The Standard of Loyalty

Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. (Isaiah 58:2)


21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal. 22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord. (1 Samuel 15:21-25)


The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. (Proverbs 15:8)

What was wrong with Saul? I've had a lecturer (not a Christian) who claimed Saul was really better than David. Though I've since realised that he can't have really believed that, it challenged me to consider why Saul was replaced as king. What is the reason that God removes a man from a position of great honour and power? I think the answer is here in this passage. When confronted with his sin, Saul admits guilt but shifts blame onto others and seems more interested in being restored than remorseful. Saul did not really think his sin was so bad or so much his fault; he was proud and therefore unteachable.
I have had the same kind of attitude often enough. But by God's grace I know what it means to really hate sin and want to overcome it. When I finally hate sin and want to overcome it, the battle of overcoming is already on the way to being won. Things get gradually or suddenly better from the point of real repentance. Jesus won me the privilege of repentance which only the Holy Spirit can give me, but if I refuse it and defend myself when God brings conviction, I destroy the means of my own victory.
God doesn't want us to just fulfil the superficial rituals of truth, he wants us to do that and also be changed deep down. Once the ritual was sacrifice, but loving obedience (which is greater) was also necessary. Now the rituals include churchgoing and baptism, but loving obedience is still the primary standard that Jesus wants us to live up to. Shaking off the rituals of true religion will not save you any more than keeping them, you need the Holy Spirit to transform you to a life of loving obedience to God's deep, searching commandments.

Be or Do

Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. (Isaiah 58:2)


Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness. 2 For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name. (Isaiah 48:1-2)

And the Lord heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the Lord said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. 29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! (Deuteronomy 5:28-29)

When God's people in this day fail to live up to his requirement for them, people say it is evidence that their doctrine is false or evidence that doctrine is not important. But God is clear that he has specific doctrines and laws for us, which would benefit us greatly if we would be faithful to them. The problem is not the Bible doctrines and Bible laws, but the faithlessness of God's people who fail to live up to them. If I wear appropriate clothes but cause another to stumble by my words and actions, I am a sinner for my words and actions but that does not make my clothes inappropriate.
I notice that those who reject the standards of the conservative Christian defend their licentiousness on the basis that conservatives are mean. Conservative Christians who are mean should correct their behaviour, but that is no reason for them to cease important dress reform. One who dresses properly should not feel perfect on that ground, there are deeper and more challenging gains to be made on the front of character transformation.
Because of the way sonship works; to be God's child is to be like him in character: Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. (1 John 3:9-10)
We may be the people that can lay claim to being God's commandment-keeping people; but we have a long way to go as individuals before we can really fill those shoes. Some of the ways of doing that will unfold in the latter verses of Isaiah 58.

Obeying Men to Please God

Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. (Isaiah 58:2)


11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. 12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? 13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, (Isaiah 1:11-15)


13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: (Isaiah 29:13)

7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:7-9)

It is worth considering whether the things we strive to do out of devotion to Jesus are things he has asked us to do. Is it possible that some things we are trying to do are just commandments of men that are trying to create an artificial sense of fear towards God. It is quite possible. But what does that mean for me? Is it possible that through our rule-making about righteousness we have put the cart before the horse? The things we are told to do are valid and good in most cases, but they may be secondary results of primary requirements. We need to focus on the assignments that God has given us, not assignments that man has given. As we continue through this chapter we will find God's assignments.

The Third Angel's Message

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: (Revelation 14:9-10)

What warning message has Jesus prescribed for the sin-sick people of the latter days? The message of the third angel in Revelation 14. It is a grim message but an aspirational message. Those who align themselves against God will suffer terribly. Those who align themselves with God will keep his commandments and believe the words of Jesus. It is believing the words of Jesus that allows them to keep his commandments. It is keeping God's commandments that shows the onlooking universe and themselves that they have believed the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ.
As an individual, sound out the warning of today to the people of today. Disregard the scorn or sorrow of even loved ones who would stand in the way. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37) But be sure you have the right message. It must be echoed through the pages of scripture. It must be conducive of (helping to make) a life more closely aligned with God's law.
Christ and Satan are not housemates. You cannot serve both Christ and the things of this world. Hard as it is, if you want to be saved you are going to need to believe Jesus when he says: And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38) It is not really hard, it is a blessing, you just think it is hard because Satan has brainwashed you.
As I work through the latter verses of Isaiah 58 I will hopefully form a more complete picture of this message to be shared. Verse one has contained great blessing, it is a call to action, but the description of that action is still coming. I would be a fool to choose to reject the message that is coming, as so many before me must have done.

Exhort and Rebuke

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)

51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: (Acts 7:51-52)

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. (Acts 20:26-27)

15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. (Titus 2:15)

Paul was aware that he had a responsibility to tell Israelite and heathen alike about their sins. Paul did this and in doing so he believed that he had escaped from the blame that would have come to him otherwise.
A friend and I exhorted and rebuked another friend yesterday. It was all appropriate and in private.
I don't think street preaching is the answer.
I don't think walkup evangelism is the answer.
But I do think we can look for friendship with strangers on the street if we are careful about it. We can befriend them, help them and show them that Jesus is the greatest helper.
With God's people we can rebuke them in private or corporately from the pulpit. But although it should be done through proper channels, it must be done. It would be better to shout it "inappropriately" than to never say it at all.
I think this is what Isaiah 58:1 means.

The Preacher's Standard of Living

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)


8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
9 Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. 10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.
11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.
12 Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest. (Micah 3:8-12)

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. (Matthew 3:7-9)

Just being in God's church is not enough to save me. Just acknowledging God is not enough. I already know this. By the power of Jesus I must be transformed in my behaviour and become motivated to save souls not merely to get by. Father please refine my actions and ennoble my motivations.

Crucifixion

John 19:13-30

13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! 15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. 16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. 17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews. 20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. 21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. 22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

I just got back from Canberra where I had no internet, I will be back to Isaiah 58 soon.
Never underestimate the offensiveness of sin. If sin is not a big deal why did Jesus go through all this? There is no excuse for sin. Live by faith each day so that Jesus can make you holy.

Message for Pastors

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)

And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.
6 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. 7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. 8 But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. (Ezekiel 2:5-8)

For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel; 6 Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee. 7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. 8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. 9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. (Ezekiel 3:5-9)

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul. (Ezekiel 3:17-21)

I did not select these passages. I just pasted in the passages from Ezekiel that the cross-referencing list I am using listed. I am amazed how well they go together.
I am amazed how this passage of Ezekiel is also in the context of eating the words of God as described in Revelation 10 the same as the Jeremiah passage was.
These passages are so important for pastors, I want to remember them in the years ahead, I will need to find a place to put them where I will see them again.
Going to other countries is not a bad thing, but the greater challenge is shepherding well God's people where they are well established. I used to prefer staying back here because I wanted to stay in comfortable and familiar surroundings, I recognise now that I should not think that way.
Ezekiel 3:17-21. Such grave responsibility! The horror at the thought that this might apply to me, and why should it not? I even need to rebuke sin in the righteous, not just the wicked. Can I do that? I will really need God's promise in Ezekiel 3:8-9 that God will toughen me to do this. God has said it, it must be true, I can do it. I remember also that I must speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15) and that makes it doubly hard!

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

That's why I need Jesus, and I need to remember that there is an eternity to be won and lost.

Eating My Words

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)

Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. 20 And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 15:19-20)

The context of the passage in Jeremiah which gives an example of the message to be given to God's sinful people is that the prophet is suffering for having eaten God's words, believed them, preached them and it now seems that he prophesied falsely, it seems like God lied to him. This may not be too unusual for prophets, this passage seems to be reflected in a passage in Revelation.

And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. (Revelation 10:9-11)

This reminds me of the early Millerite movement who are probably the only example of time-setters that I sympathise with. They logically argued from the Bible that Jesus would return in 1844, which is the date that Daniel 8:14 arrives at. Of course they were very embarrassed when Jesus did not return, but that movement sparked great revivals and I believe it was from God. Remember that Jesus first disciples did not understand his mission until after their hopes of an earthly Messiah had been dashed. They got the time right (Mark 1:15) but the event wrong (Luke 24:24). True followers will not always get everything right, but they will follow Jesus wherever he goes.
And that leads me to the point of all this. There is no more set time left in prophecy; but if I had been there in the 19th Century would I have been willing to risk the embarrassment of being wrong? Would I have trusted what I saw in the Bible above my fear of unpopularity?

For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:26)

People have had many reasons to be ashamed or embarrassed about Jesus over the years, what reasons do I have? I am in trouble if I am not be willing to be disgraced for Jesus' sake, even if I have many good reasons for it. Probably I don't have many good reasons, yet I am still a bit ashamed of him. That is totally unacceptable; I choose not to be ashamed of Jesus, I don't really know what it will entail, but I know I will need power from heaven to stick by it. Please give me that power in Jesus' name.

Feel-good Sinners

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)

But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. 9 Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. (Jeremiah 1:7-10)

Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee. (Jeremiah 1:17-19)

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. 9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; 10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? 11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 7:8-11)

I don't know whether God's instructions to the prophet are directly applicable to me, but as one who has access to the writing of the prophets I think they must be to some extent.

There really are a lot of Christians who trust in their words to save them from trouble. There really are many who break God's law and come to church and say they are "free" and "at liberty" and because of Jesus' sacrifice they can keep sinning with impunity. They make the church into a place that makes the unrepentant feel good. God called on Jeremiah to rebuke these falsehoods.

Probably the best way for ordinary Christians to rebuke the happy wicked in the church is simply to live righteously. You will not usually know who they are until you begin to obey God and find them turning on you. Do not condemn, do not think or say at any time that any of these people have no hope. Only thank them and pray for them in secret and realise that their words of "caution" about being "extreme" are unlikely from God.