!  God knows these things--we do not.  We can trust God!

When we dialogue with God, as Ahaz does here through Isaiah, we discover how much God can minimize the threat of the enemy.  Let us remain in an abiding presence with God--in that way our enemy will shrink in our eyes.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for being utterly dependable!  Help me not to place my trust in people, but rather in You, my Living Ruler.  Amen.

Scripture:  Isaiah 7:7 (NIV):  "Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says:  'It will not take place, it will not happen,' "

Thought:  To me, to be on God's side should be everyone's goal.

Question:  Has God intervened on my behalf against Satan?

As mentioned in yesterday's blog:  though Satan has his desire to conquer us, he may not!  What God wills will be so!  God intervenes.  He doesn't always, for even grander purposes, but when He does there is no way any enemy can win.

I love the little connector word "yet" here at the beginning of the verse.  Though Satan has his intentions (and we must not deny their existance), God's decisions will overrule them.  What Satan plans "will not take place, it will not happen."  What confidence and peaceful hope this instills in us!  To be on God's side is an absolute binding guarantee of victory.  There is no better brand of insurance anywhere!

Prayer:  King of Kings, I rejoice in Your awesome purity and strength over evil!  Help me to cast away all doubts and worries of failure:  You can conquer my enemy!  You have already conquered my enemy!  Amen.

Scripture:  Isaiah 7:5 and 6 (NIV):  "Aram, Ephraim and Remalish's son have plotted your ruin, saying, 'Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.' "

Thought:  To me, our perfect love for God will cast out all fear of the enemy.

Question:  Do I sense an invasion against me by the enemy?

The enemy may "plot ruin"; he may devise a violent plan against us.  Satan desires to "invade" our souls, our lives, and "tear" them "apart".  Satan seeks to bring division and subservience.  But this evil intent need not strike fear into our hearts.

The enemy seeks to conquer Holy land.  He believes his invasion, or rapid, multiplied aggression, can defeat the keepers of the Holy land.  But though Satan always has these intentions, he will not succeed.  We need to remember Who indwells us--Who it is that makes us holy by His ownership of our hearts.  Though the enemy may intend to take over our "land" and rule it, he may not.

Prayer:  Great God and Father, thank You that Your Lordship of my life means I need never fear Satan or his "invasion."  Thank You for Your conquering power!  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 7:4 (NIV):  "Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid.  Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood--because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the Son of Remaliah'."

Thought:  To me, our greatest power against the enemy is to quietly stand.

Question:  Have I experienced God squelching my anxieties?

Through Isaiah God encourages the King of Judah.  When trouble comes nearer "home" God wants us to be careful, calm and unafraid.  Nothing is really different.  God is still in control.  Satan may want to unnerve us by turning "family" against us; but we are to stand calm and unafraid, being careful about all that transpires.  God refers to the enemy here as "stumps of smoldering firewood."  Smoldering stumps may ignite into flame if given fuel.  Let us not become the very fuel Satan desires by panicking.

Later in the book of Isaiah, in chapter 30 verse 15, God clearly teaches that "in quietness and confidence will be your strength", and "you will be saved in returning and rest."  The key is to "be still and know that" (the LORD) is "God."  Our strength in doubtful and trying times is not from our own resources--it comes from God!  "Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid."  That is our priority:  we are to work at remaining calm.  We are to do it carefully and fearlessly.

Prayer:  God Almighty, thank You for Your care and watchfulness!  Thank You for the rest we can find simply by harboring ourselves under Your wings.  Guide me ever to this place.  Amen.

Scripture:  Isaiah 7:3 (NIV):  "Then the LORD said to Isaiah, 'Go out, you and your son Shear-Jasub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman's Field.' "

Thought:  To me, "Divine appointments" are taking place every day.

Question:  Am I open to being led by God?

Isaiah is God's servant.  He has agreed with God to be sent by Him.  (Isaiah 6:8).  And here God sends Him!  Very specifically, Isaiah is led to a meeting place where he will be used by God to encourage and strengthen the King of Judah.

When God calls me, am I obedient to go where I am sent?  Do I realize someone I may meet needs me?  Do I understand that God has arranged our meeting?

Prayer:  Father, thank You for the example of Isaiah the prophet, who made himself available to You.  Help me to have that attitude, Lord, to seek Your leading at every turn.  Use me to help and encourage others.  Amen.

Scripture:  Isaiah 7:2 (NIV):  "Now the house of David was told, 'Aram has allied itself with Ephraim'; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind."

Thought:  To me, betrayal is a painful reminder of our frailty as human beings and our failure to love as God loves.

Question:  Have I experienced the hurt of disloyalty?

An unfavorable strengthening of the enemy strikes fear into Judah.  Rezin allies with part of Israel against Judah.  A person's enemies are often members of his own "family."  This DOES bring fear.  The assault comes so much nearer home!

The word "betrayal" comes to mind.  When friends or family ally with others against you it can definitely "shake the heart"!  One begins to question their self-worth and their standing with God:  why, Lord, have You allowed this attack against me?  This is a time to draw even nearer to God, not away from Him--nearer both in fearful respect and in trust; knowing God is in control I yield to His authority, making sure my sins are confessed, but I also trust that He has good plans of care for the "bigger picture" of my life.

Christ was betrayed by someone on "the inside".  One of His own disciples, Judas of the inner circle, became His most effective enemy.  Yet even this was part of the great plan of the Father.  Christ was not "shaken as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind" and neither should we be if we are trusting in Him and in God's greater plans.

Prayer:  Lord, when my heart is shaken by hurts and disloyalties, cause me to reach out for You!  Help me to trust Your kindness and mercy.  Remind me that You work all things for good.  Amen.

Scripture:  Isaiah 7:1 (NIV):  "When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it."

Thought:  To me, if we are strong at all, it is because God wills it.

Question:  Could the enemy overpower me today?

Now we come to the grandson of Uzziah.  Since Isaiah's commission to go occured the year Uzziah died, this is occuring considerably later.

God has said that He would bring hard enemies against the Jews, but now Jerusalem stands strong.  Is this inconsistent?  Not when it comes to God's mercy in the midst of a downward trend toward final judgment.  God is often compassionate in the middle of His judgments.  God holds Jerusalem firm.  He has a purpose.

If we are held firm by God in the midst of trouble, it is also for a purpose.  God has far-reaching plans--ones that we should trust.  God is in sovereign control!  We should realize that if there is victory, it is because God has willed it.  It is not due to our personal strength or ability being better than someone else's!  And if we do enjoy victory and delight in it, we should give the glory to God.  That is where it belongs.

Prayer:  God of all strength, thank You for sustaining me the many times You have.  Help me to abide in You--stay faithful to You, so that Your strength is always available to me.  Amen.

Scripture:  Isaiah 6:13 (NIV):  "And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste.  But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land."

Thought:  To me, we can trust God to purge evil out completely--in His time.

Question:  Am I part of God's "holy seed"?

God will persevere in His way, the way of judgmental purging of the land, laying it "waste" "again", until, to His satisfaction, the evil has been routed.  Then when everything is stripped down and wiped out, only "stumps" will be seen.  These "stumps", the remaining tenth, become the new starter "seed" in God's hand.  The wonderful thing about stumps is that they contain life!  Hidden way down inside, the "seed of renewal" is hibernating.  In this verse the seed is referred to as "holy seed."  It indicates a clean beginning--a new start:  a purer life free of the sin and past wickedness.  It speaks of the life of God, for only God is holy. 

Job 14:7 - 9 is a supporting, encouraging scripture:  "At least there is hope for a tree:  if it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.  Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant."

Israel can be brought to life once again because the "root system," hidden invisibly underneath, is still functioning.  God, Who is love, truly never gives up!  To me, this "root system" is God Himself, the holy source of all life.  And at times, it may include only a very few others, (a remnant), such as was true in Noah's day:  "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord", and from him and his family, only eight souls, issued a new community.

I must never give up.  Hope must be held forth--always.  It is one of the "big three":  faith, hope and love.  Give hope its due credit--let your heart hope as it will.  God knows your hope.  He has it too.  Though some, every day reject and refuse in many ways, keep hoping!  God will cut them down, yet in time, there will be renewal.

Prayer:  Father, thank You for Your matchless ways!  You have all wisdom and power.  You are The Source of all life and all hope of life!  I trust You, Lord, to rekindle Your own love, even though destruction threatens otherwise.  Help me to remain as one of the faithful remnant.  Amen.

Scripture:  Isaiah 6:12 (NIV):  " 'until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken'."

Thought:  To me, God's longsuffering is often taken for granted.

Question:  Have I received God's forgiveness and thanked Him for it?

Isaiah's commission to preach the Jews' own dullness back at them must continue until "the land is utterly forsaken."  I am reminded of Noah who preached over 100 years to the people near him in his day.  (II Peter 2:5:  "if he (God) did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness...")  The people mocked and ridiculed him, I am sure, as he built this large ark on dry land and warned the people of impending doom.  How could a flood of water destroy them, they wondered, never experiencing it before and never experiencing rain before!  Similarly, these Israelites in Isaiah's day thought themselves invincible.  What enemy could defeat them?  The point, however, is not what flood or what enemy; the point is they did not believe God.

For Isaiah to foretell and warn until the land is "utterly forsaken" is a long time to stand in the face of rejection, preaching and offering love and forgiveness!  Keep on, Isaiah, until, (basically), the end of their "world." 

God never gives up.  His love never gives up.  (Even bringing the judgment of circumstances that cause the land to be "utterly forsaken" is God's merciful act of love!)

Prayer:  God of love, thank You for waiting so long to reach me.  Thank You that through Christ I am spared the punishments and condemnation of unconfessed sin.  Amen.

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