26. Faith in the Word of God (1)

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Hymns: RHC RHC 117 In Tenderness He Sought Me, 56 Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee, 70 Jesus, I am Resting

Isaiah 7:1-9

1 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. 2 And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind. 3 Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field; 4 And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. 5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying, 6 Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal: 7 Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. 9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.

Faith in the Word of God

OUTLINE

(1) When Troubles Came (v1-2)

(2) When God Meets with Us (v3-9a)

(3) When Faith Is Wont (v9b)

INTRODUCTION

The psalmist David extolled the Name of the LORD as His Saviour and Lord whom he trusted and whom he called upon as his sole Source of help in Psalm 20:1-9 (KJV) To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. 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. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

Notice the blessed state of God’s people who trusted in Him, He sends them help, He guides them, and He takes care of them.

Recall in Exodus 34:8 which we studied last Lord’s Day, 8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.

We saw how Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth and worshipped. A deliberate posture of powerless and has committed himself to God once again in full surrender. As he contemplate what had transpired, and how God answered his prayer to forgive the people by His great mercy, he realized his helplessness and the helplessness of the people with God.

The root word of the word “trust” means “to lie face down on the ground” as in the words of the psalmist David Psalm 37:3 “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” Adrian Rogers observed well, “The idea is that a person is totally helpless. He has been cast down and has nothing to stand upon.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Does God have a plan for your life? How do I know God’s plan for your life? Our text tells us that God certainly has a definite plan for your life and He wants you to know that plan and prosper in it. And God’s plan for your life is an eternal one. 

To the church in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul wrote to crystalize in their hearts the truth of God’s good plan for their lives. He says in Ephesians 1:3-14.

That God has chosen us even before this universe is formed to be His children by the grace of God through Jesus Christ that we should live holy lives. We obtain this holiness through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, giving to us forgiveness of sins that we might be partakers of an eternal, heavenly inheritance to the praise and glory of God.

This blessing came when God makes known to us the mystery of His will for our lives through the Holy Spirit so that we may believe in the gospel of your salvation.

… in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Guidance through life begins with faith in God through Jesus Christ our Lord in whom we receive eternal redemption!

John 1:3-4 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

The beginning of guidance with God is when we realize that we cannot order our own lives and we need a true Source of wisdom that makes no mistake.[1]

Finding true guidance in life begins with faith in God. Solomon says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart”. The word “trust” is a command. Why does the Lord have to give the command to trust him? Solomon tells us that there is a tendency to lean on our own understanding.

Instead of relying on God’s wisdom, we seek our own comfortable solution. We will not humble ourselves to seek the Lord. Therefore, the call to obedience!

And we shall be guided when we will humble ourselves to come to the Lord. He is the traveller’s map and compass.

John Calvin said well concerning what is faith or what it means to trust in the Lord. He says that faith is superior to human intelligence, it comes by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. When we will take time to study the Word of God, we find guidance through life. It conducts us step by step until we reach our heavenly home.

Life with God, Jesus says, begins with a poverty of spirit. It means with a mourner’s heart. Humility is the beginning of life with God. When we realize our inadequacy, we are willing to be still and be willing to listen for advice.

Matthew 5:3-5 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

This is the spiritual disposition to obtain guidance through life and blessing for life. 

He has an acute sense of spiritual lack. He has bestowed the blessing of entering, possessing, and inheriting the kingdom of heaven. 

Psalm 25:4-5 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

God guides us in the major decisions of life – He certainly shows us His way, His blessed will. Your choice of studies and career, and your choice of a life partner are examples of these journey-of-life decisions.

For Moses, he has staked all with God in the sense that he cut himself off as a prince in Egypt when he killed the Egyptian torturing one of his people. He had to flee to the back side of the wilderness for 40 years. There he learned humility! He learned how powerless he was!

Exodus 33:21-23 (KJV) 21  And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:22  And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: 23  And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

The late Rogers said well, “Some would say his pins have gone out from underneath him. He has no visible means of support. That is the place where God wants to bring us – where we have no physical means of support and all we have is God. As a matter of fact, did you know that God will sometimes knock your feet out from beneath you so you might learn to trust Him? At that point, faith is no longer an option or a luxury; it is a necessity. To the world, your situation looks hopeless, but that is right where God wants to show Himself powerful in your life. Do you feel like you are in a hopeless situation today? A coin tossed in the air will either fall heads or tails. In the same way, fear and trust are opposite sides of a coin. When you toss your situation around, you can either choose to fear what is going to happen, or you can trust that God will take care of you.”

There is a difference in the plight of God’s people who trusted Him and those who take lightly His counsel. Ahaz, the king of Judah, was one such who took God’s counsel lightly. Ahaz leaned upon his own understanding, seeking alliances that proved his failing!

2 Chronicles 28:16 (KJV) At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.

(1) When Trouble Came (v1-2)

1 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. 2 And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.

The chapter begins with the invasion of Judah by Rezin and Pekah, and of the fear which it excited, to relieve which Isaiah is commissioned to meet Ahaz in a public place, and to assure him that there is nothing more to fear from the invading powers, that their evil design cannot be accomplished, that one of them is soon to perish, and that in the meantime both are to remain without enlargement (v1-9).[2]

Uzziah is dead, but Isaiah has seen the true king, the Lord of hosts. As His prophet, he must face a recalcitrant and hard-hearted nation, one headed by a recalcitrant and stubborn king. The ministry of hardening is beginning. 

Quite possibly Isaiah wrote down the contents of this chapter after Ahaz had died, and now simply draws our attention to the most prominent event that had taken place during the days of Ahaz. The Syrian king Rezin had come up against Jerusalem, and with him was Pekah of Israel. Their purpose of overthrowing the Judean king. According to 2 Kings 15:37 they had actually begun the siege of Judah during the days of Jotham. 

2 Kings 15:37-38 (KJV) In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah. And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

According to 2 Chronicles 28:5 Ahaz was delivered into the hands of the Syrians who smote him, and one hundred and twenty thousand men in Judah were slain. Ahaz was smitten and a great number of captives were taken from his army and they were brought to Damascus. The text did not state that Ahaz himself was taken to Damascus, and it may refer only to the prisoners of war. Apparently, Ahaz was given into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great blow. The spoil which had been taken from Judah was brought to Samaria. 

2 Chronicles 28:5-8 (KJV) Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king. And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.

At Samaria, however, there was a prophet named Oded, who went before the returning army, advising the return of the captives, and in this advice he was joined by certain chiefs of the Ephramites. Consequently, the prisoners were taken to Jericho. [Edward J Young]

2 Chronicles 28:9-15 (KJV) But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven. And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God? Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you. Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war, And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel. So, the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation. And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.

About this time Ahaz appealed to the king of Assyria for help – He leaned upon his own understanding! 

2 Kings 16:5-7 (KJV) Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day. So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.

2 Chronicles 28:16-18 (KJV) At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

The meeting with Isaiah described in v2 occurred, it would seem, after these events and before Ahaz made his appeal to Tiglath-piliser for help. Apparently, what induced him to turn to Assyria was the report that Syria was resting upon Ephraim. The hostile intentions of the two enemy kings had not been abandoned, despite the fact that they had once released Ahaz. Ahaz was convinced that his enemies from the north were much stronger than they actually were. They had indeed taken much spoil; they had taken Ahaz himself; Rezin had returned Elath, which formerly belonged to Judah, to Syria, and had driven the Jews from there. All of this would have impressed Ahaz with the strength of his enemies.

Veiled in his heart is the power of God. He has failed to understand the faith of his forefather.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.

(2) When God Meets with Us (v3-9a)

3 Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field;

It was a time of desperate need; hence it is a time when the Lord intervenes with gracious help. Ahaz was concerned about the condition of the city. The Lord was far more concerned. How God conveyed His words to Isaiah we are not told. Isaiah writes in the third person and so objectifies himself and renders himself less conspicuous. He is commanded to go out, not merely from his own dwelling, but from the city itself, for the king is outside the city and the prophet is to meet him where he is.

Isaiah himself goes to Ahaz and he is also to take his son.

The name of Shear-Jarub, meaning “a remnant shall return”, with the noun emphasized, is a name of promise, for the Lord would never so desert his people that they would perish utterly (Isaiah 1:9).

Isaiah 1:9 (KJV) Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, andwe should have been like unto Gomorrah.

It is also, however, a name of disaster, for only a remnant would survive. So certain was Isaiah of coming events that he was prepared for the word to “become flesh” in th person of his first son. Shear-Jashub was thus an “acted oracle”, a visual aid bringing home the word of God that much more clearly. He was also, by giving double expression to the word – a sight as well as sound – making its fulfilment doubly sure.

It is a striking name in which the stress falls upon the remnant, this remnant will return unto the Lord.

Detailed instruction was given as to where he should meet the king. Apparently, it was the same spot where the Assyrian Rabshekeh later stood. At the point where the water left the pool, Isaiah was to meet the king. 

Ahaz may well have gone to this spot for the purpose of ascertaining the situation of the water supply.

Ahaz, a man of his own name, would have known and felt this. The aqueduct of the Upper Pool was part of Ahaz’s preparations for the coming judge. Before Hezekiah, Jerusalem’s water supply was overground and vulnerable.

4 And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.

By the upper pool stands quaking and trembling Ahaz. But the man who approaches him is not trembling. Daring to come into the very presence of kings, this man, Isaiah, cries out with the bold voice of authority. He dares in God’s name to command kings, “Take heed,” he enjoins, “and be quiet”. These were not words of suggestions but of command. They are to be obeyed unquestionably. Why should Ahaz tremble? Let him rather stand in quiet confidence, his trust placed not upon Assyaia but upon the Lord. He should see to it that he is calm. An agitated spirit does not comport true faith; when one rest in the Lord, there is no need to fear what man will do. Faith involves calmness and serenity.

The absence of feat brings calmness of spirit; indeed, faith and fear are contraries to one of other. Faith in God removes the fear of the heart.

Proverbs 3:25-26 (KJV) Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

When God says, “Fear not,” there is nothing to fear. Anaz was doing something foolish. He was fearing what was not there. The dangers which he thought were present were really not present at all. Isaiah’s command is deeply practical, based upon true knowledge of reality. A second negative command, indeed, a prohibition, is given, so that Ahaz may see clearly that after all there is nothing to feat and that his conduct has been foolish. Rather than shake, his heart must not be faithful and timid. An agitated mind belongs to unbelief; Ahaz was the theocratic king, and of all people, he should be calm and depend upon the true Ruler of the theocracy. [Edward J. Young]

Overcoming Stress – Psalm 27:1-14

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. 

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. 9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 

Worship is the secret to spiritual and mental health. A man alienated from His Creator God is lost. Worship helps him to surrender himself to God. The words of godly hymns sung minister to his heart, the preaching of God’s Word provides solutions to life’s troubles, the partaking of the Lord’s Supper helps us to make right with God, prayer helps us to give all our troubles to Him and allowing Him to help us.

Life is full of trouble. Each week when we appear before God in worship, it is as if things can fall apart. But when we come before the awe and majesty of God in worship, we are connected with the power of omnipotence ministering strength to our hearts. That is why the psalmist is able to say with conviction, “the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (v1). Although problems are still there, we come away with peace and joy in our heart when we surrender our problems to Him and entrust Him to help us solve them.

Do you have the habit of attending mid-week prayer meetings? After the high point of worship on the Lord’s Day, the mid-week prayer meeting is the Christian’s confidence booster. It helps to lift his spirit to renew his trust in God.

The psalmist discovers for us that coming to God in worship is a great delight for him. Is this your experience? If it’s not, no wonder, we trudge along in our Christian life. 

A pavilion provides shade and temporary shelter for the weary traveller (v5). A rock provides a solid foundation, protection and security. Much of the Old Testament imagery has the desert as its backdrop. The sight of a rock in a barren, sun-parched wilderness lifted the spirits of the hot and weary traveller. David was a fugitive in the desert and he worshipped God as the Rock in whom he found shelter (2 Samuel 22:1-4).

God is a safe refuge, utterly secure and dependable. Is this your experience? The LORD protects the psalmist from his enemies by hiding him in “the secret of His tabernacle”, the dwelling place of God. The LORD lifts him up above the reach of his enemies. 

In our distresses, we can sing the hymns of God’s promises that uplift our hearts. The chorus “I Know the Lord Will Make a Way for me” is very encouraging for the heart as we call unto our Lord, He will show to us the light at the end of the tunnel of our trial.

To be continued…

[1] When I was in the university, I was seeking and searching for guidance for life, guidance through life. I recalled reading many self-help books from western to eastern thinkers to pick their mind and explore their ideas with the desire to improve myself so that I may find wisdom and direction and help for life. I was lost and was seeking to find myself, to understand who am I, what am I doing here, where am I going? And I felt a sense of uncertainty within me because I was not sure how much to trust the words of these writers. Of course, I tried to evaluate their thoughts and ideas with whatever little understanding I have of life. I felt totally inadequate and felt helpless as I sought to find bearing for life.

It was until I found Jesus Christ that this search for guidance finds its Source. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). He is the only one that speaks with such an authoritative confidence bidding me to follow Him. And He provided for me Himself as my example. 

Jesus is no ordinary man. He is the God-Man, very God and very Man. 100% God and 100% Man in one Person.

I began that journey with Jesus through life and find my Lord, most trustworthy, reliable and dependable. And the Scripture text that settled my heart was Proverbs 3:5-6.

[2] Seeing the king to be incredulous, the prophet invite him to assure himself by choosing any sign or pledge of the event, which he refuses to do, under the pretext of confidence of God, but is charged with unbelief by the Prophet, who nevertheless renews the promise of deliverance in a symbolical form, and in connection with the prophecy of the miraculous conception and nativity of Christ, both as a pledge of the event, and as a measure of the time in which it is to take place (v11-16).

To this assurance of immediate deliverance, he adds a threatening of ulterior evils, to arise from the Assyrian protection which the king preferred to that of God, to wit, the loss of independence, the successive domination of foreign powers, the harassing and predatory occupation of the land by strangers, the removal of its people, the neglect of the tillage, and the transformation of its choicest vineyards, fields, and gardens, into wastes or pastures (v17-25). [Joseph A. Alexander]