The Book of Hosea – Part 4, Hos 4:1-19

[Study Aired May 4, 2024]

Since the sole theme of this study in Hosea, Chapter 4, is our Lord’s direct accusation of His wife, Israel, for her adulterous ways, we won’t repeat the verses as is sometimes customary; rather, we will launch right into them individually.

The Lord Accuses Israel

Hos 4:1-19  Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

Even a Babylonian babe unwittingly worshiping ‘another Jesus’ (2Co 11:4) can easily see the historical account of Old Israel’s sequence of see-sawing obedience, then prostituting disdain for the Commandments of God, severe chastisement and Gomer-like impenetrable heart’s return to her Husband only to do it all over repeatedly. Of course, today, the Lord’s faithful wife looks back upon those historical accounts, knowing fully well that they represent her disappearing spiritual prostitution. Her most humbling knowledge is that all these things, from Genesis to Revelation, are mostly all for her sake. She takes no glory in her figurative 1,000 sisters in Babylon (symbolised by Solomon’s 1,000 wives [1Ki 11:1-6]) and their unwitting spiritual suffering, inclusive of their increasingly horrendous physical suffering. She, the heavenly mother (Jerusalem) of us all, and like any mother in more ethical and moral times past, anguishes over her children’s contempt for their father’s instructions and headship. Subsequently, the lack of truth, mercy and knowledge will make them the basest of men, silly doves (Hos 7:11) taken in their own craftiness. The Lord has a “controversy” with the incipient Bride of Christ and is now showing her that in past times, she didn’t reside in truth, mercy or knowledge. He is revealing to her her skirts above her loins, her nakedness to be covered by His word. All things, both good and evil are hers for her increasingly enthusiastic knowledge and understanding.

1Co 3:18  Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 
1Co 3:19  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 
1Co 3:20  And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 
1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 
1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 
1Co 3:23  And ye are Christ’s; and Christ [and His Christs] is God’s. 

Hos 4:2  By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. 

No greater original “swearing” was there than Old Israel, our Lord’s espoused first wife solemnly agreeing to her marriage vows.

Exo 24:7  And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.
Exo 24:8  And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words. 

Hos 2:19  And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. 
Hos 2:20  I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD. 

Jer 3:14  Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 

2Co 11:1  I would that you were bearing with me a little in foolishness; but indeed bear with me. 
2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy. For I have espoused you to one Man, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

Next, after swearing allegiance to her unwitting inability to keep the espousal agreement, she is full of God-given scheming deceptions (lies) irksomely endemic to her gender. Solomon termed them “inventions”, which are devices of deceit to control her relationship with her husband.

Ecc 7:27  Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
Ecc 7:28  Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. 
Ecc 7:29  Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

In the same breath as swearing, stealing, lying, and adultery are “killing” and resultant “blood touching blood”, and the act of killing, symbolising the entire bloody affair.

Blood spiritually is Christ’s word, His very body! Blood, the physical essence of life, prefigures death to the Old Man and life to the New Man. If blood is spilt spiritually, it means the death of the truth or lies. Since the Elect metaphorically kill another person with the fiery sword of God’s word, that action results from them having killed us for our rejection of God’s word, just as we killed Christ physically and spiritually – it all is figuratively spilling blood.

Pro 1:16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

Isa 59:7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. 

Joe 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 
Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood [Her zealous killing of God’s word] of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Christ’s blood is His spirit, His word that is the truth. When we speak God’s word untruthfully, we kill Christ all over again; we spill His blood or others’ blood by our heresies. In doing so, we steal our Lord’s gold and silver and make them into idols of our own which we diligently serve and thus commit adultery.

Mat 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 
Mat 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 
Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Blood must be spilled when sin is found. We must die daily, and we figuratively are killed and our blood spilled. Sin requires death and spilled blood, first, physically in the Old Covenant and then, spiritually in the New. 

Luk 11:50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; [no individual generation, but the generation of whoever reads that verse].
Luk 11:51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation [The incipient Bride of Christ]. 
Luk 11:52 Woe unto you, lawyers! [False Christs; preachers] for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

Hos 4:3  Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. 

Solomon’s 1,000 wives, including Leah, Jacob’s ‘hated wife’, all languish in bewilderment because their husbands do not desire them. Why? because they all want to eat and drink their own bread of self-righteousness and symbolise all the rest of mankind, “the beasts of the field,” giving up since God’s word is given to be too hard to understand. They throw up their arms in Babylonish confusion to blithely gorge themselves in her delights. The result is that they all are “taken away” and seen prefigured by Israel’s exile into Babylon.

Just as mankind was taken away in Noah’s flood, so, too, is every man into Babylon; so, too, are all left after the First Resurrection into the rule with the rod of iron in preparation for the final casting into the Lake of Fire of God’s word.

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our [fleshy] likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul [flesh in God’s image in the process of being made spirit]; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural [?]; and afterward that which is spiritual [because God is in the process of creating God in man and He begins first with the natural, the flesh to become a new creature of spirit, as He is].

Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 
Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Hos 4:4  Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. 

Since all things were preordained before creation, our Lord, by whom all things are created, designed man’s every thought, word, and action by His own will. No man other than the Elect of God, who knows their Lord’s judgments, is able to righteously reprove another man. The churches of the world, all 40,000 + splintered sects, thus strive contentiously with each other, “the priests”. Unknowingly, they are striving with the Priest and His Priests, that is, Christ and His Christs.

Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

2Co 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Hos 4:5  Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.

2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked [We, the embryonic Bride of Christ] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

The Lord’s Bride first falls by the brilliant light of Christ’s fiery word in the day, and upon going to bed, sleep flees her where her sins in revealing thought, cast as dreams in the night, devastatingly destroy her faith in Babylon, her mother. She sees herself as having been deceived by the harlot churches of Babylon with their magic arts.

2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 
2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie [figuratively an innumerable 200,000,000 of them (Rev 9:16)]: 
2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Hos 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

A Biblical quintessential notable forgetting God’s law is Israel’s rejection of Samuel’s representation as their King and Priest who shockingly can represent the Lord’s few chosen to forfeit their inheritance, Christ’s wedding feast. Our Lord’s deliberate design of Israel, representing us in our time, is awfully humiliating to Him for us effectively returning to Babylon to have some Christian priest, a worker of magic arts to rule over us.

1Sa 8:4  Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
1Sa 8:5  And said unto him, Behold, thou art old [we are sick of Christ’s boring doctrines], and thy sons [Babylonian Christianity] walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
1Sa 8:6  But the thing displeased Samuel [God], when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 
1Sa 8:7  And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people [and give them the idol of their hearts] in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 
1Sa 8:8  According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 
1Sa 8:9  Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them [speak sternly, resolutely with authority], and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. 
1Sa 8:10  And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. 
1Sa 8:11a  And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you:…

Here lies precisely what the world is experiencing today: a peaking crescendo of violence of every man’s hand against his neighbor and wars and rumors of wars in response to the ‘kings’ of government we chose with our lovely Democratic Capitalist Bolshevism (Marxists) ruling over us. Samuel goes on to prophesy exactly what will happen.

1Sa 8:11b … He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots [your young men will go to endless wars]. 
1Sa 8:12  And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest [Lord it over other nations], and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
1Sa 8:13  And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries [Ointment-makers, perfumers = haughty harlots with mincing steps; churches deluding the world], and to be cooks [guardsmen of church doctrine], and to be bakers [cooking up doctrinal lies].
1Sa 8:14  And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants [outwardly, the West is being overrun by immigrant’ servants’ whose moral foundations serve other gods and strange doctrines and intermarry those doctrines with Oholibah’s churches]. 
1Sa 8:15  And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 
1Sa 8:16  And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work [Slavery on all fronts!].
1Sa 8:17  He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. 
1Sa 8:18  And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

That account of us wanting our chosen ‘king’ to rule over us is superlative of the current world’s government’s slavery of its citizens. Yet, we know that it all is speaking a precise mirror of ourselves, spiritually. It all revolves back to Hosea 4:5 “Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet [Samuel and the Elect, and the Elect now inwardly] also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother [the Great Whore within and without] 

Hos 4:7  As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. 
Hos 4:8  They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. 
Hos 4:9  And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings. 

If we have unity in a righteous or unrighteous ideology, a church doctrine, the people are in harmony with their priest, just as the Bride is in righteous harmony with her Lord.

Joh 17:16  They [the Bride of Christ] are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 
Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 
Joh 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 
Joh 17:19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 
Joh 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 
Joh 17:21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 
Joh 17:22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
Joh 17:23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 

Beginning in the one-thousand year rule with the rod of iron, the world will fearfully begin to know that these people ruling over them have a very different spirit from them. An unwavering unity of spirit is forced upon them, thus causing them to grudgingly inconsistently keep Christ’s commands yet without eyes and ears in the same joyful unified spirit.

Psa 2:8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 
Psa 2:9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

In the one-thousand year reign, those alive will eat of the Lord’s word and not be filled with understanding, thus not being unified with the spirit of Christ and His Christs. They thus remain unfaithful to His word and remain harlots. Eating and drinking His word will not satiate a hunger that doesn’t exist as they eat their own bread and drink their own water, believing that they were fair virgins, not knowing their harlotry. Of course, the Lord’s Elect know that all these things refer first to her in this age who are given to thirst for Him. 

Amo 8:13  In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. 
Amo 8:14  They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.

Hos 4:10  For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
Hos 4:11  Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

New wine takes away the heart since those without eyes that see and ears that don’t hear do not understand the New Covenant spiritually. Subsequently, they remain jubilant in unwitting whoredoms of false doctrines and another Jesus and don’t increase the fruits of Christ’s commands.

Hos 4:12  My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. 
Hos 4:13  They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. 
Hos 4:14  I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall. 

Daughters committing whoredoms are lecherous acts deemed too insignificant (depicted as a babe learning truth – a “daughter”), correlating to Israel’s thinking that God wouldn’t be concerned with trifling sins. More damnable are they when committed by her parents. A complementary view of a daughter engaging in whoredoms reflects a juvenile understanding of doctrine by the daughter or her parents.

Verse 14 is a subtle spiritual reference to the one-thousand year reign with the rod of iron since people are punished, yet no change of spirit is given; they thus remain unjust and filthy. For those chosen to have their eyes and ears opened in this age, they are stripped naked of their filthy clothes and given by their Husband the clean white linen of the Saints.

Rev 22:11  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

Our loving Father chastises every son whom He loves. Upon our suckling stages of learning to walk in Christ’s commands by His faith and strength, we, just like young children, view those relatively light chastisements as deeply hurtful. Subsequent to our adult equivalence of pouting, kicking and screaming, we learn to receive those disciplines joyously since we immutably know that our acknowledgment of sin is quickly followed by a bountiful increase in spiritual growth! As seen previously in Hosea 5:8, They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

Eating up the sin of my people are people with an appetite for gluttony. To boot, their impenitent hearts are so seared that their sins become an idol of their heart. When Ancient Israel did that to her fullness, she represented us formally in our journey, insisting on keeping pet iniquities.

An incredibly insidious problem will emerge that is likely to land a backsliding Saint in the Lake of Fire because of the spirit of whoredoms, as seen in Hosea 4:12 above! When our Lord blesses us with a figurative 40 years of chastisement, and we become a “backsliding heifer”, it reflects our utter refusal to change, and we will unwittingly find ourselves on the knife edge, maybe seeing too late that we didn’t have a wedding gown of His righteousness; OR, if we are preordained since before the Creation to be an Elect, we will suffer chastisement far more intensely until we do acknowledge our iniquity. Regardless, the statement, “he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still,” portrays the Master Potter creating His vessel in each of us to His precise dimensions at His will to be either filthy, righteous or holy as He pleases in a particular age for His purpose.

Jer 3:13  Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. 
Jer 3:14  Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 

Ecc 11:3  If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. 

Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

Yet, continuing in this age, ancient Israel’s harlot ways are as a figurative revolving wheel (Gilgal H1537) brightly spiritually mirroring in the Middle East today, their preordained returning to vomit for us to remember to not be ‘filthy still.’ Thus, we, as Judah representing the Priests of God, decreasingly re-offend on our fiery course in becoming His ‘Christs.’ Being given our Lord’s faith, we utterly rely on His strength to not reoffend.

Hos 4:15  Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal [H1537 Definition: Gilgal = a wheel, rolling 1. the first site of an Israelite camp west of the Jordan, east of Jericho], neither go ye up to Bethaven [Beth-aven = house of vanity], nor swear, The LORD liveth.
Hos 4:16  For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. 

Israel being fed “as a lamb in a large place” depicts the Lake of Fire for predestined humanity, which is a very “large place” that will contain all of mankind since Adam, as numerous as the sand of the seashore or stars of the heavens.

As seen in Part 3 of Hosea, the Jews today who say that they are Jews and have never been given to go forward spiritually to thus “backslide.” That truth is soon possibly reenacted by the sacrifice of their probable ‘red heifer’ for the dedication of their physical temple on Solomon’s original temple mount site in Jerusalem. It will be exciting to see what the Lord has to transpire. Maybe a rebuilding and then destruction. Regardless, it will be destroyed, as will all edifices of Christian worship in the one thousand years.

Lev 26:30  And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. 
Lev 26:31  And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours. 
Lev 26:32  And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.
Lev 26:33  And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. 

Eze 6:13  Then shall ye know that I am the LORD, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols. 
Eze 6:14  So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

For the time being, it is not given to those not dragged to understand.

Hos 4:17  Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

Ephraim represents the entirety of Israel, the world of humanity left alone to continue in their sins and remain filthy. It is just that we need to thoroughly fast within to see ourselves spiritually in ALL of these outward examples.

Hos 4:18  Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
Hos 4:19  The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices. 

The spirit of God, the wind, has, for the time being, made ancient Israel faint, as we were within, earthbound, unable to be lifted up on eagle wings and thus made ashamed because of whoredoms and sacrificing haughtily to our Queen Vashti-like idolised selves [2Th 2:1-4].

Isa 40:30  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 
Isa 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Mal 1:1-5  The burden of the Word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi

[Study Aired December 14, 2023]

A true prophet, as Malachi was, does not shun to declare the whole counsel of God’s word (Act 20:27), and if it is a true message being brought, it should be seen as “The burden of the word of the LORD” to the Israel of God (Gal 6:16), meaning this story we will read in the pages of Malachi. It typifies for God’s elect the burden the elect are to bear in this age if we have been called and chosen and are blessed to remain faithful to the end of this life bearing His word and each other’s burdens, which are understood and supported through the power of God’s holy spirit that quickens us in our service to one another through Christ (Rev 1:3, Joh 6:68-69, Pro 7:1, Joh 14:23, Joh 6:63, Joh 8:31-32).

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Joh 6:67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Pro 7:1  My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 

Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, [Rom 5:5] he will keep my words: [1Jn 5:2-3] and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

God’s word is a burden to our first old man in Adam but a joyful and light burden to the second Adam, Christ, our hope of glory within (Mat 11:30, Col 1:27) who gives us the ability to endure through this life (Php 4:13, Php 4:19). As we bear that necessary burden by the spirit of Christ (Gal 6:5) we can, as one body, grow together in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, bearing each other’s burden along the way through Him (Gal 6:2 , Php 2:12-13). 

Gal 6:5  For every man shall bear his own burden.

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

As we will read in this section of the gospel of Peter (2Pe 3:1-18), it would be catastrophic for us to not do our part in bearing the burdens of others, and our own burdens (Gal 6:10), as a fitly framed building of God of which we are told we should “beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.”

(That error is to stop being zealous toward God and being more concerned with zealously building bigger barns for our  own purposes, to lay up carnal store instead of laying up treasure in heaven as  one of the many joints that supplies, to the building up of the body of Christ in love Mat 25:25-27, Luk 12:18, Eph 4:16).

This section of Peter’s writings (2Pe 3:1-18) parallels very well with the opening chapter of the book of Malachi and the message that was written for God’s elect today to whom He has made known “what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” also called “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints” (Col 1:26-29, Joh 10:16).

So to reiterate, we’re reading this section of Peter that reminds us what the body of Christ has to look out for as we learn to bear “The burden of the Word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi”.

2Pe 3:1  This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2Pe 3:2  That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, [Jas 5:10] and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
2Pe 3:3  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation [Gen 1:1].

[Humanity has been worshiping the creation from the beginning and not the Creator (Rom 1:25) being under the sway of Satan whose spirit has been deceiving humanity from the foundation of the world into not believing what God has promised.] 

2Pe 3:5  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God [Gen 1:1] the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished [“Where is the promise of his coming?” (Luk 17:26)]: 
2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

[Still talking about that judgment which will commence with a rod-of-iron-ruling body of Christ who will flood the world with the knowledge of Christ to see that word or seed come to fruition in the lake of fire (Isa 26:9)] 

2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [still talking about judgment]
2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness [“Where is the promise of his coming?” (Luk 17:26)]; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance [each man in his own order (Rom2:4, 1Co 15:22, 1Jnn2:2, 1Ti 4:10)]. 
2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up [that day is described with these verses (2Th2:5-8)]. 
2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 
2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness [according to His promise (2Th 2:13-14)]. 
2Pe 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation (Rom 2:4); even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

[We fall seven times in the wilderness in order to learn that we are completely powerless over sin without Christ making war against the beast (Pro 24:16, Rev 13:4), and God will multiply us every time above our fathers of Deuteronomy 30:5 who represent our old man which we thought was blessed in the earth but ‘had even that which he had thought he had’ taken away (Mat 13:12). It seems counter-intuitive, but when our old man is decreasing through judgment, God also makes a way for us to bear that judgment and forget what is behind us as we press “toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” which brings about the increase of the Lord within us (Php 3:14, Joh 3:30)]

2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

As we learn of His faithfulness to hold us up through each other, we grow in our confidence in regard to the exceedingly great and precious promises (2Pe 1:4) that tell us all our suffering in this life has been and will be accompanied by His saving grace through faith, so that at the end of the day we will truly learn that His burden is light (“the burden of the word of the Lord” Col 1:24). When we wholly dedicate ourselves to the Lord in His service, He will be faithful to fulfill (Mal 3:10) that which He tells us He will do if we are granted to “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.“

Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

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.

Gal 6:5  For every man shall bear his own burden.

The book of Malachi is a book that has been written to reveal the day of the Lord in those who have been called out of spiritual exile, the captivity that all flesh must go into and come out of by grace through faith (Eph 2:8). Conversely, it also reveals how the true gospel message is rejected in this age, and warns the elect specifically to not be high minded by losing sight of who it is that he delivers first in this life, by becoming proud because of what we know (1Co 8:1), instead of being crushed and humbled by our circumstances (Rom 8:21-25, Mat 21:31-32).

Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 
Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 
Rom 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 
Rom 8:24  For we are saved by hope [Col 1:27, Rom 8:9, 1Ti 1:17, Joh 14:20]: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 
Rom 8:25  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it [Col 1:27, Rom 8:9, 1Ti 1:17, Joh 14:20, Luk 21:19]

Malachi is the messenger of God, which is what his name means, and his message is no different than any of the other prophets who tell the people to repent and turn from sin. “The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi” is expressed in these verses of Ezekiel (Eze 33:1-29)  and parallel the seriousness of Malachi’s message to a backslidden nation whose bondage and deception is even greater than what it was when they were in physical captivity (“seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there”  Mat 12:45). That is the message for the body of Christ today, that we are not to build the temple and then rest in those works and defile the temple by not continuing on in our service to God which requires our one hundred percent devotion to Him, the bringing in of all of our life (Mar 12:30-31) represented by the tithe that goes into the temple to His glory and for His service (Mal 3:8-10). 

Mal 3:8  Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Mal 3:9  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Mal 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

At the end of the book we are encouraged to see that God has made the bride of Christ ready, spoken of in Revelation 19:7, and typified by that remnant who came together often and spoke to one another about God and Christ, and a book of remembrance was laid up for them who were granted to do this (Mal 3:16-17). That book represents the books of the elect which God purposed to be written that way in ‘this age’ for the saving of the nations (Rev 20:12-15).

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

Mal 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 
Mal 3:17  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 
Mal 3:18  Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. 

Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 
Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

Being freed from the spiritual and physical bondage of sin is typified by the exodus by Judah from Babylonian captivity, but now years later the prophet Malachi comes on the scene to warn the nation of Judah, who typifies God’s people, that they have defiled this newly built temple of God which temple represents our bodies (1Co 3:16) and have taken for granted the deliverance God has brought them as a nation (2Pe 1:9). This is all typical language that reveals to us today how God alone can start and finish the work of faith within us through Christ (Heb 12:1-2, Luk 21:19) Who takes us from the bondage of sin, and even after we are freed and seven spirits more wicked enter (Luk 11:26), then the Lord, if we are His in this age, pours out the seven last plagues upon the body of Christ so we can ‘come out of her my people’ and escape the judgment that is going to come upon the rest of the world (Rev 15:8, Rev 3:1, Rev 18:4). In other words, the book of Malachi is a book that reveals God’s judgment in ‘the day of the Lord’ to those who are granted to have their whole life offered to God as a living sacrifice that is bound to the altar today (Mal 3:9-11, Rom 12:1-3, Psa 118:27).

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Mal 3:9  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Mal 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Mal 3:11  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 
Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 

Psa 118:27  God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. 

————————————-

Mal 1:1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. 
Mal 1:2  I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,  

These opening verses set the stage for the entire book of Malachi that is about two men, the old man of sin [Esau] and the new man in Christ, represented by [Jacob]. The burden of the LORD is speaking of the destructive fiery word of God that burns up Esau who represents our sinful nature that God destroys by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our lives so that in time we overcome the hypocrisy of our flesh and become comfortable in that fire (Isa 33:14-15). None of this could be possible unless God set his love upon us, “Jacob have I loved“, by way of shedding it abroad in our hearts so that we can be more than conquerors through Christ’s love that abounds in His body, the church (Rom 5:5-6, Rom 8:37-39, Col 1:24).

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;

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Mal 1:3  And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. 

God goes on to show us that His hatred toward Esau, by laying “his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness”, is a demonstration of His love toward us as we are received through His chastening and scourging grace that puts off our former conversation, typified by Esau (Heb 12:6).

This laying waste of Esau’s heritage also represents that time in Babylon where the “dragons of the wilderness” that represent the forked tongue of the devil, abounded (Rev 13:11), leaving us without any stay of bread and water to the point of perishing, had God not delivered us from that bondage of deception when we were “deceiving and being deceived” (Luk 15:17-18, 2Ti 3:13, 2Pe 2:17-19).

Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

Luk 15:17  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luk 15:18  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

2Pe 2:17  These are wells without water [Isa 3:1], clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 
2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

Mal 1:4  Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever. 
Mal 1:5  And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.

God’s word progressively shows us how we journey out of Babylon and how our old man does not die with a ten-second sinner’s prayer, not even nearly. What happens after we are chastened of the Lord and we are brought to that point of seeing ourselves as prodigal sons, is that we want to build again and go back to the captivity of sin, much like the Israelites wanted to go back to Egypt after they began to realize what an arduous and tribulation-laden walk this was (Act 14:22) in the wilderness of sin [sinful flesh] they were called to endure. We must endure “until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory”, a purchased possession being represented by the promised land, which typifies our then newly resurrected bodies in Christ. So we read this hope-filled statement, “Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.” This statement is reminding us that, despite ourselves, if we are sealed of God He will “throw down” our wickedness, and we will call our actions what they were, “The border of wickedness“, acknowledging our sins (Jer 3:13) that God will always be against, “The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever” (Psa 7:11, Psa 32:2).

Jer 3:13  Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. 

Psa 7:11  God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. 

Psa 32:2  Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

We are encouraged with scripture to realize that all of this process God is putting the body of Christ through will succeed in bringing us to a point where “…your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.” This same sentiment is described at the end of the book of Malachi in this verse (Mal 3:18), and is a good point to conclude this opening study on the book of Malachi with.

Mal 3:18  Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. [within ourselves first as God’s kind of first fruits (Jas 1:18)]

Download – Old Testament Prophets Timeline (Right click to open in new tab)

[Study Aired January 6, 2022]

1Ki 8:30  And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive. 
1Ki 8:31  If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house: 
1Ki 8:32  Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness. 
1Ki 8:33  When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house: 
1Ki 8:34  Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers. 
1Ki 8:35  When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them: 
1Ki 8:36  Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance. 
1Ki 8:37  If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be; 
1Ki 8:38  What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: 
1Ki 8:39  Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;) 
1Ki 8:40  That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers. 

If God has not given us eyes to see and ears to hear, we will be blinded by the parables in His word from Genesis to Revelation as we’re told in Mark 4:11-12. It is when our sins are forgiven that we can then see our blindness and acknowledge the total sovereignty of God in all He is working in His creation (Joh 9:41, Col 1:16-17). It is by God’s goodness which leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4) that we will continue to be brought to have eyes that see and ears that hear. This is a dying daily process Christ will work in the elect until the end of their physical lives, Christ being the one who has power over all in “heaven and in earth” where God’s will of sanctifying the church “in earth, as it is in heaven” is being fulfilled (1Co 15:31, Php 2:12-14, Mat 28:18, Mat 6:10).

Mar 4:11  And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
Mar 4:12  That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

God blinds the masses by creating us as marred vessels who are at first only subject to the fleshly pulls of our earthly minds which don’t allow us to see we have no free will (Rom 8:20, Ecc 1:2). Once our hope of glory has entered into our lives (Col 1:27), then we begin to destroy those giants in our land that represent the strongholds of our minds which easily had us subject to this vanity of thinking we are the masters of our own destinies (Num 14:9, Deu 7:22). God’s elect are being dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44) in order to be subject to that hope of glory within us which leads us into all truth. If we are granted to abide in that truth, it will make us free day by day from the vanity of this vain life which surrounds us all (Joh 16:13, Joh 8:32-36).

Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 

Ecc 1:2  Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Being subject to vanity is all we know until Christ enters into our hearts and minds (Ecc 1:2). Our vain minds are likened to a veil which is over our eyes that must be systematically ripped as we go from glory to glory through our hope of glory (2Co 3:15 all that is in the world within and without 1Jn 2:16, 1Jn 5:19, Col 1:27). The elect are the few who have been ordained by God to be putting off the flesh in this age (the veil that blinds Heb 10:20-21, Eph 5:30) in order to trust Christ by God’s power that makes this possible. We are a peculiar people who have no confidence in the veil that is being  ripped, being circumcised daily so our confidence or trust remains in the present reality of Christ who is saving us (2Co 3:18, Mat 24:13, Mat 22:14, Eph 1:12, Heb 12:2, Rom 12:1-2, Php 3:3, Heb 10:35).

2Co 3:15  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. [this is the veil]
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for everG165 [those who God is working with in this age will be given aonion life because they are granted to come to know God and Jesus Christ (Joh 17:3)].

1Jn 5:19  And we know that we are of God,[Rom 8:16] and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

If we are not granted to cast not away our confidence of having no confidence in our flesh, that will be of the Lord as much as if we are granted to endure until the end and be saved. The apostle Paul says plainly that he understood the battle was not to the swift or strong or anyone else as it says in Ecclesiastes 9:11, expressed with these inspired words: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:  but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press [Php 2:12-13] toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ^G5547 Jesus” (Php 3:12-13, 1Jn 2:20) because Christ is the only one who can deliver us from this body of death and leaves nothing to chance:

Rom 7:24  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence,[1Jn 2:20 , Col 1:27] which hath great recompence of reward.

1Jn 2:20  But ye have an unction^{G5545 G5548} from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” [the spirit gives us the power to keep the law of God, as we abide in a veil of flesh that is subject to the law of sin, or the vanity of flesh said another way]. The word “chance” in Ecclesiastes 9:11 is the same word found in 1Kings 5:4 that speaks of the “evil occurrent”  that is in flesh and cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50). It’s not that the evil is not there within us, rather God gives us rest through Christ to rule over the sinful pulls of flesh which is at the gate of every man’s heart (Gen 4:7).

Ecc 9:11  I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chanceH6294 happeneth to them all. 

1Ki 5:4  But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil^H7451 occurrent.^H6294

H6294 Occurrent
pega‛
peh’-gah
From H6293; impact (casual): – chance, occurrent.
Total KJV occurrences: 2

H7451 Evil ra‛  râ‛âh rah, raw-aw’
From H7489; bad or (as noun) evil (naturally or morally). This includes the second (feminine) form; as adjective or noun: – adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease (-ure), distress, evil ([-favouredness], man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief (-vous), harm, heavy, hurt (-ful), ill (favoured), + mark, mischief, (-vous), misery, naught (-ty), noisome, + not please, sad (-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked (-ly, -ness, one), worse (-st) wretchedness [Rom_7:24], wrong. [Including feminine ra’ah; as adjective or noun.]
Total KJV occurrences: 664

[This evil is all the sins of the world within me that are being conquered and overcome through Christ  (1Jn 2:16) there is nothing left to chance as God is working all things according to the counsel of His own will to build the temple of God we are (Eph 1:11, Php 2:12-13)]

1Ki 5:5  And, behold, I purpose to build an house [Php_2:12-13] unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name. 

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? [Eph 1:6] and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Many times the word “if” is used in this chapter of Chronicles (2Ch 7:1-22), along with the many times that it is used in 1Kings 8:30-45, and the discussion in both of these chapters has to do with the prayers and sacrifices being made to God as the temple is dedicated to Him through those actions. God answers Solomon by saying, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Ch 7:14) Being given to know the truth of God’s sovereignty through repentance is at the heart and core of the parables being shown us in these sections of scripture (1Ki 8:30-54, 2Ch 7:1-22) which nobody can accomplish if God’s spirit is not within them. Therefore these things were written for our sakes (1Pe 1:12) to show us how blessed we are to have this lively hope of Christ within us as our saviour who is cleansing us from all sin (1Pe 1:3, 1Jn 1:7). If God is working with us in this life, we will be more than conquerors “through him that loved us”, a love demonstrated by perfectly measured chastening and scourging that unfolds in the life of God’s elect so that we learn to forsake ungodliness and worldly lust in this age that blind us (Rom 8:36-37, Rom 8:9, Heb 12:6).

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 

In order to be those who “first trusted in Christ”, we must be the first to die to self and put off our flesh through the manifold trials and temptations (1Pe 1:3-7) that God manifests in our lives for that express purpose (2Co 1:9, Rom 8:36, 1Co 15:31). The word “if” when balanced against the sum of God’s word reveals that God has called a few in this life to come to be persuaded of His power that tells us that “if” we are His, then nothing will separate us from His love including the “evil occurrent” that is within all flesh (Rom 8:38-39). That victory is all to the glory of God and unfolds from glory to glory, little and by little, as the beasts of the field are overcome by His might and power which will witness to all the world that God can make His strength perfect through the weak of the world giving all the world hope in time of God’s plan of salvation (1Co 15:22, 1Co 15:28).

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 
1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 
1Pe 1:6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 
1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

For context we’ll read the two verses prior to the ones we are looking at in this study to take notice that the subject has to do with prayer and how God hearkens unto the prayer of His servant which is a shadow of the fervent continual prayer of the righteous that avails much and is heard of God (Jas 5:16, Php 1:19):

1Ki 8:28  Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day: 
1Ki 8:29  That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place. 

1Ki 8:30  And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive. 
1Ki 8:31  If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house: 
1Ki 8:32  Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness. 

This inspired prayer of Solomon is filled with a type and shadow hope that we know will one day be given to all the world, symbolized by “thy people Israel” who will also “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” when the day comes that God drags humanity to Christ and His Christ to be judged (2Pe 2:4). Those who endure until the end will be the kings and priests God uses (1Co 6:2) to “hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.“

The “if any man trespass against his neighbour” is speaking of all of humanity as all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).  The oath that has been “laid upon him to cause him to swear” represents how we are bound to the law in our flesh thinking we have free will and so we must give an accounting so that the “oath come before thine altar in this house“. What God hears from His heavens (“hear thou in heaven“) is the need to judge the first man Adam, and so it is written “then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness“.

That judgment is to be executed by the elect who are enabled to discern good and evil within those who are being judged (Mal 3:18) because the evil has been purged from our heavens. The Lord has prepared the bride (Rev 19:7) to be ready as God’s saints who have been preserved of God to judge all of humanity who have been reserved for that purpose of judgment (Luk 5:38, 1Th 5:23, Jud 1:1, 2Pe 2:4, Jud 1:6, 2Ti 2:21).

1Ki 8:33  When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house: 
1Ki 8:34  Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers. 
1Ki 8:35  When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:  

“The land which thou gavest unto their fathers” represents the kingdom of God, and before anyone can inherit this kingdom we must be “smitten down before the enemy“ who has “sinned against thee” (Rom 3:23). It takes that chastening and scourging (Heb 12:6) of the Lord to “turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house” if God will grant us that repentance in this life (Rom 2:4, 1Co 11:31).

It is when we are brought to our wits’ end that we cry out to God acknowledging there is no good thing in us and we are so sinful by nature that we must have God’s wrath poured out upon our old man. This is a blessing because it leads to the promise that He will “Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers.“

God is the one who withholds the rain and then gives the rain as typified in the life of Elias. All this is a parable for us to understand the withholding and the freeing from sin we experience as the man of perdition is destroyed by the brightness of His coming, typified by the rain that Elias prays for (Jas 5:17-20, Rev 11:3, 2Th 2:2-8).

Jas 5:17  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth [withholding God’s word that would free the world] by the space of three years and six months [Christ’s ministry that could not receive the rain, meaning no conversion was had for 3.5 years].
Jas 5:18  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit [The ministry of reconciliation typified by the two witnesses (3.5 years Rev 11:3) made possible through God’s holy spirit that causes the elects earth to bring forth “her fruit”].
Jas 5:19  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 
Jas 5:20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

[We know the whole world lies in wickedness now (1Jn 5:19) and is erring from the truth and so dispensationally the “multitude of sins” that the elect are going to hide is the enumerable multitude who will be washed by the blood of the Lamb whose flesh and bones we are (Rev 7:14, Eph 5:30)]

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 
2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth^G2722 [no rain] that he might be revealed in his time. 
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth^G2722 will let, until he be taken out of the way [rain].
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

1Ki 8:36  Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance. 
1Ki 8:37  If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be; 
1Ki 8:38  What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: 

This section of Kings reminds us that the elect’s inheritance manifests as a result of being given “rain upon thy land” which God has “given to thy people for an inheritance“. This rain comes as result of our being given to acknowledge that there is “famine” and “pestilence” and “blasting” and “mildew” and “locust” and “caterpiller” within us, which are all means by which the harvests can be destroyed. So when we acknowledge our iniquities (Jer 3:13), by the grace of God our fervent inspired prayers circumvent this destruction of that which God is reserving “what prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house.” This is a great encouragement for us today seeing it shows us in type and shadow that nothing shall separate us from the love of God as we go through this process of giving an accounting of our sinful nature and need for deliverance from it through Christ (Rev 15:8).

Amo 8:11  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 
Amo 8:12  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

Eze 5:12  A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. 

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. 

What is required is that the Lord “hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk” and in doing this we are being given “rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance“. The rain is symbolic of the word of God that washes God’s kind of first fruits first (Eph 5:26, Joh 17:17).

Psa 20:6  Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

1Ki 8:39  Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men; ) 
1Ki 8:40  That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers. 

God knows our hearts and the hearts of all men (1Co 4:5, Heb 4:13, Job 1:21, Rev 22:13) as this verse demonstrates: “give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men” (Jer 17:9). God’s elect are being given to understand the need to learn obedience by what we suffer (Heb 5:8, 1Jn 4:17), as well as experience God’s goodness which leads us to repentance (Rom 2:4, Tit 2:11-12) “that they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.” That Godly fear frees us from the bondage that comes with sin and unbelief and from the self-righteous sin of not knowing we are guilty of all and continually in need of a saviour (Luk 23:34). It is when we are abased and humbled under His mighty hand that God will “hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest” (Mat 23:12, Luk 18:10-14).

Luk 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 

Mat 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. 

Luk 18:10  Two men [old man and new man within me] went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The bible was written for God’s elect in this life to give us hope in the “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” (2Pe 1:4, 1Jn 2:16). Those precious promises include His faithfulness to chasten and scourge His children whom He receives and to give us power through Christ to endure that process to His glory (Rom 5:10, Eph 2:8, Tit 2:11-13).

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.

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world [is of the world within us that we are escaping by grace through faith].

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 
Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

He will cause His people who are called by His name to “humble themselves” (Isa 66:2) and “pray” and “seek my face” and “turn from their wicked ways”, and as such He will “hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (Joh 8:36, Php 2:12-13).

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. 

2Ch 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 

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. 

Jer 22:17-30  O Earth, Earth, Earth, Hear the Word of the Lord

[Study Aired October 31, 2021]

Jer 22:17  But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
Jer 22:18  Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
Jer 22:19  He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.
Jer 22:20  Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are destroyed.
Jer 22:21  I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.
Jer 22:22  The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.
Jer 22:23  O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!
Jer 22:24  As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;
Jer 22:25  And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans.
Jer 22:26  And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die.
Jer 22:27  But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return.
Jer 22:28  Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?
Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.
Jer 22:30  Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

The prophecy of Jeremiah began in the reign of Josiah, the best king Judah ever had, but Josiah’s sons Shallum and Jehoiakim were both evil kings. Josiah typifies Christ within us, and his sons typify our old man, a vessel that is “marred in the Potter’s hand” (Jer 18:4), who was “made to be taken and destroyed” (2Pe 2:12).

We are told that Jeremiah mourned the death of Josiah, but in this study we are told no one will mourn the death of either of his sons, Shallum or Jehoiakim.

2Ki 23:25  And like unto him [Josiah] was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.
2Ki 23:26  Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.

2Ch 35:25  And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.

When we read of Josiah… “there… was… no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him” and when the Lord tells us, “Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal” what we are being told is:

Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
2Co 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2Co 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

What all these verses reveal is that the “many wonderful works” of our old man will not earn us salvation, because our good works and our righteousnesses are just filthy rags to our Lord:

Isa 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Eze 33:13  When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Our last study ended with the holy spirit contrasting the reign of Josiah with that of his son, Shallum:

Jer 22:14  That [Shallum, vs 11] saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.
Jer 22:15  Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father [Josiah] eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?
Jer 22:16  He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.

This study will begin by contrasting both Shallum and Jehoiakim, another son of Josiah, both being types of our old man, with his father, Josiah, a type of Christ in us:

Jer 22:17  But thine eyes and thine heart [Shallum] are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
Jer 22:18  Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
Jer 22:19  He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

A burial of a person being treated as the burial of an ass is no burial at all. It amounts to being cast out to be devoured by the buzzards, as Jeremiah has already told us:

Jer 7:33  And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away.

Jer 15:3  And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.

Jer 16:4  They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.

Jer 19:7  And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.

“I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place” leads us to believe that the influence of the great whore upon the kings of this world is, was and will be diminishing. This hatred of the great whore will climax in an end of this age rejection of all religions. All who stand with the great whore will also be rejected by the beast over whom this whore has had such a great influence for so long:

Jer 22:20  Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are destroyed.

Lebanon and Bashan here are types of Judah and Jerusalem. Why ‘Lebanon’ is used to typify this great whore we will see in a few minutes, but for now this is how the destruction of this ‘great whore’s lovers’ is expressed in the book of the revelation of Jesus Christ:

Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
Rev 17:17  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

Notice that it was God who put it in their heart to “make her desolate and naked, [to] eat her flesh, and burn her with fire”. The adversary was no doubt involved but only at the behest of the Lord Himself.

So it is with “all things” (Eph 1:11), including “the preparations of the heart” in every man:

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

The scriptures plainly teach that when we do not hear His voice it is because the Lord Himself has given us ‘eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear’:

Rom 11:8  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Therefore, when we read:

Jer 22:21  I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.
Jer 22:22  The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.

We can now see just how true it is that the Lord “makes us to err from His ways”. He does so by making us physically prosperous while becoming daily more spiritually ‘wretched, miserable, poor, and blind and naked.’

Isa 63:17  O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Christ Himself tells us this of our old man before He “returns the tribes of [our] inheritance”. This is what “return the tribes of thine inheritance” means:

Deu 30:3  That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

Inwardly the nations that hold us captive are all the false doctrines which held our hearts and minds when we believed them. Until He “turns [our] captivity” this is how the Lord “makes us to err from His ways, and hardens our hearts from His fear”:

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Notice, Christ did not say ‘You refuse to hear my word’, although that is true. Instead, He gives us the reason why we refuse to hear Him.

The NLT puts it this way:

Joh 8:43  Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to do so! (NLT)

Christ had earlier said the same thing in these verses:

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

So, the thoughts and actions of all men have always been a matter of what God has placed into our hearts and minds to keep us as captives to the doctrines of the great whore. Our very thoughts are not our own because:

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Solomon knew this Truth because he had read these words of Elihu in the book of Job:

Job 34:10  Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
Job 34:11  For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
Job 34:12  Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
Job 34:13  Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed [H7760: ‘sum’] the whole world?
Job 34:14  If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
Job 34:15  All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

The Hebrew word translated as ‘disposed’ in verse 13 is ‘sum’ (Pronounced ‘soom’), and it means ‘to put, to place, to set’.

H7760
שִׂים    שׂוּם
śûm    śı̂ym
soom, seem

A primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literally, figuratively, inferentially and elliptically): –    X any wise, appoint, bring, call [a name], care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, + disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, + name, X on, ordain, order, + paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), + regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, + stedfastly, take, X tell, + tread down, ([over-]) turn, X wholly, work.

Total KJV occurrences: 580

It is the Lord who puts, places and sets every man where that man is. That is true physically, racially, ethnically, socially, financially, and mentally and spiritually. Remember that when you are tempted to hate your brother. Remember that also when you are tempted to “bow down to the angel who [shows you] these things” (Rev 19:10 and Rev 20:8). When we are both evil and good, we are mere vessels in the Lord’s hands.

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

All glory therefore goes only to the Lord because:

Psa 139:2  Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Psa 139:3  Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Psa 139:4  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

“You understand my thought afar off” means the Lord knows our thoughts before we have them because:

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

It is true that the Lord’s words concerning His judgments upon our sins dominate most of His Word, but this is the reason for that fact:

Isa 35:4  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
Isa 35:5  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped

“With a recompence; he will come and save you” and open your eyes and unstop your ears. These words of Isaiah are the foundation for these words of the revelation of Jesus Christ within us:

Rev 15:7  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

The “seven plagues” are the “recompense” for our sins of Isaiah 35:4. God has “made us to err from His ways, and [He has] hardened our hearts from His fear, and “made [us] wicked for [our own] day of evil’. (Isa 63:17, Pro 16:4), to give Himself “[the] occasion [He is seeking] to judge us, His own people in “this present time” (Rom 8:18).

Jer 6:19  Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

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.

‘Lebanon’ means ‘white’. With its snow-covered mountains and its mighty cedars, it signifies anything that is exalted. In this chapter it refers to the kings of Judah who live in houses which are roofed with cedar, as we were told earlier in this chapter:

Jer 22:14  That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled [roofed] with cedar, and painted with vermilion.

Our beast exalts himself, but when our beast first begins to be killed by the sword of God’s Word, the spiritual Pharisees then make us “two-fold more the child of hell than [themselves]”:

Mat 23:15  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

At this point we are Judah (Ahollabah), the “beast that comes up out of the earth having two horns like a lamb, but speaking like a dragon” (Rev 13:11), as opposed to Aholah our earlier religious experience.

Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

It is this beast that comes out of the earth to whom this chapter of Jeremiah is addressed as we will soon see:

Jer 22:23  O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!
Jer 22:24  As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;

The Lord has spoken. He has already told us that even King Josiah’s zeal for serving Him will not keep Him from judging His people:

2Ki 23:25  And like unto him [Josiah] was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.
2Ki 23:26  Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.

“The provocations” of Josiah’s father Manasseh, and the provocations of Josiah’s sons, Shallum, and Jehoiakim, and Jehoiakim’s son,  Jechoniah typify God seeking an occasion against our flesh (Jdg 14:3-4). The ‘Je’ part of Jeconiah, means ‘the Lord’:

H3204
יְכוֹנְיָה    יְכָנְיָהוּ    יְכָנְיָהo
yekonyâh    yekonyâhû    yekôneyâh
yek-on-yaw'(-hoo), yek-o-neh-yaw’

From H3559 and H3050; Jah will establish; Jekonjah, a Jewish king: – Jeconiah. Compare H3659.

His name is shortened to ‘Coniah’, as a sign of the Lord’s distain for Jechoniah. Both of Josiah’s sons and Jehoikim’s son, Jeconiah, are all evil kings whose sins are used to give the Lord the “occasion” He is seeking to judge His people and through that judgment cast off their oppressor, our old man, who first dominates them as the story of Samson wanting to marry a Philistine woman reveals:

Jdg 14:3  Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. [Samson could not hear his father’s words]
Jdg 14:4  But his father and his mother knew not that it was  of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

If we do not suffer some sort of trial in this present time, and if all we experience is prosperity, then we are not now being judged of the Lord, and we will not be capable of entering into the heavenly temple:

Rev 15:7  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

But judgment is now on the house of God (1Pe 4:17). We have gone into Babylon from whence we are now being dragged and judged.

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [G1670: helkuo, ‘drag’] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

G1670
ἑλκύω, ἕλκω
helkuō    helkō
hel-koo’-o, hel’-ko

Probably akin to G138; to drag (literally or figuratively): – draw. Compare G1667.

It is our old man who must die in that land, and it is our new man who through that dying process is being dragged to Christ:

Jer 22:25  And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans.
Jer 22:26  And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die.
Jer 22:27  But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return.

Even as children of “[our] father the devil” we are still the Lord’s children, because He is “the father of spirits” including Satan:

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Heb 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

Our ‘mother that bare [us]’ is the bondwoman, who is the same as the great whore. This great whore bears children to the Lord, but those children must first be judged for being children of whoredoms, and they must die to that great whore and to their father the devil:

Eze 23:1  The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
Eze 23:2  Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
Eze 23:3  And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.
Eze 23:4  And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.

These two women are both qualified as being harlots and are therefore nothing more than the two stages of our apostasy.

Applying the principle of “the dream is one” (Gen 41:25), these two women are the one ‘bondwoman’ of:

Gal 4:22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

In this case, the scriptures again qualify that these two women and their two sons represent the two covenants, the first being the covenant to the letter of the law given by Moses, and the second and last being the covenant to the spirit of the law given by Christ.

Notice that Agar, meaning Hagar the bondwoman, “answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.” Not one of the ministers of the children of the bondwoman who thinks that “Jerusalem which now is… will be made heir with the son of… Jerusalem which is above”, believes that “Jerusalem that now is… answers to Hagar [and] the son of the bondwoman”.

Yet that is exactly what our last three verses are saying:

Jer 22:28  Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?
Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.
Jer 22:30  Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

“Wherefore they are cast out” are the very same words used to speak of “Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children”:

Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

Ishmael was “the son of the bondwoman”, but Ishmael is just an early iteration of Esau, who was physically of the same mother, yet spiritually also typifies “the son of the bondwoman”, and neither will be made “heir with the son of the freewoman”:

Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal 4:28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Gal 4:29  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

There are few indeed who are given to say ‘Amen’ to any of these words of Galatians 4. Nevertheless a million sermons coming from “the son of the bondwoman” will not make them heirs with the son of the freewoman”, and a million sermons teaching that the Lord has a physical elect in “Jerusalem which now is”, as well as a spiritual elect in those who are “in Christ… Jerusalem above” will not make it so. Christ is not making of twain, twain. Christ has torn down the middle wall which was between Jews and Gentiles “to make of twain one new man, so making peace”. There is no spiritual ‘peace’ to be had with those who teach otherwise because we are admonished to “be of one mind”:

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Eph 2:11  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

I will let the holy spirit conclude our study with His own plea to each of us:

Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

Here are the verses for our next study in Jeremiah 23:

Jer 23:1  Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Jer 23:2  Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
Jer 23:3  And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
Jer 23:4  And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
Jer 23:5  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Jer 23:6  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jer 23:7  Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;
Jer 23:8  But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.
Jer 23:9  Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.
Jer 23:10  For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.
Jer 23:11  For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
Jer 23:12  Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.
Jer 23:13  And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
Jer 23:14  I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
Jer 23:15  Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.
Jer 23:16  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
Jer 23:17  They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.
Jer 23:18  For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?
Jer 23:19  Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.
Jer 23:20  The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.

[Study Aired October 4, 2020]

Isa 65:13  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:
Isa 65:14  Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
Isa 65:15  And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:
Isa 65:16  That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.
Isa 65:17  For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Isa 65:18  But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
Isa 65:19  And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
Isa 65:20  There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

Our study today begins with the word, ‘Therefore’. For that reason, we will begin by simply reading the last four verses of last week’s study so we can understand the grounds for what is being revealed to us.

Here are those four verses:

Isa 65:8  Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
Isa 65:9  And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
Isa 65:10  And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.
Isa 65:11  But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.
Isa 65:12  Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. [Chose to “believe a lie” – 2Th 2:2:11]

Regardless of the subject and regardless of the numbers of persons involved in any story in the bible, whether it is Joseph and his brothers, or King David and King Saul, or Israel and Syria, or Israel and Assyria and Babylon, it is not over simplifying the message of the scriptures at all to say that all scripture concerns nothing more than two men. Those two men are “our old man” and our “new man”, and those two men are always at war with each other. Here is how scripture frames these two warring parties:

Gen 25:22  And the children struggled together within her [Rebecca, Isaac’s wife]; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
Gen 25:23  And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

Those “two nations” are indeed “two nations”. They are not ‘one nation’ although they do come out of one womb, and that ‘one womb’ is “the first man Adam”. The first Adam in “every man” was “made to be taken and destroyed” because he has a “natural… carnal mind” which must be destroyed if the new man is to be birthed. This is how Christ speaks of these two men:

Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die [our carnal minded old man], it abideth alone : but if it die [if it is destroyed], it bringeth forth much fruit [If our rebellious, carnal-minded old man dies then it is through that dying process that our new man is born].
Joh 12:25  He that loveth his life [the life of a carnal mind] shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Only one of these two men can “inherit the kingdom of God”. Therefore, the first man, our natural man, our “old man” must begin to be “put off” and be destroyed and begin to die before “the new man” can begin to be born. The ‘birth’ of our “new man” is a process which continues within us until we draw our last physical breath. Only then will we “bear the heavenly” body in the fullness of our “new man”:

1Co 15:42  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Co 15:43  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Co 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body [A “spiritual body” can pass through a locked door and appear as a natural body. A “natural body” cannot do that, Luk 24:39].
1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy [our old man]: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly [our new man].
1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption [There is no such thing as “a spiritual physical body” as so many teach].

“The old man [and] the new man; the first man [and] the second man”; these are the two men with whom all scripture is concerned.

Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

‘Putting off the old man and putting on the new man’ are both in the aorist tense and are taking place daily within our new man. ‘Corrupt according to deceitful lusts’ and being ‘renewed in the spirit of your mind’ are both in the present tense as the dying process of our old man is being worked out.

That is the meaning of:

Isa 65:8  Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

“Destroy it not for a blessing is in it” refers only to our ‘new man’. However, there can be no ‘new man’ until the old man dies:

Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

1Co 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Our ‘old man’ is also called “the son of the bondwoman”, and this is what we know of his fate:

Gal 4:30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

We were “in time past… children of the prince of the power of the air… children of disobedience” but no more (Eph 2:2-3).

God has caused mankind to be associated with the number ‘six’ by creating mankind on “the sixth day” right there along with all the other beasts of the earth:

Gen 1:28  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Gen 1:31  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The spiritual significance of the number six is ‘that which is not completed’, especially as it refers to what is within mankind:

The Number Six

The spiritual significance of the number three is the process of judgment:

Numbers in Scripture – Three, the Process of Spiritual Completion Through Judgment

Number Three in Scripture

It is not a coincidence that mankind was created on the sixth day along with all the other beasts. It is not a coincidence because His creation of mankind in His image, with “dominion over… every living thing that moveth upon the earth”, is not yet complete. Mankind himself is a beast, and it is we ourselves over whom we, of ourselves, have no dominion:

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
Ecc 3:19  For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
Ecc 3:20  All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

Those words speak of our old man. He has “no preeminence above a beast” because he himself is a  beast who, like every other beast is “of the dust, and [sh]all turn to dust again”, and if there is not a resurrection from the dead of “all in Adam”:

1Co 15:18  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

Notice that it says “they… which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished”. It does not say, ‘they which are up in heaven with Christ.’ Neither are we ever told that those who “are fallen asleep” not knowing Christ are yet alive suffering excruciating pain in literal flames of fire. Quite to the contrary, this is what we are told of all who are “fallen asleep”:

Ecc 9:5  For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

I used to hate the Jehovah’s witnesses who first showed me that verse of scripture. I hated them, and I hated that verse of scripture simply because it did not fit in with the doctrine of the church I was in at that time.

In Genesis we are told that man is to have dominion over the fish, the fowl, and over all living things on the earth.

Gen 1:28  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

In Ecclesiastes 3 we are told that man has no preeminence over a beast. This apparent contradiction evaporates when we discover that the words “Let us make man in our image” are better translated as:

Gen 1:26 And saying is the Elohim, “Make will We humanity in Our image, and according to Our likeness, and sway shall they over the fish of the sea, and over the flyer of the heavens, and over the beast, and over all land life, and over every moving animal moving on the land.
Gen 1:27 And creating is the Elohim humanity in His image. In the image of the Elohim He creates it. Male and female He creates them. (CLV)

Every verb in those two verses is in the Hebrew Qal stem which is the equivalent of the Greek aorist tense. What that means is that God did not “make man in His image”. The fact is that He shaped man in dust and iniquity and conceived Adam in sin as we clearly informed:

Psa 51:5  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

However, did we not just read:

Gen 1:31  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

This next verse to Gen 1:31 is needed to get “the sum of [His] word” concerning what was created in those six days:

Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

“All that in them is” would include the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the crooked deceitful serpent and thorns and briars. Indeed, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a “very good… tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. The “crooked serpent” was a “very good… crooked, lying, murderous” serpent. Adam and Eve themselves were “very good… flesh and blood… corruption”:

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

The serpent did not become a liar after Adam and Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They ate of that tree because the serpent beguiled and lied to them. That is what a “very good” serpent does. He is “very good” at what he was created to do. He did not become a “crooked serpent” after he lied to Eve. The Lord’s own hand formed that “crooked serpent”:

Job 26:13  By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

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

What does all of this tell us about that which is “very good”? The law of Moses is said to be “good”, and yet we are told it, “Is not for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient.”

1Ti 1:8  But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
1Ti 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
1Ti 1:11  According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

Any application of the “lawful use of the law” of Moses must be applied in our lives “according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God”, and in answer to the question… What does all of this tell us about that which is “very good”? this is what “the glorious gospel of the blessed God” tells us about that which is “very good”:

2Co 3:10  For even that which was made glorious [the law of Moses] had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

Let’s look at that verse along with the verses surrounding it so we can get its full impact:

2Co 3:7  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, [“The law (of Moses) is good” – 1Ti 1:12] was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
2Co 3:8  How shall not the ministration of the spirit [“The law of Christ”, Gal 6:2 and Mat 5-7] be rather glorious?
2Co 3:9  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
2Co 3:10  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
2Co 3:11  For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

Based upon what we have just read, it is not adding to or taking from the Word of God to say, ‘That which was “very good” was not good at all by reason of that which excels.’ In other words, ‘The good is actually the enemy of excellence’ to the point that “the milk of the Word”, keeping the law of Moses, is the enemy of going on to perfection.

To make this point I will quote from the end of Hebrews 5 and the beginning of Hebrews 6 without the verses or the chapter breaks:

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. [Both the judgment which is now on the house of God and the great white throne judgment, the salvation of all]
And this will we do, if God permit.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

The phrase “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ…” connects what was said about being spiritual babes to the “milk of the Word” doctrines which are all listed here, and the phrase “For it is impossible… to renew them again to repentance…” connects what has just been stated about those spiritual babes with the warning that “it is impossible to renew them again to repentance.” What we are being told is that those who insist on remaining only on the milk of the Word and see no difference between the called and the chosen, are actually “crucifying Christ afresh and putting Him to an open shame” and are simply unwilling to “go on unto perfection”. It is only those who are given to “go on unto perfection” who will be given “a crown of life [and] a coat of many colors”. The masses and multitudes who come to Christ are not given to receive these gifts because they instinctively realize that if they separate themselves from those who want only ‘the milk of the Word’ they will be rejected and ostracized and persecuted by the masses and multitudes who are not given to endure that “fiery trial” of rejection and persecution (1Pe 4:12). Being given by our Father a coat of many colors and a crown of life will separate us from our brothers and will cause us to be “hated of [our] brothers”. Many are so afraid of being made to differ from their brothers that they are willing to place themselves on the same level as the many called. God’s “very elect” are given to bear the rejection of their own brothers because they are “loved… more than all [their] brothers”.

Gen 37:3  Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
Gen 37:4  And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

The Lord has demonstrated this Truth to all of us when He dragged us out of Babylon, and then He has demonstrated it over and over again when He causes even those who were our equal, those who were our guides and our intimate acquaintances, to accuse us of placing ourselves above others. We must realize that our Lord was not only hated by the very multitudes He had fed and nourished, but He was even hated and betrayed by those who had broken bread with Him and with whom He had over the years taken sweet counsel, and with whom for years He had gone up the house of God. Do we think we are different from our Lord? We are not; rather we are Him, and we, too, will know what it is for those with whom we have “taken sweet counsel” to suddenly forsake us, turn against us and magnify themselves against us.

These verses are addressed to you and to me:

Psa 41:9  Even a man desiring my welfare, I trusted in him, eating of my bread; this one has lifted up his heel against me.

Psa 55:12  For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

Psa 55:13  But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
Psa 55:14  We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

Mat 10:24  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
Mat 10:25  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Act 22:7  And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Act 22:8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

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.

All these Words of Christ will never pass away. They will be experienced by the true saints of every generation:

Mat 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

When Christ says, “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled,” ‘these things’ include “the end [of the age”] (vs 14), as well as “the abomination that makes desolate spoken of by Daniel the prophet” (vs 15). This demonstrates the ‘is, was, and will be’ nature of the Word of God. It will always have an application to those living at the time it was penned, as well as every subsequent generation… “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” Any and all exceptions to this rule are clearly qualified and made obvious in scripture. Being of the “blessed and holy… few” who are given to have a part in the first resurrection, while “the rest of the dead” who are not given that privilege “live not again till the thousand years are finished” is one example of a qualified exception in scripture (Rev 20:5-6). Another such exception is that those who are in the first resurrection are clearly told “the second death… shall not hurt [them] and has no power over [them] (Rev 2:10-11 and 20:6).

There is no way to apply these words to those who are in the lake of fire because “the lake of fire… is the second death”, and the devil himself is being purified in that ‘fire’:

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
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

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

But when the apostle Peter writes:

2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts [our old man], made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
2Pe 2:13  And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
2Pe 2:14  Having eyes full of [spiritual] adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
2Pe 2:15  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Those who are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God (Mat 13:10-15) will always remember these words of the apostle Paul, and will give every word here in 2 Peter a primarily personal application, while at the same time acknowledging that the scriptures also have a secondary past application as well as an apocalyptic end time application:

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course [Greek, ‘aion’, age] of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ [‘quickened’ Greek: aorist tense, ‘being given life’], (by grace ye are saved;)

Rev 1:18  I am he that liveth [Is], and was [Was] dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore [Will be], Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Those who are granted to remember that “we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” will never forget to apply these words of the apostle Peter first and foremost personally, and not place them somewhere out there on someone else.

Knowing the meaning of, “My words shall never pass away” we will always apply these words of Peter to our own old man whom we all know very well we have served for so very long.

If we read scripture from any other perspective it becomes nothing more than a history book, with absolutely no personal application. But if we see every story in scripture as a struggle between the kingdom of our old man and the kingdom of our new man, and if we understand that these two nations are always at war within our own heavens constantly struggling one against the other, then we will appreciate and  understand these words:

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

There are “two nations” within every man. One is the first to be given the hegemony over our heavens. Those “two nations” share a common ancestor, and yet they have nothing else but the fact they are both being judged in common. Their ‘common ancestor’ is “the first man Adam”, and just as his actions involuntarily negatively affected all men, so also “the last Adam’s” actions will also positively, involuntarily affect all men of all time. In other words, God did not “make men in His image”, rather the Truth of the scriptures is that He is in the process of making man in His image in two phases. Those two phases of His creation are “the first man Adam”, and “the last Adam”:

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made [Greek: aorist tense] a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

Our study today concerns itself with the contrasts which exist between these two men who have nothing in common but the judgments of their Creator:

Our last study ended with the Lord revealing to us the marred condition of our old man:

Isa 65:11  But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.
Isa 65:12  Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

Being “numbered to the sword” is being numbered to destruction, which is indeed the fate of our old man.

Our study today contrasts the cursed fruit of the ways of our rebellious old man with the blessings of the fruit of having Christ and His mind living within us:

Isa 65:13  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:

It is our old man who, while spiritually starving to death and spiritually dying of thirst and being shamefully naked, actually thinks he is “rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing”:

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Remember “the time is at hand” that we are to “read… hear… and keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book”.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

As the converted Nebuchadnezzar, a type of our new man, confessed after seven years of humiliation of his typical ‘old man’ at the hands of the Lord:

Dan 4:37  Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride [our old man] he is able to abase.

Such is how the Lord has chosen to work with His creatures. It is only through much humiliation and tribulation that any of us will enter the kingdom of God. It is only through being brought to see our miserable, starved, thirsty and shamefully naked condition that the Lord drags us to Himself, as He tells us repeatedly throughout the scriptures:

Job 27:14  If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

Lev 26:26  And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women [false doctrines in false churches] shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

Just as Isaiah is doing in this 65^th chapter, throughout scripture the Lord contrasts the fate of our old man with the fate of our new man:

Psa 37:18  The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
Psa 37:19  They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

Isaiah continues with this contrast between the rewards for the humility and obedience of our new man in “this present time” to the shameful, poverty-stricken fruits of the pride and rebellion of our old man against his own Creator and Maker:

Isa 65:14  Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

“My servants shall rejoice… My servants shall sing for joy of heart” does not mean we will do so because we will know nothing but physical blessings and physical Pollyanna joy in “this present time”. Do not allow yourself to be taken in with the insidious false doctrine of a “substitutionary atonement”. That particular lie is believed by literally millions of Christians. That false doctrine teaches that Christ came to this earth to die for you, which is, of course, true. Nevertheless, just as he did in the Garden of Eden, the serpent states a truth and then twists that same truth into a lie which simply cannot be detected by those who live on nothing but smooth, sweet milk of the Word. Christ did not come and die for us so we could avoid persecution and avoid the hatred of all men. These are His own words:

Mat 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Does that sound like Christ thought His death on the cross would somehow miraculously deliver us from sore trials in “this present time”? Just a few verses later, in this same chapter, Christ tells us in very clear language that He did not die for us so we would not have to die. Rather, He died for us so He could come to us through His Father’s spirit and give us the strength to die with Him for “His body’s sake, which is the church” (Col 1:24-27).

This is what Christ has to say about the function of His death for us and what we can expect if we are granted to believe in Him and His doctrines:

Mat 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

There it is in very clear language. Christ expects us to die with Him. He did not die for us so we could avoid death. The exact opposite is the Truth.

This is how the apostle Paul expresses how these words of our Lord affected his life:

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [So I could be “crucified with Him”]

These “earthen vessels” (2Co 4:7) are the curse of the corruption which cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50), which is the subject of our next two verses:

Isa 65:15  And ye [you and I, our old man] shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen [our new man with a “new name”, Rev 2:17 and 3:12]: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:
Isa 65:16  That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

We will show what is our “new name” shortly.

“Swearing by the God of Truth” has been changed by our Lord to simply stating the Truth, which ‘Truth’ is that we will be the first to be saved, and in time “through [our] mercy… all in Adam shall be made alive in Christ”:

Mat 5:33  Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Mat 5:34  But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
Mat 5:35  Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Mat 5:36  Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Mat 5:37  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

All the blessings of the kingdom are ours at this very moment in down-payment earnest form. “The redemption of the purchased possession” is the fullness of our promised reward, and all of that is yet before us if we are granted to endure “much tribulation” to the end:

Isa 65:17  For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Isa 65:18  But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

This “new heavens and new earth” are being created within us at this very moment through “much tribulation”, and “Jerusalem” is the “new name” mentioned in verse 15:

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Rev 3:12  He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name. (ASV)

If indeed we are Christ, as He declares (Mat 25:40 and Act 22:8), and if indeed “His inheritance is in the saints” as we are informed in:

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,

Our new name is His new name and that name is “New Jerusalem”, a name befitting our “new man”. It is Christ and His Christ who “come down from God out of  heaven”, first to rule within us at “this present time” (Rom 8:18), and then to rule over the kingdoms of this world for “a thousand years”.

This is what life is like in the New Jerusalem of Isaiah 65. Isaiah 65 is the inspiration for these words:

Rev 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2  And I John [Aaron Lohman, Tony Cullen, Steve, and all of us] saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

“The manifested sons of God” are “the New Jerusalem” which Christ is presently creating within us. In “this present time” we can and should be rejoicing in the glory that is to be revealed in 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.

As “the manifested sons of God” the best is yet to come, minus all the suffering of this present time, and according to our Lord “[He] will rejoice in [us]… and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in [us], nor the voice of crying” when He receives His inheritance in us. Christ rejoices in His inheritance which is in us, and we are to rejoice in our inheritance in Him:

Isa 65:19  And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

To which Christ adds these words:

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

“[His] people [are] His inheritance”:

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,

Christ’s inheritance is in us, and ours is in Him:

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure [“Christ within us”, Col 1:27… “the earnest of our inheritance” Eph 1:14] in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

However, not all “[His] people” of this age will be “faithful [and] endure to the end” in His service in “this present time”. We will all fill out every one of the days which are written in our “books” (Psa 139:16 ASV, Rev 20:12). Those “books” record in advance every little thing we do while in these earthly vessels of clay (Jer 18:4; 1Co 15:47-49), and that which is done in and of our flesh is the spiritual significance of the number ten, and all of its multiples. Here is the URL to The Spiritual Significance of The Number Ten: The Number Ten

Isa 65:20  There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

The Hebrew word for ‘child’ is ‘na’ar’ (H5288), and it means a mature young man capable of battle and of heavy labor. Here are the first two times this word appears in the Old Testament:

Gen 14:23  That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou [the king of Sodom] shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
Gen 14:24  Save only that which the young men [Hebrew: na’ar, the young men who fought with Abraham to rescue Lot from the kings of the east] have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

Gen 18:7  And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man [H5288: na’ar]; and he hasted to dress it.

A ‘na’ar’, a ‘young man’ who dies a hundred years old’ and is not an “accursed… sinner”, in New Testament Greek, is an ”elect”, ‘uihos’, a “son of God”:

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons [G5207: ‘uihos’] of God.

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons [G5207, ‘uihos’] of God.

Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons [G5207, ‘uihos’], God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son [G5207, uihos] into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

The fact that Isaiah 65:19 tells us that Christ “rejoices in Jerusalem… [His] people “, and the fact that verse 22, which we will cover in our next study, calls “[His] people” in this context “His elect”, demonstrates that “the child being an hundred years old shall die [to his old man],” refers to “His elect”, our “new man… in this present time”, being birthed through the death of our old man. “The sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed”, because he is not dying to his old man in this present time and is therefore condemned to Gehenna, the great white throne judgment/lake of fire/second death. The fact that this particular ‘sinner’ also lives to be 100 years old and is called “My people”, and yet he is “accursed” and  is being contrasted with “the child [young man] dying at 100 years old, qualifies this particular “accursed… sinner” of Isaiah 65:20 as typifying those who were once known of Christ, as Judas was, and yet are cast into the lake of fire to be purified being “condemned with the world”:

Here is how Christ describes this particular ‘sinner’ who is feasting with His people in ‘Jerusalem’:

Mat 22:11  And when the king came in to see the guests [at the marriage of the king’s Son, vs 2] he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

This is how those who are given a proper wedding garment are given to avoid the fate of that man:

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge [G1252: diakrino, verb, separate, make a distinction, to prefer] ourselves, we should not be judged [G2919: krino, verb].
1Co 11:32  But when we are judged [G2919: ‘krino’ – verb, judged in this present time] we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned [G2632: katakrino, down judged, judged against] with the world.

Being “condemned with the world” refers to the judgment against the ungodly and sinners of this present age who will “appear” at the “white throne judgment/lake of fire/second death” because they are not being judged along with “the house of God… in this present time”:

Mat 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation [G2920 Greek: ‘krisis’, judgment] of hell? [G1067 Greek: ‘ghenna’, the great white throne judgment, ‘krisis’, the lake of fire/ second death].

Joh 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment [Greek: ‘krisis’, G2920] also, because he is the Son of man.
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 [at the beginning of the thousand year reign]; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation [Exact same Greek word translated ‘judgment’ in verse 27, ‘krisis’ G2920… the “white throne… judgment”, Rev 20:11-15].

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment [G2917: ‘krima’, noun, neuter, same root as the Greek noun, ‘krisis’ G2920: feminine, noun], must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? [They will be “condemned with the world to the “resurrection of damnation [Greek: ‘krisis’, Joh 5:27-29]
1Pe 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

That is our study for today, and here are the verses for our next study where we will learn that all “[the Lord’s] elect”, who are in that “blessed and holy… first resurrection” are even now in down-payment form, given to build and plant the things of the spiritual ‘kingdom within’ ourselves, and to even now eat the fruits of the spirit, and to have dominion over every beast in our lives, even in “this present time” as the elect of the Lord:

Isa 65:21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
Isa 65:22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
Isa 65:23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
Isa 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Psa 129:1  A Song of degrees. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: 
Psa 129:2  Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me. 
Psa 129:3  The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows. 
Psa 129:4  The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked. 
Psa 129:5  Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. 
Psa 129:6  Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up: 
Psa 129:7  Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom. 
Psa 129:8  Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD. 

This opening statement of Psalm 129 “Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth” is repeated a second time in verse two as a witness (Rev 11:8, Col 1:24) to a very significant point about how God has worked and is working in the lives of those who have been ordained from the foundation of the world to be His kind of first fruits who are the first to trust in the living God (Eph 1:11-12) and who are being ripened through a series of fiery trials that produce that trust which causes us to lie dead (Rom 6:11) “in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified” (2Co 1:9, 1Ti 4:10, 1Pe 4:1-2).

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things [including our trials Rom 8:28] 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 2:10].

[God has predestined the elect “according to his purpose“ and to “his glory” to be the first who trusted in Christ]

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2Co 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves [we lie dead in the street (Rev 11:8)], that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: (Eph 2:6, we die daily and are raised daily through a process… and that is why it says after 3 days and a 1/2 in Revelation 11:11 “the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them”. The three days is the process of judgment and the half reminds us that we are the other half of Christ’s ministry who fill up what is behind of His afflictions (Col 1:24). Together the whole ministry of Christ is fulfilled through Christ and His Christ 3.5 + 3.5=7=the whole.]

1Ti 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach [as we lie dead in the street 2Co 2:16-17), because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. [Christ is not exclusively the saviour of the church Christ’s body, but the elect trust/believe today and suffer reproach for that belief today (Php 1:29, Joh 6:29)]

1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; [we suffer so we can fulfill his preordained will for us (1Jn 2:16-18) and we know it is the last times because we have identified where the anti-Christ, the man of perdition, resides and is being destroyed by the brightness of his coming 2Th_2:8-9 and this is all happening so…..]
1Pe 4:2  That he [we] no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world [1Co 15:50], the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 
1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists [1Jn_2:18]; whereby we know that it is the last time [understood both inwardly and outwardly (2Ti 3:13-17)].

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 
2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. [Notice the context of these verses when John is talking about who the anti-Christ is, who denies “the Father and the Son” (1Jn 2:18-23, Joh 17:3)]
2Ti 3:14  But continue (Joh 8:31-32) thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

[Timothy was not of Paul or Apollos but he was persuaded that Christ was working in his elders and knew that he was to continue in the things which he was assured of in his own mind, that were being taught with the mind of Christ Heb 13:17, 1Co 2:15-16].

2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works [2Ti 2:21].

Those trials and much tribulation (Act 14:22) are the needful building blocks in our sojourn in Christ which prepare us to be faithful in the larger trials we are promised we can endure through Him (Mat 20:22-23, Php 4:13). Each and every one of those turbulent moments of our life have been ordained by God and for His purpose written from the foundation of the world to build us up in our most holy faith (Jud 1:20-21) so we can lay down our life as living sacrifices who have learned the importance of being faithful in the little things over a period of time so we can as mature sons be faithful “also in much” (Eph 1:4-10, Jas 1:18, Rom 9:28, 1Pe 4:12, Luk 16:10).

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue [Joh 8:31-32] in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Mat 20:22  But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 
Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. [Christ was confirming and exhorting the disciples in this example to “continue in the faith” (Act 14:22), and there are two groups being spoken of here: those whom the Father has prepared to sit “on my right hand”, the elect, who are given the power “on my right hand” to rule; and the rest “and on my left” who do not have that honor of ruling and reigning under Christ (1Co 6:3, 1Co 15:23-25)].

Php 4:13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 

Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

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 [Rom 8:9, Mat 7:22]
Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

[We keep ourselves in the love of God by being sanctified or washed by the blood of the lamb and by being blessed to know that it is the inside of the cup that God is working with in His people today as He burns up any preeminence or conceit in our hearts by the power of God’s holy spirit, that is our hope! (Jud 1:21, Mat 23:25, Rom 11:18-21, Col 1:27, 1Jn 3:2-3)]

Eph 1:8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
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:

Jas 1:18  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: [Psa 2:12]
Jas 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Rom 9:28  For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

Luk 16:10  He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. [In other words nothing is least in Christ, but we will learn this over time if that is God’s will for us (Mat 5:18, 1Co 4:6-7)].

No one will see Christ or be able to say “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” unless the Lord is indeed working in that life and fulfilling the contextual verses (Mat 23:34-39) surrounding that statement in Matthew 23:39. God’s elect have been ordained from the foundation of the world to be able to see and say “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” and that has been made possible through the many things we have been through and endured through Christ who has demonstrated that the gates of hell cannot prevail against His body (Mat 16:18-19).

Mat 23:34  Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: [Jas 5:7-10, 1Co 10:10-11].

Jas 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Jas 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 
Jas 5:9  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door [Psa 2:12].
Jas 5:10  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example^G5262 of suffering affliction, and of patience [Luk 21:19].

1Co 10:8  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

[320,000 men in 1Corinthians 10:8 and 250 men of renown in Numbers 16:2 are both numbers that are multiples of 5 that represent grace and faith that was a type and shadow event being applied to these men who died in the earth, revealing that if God is working with us in this age we cannot become that new creation unless a seed fall into the ground and die (Joh 12:24). They were sacrificed (1Co 10:8, Num 16:2) to show us what must happen to our own old man today].

1Co 10:9  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10  Neither murmur ye [Psa_2:12], as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples^G5179: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Mat 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:36  Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Mat 23:37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 
Mat 23:38  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 
Mat 23:39  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

[The world will not see Christ with spiritual understanding until God’s word is sent to them to heal them, and that is why they will say “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Joh 20:21)]

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [Christ was telling Peter you are going to go in the name of the Lord because you are going to be built upon me the Rock, and when you are converted you will strengthen the brethren.]
Mat 16:19  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Psa 129:1  A Song of degrees. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: 
Psa 129:2  Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me. 

As we just read, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” even though it is through a lifetime of much tribulation that we must go through in order to be established, strengthened and settled in the Lord (1Pe 5:10).

Going on to perfection is a process or “song of degrees” meaning it is a step-by-step process that requires the Israel of God (Gal 6:16) to say and acknowledge “Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth” so that in the same breath we can also be reminded “yet they have not prevailed against me” or “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”

Psa 129:3  The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows. 
Psa 129:4  The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked. 

The imagery in these verses reminds us of how the Lord uses the outside world to break us down and prepare our hearts so that we can be easily entreated and made ready to receive Christ as we receive the words of eternal life that He has (Joh 6:68) and that are likened unto a seed (Luk 8:15) made ready to be received because of “plowers [who] plowed upon my back” and “made long their furrows” (Isa 53:5, Col 1:24, Gen 30:37-38, Luk 23:31).

Luk 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. 

Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Gen 30:37  And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. 
Gen 30:38  And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink. 

Luk 23:31  For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? 

However, verse 4 goes on to say “The LORD is righteous“, because although He allows wicked men to fulfill their role in our lives, and our own iniquities chasten us within for the day of evil within us (Jer 2:19, Pro 16:4), he is righteous, and at the appointed time “he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked” within and without. It is at an appointed time to demonstrate that God is in charge of the whole process of delivering us from sin, and He is working it all out for the greater good of all of humanity.

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Psa 129:5  Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion. 
Psa 129:6  Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:

We are turned back when we are confounded, and we are confounded when we are ashamed of the gospel (Rom 1:16, Luk 9:26), and that is the same as hating Zion, or the body of Christ (Oba 1:21) that is the church clothed in that gospel (Eph 6:15). If Christ is in us we won’t hate our own body, but rather will love and nourish it (Eph 5:29-31).

Without the shield of faith which is the gift of God that is given to the body of Christ (Mat 13:11, Rom 3:27), we would not be able to quench the fiery darts of Satan that have been perverting the gospel from the foundation of the world. Those words (“fiery darts”) of the devil are sent to try us as we mature and become approved through Christ who gives us the power to overcome the wicked one (1Jn 4:4) who tries to bring wickedness into the house of God but will not prevail (Mat 16:18).

The symbolism of “the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up” is another reminder for us that only by the grace of God will anyone of us endure to the end by being nourished on meat and being blessed to go beyond the milk of the word or “the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up“. The disciples were in the upper chamber with Christ (Mar 14:15) the night he was betrayed, and the word they received had to “withereth afore it groweth up“. All the disciples forsook him that night because they were not yet mature enough to follow through and do what God required of them (as He does all of us) to do through the power of God’s holy spirit, that being to receive His word in a good and honest heart as we obediently lose our life through Christ. It takes the communion we have with each other in Christ, which was being expressed that night of Passover in type and shadow, to mature us beyond the milk or grass that feeds our beast and prepares us for the slaughter.

Luk 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.

Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. [because we share in the communion of Christ’s suffering (Col 1:24)]
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psa 129:7 Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
Psa 129:8 Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.

We cannot come in the name of the Lord if we do not have the fruit in our lives that demonstrates we are his ambassadors (Mat 3:8, Luk 6:43-45), and those who have Christ in them do not acknowledge the disobedient who have rejected the words of Christ. We don’t say “The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD” because that blessing is not on them. The actions or inactions of the unbelieving have proven to us who it is God has made (is making, the fruit seen) approved in the Lord (1Co 11:19).

We love our enemies as Christ said we ought (Luk 6:27-31), and pray for those who falsely accuse us and speak all manner of evil against us, knowing that God already knows those who are His. If they are of us, they will be grafted back into the body of Christ because He is able to do that. That grafting in is accomplished by fulfilling what is written in Leviticus chapter 14 as we carefully examine “the plague of leprosy in a house” that God put there for our maturing so we can learn how to discern good and evil. If that plague is stayed it is of the Lord, and if that plague is not stayed that also is of the Lord, to be stayed for later in the lake of fire, or great white throne judgment. We acknowledge that “I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession”, the evil that visits the city, and so we need to obey God’s commandments in Matthew 18:15-17 every jot and tittle in order to stay that plague (Joh 6:44, Rom 11:21-23, Lev 14:33-57, Amo 3:6).

Luk 6:27. But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Luk 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Luk 6:29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
Luk 6:30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
Luk 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

Lev 14:34 When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession;

“Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” because that blessed person of the Lord has been blessed to be able to read, hear and keep the sayings of the prophecy of Jesus Christ which destroys that plague in our own house and keeps us dying daily so that it does not manifest and defile many.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Heb 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat [one false doctrine] sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected [type of God’s rejected anointed]: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears [Rom 2:4]
Heb 12:18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

[We no longer know Christ after the flesh but in the spirit where we hear the sound of seven trumpets and the voice of the true Shepherd (2Co 5:16, Rev 8:1-2, Joh 10:3-4)]

Heb 12:19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: [Rom 2:4]
Heb 12:20 (For they could not endure [it was not given to them to endure] that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
Heb 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23. To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. [Luk 11:49-51].

Luk 11:49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, [“Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord”] and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
Luk 11:50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
Luk 11:51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

Isa 42:18-25 Who is Blind as He That is Perfect, and Blind as the Lord's Servant? - Discussion

1 file(s) 6.54 MB

Download

Who Is Blind As He That Is Perfect, and Blind As The Lord’s Servant?

Isa 42:18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. 
Isa 42:19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant? 
Isa 42:20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. 
Isa 42:21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. 
Isa 42:22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. 
Isa 42:23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? 
Isa 42:24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. 
Isa 42:25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

Only the most spiritually blinded person will deny that the Lord is speaking here of “…My servant… my messenger that I have sent… he that is perfect… the Lord’s servant”. This is the same “My servant” who is also called “Mine elect, in whom My soul delights”. This verse continues… “I have put my spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.” So, the deaf and blind… “My servant” of verse 18-19 of this chapter is still speaking of the Lord’s elect, in spite of the extreme change of tone, and the seemingly contradictory characteristics of “[His] servant” in these verses:

Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Isa 42:2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
Isa 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Isa 42:4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

Now the Lord is telling us that this same “My servant… [is] deaf and… blind”:

Isa 42:18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. 
Isa 42:19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant? 
Isa 42:20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. 

To understand what the Lord is telling us we must notice that verse 18 is a commandment from the Lord, and when the Lord commands it is done. His elect were deaf and blind, and now they both hear and see simply because He commanded it to be so.

“Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear” is exactly what Christ says of us while we are yet deaf and blind, wanting to call down fire from heaven upon anyone who offends us [Luk 9:55], arguing about which of us will be greatest in His kingdom [Luk 9:46], and even denying that we know him [Mat 26:75]. Yet because we are His elect, He tells us, “Blessed are your ears for they hear, and your eyes for they see.”  

“Speaking of those things which are not as though they were” Christ tells us this of His disciples before they ever begin to understand His words:

Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 
Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 
Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 
Mat 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 
Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 
Mat 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Did Christ’s disciples at this point, hear or see or understand Him and His doctrines and the meaning of His parables? Four times we are told Christ’s very apostles did not understand His parables even after He had told them what they meant:

Mar 9:32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him. 

Luk 2:50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 

Luk 9:45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

It was only after their conversion on the day of Pentecost that Christ’s own apostles began to remember and understand what He had been teaching them for the past three and a half years. 

Joh 12:16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

Just as with the rest of mankind, and for the very purpose of being able to identify with and understand all the rest of mankind, Christ keeps His own elect both spiritually deaf and spiritually blind until the appointed time. Like ancient Israel we simply cannot come up out of spiritual Egypt, within ourselves, until the iniquities of the spiritual ‘Amorites’ within ourselves is fulfilled. Then, only at the appointed time, we are granted to go up and possess the land. 

Gen 15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

Num 33:53 And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.

Only at the appointed time for each of us do we begin to destroy the giants and the beasts within ‘the land’, which ‘land’ symbolizes our bodies and our “old man” with all his passions and lusts and lies and false doctrines:

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 

Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Until that appointed time it is just as true of “Mine elect… My servant”, as it is of the rest of this world:

Isa 44:18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

Truly these words are ours to live and to keep at our own appointed time:

Isa 42:18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. 
Isa 42:19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant? 
Isa 42:20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. 

King David was used to reveal to us that it is given to the Lord’s elect to be the first to live through and to “keep [the Lord’s] righteous judgments”:

Psa 119:106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

Those words appear to the natural mind to be saying that King David had decided on his own to ‘perform [and] keep [the Lord’s] righteous judgments”. Indeed, ancient Israel, like Joseph’s brothers, thought their deeds, good and evil, were their own deeds. However, that is a very carnal way of understanding what it means to “keep thy judgments”. The scriptures have always taught that the Lord is sovereign over “all things”. A much more mature understanding of how we will all “keep [the Lord’s] judgments” is to understand the meaning of the commandment to “keep the things which are written therein”:

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

It happens that “the things that are written therein” are all of the Lord’s “righteous judgments” made known to us in the form of seven seals, seven trumpets and seven vials, which fill up the wrath of God and His judgments upon the kingdom of our rebellious old man. 

We are very clearly informed that “no man can enter into the temple of God “Until the seven vials of the seven angels is fulfilled” within our lives:

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

This is how King David, and each of us at our appointed time will “keep [the Lord’s] righteous judgments”:

Rev 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 
Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

It is only by “keep[ing] the things written therein”, the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven vials of the wrath of God, that we will be granted to “enter into the temple of God”. 

The three-step process of being judged involves, 1) the seven seals, 2) the seven trumpets and 3) the seven vials, and it requires patience to endure all “[the Lord’s] righteous judgments… unto the end”.

Mat 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Rev 16:7 And I heard another [voice] out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. 

Rev 19:2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

Therefore, we are admonished:

Jas 1:2 My brothers count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 
Jas 1:3 knowing that the proving of your faith works patience. 
Jas 1:4 But let patience have its perfective work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (LITV)

The “various trials” of our lives are the seals, the trumpets, and the vials of the Lord’s judgment, His wrath upon the rebellious kingdom of our old man. Job is the Old Testament type of who we are, and like Job we must patiently endure the Lord’s righteous judgments upon the kingdom of our old man within us. The Lord knows all of this, and that is why He gives us this profound admonition:

Luk 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 
Luk 21:17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. 
Luk 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 
Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

The Lord’s judgment against our old man is His righteousness, and “His righteous judgments” within us:

Isa 42:21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. 

When ‘the Lord’s righteousness’ is within us, we do much more than keep only the letter of the law. “The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake” because “His righteousness”, does not just outwardly obey the words “Thou shalt not commit adultery”. The Lord’s righteousness magnifies that law to:

Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7 “magnify the law and make it honorable” and are the foundations of the “time of reformation” of:

Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

The coming of Christ proclaiming His great “time of reformation” and His “magnifying [of the] law”, culminating in His death and resurrection, is the foundation of “the Israel of God” which is “the kingdom of God within [us]”. 

Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Gal 6:15 Certainly, it doesn't matter whether a person is circumcised or not. Rather, what matters is being a new creation. 
Gal 6:16 Peace and mercy will come to rest on all those who conform to this principle. They are the Israel of God. (GWV)

Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

When Christ first comes to us, we are not capable of “worshipping Him in spirit and in Truth”. We aren’t even capable of understanding our lost and dying condition when the Lord first comes to us and begins to drag us to Himself through His judgments upon our sins and through the fiery trials of life.

This is how we appear to Him when He decides to begin to drag us out of the darkness and lies of ‘the great whore [who is] the mother of harlots’:

Isa 42:22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. 

These words are is, was and will be words of our Lord. They had a past application, they have a present application, and they will have a future, lake of fire application, just as the last 6 verses of chapter 24:

Isa 24:19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. 
Isa 24:20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. 
Isa 24:21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. 
Isa 24:22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.
Isa 24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

The prophet Joel quotes this prophecy, and the apostle Peter applied the words of this prophecy to the events surrounding birth of the New Testament church on the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts.

Here is Joel referring to this prophecy of Isaiah 24:

Joe 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 
Joe 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 
Joe 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 
Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 
Joe 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

And here is the apostle Peter applying this prophecy to the events surrounding the day of Pentecost when the church of the New Testament was founded at the coming of the holy spirit. It is through the holy spirit that Christ dwells within His elect:

Act 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 
Act 2:17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 
Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 
Act 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 
Act 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 
Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

I can remember as if it were only yesterday, commenting to my son-in-law that I did not understand why Peter would say such a thing when there were no heavenly signs in the sun or the moon on the day of Pentecost. The only ‘heavenly sign’ that day was the ‘cloven tongues of fire’. I had no spiritual understanding at all at that time, but I was completely unaware of my own ignorance of who is the ‘Sun’ and what and who is the ‘moon’. Christ, of course, is “the Sun of righteousness” and the ‘moon’ is His “church in the wilderness” which had shed His blood just a few days earlier.

Gen 37:9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 
Gen 37:10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I [your father… “the sun”] and thy mother [the moon… the church… “the mother of us all”, Gal 4:26] and thy brethren [the stars] indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

So, the scriptures reveal the spiritual meaning of ‘the sun’ and ‘the moon’ in the book of Genesis, and now Isaiah is using these same symbols in a prophecy which spiritually refers to “the Sun of Righteousness”, Christ, being darkened through death, by the ‘moon’, “the church in the wilderness” which shed His blood as a sin offering and “a propitiation for our sins… and… for the sins of the whole world”:

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

That is the spiritual meaning of:

Isa 24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

It is “all… of God (1Co 8:6) after the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11) and “for [our] good” (Rom 8:28)… for His righteousness sake” so He will have the occasion to “magnify the law” and reveal that His law is not the shadow of the law of Moses, but His law is “the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus”:

Rom 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Meaning:

Isa 42:21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.