Returning and Rest

 

Isaiah 30:1-18

The Lord longs to be gracious to you

Many truths of the Bible, like this one found in Isaiah 30:1-18, seems to be irrelevant to people who seek practical and pragmatic ways of living. How could one receive power through quietness and trust? This sounds ridiculous to the modern-day society.

We shall look into Isaiah 30:1-18 to discover how we could be saved and empowered in a turbulent and changing world today. I summarize it into three points as follow:

Being Practical and Pragmatic are not Golden

To be practical or pragmatic is a prevalent in current times. It is an ideology that values everything by questioning whether it is practical or not for the people.

Thus, people tend to measure everything in accordance with its results and achievements. They measure their life and self-worth by how high an income they earn.

In school reunion gatherings, we may be eager to find out about each other’s career and income earned. So, a pastor or a seminary teacher will not be able to earn a high income no matter how qualified he is. Does it mean that he or she is worthless?

Given such pragmatic ideology and peer pressure, people are compelled to work hard, be occupied and wrestle to climb high. They believe they would become more valuable with more work done, and more useful if they were busier. Hence, they would not have time to quiet down themselves.

The whole society is fully occupied, and nobody even has time to ponder, “What indeed am I busying for?”

“Busyness” causes majority of people to belittle the need of quietness and still. In fact, many people feel useless and unsecured when being idle and isolated. They don’t feel easy being alone with God.

How do you feel living under MCO period, when most of the economic and social activities are shut down?

In short, the emphasis of pragmatism has some negative impact on our faith. Believers are tempted to believe that nothing could be achieved without hard work, and hence, they are busy doing things, and overlook the importance of quietness and trust before God.

Many believers have become “Martha” who are worried and upset about many things.” (Luke 10:41) They have forgotten about one thing that is needed for them, and that they have to be like Mary, who in quietness, waited and listened attentively at the feet of the Lord Jesus.

In the times of King Hezekiah, the Jews were terrified and worried over their own nation. They were threatened by many nations, and hence they sought help from the Assyrians. However, they were afraid to be controlled by the Assyrians, and thus, they sought helps from the Egyptians too. The Jews thought that Egypt could deliver them from the bondage of Assyria. They forgot to put their trust in God for their rescue.

Therefore, Isaiah 30:1-18 is an instruction from God to the Jews to return to Him and not to put their trust in Egypt. In the same way, God is calling us today not to be over worried by the ups and downs of the world. We must not trust in our own efforts to find relief, but to return to Him and trust Him only.

In repentance and rest is your salvation; In quietness and trust is your strength

Judah, instead of seeking God first, sought the aid of Egypt (Isa 30:1-5). Therefore, God rebuked them through the prophet Isaiah and said, “Woe to the obstinate children, to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh’ protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge.” (vv.1-2)

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” (v. 15)

In other words, what God meant is, “You believe that the Egyptians can rescue you, but what you believe is in vain. There is a God who is in control of everything, and He shall come and judge you, for it is in repentance and rest that you can be saved.”

We are reminded here that to be saved and delivered is only through returning to God and resting in Him. Return means to go back to God, with a true repentance, and turn away from the path where we make our own choices. Rest means to cease from trusting ourselves and go on doing things in our own way which may be even displeasing to God.

The Jews were busy in sending envoys with carriers of gifts to please the hearts of the Egyptians. They were very active and busy trying to save themselves. Unfortunately, this could not save them. In fact, salvation lies on rest, and it means that we must cease from human activities and rely on God’s grace for rest.

Rest in God is not solely passive and idling, but it includes overcoming sins and behaving the way of a genuine child of God. Judah needed this kind of power, the real power to resist their enemies. Yet this must be acquired through quietness, putting aside their busyness and concerns, as well as those desires that they had been hotly pursuing, and instead, trust God in their hearts.

It means that they must have an ability of self-denial, and to return to God wholeheartedly (Ps 46:10; 29:10-11;28:7).　

When we encounter attacks from others or economic down turn or sicknesses, the message of Isaiah found in this scripture reminds us to be still, to be patient, return to God and him in order to persevere through this difficult time. We shall see our salvation and strength in this manner of resting in God.

For some people, it also means that we do not pick a fight with others, for God says, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay.” (Romans 12:19) We should pray to God by faith and wait on God to execute His justice and shower on us His mercy.  This prayer will change the whole situation and God shall become our rescue.

Never be fearful and lose our hope when we face the uncertainty or gloomy outlook of our future. We should instead take heed of the instructions of Isaiah, “in repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” It was in repentance and returning to God and resting in Him that the Israelites could be saved.

For those who long to receive power and strength, we must put aside our own ideas and return to God fully, and to receive His strength as we wait upon Him and trust in Him.

However, as what is found in the above-mentioned text, it is not human nature or our inclination to wait and trust, and neither were the Israelites. They sought helps everywhere! Because of this, God spoke to them through the prophet, “but you would have none of it.” (Isa 30:15)

This is the reality of human tragedy, because all of us have neglected the source of true power, and we hope to find it somewhere else!

When the Israelites rejected the true means of their deliverance, and sought their own ways out, they turned to the Egyptians for helps, and hence acquired from them a big number of horses. They thought that by having these horses and chariots, they could be free from the pursuit of their enemies.

In the ancient time, having horses and chariots means the person had something or someone to back him up and it was a sign of arrogance and haughtiness (Ps 20:7).

The Israelites rode on their horses, but their enemies rode on their horses as well. Hence, they had no way to run away from their enemies.

The Israelites also hoped to defeat the enemies with large army. So, they thought by recruiting soldiers from Egypt, they could overcome the Assyrians chariots. However, it was a terrible mistake.

God says in verse 17, “thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away…” One man’s threat caused one thousand Jews to flee, and with five enemies, all the Jews would flee away!

This was God’s punishment. God set His heart to punish His rebellious children, and hence, nobody could escape from it.

The truth is that the punishment mentioned in verse 17 is a reverse to the promises that God had given to the Israelites before. We see that in period when Israelites were brought out of Egypt during Moses time, God promised that He would be with them and bless them, so that they could chase out their enemies (Lev 26:8; Deut 32:30).

The rebellious children would have to stand alone. God says, “till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.” (Isa 30:17b) This is pathetic situation of Israelites who had placed their trust on the Egyptians.

“Egypt” is sometimes used in the Bible to represent the secular world. God’s children today must not put their trust in this world and seek helps from it. Instead, we should trust only God and seek His aid.

No doubt, God is the Lord of judgment, but He is also a God that is full of mercy. Verse 18 points out the lovingkindness of God, “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore, he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Our God is full of mercy and righteousness. In fact, God’s mercy is built upon His righteousness. God is ready to reveal His favor and mercy, but are we willing to wait upon Him? Those who wait upon God are the blessed, for they shall receive deliverance and strength in Him.

Later, the Israelites took heed of the prophet’s message, and they returned to God under the leading of Hezekiah and found their rescue and strength in Him.

According to the records found in Isaiah 37:36 and 2 Kings 19:34-37, God sent His angels to the Assyrian camps and killed about 185,000 men. He destroyed the entire Assyrian army just in a second! The Israelites won the battle without a real fight!

Conclusion

Only God is the source of our strength. Today, let’s return to God, rest in Him, and trust Him to lead us through this stormy life journey, until the day we meet Him face to face.

Let’s make adjustments to our life now, retune ourselves by spending quiet time with God, let us be occupied with God’s words not with Egypt concerns, walk in his way and not our own ways.

The LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Simply Worship And Pray

 

Mark 9:2-29

Jesus’ Mountaintop Transfiguration

Despite his busy schedule in ministry, Jesus would regularly retreat, quieten down, and pray earnestly. This time, He brought with him three disciples—Peter, James and John, to a high mountain to pray. The high mountains are the most ideal places to pray and experience God.

At the mountaintop, Jesus was transfigured before the disciples. Mark tells us, “Jesus’ clothes became radiant, intensely white, and whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them.” This was the eternal God the Son in His glory!

In the Old Testament, God at Mount Sinai appeared in his glory to Moses. Moses could not see God directly. God hid him in the cave and he only saw the back of God. But even this had made the face of Moses radiant.

Apparently, there is an unsurpassable gap between God and the sinful people. No sinful people can come to God’s presence to witness his glory without being stricken to death.

Following the incident, through Moses, God commanded the Israelites to build a tent or tabernacle. God’s presence would dwell in the tabernacle and through sacrifices offered in the tabernacle; God’s people could come to the presence of God alive.

Now Jesus, on the other mountain, transfigured and appeared in his own glory. This transfiguration affirmed His identity as the eternal God the Son. This was also an anticipation of Jesus’ glorification after His death, resurrection and ascension.

Peter, James and John beheld Jesus’ glory but remained alive, though they were greatly terrified as they were overshadowed by cloud, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.”

And there too appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Moses represented the Law while Elijah represented the Prophets. The appearance of these two great representatives of Israel’s tradition next to Jesus showed that his identity is unparalleled.

In Luke’s record, we are told that Elijah and Moses discussed with Jesus concerning His departure (or, exodus), which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. The two luminaries were cheering Jesus on, affirming and encouraging Him to accomplish his God-given mission. Their discussion involved the prophecies of the Law and the Prophets concerning the Messiah, Jesus who would saving all nations out of sin, through His suffering and death.

And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Peter intended to make such glorious, majestic and blessed moments of God’s presence longer and safer through their divine presence dwelling in the tent or tabernacle.

But suddenly, Moses and Elijah disappeared. They saw Jesus only. The tent-building project did not materialise. Theologically Moses and Elijah had to go. They were not supposed to linger in the tents alongside with Jesus because their era had passed and now Jesus came and inaugurated a new era of salvation.

And Jesus is the only way by which people can go to the Father. He himself is the tabernacle, the Temple and the sacrifice too. Through Jesus, we are able to connect with God and remain alive.

Actually, Jesus and the disciples’ mountaintop experience is a “worship” experience; where human have a foretaste of God’s eternal, glorious presence—the Transfiguration, the overshadowing cloud and the affirming voice of God.

Let Us Worship the Lord Unceasingly

Humans always live with sense of insecurity, self-alienation and alienation from other fellow humans, and also with feeling of loneliness and dissatisfaction deep down in soul.

People are haunted with all kinds of longing and want to be fulfilled. And Satan deceives us, directing us to things outside God, outside Jesus for satisfying our longings and wants.

We think that only by obtaining wealth and health, love and achievements and etc, we will be satisfied. However, the truth is only by worshipping God, the Holy One will our innermost emptiness be satisfied. Only God’s acceptance and forgiveness of sin will deliver us from guilt, shame and brokenness.

In worship, where we come to dwell in God’s presence, we will have a foretaste of all that our inner being long for, i.e. seeing God’s face, feeling the weight of his glory upon us, hearing God’s voice and entering into his embrace.

In worship, we have glimpses of God’s eternal glory, and a foretaste of all his blessings and inheritance which he has placed in store for us in eternity.

In worship, we not only believe that God is good and forgiving, but really experience his goodness and acceptance personally.

Today regardless of what circumstances we are in, we ought to constantly encounter God through worship. In this encounter, the Spirit will empower and equip us to face the future challenges in life. We ought to desire this kind of experience. It is like “tonic” to revive and renew us. We gain strength and solidify our faith through these experiences.

Now the question is, “who can experience an authentic worship?”; “What kind of attitude a true worshipper must have in order to enter into worship?”

Feeling Unworthy, Inadequate and Helpless

After the transfiguration, Jesus and His disciples went down from the mountain to meet other fellow disciples. And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And Jesus asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So, I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”

And Jesus answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”

And they brought the boy to Jesus. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth, and Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

And he said, “From childhood, and it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; but help my unbelief!”

And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, never enter him again.”

And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he aroused.

And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Jesus’ prayerful mountaintop experience had equipped Him to accomplish what was recorded in the Books of the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus then went down to the crowded valley and plains, to fight against the forces of evil; set free those who were oppressed and enchained. He served ceaselessly throughout His entire journey to Jerusalem until He arrived at another mountain, Golgotha, to suffer humiliation and to be crucified on the cross. There he sacrificed His own life for the salvation of the world.

In contrast, the disciples tried to cast out demons but failed because they did not pray enough. They were complacent and over confident of themselves. They did not prepare themselves enough to wage war against evil and suffering.

There was only one person who knew his own inadequacy and helpless state that is the father of the child. He pleaded with Jesus to help his unbelief. And the result is Jesus healed his son.

We don’t need to be fully righteous to come to God. We only need to be remorseful and confess our sin, and acknowledge that we are indeed weak and helpless, and pleading with Jesus to help our unbelief.

We can solely rely on this attitude to come to dwell in God’s presence in worship. Then we will be able to have a glimpse and foretaste of God’s eternal glory and his bountiful blessing.

Conclusion

Today we must not be contented with the busy service or the boring and monotonous life of the “plains”. We need to “go up the mountains” to pray and worship God. Today you may only know in your mind that God loves you, but you ought to feel and experience God’s love in worship.

In worship, the Holy Spirit will empower you to experience the sweetness of God’s presence. You will hear God’s voice whispering to you. You will feel that his presence surrounds you with his embrace. Your soul will also be radiant for he has shone on you.

The worship experience will prepare and equip you to take on the challenges of life; to “go down to the valley and plains” to serve the needs of the crowd and take on all other challenges that come our way. We will bring changes to our lives and to the world at large.

Let’s now humble ourselves before God, confess that we are helpless and we need God and not God needs us. Let’s be sure that only by dwelling in the presence of God can all our longings be satisfied. We will experience healing for our brokenness and deliverance from sin. 

Now let us come to worship in Spirit and in Truth, God is here to meet us, granting a foretaste of his glory and bountiful grace and blessing, and we will then be renewed, able to rise up again to new heights and empowered to move on in the power of Spirit.