AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Tuesday – August 31, 2021, Elul 23, 5781
THOSE HIGH AND LIFTED UP
Greeting dear and precious saints of God and welcome back to this powerful, insightful (revelation from the Lord), and empowering Bible Study of the Book of Isaiah. As I have pointed out many times, neither will this study or any other do any of us any good if we do not engage with it on a personal level. This is not just an ancient lesson about an ancient people, but a now Word for the Church at large and every one of us individually. Please take a moment and share this and every teaching as widely as possible to bring the good news (gospel) to an audience wider than we alone can reach. The beautiful picture featured today was supplied by our good friend and man of God, Joe Getchell Jr. Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text from the Book of Isaiah and read it aloud, yes, out loud.
Isaiah 2:13-16 (KJV)
13 And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,
14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,
15 And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,
16 And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.
As you can see God goes on at some length about the pride of the people and He is not done yet. All of this talk about cedars, oaks, mountains, hills, towers, walls, ships, and pleasant pictures is referring to people, cities, defenses, institutions is that upon which they are now depending and not the only Living God. These things have become that upon which they are placing their faith. In what do we have the most faith? How arrogant to place one’s faith in created things, and the wisdom of the world, but not in the Creator Himself. These things and people are not just a little lower than God, without Him they are way lower, really nothing.
Romans 1:25 (NLT)
25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
This is not just something an ancient people did; it is being done in America today, it is all around every one of us, but I pray not in our lives. Are we putting anything ahead of God? Let’s ask ourselves in all honesty, are we being led of our flesh or the Spirit of God? One leads to death (of all kinds) and the other to life (as God knows life) and peace. Not really a hard choice put this way but what about in our day-to-day walk? We need to listen to the “yeah but” in our decision-making process. That generally means we are starting to rationalize a bad (contrary to the Word) decision. This is not to say we don’t have any dependence upon other peoples or things, we certainly do, but God (Holy Spirit) and the Word of God regulate their place and it is never ever even close to the place God occupies.
Sometimes these things take a different mindset, paradigm, way to think about a thing. Things, all things, are very temporary and are to be thought of as tools for our enjoyment and to benefit others. Do we see these things as blessings from God, the Favor of God at work in our lives? This includes our money or other assets. What about our jobs? Are they our god, do we depend first and foremost on the money from the job? Are we tithing and giving? Do we view our job as primarily a way to get money, make a living, or a way to serve mankind and our fellow Christians? These are major shifts in the way the world (devil) taught us to think. One is idolatry the other is submission or worship of God. We choose. As I close for today and the month of August, I present a passage from Jeremiah about this same issue. Once we see these cycles of righteousness and unrighteousness, we then see them everywhere in Scripture. Idolatry is the major reason for departing from God. We are departed from God when we are not thinking His thoughts, speaking His Word, and doing His ways, period. Do we want to operate as God, our Father, intended with authority and Power or just weasel around with the devils?
Jeremiah 17:5-10 (KJV)
5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
It is my express desire to be that tree that does not even notice when the enemy presents me with the opportunity to experience adversity.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here tomorrow.
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, 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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