Isaiah 30 vs 1-14

Isaiah Chapter 30 Verses 1 – 2

 Ahaz had sought protection and alliance with Assyria which on it’s

face is not necessarily a bad thing. If you have an enemy that is

invading or threatening invasion, why not start with a conversation

and maybe even that conversation will lead to a better resolution than

war? Sounds like a good idea. But there were problems just beyond

the word peace with them… If you can get past that it sounds right,

and really analyze the situation, you’ve got several problems…

 Just like today. So many things sound right and good. All of the

cultural buzz words that speak of tolerance and equal rights and on

and on… If you can get past that it sounds right, and really analyze the

situation, what’s being demanded isn’t tolerance at all, it’s preference

and it isn’t equal rights at all, it’s discrimination… How do we know

what is good then? Same as at the time of Isaiah!

 Israel will be attacked and eventually it will fall. Woe will come which

is, as we’ve covered before, burden and self-imposed penalty, why?

Three things in these two verses. The counsel of creation becomes

primary over the counsel of the Creator. The plans made aren’t led,

guided or even consulted of the Holy Spirit. And as a nation, a people,

a culture climate, they were (we are) not asking, seeking, listening or

even considering the advice of God! Doesn’t that on its head just

sound crazy!

 But there is nothing new under the sun. Israel was there, at this time.

Guys, America is essentially there now. I’m a little heartbroken to say

that I believe the church in its majority is there! And even in this

church, there is so much of this that homes fall apart, people fall apart,

and church members disappear all the time…, why? These three

things…

 Israel turned to the north as danger presented itself. Then, Israel turns

to the south as they are threatened from the north. All of the issue

would have been solved if they had turned to the Lord from the get go

and Isaiah knows it, he’s been preaching it for years and as we’ll see

later in this chapter, he’s essentially rejected and hated for it…, but

check this out, all along…, he was right!

Isaiah Chapter 30 Verses 3 – 7

 Essentially this is talking about Judah sending tribute to Egypt on the

backs of camels and donkeys to buy their support but in the end, Egypt

will take their money and not be a help to them and so Isaiah calls

them “the prideful that do nothing.”

Isaiah Chapter 30 Verses 8 – 11

 This certainly speaks on its own and needs little explanation other than

the concept that God wanted all of this documented before it happened

so that when it happened, they would see that they ought to trust in the

Lord.

 But for us, if what you are hearing is difficult but it aligns with the

Word of God, no matter the source, situation or discomfort, you need

to listen. I mean that is what trusting God is all about. Even when, or

perhaps I should say ONLY when, it’s difficult to hear or means you

have to wake up or change course, its only then that you either trust

God or not. Watch out for smooth speakers because correction hardly

ever is smooth. Deceit is ALWAYS smooth or its not deceptive…

Isaiah Chapter 30 Verses 12 – 14

 That’s an interesting statement. From the beginning, Satan’s play has

always been to keep me and you from the acceptance and application

of the Word of God. And when we read in John 10:10 the words of

Jesus, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to

destroy,” this description in Isaiah reveals that the intent is to steal

everything, kill completely and destroy thoroughly.

 The pieces that this nation will become, that a life becomes, nothing

useful about it at all will be left. No piece big enough or strong

enough to be used as a plate or even a spoon… Everything just

somehow breaks and collapses…

Isaiah Chapter 30 Verses 15 – 18

 Notice the pattern presented is first you are saved, and then you are

strengthened. To strengthen me in my sin makes God unjust and

unholy. And so, He waits. And the promises of the next verses come

after I have made the decision to retire as it were from whatever it is

that is not of the Lord.

 That’s the beginning of the pattern. We read, “In returning and rest

you shall be saved.” That word “returning” is the word for

“retirement.” To call an end to the work of sin. To quit as it were

and throw up the white flag. To stop fighting. Which produces rest.

That word means to “find comfort” or “place.” And this is it, truly.

You find your place and you take your place in alignment with God.

These two things together produce this word, “saved.”

 That word means delivered, helped, preserved, avenged, defended,

rescued, safe and victorious. All things we ask for, long for, want and

would reach for if we knew where it was at. Well, here is it…, what

you’re looking for for your life is found in retiring from enmity with

God and taking your place as One who is near to Him in alignment

across the board. Then, God strengthens…

 And that strength comes in the inner person. In your heart of hearts

and your soul of souls. The quiet confidence that no one produced or

began in you but God Himself and so no one can touch it, harm it,

challenge it or defeat it. That’s called character and it is sorely

uncommon in these last days… It shows up in a life as grace, desire

for Godliness and God’s will and a resolve to walk with the Lord

because deep down, in the root of who you are, that’s who you are…

These are the strong… and these (next verses) are their spoils…

Isaiah Chapter 30 Verses 19 – 25

 The towers speak of high places and they are to be torn down by us

individually just as the kings of Israel, those that did evil in the sight

of the Lord, they set up high places for worship of foreign gods but the

kings of Israel, those that did right in the sight of the Lord, they tore

them down. Each one of us has these high places. From outright evil

actions to darkness of heart that no one, not even Jesus Himself, is

able to take down except us… That’s why it’s called here, “The day of

the great slaughter.” Because it’s the day that you and I decide to be

great!

Isaiah Chapter 30 Verses 26 – 33

 These last statements of this chapter simply state that God is serious in

His Word. I get it. God knows my heart too. And even though I battle

Him in my own ways and decisions of the flesh, He does still love me

just like I’ve never sinned. But He is also and equally as holy as He

is loving. And His Word won’t bend one degree for the goodness of

my heart when I live in disobedience to His…

 Tophet is another name for the Valley of Hinnom in Jerusalem and that

is the place where garbage was left and burnt. It’s a strict warning OR

it’s a promise of hope. Whichever way you take this chapter perhaps

reveals what side of the battlefield you’re on…