Bourland Family Blog

“When you cry out, let your [rabble] collection of idols deliver you! But the wind shall take them all, a breath shall carry them away. But he who takes refuge in Me shall possess the land [Judea] and shall inherit My holy mountain [Zion, also the heavenly inheritance and the spiritual Zion].” Isaiah 57:13 ->me: In my mind I try to think of the absurdity of standing at the Day of Judgement (Revelation 20:12) and someone looking at their ragtag collection of things they put their trust in through their life (instead of the Lord) and hope they could save them. The ‘cry out’ here is likely the shriek that comes when everyone sees, first hand, the Judgement Seat of the almighty God and realize their wasted effort in earthly idols and pride. ‘He who takes refuge’ – does not say ‘He who works for refuge’. I just need to choose God as the shelter of protection over the earthly or self-sufficient options. The reward is in the ‘shall’. ‘He…SHALL possess the land AND inherit His Holy Mountain’ – TAKE and YOU SHALL.

“Of whom have you been so afraid and in dread that you lied and were treacherous and did not [seriously] remember Me, did not even give Me a thought? Have I not been silent, even for a long time, and so you do not fear Me?” Isaiah 57:11 ->me: This verse really struck me today while I was reading through each verse and taking notes. When we find ourselves tied up in the challenges and trials of worldly life, why do we not immediately cling to our God (which is what He wants)? Why do we cling so tightly to worldly solutions to our spiritual corruptness? 4 things shine through – 1) Unbelief is groundless: what is more to be feared than the Lord?? 2) It is sinful: To affirm that the Lord is our God but, in practice, to withhold the reverence due Him and give it to others or other solutions. 3) Inexcusable: to forget all the former mercies, the great acts of the Lord, and to use His name – the very thing He wished to be remembered by – and yet forget Him?? 4) Insulting: The practical ambivalence (really atheism to His rescuing power) of living without Him. Finally – can we seriously say that because we don’t see Him do any great wonders or miracles that we don’t fear Him??? We seriously meet the same criteria of the treacherous activity and audacious disregard of these rulers of Israel that Isaiah is lambasting…everyday. Yet, He loves us…everyday.

“Upon a lofty and high mountain you have openly and shamelessly set your [idolatrous and adulterous] bed; even there you went up to offer sacrifice [in spiritual unfaithfulness to your divine Husband]. Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your [idol] symbol [as a substitute for the Scripture text God ordered]. Deserting Me, you have uncovered and ascended and enlarged your bed; and you have made a [fresh] bargain for yourself with [the adulterers], and you loved their bed, where you saw [a beckoning hand or a passion-inflaming image].” Isaiah 57:7-8 ->me: Isaiah goes into yucky detail about how the rulers of Israel have so badly strayed from the covenant of the Lord. The ‘lofty mountain’ piece speaks to their arrogance and openness of forsaking the God who has delivered their people from Egypt and exile. The rest of verse 7 and all of 8 have the tone of a defiled marriage bed. In Isaiah’s eyes they had deserted their spouse and not just left but paraded their mistresses in front, beckoning as many as wanted to come as a rubbing in the face. If that was not enough they turned all of their investment toward the empty love of unfaithful adultery; looking on their sexual subject with a sense of accomplishment and longing. This is such a judgement; and indictment of outright rebellion and childlike immaturity of an ‘I’ll show you!’ mentality. Unfortunately I believe this goes in hand with yesterday’s QTVOTD – these false churches and ‘those who do not belong to us’ run around frantic for security, running this way and that, paying any price for acceptance…all the time the acceptance and security is right there, without cost, with the rock-solid-unwavering-truth in the Lord.

“For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, and will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 ->me: Today’s reading in Isaiah 57:3-4 was a stern rebuke by the Lord to those in Israel who had grown callused to the teachings of truth and had turned to idol worship of the gods of fertility…even to the point of sticking out their tongues at those who would still follow the Almighty God of Israel. God says “Are you not yourselves the children of transgression, the offspring of deceit?”[Isaiah 57:4] The margin references took me to today’s QTVOTD in the New Testament where the Lord was showing me that these are people in the church today who lower the standard of God’s truth to something they can stomach and that is acceptable to a fallen world. I not only know churches in our community today who deceive those who are genuinely searching but have also caught up those in our church who are so inwardly focused that they must find somewhere THEY ARE accepted for WHO THEY ARE rather than find their identity in the Holy Redeeming God who by grace alone came to save them from spiritual death for all eternity…I am so sorrowful for those who have fallen into satan’s ultimate trap. I have to ask myself – are these the ones 1 John 2:19 speaks of? “They went out from our number, but they did not [really] belong to us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But [they withdrew] that it might be plain that they all are not of us.”

“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.