Author: Ben Bourland

“THE RIGHTEOUS man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; and merciful and devout men are taken away, with no one considering that the uncompromisingly upright and godly person is taken away from the calamity and evil to come [even through wickedness]. He [in death] enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walks straight and in his uprightness.” Isaiah 57:1-2 ->me: This passage gives so much peace, comfort, and hope in just 2 verses. No one considers that God takes His beloved ones home to save them from the evil that is coming. The word for ‘devout’ is translated from ‘men of unfailing love’. The death of the righteous (those right with God) is never simply the inevitable end that comes to all; neither is it ever accidental or untimely; but always purposeful deliberate. A ‘taking away’ in order to be spared from evil and brought into His peace and rest; and entering into comfort. Those who are ‘right with God’ display an upright life as others watch them. At the same time I read these verses I think about those saints who suffer horribly or were martyred for their faith…either way there is comfort in knowing that you are right where God needs/wants you. If I am still here under persecution but strong in my faith and following the Lord in every way, then I can rest assured that I am still needed, and being used, by the Eternal God and that when the time is right HE will take me away into His rest.

“[Israel’s] watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, they love to slumber. Yes, the dogs are greedy; they never have enough. And such are the shepherds who cannot understand; they have all turned to their own way, each one to his own gain, from every quarter [one and all]. Come, say they, We will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink! And tomorrow shall be as this day, a day great beyond measure.” Isaiah 56:10-12 ->me: Isaiah is talking about the rulers of Israel here, not some sloth enemy; really taking them to task over being self-indulgent and reckless with their attention (lack thereof). The conviction I received today is a growing acknowledgement that I don’t do enough for my Savior; in worship of Him through taking care of others. I live the cushy life in a beautiful home, with a stable job/income, amazing family, and really not a need for anything more than the return of Jesus Christ to take me home. So what am I doing just sitting here in my comfy little life for anyone else? Am I as useless as a watchdog that doesn’t bark? Do I revel in my sleep while others are shivering on a street corner or under an overpass. Are you (Ben Bourland) any better than these blind watchmen Isaiah speaks of. I will do more.  Lord, as I start to strive to help others please guide me in how I can have the most impact for your Kingdom.

“Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord to minister to Him and to love the name of the Lord and to be His servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath so as not to profane it and who holds fast My covenant [by conscientious obedience]—All these I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Thus says the Lord God, Who gathers the outcasts of Israel: I will gather yet others to [Israel] besides those already gathered.” Isaiah 56:6-8 ->me: Even though we read so much about God’s chosen people of Israel, Isaiah makes it clear that the people God will gather unto Himself are from all nations and types. Anyone who is a follower of Jesus, keeps the Sabbath holy, is a servant to God, and binds themselves to the truth of the bible will have not only a place in heaven but God will memorialize them on the walls of His house; they will be invited to where He is (the holy mountain) and be granted communication with God through prayer and have access to the saving and atoning power of sacrifice. Most importantly, the sacrifice of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. While we can respect the position the Lord places on the children of Israel, He makes it clear that He is the God of anyone who calls Him theirs and worships Him. Paul covers this in detail in Romans 11.

“THUS SAYS the Lord: Keep justice, do and use righteousness (conformity to the will of God which brings salvation), for My salvation is soon to come and My righteousness (My rightness and justice) to be revealed. Blessed, happy, and fortunate is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold of it and binds himself fast to it, who keeps sacred the Sabbath so as not to profane it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” Isaiah 56:1-2 ->me: To follow the righteous principles of life that the Lord has revealed is to be blessed, happy, and fortunate. I do this by fully grasping, understanding, and comprehending the gravity of the truth of the Lord as revealed in His word and through the Holy Spirit; and finally the personal commitment to stay true to His righteous way of life. The reference to keeping the Sabbath sacred involves the reorganization of one’s life in order to accommodate the principle of one day set apart. This is not only applied to Sunday and church but that time I set aside everyday to hear from Him. It is also the Lord’s invitation to His covenant people to enter into His rest.

“For you shall go out [from the spiritual exile caused by sin and evil into the homeland] with joy and be led forth [by your Leader, the Lord Himself, and His word] with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name of renown, for an everlasting sign [of jubilant exaltation] and memorial [to His praise], which shall not be cut off.” Isaiah 55:12-13 ->me: When we leave our sin and unrighteousness and walk toward the Lord, He will go before us and we will have peace and joy in knowing we are protected by the King and His peace will fall onto us. When this happens even creation will respond with joy. Personal transformation comes in: 1) New emotions (joy), 2) New relationships and expectations (peace), 3) New Guardianship (led), and 4) New environment. THE LORD WILL BE GLORIFIED! This is the reason all of this happens…for God’s glory. This is something that has been coming up over and over again in my quiet times and sermon listening over the last week or so. All through Isaiah there are several main themes: A) God hates self-sufficiency and pride (it takes His glory and puts it on you). B) God is gracious and full of, what seems like, unwarranted mercy (celebrates His glory). C) The Messiah is coming and will be the ultimate sacrifice for sins (to reclaim God’s glory).  God does everything for His glory. This passage today is no different – Isaiah is talking about how even creation arranges itself to be a marker for the greatness and glory of God. When the people are united with their God there is a party and celebration with monuments erected to memorialize the day.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 ->me: Verse 8 has wide application canceling the useless and debilitating question “Why?” in the face of life’s difficulties. The Lord is thinking His own thoughts and pursuing His own road when He meets the moral and spiritual need. Thank goodness I don’t know what He knows. I am thankful for and just need to remind myself that God holds the details of every individual at the same time as the whole of all events of every consequence across the entire world every millisecond. As a child of the King, I can rest confidently in His promises and trust that everything that happens is needed to the eventual completion of His plan for eternity.

“Seek, inquire for, and require [need] the Lord while He may be found [claiming Him by necessity and by right]; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have love, pity, and mercy for him, and to our God, for He will multiply to him His abundant pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7 ->me: Verse 6 is one I have heard a lot in my life but followed by verse 7 it is so impactful. Verse 6 points to a recognition of urgency while the day of opportunity lasts; this is an acknowledgement and renunciation of sin and a return to the God of compassion and pardon – In short a submission of WHATEVER we think or do to what the Lord thinks and does. SEEK -> Not to look for something lost but to come with purpose and diligence to where the Lord is to be found. Speaks to commitment, determination, persistence, in spiritual concern and in longing for the Lords presence and fellowship. CALL -> at one and the same time to acknowledge God in worship and appeal to Him in need. FORSAKE & TURN -> these are the two sides of true repentance; turning from sin and your own way and turning to God and His way. When I do this (SEEK, CALL, FORSAKE, and TURN) God will have love, pity, and mercy on me; He will make His pardon abundant many times over.

“Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David.” Isaiah 55:3 ->me: Incline your ear…a deliberate listening and receiving of what you hear and in response running to the Almighty God. What is promised to those who hear and come (which is all they need to do)? -> True life; the opposite of thirst, hunger, and lack of satisfaction! Jesus said this Himself in John 5:24 – “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life.” Do you hear that?? When I ‘hear’ my soul is woken up and God says He WILL make an everlasting covenant with me…to include the same promises made to King David! Listening is active – I cannot daydream about earthly exploits – I must focus intently as I wait and listen to my God through His word and prayer EVERY day.

“WAIT and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price” Isaiah 55:1 ->me: WAIT and LISTEN…not good enough to do one or the other. The call is to those who want more, who are searching to for the water that quenches. God says – “Come to the waters”; water…both a necessity and in abundance. Better to approach with no money, broke in your own ability, coming as a beggar who will accept. It may be free but there is a price, however, that price has been paid. What do you need to do to get the water, wine, and milk? Simply the self-surrender accepts the blessing.