AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Thursday – December 9, 2021, Tevet 5, 5782
SANCTIFY THE LORD OF HOSTS
Greetings dear and precious saints of God and welcome back to The Three Minute Word blog. As you know Monday through Thursday, I am focused on the wonderful Bible Book of Isaiah. Before we move forward, please take a moment and share these teachings as widely as possible to expand the reach of this Ministry. There is no Truth (capital T, of divine origin) apart from the Word of God. There are many facts and truthful sayings but only one source of Truth. The featured picture today of Donna and me you have seen before and was taken at a San Antonio restaurant named County Line, an excellent BBQ place. Now let’s move to our primary text in the Bible Book of Isaiah continuing to read out loud, yes, aloud.
Isaiah 8:13-17 (KJV)
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
As we enter our text, we see the Lord telling us to separate the Lord of hosts from all others placing Him far above or ahead of all others. Do not get in fear about the circumstances, the people, or the eminent judgment but focus on the Lord of hosts alone. As I hope you can see the Messianic references continue in this text of coming eminent judgment due to the sin of an unrepentant people. This dual teaching is not unusual in Scripture. Let’s look at this thirteenth verse in the Amplified Bible.
Isaiah 8:13 (AMP)
13 The Lord of hosts—regard Him as holy and honor His holy name [by regarding Him as your only hope of safety], and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread [lest you offend Him by your fear of man and distrust of Him].
We and they are being given the advice to only regard the Lord of hosts as a hope, a place of safety. Don’t fear anyone or anything only Him, the Lord of hosts (Heaven’s angel armies). It is offensive to God when we put our trust in a man or even a group of men. Whoever the man or group of people might be, they are far inferior to God and they like ourselves are wholly dependent upon God, whether they know it or not. Anything else is idolatry, it is having another God, violates the First Commandment, and violates the Law of Love.
Leviticus 26:1 (KJV)
1 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.
Notice what Jesus refers to as the greatest commandment which is congruent with our text.
Matthew 22:36-40 (KJV)
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
If we don’t get this one right, walking in love, all the rest in our lives will be wrong, period. Love (agape) is about the heart and God examines the heart above all else. I know I have been over this many times but let me briefly review Godly love (agape). Christians have this love and are capable of expressing it like the Lord (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). It is part of our spirit, a duplicate of His, and with exercise can grow to be as His. For this type of love to be active one must be born again, have a quickened spirit man. Therefore, the heathen is incapable of this love (agape), which is supernatural in nature. Remember, there are three major components of love (agape). First and at the core is obedience of the Scripture (the Word which is the same person as the Lord of hosts). The second aspect of agape is a selfless attitude, lifestyle. It is not about me; it is about you. The third aspect or leg is to be cognizant of our Blood Covenant in Christ.
Lord willing, I will pick up with this next week. Remember that we love (agape) you and there is nothing you can do about it.
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as your Bible Teacher and a Prophetic Voice in your life I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, doubt it not, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus’ name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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