Truths From Isaiah For the Church Today

Reading in Isaiah 28-31 this morning and it is a treasure-laden field of gold. Isaiah writes of judgment and of redemption. Speaking for God, Isaiah gives us a clear picture of the justice of God and reminds us that we cannot just ignore God and His commandments on how to live. There is a coming judgment. Right now, we live in an age of grace, a time when we have an opportunity to repent and turn back to God. Isaiah also speaks of the hope we can have if we turn back. If we confess and repent, then we can live in eternal relationship with God through Jesus. The Book of Isaiah should awaken in us a renewed reverence for God; the fear of the Lord must be what guides our every choice.

Yet, even in this day, our world, our nation, and sadly, even in our churches, people seem to think the Bible is outdated. It is insensitive to the people. It is bigoted. It is racist. It is anti-woman. That is the new mantra. So, just as the times change, so much the church and its people. We must conform, and we must tolerate. It doesn't matter that the Bible condemns adultery, homosexuality, gender-neutrality, and any and other behavior that society deems right. We accept abortion, sex outside of marriage, divorce and almost every other behavior of the world as simply sins to confess and be forgiven for. Yes, those are not unforgivable sins. But we cannot continue as a church to not cry out against these sins. They must be preached against over and over until we truly repent.

I came across a scripture this morning that I think illustrates what we are doing. And this morning I cannot help but wonder what judgments Isaiah would have for us if he were a prophet today and sent to us.

Isaiah 29:16
You turn things around! Shall the potter be considered as equal with the clay, That what is made would say to its maker, "He did not make me"; Or what is formed say to him who formed it, "He has no understanding"?

We must stop trying to say that what God has said in His Holy Word, is no longer relevant. God DOES NOT change.

1 Peter 4:17
For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

It is time.

Wake up church.

Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 122

Psalm 122 is psalm with a request and that request is for peace for the city of Jerusalem. In the day it was written, Jerusalem was the center of worship where the people of God met to worship and give thanks to Him. For many of the Jews, worshipping God required a long, and arduous journey. Yet, it was a journey they would be glad to make.

Psalm 122:1-2

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”  Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!

New Testament believers don’t need to make long treks to a holy city to worship God. God no longer dwells in a building. Acts 7:48 tell us that “the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands.” But that does not mean we do not still need to pray for the people of Jerusalem. We read in John 4:22 that salvation is of the Jews. What this means to us is that we must be thankful that God chose Israel to be His people and His people were given the very Word of God as Romans, chapter 3 teaches us. We need to remember them in our prayers.

Psalm 122:6-7
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!  Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!”

We are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, yet we know from the Bible that peace will not reign there until Jesus comes back. We need to be praying the final words of the Bible from Revelation 22:20-21, “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

But we can also pray for the peace of God that all of God’s people seek; peace that transcends all understanding. This is peace in the midst of war, peace in the middle of suffering, and peace in the middle of pain. This is not a peace of a physical nature that results from war or negotiation. This is a peace within our hearts. This is a peace that says, “Father in heaven, I trust in you, no matter what is going on around me.”

Psalm 122:9
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.

We need to pray for Israel and the city of Jerusalem. But we also need to pray for the church. And the church is not a building or a specific group of people who you sit with on Sundays. The church is every man and woman who is baptized into Jesus and now has the hope of eternal life. God no longer dwells in a Temple in Jerusalem; He dwells in the hearts of His people.

Any time we are with another Christian, we are the church. And the church is a body and a body needs all its various members healthy and functioning. We need to pray for each other.

We still need to gather in a corporate setting and worship together.

Psalm 122:1

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”

Be glad when someone asks you to go to the House of the Lord. Just remember, Sunday isn’t the only day to be in the church. For we are the church.

Pray for Israel. Pray for each other. Pray for Jesus to come soon.