Major Prophets

Eyes On The Truth

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In a time of seeming prosperity they are attacked by a vicious force. A force that is meant to bring them down to their knees. They have spent many years without an attack. They have been at peace. Prosperity seems incapable of ceasing. They have clouded their thinking with the thoughts of bigger and better buildings; bigger and better government; bigger and better banks, churches, and organizations.

They have forgotten from where the blessings have come; even from Whom they have come; and when they begin losing that prosperity the question is, what went wrong, and then the blame game begins. Whose fault is it that there lingers outside our walls a threatening enemy? Whose fault is it that the gates must be kept shut longer, and opened for shorter periods of time?

One thing that we must remember as Christians in this last  month of 2008 is that God is still on His throne. He is still sovereign, and reigns in the affairs of men.

What does this have to do with Jeremiah the prophet? It fits with his time just as well as our own.

I will include the first two verses of chapter five which I have already written commentary on:

“Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely. O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.” Jeremiah 5:1-3 (KJV)

There were some in Jerusalem who sought the truth, but they were evidently few and far between, and who were not real concerned with the current spiritual climate. As verse two proclaims there were people who were saying, “The LORD lives”, but they were speaking falsely because of ulterior motives. Perhaps worship on the Sabbath, and worship of pagan gods such as Baal, Ashtoreth, Molech were some possibilties. To put them in the modern scene would be the ideal of pluralistic worship, immoral living while being “spiritual”, and the great “conveniences” of life.

Verse three begins with “O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth?” I believe Jeremiah knew the answer to that question. The LORD has asked for someone to “Run… through the streets of Jerusalem…”, and He has called and chosen Jeremiah, but is there no one else?

A hard stiffnecked people who have grown comfortable, conformed, contented, and confused without the knowledge of their sinfulness will not see the correcting hand of God. They will just flat out reject any correction from those who will try and correct them, then when the LORD strikes them they will not grieve; when He consumes them they will not receive correction; they become hard headed, more stiff necked, and refuse to return to God.

O, that the Christian of today would learn from Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

-Tim A. Blankenship

 

Cords Of Vanity

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We have looked at two of the “Woes” which God pronounces against the house of Judah – the nation of Judah. When God pronounces woes it is because He is not pleased with them. Woe has been announced against them for “Joining house to house” at the expense of the poor and others who are less fortunate. He has announced woe against them for their licentious, ie., lewd parties, and their worship of demons.

We come to the third “Woe” which Isaiah the prophet names, and it is, “Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope…” (5:18). It is as though they are taunting God. They are living vainly, emptily, and throwing their sins up before God, and daring Him to come. They are unbelieving that He sees their wickedness.

They do not believe that God will come and judge their evil, so they just go on living in rebellion. They would rather continue in sin, since they cannot see God working and moving in a way they would like. Pride in sin, rebellion against the Holy One of Israel. The rope they use to pull the cart will be used in their hanging.

You might hear them saying, “If He is going to come and judge us; let Him come; let Him come and do it quickly”. It is in mockery. There are those of the world who would say that today, and maybe some who profess to be God’s people, but the people of God cannot live in such mockery. God will come. God will avenge His holiness, righteousness, and justness.

How will He find you when He comes?

“Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:  That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!” Isaiah 5:18-19 (KJV)

-Tim A. Blankenship

Pleasure Party of Destruction

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The second “Woe” Isaiah mentions is toward those who live in a party mentality most of the time. They love their beer, wine, and hard liquor; and drugs of choice. They live for the time they can lose their mind or minds to feeling nothing. They want to lose control, and be out of control.

Even when these “Hearty Partiers” are sober they are living for the moment they can let it all go. Personally, I have never been able to understand why anyone wants to lose it all. All their money. All their purity. All their senses. All their ability to be in control of themselves – They have worked in factories, offices, different business forms, and under someone else’s control, yet they want to lose control through these drunken parties. No sense.

The New Living Translation (NLT) calls this word “Destruction”. In verse eleven of Isaiah 5 we are told, “Destruction is certain for you who get up early to begin long drinking bouts that last late into the night.” Just the mere act of getting drunk is going to lead to destruction; the destruction of your life and maybe someone else’s.

Many of the children of Judah in Isaiah’s day were living in a ‘party mode’. The land was wealthy. They were wealthy. They had it made. Nothing could happen to “God’s people”. After-all they had God’s assurance that He would never leave them or forsake them. “We have it made in the shade”, and “Who is this prophet anyway, that he should go around telling us what to do?” “We are God’s people. We are free to do as we please, as long as it does not violate our consciences.” So much for consciences.

These, had their music, and Isaiah calls it “Lovely music” (v. 12, NLT), “…But they do not regard the work of the LORD, nor consider the work of His hands” (NKJV). One thing is abundantly clear in this “Woe”, and that is; that it is calling for the destruction, through captivity of God’s people as a nation. They had forsaken God for their pleasures. DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND EVEN REMOTELY FAMILIAR?

We have professing Christian people being advocates for the drinking of alcoholic beverage. “Well! the Bible does not have any provisions forbidding it”, “There is nowhere that Scriptures say, ‘Thou shalt not drink beverage alcohol”. Just because it does not out and out forbid it is no reason to defend it. I could use that same argument for slavery, abortion, polygamy; there is nowhere the Bible that forbids those either. They are definitely forbidden by principle and the teachings written in Scriptures. One of those principles could be seen here in this text. If you are for godly things, and the things of God, then you will not drink, because you know that one can lead to more, which can lead to drunkenness.

Isaiah’s words are written for the future when he writes, “Therefore my people have gone into captivity…”. They will in one hundred plus years go into captivity by Babylon. They are presently in captivity to their pleasures and lusts, and Isaiah says, “Because they have no knowledge”. Hosea the prophet wrote, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…”, and previous to that he wrote, “There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:6a, 1b NKJV). Why is it that Judah has no knowledge. They have so gotten into comfort, their pleasures, their wealth, their material possessions that God is only secondary. They will give God some notice if it fits into their schedule.

When you lose your knowledge of God; it is because you have gotten away from Him, forsaken Him, His Word, and prayer and worship of Him.

Hear what the prophet writes according to the NLT in verse 14, “The grave is licking its chops in anticipation of Jerusalem, this delicious morsel. Her great and lowly will be swallowed up, with all her drunken crowds. In that day the arrogant will be brought down to the dust; the proud will be humbled. But the LORD Almighty is exalted by His justice. The holiness of God is displayed by his righteousness. In those days flocks will feed among the ruins; lambs and kids will pasture there”

In the United States of America we have a major problem with people departing from God for their pleasures, and still keeping God in the equation. God tells us quite clearly that there is destruction, “Woe” in doing that. If you want to have a clean heart, clear mind, and be in control there is nothing like turning your whole life over to the LORD who died and rose again for you. His name is Jesus. This Jesus Christ is the one who will judge you in these matters.

“Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness. Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.” Isaiah 5:11-17 (KJV)

-Tim A. Blankenship

House To House

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We have seen God’s love for the Vineyard He built and established. He planted the best vines. He cared for, tilled, and built a vineyard around the vineyard, then the vineyard produced nothing worthwhile, only wild grapes.

Now when we get to the next three verses we see a “Woe” pronounced against the people of Judah. This is a ‘Woe’ very similar to the first ‘Woe’ against Babylon in Habakkuk 2. God is not pleased with land grabbing from any source, but especially by His own children.

This practice which is addressed is one of financing a place, the debtor being unable to pay the debt, then the creditor repossessing the property, and adding to their land, houses, business. Many today would think, “Now, what is wrong with that? That is just capitalism”. It is in fact capitalism run amuck. God does not tolerate evil against His own people. When the people of God profit against the well-being of others of God’s people there is a great miscarriage of right going on. Sometimes what is legal is not right.

This woe is warning of judgment coming on them.

A few years ago I worked in a Manufactured Homes sales location repairing trade-ins, repos, and such to get them ready for resale. The man I worked with; and who actually gave me the joy, to help me out while between pastorates, and a pastor himself; was speaking to one of the salesmen, and I was listening too. This salesman was telling of a possible sale to a couple whose credit was not very good, and how they were going to increase the price of this single wide home from 22,000 dollars to 27,000 dollars, and give them a high interest rate as well. Now, that is injustice. I do not think God was smiling down on that that day. Someone will say, “Well, that is the way financing is done”. Maybe, but it is against the people who need help the most. You read the Scriptures and you will see God does not smile on that. You can see it in verses 8 – 10 of this text.

“Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.” Isaiah 5:8-10 (KJV)

It just does not seem right to me for anyone in the United States of America to be treated with such greediness and no self-control by the money lenders.  The hearts of our people should tend to this not the law.  We must be more sensitive to the needs of the less fortunate among us. God forgive us if we are not.

Read Isaiah 5:1-7

-Tim A. Blankenship

God’s Disappointment

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Isaiah was a singer as well as a prophet. There are many portions of the book which are songs or poetry. It would probably be correct to say that a majority of the book is in song form. Have you ever been in a position you could not think of anything to say, but a poem came to mind, so you penned it down? Well, it was about the same for the prophet, only his is God-breathed.

The source of this song, of course, is Isaiah’s grief and sorrow over the spiritual condition of his people. He could have said with the apostle Paul, “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1). Jeremiah the prophet also, had the same burden, “O, that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people” (Jeremiah 9:1).

Isaiah has seen plenty of vineyards and he knows the Scriptures which tell him Israel is like a vineyard, “Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it” Psalm 80:8; “ Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance” Psalm 80:14-16.

Isaiah desires to sing to his “Well-Beloved”, and his Beloved is the one who owns the vineyard. You will note that he mentions the good land the vineyard is on. It is good for a vineyard to grow the fruit of the vine; “On a very fruitful hill”. The Well-Beloved dug and removed the stones from the ground. He planted the best of vines. He built a tower to watch over it and to have the “winepress” in it.

Can you imagine the sorrow and grief the Well-Beloved must have had when he sees the “wild grapes” rather than the nice juicy, sweet, clusters of grapes He was so expecting, and justly so.

The point here is God’s Disappointment with the Nation Judah, the city Jerusalem, and we need not read into this that God did not know this was going to happen. Even though God knows all things; He is still disappointed at times.

God is well pleased when we come to Him through His Son who died for us on the cross, taking the sin which was mine and yours, receiving the judgment for those sins, dying, being buried, carrying our sins away; then rising again for our justification. Being made just as though we had never sinned. Do not let your fruit be wild grapes.

“I will sing about the one I love,
a song about my loved one’s vineyard:
The one I love had a vineyard
on a very fertile hill.
He broke up the soil, cleared it of stones,
and planted it with the finest vines.
He built a tower in the middle of it
and even hewed out a winepress there.
He expected it to yield good grapes,
but it yielded worthless grapes.
So now, residents of Jerusalem
and men of Judah,
please judge between Me
and My vineyard.
What more could I have done for My vineyard
than I did?
Why, when I expected a yield of good grapes,
did it yield worthless grapes?
Now I will tell you
what I am about to do to My vineyard:
I will remove its hedge,
and it will be consumed;
I will tear down its wall,
and it will be trampled.
I will make it a wasteland.
It will not be pruned or weeded;
thorns and briers will grow up.
I will also give orders to the clouds
that rain should not fall on it.
For the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah,
the plant He delighted in.
He looked for justice
but saw injustice,
for righteousness,
but heard cries of wretchedness.”

Isaiah 5:1-7 (HCSB)
 

-Tim A. Blankenship

 

Blessings To Come

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We looked at the Branch and who that is.  Of course, it is Jesus.

Note in these next few verses the blessings which will come to the Nation for the glory of the LORD.

  • Ones remaining in Jerusalem will be called holy;
  • They are “recorded for life in Jerusalem”;
  • The Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion;
  • The bloodstains will have been cleansed by a purifying judgment;
  • There will be a ‘Canopy’ of glory over the city – “a cloud by day”, and “…flaming fire by night”;
  • They will have shelter from the heat of the day, and from the storm and rain which will come.

The Branch will be glorified in fulfilling all the promises of God.  Let those of us who are saved by grace through the death, burial and resurrection continue to trust in the God of Israel who keeps all His promises.

“And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” Isaiah 4:3-6 (KJV)

As The LORD Lives…

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The previous verse one we see that the call goes out to “Run…through the streets of Jerusalem…”, to seek for anyone who “executes judgment, who seeks the truth”, and if there is anyone then “I will pardon her”, God says. This takes us to the second verse:

“Though they say, ‘As the LORD lives,’ surely they swear falsely” Jeremiah 5:2 (NKJV).

The phrase “As the LORD lives” is one which the prophets often used to proclaim divine oracles, or by people swearing oaths. This was a city and a land which made great promises to God, and refused to believe that God would judge a nation, a city as Jerusalem, or its temple which was the “abiding place of God” for the people. The priests and people of Judah seemed not to view the LORD in any greater capacity than they did the gods the surrounding nations worshipped.

Due to this unbelief; this pluralistic thought; God holds them in contempt of the Laws of His name. The arrogance of the hearts of men and women of that day against the LORD was very similar to many of today.

To think that we could go to church or worship in any place and appease God for all our sin is at the height of arrogance, when we know that God sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins on the cross. To think that being baptized could appease the wrath of God against sin comes from the pride of a rebellious heart. To believe that to break the bread or drink the Lord’s cup would appease the judgment of God for sin is against the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. These things are for the genuine believer, and can never put away our sins; can never atone for sin.

The LORD lives; there is no doubt about that. Since we believe that, genuinely, then we must genuinely believe Him and follow Him and believe and practice the principles, testimonies, ordinances, laws, judgments, words, statutes, commandments of His Word. Just attaching His name on the end of prayer does not mean that it is prayed in His name; and just because you may attach His name to a sermon, or speech, does not mean that sermon or speech is of God or from His Word.

These people of Jeremiah’s day would speak in the name of the LORD, then lived their lives after the fashion of the surrounding nations. They were still worshipping God on the Sabbath, per se, and the rest of the week they worshipped the gods of the nations, either by practice or by neglecting the LORD.

We don’t do that: do we? It happens far, far too many times. Be sure when you use the LORD’s name it is in reverence, and in worship of Him whose name is reverend and holy –

“He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.” Psalm 111:9 (KJV)

     

-Tim A. Blankenship

After Judgment

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Isaiah the prophet has saw judgment prior to this writing in chapter four. Baldness, sackcloth, branding and a sword against the nation.

Now, Isaiah takes to a time of blessing. It is a time of the Branch of the LORD. This is a prophecy of the Messiah who would come. It is important to notice that this prophecy has not yet been fulfilled, because the nation resisted and refused Jesus as their Messiah when He came the first time and they crucified Him. They put Him to death fulfilling the Scriptures, thus fulfilling the will of God, even in their hatred for Him.

The term “Branch of the LORD” is used by other prophets as well as Isaiah. Jeremiah refers to Him as well, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch…” (Jeremiah 23:5), and again, “In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness…” (Jeremiah 33:15). The prophet Zechariah also writes by the breath of God, “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.” (3:8), and he writes again, “…And speak unto him saying, ‘Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, ‘Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH…” (6:12).

This Branch is truly beautiful and glorious, and because of Him all will be excellent for all those who believe in Him who are of Israel.

“In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.” Isaiah 4:2 (KJV)

-Tim A. Blankenship

Run Through The Streets…

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The following verse of Jeremiah is a verse which shows the condition of the people of Judah, and the city of Jerusalem in this prophet’s time.  It is really not far from the conditions of our own time, and maybe the same.
“Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.” Jeremiah 5:1 (KJV)

The LORD speaking through the prophet gives reason for the approaching judgment which will come upon Jerusalem and the country. God says, “You can run through the streets of the city, and you will not find any man who is righteous in judging, that seeks the truth; and if you could I would pardon the city.” Not one. “There is none righteous; no not one.” (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:10).

The writer of 2 Chronicles by the Spirit of God wrote, “The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of those whose heart is perfect  toward Him.” (16:9). We can look to our hearts content and if one is not to be found it will not be found. The “eyes of the LORD” however knows what He will do. He has One in mind. One who will be faithful. One who will be just and righteous in in dealings, judgments, who will be the Truth Himself. His name is Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God.

Things looked hopeless for Jeremiah and the people of the city of Jerusalem at that time; but there was hope. The LORD God often causes us to take a long look at our own hearts and lives to see that if left up to us, it would be hopeless; however, with the LORD there is promise, and God will always fulfill His promises.

Can we find anyone who is worthy to lead us as a nation out of the financial crisis we are in here in the United States of America? The salvation of the problem we are in is not financial it is spiritual, and until there is repentance from greedy citizens, Senate, Congress, we are actually open to believe anything from a smooth talking, deceptive, candidate who believes he can be the leader who can solve all our problems.

It is a time for repentance. No mere man can deliver us from this, and it is certain that our government cannot successfully bail out bankrupt institutions when our nation is in fact financially bankrupt. We are first of all spiritually bankrupt before God.

Run Through the Streets, and see if you can find anyone who is honest, just, and righteous in their dealings. There are none. It is time for repentance, and turning to our God through His Son Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross of calvary, and His resurrection. He is the only one who is able.

-Tim A. Blankenship

The Pretty Women…

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Prophet’s Possible Perspective

Coming from a family of nobility I guess it kind of hard to notice how things really are here in Jerusalem. Many of us profess to know the Lord, but we just walk on by the suffering and the hurting enjoying our little trinkets of jewelry, silver, gold and precious gems.

Walking through the Sheep gate today, though it is a place where the lambs for slaughter are brought into the city, I noticed a lot of pride. The women walking with their heads held high as though they had no problem in the world and the men no better. The women, at least more than a good majority of them, are full of haughtiness, thinking that beauty is the main thing of life. They call attention to themselves with jangling jewelry. They cry out for men’s attention; even men who are not their husbands.

One day this arrogance and pride will be judged by the Lord. He will take away the finery; The jingling anklets, the scarves and the cresents…will he do away with. What will these “pretty” women do then. LORD help us.

The sweet fragrance of their perfumes will turn to a stench of death. Rather than having well kept hair, they will be bald. O that the people of God would hear; O that we would obey His voice, and turn from our sins. God, the LORD of hosts, will brand them rather than give them beauty. What will become of the men they lure and chase after then? They will perish.

The women of Jerusalem, Judah, and all Israel will find themselves without enough men for husbands to go around. They will be slaughtered. There will be a great lamentation throughout all the land. There will be desolation.

When will people learn that the way of the LORD is through faith in Him? Faith is turning from the life of sin and death to live in Him.

O, the time is good, but Oh such darkness. There is a darkness that many do not see. There is light. O, come to the Light. Come that you might see.

“Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:  Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.  In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,  The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,  The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,  The rings, and nose jewels,  The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,  The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.  And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.  Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.  And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground. And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” Isaiah 3:16-4:1 (KJV)

 

-Tim A. Blankenship

 

The LORD Pleads…

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Prophet’s Possible Perspective

I am beginning to see that the time ahead for Judah and Jerusalem is not going to be a very pleasant one. We may be “God’s people”, but that could mean, that when we are disobedient we will be punished. That seems to go with being His child. If He loves us He chastises us. His glory is what is at stake here.

The blessing of the land is going to be diminished. The bread – there will be drought and due to that there will be no grain for bread. The water for drinking and irrigation will be dried up. It will be a terrible judgment from God.

We have very much taken the blessings of my God for granite. His grace is as granite, His mercy is everlasting, but His blessing in this world are only temporal, and subject to His testing and chastisement.

The knowledge and education of our people will be at stake as well as, their protection, and entertainment; ”The mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them.” (Isaiah 3:2-4 ESV).

There will come a time when my people will even oppress one another. The rich will rob from the poor. The young will abuse the elderly and have no respect for them; will give no honor to them and completely insolent toward them. They will take the first person who may have any look of authority as their leader, and practically force them to lead, and he will say, “I cannot heal. I am no leader. I will not lead.”

The deeds and and speech of Jerusalem and Judah are against the LORD. They have fallen. They defy the glorious presence of the LORD. They boast and brag about their sin as though they were Sodom. They do not attempt to even hide it. They have no shame of their sin and rebellion. Woe to them! They have brought evil on themselves.

It will be well with the righteous. The righteous will eat the fruit of their deeds. The fruit of the righteous is sweet and hearty. Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him. O, my people – infants are the oppressors, and women are your rulers. You have trusted in lies, and you have gone astray. Your guides have destroyed the way of your paths.

The LORD is your judge. He will judge the elders and princes of His people, they have devoured the vineyard, and stolen from the poor. God says, “What do you mean by ‘crushing My people, by grinding the face of the poor?’”

Hear the Word of the LORD:
 

 

“For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,  The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.  And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.  And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.  When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:  In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.  For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.  Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.  Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.  As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.  The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.  The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.” Isaiah 3:1-15 (KJV)

It is sad, but I can see so much of this prophetic message happening in our own country of the United States of America. It is time we prayed, as God’s people, repented and seek His face for forgiveness, cleansing and renewing of heart and land.

-Tim A. Blankenship

 

For The Glory of His Majesty

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Prophet’s Possible Perspective

I am longing for the day when the Holy One of Israel and Judah makes us one nation once again and their will be peace and such blessing, such as we have never known before.

YHWH has called us to walk in His light. The house of Jacob has for too long been in darkness, influenced by the dark actions and deeds of the Assyrians and Babylonians. They have gotten into the worship of their idols made by men’s hands, and darkness covered the land of God’s promise and people.

Pride has filled the hearts of the kings and nations of the earth, because they have overwhelmed the nation of God. They believe their gods are more powerful than the God of Heaven. The One who created all that is will come and judge these nations, and they will fall. They will crumble to the earth. ‘The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.’

There is a day coming when all the arrogance and pride of men will be brought low, and no one will stand against the Holy One of Israel and Judah. Men of flesh will bow before the Almighty. The works of their hands, their idols, will go up in smoke, the ones made of stone will be smashed to pieces. The ones of precious metals, as gold and silver, will be put the fire and be purified, and go back from whence it came.

At the time of the Holy One’s judgment many will flee to the rocks and caves, and holes in the ground, fleeing from the splendor of His majesty and power. He will come as a terror to those who dwell on the earth.

There is nothing; no man, no idol, no building of man’s making will be able to stand. O, that the people who dwell on the earth would only realize that man is nothing before the power and fierceness of the judgment of God.

Read God’s Word:

“Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not. Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” Isaiah 2:6-22 (KJV)

-Tim A. Blankenship

“Let Us Go Up…”

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 Prophet’s Possible Perspective

We are in the beginning of another civil year. I have written of the things the LORD has shown me in a vision previously.

The previous things did not look too well, at all. In fact they appear rather bleak for the people of God. We must as the chosen people of God forsake all unrighteous practices, remember how and why we are so blessed a people. The Holy One of Judah and Israel will not tolerate sin. It is only because of His grace, mercy, and longsuffering forbearance, that we have not been destroyed.

I saw the word come to me again, and this is what I have seen concerning Judah and Jerusalem. One day this country and this city will be exalted beyond measure. Far more than in the days of Solomon or David.

There will be people from all over the world who seek to come here, and will come. They will seek the teaching of the God of Jacob and His house. They will come seeking His ways and we will walk in His paths. The law of God will go forth from here and throughout the whole earth.

The King of the nation, at that time, will not only be the King of Jerusalem, but also King of the earth, and His throne will be in Jerusalem. What a blessed and glorious day that will be.

The King will judge from His throne. He will judge the nations, and many people will be rebuked for their disputes with others. Everyone will lay down their weapons and beat their swords into plowshares, their spears into pruning hooks, and there will be no more war.

Neither will war be something that is taught. There will be no need for learning defense in battle. It will truly be a time of great peace, joy, love, and most of all the Holy One of Israel; God who is our Salvation will be glorified.

“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.  And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.  O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.” Isaiah 2:1-5 (KJV)

 -Tim A. Blankenship

You Shall Be Called…

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

Prophet’s Possible Perspective

It grieves me so much to see this city, Jerusalem, in the state which it is in. It was such a beautiful city. It was a faithful city. Faithful to the LORD, and His Word. She has become a prostitute! There was fair judgment in business and in the court of the king, but now there are professional killers which run the city.

O, city of Jerusalem, your worth as silver has become nothing but cast out trash; the sweetness of your wine mixed with water, diluted and worthless. There is no more joy in the city. What can one do without worth or joy?

The rulers have done righteously in some cases before, but now they merely live for themselves. They themselves, are not only dwelling with thieves, but are thieves themselves. They receive bribes from those who have it to pay, of course, giving them special favor. They love receiving those special gifts which encourage them to see things the donor’s way. The cause of the orphaned child and the widowed woman with no means of support mean nothing to the rulers any longer. They have turned their back on those in need.

The Mighty One of Israel has come and said, “Ah, I will relieve myself of those who are opposed to Me. I will be rid of my enemies. I will turn my hand upon you, and purge you of all the trash, and remove all that is worthless in you.’

‘I will restore faithful judges, like you had at the first, and restore wisdom to those who give counsel, and afterwards you will be called, ‘The city of righteousness, the city of faithfulness’ again.’

‘This will not come without pain, sorrow, and separation. There will only be redemption at a price which many of you never thought possible for the city or our nation. There will be people returning to the land because they were forced to leave, then allowed to return; and they will do so in righteousness. The one’s who have forsaken me shall be destroyed. The one’s who sinned in transgression and the one’s who looked on and did nothing to call people back to me. They both shall be consumed by the judgment which is coming.’

‘These, are those who worshipped around the altars of the godless. They will find themselves ashamed of the oaks which formed their gods. There will be nothing but confusion by the worship of your goddess gardens. You will be as the oak whose leaves has faded and has no life: just like the gods which are made from them; and like a dried up garden which has had no water.’

‘Those who many saw as strong shall become weak. So weak that a tiny cord of string could hold him, and the one who would make the thread is like a spark, making a fire, and the fire will cause them to burn together, and none will be able to put it out.”

O, the judgment of God is always just and right. It breaks my heart to see the city which was once so lovely sit in rebellion against the Mighty and Holy One of Israel. As you can see, though. He is the God of Salvation.

I rest in the promise that one day in God’s plan the city will be called “The city of righteousness, the faithful city.  It will come through judgment, but it will come.  Blessed be the name of the Mighty One of Israel, the LORD of hosts.

“How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.  Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.  Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:  And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.  Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.  And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.  For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.  For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.  And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.” Isaiah 1:21-31 (KJV)

-Tim A. Blankenship

Eat The Good Of The Land

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Prophet’s Possible Perspective

The Holy One so wants to open our minds to reason with Him. It seems to me that His heart must break at the sight of sin in the hearts and lives of His people. I pray that I will never forget that He is the Holy One of Israel.

“Reason” seems to be a forgotten thing with the people of my day. They are more concerned with emotions, feelings, amusements, comforts, entertainment. Anything that requires thought is a nuisance that we can live without in the minds of some of my people.

It is, however, time for God’s people to begin thinking of their spiritual plight. Reason is a good thing. God is telling us to think, to reason with Him. The idea is to see His way of things. It is good, if we are going to walk with God, be godly, that we think His thoughts and not our own.

O, how our sins must be like scarlet to Him. How He longs to forgive and cleanse us, and to make us as white as snow. He desires, longs, to make what is crimson, to be as wool. He is a gracious God. He is the Holy One.

The Holy One desires what is best for His people. He has promised the good of the land to all who are willing and obedient. If we refuse and go our own way there only awaits destruction.

HEAR, O HEAR, THE WORD OF THE LORD –

 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:  But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Isaiah 1:18-20 (KJV)

Tim A. Blankenship

What Purpose…Your Sacrifices???

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Prophet’s Possible Perspective

I really cannot begin to imagine how angered the Holy One is by all the sin and hypocrisy that is seen on the streets of our cities. Surely they are very similar to Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of their destruction. How much further will the Holy One let us go?

O rulers of Judah, religious and political; you must hear the Word of the LORD. You are in the same shape as Sodom, you are an odorous scent to the name of the LORD our God. How it grieves my heart to see such pretense in the sacrifices that are made. The blood of all those innocent animals; and for what, when it comes from an evil heart, which is given to rebellious, wicked, evil, idolatrous living.

For what purpose is a sacrifice if it is given in hypocrisy? A sacrifice is given to one you love, and at a cost to the giver, out of a deep devotion, trust, commitment, and for the glory of the One to whom it is given. Our people have become so extravagantly wealthy that they no longer know what sacrifice is. They continue to slay the lambs, bulls, goats and such, but they know nothing of God, His Word, or His way for their lives.

The Holy One is sick of these empty sacrifices which mean absolutely nothing to the giver of them. Offerings of sacrifice without a right heart with GOD is an abomination to Him. This is what is totally detestable to Him.

We have these feast days, and they have meaning and purpose only when the hearts of the one’s remembering them, are given completely to the HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.

Our men who are supposed to pray to God for mercy on God’s people, and plead for the people to honor, obey, trust, depend, and look only to God; the priests; are no different than the political leaders. They take the peoples “Sacrifices”, and make a mockery of what it is, because of unrighteousness in their hearts and lives. When they offer praise God will hide His eyes, and when they offer a prayer, God will not hear. Their hands are bloody.

What does the Holy One want of those who are His? To be washed and made clean. To put away pretense, especially in their sacrifices. Cease your evil actions. Do good things for no other reason than to glorify the Holy One. Seek and do that which is just. Help those who are less fortunate than yourself – orphans, and widows; see that they are defended, protected, and cared for. This is right in the eyes of the LORD. The godly religion is the way – we must minister to the orphans and widows in their need, and keep ourselves from the evil practices of those around us.

 

“Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.  To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.  When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?  Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.  And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.  

Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;  Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.“ Isaiah 1:10-17 (KJV)

–Tim A. Blankenship

The Holy One of Israel

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Prophet’s Possible Perspective

I am learning about the HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL. He is not pleased that His people are overcome by sin. They have become so burdened down, just loaded with sin, shame, guilt, and have forgotten that the HOLY ONE is desiring us to draw nearer to Him.

Here it is the Sabbath day, and it is apparent that the hearts of the people are not into God. There is just a way that you can tell. It is hurry, hurry, hurry, and let’s get this worship thing over. They have turned their backs on the HOLY ONE, and turned to their own ways.

Such a sinning nation. Such a guilt burdened people who turn to sinful practices to ease the guilt of their sin.

What is going through their minds? Do they want more judgment to come upon them? They are sick of heart and soul. I know that in the mind of God their sins are like an infected, open sore which stinks in the nostrils of the HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL Their sinful wounds run with pus, and they do nothing.

O, people of Judah, do you not know that your country is in ruins. We are left like an unguarded vineyard. There is none who cares.

The only one who cares is the HOLY ONE of Israel, the LORD of hosts. He has left a remnant, a seed. If it were not for God’s grace we would have been in the same predicament as Sodom, and made like unto Gomorrah.

May the HOLY ONE have mercy upon us.

“ Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. 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.” Isaiah 1:4-9 (KJV)

-Tim A. Blankenship

 

Think Of Isaiah’s Thoughts

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Prophet’s Possible Perspective

Being a member of a noble family I sometimes become frustrated by having other people waiting on me and doing things, which I know I could do. Nevertheless, I have a good life, really it is too good. I am truly blessed

As I was walking by one of our fields yesterday, I noticed a familiar site. One I had seen many times before; one of our servants walking behind an ox, prodding him with a goad, guiding his direction, and that ox did exactly what this man directed him to do. If the man tapped the ox on the left side of the neck the ox turned right. If the man tapped him on the right side he turned left. When the ox was tapped on the rump he would increase his speed. The ox gave no sign of hesitating to any tap of the goad.

This became of great interest in my heart. God, holy God; began speaking to me through this ox working in the field. If the ox does not hesitate to obey its master and turns wherever he is directed, then why does God’s people not obey Him? This was the question which came to my mind.

As I was going back to the house I went by the stables, and I noticed a donkey which had just been brought back from carrying a heavy load of trade goods. This donkey just went right to the trough, knowing that his owner had put feed there for him. Once again the Spirit of God showed me how rebellious the people of God had become.

O, how terrible, that the people of God forget the merciful, providential, gracious, loving, hand of God. They go on their way, but do not consider. It is as if, they do not even know God.

“The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib: but Israel does not know, my people does not consider” (Isaiah 1:3).

O, that the people of God would only “Consider” these matters.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Deluded, Deceived and Destroyed

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

“Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Surely you have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem,’ saying, ‘You shall have peace,’ whereas the sword reaches to the heart.” Jeremiah 4:10 (NKJV).

Like the majority of the people Jeremiah wanted peace. He was probably hoping for peace, even heard the false prophets, and thought how wonderful that would be for God to protect them from the coming invasion of the “Lion and company”. God will allow us to believe in lies of deception if we prefer that over the truth. Nevertheless, it is still inevitable that evil will come, and there will be no peace. God does not deceive, nor does He approve of lies and deception, but when He sees the heart of people given to lies, then He will use the deception and lies to carry out His divine will.

Peace is not possible when there is no peace with God. The lies of the false prophets of things getting better. No judgment is going to come on us. We are in a time of extraordinary blessing, not of judgment. There is a great and enormous wealth coming to the Church. Lies, lies, lies. In my heart and mind I long for those things to come to pass, but by the condition of the hearts of the people of God; they are in fact lies and deception.

A man, woman or a nation who believes they are at peace with God while living in immorality, and debauchery are deceived and lying to themselves. A man, woman or a nation that is given to the tolerance of alcoholism, drunkenness, and profiting from it is not at peace with God, and if they think so are deceiving and lying to themselves. Any business man, bank president, loan company manager, or national leader who believes they are at peace with God, while taking advantage of the poor, with housing foreclosures, and higher interest rates than the privileged, are deceiving and lying to themselves.

Jeremiah was really horrified by the judgment he knew God was sending on Jerusalem. He could not keep silent. The prophet of God must speak the truth of the Word of God. What the feelings and the heart wants is not sufficient. Hope without promise is no hope. Hope based on feelings, or personal desire is merely wishful thinking.

“4:10 deceived. Like Habakkuk (1:12-17), Jeremiah was horrified at these words of judgment, contrasting the prevailing hope of peace. God is sometimes described as if doing a thing He merely permits, such as allowing false prophets who delude themselves to also deceive a sinful people into thinking peace would follow (cf. 6:14; 8:11; 1Kin. 22:21-24). God sees how people insist on their delusions, and lets it happen.” THE MACARTHUR STUDY BIBLE note, p. 1068 NKJV.

O, how deceived people can be and often are today. A man in Florida says he heals in the name of Jesus Christ, but kicks an old man in the head, because, “that is what God told” him to do. And, people ask is this of God? Why do we need to ask? The mere fact that people will believe such only shows what is said above to be true. People will believe what they want to believe, even when it is a lie.

-Tim A. Blankenship