On January 25, 2023, as I was preparing to start my activities for the day, I felt Holy Spirit pulling me away to spend time with the Lord. As I settled into that, I asked what He wanted to talk about, what was on His heart today. After a time of praying in the spirit and listening, He led me to Isaiah 51. This chapter starts with God admonishing us to, “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, Who seek the Lord.” He had my attention; I was listening.
While my “go to” version of the Bible is the New American
Standard (quoted above), He led me to look at this in the New Living
Translation (NLT). The NLT states it
this way, “Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance —
all who seek the Lord!”
Now He really had my attention!
I knew He was about to speak to me as one of those who is hoping for
deliverance for our nation.
As I read through Isaiah 51 in both translations, Holy
Spirit highlighted two specific portions to me – verses 4 & 5 and then
verses 7 & 8. I will look at both of
these in depth.
Isaiah 51:4-5
The first portion He highlighted was Isaiah 51:4-5. Here it is in the NASB.
4 “Pay attention to Me, O My people,
And give ear to Me, O My nation;
For a law will go forth from Me,
And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples.
5 “My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth,
And My arms will judge the peoples;
The coastlands will wait for Me,
And for My arm they will wait expectantly.
Once again, God is saying, “Pay attention to
Me, O My people. And give ear to Me, O
My nation.” I knew that God was not only trying to get my
attention, personally, but the attention of His people, His nation. While this is an Old Testament passage, from
a New Testament perspective we are also His people, citizens of His holy
nation. Peter makes that clear in 1
Peter 2:9.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Once God gets our attention, He tells us, “For
a law will go forth from Me, And I will set My justice for a light of the
peoples.” Many of us have
been crying out for justice. Here, God
is promising that His justice, according to His law – not the unrighteous laws
that wicked men and women concoct – will come and it will be a light to the peoples.
The word translated as “law” in this passage is “towrah.”[1] It means law, direction, or instruction. It not only means law, as we understand that
word, but also His instructions and directions to us. When this passage says that His “law
will go forth,” we are not just talking about the Big 10 (the 10
Commandments in Exodus 20) or even the Top 2 (the two to which Jesus boiled
them down in Matthew 22:37-40). This
word also carries the connotation of instructions and directions He provides
for us. In the Old Testament era when
this was written, God’s instructions and directions came through one of His
prophets. Now, we have the extreme
privilege of each of us being able to communicate with God directly. We can receive His instructions and
directions for our personal lives.
However, He also continues to provide instructions and directions
through His prophets for groups of people, particularly cities, regions, or
nations.
The Hebrew word that is translated as “justice” in verse 4
is the word “mishpat.”[2] It means judgment, justice, or
ordinance. The more interesting word is “raga”[3] that is translated
“set.” It means to act in an instant,
stir up, or disturb. God is saying that
when His law goes forth, when He provides His direction and instruction, He will
then act in an instant to bring His justice to be a “owr”[4] or light of instruction to
the “am.”[5] Am can mean either a people
group or a nation. God is saying that He
will act in an instant to bring justice, which will become instruction to not
only those being judged but to other nations as well.
God continues in verse 5 saying, “My righteousness
is near, My salvation has gone forth.” Interestingly, “tsedeq”[6] can mean rightness or
righteousness, but also justice. As God
is setting things “right” again, that is justice. His salvation or deliverance (“yesha”[7]) has already (past tense)
“gone forth.”
This phrase is from “yatsa,”[8] which literally means to
go or to come out or to go forth.
When He says, “And My arms will judge the peoples,”
the word peoples again speaks of a nation or nations. The word for judge, “shaphat,”[9] means to judge, govern,
vindicate, or punish. It’s interesting
that it carries both sides – vindication and punishment. As God begins to bring justice, as the
Supreme Judge, He will both punish the guilty, those who have broken His laws, and
vindicate the falsely accused. That is
true justice. It is also interesting
that this speaks of judging people groups or nations, not just
individuals.
In the next passage, the are two different words used for
“wait,” but they mean essentially the same thing. The first is “qavah”[10] and the second is “yachal.”[11] The first means to wait, look for, hope, or
expect. The second also means to wait,
hope, or expect. Qavah carries a
connotation of not just looking eagerly for something, but also lingering until
it comes. Likewise, yachal can include
tarrying for it. Both mean waiting
expectantly, with hope, but can also mean that the realization of that hope may
be delayed. We must keep our expectancy
and not lose hope during the waiting process.
Isaiah 51:7-9
The second portion Holy Spirit highlighted was verses 7
through 9. Here is Isaiah 51:7-9, also
in NASB.
7 “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness,
A people in whose heart is My law;
Do not fear the reproach of man,
Nor be dismayed at their revilings.
8 “For the moth will eat them like a garment,
And the grub will eat them like wool.
But My righteousness will be forever,
And My salvation to all generations.”
Once again, this portion starts with “Listen
to Me.” I did not address
this above, but the word for “listen” is “shama”[12] and means to hear, listen
to, obey. (This same word is used in
verse 1.) God isn’t just saying, “hey,
listen up.” He’s saying, “listen to Me,
hear what I am saying, and obey what I am telling you.” Since He keeps repeating this admonition, He
is making a point that He really means what He says! “Listen to Me, hear what I am saying, and
obey what I am telling you.”
In these verses, my attention was drawn to the admonition in
the second half of verse 7. “Do
not fear the reproach of man, Nor be dismayed at their revilings.”
The word for “fear” is “yare,”[13] meaning to fear, revere,
or be afraid. The word for “reproach” is
“cherpah.”[14] This can be translated reproach or scorn, but
can be a taunt or scorn (from an enemy), a reproach (resting on a condition of
share or disgrace), or reproach. The
word for “man” is “enowsh”[15] which means a man or
person, mankind, or mortal man. I like
this last definition. The word for
“dismayed” is “chathath.”[16] It means to be shattered, be dismayed, be
broken, be abolished, or be afraid.
God is saying that we are not to be afraid of – or on the
other side, revere – a mortal man. We
are not to be afraid of their scorn or their taunts, nor allow them to shame us
for something that is not shameful (by God’s standard). We are not to allow their revilings or their
verbal abuse to break us, shatter us, or make us afraid. Remember, they are mere mortals!
God then shares their end.
The word for “eat,” “awkal,”[17] means to eat, to devour,
burn up, or feed. The word translated
“grub,” “cac,”[18] is more accurately also
translated moth. Since the NLT
translates it as “worm,” we might assume that one refers to a mature moth while
the second one refers to the moth in its original “worm” stage. Either can eat away at wool or other similar
fibers destroying a garment or piece of fabric.
The connotation here is that they “devour” it. Picture it.
An insect will devour those mere mortals who have been reviling us!
Yet, God’s righteous will be everlasting. The word used for righteousness here is “tsedaqah”[19] which means justice or
righteous. However, two of the specific
applications of this word relate to government – righteousness in government as
a judge, ruler, or king or of the righteous law in government. This reflects back to verse 4 talking about
re-establishing His righteous law.
Finally, the word translated “salvation” is “y’shuwah.”[20] It means salvation or
deliverance, but carries the connotation of welfare and prosperity as well as
deliverance and victory. It’s not just
being saved or rescued from perishing, but saved to a point of victory and
prosperity. That’s true salvation!
How Does That Apply To Us?
So what is the Holy Spirit trying to convey to us, in
January 2023, from this passage? I
believe He was speaking three things.
1. First,
He will re-establish His law. His
values of “right” and “wrong” will again prevail. This upside-down world in which right has
become wrong and wrong has become right will be turned back right-side-up.
Realize that when that happens, things will be a
topsy-turvy for a while. As the “sphere”
of the current world is rotated to turn it back right-side up, everything that
is not firmly attached (can we say, “built on the rock”) is going to start
bouncing around! Hear this warning. Make sure that you have your house built on
the rock.
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27
Remember that “law” in the passage we are exploring
also meant direction and instructions.
He will have those in places of authority that are hearing and following
His directions and instructions, not just within “the church world,” but in all
the spheres of influence including government, business, media, arts &
entertainment, education, and family.
2. Then
He will bring His justice. Once
He has re-established the accurate plumbline by re-establishing His law (His
opinion on morality, right & wrong, just and unjust, etc.), then He will
move swiftly to begin to execute judgment and bring justice. With that, He will vindicate the innocent as
well as bring the just reward upon those who continue in their paths of
evil.
Take this in the context of re-establishing this
nation; this is not the “final judgment” when all those who die in sin will be
judged. This is about bringing down
wicked despots who have thought they were going to completely push God and His
people out of the way and take over complete control not only of this nation
(the United States) but of all the nations, finally advancing their global
agenda.
Many have felt that this season is “the worst things
have ever been.” While that may be true
for us here in America where we have been extremely blessed because of the
favor of the Lord on this nation, it is certainly not true world-wide. In spite of those trying to re-write our
history, America was founded on Christian values, prayer, and the
Word of God. That is evident from the
covenants made with God by some of the earliest colonists to the prayer that
went into penning our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution, to the
prayers recorded of many of our presidents or other national leaders along the
way. That is why we have been so
blessed, in spite of our many evils across the centuries.
However, as a nation, we have not just strayed from
that path, but many have tried to blow it up so we can never get back. There is talk of a “great reset.” Hear me.
There is going to be a great reset – but not the one those crafting the
one being discussed are expecting! God
is going to “reset” our moral compass to His ways. He is going to awaken this nation, including
many who believe they are “woke.” The
difference between being “woke” and truly being “awake” is going to become very
obvious. Not only has the revival for
which we have been praying and believing started, so has the awakening. Historically, when such moves have happened,
they were not recognized until they were in full bloom. When and where it really started has been
identified in retrospect. This time, it
will not be one place or one particular event, nor will they be contained to
one small geographical area. This time,
God is going to blow the lid off! He is
after a world-wide harvest!
3. We
must wait expectedly and patiently for His timing. We cannot lose hope. We cannot quit praying. We must continue to press in the spirit realm
until the “fullness of time” comes and God makes His move.
Many of us are asking, “When, Lord?” Okay, many of us have been asking, “When,
Lord?” for years at this point!
The simple answer, “at the right time.”
When is that? Whenever the Father
says!
I will offer a scripture that has anchored me through
many long waits. It is Habakkuk
2:3.
“For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
For it will certainly come, it will not delay.
God’s promise that He will re-establish righteous laws
and bring justice “is yet for the appointed time. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will
certainly come.”
We also need to heed Galatians 6:9.
9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
We cannot afford to grow weary and stop pressing
through just before we reach the breakthrough!
How should we be walking through difficult times? Paul tells us in Romans 12:9-21.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
This passage is from a letter that Paul wrote to the
Romans, long before he himself was taken to Rome as a prisoner. He was writing to believers who, any day,
could be facing death because of their faith, as he eventually would. When you hear others complain about "how
bad” it is or that they are feeling “persecuted,” pause and reflect. The believers in Rome to whom Paul was writing
understood true persecution. They were
being killed daily, usually in a torturous manner.
Take to heart Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians in
2 Corinthians 4:17-18.
17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
In the overall scope of eternity, our whole life is
but a moment in time. A few years of
that are just “momentary.” What we are
experiencing, when compared to what those to whom Paul wrote in Rome or even to
our brothers and sisters around the world today who live in places where
Christianity is illegal as it was in Rome, is no more than “light
affliction.” If we walk rightly through
it, it will produce a work in us that is eternal.
As part of that, do not let their words get to
you! Do not fear the reproach or
railings of the opposition. They may
call us “deplorables” and try to demean us as though we were children and cannot
think for ourselves. In the end, we will
be standing in victory and prosperity and they will be devoured.
Summary
Let me recap the essence of this message and provide the
main points to take away.
1. It
is God’s desire and plan to turn things around in this nation. However, He needs our partnership; He needs His people here on this planet to
bring His will from heaven to earth.
2. God
will mete out judgment and justice. His
justice will include not only punishment for the gross evil that has been
perpetrated, but vindication for many who have been falsely accused.
3. God
will move when He determines it is the correct time – and not until that
time.
4. As
God begins to set things back “right-side up,” there will be a lot of shaking
and chaos. Be prepared and don’t let it
shake you. Make sure you are grounded on
the Rock.
5. Both
the revival for which we have been praying and the awakening that we have
sought have started; they just are not yet in full bloom. Embrace them!
Help fuel them!
6. Our
assignment is to continue to pray and war in the spirit until the job is
done. That doesn’t mean until we see the
shift, but until the job is completely done.
Do not succumb to a persecution complex.
Wait patiently, but work (keep praying and waring in the spirit) while
you wait.
7. Don’t
let the accusations of those fighting against God get to you. Realize they are operating as their father,
the devil, wants and is instructing.
Words are powerful. But they are
more powerful when they are God inspired.
We have the authority to break their words and curses. Use it.
