27. Faith in the Word of God (2)

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Hymns: RHC 324 Trusting Jesus 335 Keep on Believing 115 Constantly Abiding 

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 (2)

OUTLINE

(1) When Troubles Came (v1-2)

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

(3) When Faith Is Wont (v9b)

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(3) When Faith was Wont (v9b)

If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.[1]

The writer of Hebrews paraphrased v6b well in Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Moses delineated the principles of Christian warfare which is being entitled “Principles of Conquest” in our Wednesday Bible Study. 

Moses’ intention was to prepare the children of Israel to wage spiritual warfare to secure their inheritance from the Lord. From it we to glean the principles for victorious Christian living for we are in the battlefield of life.

Separation Unto Holiness – Courage to Put Away Sin (v16, 24-26)

16 And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee. … 24 And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them. 25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. 26Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.

Notice the emphasis on holiness without which man cannot fellowship and commune with God. And the outworking of it in separating from uncleanness and sin. This was the emphasis from the beginning of the chapter.

And the reason – Deuteronomy 7:6 (KJV) For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

This principle is well understood by the Apostle Paul when he wrote in Ephesians 1:4 (KJV) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

The great influence and danger of sin entail the people of God to bravely put it away. 

The tempter is out to derail God’s people and only by strict separation will the people of God be protected from evil doctrines and unholy thoughts that drive them from God.

Israel was to Courageously depend upon God for victory – (Deut. 7:17-20)

17 If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them? 18 Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt; 19 The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid. 20 Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed.

The battle is for the glory of God. And Israel is to look to God for victory. God has shown them His mighty power to deliver them out of Egypt. He will likewise demonstrate that same power to bring them to inherit the Promised Land.

Israel must not fear but be courageous. God’s power is like the hornet, it stinks and inflicts great harm upon all that comes in its way.

The difficulty and doubtfulness of the conquest of Canaan has been a stone of stumbling to their fathers, Moses here animates them against those things which were most likely to discourage them, bidding them not to be afraid of them (v18) and again in v21.

Truly, the LORD is faithful to His promise for Israel to walk on the dry ground across the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land.

Joshua 3:10-17 (KJV) And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap. And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

God will show the way as Israel look to Him for direction and guidance. The LORD led Israel each step of the way. How can the people of God know the will of God? Except they would take time in the quiet meditation of His Word and prayer.

Fear Not – Trusting God’s Power in Battle (Deut. 7:21)

21 Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.

It was fear that led Israel to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Israel need faith to trust God for victory.

Patience and Perseverance to Follow-Through (Deut. 7:22-23)

22 And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee. 23 But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed.

Israel is to patiently and with perseverance inherit the land. The strategy for the conquest would be a deliberate and slow process. So is the process of sanctification as sin is dealt with in our lives. 

For Joshua, it took him a lifetime and the work was yet unfinished – Joshua 13:1-5 (KJV) Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri, From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites: From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baal-gad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.

Matthew Henry said well, “Let them not be disheartened by the slow progress of their arms, nor think that the Canaanites would never be subdued if they were not expelled the first year; no, they must be put out by little and little,and not all at once (v22). We must not think that, because the deliverance of the church and the destruction of its enemies are not effected immediately, therefore they will never be effected. God will do his own work in his own method and time, and we may be sure that they are always the best. Thus, corruption is driven out of the hearts of believers by little and little. The work of sanctification is carried on gradually; but that judgment will at length be brought forth into a complete victory. The reason here given (as before, Exodus 23:29-30) is, Lest the beast of the field increase upon thee.

Exodus 23:29-30 (KJV) I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

Recall the psalmist David extolled the Name of the LORD as His Saviour and Lord whom he trusted and whom he calls 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; … 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. … 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.

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

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.

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.

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

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]

Psalm 27:1-14 provides for us the antidote for ungodly fear.

  • Cultivating Faith (v1-6)
    • Extolling Who God is! (v1)
      • HE is my light and my salvation. (v1a) 
      • HE is the strength of my life. (v1b)
    • Putting mine enemies in their place in my heart (v2-3)
    • Setting priority in the worship of God (v4)
    • Rejoicing in His deliverance (v5-6)
      • HE hides me (v5)
      • HE lifts me (v6) 
  • Praying In Faith (v7-12)
    • Cry to God for mercy (v7) 
    • Resolve to seek God as our only help (v8-9) 
    • Where human help fails, divine help never fails (v10) 
    • Guidance sought (v11) 
    • Grievance brought to the throne of grace (v12) 
  • Strengthened by Faith (v13-14)
    • God’s goodness received by faith (v13) 
    • Patience in trial begets overcoming strength (v14) 

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 gives 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 hearts 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.

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.

A pavilion provides shade and temporary shelter for the weary traveller. 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. King David was a fugitive in the desert and he worshipped God as the rock in whom he found shelter. 

2 Samuel 22:1-4 And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 

God is a safe refuge, wholly 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. 

When the Christian prays, God’s power is unleashed for his help. When we are in any problem, call Jesus. He will protect and lift us out of our despondency. When we pray through and cast our cares to Jesus, we leave rejoicing, as did Hannah when she cast her care upon God to give her a child. God did in His mercy. Although she has not seen the answer to her prayer, God’s peace abide with her, she knew in her heart that God will undertake to solve the problem for her. Her countenance is not one of sadness but of rejoicing, 1 Samuel 1:18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

  • Praying In Faith (v7-12)
    • Cry to God for mercy (v7) 

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

The psalmist poured his heart to God in prayer. The affliction has been most unbearable. He was shedding tears for the discomfort it has caused him. He cried to the LORD. It is an intimate cry, son to Father. The use of “LORD”, the covenant name of the God of Israel, speaks of close personal relationship with his God whom he could confide. 

  • Resolve to seek God as our only help (v8-9) 

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.

He pleaded with importunity, persisting in prayer. He resolved to make right with God through repentance where he had fallen short. He asked God not to put him away and not be angry perhaps for some known sins, examining his own heart. Also, he pleaded with the LORD not to leave him with his problems but rescue him. 

Notice he used the word “servant”. He is a servant to the will of His God, not his own will. It alludes perhaps also to his desire to seek after the righteousness of God which, inadvertently, he has not followed wholly. He remembered how God has been his faithful helper in the past, delivering him from many dangers. He pleaded in faith, that the LORD will yet deliver him this time. 

  • Where human help fails, divine help never fails (v10) 

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Our parents are God’s appointed guardians of us on earth. When father and mother forsake us, we become orphans, yet we are not really orphans because the heavenly Father takes care of us. The LORD will help us. 

  • Guidance sought (v11) 

11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Two imperatives or entreaties – teach and lead joined by conjunction “and” to show purpose. The first in the causative stem, is that God may teach him how to be protected from the onslaughts of his enemies. The Scripture is our infallible guide, may we search it diligently for our guidance. Indeed, Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is (God), and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” [brackets added for emphasis] 

  • Grievance brought to the throne of grace (v12)  

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

The psalmist describes the gravity of his predicament. He felt oppressed. “Breathing out cruelty” is a description of threats of violence hurled at the psalmist. He pleaded for God to deliver him against these false witnesses. The Bible warns against telling lies – Proverbs 19:9, “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.” Yet, the psalmist seemed to be powerless against the many lies of the enemy, wicked in their deeds. He brought all his misgivings to the throne of grace. How good it is to cast our burdens on the LORD. It is so comforting, knowing by faith, He will surely help us. 

  • Strengthened by Faith (v13-14)
    • God’s goodness received by faith (v13) 

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

The psalmist trusted in the goodness of God. He therefore will see God’s blessings upon him by faith. Trusting God requires us to put our stake with God as our only help. Then we will behold His glory. 

[1] (1) When Trouble Came (v1-2)

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).

Seeing the king be incredulous, the prophet invites 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]

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. 

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] (2) When God Meets with Us (v3-9a)

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, and we 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 – 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.

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 faith and timid. An agitated mind belongs to unbelief; Ahaz was the theocratic king, and of all people he should be calm and depend upont the true Ruler of the theocracy. [Edward J. Young]