Isaiah 46:1-2
ESV
“Bel bows
down; Nebo stoops;
their idols are on beasts and livestock;
these
things you carry are borne
as burdens on weary beasts.
They
stoop; they bow down together;
they cannot save the burden,
but themselves go into captivity.”
Many people,
although professing the name of Jesus as Savior of their lives, are still
living in bondage to sin. They are still following after the false gods of this
world and of the flesh of man. They are weighed down with the cares of this
world and they refuse to let Jesus lift their burdens.
They have
been taught a lie, and they have believed the lie, because it lets them
continue living in their sin without guilt and with no requirement of
repentance, obedience, or submission to Christ as Lord. So, although they claim
Jesus set them free, they are still slaves to sin.
Isaiah 46:3-4 ESV
“Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all
the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been borne by me from before your
birth,
carried from the womb;
even to your old age I am he,
and
to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I
will carry and will save.”
Here the Lord is speaking to those who are his,
by faith in him, some of whom have wandered off to follow the gods of this
world. This is a reminder regarding to whom we belong and regarding to whom we
are to give our worship, our loyalty, and our devotion.
This is also a reminder that we don’t need the
things of this world to satisfy or to save us from our burdens. We are to look
to no other gods of men to save us or our nation. We are not to turn to men or
the things of this world to bring us comfort in trials, either.
If we have been born of the Spirit of God, then
it is God who will carry us through. He is to be our only Savior, our only
salvation from the evils of this world. No man or woman is to be our savior. Only
God will save! Only God has the power to lift our burdens. Trust Him ONLY!
Isaiah 46:5-7 ESV
“To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
and
compare me, that we may be alike?
Those who lavish gold from the purse,
and
weigh out silver in the scales,
hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
then
they fall down and worship!
They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,
they
set it in its place, and it stands there;
it
cannot move from its place.
If one cries to it, it does not answer
or
save him from his trouble.”
Amen! I love how this passage of Scripture
details the utter absurdity of trusting in the gods of this world to save us.
No man or woman president of any nation has the power to save us from what ails
us. If we are trusting in a human being to save us, then it is futile.
No sin addiction can bring us comfort and peace
and safety. No entertainment can bring us lasting joy. No amount of “stuff” can
bring us satisfaction and security, for it can all go up in flames in a moment
of time. Our trust has to be fully in God and in no one and nothing else.
Isaiah 46:8-13 ESV
“Remember this and stand firm,
recall it to mind, you transgressors,
remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am
God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning
and
from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I
will accomplish all my purpose,’
calling a bird of prey from the east,
the
man of my counsel from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I
have purposed, and I will do it.
“Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,
you
who are far from righteousness:
I bring near my righteousness; it is not far
off,
and
my salvation will not delay;
I will put salvation in Zion,
for
Israel my glory.”
You who are
trusting in the gods of this world, in your idols, and in your sinful habits to
bring you comfort, peace and safety, think again. You who are trusting in a
false gospel taught by false teachers, thinking you can continue living in sin
without punishment, think again.
Bring to
remembrance the teachings of the Scriptures and the history of mankind and what
happened to those who opposed God and/or who chose their idols over God, or who
looked to men to save them instead of looking to God. It did not go well for
them.
Our God is
still on the throne. Amen! Our God is still completely sovereign. He is Lord
over all. His will will be accomplished! Amen! It doesn’t matter who you vote
for. The Lord is still going to do what he is going to do. He may bring in
someone else not even on the ballot.
Don’t be bullheaded.
Don’t be stubborn and self-willed. Don’t hold on to your sins and your idols of
men, thinking they will save you or that they will bring you comfort and joy.
Trust in the Lord only for your salvation and for your peace and safety.
Jesus,
I am Resting, Resting
Hymn
lyrics by Jean Sophia Pigott, 1876
Music
by James Mountain, pub.1876
Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.
O, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed!
Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ‘neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.
Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
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