Isaiah 33 ✒️ A Holy Judge

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Isaiah 33 ✒️ A Holy Judge

April 25, 2024 • Dr. Dave Burnette

1 Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

2O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

3At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.

4And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.

5The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.

6And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

7Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.

8The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.

9The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.

10Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.

11Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.

12And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.

13Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.

14The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

15He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

16He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

17Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.

18Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers?

19Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.

20Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.

21But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.

22For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.

23Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.

24And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

COMMENTARY by Dr. Dave Burnette

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Isaiah

Date Penned: (700-681 BC)

Overview: To Tell of God's Salvation through the Messiah (c 1-66)

Theme: Words of Judgment (c 1-39)

Message: The Lord is Judge (v 1-24)

Isaiah 33 Commentary

(33:1) Assyria Breaks their Promises - "Thee that spoilest" is Assyria. Assyria continually broke their promises but demanded that others keep theirs. It is easy to put ourselves in the same selfish position, demanding our rights while ignoring the rights of others. Broken promises shatter trust and destroy relationships. Determine to keep your promises; at the same time, ask forgiveness for past promises you have made and broken. Treat others with the same fairness that you demand for yourself. 33:2 These are the words of the righteous remnant who were waiting for God to deliver them from their oppression. We can pray these words each day.

(33:4) Victory Over Assyria - See 2 Kings 19:20-37 and Isaiah 37:21-38 for a description of the victory over Assyria mentioned here. 33:5 There are a few places in the world where justice and fair treatment are often the rule of the day, but most of the world struggles under great oppression, prejudice, inequality, and unfairness. When Christ's kingdom is established, Zion (Jerusalem) will be the home of justice and righteousness because the Messiah will reign there. As a light to the world, the new Jerusalem will be the holy city (Revelation 21:2). Justice will prevail there, and where justice prevails, worship is unhindered.

(33:9) Deserts - These fruitful, productive areas would become deserts. Lebanon was known for its huge cedars. Sharon was very fertile. Bashan was very productive in grain and cattle. Carmel was thickly forested.

(33:14-16) A Consuming Fire - These sinners realized that they could not live in the presence of the holy God, for he is like a fire that consumes evil (see 30:27-28). Isaiah gave examples of how to demonstrate our righteousness and uprightness: We can reject any gain received through extortion and bribes, refuse to listen to plots of wrong actions, and stay away from evil. If we are fair and honest in our relationships, we will dwell with God and he will supply what we need.

LIFE APPLICATION by Dr. Dave Burnette

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Isaiah with Chapter 33. In our text today, we see the Lord as a Judge, as these sinners realize that they cannot live in the presence of a Holy God. Seeing the truth of who God is, His Holiness, and His Goodness will cause us to know that we are sinners. This Goodness of God will lead us to repentance. In applying, if we see who God truly is, we will see ourselves in the light of who we are. Sinners in need of repentance. How about you? Do you know who God truly is? Let us learn from our text today, and the prophecy of Isaiah on how God is a Holy God and this Holiness leads us to repentance.

Isaiah 56 ✒️ A House of Prayer

May 18, 2024 • Dr. Dave Burnette

1 Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. 2Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. 3Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 4For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 5Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. 8The Lord GOD, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him. 9All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. 10His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 11Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. 12Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant. COMMENTARY by Dr. Dave Burnette Written By: God through Inspiration Penned By: Isaiah Date Penned: (700-681 BC) Overview: To Tell of God's Salvation through the Messiah (c 1-66) Theme: Words of Comfort (c 40-66) Message: Blessings for the Gentiles (v 1-12) Isaiah 56 Commentary (56:2) The Sabbath - God commanded his people to rest and honor him on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11). He wants us to serve him every day, but he wants us to make one day special when we rest and focus our thoughts on him. For the Israelites, this special day was the Sabbath (Saturday). Some Christians set Saturday aside as this special day, but most honor Sunday (the day of the week that Jesus rose from the dead) as the "Lord's Day." How can you make your Sabbath a special time of honoring and worshiping the Lord? (56:3-6) Eunuchs - Eunuchs and strangers (foreigners) represent those who were outside God's covenant because they were not biological Israelites or had an injury that prevented them from being fully integrated into worship at the temple. But God promised that both eunuchs and non-Israelites would be made a part of God's family fully and that they would be part of a people who would never be forgotten. He guaranteed them a new identity and a new place with dignity. God looks at all people as equal in status and worth. (56:3-6) Inclusion - Isaiah clearly proclaimed the radical message that God's blessings are for all people, even Gentile foreigners and eunuchs, who were often excluded from worship and not considered citizens in Israel. Whatever your race, social position, vocation, or financial situation, God's blessings are as much for you as for anyone else. No one must exclude in any way those whom God chooses to include. (See 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Colossians 3:11 for more on this teaching.) (56:7) Money Changers - Jesus quoted from this verse when he threw the money changers out of the temple (Mark 11:17). See the second note on Mark 11:15-17. (56:9-12) Watching for Others - The "watchmen" were the nation's leaders. The leaders of Israel were blind to every danger and thus did not recognize or warn others when danger was coming. Apathetic about their people's needs, they were more concerned about satisfying their own greed. Leadership's special privileges can cause leaders either to sacrifice for the good of their people or to sacrifice their people for their own greed. If you are in a leadership position, use it for the good of your people. LIFE APPLICATION by Dr. Dave Burnette Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Isaiah with Chapter 56. In our text today, we see Blessings for the Gentiles; seeing both Jew and Gentile will be of one body. What catches my eye is verse 7, where the Lord states that His House will be called a house of prayer for all nations. In making an application, we see that the Church fulfills this prophecy for modern-day Christians. We can gather in worship, making petitions to our Lord, who hears and responds according to His Will for our lives. How about you? Do you attend Church and participate in this gift of the Lord of Praying to a Holy God? Let us learn from our text today and remember that we can pray, when we all gather at the House of God and pray, we are fulfilling this prophecy of our Lord.

Isaiah 55 ✒️ Seek the Lord

May 17, 2024 • Dr. Dave Burnette

1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 4Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 6Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7Let 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. 8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. COMMENTARY by Dr. Dave Burnette Written By: God through Inspiration Penned By: Isaiah Date Penned: (700-681 BC) Overview: To Tell of God's Salvation through the Messiah (c 1-66) Theme: Words of Comfort (c 40-66) Message: Blessings for Those Who Seek Him (v 1-13) Isaiah 55 Commentary (55:1-6) Nourishment - Food costs money, lasts only a short time, and meets only physical needs. But God offers us free nourishment that feeds our souls. How do we get it? We come to him (55:1), listen to him (55:2), seek him, and call on him (55:6). God offers salvation freely, but to nourish our souls we must eagerly receive it. We will starve spiritually without this food as surely as we will starve physically without our daily bread. (55:1) The Coming of the Lord - The theme of coming to the Lord if you are thirsty runs throughout the Bible. The Lord gave water to the Israelites when they were walking through the desert to Mount Sinai (Exodus 17:1-6). The same offer is part of Jesus' discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:13-14). Jesus repeats the offer to the crowds in Jerusalem (John 7:37= 38). Later, John records it at the final stage of his revelation (Revelation 22:17). God wants us to come to him so his Spirit can satisfy us. (55:3) God's Covenant - God's covenant with David promised a permanent homeland for the Israelites, no threat from pagan nations, and no wars (2 Samuel 7:10-11). But the Israelites did not fulfill their part of the covenant to obey God and stay away from idols. Even so, God was ready to renew his covenant again. He is a forgiving God! (55:6) Call On the Lord - Isaiah tells us to call on the Lord while he is near. God will never move away from us, but we often move far from him or erect barriers of sin between ourselves and him. Don't wait until you have drifted far away from God to seek him. Later in life, turning to him may be far more difficult. Or God may come to judge the earth before you decide to turn to him. Accept God's generous forgiveness now, while you can, before it is too late. (55:8-9) Knowing God - The people of Israel were foolish to act as if they knew what God was thinking and planning. His knowledge and wisdom are far greater than any human's. We are foolish to try to fit God into our mold--to make his plans and purposes conform to ours. Instead, we must strive to fit into his plans. (55:11) A Living Word - Isaiah affirms that God's prophecies will be fulfilled and that his word will always be fruitful. We can count on that promise every time we read Scripture, truly desiring to be in God's presence and to listen to him. If you are just starting to read the Bible, (1) set aside at least 15 minutes alone in a quiet place each day; (2) pray for God to help you understand what you read; and (3) ask God to make his Word come alive for you. LIFE APPLICATION by Dr. Dave Burnette Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Isaiah with Chapter 55. In our text today, we see the Blessings for those who seek Him. I love verse 6, which says we are to seek the Lord while He may be found and to call on Him while He is near. In making an application, we see that in the day of Grace in which we live, we are to seek the Lord, for there is a day when God will shut the door. Just in the days of Noah before the flood, God extended a time for us to repent and be saved. We can seek the Lord for guidance in our lives, and he will listen and respond to our situations according to His Will. How about you? Have you sought the Lord? Let us learn from our text today and the reminder of Isaiah that we are to seek the Lord while He may be found and to call on Him while He is near.

Isaiah 54 ✒️ No Weapon Shall Prosper

May 16, 2024 • Dr. Dave Burnette

1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. 2Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; 3For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 4Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. 5For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 7For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. 9For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 10For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. 11O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. 12And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 13And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. 14In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. 15Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. 16Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. 17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. COMMENTARY by Dr. Dave Burnette Written By: God through Inspiration Penned By: Isaiah Date Penned: (700-681 BC) Overview: To Tell of God's Salvation through the Messiah (c 1-66) Theme: Words of Comfort (c 40-66) Message: Israel Will Be Rebuilt (v 1-17) Isaiah 54 Commentary (54:1) Childless - To be childless (barren) in the ancient world brought a woman great shame and disgrace and guaranteed a future of poverty for her. Families depended on children for survival, especially when the parents became elderly. Israel (represented by Jerusalem) was unfruitful, like a childless woman, but in the future restoration God would permit her to have many children and would change her mourning into singing. (54:6-8) Sins Separation - God said that he had abandoned Israel for a brief moment, so the nation was like a young wife rejected by her husband. But God still called Israel his own. The God we serve is holy, and he cannot tolerate sin. When his people blatantly sinned, God in his anger chose to punish them. Sin separates us from God and brings us pain and suffering. But if we confess our sin and repent, God will forgive us, showering us with love and compassion. Have you ever been separated from a loved one and then experienced joy when that person returned? That is like the joy God experiences when you repent and return to him. Heaven rejoices when a lost person returns to God (Luke 15:7). (54:9-13) A Covenant - God made a covenant with Noah that he has never broken (Genesis 9:8-17). Likewise, God made a covenant of peace with the people of Israel, promising that the time would come when he would stop pouring out his anger on them; he would restore their wealth, and he would personally teach their children. In Isaiah (54:11-12) The New Jerusalem - we see a picture of the future new Jerusalem (see also Revelation 21:10, 18-21). LIFE APPLICATION by Dr. Dave Burnette Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Isaiah with Chapter 54. In our text today, we see a promise of Israel to be fulfilled and rebuilt as the people of God are protected and restored by God. I love verse 17, which says that no weapon formed against thee shall prosper. In making an application, we see the promise of the Lord is still true today. We might face opposition and even lose a few battles, but the Lord reminds us that He will deliver us. How about you? Are you facing a battle? Let us learn from our text today and the promises of the Lord that no weapon formed against us shall prosper.