Effie Darlene Barba

Throughout the last lesson we looked upon the woes spoken against the children of Judah.  Although the people did not respond to his warnings, Isaiah warned them of the judgement that would come.  For it was coming; yet, there was one thing missing.  Oh, yes Isaiah was called to be a prophet of God.  He was specially chosen and loved God, wanting to serve him.  Perhaps though one thing did he miss.  To fully be God’s messenger to these people, he needed a realistic view of God and himself in relationship to God.  Furthermore, He needed to see the fullness, intensity and fierceness of God’s Glory as well as the magnitude of His grace.   So, he needed to see God in the fullness of His Glory.  Only then could he understand the depth of his own sin and the magnitude of God’s grace.

It was an extraordinary time, in the year that King Uzziah died.  King Uzziah had been a godly, faithful king throughout most of his reign.  His time as King brought great prosperity and strength to the nation of Judah.  Nearing the end of his reign, he did make a fatal error in judgement because of pride, as too often happens.  Perhaps as a warning or benefit, Isaiah, who would bare the news of judgement and the coming Messiah needed an extra portion of humility.  Just as did Peter and Paul who were taxed with carrying the gospel into the nations.

Moses had asked God to see His Glory.  God allowed Him to glimpse upon it (protected by a cliff).  God knew that Moses would need to understand the fierceness of God’s Glory as well as the magnitude of His grace to lead the people through the wilderness.

In the Year that King Uzziah Died

Continue reading “What is the Intensity and Fierceness of God’s Glory?”

Isaiah was commissioned by God to proclaim 6 Woes against the Nation of Judah for their blatant rebellious sin against God.  Each woe a judgment for these sinful acts against God.  Woe means a devastating sorrow.  So, when God proclaims, “woe to”, He is pronouncing devastation to come to those committing such treacherous acts.  Because God is perfectly righteous, Holy, and Just; He cannot overlook sin and evil without punishing it.

Modern ideologies want to teach either that Christ was just a man with great ideas who lived once upon a time or that He only spoke with grace and mercy.  So, quickly they want to dismiss His perfect Righteousness requiring obedience to His Holy commands. Many say that He would never condemn anyone.  Yet, if that were the case, if justice did not demand a price be paid for sin, why would He have died on the cross to pay the price for all who would believe in Him?  Still for all those who deny Him or blatantly sin without regard for their sins, is there not still a judgement for that sin?

Did not Christ Himself proclaim, “Woe to the world because of offenses! (Matthew 18:7). “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  (Matthew 23:7) Woe ^[a]to you when ^[b]all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets (Luke 6:26).

Everyone wants to see Jesus as the Humble Sacrificial Lamb full of Mercy and Grace.  However, is He not the Lion Of Judah, the one whom John described in Revelations with these words, “ ¹⁴ His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire” (Rev. 1:14). Flaming Fire that will bring judgement to all who refuse His gift of salvation.

Who is to blame?

Continue reading “6 Woe that will Destroy our Nation”

A story of Justice, Righteousness, Judgement and Grace all wrapped into one.  That is the book of Isaiah.  Can hope be found in Judgement? How? With judgement devastation comes. Devastation to those who ignore God’s call.  A devastation of their own making.  Because humanity is that, people destroying themselves in an attempt to find their own happiness apart from God.  Every attempt of human advancement within their humanitarian utopia has led to destruction.  Everyone thinking themselves the most important, the leader, resulting in chaos with no direction.  If everyone and everything is right, then nothing is right or true anymore.  There is no righteousness or Holiness if we consider all to be right and holy.

How then in the devastation, can hope be found?

Psalm 119: 64

The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy;
Teach me Your statutes.

There amid the judgement, we find that the earth is full of God’s Mercy.  If only we learn of Him and His statutes.  For in His righteousness there is joy, hope, love, and peace.  Let this be the cry from our lips as we begin a study of Isaiah.  Let our hearts desire be that of knowing Him and to surrender to His will that we might have hope always.

Isaiah the greatest prophet of Hope Found in Judgement

Continue reading “Can Hope be Found in Judgement? How?”

When sorrows surround me and storms threaten my life, let me never forget the love of Christ for me.   No fear can enter my heart, if I truly remember the love of Christ.  Though He tarry His return, I can wait with patience, knowing He loves me with His perfect love.  Having paid the ultimate price to save me, “there is therefore now no condemnation” (Romans 8:1)  that can be mine.  And nothing can ever separate me “from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). And everything in between is His perfecting my love toward Him, that I might reflect His Heart to the world.

So as we finish the Song of Songs, consider this.  Let us never forget the love of Christ for us.  Only then can we face this world with joy, hope, peace, and love.  Strengthened by His mighty power, we can soar above all the sorrows and trials of this world.

I Am My Beloved’s

Continue reading “Let me never forget the love of Christ for me!”

Oh that I would seek Him in the dark of the night just as a new love seeks and longs for her beloved.  Give me Your strength, Lord that I might always await my Beloved King.  Forsaking all else, to keep my eyes on Him.  That is the love I seek.  For all true love upon this earth is but a shadow of His love toward me.

That is the song sung forth by the bride as she longed for her bridegroom.  He had gone away to prepare a place for her in His Father’s house; but she misses Him sorely with all of her being.  It’s hard to remember the sweetness of His presence while He is gone.  Yet, I must seek Him my beloved King in the middle of the night to arise to seek His face.  This is the cry of the Shulamite to her king and it must be our cry to our Beloved King of Kings, seeking Him with all our heart and soul.

A Troubled Night-Song of Solomon Chapter 3

 

The Shulamite Continue reading “Until that Day, I will Await My Beloved King”