Isaiah 55:1–13

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         In our passage we find perhaps the most beautiful description of grace to be found in the Hebrew Bible, and not the only one either. Law and Grace go together perfectly; indeed, our Gospel is a careful blend of the two.

2.         The great evangelical invitation, “Come, everyone who thirsts” begins this magnificent song. What quenches the great spiritual thirst cannot be acquired by any human effort. 3.         In verse two the question is raised “Why” do we work so very hard for that which can never satisfy? This is the story of the human predicament.       All the world’s religions attest to the traffic error, even much of what is found within the diverse Christian community.

4.         The universal invitation is “come to me,” in verse 3. And when we come to Him He makes an “everlasting covenant” with us, and like the covenant made with David (see 2 Samuel 7:4–17), and David was not close to being without sin, the covenant cannot be broken. This is a way of referring to eternal security, that in Christ, we are saved to the uttermost.

5.         And to us the call comes, “seek the Lord,” and “let the wicked forsake his way,” and the result is we are abundantly pardoned.” Salvation is a constant flow of grace.

6.         Yes, this is beyond our understanding, indeed God’s thoughts and ways we cannot fully grasp.

7.         So now we have a joy and a peace deeply placed within us, this life we have which is an Exodus to a new Eden.

1. Both Islam and Mormonism were started by a prophet who said he had the last word from God. This was the last word and there would be nothing else. This was finally it. Mohammed said this and so did Joseph Smith.
2. Both received, as they reported, a revelation from an angel, Gabriel for Mohammed and Moroni for Joseph Smith. (A number of religions and sects have begun with a visitation by an “angel.”)
3. The purpose behind both visitations was to restore Christianity and true religion. Everything that had been revealed by God before then was wrong or temporary and was now to be put aside. 
4. Both of these encounters with angels resulted in a book, the Koran for Muslims  and the Book of Mormon for the Latter Day Saints.
5. Opposition began and both prophets were martyred. Upon their martyrdom, the groups split along family lines, some following one side of the feud, some following another.
6. Both groups developed a system of prophets or other leaders who proclaimed the authoritative word of God on an ongoing basis.
7. Then there was rapid growth, both groups employing some rather radical methods of evangelism, some quite militant about it. 
8. Both religious groups are rich and powerful.
10. Both groups are quite defensive when they perceive that their belief systems are being attacked. 
11. Both groups rely on miracles to substantiate their “truth.”

Meditation on Isaiah 53:7-12

He Was Pierced for our Transgressions–Part Two

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture.

1.         Here now we have the last part of the Servant Song, which began in Isaiah 52:13. The Prophet Isaiah sets out in such a memorable manner the ministry of the Lamb of God.

2.         Isaiah speaks as though the events he foresees have already been completed as we see in the phrase, “He was oppressed.”

3.         The first message here now is the Lamb is quietly and without resistance being “led to the slaughter.”

4.         This killing is one of oppression, and is carried out unlawfully. Yet, the Lamb yields to the unjust circumstances.

5.         The reason the Lamb is “cut off,” is because of the “transgression of my people?” And we note the question mark, which indicates the cutting off is a shocking event, even something that no one can grasp.

6.         Incredibly, after the death of the Lamb, He is somehow buried with both the wicked and the rich. This incredible prophecy we find fulfilled in Matthew 27:57-60.

7.         The Lamb is innocent in Himself, and His death, His “crushing” is the “will” of the LORD. For those of Isaiah’s day, this would have been completely inexplicable.

8.         And this “will” of the LORD shall result is the utmost prosperity. Indeed, as a result of the work of the “righteous one, my servant,” many will be cleansed of their iniquities. Thus God brings triumph out of tragedy.

9.         As the last servant song comes to a conclusion, we have a retelling of the central motif of Isaiah’s prophecy: by the willful pouring out of His life unto death and thus being numbered with the transgressors, He yet bares the sin of “many”—and we note the “many” and not the all.

Meditation on Isaiah 53:1–6

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture.

1.         Isaiah 52:13–15 is where the fourth “servant song” began that is titled “He was Pierced for our Transgressions.” It is a stunning poem since it encompasses all of human history right up to the return of the despised servant.

2.         Some commentators say the passage speaks of a king, or prophet, or priest that would arise and bring peace and healing to Israel and does not speak of a future event, that is, the incarnation. Clearly, no one in Isaiah’s time fits.

3.         Isaiah speaks of the servant’s horror and misery, which is turned into God’s power and glory. The servant’s suffering is not due to His own sin. Common in that era is the idea that suffering portrayed God’s disfavor.  We see this in Job where it is thought Job’s suffering is something he brought upon himself. Here the suffering is for the sins of others.

4.         In verse 1 of chapter 53 is a question that must remind us of the fact that God reveals Himself and cannot be found out. It is an ancient way of referring to the electing of a sovereign Creator. We are reminded of Romans 8:29–30.

5.         Verse 2 reminds of the virgin birth, with the servant depicted as a young plant, thus weak and lowly, and also one coming like a root out of dry ground—the miraculous.

6.         The servant is not a warrior king saving the nation of Israel, a great prophet with new revelations, but one who bears the sin of the people upon Himself. This personage, and it is referencing a human, is actually pierced, that is killed due to “our” transgressions.

7.         And “all we like sheep have gone astray” points to the great need of the saving Shepherd who takes all our sins upon Himself. A perfect portrayal of Jesus and the cross.

You have been duped if you think you are the “Master of your fate and the captain of your soul”

This is chapter one of my book, Are You Being Duped? Still at Amazon.

Meditation on Isaiah 52:1—15

The Lord’s Coming Salvation

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture.

1.         The nation of Israel, its history, is paramount in the unfolding story of salvation. From the creation and Adam and Eve in the garden flows the long story of the Messiah, the One chosen to be the means of redemption.

2.         With Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob the story unfolds in real time. The 400 years of captivity in Egypt, the deliverance under the leadership of Moses, the desert wandering, the entrance into Canaan, the Promised Land, the building of the temple in Jerusalem under David and Solomon, the division of the kingdom into Israel and Judah, then the long history of the prophets.

3.         Isaiah, prophet to Judah, 740 BCE and on, more clearly speaks of the servant of Israel who will emerge at some point in the future. He speaks of the calamities that befall God’s people, the loss of the northern Israel to the Assyrians, and later the Babylonian captivity.

4.         Isaiah speaks about that which will be coming, the Lord’s coming salvation, and calls for celebration. He sees centuries ahead to the Messiah, the One who brings good news. He exults, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet” of the one who announces and publishes salvation.

5.         But then the prophet seems to switch gears and speaks of this One being “lifted up,” which can be taken in two ways in the following chapter. One, exaltation as a great king, and two, treated so badly that He becomes unrecognizable.

6.         Despite it all, and we understand Isaiah to be referring to the crucifixion, this coming One brings salvation and even to the Gentiles, here named, the “nations.”       

We have made a decision to invest ourselves in reaching out to transgender people and their families, a most vulnerable demographic, and which few are venturing into, and for good reasons. 

Also, and at the same time, is our focus on deliverance ministry. We already have the book, Deliver us From Evil: How Jesus Casts Out Demons Today (which is now being translated into Spanish). Also Stephanie Adams is making a Word document out of a book Bob Hymers and I wrote in 1977 titled, The Deliverance Book, published by Bible Voice. Also, my ThM thesis, which was published by Zondervan Publishing House in 1973, A Manual of Demonology and the Occult, is being made into a Word document by Maggie Bates. These last two works will be published this year by our own Earthen Vessel Media.

These areas of outreach, besides the others our little MAC are engaged in, will be at the core of evangelistic outreach for the rest of my ministry.

Meditation on Isaiah 40:1-8

Comfort for God’s People &

The Word of God Stands Forever

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passages of Scripture.

1.         Chapter 40 begins the second section of Isaiah. The background is the return of the Jews from exile in Babylon. In 586 BCE the Babylonians overwhelmed Judah and took large numbers to Babylon. In about 540 the Persians under King Cyrus (see the end of chapter 44 and early verses of chapter 45), overcame the Babylonians and allowed the Jewish people to return to Judah.

2.         Isaiah began his ministry about 740 BCE and continued for about 60 years. This is why some commentators believe there are two sections of Isaiah. And this does not impact our doctrine of inspiration of the Scripture in any way.

3.         Comfort, Comfort, nahamu, nahamu, in Hebrew—words of encouragement to the Jews from Yahweh. Warfare is over, peace has come, God is making a way for His people.

4.         “The glory of the LORD shall be revealed”–may be a reference to the advent of the Messiah, and the people returning to Judea is a big part of the overall plan.

5.         Then a voice says, “Cry!” This is the voice of God and the prophet asks “what shall I cry?” The answer is stunning.

6.         “All flesh is grass” is the core of the following incredible poem. The Creator God reminds us of who and what we are. We are like grass and a flower; these grow, but then fade and die. The times come and go, we come and go, but there is one thing that will stand and it is our God.

7.         This is a word of hope for us today as well. We are acutely aware of the fragile nature of our world and of ourselves. Our hope alone is in our God, who in Christ Jesus has rescued us from death and hell.

This refers to casting out of demons. It has been 4 decades since I have done much in this area, but now it is time to begin again. The need has grown exponentially, and so here I go again. I no longer lie awake at night worrying about what people think of me. So then, here I go again.

Not wanting to be sensational here, but in recent weeks I have decided to emphasize something I have avoided for four decades: deliverance ministry, which means, the casting out of demons from people who had become possessed. We will talk about how possession occurs and what to do about it.

For long years I was somewhat embarrassed to be identified with such, though I knew concretely of the reality of it. But now in my old age, I no longer lay awake at night worrying about what people think of me.

That is it for now. There will be a lot more.