Isaiah 6 part 3

I would like to get back to Isaiah 6 where Isaiah was given the assignment to go and preach to a people who would not hear, see, or understand. Can you imagine an assignment that you know will end in failure? Why does God give such an assignment? One of the reasons is that it provides a reminder for others. We today are able to learn from the hard heartedness of those of the past.

Centuries later Jesus uses Isaiah's words in chapter six to describe the hard heartedness of the people. In both Matthew and Mark Jesus quotes from Isaiah six and uses it to describe the condition of those who were following him. As a result of their hard heartedness he spoke to them in parables. Upon hearing this approach the Apostles were curious why and questioned Jesus. He said to them that he had to speak with such "baby" language because to them were not given the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 13:11)
I would like to explain a couple of things. Speaking in parables is what I call baby language. There has been a long misunderstood concept that parables were to hide and conceal truth. Parables were in fact an easier way to convey truth—an earthly illustration of a heavenly truth. Parables were to help enlighten those with little or no understanding.
The problem with those who required parables instead of the straight truth, was that their hearts were already so hardened because they had previously rejected truth when it came to them. As a result the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: with eyes they see not, and with ears they hear not, and with their heart they cannot understand, lest they should believe and be forgiven.
That last part of the sentence is what puzzled me for thirty years. I thought, "Why would Jesus not want these people to believe and be forgiven?" He is not saying that he doesn't want them to be forgiven, but that they won't turn to be forgiven because their eyes, ears, and hearts are hardened. That is why he had to speak to them in parables, in baby language. And still they would not believe, because their hearts had become so hardened, they couldn’t receive truth. I see so many people today, even Christians who can't see, hear, and understand simple truths. Why? Because they have previously rejected the truths that they were given. It usually starts with something simple like unforgiveness. With unforgiveness comes bitterness, and with bitterness comes a hardened heart.
To illustrate the hardened heartedness of the people to the disciples Jesus performed two unusual miracles which occurs immediately after he teaches in parables. The first is the healing of the deaf man. Jesus sticks his fingers in the man's ears and after the miracle he commands the deaf and dumb man now healed, not to tell anyone. The fact that Jesus put his fingers in the man's ears is unusual. The reason behind this unusual activity is to illustrate Isaiah's prophecy that these people's ears are dull of hearing. Next is a blind man. This is the one I like the best. Jesus for the first time in his ministry doesn't heal the man immediately. After spitting in his eyes with a salve like remedy, the man is unable to see clearly. He says that he sees men like trees walking. Some commentators actually say that Jesus is tired and losing power. This of course is absurd. Jesus being God is not losing power. He is trying to once again illustrate Isaiah's prophecy that these people have ears that hear not, and eyes that see not. Jesus's method of teaching and then illustrating what he was teaching is ingenious.
It is a dangerous thing to hear the Word of God and not respond to its teaching. The result of not responding is a hardened heart, ears that hear not, and eyes that see not. Those who heed the teaching of the Word when they hear it, will reap the benefits of all its promises.

Isaiah 20: But-tocks Naked

Naked and Barefoot
I'm sure the title has gained some attention. In Isaiah 20 God gives Isaiah the mission of putting off his waist garment and sandals, walking naked and barefoot, for three years!. Most commentators explain this away in a figurative sense. They say that Isaiah didn't really walk naked but in a humble destitute manner. I would disagree with this interpretation. The Bible is not always filled with "family friendly" stories. There is a woman who is cut up into twelve pieces after she is raped all night; there is a woman who drives a spike through a man's temple; there is murder, treachery, adultery, and a fat king who is pierced through with a knife that is engulfed in his big fat stomach. And all of this is explicitly written in the Scriptures and even in a greater graphic form than I have given.

Naked Assignment
So, for Isaiah to be given the assignment to walk naked (most likely with his buttocks exposed only) doesn't surprise me. All of the prophets were given assignments that were difficult such as Hosea marrying a prostitute. So what can we learn from naked Isaiah? Can you imagine if you were given this assignment? What would your neighbors think of you?

The Diploma & The Hospital Gown
Years ago there was a movie titled Patch Adams starring Robin Williams. It is based on a true story about a medical student who desires to change the establishment through non-traditional approaches to medicine—primarily through listening, laughing, and caring for the patient. In the movie of Patch Adams, when he receives his diploma for graduation, he wears a hospital gown for the ceremony. When he walks back to take his seat, you get a glimpse of what Isaiah might have looked like! If you still don't get it, then you must have never worn a hospital gown. The point is that Isaiah was given an assignment that required the ultimate humility. God was giving the nations a visible demonstration of his desired result—humility…destitute of one's own pride and self sufficiency. So what assignment has God given you? God does not promise happiness every day of our lives—he has promised redemption!

Our Assignment
Yes Psalm 16:11 would seem to promise happiness, and this will come, but only after we are willing to do the hard things. I like what a well know female author told another woman who was complaining about her husband not meeting her emotional needs. She told her to get a grip and start being the woman of God that she was called to be. Too many of us just haven't stepped up to the plate to do the hard things. Whether as a spouse, a parent, a staff member, a neighbor, God has given us an assignment to walk humbly with Him. God desires us to humble ourselves so that he might lift us up. The alternative is for God to humble us Himself. If we would take the initiative, i believe that God would redeem us and our relationships in ways we could not dream possible. And we all need to be thankful that our assignment might not be as bad as we thought. I can't wait to ask Isaiah about his experience. I'm sure he has a lot of stories to tell!

Psalm 1 & Psalm 150 The Framing of our Lives

Blessings of the week
We were greatly blessed this week to spend time in Colorado Springs with so many wonderful friends. First, the Clarkson's opened their home, their heart, and their kitchen. What a taste of heaven. I can only imagine what it is going to be like—fellowshipping, learning, creating, worshipping, enjoying, and just awestruck by the beauty and presence of God Himself. After enjoying the hospitality of the Clarkson's and a night of Scrooge at Woodman Valley Chapel, we were met by Kevin of Focus on the Family who gave an entire day escorting us around to the various inner workings of Focus. It was through this connection that we were able to meet with the Adventures in Odyssey crew and set in motion Lamplighter Theater—i just can't wait. Then Deb and i were able to participate in two days of strategic planning at Focus for a forthcoming event that i wish i could tell you about, but will have to wait till we are given the green light. If this event does indeed take place, which i believe will, there is a potential for national family revival! And if this wasn't enough, we ended the evening at our good friends Kay and Julie's enjoying more fellowship and food than i can describe.

The paradoxical joy and burdens of life
As i write about all of these good blessings from above, i need to also express that all is not perfect; i hurt like some of you do. I carry the pain of the loss of a loved one during this time of year; I carry the financial pressures of making sure payroll will be there for my staff; I carry the burden of unsaved loved ones. We all carry the paradoxical joy and burdens of life. I was reminded this morning while reading Abraham Wright's insights on the Psalms, that life is framed with blessings for those who walk with God, but in the midst of the framing, there is suffering, uncertainty, betrayal, tears, discovery, mystery, and victory. There is little known of Abraham Wright who was born in London in 1611, but his insights were atypical of his day and ours. I have studied the Psalms extensively but never saw the framing that David crafted with Psalm 1 beginning with the Blessing of Man and ending in Psalm 150 with the Praise of God. God gives good gifts to his children and in return, His children praise Him.

In the midst of broken lives
If you look at Psalm 1 & 2 and Psalm 150 closely, you will see a larger framing. Psalm 1 & 2 begin and end with the Blessing of Man and Psalm 150 begins and ends with the Praise of God. Now that is literature at its best! What a creative God! And in the midst of this framing we are introduced first with David's son trying to kill him (Psalm 3); from there we are introduced to betrayal, love lost, love found, fleeing for one's life, and a host of anguish that is just too much for the life time of one person. What can we learn from this framing? In the midst of broken lives, broken dreams, and shattered lives, our choices to live within reach of God's blessings (Psalm 1) will allow us to enjoy the incredible praise of a God (Psalm 150).

Happily Confined
This truth is further strengthened when we unveil the meaning of the word "Blessed" in Psalm 1. In Hebrew it means to be happy…it also means to be confined. A prisoner who is confined is not very happy. But children who are confined on a play ground will play more happily because they have protective boundaries. Marriages are strengthened when we live within the boundaries of faithfulness. Children are blessed when they live within the boundaries of honoring their father and mother. Singles are blessed when they live within the boundaries of physical purity…and the list never ends. When we live our lives within the protective boundaries that God has placed, we are blessed…and this blessing leads to the praise of an all wise God (Psalm 150). If we began to live within the blessings of God taught in Psalm 1, our praise of God on Sundays and every day would be uncontainable—even in the midst of life's disappointments.

Isaiah 6: I see the Lord! part 2

Death of a king:
In Isaiah 6 we have the bad news that the King has just died. This would have been similar to hearing that President Kennedy died back in 1963 or how people felt when the planes crashed into the World Trade Center. Then all of a sudden Isaiah sees God as King, sitting on a throne in heaven. What a contrast. The prophet is communicating that no matter how bad things might appear here on earth, God is still on the throne and can meet our every need. A king is gone but God is still King; one might have lost a father, but God is our Father; maybe there is a loss of a child; God is a son; or a loss of a spouse; God is our intimate friend.

Loss of our Friend:
My mom and dad were married for fifty five years! Several months ago the Lord took my dad home. He was the best dad a son could ever have had. He was also the best husband i have ever seen. My mom and dad were inseperable. Now, nine months later, i still see the great loss in my mom's eyes...in her heart. She will never be the same. But i also see a new branch growing in her life. She is in the Word daily. She calls me to tell me about new truths about God that she had never known before. It would appear that this is her time, without her intimate friend here on earth, to learn to rely on God; for Him to be her all in all. I find it interesting that generally speaking it is the man who dies first. It would appear that the remainder of the woman's life is now to be focused on her relationship with the Lord. Sometimes, a good relationship on earth can hinder a healthy relationship in heaven, or maybe in God's divine order, it is just postponed.

Filled with Glory
Note the prophet's first words after he sees God: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is filled with His glory." When we are so earthly minded we often miss the riches of heaven that surrounds us.

Filled with Evil
In chapters 1-5 the whole earth is filled with evil, where good appears evil and evil appears good. The knowledge of God is not present and when presented, people despise it. In contrast, Isaiah is told that the whole earth if filled with God's glory and he is able to see it. Blessed are those who are pure of heart, for they shall see God, and Isaiah saw Him!

"Uh Oh, I'm Dead!"
Not only does Isaiah see God sitting on His throne, but he also hears His voice, and feels a deep sense of guilt. Isaiah says, "Woe is me, for I am lost; for i am a man of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!"

The phrase, "I am lost," carries the idea of having the wind knocked out of you, or the idea of saying, "uh oh, I'm dead!" Three things happen when we see God (and yes i know that no man can see God and live, so this may carry the idea of experiencing God's presence, though i believe Isaiah really saw God):
1. We have healthy view of our sinful heart
2. We are acutely aware of the needs of others around us
3. We desire to do whatever it takes to serve Him

Note Isaiah's second part of his response after seeing God: "Woe is me; for i am a man of unclean lips, and i dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."

A Burning Sensation!
Do you see? Isaiah in the midst of an evil culture, has maintained a pure heart and as a result he is able to see the needs of his own heart as well as the needs of those around him; his eyes have been opened and in humility and desperation he receives divine forgiveness and purification.

"Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for."

Heightened Awareness
In contrast to the cultural darkness and absence of the knowledge of God, Isaiah's senses are in full force. He hears, sees, and feels the presence of God—eyes, ears, and lips—there is a heightened awareness of the presence of God because Isaiah has been faithful in staying connected with the Word of the Lord. And with this heightened awareness he is also willing to serve. "Here am I! Send me." That is just so beautiful.

Send Me!
Today, no matter where you find yourself, be willing to have God send you wherever He will…cry out with the innocence of a child and say to God, "Here am I! Send me." As we find ourselves in uncertain times, or perhaps with the loss of a job, or a broken family, God desires to use us and He will, if we are willing and restored by His divine healing. But be warned…do not serve until you have first felt the burning coals upon your lips, the guilt removed, and the sin atoned for.

Well enough for now…i thought i would be able to get to the best part but this will have to wait till tomorrow. Thank you for taking the time to walk through Word with me…your comments are always appreciated.
Mark (if you would like read an insightful teatise on Isaiah 6 and heightened senses, i would recommend reading Dr. William Long's essays at http://www.drbilllong.com/Lectionary/Is6.html ) exceptional!

announcement: Lamplighter Theater

I just returned from Colorado Springs after a week of blessings that words cannot describe. Sorry i have not been able to keep up with the blog but each day was filled to overflowing. I don't even know where to start. And yes i realize i need to complete part two of Isaiah 6 which i intend to do tonight or tomorrow. For now, i would like to announce that after twenty years of prayer, we have finally found the team who will be producing our Lamplighter dramatic audios. I can't yet formally announce the team but i can tell you that after several wonderful meetings held at Focus on the Family this week, i saw God do more than i could have imagined. We even have the framework for each episode already started in rough form…i would love to tell you in advance how each episode will be introduced and ended, but i need to refrain for now…but once on the radio, i am confident that this is going to be a family favorite for years to come! Adventures in Odyssey, here we come!  Please keep this in prayer…there is much to do and a lot of money to raise. Pray for the team and their creative decisions…looks like i will be traveling a lot to Colorado Springs!

FW: desperate hope

It appears that the recent enewsletter has generated some attention. I would like to share one of the responses.

Dear Mark, I cannot write as long of a letter as I would like but felt compelled to respond to this woman's letter. I could of written this letter several years ago. When my daughter was eight she was diagnosed as having developmental delays and learning disabilities (including ADD) and behavioral issues. We were all so discouraged. Life always seemed so tough for our daughter, even daily basics. It put an enormous strain on our family. I also benefited my reading Families Where Grace is in Place. I need to tell you that we also did some things that helped. Our daughter was showing signs of depression due to her challenges. We backed off academically for about eight months until she started requesting one subject at a time to start school again. She still did devotions and listened in on our readings and to history lessons. We focused during this break on developing her gift of baking to help her start to feel good about her strengths. She is now 10 and doing so well. She is much more pleasant to be with, more focused ( even working independently in some subjects!!), and is able to express her frustrations much more calmly. Her reading is taking off, her school work is catching up and she is able to get ready faster and even keep her room clean. This might seem silly to you but just getting herself ready each morning took about two hours! I just wanted to encourage her that there is hope and that God can do so much with each of us. Feel free to forward this letter if it would be appropriate. I will be praying for this family. In Christ, A.F.

Before Our Very Eyes

Tired of Sacrifice
There's nothing like sitting near a cozy fire studying the Word. Well, I'm in the book of Isaiah. In many ways the book reminds of where we are in the US at this time. Isaiah is filled with prophetic-end-times-language that can take the breath away from anyone. Early on in chapter 2, we see mankind being so terrified of God that they try to hide in the rocks and caves with the moles and bats. God has become sick and tired of their sacrifices and the rampant evil of the leadership who are easily given to bribes, have evil judges in high places, don't care for the fatherless and widows, and are given over to unrestrained sexual promiscuity and drunkenness. He is even tired of the solemn "church" services, where people pray, but God no longer listens. (Is 1:15)

The Remedy
In the midst of God’s displeasure, he makes a way of escape; redemption is within reach in the midst of chaos. Peace with God is always so simple, yet so few choose to follow. In Isaiah 1:16 we read, “Wash yourself; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” Obviously man cannot wash himself or cease to do evil. We know that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We know that there is no one who does good and no one who seeks after God—though they might think they are. Psalm 14:1, 3; 53:1; Rom 3:23 We read in Isaiah 53:3 They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. So what can one do? God says in Isaiah 1:18, “Come let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow...If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;” What does this mean? Willing to do what? Obedient to what?

Easily Missed
Often it is easy to miss the subtle messages in God’s Word. In Isaiah 1:3,4 God speaks, “but Israel does not know, my people do not understand...they have forsaken the Lord.” In 1:10, “Give ear to the teaching of our God...” In 5:13, “Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge.” “they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and have despised the Word...” Isaiah 5:24 As a result of this lack of knowledge every one will do that which is right in his own eyes. Furthermore, Isaiah describes what happens to a nation when they lack the knowledge of God: “The land will be filled with idols; (Is 2:8)” “I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them.”(Is 3:4) It doesn’t take much thought to realize that this is already happening here in the US.

Before our Very Eyes
Isaiah continues, “My people—infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them.” Teachers are leaving their professions because they can no longer handle the attitudes and behavior of children. Children now have to go through a metal detector to ensure that they don’t possess weapons. I was talking to a Rochester police detective and he said that kids on the street no longer fear police but the police fear the kids. He went on to say that some of the kids can have a gun pointed right at them and they will still defy authority...there is no fear before their eyes. We have politicians rather than statesman; men are no longer seen as trustworthy or wise—women now possess their roles.

And that’s Not All
When we forget God, in a matter of speaking, “all hell breaks lose.” Isaiah says that people begin to rise early in the morning and run after strong drink, and tarry late into the night as wine inflames them!” They disregard and replace God with their music, wine, and parties. Isaiah 5:11-13 They call evil good and good evil, light is dark, and dark is light; their heroes are those who can drink the most wine, or those who can drink the most straight alcohol. Isaiah 5:20-22 This reminds me of our sports commercials. We have become numb to what is virtuous—we have replace good with evil. Our culture is amused at commercials that intoxicate and rob men of their values. We are amused at the half time concerts that reflect sexual orgies. We truly live in the days of Isaiah!

But in the midst of it all...
What i am about to share is the most exciting truth i have found in the Scripture in years! In fact it is something that has puzzled me for thirty years. I have searched and searched for the answer to this perplexing Scripture in Isaiah 6 that was also requoted by Jesus in all four gospels. It never made any sense until just the other night. It is in reference to God saying to Isaiah to say to the people, “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” This simply does not make sense! Why would God not want people to repent? To complicate matters, Jesus himself said that he came to preach in parables so that the people could not see, hear, nor understand, lest they turn and be healed. Matt 13:11-15 Why? Well, this is enough for one sitting...i look forward to sharing why Jesus spoke in parables to confuse and keep people from repenting.