Isaiah 21
Isaiah’s vision of Medes coming to conquer Babylon verse 1- 4
The burden of the desert of the sea
As whirlwinds in the south pass through
so it comes from the desert – from a terrible land
A grievous vision is declared to me
the treacherous dealer deals treacherously
and the spoiler spoils
Go up – O Elam – besiege – O Media
all the sighing thereof have I made to cease
THEREFORE are my loins filled with pain
pangs have taken hold upon me
as the pangs of a woman that travails
I was bowed down at the hearing of it
I was dismayed at the seeing of it
My heart panted – fearfulness affrighted me
the night of my pleasure has
HE turned into fear unto me
Babylon unprepared for attack verse 5
Prepare the table – watch in the watchtower
eat – drink – arise
you princes, and anoint the shield
Watchman to watch for attack verse 6- 7
For thus has the Lord said to me
Go – set a watchman – let him declare what he sees
And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen
a chariot of asses – a chariot of camels
and he hearkened diligently with much heed
Isaiah reported what the LORD told him verse 8- 10
AND he cried
A lion – my lord
I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime
and I am set in my ward whole nights
and – behold – here comes a chariot of men
with a couple of horsemen
and behold, here comes a chariot of men
AND he answered and said
Babylon is fallen – is fallen
and all the graven images of her gods he has broken
to the ground
O my threshing – and the corn of my floor
that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts
the God of Israel – have I declared to you
Isaiah warns Edom verse 11- 12
The burden of Dumah
He calls to me out of Seir
Watchman – what of the night?
Watchman – what of the night?
The watchman said
The morning comes – and also the night
if you will inquire – inquire you – return – come
Isaiah warns Arabia verse 13- 15
The burden upon Arabia
In the forest in Arabia shall you lodge
O you traveling companies of Dedanim
The inhabitants of the land of Tema
brought water to him that was thirsty
They prevented with their bread him that fled
for they fled from the swords – for the drawn sword
and from the bent bow
and from the grievousness of war
LORD tells Isaiah within a year vision will come true verse 16- 17
For thus has the Lord said to me
Within a year – according to the year of an hireling
and all the glory of Kedar shall fail
AND the residue of the number of archers
the mighty men of the children of Kedar
shall be diminished
for the LORD God of Israel has spoken it
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me. (2837 “pleasure” [chesheq] means desire, set one’s affections, be attached to, or love. Isaiah l liked to think about pleasant things.)
DEVOTION: This vision caused him to have a nightmare. There are two interpretations regarding the time period of this fall of Babylon.
Some think that it was pre- Belshazzar Babylon. It was a time before the fall of Assyria when the children of Israel were looking to the area of Babylon to make a deal them. However, the Assyria’s defeated this group. Again, Israel was hoping in another nation to save them instead of the LORD.
Others think this is the time period of Belshazzar when he was sitting at his banquet table and the Media-Persians came in to conquer the city of Babylon in Daniel’s time.
It seems to be the time period before Babylon became a world power. Assyria was the power that was able to defeat this Babylonian rebellion.
Whichever time period the people of God need to look to the LORD alone for help. Too often they continue to look in the wrong direction for deliverance.
The people around him were living as if nothing was going on. Isaiah knew differently. The enjoyable nighttime had turned on him. Judgment didn’t come easy to those to whom it was revealed. They were more interested in saving people, not condemning them.
Isaiah would like to say that other nations would be there to save them but he knew that it was not true. The people of God were not looking to the LORD and HE had to send judgment because of their sin.
When we look at our loved ones who haven’t followed Christ – what is our thoughts? Are they sad thoughts? Are there thoughts that we should try to witness to them? They should be.
Isaiah was a prophet who was warning Israel of coming judgment. We should be like Isaiah and warn those we love concerning the coming judgment that will last for eternity.
As we look at our world situation can we see the judgment of the LORD coming? Is HE sending us warnings that the time is short? Can we see how the prophecies in the book of Revelation can come true?
CHALLENGE: Are we setting our affections on the things of the LORD? If so, we have a message to share with everyone we love. Most are doing what is right in their own eyes. We need to enlighten them to what is in the eyes of the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he sees. (6822 “watchman” [tsaphah] means spy, keep watch, look out, observe attentively, keep guard, or to peer.)
DEVOTION: Some people are observant and others are not. My wife looks for how well places are remodeled. She has a good eye for detail. If the border is not level she will see it. If a painter hits places that are not to be painted, she notices.
Now when it comes to be and those details, I am not very observant. It is non-essential information. I observe things like details when I enter a church to see if it is user friendly. I listen to the messages of the pastors to see if they are Biblical. Those areas are important to me.
Isaiah was informing the people of Israel of visions he was having regarding the nations that were around them. He knew that some of the Israelites would rather trust in other nations rather than God. God knew these facts as well and gave Isaiah a message to give to the people.
He was a watchman while the people were eating and drinking and making merry as if nothing bad was going to happen to them. The LORD instructed Isaiah to set a look out person to inform the people what was coming toward them.
The observer was to look for chariots coming toward the city. He was to signal a warning if the enemy was approaching. The children of Israel thought they were protected from harm because of their alliances with other nations. They were wrong.
Are we being observant of what is happening around us? Are we taking life seriously? There our enemies in our world. They would like to see the church disappear from our world. They think that God is not real. They think we are foolish for believing in a God who has not showed up for over two thousand years.
The problem is that we have had individuals predict dates for the return of the LORD and it has not happened. Many cults have predicted things that have not happened. That makes those outside of Christ think that we don’t know what we are talking about.
Our responsibility is to look to the Word of God for the truth regarding the coming of the LORD and then look at society to see how close me might be to HIS coming.
It seems to many Biblical scholars that nothing has to really happen before HE can return. Our responsibility is to be prepared and warn those around us to be ready. Those who are observers of our times should be warning us regarding the truth of HIS return.
There also needs to be a warning regarding the teachings that are going on in many churches. There needs to be warning regarding what books are good for those who believe the Bible to read. There needs to be warnings regarding who believers should listen to on the radio and television. Does this mean that we are to be negative people? NO!! We need to be truthful and teach what is written in the Word of God and let individuals observe who they are listening, reading or talking too as to the reliability of their statements.
CHALLENGE: We are to be a guard over the hearts of those we minister to on a regular basis. If we present the truth regarding an issue we can trust the Holy Spirit to show the people we talk to that it is the truth that we are sharing.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 6 “For thus has the LORD said to me: “Go, set a watchman, Let him declare what he sees.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). nagad /naw·gad/- to publish, declare, proclaim)
DEVOTION: Many people today place their hope and all their dreams in one basket. It may be the stock market or the assumption that an individual can secure for them the necessary elements to make their life successful or easier. Israel had done that with the nation of Babylon and they were so confident that this nation could stop the advance of the Assyrians. They anticipated the victory and even established a watch to announce if anyone came with news. Day after day the watchman waited and constantly kept watch until one day news arrived! Only, it was the wrong news and instead of rejoicing and celebration there was turmoil and confusion.
When we anticipate an unknown conclusion we must be prepared for either result, whether it be in our favor or against. Often though we convince ourselves that the Lord will give us an affirmative answer and so we expectantly wait.
The watchman is responsible for reporting what he sees not the anticipated result! He is faithful to the commission he is issued and reports only the facts. Faith removed, expectations detatched, emotionless the watchman must report the facts. Is the people of the city prepared? Are you prepared?
CHALLENGE: The watchman reports the facts, are you prepared for the unexpected? God’s word will inform us of the truth and will not swerve from the truth. It stills reminds us of sin and judgment; holiness and purity; eternal heaven and hell. The watchman will declare what he sees! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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: 10 O my threshing and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared to you. (5046 “declared” [nagad] means tell, show, utter, expound, report, to let something be known, inform, or to give evidence.)
DEVOTION: The LORD is declaring judgment on the nation of Israel because of their attitude toward HIM. HE wants the attitude to change and because of this HE is sending judgment for their own good.
How can judgment be for our own good? It is because sometimes that is the only way that the LORD gains our attention. We can just live day to day and really not realize that we are moving further away from the LORD in our daily activities.
The church today can have their programs and not realize that they are going through the motions but not really worshiping the LORD. Too often we can talk about the LORD without really talking to the LORD.
HE wants us to realize that we need to be not just talking about HIM but talking to HIM and listening when HE speaks back through HIS WORD the Bible. Many people who are believers can read the Bible each day and still not be truly worshiping the LORD.
Once we hear from the LORD we have to tell others what HE is saying to us and to fellow believers. We are prone to wander from faithful service to HIM because of the blessings HE gives us and sometimes we don’t realize that the blessings have stopped because we are not really hearing HIM anymore.
If we receive a message of the LORD we need to declare it to other believers to get their attention focused on HIM instead of ourselves and what we think we need instead of on HIM and what HE wants to be happening in our lives.
CHALLENGE: What are we focusing on today? Are we studying the Bible and still not listening to its message to us? Listen and move closer to the LORD instead of moving in our own direction.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 6, 16
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 10, 17
LORD of hosts verse 10
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 10, 17
God of Israel verse 10
States that all the glory of Kedar shall fail verse 16
LORD God of Israel verse 17
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Babylon verse 1- 9
Desert by the sea
Whirlwinds coming
Treacherous dealing
Horsemen saying “Babylon is fallen
All the graven images of her gods
are broken
Elam verse 2
Media verse 2
Princes verse 5
Watchman verse 6, 11, 12
Dumah verse 11
Seir verse 11
Arabia verse 13
Dedanim verse 13
Land of Tema verse 14, 15
Fled from the swords
Fled from the bent bow
Fled from the grievousness of war
Hireling verse 16
Kedar verse 16, 17
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Treacherous verse 2
Spoiler verse 2
Fear verse 4
False gods verse 9
Graven images verse 9
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Isaiah has a grievous vision verse 2
loins filled with pain
as a woman travailing with birth
I am dismayed
Heart panted
Fearfulness affrighted me
Night of my pleasure has HE
turned into fear
set a watchman to declare what he sees
saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen
Declared what he heard of the LORD
Watchman declares a burden of Dumah
Declares burden of Duman – seir
Talks to watchman
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
6–10 The prophet had seen a vision; then he heard the word of the Lord. Isaiah was to have a man posted on the lookout (v.6). What was he to expect to see? Any group of riders was to be reported (v.7), for they could be bringing news of what happened in the far country. The lookout was at his post for many days (v.8). His tour of duty wearied him, but his patience was at last rewarded as a lone charioteer appeared on the horizon (v.9). The message he brought was that Babylon, from which the people have been expecting so much, had fallen, presumably to the Assyrians (v.10). There was no trace of the rejoicing that accompanied the fall of that city in chapter 14. If Erlandsson is correct in his interpretation, this is simple to explain; for the prophet was describing the downfall of Babylon, not before the Persians—who were to be the means of return from exile for the Jews—but before the Assyrians, who were still the main “scourge of God” in the Fertile Crescent. The reference to the images of Babylon’s gods; and their shattering is perhaps an implied rebuke to Judah’s leaders. How could they hope for the blessing of God on an alliance with pagans?
The people of Judah, who had already suffered much at the hands of the Assyrians, are depicted as prostrate—and yet alive like grain that has fallen—bruised and yet safe on the threshing floor after the thresher has battered it severely with his flail (v.11). The image underlining their helpless condition was also perhaps intended to convey a note of hope. Judah was not chaff but grain, and the Lord Almighty who had used Assyria to bring the downfall of Babylon was also the God of Israel who would protect his people and fulfill his purposes for them. Their main human hope had gone, but this would leave them free to put their trust in the Lord. (Grogan, G. W. (1986). Isaiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, pp. 135–136). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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21:6–10a. God told Isaiah to have someone be on the lookout for the battle between Babylon and Assyria. The watchman was to look for anyone who would come his way to report on the battle (vv. 6–7). The watchman looked day after day till finally someone came with the message that Babylon had fallen and its gods lay shattered on the ground (v. 9). The emotional impact of this message on the people of Judah, who were hoping Babylon’s revolt would be successful, would be stunning. They had hoped that the alliance Hezekiah made with Babylon would break the Assyrian domination. But it was not to be. Sennacherib pushed Marduk-apal-iddina out of Babylon and as stated earlier (see comments on chap. 13), the Assyrian king eventually destroyed the city in 689 b.c. Babylon’s fall seemed like the last straw. Now no one could stop the Assyrian Empire. So Judah felt crushed emotionally like grain on the threshing floor (cf. Jer. 51:33). (Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1068). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The word “Babel” means “gateway to a god” and sounds like the Hebrew word balal, which means “confusion” (Gen. 10:8–10; 11:1–9). In Scripture, Babylon symbolizes the world system man has built in defiance of God. Jerusalem and Babylon are contrasting cities: One is the chosen city of God, the other the wicked city of man. The city of God will last forever, but the rebellious city of man will ultimately be destroyed (Rev. 14:8; 16:19; 17–18).
God musters His army (Isa. 13:1–5, 17–18). God is sovereign. He is able to call any army He desires, to accomplish any task He assigns. He can summon them with a whistle (7:18), or by using leaders to raise a banner, shout, and beckon to the soldiers (13:2). In this case, God is mustering the army of the Medes (v. 17; 21:2); and He calls them “My sanctified ones.” Even though they did not believe in Jehovah God, the Medes were set apart by God to do His holy work.
God punishes His enemies (Isa. 13:6–22). The city of Babylon was completely destroyed in 689 B.C. by Sennacherib and the Assyrian army, but it was rebuilt by Sennacherib’s son. In 539 B.C., Darius the Mede captured the city (Dan. 5:31), but he did not destroy it. In the centuries that followed, Babylon had its “shining moments,” but after the death of its last great conqueror, Alexander the Great, the city declined and soon was no more. Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled, for the city was not rebuilt.
But it is clear that Isaiah’s prophecy describes something more significant than the ups and downs of an ancient city. The prophets often began a message by focusing on local events, but then enlarged their vision to reveal something greater. Isaiah saw in the fall of Babylon a picture of “the day of the Lord” (Isa. 13:6, 9, 13), that time when God will pour out His wrath on the whole world (v. 11). The image of the woman in travail is used in Scripture to describe a time of judgment (v. 8; 21:3; 26:17; Jer. 6:24; Micah 4:9–10; Matt. 24:8, where “sorrows” is “birthpains”; 1 Thes. 5:3). Isaiah looked beyond that day to the day when the Babylonian world system would be destroyed (Rev. 17–18). Compare Isaiah 13:10 with Matthew 24:29; Joel 2:10; and Revelation 6:12–14; and see Jeremiah 50–51. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (pp. 43–44). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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It gave Isaiah no pleasure to be able to predict the awful suffering to which Israel’s enemies were to be exposed. His tender heart grieved deeply over the desolation and destruction that their idolatry and corruption were to bring down upon them. He speaks almost as an eye-witness of the scene of revelry which took place on Belshazzar’s last night. In few but lucid words, he pictures the scene of terror that followed the influx of the troops of the allies who entered Babylon through the dry bed of the Euphrates, according to Herodotus, after Cyrus had turned away the water of that river some miles above the city. It is true that some modern historians reject this story, but whether Herodotus was right or not, in some way the Medes and the Persians overcame every obstacle to the taking of the city and thronged its streets, slaying old and young, while the princes of Babylon, utterly unprepared for such an unexpected assault, tried in terror to rally the defenders of the city. But it was too late: “In that night was Belshazzar … slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom” (Daniel 5:30, 31).
Isaiah, himself, takes the place of a watchman and beholds with prophetic eye the chariots of the triumphant conquerors and hears the cry, so similar to that which we have in the New Testament, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods hath he broken unto the ground.” And so at last this great fountainhead of idolatry was to be destroyed. That the vision was given by God, the prophet asserts solemnly even while he cries out as he realizes that Babylon’s destruction means the deliverance of Israel, whom he designates “the corn of my floor.”
The burden of Dumah, given in the next two verses, is worthy of our most careful attention. It has a message which applies to any time ere the final judgments of God fall upon the earth. (Ironside, H. A. (1952). Expository notes on the prophet Isaiah. (pp. 121–123). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 6. For thus hath the Lord said unto me, &c.] This is a confirmation of the above prophecy from the Lord himself, he shewing to the prophet, in a visionary way, the ruin of Babylon, and the means and instruments of it: go, set a watchman; not Habakkuk, as Jarchi; nor Urias, as the Septuagint; nor Jeremiah, as others; but himself, who, in a way of vision, personated a watchman on the walls of Babylon; and which was no way unsuitable to his character and office as a prophet: let him declare what he seeth; what he sees coming at a distance, or at hand, let him faithfully and publicly make it known: these are not the words of the king of Babylon to one of his watchmen; but of the Lord of hosts to his prophet.
Ver. 7. And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, &c.] The drivers of it, or the riders in it; perhaps meaning Cyrus and Darius: a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; by the former may be meant the Persians, who very much used mules or asses; and the Medes by the latter, who abounded in camels: the words are in the singular number, and may be rendered, a rider of an ass, and a rider of a camel; and so may describe the couple of riders along with the chariot, which may signify the whole army of the Medes and Persians, chariots being much used in war; and the rider of the ass or mule may design Cyrus, who was called a mule, because of his mixed descent, being a Persian by his father, and a Mede by his mother’s side; so the oracle of Apollo told the Babylonians, that their city should stand, until a mule was king of the Medes; and the rider of the camel may point at Darius: and he hearkened diligently with much heed; the watchman that was set to watch used the utmost attention to what he saw, and listened diligently to the noise of this chariot and horsemen, as they came nearer.
Ver. 8. And he cried, a lion, &c.] That is, the watchman cried, a lion, or that he saw a lion; not Uriah the priest, as the Septuagint; nor Habakkuk, as some Jewish writers; but Cyrus, at the head of the Persian and Median armies, compared to a lion for his fierceness, courage, and strength; see 2 Tim. 4:17 a type of Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, by whom antichrist, or mystical Babylon, will be destroyed, Rev. 5:5. The Targum is, “the prophet said, the voice of armies, coming with coats of mail, as a lion.” Aben Ezra interprets it, the watchman cried as a lion, with a great voice; upon sight of the chariots and horsemen, he lifted up his voice, and roared like a lion, to express the terror he was in, and the greatness of the calamity that was coming upon the city. I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the day-time; so that nothing could escape his notice: and I am set in my ward whole nights; which expresses his diligence, vigilance, and constancy, in the discharge of his duty; and therefore what he said he saw might be depended on.
Ver. 9. And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, &c.] Or of a man; a chariot with a man in it, Cyrus or Darius: with a couple of horsemen; the army of the Medes and Persians, with their two leaders or generals, as before; only now seen nearer the city, just entering into it; for so the word may be rendered, goeth, or is gone in a chariot, &c.: and he answered, and said; either the watchman, upon seeing the chariot and horsemen go into the city; or one of the horsemen that went in; so the Syriac and Arabic versions; or rather the prophet, and the Lord by him: Babylon is fallen, is fallen; which is repeated to shew the certainty of it. The same words are used of the fall of mystical Babylon, Rev. 14:8 and 18:2. The Targum is, “it is fallen, and also it shall be, that Babylon shall fall;” that is, a second time, and hereafter: and so Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it of two falls, one by the Medes and Persians, and the other by the hand of heaven, or God himself: literal Babylon fell by the former; mystical Babylon will fall by the latter, even by the breath of Christ’s mouth, and the brightness of his coming: and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground; either Cyrus or Darius, who might do this, not from any detestation of them, but for the sake of the gold, and silver, and riches, that were about them; or rather the Lord by them, and so put an end to idolatry; as will be, when mystical Babylon is destroyed.
Ver. 10. O my threshing, and the corn of my floor, &c.] Which may be understood either of the Babylonians, now threshed or punished by the Lord, and whom he had made use of as instruments for the punishment of others; or rather of the people of the Jews, whom the prophet calls his, as being his countrymen, to whom he was affected, and with whom he sympathized; and besides, he speaks in the name of the Lord; or it is the Lord that speaks by him, calling the church of the Jews his floor, and the people his corn, which were dear and valuable to him, as choice grain, wheat, and other things; and therefore, though he threshed or afflicted them, it was for their good, to purge and cleanse them, and separate the chaff from them; and indeed it was on their account, and for their good, that all this was to be done to Babylon, before predicted; where they were, as corn under the threshing instrument, greatly oppressed and afflicted, but now should be delivered; for the confirmation of which ’tis added: that which I have heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you; the preceding prophecy was not a dream of his, but a vision from the Lord of hosts; it was not devised by him, but told him by the Lord, and that for the good and comfort of the people of Israel, whose covenant-God he was; and the prophet acted a faithful part, in delivering it just as he received it, which might be depended on. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, pp. 117–118). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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A DEEPER KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
…that I may know thee. Exodus 33:13
Moses was not content with a mere knowledge of the fact that he was accepted by God and that he was in God’s care. He knew that, but he was not content with it; he wanted more. “That I may know thee,” said Moses. He wanted a personal knowledge of God. He wanted a direct knowledge of God.
And here is something that you will find in the lives of all the great saints of God in the church throughout the ages. The first thing that happens to them is that they themselves feel this desire for a deeper knowledge of God. They begin to feel a hunger and thirst for something bigger and something deeper. They are no longer content with what I may call the ordinary condition of the church. They want something extraordinary, something unusual.
Let me give you some lines from a hymn that seem to me to put it very well indeed.
Speak, I pray thee, gentle Jesus;
Oh, how passing sweet, thy words,
Breathing o’er my troubled spirit,
Peace, which never earth affords.
And then it goes on to say:
Tell me thou art mine, O Savior;
Grant me an assurance clear….
William Williams
That is the thing. He knows that the Savior loves him. But you see what he wants:
Tell me thou art mine, O Savior
Only the man who knows the Savior’s love asks Him for that. Here is a man asking for something special, something unusual, something additional.
A Thought to Ponder
They feel a desire for a deeper knowledge of God.
(From Revival, pp. 177-178, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Wars and Rumors of Wars
“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (Matthew 24:6)
Christians are often chided because they are looking for the return of Christ rather than improving this present world. The fact is, however, that Bible-believing Christians have been largely responsible for such improvements in this world as have actually been achieved (elimination of slavery, establishment of hospitals and educational institutions, founding and development of modern science, advances in political freedoms, etc.).
On the other hand, Christ predicted that wars would continue despite His own death and resurrection. In fact, the prophet Daniel had prophesied over five centuries earlier that “unto the end of the war desolations are determined” (Daniel 9:26). For 2,500 years the prophecies have been fulfilled and will continue to be fulfilled until Christ returns. In that day, God promises: “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.” However, it is not the misguided efforts of secularists and worldlyminded Christians that will bring about this state of eternal peace and righteousness. “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:7).
Our text is taken from Christ’s Olivet discourse, given in answer to His disciples’ questions about His Second Coming (Matthew 24-25). Climaxing His message, He said, “Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). The wicked, warring nations of the earth all will mourn (not rejoice over!) His coming. In the meantime, He urges all true Christians to “be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Many are content to sit around in the pews singing, “ Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” They are resigned to this interpretation of the will of God: “Whatever God wants to do is fine with me.” They are passively resigned.
But are they willing to hear the voice of God and obey HIS bidding, and do what He wants them to do? That would become active participation and acceptance of the will of God. It would mean bringing the entire life into accord with New Testament teaching. (p.99)
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It is quite simple. God heard Elijah because Elijah had heard God. (p. 99)
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It is my conviction that one of the reasons we exhibit very little spiritual power is because we are unwilling to accept and experience the fellowship of the Savior’s sufferings, which means acceptance of His cross. (p. 100)
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The true saints of God have always borne witness that wholehearted obedience brings the cross into the light quicker than anything else. (p. 102) (I Talk Back to the Devil by A. W. Tozer)
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The Power of a Sound Mind
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
The gift spoken of in the previous verse is based on a transfer of authority from God, and we are exhorted to “stir up” that gift (2 Timothy 1:6) because God did not give us a “spirit of fear.” The word fear (deilia) stresses timidity or cowardice, not terror. The gift does not function well if we are too timid to use it.
The gift referred to is not power. That spiritual gift comes with dunamis—the innate ability to do the gift. Whatever the Holy Spirit has gifted us with upon our entrance into the Kingdom (1 Corinthians 12:11), that gift comes with the power necessary to implement and use that gift.
The gift also comes with love. Again, love is not the gift. It is only part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit that comes with the gift. Were it not for the reflection in us of the unilateral and sacrificial love of our Redeemer, these supernatural gifts could well be misused, distorted, and abused for personal glory. Diotrephes misused his gift, failing to use the spirit of love (3 John 1:9).
Sophronismos (sound mind) is a unique Greek word that is a combination of the verbs “to save” and “to control.” Its basic meaning would be “safe control” or “wholesome control”— perhaps even “control that saves”—the perfect combination of abilities that empower the gift, the love that keeps the gift focused on others, and the “safety controls” to keep it from doing damage unwittingly.
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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