Prophesy: Right On!

     Isaiah the prophet speaks about then present conditions and soon to come catastrophes. All of a sudden he shifts his six speed transmission into latter times, even unto the hereafter. He warned his contemporaries but by doing so, he was warning mankind. The Jews were not safe from Satan and neither are people today. (Herein, I make a shift in nomenclature from "Hebrews" to "Jews".) The former were descendants of Eber through Abraham. The latter were the remnant remaining in Judah; hence "Jews". God did his threshing to make the "Church". The Hebrews were threshed until only Jews remained. They were warned about destruction but were dubious that it would ever come about!
     The spiritual condition of Judah before their destruction was much like the pre-apocalyptic world, and even in the days of Noah where everyone did evil in the sight of the Lord. Reverence to the Lord means one God only for he is a jealous God (Exod 20:5). I have said many times: God is not jealous of idols of wood, stone, nor gold but those made of flesh. People are their own gods and their flesh is their idol.

Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Ephes 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

2 Pet 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

     The mind of the Christian wants to be righteous but the law of sin appeases the flesh according to Romans 7:25. There is a dualism inside mankind which is called "original sin"; it is the conflict within the conscience between good and evil which is essentially between God and the god of self.  People sin because it appeases the flesh! Don't think of "flesh" as merely the skin, which is only one component, but also the desires of the heart. Thus, "the flesh" is the cornucopia of things of the world which stands between us and God. It can be anything. Those "things" are brought to people's idols - the flesh - which relishes in those things, and inside the idol, the mind enjoys the Epicurean sacrifices.
     For instance, stereo equipment or DVR's are not idols. The flesh is! Stereos and movies appease those idols of flesh. When those things interfere with God, they become idols because they make people other gods beside God. The interference may be importance, filth, or even extreme violence for entertainment's sake. The thoughts of those things (your gods' minds) take the minds off God. The dark portion of the mind wins out, Satan smiles, and God is dismayed! He knew what you would do, and you did it, just as slaves to the law of sin are expected to do.
     Ephesians 2:3 above points out that the flesh lusts after things. People often say, "I'm starving," when they obviously are not. I correct them, and am surely hated for it, by responding, "You mean your taste buds want appeased!" Gluttony is sinful (Deut 21:20) as much as drunkenness! Even preachers brag about their gluttony, failing to realize that they are appeasing their idol. Regardless what is the appetite of the flesh, those things place your god more important than God! 2 Peter 2:10 points out that those people are "self-willed" - doing what is right in their own eyes!
     The desire to be appeased is the nature of mankind until they are born-again. The rebirth should change the attitude of the believer from self-interested to God-centered. In Isaiah's time, most the Jews were self-centered and God was of little interest. Like then, that irreverence applies to all eras. The solution to self-idolization, was then as now, Jesus Christ! Isaiah rightfully switches to the time of Christ.

Isa 12:1 And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. 5 Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

     The Jews were not at peace. They would be at war with Babylon and be demolished. Why? Because they warred with God. Likewise, we are not a peace. We war with Satan (Ephes 6:12) but that is because truly we are at war with God! We've heard, "Peace on earth, good will toward men." That is because of spiritual peace with the outcome of love and has little to do with war! Our war with God is us hating Him by disregarding His authority, and likewise for not loving others. Just as the Savior was promised to Judah, we too were promised a Savior, and good to His promise, Jesus came to "heal the nations" (Rev 22:2); not just the Jews but everyone!
     The key verse above is "I will trust and not be afraid" for "he (Jesus) is my salvation". That says what Jesus said in John 3. Isaiah knew what it meant to be born-again: trust in God to save and not fearing the poisonous barbs of the serpent. Isaiah even gave a New Testament example: "with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation". Why does that sound familiar? It should, because Jesus said that to the sinful woman at the well:

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

     The "Living Water" was Jesus and the blood which was to flow at the crucifixion. Isaiah knew and understood the Way to salvation. In Isaiah 12:4 he said, "Praise the Lord, call upon his name!" What is the Lord's Name? He is called Jesus! This goes back to my earlier premise (http://kentuckyherrin.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-reverence-of-gods-name.html)  that ultimately "taking the Lord's name in vain" is denying Jesus by taking his death frivolously - blasphemy against Jesus's Holy Ghost. Thus, Isaiah knew the importance of Jesus's crucifixion and that his shed blood was the living waters!
     I am astounded at prophesy! Isaiah was dead right, not because he knew mysterious things but because God revealed to him the Plan long before the Planned Savior was born! For me, that is proof enough! I trust God and do not fear death because of the trust. Right on, Isaiah! Thank you Jesus!