Friday, May 14, 2021

"All Nations Are a Drop in the Bucket" to the LORD

Isaiah 40 is an incredible chapter of comfort.

If you are facing fears about a potential world war or anxiety about our country's descent into Socialism or Marxism, or if the thought of your children and grandchildren growing up in the bankrupt United States spooks you, you should read Isaiah 40. 

The LORD has a purpose for His people. He is in control. "All the nations are a drop in the bucket" to the LORD. (Isaiah 40:15). 

China has declared it will rule the world by 2049. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intends to bring the United States and the world under its domination by the 100th anniversary of the 1949 Communist Revolution in China.

The Chinese Communist Party wants to conquer the United States without firing a shot. If they can assist the citizens of the United States in turning from theism to atheism, from moralism to materialism, and from capitalism to socialism, it will not require a military to conquer the United States. We will be brothers to the communists. Ironically, the arrest, imprisonment, torture, and killing of millions of monotheists in China (Muslims, Christians, Falun Gong, etc.) is all done in the name of "science." CCP officials can't have the people disagreeing with what the government says is best for the populace. You must first shut them up verbally, then if that doesn't work, you shut them up physically, and if they still aren't broken, you shut them down by killing. 

Welcome to Gulag Archipelago.

My purpose is not to scare you with this post but to comfort you.  

Isaiah 40 begins with the God declaring to the prophets of Judah: "Comfort, comfort, My people." 

Isaiah was born in 761 BC. He spoke "the word of the LORD" to the people of Judah as a prophet. According to tradition, Isaiah was murdered by King Manasseh of Judah in 686 B.C., exactly 100 years before the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians (586 B.C.). King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon ordered the Jewish people to be either killed or taken captive and brought to Babylon (modern Iraq/Iran) during the Babylonian Exile of the Jews. 

For 70 years, the Jewish people faced the domination of the tyrannical and mighty Babylonians. The prophet Jeremiah speaks on behalf of all the Jewish people when he composes LAMENTATIONS, a song of lament and mourning of what has happened to God's people. Habakkuk and other prophets join Jeremiah (often called "The weeping prophet") in crying out, "Why, O LORD, do you forsake your people?" 

Isaiah 40 gives us the answer to "Why?" 

Isaiah 40 begins the second section of the scroll of Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55). This portion of Isaiah is sometimes called DEUTERO-ISAIAH because Hebrew scholars believe a disciple of the prophet Isaiah wrote it. The entire section (Isaiah 40-55) is written about the END of the Babylonian Captivity and WHY God allowed it to occur. It covers a time period (539 BC to 516 BC) that is 150 years AFTER the death of the prophet Isaiah, so that's why some say someone other than Isaiah wrote it. As for me, I believe God can give any prophet a "vision into the future." 

The first section of the scroll of Isaiah (Isaiah 1-39) served as a warning to God's people that trouble was coming for God's people, with no explanation as to why God would allow other nations to prosper and the nation of Judah to be destroyed. The theme, however, is that God's people had turned their trust from the LORD and started to trust in government leaders, other nations (Egypt and Ethiopia), and even gods other than the LORD. 

Here come the Babylonians to destroy Judah. God's people are terrified.

When the city of Jerusalem is destroyed (586 BC), and after the people of Judah are taken into captivity (the Exile), and the mourning of God's people has become so great that they "hung their harps in the willow trees" (Psalm 137:2), it is then that God spoke to the prophets:

"Comfort, comfort My people" (Isaiah 40:1). 

What were the comforting words that the prophets were to speak to the people of God? 

1. "The way is prepared... The GLORY of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 40:3-5)

2. "All people are like grass...the grass withers and the flowers fade, but God's Word endures forever" (Isaiah 40:6-8)

3. "Here is your God! See, the Sovereign LORD rules with power...Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket...Before Him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by Him as worthless and less than nothing" (Isaiah 40:9-17).

Then comes the wonderful conclusion of the GOOD NEWS of comfort in Isaiah 40:

"Why do you complain?
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.
 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall.

But those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

We may wake up tomorrow and realize that Israel is in a full-scale war with Iran-backed terrorists in the Palestinian territories. We may wake up tomorrow and find our retirement accounts and stock accounts cut by huge margins. One day, we may wake up and discover Martial Law has been declared in our country due to street fighting.

Never, ever be afraid. 

The purpose of the LORD is being fulfilled. All people are like grass ... but the WORD of the LORD will endure forever. 

We belong to the unshakeable Kingdom of Jesus Christ. As long as I write and give warnings of what is coming to the United States, I desire to drive you to trust in the LORD and nothing else. Don't trust in our government, don't trust in the President (or another President), and don't trust in the American dollar and your temporary wealth. 

Trust in the LORD.

For only then will you be renewed by His power and not faint.

11 comments:

Bob Cleveland said...

IMHO. one of the evidences of man's sinful nature is we think we can understand everything. An I don't think mankind can!

We cannot comprehend what God looks like, f'rinstance. Nor can we comprehend what Heaven is really like. So when we look at history, we can see God at work in it, but we can't understand how God could work out His purposes in homelessness, war, sickness, etc.

Bottom line: knowledge of what God has said is absolutely essential! If God said it, it's true, whether we can grasp it in our minds or not.

I am also convinced that God created time, when He set the sun, moon, and stars in place. We cannot envision what it was like before time was created, but that doesn't make any difference.

SO ... if God said it, it's true! Period!

Scott Shaver said...

So nauseated by the continuing shibboleth of the socialist left in America aka "That's not who we are as Americans".

They have no idea "who we are".

Meanwhile, should it come to light that we actually partnered with the Chinese and supported gain of function research resulting in Covid 19. what happens to both the shibboleth and America's perceived moral "high ground" in the world?

Christiane said...

The Kingdom of Our Lord is described in a British hymn that was written circa WWI, based on words from Proverbs 3:17 "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace"

The teaching of sacred Scripture tells us that 'the Kingdom of God is within you' and also that 'the Kingdom of God is not of this world',
so it is good that Bob Cleveland understands that we cannot fully fathom the great mysteries that belong to God. The Kingdom of God presents us with a great mystery in that it is 'in the world' but not 'of the world'.

And Wade calls people to trust in God, not in the things of 'this world'. Wisdom.

The human person, made in the image of God (the imago Dei), is capable, (if of good will) of bearing the peace of the Kingdom of God within themselves, and of carrying that peacefulness into the world that is troubled. But I believe that this suggests that the mission of such a person is one of 'repairing' and 'healing'. How? By using the ways of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

This makes sense when you think about how Proverbs 3:17 describes the Kingdom of God:
""Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace"

If people seek to make a difference in THIS WORLD, it helps to understand the nature of and the great power of the Kingdom of God; and in what profoundly humble circumstances this power was best seen to conquer over the power of evil. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is given to those to use who deeply dwell in the mystery of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified, to those who live in the Kingdom of the Risen Lord.



"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Cor. 11:3)






Rex Ray said...

Bob Cleveland,

It’s been said ‘the more we understand, the more we know we don’t understand’.

Wade,

The picture in your Post made me think of the Israel’s ‘protective dome’ that recently exploded Palestine rockets.

You mentioned Scripture “…they will walk and not faint.” I experienced that while finishing a marathon without any training. I was ‘fourth over-all’ but not from the winning end.

You said, “All people are like grass…but the Word of the Lord will endure forever.”

I know I’m taking what you meant wrong, but Jesus didn’t die for grass. I believe Christians should take a STAND and fight for what God wants while trusting in him. Prayer is good, but prayer with ‘feet’ is better.

Theodore Roosevelt said “Walk softly, but carry a big stick.”
Obama tiptoed and carried a twig.
His Vice-President crawls and carries a toothpick.

RB Kuter said...

Thanks for the word of encouragement and focus, Wade.

Actually, as I think about it, I would be disappointed if things were to settle down and go back to the conditions prior to the past 10 years or so. In spite of the tumultuous times, uncertainties, passing of traditional ways, institutions and former establishments, it has become a time of intensity, expectation, and extraordinary events.

I would be disappointed to wake up and find ourselves in times as they were prior to these days of unexpected and unprecedented occurrences. I don't want to go back to "normal" or to "routine" where we, the church, becomes complacent in our own prosperity with expectations to wake up and again find "manna" lying on the ground.

These days, in our church at least, there is a sense of intensity, desperate dependency upon God, focus on the priority of obedience and boldness in doing all we can to advance the Kingdom, rescue the perishing, proclaim the hope of Jesus Christ in a world around us that is dying and drowning in the despair and hopelessness offered by this world. It is similar to those days immediately following "9/11", only more perpetual.

I've never heard Jesus followers under persecution in China or Iran or other countries that oppress and persecute Christians ask for prayers to deliver them from the persecution. They always ask for prayers that they will remain faithful and bold in their obedience to their Lord Jesus Christ. Seems they too see persecution as gasoline that feeds and accelerates the power of The Gospel in their society.

I am thrilled that God chose to bring me into the world during this season.

Scott Shaver said...

The "simplicity" of Christ is exactly the reason CRT is bunk.

Rex Ray said...

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2021/february/canada-pastor-jail-arrest-gracelife-church-covid-order.html

Pastor in Canada was put in jail for allowing church members to attend without mask.

Wade Burleson said...

Rex,

"Coming to America" is more than just an Eddie Murphy movie.

Unless you continue to speak up and out, arrest happy government officials are coming to America too.

Rex Ray said...

Wade,

I believe they’re already here!

Christiane said...

In the Library of Congress, there are 'recordings' kept for a time when all Americans will be free to listen to them again, but until then, the 'voices' are stilled in many parts of our nation that have banned them.

Here is a part of what some of our nation doesn't want its children to learn about in school:

"archived recording (fountain hughes)

My name is Fountain Hughes.

I was born in Charlottesville, Virginia.

My grandfather belonged to Thomas Jefferson. My grandfather was 115 years old when he died, and now I am 101 year old.

Now in my boy days, we were slaves. We belonged to people. They’d sell us like they sell horses and cows and hogs and all like that, have an auction bench. Put you up on the bench and bid on you the same as you’re bidding on cattle, you know.

But still, I don’t like to talk about it, because it makes people feel bad."


So the school children will be spared from knowing and from 'feeling bad' and maybe someday, a group of politicians will come into the Library of Congress and destroy all the recorded voices of that time and when the voices are stilled, 'history' will be changed by the politics of the destroyers of those voices.
But for a time, someone cared that those voices not be lost to the future, and someone took time to record these people before they died, that their voices would live beyond the grave and touch a time when the stories they told were once again heard. That even for a time, people cared, that IS a part also of the history of our land.

Fountain Hughes was only one of many recorded. Only one. But even one voice can make a difference. Even one.


https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/23/podcasts/the-daily/1619-project.html?showTranscript=1

Scott Shaver said...

Ever consider the possibility, Christianne, that such records have already been accessed in the public domain and part of the reason THIS nation has outlawed racism and offers more equality in 2021 than virtually any other nation on earth?

Such records and personal testimonies are public domain on historical and genealogical sites. Those who abstract mineral and property rights see tbe records all the way back to sovereignty including the transfer of slaves as property.

Do we want to keep wallowing in that period of history or do we want to move forward?2