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Isa 55:7-13 My Thoughts Are Not Your Thoughts

[Study Aired March 8, 2020]

Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isa 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth 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.
Isa 55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

As we learned in our last study, the Lord’s sovereignty in no way inhibits His right or His ability to admonish us. The exact opposite is the case. Being completely sovereign He has the power and He has every right to make us “marred in [His] hand (Jer 18:4), make us to err from His ways (Isa 63:17), and then admonish us to forsake our sins, which is exactly how our study today begins:

Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah was very familiar with the already existing scriptures. Isaiah knew how the wicked became wicked, and this admonition to the wicked to ‘forsake his way’ simply confirms the Truth of this verse:

Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Isaiah obviously knew and understood the Truth of this verse of scripture:

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.

At the time of David and King Saul, the Lord’s use of evil to accomplish His purposes was apparently common knowledge. No one at that time appears to have given the devil credit for anything that happened. Look at how King Saul’s servants talk of his bouts of depression:

1Sa 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
1Sa 16:15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
1Sa 16:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

The New Testament writers knew this truth and taught it in all their writings. Paul speaks of God’s sovereignty as clearly as Isaiah speaks of it. Both acknowledge that mankind’s natural, carnal, rebellious mind just naturally rejects and hates the Truth that the Lord is “working all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph 1:11).

Rom 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Rom 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Rom 9:9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
Rom 9:10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;
Rom 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;
Rom 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Rom 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Rom 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
Rom 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

We all just naturally insist that our salvation hinges only on our ‘free will’ choices. We actually think that if we are nice enough to accept the sacrifice of Christ’s death for our sins, then the Lord is obligated to save us. On the other hand, if we reject Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, then we tell ourselves that it is our own choice to reject Christ that makes God have to torment us for all eternity. That is how we convince ourselves that the only thing which saves us from eternal death or eternal hell fire, is again, our own free will, and God is simply forced to deal with what we decide to do.

To be told that our fate was determined by God, that every day of our lives were “written in His book before there were any of them”, is simply repulsive to our vain, puffed up, self-willed, rebellious, carnal mind. But let’s look again at the Truth of the scriptures instead of simply accepting the lies of society and the doctrines of the world-wide ‘great harlot’ who rules over the kings of the earth:

Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.

Rom 9:11 for the children being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works [our will – vs 16], but of him that calleth,

Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Lest we miss the point, Paul is inspired to tell us plainly:

Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but [our salvation is] of God that hath mercy.

The Lord knows quite well that He has made us in this marred, rebellious condition, so He simply informs those He gives to receive His mind:

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

My own carnal mind tells me that if I were God I could do a much better job of saving mankind than God is doing. My presumptuous beast tells me that God Himself could and would have done much better if He had simply made mankind a perfected spirit from the beginning. My carnal mind sees no need at all for a very messy, bloody and painful cross of Christ to cover all the perversions and sins of corruptible flesh and blood. My plan for mankind would skip all the corruption and suffering and the accompanying shame and misery, and I would have made us all loving and obedient perfected spirits from the very beginning.

Yes, indeed, my flesh protests that if God is sovereignly making us to err from His ways, then why in the world is He complaining when we err from His ways? The holy spirit knew we would all pose that question:

Rom 9:19 Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not listening? Haven’t they simply done what he made them do?” (NLT)

This is the Biblical answer to that presumptuous and rebellious question which we all just naturally ask:

Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

That answer from our very Creator and Maker is not referring to some other ‘lump of clay’ which is not us. It is true that “none is able to withstand [God]”, as we are told in:

2Ch 20:6 And [King Jehoshaphat] said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

The Lord’s knowledge is vastly superior to that of my presumptuous carnal mind. He already knows that obedience and love are not qualities which can be appreciated and valued without first experiencing the fruits of evil and disobedience. It was in His wisdom that He created a tempter to cause us to want to disobey Him and to then reap the evil fruits of our disobedience.

That is what His Word does. It tells us who He is and what He is doing, and He never once places the responsibility for His creatures upon themselves or upon anyone else (Pro 16:4; Isa 45:7; Isa 63:17). The Lord simply speaks, and what He speaks is what happens.

Isa 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Words express thoughts, and God’s Word reveals that He thinks it is good for us to know the contrast between good and evil. Only in that way are we able to appreciate His mercies by which, and through which, He is in the process of redeeming every man who has ever lived and drawn breath. This is what He has sent His Word to accomplish within every man:

Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it. (CLV)

Here is another way of conveying this message to us:

Psa 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

If the Lord blinds our eyes from seeing the words “then”, and if He blinds us from seeing the order in which those words tell us that the “experience of evil” must precede His mercies and His deliverance which He brings to us only after we have first been brought to our “wits’ end”, then we are spiritually blind and unable to see that everything He does, He does “decently and in order… after the counsel of His own will:

1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

When we are unable to discern the order in which the Lord is working His work in our lives, then it follows that we will also be robbed of any appreciation for “the recompense of the reward, [and] the crown of life” which He promises those who overcome “in this present time”.

Luk 18:28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
Luk 18:29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,
Luk 18:30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world [Greek: aion, age] to come life everlasting.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are [Greek present, indicative tense] the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Tit 2:12 Teaching [Greek: paideuo, chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world [Greek: aion, age];

When we are unable to discern the order in which the spirit is working its work in our lives “in this present age”, then we will also fail to appreciate the many “great and precious promises” which He has pronounced to be bestowed only upon those “who first trusted in Christ”:

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

If the sovereign Lord has ordained that only “those who first trusted in [Him]” were to be “to the praise of His glory” [and] to the praise of the glory of His [chastening] grace, a thousand false prophets with a thousand false doctrines to the contrary will not deter Him, because “He does… what [He] desires”.

Job 23:13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Job 23:14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

These words are “great and precious promises” for the very reason that they are not common to all men. It is only those “who first trusted in Christ” who are given to be “to the praise of the glory of His [chastening] grace”:

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching [Greek: paideuo, chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [Greek: aion, age]

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

These “great and precious promises” are not common to all men. They are given only to those who are “chastened to forsake ungodliness and worldly lusts… in this present age”. They are given only to those who first trusted in Christ and will be ‘to the praise of the glory of His grace’. The “great and precious promises are given only to those who dwell “without hurt… in the devouring fires [of] the lake of fire”:

Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

‘He that walks righteously’ is not some man who is attempting to separate you from your hard-earned money through the fear of a literal “devouring fire [and literal] everlasting burnings”. Those who know that the fire of scripture is the Word of God are the few chosen in “this present time… this present age” to be “the manifest… sons of God… [who will] have no hurt” in the administration of the purifying ‘lake of fire [which] is the [ordinal] “second death”, which is the death of the carnal mind which is yet within the “great multitude which no man can number”:

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Dan 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Rev 7:9 After [the numbering of the 144,000] I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

It is only to “the righteous… they that have done good” that our next verse is addressed:

Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth 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.

Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [Greek: krisis, judgment].

It is only the “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” who will “go out [of their graves] with joy, and be led forth with peace.” All others will “come forth… unto the resurrection of damnation” meaning ‘the resurrection of judgment’.

”The mountains and the hills” are the nations which will “flow unto… the mountain of the Lord’s house”:

Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

When the Lord sets His hand to draw even “His banished” (2Sa 14:14) to Himself, He will do so through those “who first trusted in Him”, just as His Father has used Christ to drag us unto Himself:

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

That is why we are called “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”:

Rev 14:4 These [144,000] are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

“Firstfruits” are called ‘first’ for the simple obvious reason that they are simply “first” and are not the only fruit of the Lord’s work. It is through these “firstfruits” that the Lord’s mercy and glory are made known to all the rest of mankind via the spiritual flames and “the devouring fire” which are His Words and His doctrines.

Jer 5:14 Wherefore [Because there are so many false prophets, verse 13] thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

In “the fulness of times” even “the god of this age” will be gathered together in Christ. But since we are “Jesus of Nazareth” (Act 22:8), and since we are “as He is… in this age”, it is through us that Christ will set His hand to “drag all men to [Himself]”:

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [Greek: helkuō, drag] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me [Shall be dragged to me].

Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will [through the ‘lake of fire’] draw [Greek: helkuō, drag] all men unto me.
Joh 12:33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world [Greek: aion, age].

This age is given over to “the god of this age”, and until “the age to come” [Luk 18:30] arrives, “the god of this age” has been given the hegemony over all men except for a very few chosen and elect who will “overcome the wicked one… in this present world… (age)” and will be given a crown of life and will not be hurt of the fires of the second death:

Luk 18:29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,
Luk 18:30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world [Greek: aion, age] to come life everlasting.

Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

It is the lies and false doctrines of the god of this age in the mouths of his false prophets which are referred to as ‘thorns and briers’ in the last verse of this 55^th chapter of Isaiah.

Isa 55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

“The fir tree, and… the myrtle tree” which replace the “thorns… and… briers” signify the truths of the doctrines of Christ in the mouths of His faithful witnesses, replacing the thorns and briars of the false doctrines of the false prophets of “the god of this age”.

Eze 2:6 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.

We have now seen that our ways are not the Lord’s way and our thoughts are not His thoughts, and we have seen the scriptures which demonstrate what the meaning is of all the symbols found within these last 7 verses of Isaiah 55.

Now that we have been made aware of the blessings promised to “the firstfruits unto God and the Lamb”, I want to recap these verses from the perspective of the last verse of last week’s study. Our last study ended with an appeal from the Lord for us to, “seek [Him] while He may be found and call… upon Him while He is near.” We discussed in that study how Paul told the pagan Athenians that, outwardly and physically speaking, God is ‘not far from every one of us’ inasmuch as it is “in Him [that] we live and move and have our being” (Act 17:27-28). In Isaiah 55:6 He is speaking of how our sins and false doctrines constitute a great spiritual gulf which separates us as far from the Lord as the heavens are from the earth.

Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Both here in Isaiah and in the gospel of Luke the Lord informs us that a time is coming when the blessing of knowing Him spiritually will not be available, and He will not at that time be spiritually near to mankind:

Luk 16:26  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

“Us” in this parable is Christ and Lazarus as a type of those few who will be in that blessed and holy first resurrection (Rev 20:5). There are only two resurrections, and all men of all time are in one or the other of those two resurrections:

Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; [1] they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and [2] they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [Greek: krisis, judgment].

“You” in Luke 16:26 refers to all those who “shall come forth… unto the resurrection of [the great white throne] judgment”, over a thousand symbolic years after the “blessed and holy… first resurrection”.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Christ’s spirit is given only to those who are given the opportunity to “overcome the wicked one [in] this present time” as these verses demonstrate for us:

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

1Jn 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
1Jn 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye haven overcome the wicked one.

The exceeding great and precious promise of ruling with Christ during His thousand-year kingdom is reserved for a very select group who are referred to throughout scripture as ‘a remnant… [a] few chosen… in this present time” (Mat 12:32; Mar 10:30; Luk 18:30; Rom 8:18;).

Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world [Greek: aion, age] to come eternal life.

Heb 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world [Greek: aion, age] to come, whereof we speak.

“The age to come” as we were just told in Revelation 20:1-6 will be in subjection to those who are “kings and priests” who are granted to have a part in that “blessed and holy first resurrection”.

The Lord’s ‘firstfruit’ elect are typified by only eight out of the millions on this earth who were brought safely through the flood (2Pe 2:8) and by Caleb and Joshua, the only two of the whole nation of Israel which came up out of Egypt who were granted to enter into the promised land (Num 14:30). There were only three, Lot and his two daughters, who survived the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and all the cities of the plain (Gen 19:29). There were just the three hundred chosen out of the over thirty-two thousand who were called to fight with Gideon against the Midianite hordes (Jdg 7:7), and there are but a “few chosen” out of the “many… called”, but not chosen, not elect, of all the churches of the billions of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and all the other religions of this world.

As we have noted, those who will rule with Christ over the nations of this world in His thousand-year kingdom will have “overcome the wicked one… in this present time” because “this present time” is the only time ‘the wicked one’ will be available to be overcome. He and his entire kingdom of evil spirits will be imprisoned throughout the thousand-year kingdom. When the thousand years are finished only then, Satan will be released for “a little season” of world-wide rebellion after which ‘the wicked one’ and all his kingdom will be cast into the lake of fire to be purged and purified along with the “great multitude which no man can number” (Rev 7:9-17). There are but two resurrections, and those two resurrections are separated by that thousand-year reign of Christ and His Christ (Joh 5:28-29, Rev 20:1-6).

Verse 6 and 7 from last week have set the tone for the first verse of today’s study:

Isa 55:6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Isa 55:7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

A major portion of “[our] wicked way[s]” is that we just naturally contend with and condemn God for His ways.

Giving the last workers their wages first, and giving them just as much as those who worked all day, is not our way of doing things. The workers who worked all day and got paid last, murmur against the Lord’s ways and typify our own “old man” as well as all those who are not the “few chosen” of Matthew 20:16. Let’s look closely at that parable of the workers in the Lord’s vineyard:

Mat 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

“Those who first trusted in Christ” of Ephesians 1:12 equate with the laborers who are the last to be hired and were the first to be paid. Spiritually they typify us as the Lord’s “firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” (Rev 7:4 and 14:4).

It simply does not compute in our carnal minds why the Lord would choose those who did the least work to be rulers with Christ a thousand years, and then, using those same “firstfruits unto God and the Lamb” (Rev 14:4) who came into the Lord’s vineyard last, to be His instrument by which He will fill Him who fills the all in all.

Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

That simply is not how we would do things. The Lord has determined that “the last shall be first and the first last”, and He has determined that the laborers who were hired last will be the administrators of the lake of fire. He has determined the last will judge the first, and it is best for us that we get with His program.

None of that is our way of doing things, and that is why the Lord tells us:

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Job did not at the beginning of his time of trial understand why the Lord was dealing with him as He was, but Job did come to know this:

Job 23:13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Job 23:14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Job tells us that it is the Lord who performs what He has appointed for us. In other words, He performs His words and His works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:12-13). Let’s place those words from the New Testament beside these words here in the Old Testament:

Isa 55:10  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Our last two verses express what is the Lord’s will for those “who first trusted in Christ” (Eph 1:12):

Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth 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.

[Isa 44:23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.]

Isa 55:13  Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign thatshall not be cut off.

The reason the mountains and the hills break forth before us into singing and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands and the reason the thorn is replaced with fir trees and the briar with the myrtle tree is:

Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

That is the calling which the Lord has given to all those in whom “He will perform it” (Job 23:14), and I am persuaded that is the calling we are being given if He keeps us ‘faithful unto the end’ (Rev 17:14).

That concludes our study for today, and these are our verses for next week’s study:

Isa 56:1 Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
Isa 56:2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
Isa 56:3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
Isa 56:4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
Isa 56:5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
Isa 56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
Isa 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Isa 56:8 The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.