This chapter has a surprising end!

A summary (from God’s Point of View, the “only one” that really counts) of Israel’s spiritual condition at the time of Isaiah’s ministry. Or at least during the “low times” of Isaiah’s ministry.

“10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. 11 Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. 12 Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.” Isaiah 56:10-12, the last paragraph.

“Watchmen” represent the leaders of Judah (specifically) … who were charged with the overall welfare of their little nation. These would comprise both civic and religious leaders of the land!

They are “ignorant!” (So very unlike the men described in 1 Chronicles 12:32 … “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.”)

Wow!

They are “dumb dogs.”

They have become “lazy,” as in “laying down, loving to slumber.”

They are selfish, “greedy” in fact! Everyone out for “himself.”

Jesus would have called them “hirelings!” And Paul would have said “covetous.”

And too, they are “drunkards!” As in “We will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink.”

And they are blindly (unrealistically) “optimistic!” As if “things will only get better and better!” The King James has it: “Tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.” Riches will proliferate!

But instead of this rosy forecast coming to pass … we all know what happened … Babylonian Captivity!

The destruction of Jerusalem and her Temple!

God’s judgment fell!

And folks, I am telling you … America is rapidly (if not already) in the same horrid condition!

Thereby we must conclude … judgment is in her future as well. God is STILL on the Throne!

Again … “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Just two words, and they “arrested” my attention as I read our chapter for today, Isaiah 56.

“Even them!” (They comprise just a small portion of Isaiah 56:7, and are today’s focus.)

The chapter basically consists of God “surprising” Israel by telling her that not only Jews can be saved … but also “sons of strangers” (Gentiles) and “eunuchs”(probably physically deformed people) and other “outcasts” of various kinds!

Yes …“even them!”

Our verse in full: “EVEN THEM will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for ALL PEOPLE.”

That sounds amazingly close to the precious words “Whosoever will!”

“Even them!”

And the good news … it includes YOU!

And ME!

Isaiah earlier wrote, following God’s Lead … “Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:22

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“Even me!”

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The ending of our chapter is as thrilling as its beginning!

And it points to a yet future time, definitely so … IF it is to be taken literally! (And Isaiah is not generally known as a poet, rather as a Prophet, a Preacher.)

“For ye (Israel) shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” Isaiah 55:12-13

Today I’d like to emphasize the “trees” that are mentioned in the Text.

I am currently studying the “Trees of the Bible,” and am astounded at their frequency of occurrence throughout Scripture. The Bible begins with a “tree” story and ends with one as well! Come to think of it, Jesus died on a “tree!”

In verse 12 above … the trees are so glad, so happy, they are “clapping their hands!” (Their limbs, I presume!)

Why so elated? Because Jesus has come again! To Israel! And this time that little Nation (but merely a surviving Remnant of her) sees Him and believes on Him and is “born again!”

And on that Day (the true Day of Atonement) even God’s creation (including these trees, not to mention the glorious impact on the little animals) will break out in joyful singing!

No more thorns … a result of the curse of sin anyway … but instead “fir trees.” (An evergreen!)

No more briers … but “myrtle trees” in their place! (Luxuriant in providing shade! An emblem of “rest.”)

Wow!

Paul the Apostle pictures creation presently … “groaning and travailing in pain!” Laboring under the curse of sin! See Romans 8:22. if you’re interested.

But … some day!

(I believe we Christians shall see this Isaiah 55:12-13 miracle and hear this joyful noise, this exuberant singing … as we will be “with” our Saviour when He comes again to earth to rule in Jerusalem … as the greater Son of David!)

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Do you remember those first 39 chapter of Isaiah? Judgment and darkness everywhere! Now truly, as Isaiah 40 begins … “Comfort” is the key word! That’s our God!

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Can you have more than one “life verse?”

For decades I have used 1 Corinthians 15:58 as mine. Every time I sign a Bible, if the name is there … so will be this reference. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” I love it!

But, having studied Isaiah again, today’s Text is impressing me more than ever. Isaiah 55:10-11 … “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Clearly the Focus here is “God’s Word!” Which He lovingly calls “My Word.” (A “term of endearment” I’d say!)

If the Author Himself is not ashamed of His Bible … I surely will not be! In fact, I’m thankful for It! I believe every Line of it!

This amazing Text begins with a word picture, an illustration, from God’s creation. “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.”

Oh, the success of a rain shower or a fresh coat of snow! The creeks and rivers and (yes, ultimately) oceans! The crops yielding vegetables and fruits! (Take away that moisture and you have an arid, barren landscape!)

Then, in Isaiah 55:11 … “as does the rain and snow, SO the mighty Word of God!” Only MORE so!

Here it is. God is talking: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Wow!

The Word of God I preach … will NOT return void! “Void” means “empty, idle, worthless!” The Bible always bears “fruit!”

In fact, more than that … God promises “it shall prosper!” Again, we are talking about God’s Word! This verb means “to come mightily, to break out, to rush into battle (and be victorious)!”

Wow!

Notice too the “linkage” between God’s “Word” and God’s “Pleasure!” This noun means “that Which brings Delight!”

Here’s what I am thinking … love God’s Word (preach it, study it, meditate upon it, treasure it, obey it) … and you will be bringing the Lord Jesus Christ (Who died for you on Calvary) GREAT PLEASRUE!

Wow!

Enough should now have been said … to incite each of us to further (and more dedicated) involvement with the precious Word of God.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Isaiah 55:11

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Thank you for praying. Both flights homebound this morning were on time! And I have arrived safely. Now, the delayed Lesson …

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Our God is omniscient, that is “all knowing.”

And He has never had a bad thought, nothing sinful or erroneous in any way. Yet His Reasoning is so DIFFERENT than ours!

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12

So … if I am going to really walk with God (“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3) … I MUST learn how He thinks, best as possible anyway.

By the way, God’s Word (the Bible) is a Revelation of God’s Thoughts! Hence the necessity of mastering the Scripture!

God, according to today’s Text, thinks on a “higher plane” that we do.

Notice here also how one’s “thoughts” direct one’s ways! (The Text first mentions “thoughts,” then secondly, “ways.)

Wow!

So, to be the best student of God’s thoughts that I can … I must do two things.

First … realize the weakness and fallacy in our human (sinful) patterns of thinking. We are very often wrong, living in these fleshly bodies. With our fallen minds. This is why God tells us to “lean NOT to thine own understanding!” Proverbs 3:5

This is why our minds need to be “renewed.” Romans 12:2, “transformed” thought patterns!

Then secondly … study especially God’s very Word(s) in the Bible! Paul the Apostle even went so far to say that (in the Bible) we actually possess “the Mind of Christ!” 1 Corinthians 2:16

Also … think of the Word(s) of God in the Book of Job!

Then … think of God preaching a Sermon, a long one. And it’s in print yet today. The “Sermon on the Mount,” Matthew chapters 5-7, Jesus being the Speaker, God the Only-Begotten Son!

God’s Word reveals God’s Thoughts!

The Greek noun for the Bible, for God’s “WORD” … is “logos.” It gives us our English word “LOGIC!” Orderly, systematic, sequenced Thoughts!

Wow!

It takes a bit of humility (maybe a lot) to believe Isaiah 55:8-9. In fact, God plainly there says … “so are My Ways HIGHER than your ways, and my Thoughts than your thoughts.”

I close with a prayer.

Oh dear Lord Jesus, help us to so humble ourselves, to so discipline ourselves, to so educate (?) ourselves … to “think God’s Thoughts after Him.”

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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