ISAIAH - Chapters 56: 9-12; 57: 1-13 - "HIS WATCHMEN ARE BLIND"
“HIS WATCHMEN ARE BLIND”
ISAIAH- Chapter 56:9-12; -57: 1-13.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
February 24, 2015, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
From words of comfort the prophet passes to words of reproof. The beasts of the field are summoned to devour the blind watchmen and the drunken leaders. Because of the failure of these blind watchmen and drunken leaders, righteous men perish, while none lay it to heart. The shepherds should have been the watchmen of the flock, but were treacherous and did not mind the trust given the. Thus the sheep became easy prey to the wild beasts.
We can apply this today to people who are being easily led astray by the evil of ISIS and other doctrines of devils. We can compare ISIS to wild beasts. The watchmen are all blind and are either not aware of them or do not have the courage to confront the Islamic terrorists.
The people have yielded to the evil influences of such leaders
Desolating judgments are here summoned.
Isaiah 56: 9-12 flows into Chapter 5. While there is a welcome for the strangers who submit to the Lord, there is to be the severest judgment of evil, even when it manifests itself among the nation of Israel. This New Day is going to reach a great number of new people. Those who have known the truths of the Kingdom but who have never walked in them are being dealt with as by Fire. These are the blind who lead the bond.
Sunday morning I made a “call” for the veil or blindness to be removed from Christians so that we can “see Jesus” and “Behold His Glory”.
Isa. 56: 9-12: “All you beasts of the field come to devour, yea, all you beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind; they are all ignorant, they are like dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, and loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand. They all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come they say, I will bring wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.”
Here the prophet uses strong language calling them “dumb dogs, they cannot bark.” Their concerns are about what they shall get, not what they shall do. They courted the people to sit and drink with them. They were confident of the continuance of their prosperity and ease. Throne and altar alike had been desecrated.
Some theologians apply this to the reign of King Manasseh of Judah who killed Isaiah by sawing him in half. However, others see it as Isaiah’s prophetic eye seeing at a distance of ninety years to the rein of King Josiah. As with all the prophets we would be accurate to apply these verses to both. The Word of God speaks to us in three dimensions: (1) The time it was written; (2) Now; (3) Future.
57:1-2: “The righteous perish, and no man lays it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none consider that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.”
Young King Josiah was like a gleam of sunshine in a cloudy sky. He ascended the throne of Judah at the tender age of eight. Reliable commentators consider him to be “the righteous one” here referred to. The youthful monarch proved himself to be the most Godly of his royal race.
2 Kings 23:25: “…There was no king before him who turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to the law of Moses; neither after him arose any like him. Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, wherewith His anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked Him.
At the age of sixteen, a copy of the Holy Word was brought to King Josiah. He read the Word and believed it. From that day forward during a memorable decade, he became Priest and King in one. He commenced as an iconoclast destroying idols and altars of idols from mountain, grove and valley. He restored the purity of the Temple-worship, ---“repairing the breaches of the House.”
His acts of public devotion culminated, when at the age of eighteen, he summoned his people to a great feast of Passover in Jerusalem.
All Israel, as in former days publically renewed their covenant to their fathers’ God. The prayer of the hidden “seven thousand” obtained a gracious answer, “Will you revive us again that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6)
But strange and mysterious, just when in the flower of his youth, and his people were prospering in peace under his rule, he is brought wounded and bleeding from the battlefield at Hadadrimmon. He dies in his chariot before he can reach his palace in Jerusalem.
It attests to the depth and intensity of the national grief that a funeral dirge composed by Jeremiah was, for many years after, sung on the spot where King Josiah received the fatal wound.
Jeremiah 22:18b: “Ah my brother…”Ah lord! Or, Ah his glory!”
Zachariah uses it as a figure to describe the great future mourning and repentance of the Jews ---“In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon” (Zech 12:11).
“The righteous, suddenly perishes and merciful men (men of godliness and kindness) are taken away.”
We may have all questioned the mystery of early death, whose “sun has gone down while it was yet day?” (Jeremiah 15:9)
We can understand the removal of a sinner, the removal of the aged Christian, the veteran standard-bearer, who has fought his fight and finished his work---the Abrahams, Samuels and David’s who had “served their generation according to the will of God,” and who, “well-stricken in years,” “fell asleep, and were gathered to their fathers.”
The words of Isaiah give a twofold answer to these questions and mysteries. One is a negative. The other a positive.
- “The righteous are taken away from the evil to come”. “Thus says the Lord God, removed the diadem, and taken off the crown” (Ez. 21:26). “Is the Lord’s hand shortened, that it cannot save?” Such might be the questions of the band of warriors who bore their young King bleeding from the battle. But they like us were ignorant of the future. He had mercifully not revealed to them the impending invasion of the armies of Babylon, and miseries which were to be experienced in Israel. It is to this Jeremiah refers in the 22nd chapter when he thinks of Josiah peacefully sleeping with his fathers, in contrast with the wretchedness and humiliation of his exiled son, Shallum.
Jer. 22:10: “Do not weep for the dead, neither bemoan him; but weep for him that goes away; for he shall return no more, nor see his native country for thus says the Lord touching Shallum the son of Josiah, King of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father…”
The Lord sent King Josiah a special message by the mouth of Huldah the prophetess, as recorded in 2 Kings 22: 18-20: “To the King of Judah, which sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him…because your heart was tender and you have humbled yourself before the Lord,…I have heard you. Says the Lord. Behold I will gather you unto your fathers, and you shall be gathered into your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the evil to come which I will bring upon this place.”
What was true of Josiah’s early death is applicable to all. God by an early removal “hastened their escape from the windy storm and tempest.”
But the words of the Prophet also give a positive explanation of the mystery of early death.
(2) “He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.”
It is evidenced throughout the Holy bible of the immediate blessedness of the departed righteous. The spirit that walks so uprightly on earth, with no divergence from the path of duty and love continues walking in uprightness in the loftier state of existence in Heaven.
The work cut short in this lower works is not finished---it is only transferred. In a higher and loftier sphere, we will still pursue these active ministries of righteousness.
There is evident contrast between these opening words of the chapter and the terrible refrain with which it closes---“there is no peace, says my God, to the wicked;” none in life, none in death, none in their limitless future. But, “the righteous,” thus taken away, “enter into peace.”
The early death of Josiah, and such as he, is the morning-chime which summons to the upper sanctuary, to unite in worship of the great congregation.
“The mourners throng the way, and from the steeple
The funeral-bell tolls alow;
But on the golden streets the holy people
Are passing to and fro;
And saying, as they meet, “Rejoice! Another
To early bliss has come;”
The Savior’s heart is glad, a younger brother
Hath reached the Father’s home!” (John Ross MacDuff)
Whatever path of uprightness the departed one followed below, he is following that path above. Heaven is but an expansion and development of the characteristic traits of earth—“He that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy; let him be holy still.”
We can listen to the whispering of angels hovering around his pillow---“He shall enter into peace; ---he shall walk in his uprightness.”
The body rests in the ‘bed’ of the grave, and the spirit enters into heaven. But while that spirit is pursuing its onward path of bliss and glory, it has not in the truest sense bid farewell to its earthly sphere. The lips are silenced. The music of the voice is hushed. But “the righteous” survive dissolution even in this world; in their deathless memories of goodness and worth, they continue to “walk”. The ‘uprightness” Is not laid by or carved in the epitaph on their gravestones. No! It lives! The sun has vanished, but the glow still reddens the mountain-tops and glorifies the evening clouds.
2 Chron. 25:26: “Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness (uprightness)…and his deeds, first and last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.” He shines this day as a clear fixed star in the firmament of darkness before the throne of God and will thus shine on forever. The goodness and love we leave on the earth still lives. His life lives in the supernatural life-giving Word of the Holy Bible.
A mis-spent life is no life at all. It is a bankruptcy of being. It may be a life only sowing and perpetuating trouble, wickedness and evil.
Sons of sorceress are summoned to judge. In verses 5-8, we see the pagan rites which involved prostitution. Sin has been exalted and manifest. Judgment is to be conspicuous and complete.
57:3-8: “Draw near you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer, and the whore. Against whom do you sport yourselves: against whom do you make a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? He is speaking of the mockery of the righteous by sinners.
This week the Government of the United States exalted transvestites to wear the uniform of the United States Military and this was affirmed by the Executive Branch of Government.
In verse 3 the prophet is now back again among the dismal age in which he lived. King Manasseh had the rule of Judah. It was the most mournful reign in the history of the Hebrews. The Lord God whose name and glory had been profaned speaks from His throne of insulted righteousness. “Draw near” is directed to the masses of the nation, who along with their earthly monarch had lapsed into apostasy.
Are you not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood? Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children (abortion natural or spiritual) in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks? Among the smooth stones of the stream is your portion; they are your lot; even to them have you poured a drink offering, you have offered a meat offering, Should I receive comfort in these? Behind the doors also and the posts have you set up your remembrance; for you have discovered yourself to another than Me, and are gone up; you have enlarged your bed, and made a covenant with them. You loved their bed where you saw it. “
God measures life by deeds, not years. With Him character is life, not years. Goodness is life. All God’s promises are of no avail apart from forsaking evil ways and practicing acts of righteousness.
Psalm 21:4: “He asked life of you, and you gave it to him, even light of days for ever and ever.” (Ps. 21:4).
In verse 15, He issues a royal edict or manifesto. It contains words of exalted comfort. He brings before us, and before His loyal subjectes in every age, what we may regard as two titles and two palaces: “The high and lofty one…”whose name is Holy.” His palaces—“who inhabits eternity.”
57:15: “For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy. I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
The nations had lapsed into unblushing idolatry. In addition to altars to Baal, crowning the high places, statues of Astarte were erected amid the groves of Terebinth. Astarte seemed to have been adopted by Ahaz as his guardian demon.
The image of Astarte is a goddess sitting on a lion, holding a thunderbolt and scepter in either hand. Her head is surrounded with the crescent moon. The Israelites were worshipping these demonic images behind the doors and the posts wherever concealment could be had. They had virtually dethroned the Almighty, and delegated His power to inferior beings.
No Kings before Ahaz and Manasseh had so defiled and desecrated the Holy Temple. I am saddened to say that the present government of the United States has defiled and defamed Christianity and our nation in a like manner. The President of the United States threw Christianity under the bus of Islam.
In the front entrance to the temple, Ahaz had set up chariots and horses of the sun. On one of the roofs was an altar for the adoration of the host of heaven; while the duplicate of a heathen shrine which he had seen at Damascus, was erected instead of the old altar of burnt-offering (2 Kings 23:11). ISIS’ headquarters is in Syria.
Ahaz paid unworthy homage to the grasping world-power of that era. He had become the cringing and subservient tributary to Tiglath-Pileser, King of Assyria. Like a coward, he sent ambassadors with the message---“I am your servant and son!” following up this humiliation by giving to the King of Assyria the treasure in his palace as well as the golden vessels of the temple.
57:9-10: ‘You went to the king with ointment, and did increase your perfumes, and did send your messengers far off, and did debase yourself even to hell. You have wearied in the greatness of your way; yet you did not say, there is no hope. You have found the life of your hand. Therefore you were not grieved.”
I am sorry to say that President Barrack Hussein Obama is committing the sins of Ahaz in the 21st century.
57:11: “”Of whom have you been afraid or feared that you have lied and have not remembered Me, nor laid it to your heart? Have not I held My peace even of old, and you do not fear me?”
Isaiah amid this wide-spread atheism might well be apt to give way to despair. His faith at times could hardly fail to be clouded. Bug God calmed his fears by a special proclamation of His glory and goodness…”I am alone the High and Lofty One.” Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They that make them are like unto them. So is every one that trusts in them. O Israel, O America, O nations of the earth trust in Jehovah. He is your help and your shield.
57:13-14: “When you cry, let your idols deliver you, but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them. He that puts his trust in Me shall posses the land and shall inherit My holy mountain and shall say, cast up, cast up, and prepare the way. Take up the stumbling block out of the way of My people.”
Test the power of your idols. Test the ability of your most potent human sovereigns in the day of need. Let your troops of idols and troops of men deliver you if they can. They will only show their utter impotence. The wind shall carry them all away. The loftiness of man shall be bowed down. The haughtiness of men shall be made low. The Lord alone shall be exalted.
The Lord appropriates to Himself a second title---“whose name is Holy”. The worst characteristic of these heathen deities was their un-holiness. St Augustine tells us that he had witnessed in Carthage, with horror an dismay, the filthy and impure orgies of Astarte. These were fully equaled by the cruel and licentious rites of Moloch and Baal. None of these can compare to the ISIS’ beasts,
The Holiness of God, indeed, is a study more for angels than for men. In this impure world, with these impure hearts of ours, we cannot soar to the comprehension or understanding of the Lofty One who is the Holy One.
I have “called” our church to seek the face of Jesus during the season leading up to Resurrection Sunday. In Jesus we see the Holiness of the God gloriously reflected in the Person and character of Him who is “the image of the invisible God.” And who is pre-eminently “the Holy One”.
As I preached on Sunday, the glory of Christ was manifest in the pure, sinless, flesh nature of Jesus as well as the glory of His Ascension. As prophesied by Isaiah, Jesus walked from his tomb in his uprightness. His Holy and pure flesh was glorified before His ascension. Luke 24:39: “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle Me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see Me have…He showed them His hands and His feet.”
His holiness and uprightness is attested and displayed in His sufferings, death, resurrection, ascension, and exaltation to the right hand of the Father. But the up-righteousness of His pure and holy flesh walked out of that tomb. (Isa. 57:2).
To be continued---
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of John Ross MacDuff, Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of Rev. MacDuff ( 1818-1895) (public domain).