Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Isaiah is a microcosm of the whole Word. This section at the beginning of chapter 26 is the foundation of how we are meant to live in the Kingdom. It was the way to succeed in the Old Covenant, it is the way to succeed in the New Covenant. It is the ONLY way to walk with the Lord with success. “You will protect a firm inclination in peace, in peace because he trusts in you. Trust in Yahweh forever, for in Yah, Yahweh you have an everlasting rock” (Isaiah 26:3-4). If we will keep our minds STAYED on the Lord, everything else becomes so simple. In everything we do, say, and think, the Lord should be the one we check in with. Even for a moment. A second. A quick what to do you think? Or if we have more time, check our intentions against the Word (which can be done quicker and quicker the more Word you have in your heart). We are to focus our lives on Him. We are to be hand in hand walking together. It is a cooperative partnership in which HE leads and HE has the superior position and we are humbly submitted to that with love and joy. It is how we delight in Him, drawing on the Lord for His strength to meet our challenges – not walking in fear of judgment and rejection. For this entire portion, saved are those who kept their minds stayed on Him and judged are those who did not.

The Lord is clear. Regardless of how things LOOK at any given time, everything that opposes Him will be struck down. The downtrodden will be lifted up. The righteous will get a level path and wrongs will be brought right. Those who seek the Lord (Jesus), never stopping, are the ones who will see this come to pass. The Lord will establish this peace and only in Him will we experience it.

Israel will be restored. Fully. There has been a partial fulfillment of this, but there is more coming. Israel will be restored in full and Blessed by the Lord. The world will recognize it. He (Jesus) will blow His trumpet, thresh the enemies of His children, and draw the nations around it to worship Him at Jerusalem. It WILL happen.

But those who will not worship Him in truth. Those who will not seek Him. Those will be punished. And the Lord prophesies a destruction of Jerusalem (which happened in 7O AD). In that day the Lord of Hosts (Jesus) will be a crown of glory to the remnant who survives. He would have given them strength to turn back the battle at the very gates of Jerusalem, but they were busy drinking and carousing and pretending it would all go away. They had stayed as spiritual infants, never growing in their knowledge of the Lord, and so they perished. He spoke and spoke to them, but they could not understand. God laid a cornerstone in Zion (Jesus) for them to cling to. Whoever did would not act out of fear, panicking. But they would be kept in peace. Protected by God. Given life as they listened to the teaching of God. Guided into righteous and proper behaviour. Safe in Him.

But the majority in Jerusalem would not go this route. They would be besieged. They would be brought down. Bowed over by the oppression of those coming against them. They had thought they could hide from God. They had thought that their teachings were superior. But the Lord promised there would be a recovery of true wisdom. That the time would come when even the deaf would hear His words and the eyes of the blind would be opened – Jesus accomplished this when He came as a man. The scornful would be cut off, but the poor would rejoice in the Holy One of Israel (Jesus). The work of His hands would be visible. Those who had erred in their spirit would come to understanding and those who had complained would learn His doctrine. His wisdom would be known as they revered and worshipped the Holy One of Jacob (Jesus).

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Isaiah

Key Verse(s): Isaiah 26:2-4, 12-15; 27:2-6; 28:5-8, 16-19; 29:1-4, 13-16, 22-24