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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Isaiah Chapter 1 - Who is this man Isaiah? When did he live? What is his significance? Does what he said have meaning and relevance for us today as we approach the end of another year and slip into 2024?
Having looked at part of his crucial prophetic word over thee past four weeks let’s take time to look at the man – and what this amazing book has to teach us.
We frequently need to be reminded that these are not just the words of a man - but the Word of God - the Word of God coming through a man inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Around the 8th Century B.C. in the nation of Israel things had become very serious.
Isaiah had been brought up in the Royal Court - in high society - and God used him to get His Word to those who are at the top. Isaiah is being used by God to bring a nation and its leaders - to hear what God the Lord has to say.
How we need that in our land today - more so than at any other time during my lifetime. Isaiah gave the nation and its leaders the Word of God. You cannot offer anyone any more than that. Today - we cannot offer anyone anything more - or higher - or greater than Jesus Christ.
Isaiah prophesied for some 60 years - covering the reigns of four kings. God revealed things to Isaiah, and Isaiah shared what he saw God revealing and what he heard God saying - and no man of God can do more.
Israel - the chosen people of God - were in trouble. There had been Civil War - they had fought amongst themselves - they were divided. These were turbulent and violent times. There were 10 tribes in the north - and 2in the south holding the city of Jerusalem, in the region called Judah.
The background to the Book of Isaiah is one of International politics.
Why were things so terribly wrong? O, they blamed the Philistines. They blamed the Edomites who kept raiding them from the south. They blamed the Moabites who kept raiding them from the east. The blamed the Syrians who raided the land from the north.
They even blamed God - but they never blamed themselves.
They could not see that God had said to them - "Provided you are obedient - I will keep you safe - I will protect you." It is God Who holds the balance of power - it is God Who is in control - it is God Who blesses nations or allows them to disappear.
And God thinks and judges in spiritual terms.
The prophets basically said one thing - "The dangers from the outside are due to the disobedience inside." If you are right with God, things will be all right around you.
We can apply this to some degree to our own nation today - to our own situations.
Many of the troubles which appear to come to us from the outside are due to disobedience within - not always - we also read of the disciples being persecuted and imprisoned and martyred - but that is a different matter.
There was a moral collapse - then, a political collapse - and Isaiah saw all this.
The prophets revealed all this to the people of God - and the people of God did not want to hear. You know that this type of message is seldom popular - that was also the very real experience of Jesus Christ. But God always has His men who will preach His Holy Word. Prior to Isaiah - God had sent Amos and Hosea in the north - and Israel didn't listen. Now - God sends Isaiah to Benjamin and Judah in the south - where Jerusalem is the capital - God will have His men deliver His Word to His people.
The responsibility of the people to hear and receive and accept is crucial. The ten tribes in the north disappeared - Israel had gone - the people had laughed at the prophets - mocked and ridiculed them. Israel, the people of God, refused to listen to God.
What does God do? God in His mercy and love sends Isaiah to warn those in the south.
“Loving God – Heavenly Father – teach us from these words of Isaiah – reveal to us not just the reality of the situation then, but the parallel situation we are experiencing today. We ask for mercy – we pray for mercy – raise up men who will preach Your Word – the whole of Your Word – without compromise or fear of being unpopular. Prophets never get promoted – prophets get pelted – and may we realise that, even as we pray for our nation – in Jesus’ Name.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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