Chapter 26: 1 – 21
The #1 Answer In Counseling
1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. 2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength. 5 For He brings down those who dwell on high, the lofty city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He brings it down to the dust. 6 The foot shall tread it down-The feet of the poor and the steps of the needy.” 7 The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just. 8 Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O LORD, we have waited for You; The desire of our soul is for Your name and for the remembrance of You. 9 With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. 10 Let grace be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness; In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD. 11 LORD, when Your hand is lifted up, they will not see. But they will see and be ashamed for their envy of people; Yes, the fire of Your enemies shall devour them. 12 LORD, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us. 13 O LORD our God, masters besides You have had dominion over us; But by You only we make mention of Your name. 14 They are dead, they will not live; They are deceased, they will not rise. Therefore You have punished and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish. 15 You have increased the nation, O LORD, You have increased the nation; You are glorified; You have expanded all the borders of the land. 16 LORD, in trouble they have visited You, they poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them. 17 As a woman with child is in pain and cries out in her pangs, when she draws near the time of her delivery, so have we been in Your sight, O LORD. 18 We have been with child, we have been in pain; We have, as it were, brought forth wind; We have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth, nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen. 19 Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. 20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. 21 For behold, the LORD comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain.
I like to help people. I am not the greatest or wisest person, yet it gives my heart joy to see people overcome life’s difficulties as a direct result of God’s work.
There are three major areas in counseling in my opinion. They are individual, marriage, and family issues.
The major problem area in counseling is first depression. It probably affects over 65% of the people I spend significant time with. Then you have loneliness, relationship issues, drug problems, work, and biblical concerns.
One area that is quickly approaching epidemic proportions in negatively affecting people, is their usage of prescription drugs along with seeking worldly advice. Do you know the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist? Most people do not. A Psychologist principally deals with people who have problems but are functioning in society. A Psychiatrist not only goes through medical school but additionally goes through Pharmacy school. They originally came into existence in order to deal with people who cannot function in society. They are the ones who were authorized to use psychotropic drugs. My, my, have things changed.
Take a guess who distributes over two-thirds of these strong ‘Medicines’ today? Your regular Medical Doctor (MD). They are wonderful gifted people in the ‘medical’ field but I would say without trying to be mean that they do not have a clue on what goes on with a person who has emotional issues. What they have done is just respond to what Pharmaceutical sales representative tell them. If a person is depressed give them this [free samples provided]. If they have anxiety problems then give them their special brand [samples provided by company]. No one checks on the patient. They give them a prescription and send them on their way. Do you see something wrong here? This medicine does not help them but they faithfully keep taking them. They are told that it will take 6 to 8 weeks for the items to work. Are you kidding me? Those items if they would work should work right away, not somehow in 6 to 8 weeks.
As a professional or as a novice counselor, however, once a person is put on medication. Never, I mean never, tell them to stop taking the medicine. You could cause more harm by telling them to stop.
In this study, we are going to find the number 1 answer from God that can help any person, whether it be an individual problem, a marriage problem, or a family issue.
The answer for all our problems lies in the fact that we do not trust our Holy God. Oh, we can all mouth our sincerity like the Apostle Peter did to our Lord. Remember, he said, though others will leave our Lord, he wouldn’t. We read in the book of Matthew chapter 26 this interaction, “31 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘ I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.”
The answer that needs to be repeated over and over until the person you counsel is – trust the Lord.
1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. 2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.
I ask people if they believe that they will spend eternity with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They respond that they believe that they will just like verses 1 and two declared here in Isaiah - 1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. 2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.”
If you believe that to be true then look at verse number 3 which speaks of the peace that He will give if we place our trust in Him to help us no matter what the situation - ‘3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.’
Can you see the amazing truth and power in these words? Our Lord Is on His Throne. He Is not panicking when we are going through difficulties. Do you know why? It is because the Lord Is the One Who allowed it to happen. Deuteronomy chapter 32 says, “Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand.”
Hey, if that be true, then God must be mean? Not so, our God Is a God of Love and He Loves you; He allows troubles so we will call upon Him for the help to either deal with the problem or get out of the problems.
Look at these verses
Job 5: 19, "He shall deliver you in six troubles, yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.”
Job 29: 12, “Because I delivered the poor who cried out, the fatherless and the one who had no helper.
Psalm 34: 4, “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
Psalm 50: 15, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
Our Lord allows difficult times to come into our lives, so we will call Him. You see, when things are going well, we do not call upon the Lord. To have a relationship with someone, you have to spend time with that person. You and I both know that when we are facing hardships we go to the Lord more often.
The other point I want to make and I am just as guilty, is when the Lord delivers us we fail to come back and thank Him. Do you remember the 10 leper’s story. We read in the Gospel of Luke chapter 17, “Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
Having solidified in his mind on how faithful our God Is, Isaiah expresses praise to Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High – for what He will do.
5 For He brings down those who dwell on high, the lofty city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He brings it down to the dust. 6 The foot shall tread it down-The feet of the poor and the steps of the needy.” 7 The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just. 8 Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O LORD, we have waited for You; The desire of our soul is for Your name and for the remembrance of You. 9 With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. 10 Let grace be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness; In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.
The wicked will be humbled by our Righteous Judge. Look at verses 5 and 6, “5 For He brings down those who dwell on high, the lofty city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He brings it down to the dust. 6 The foot shall tread it down-The feet of the poor and the steps of the needy.”
And I love what Isaiah declares for us believers. He says that there will no longer be any bumps in the road for us. Instead of facing difficulties each day, we will experience smooth sailing – ‘7 The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just.’
Most importantly Isaiah gives us the reason why we will experience this blessing from our God. It is because we have been waiting for Him - 8 Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O LORD, we have waited for You; The desire of our soul is for Your name and for the remembrance of You. 9 With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.’
Have you ever noticed how the wicked presently are favored? For example, you might witness your wicked boss receiving good things every day. People are always kissing up to him/her. They are flattering this person will daily praise. You do something nice for them. Does he or she appreciate your loyalty or acts of kindness? No, they take whatever you do as if they deserve it. Well, that is going to stop as Isaiah points out.
Our Precious Holy Father has given mankind a conscience, the knowledge of what is right and what is wrong. Isaiah points out that these wicked people refuse to follow God’s standards -10 Let grace be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness’
No matter how much good our Lord sends to evil people, they do not catch on to the truth. Our Holy King stops us for repaying evil for the evil done. What is worse is when you see someone issue evil after someone has done them good - 10 Let grace be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness; In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly’
For they know God but refuse to give Him and His Majesty - and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.’
The apostle Paul pick up on this truth in his letter to the Romans in chapter 1, “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.’
Have you noticed how Isaiah seems to bounce back and forth. In a few verses he talks about the judgment that is going to come on the wicked, then he says some encouraging words to believers, then repeats this process. The prophet Isaiah now delights in Adoni Yahweh’s work on behalf of His people. This action of God is in large part for our benefit. It helps us exercise our faith.
11 LORD, when Your hand is lifted up, they will not see. But they will see and be ashamed for their envy of people; Yes, the fire of Your enemies shall devour them. 12 LORD, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us. 13 O LORD our God, masters besides You have had dominion over us; But by You only we make mention of Your name. 14 They are dead, they will not live; They are deceased, they will not rise. Therefore You have punished and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish. 15 You have increased the nation, O LORD, You have increased the nation; You are glorified; You have expanded all the borders of the land.
Since wicked people will not recognize the Glory and Majesty of El Shaddai – Almighty God – in the end they will see. However, when they do see, it will be too late for them. They will see what He does for His people. For no matter how they had tried to harm God’s elect, He wound up protecting His own instead.
Evil people on the other hand will not have repentive hearts but instead will be ashamed due to the fate they will now suffer. ‘11 LORD, when Your hand is lifted up, they will not see. But they will see and be ashamed for their envy of people; Yes, the fire of Your enemies shall devour them.’
If you go to a prison and ask the inmates if they are sorry for their crimes, they will all most likely say ‘yes they are’. But you are not getting the right answer to you question. For the inmates are sorry, not for the act of committing the crime, but for getting caught. This is why they are sorry for being in prison.
When we stop and reflect upon our lives in all truth and sincerity we can see our Lord’s help. When we slow down to the speed of life and recognize His love toward us then we are at peace in thinking about what the future will hold for us - 12 LORD, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us.’
When you are honest with yourself you recognize that your life has been a failure in walking in obedience to God’s Commandments. You and I had chosen other things over God. Repentance is acknowledging these rebellions against our Holy God.
After acknowledging this sin you make a commitment to walk in obedience to His Ways. You try to live your life from now on that will be pleasing to Him. He will again shine His light upon your life and your life will flourish. Then don’t forget to thank, praise and give Him the Glory due His Holy Name. - 13 O LORD our God, masters besides You have had dominion over us; But by You only we make mention of Your name. 14 They are dead, they will not live; They are deceased, they will not rise. Therefore You have punished and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish. 15 You have increased the nation, O LORD, You have increased the nation; You are glorified; You have expanded all the borders of the land.’
When terrible situations come upon us people ask, ‘if God Is a God of Love’, then why did He let this terrible thing happen? Why doesn’t He answer prayers?’ Isaiah gives us the answer
16 LORD, in trouble they have visited You, they poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them. 17 As a woman with child is in pain and cries out in her pangs, when she draws near the time of her delivery, so have we been in Your sight, O LORD. 18 We have been with child, we have been in pain; We have, as it were, brought forth wind; We have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth, nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
How would you feel if someone asked you for $20, then after you gave it to them they wanted nothing to do with you. A while passes and they come up to you again and ask for some more money. You again graciously give them what they have requested. Yet, this person still refuses your friendship. Our Lord feels the same. He does not want to be the ‘Emergency God’, you know, the One we call upon to get us out of a jam.
You see like the people of Israel, non-believers call upon the Lord to get them out of trouble. Their search for Him is only temporary. Like a pregnant woman who continues in developing the child in her womb, unbelievers although spared by God for a short while from problems will ultimate deliver their own hardships and destruction. They are on this path like a pregnant woman that will give birth. But in their cases it will be a very ugly baby.
This verse also points out to us believers something else to consider. Look at what it says again - 16 LORD, in trouble they have visited You, they poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them. 17 As a woman with child is in pain and cries out in her pangs, when she draws near the time of her delivery, so have we been in Your sight, O LORD. 18 We have been with child, we have been in pain; We have, as it were, brought forth wind; We have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth, nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen.’
Look around you and you might know a few Christians that are afraid to let the world know that they believe in Jesus Christ. Oh, they want to fit in with society. They have their eternity train ticket punched and so why bother to tell others the ‘Good News’ of Salvation. Do you see what this verse is saying? It is talking about the Jews who were mandated by God to tell the world about Him. Did they? No, Isaiah is confirming the fact that they failed in this assignment. How about us? We are His Ambassadors to a dying world. We are failing to inform the world of their upcoming doom. This poem says everything I am trying to point out to you.
My friend,
I stand in Judgment now,
And feel that you’re to blame somehow.
You always had the words to say
Yet, never did you point the way.
You knew the Lord in truth and glory,
But never did you tell the story.
My knowledge then was very dim;
You could have led me safe to Him.
Though we lived together on the earth.
You never told me of the second birth.
And now I stand this day condemned.
Because you failed to mention Him.
You taught me many things, that’s true.
I called you ’friend’ and trusted you.
But I learn now that it’s too late.
You could have kept me from this fate.
We walked by day and talked by night,
And yet you showed me not the Light.
You let me live, and love, and die,
You knew I’d never live on high.
Yes, I called you ‘friend’ in life.
And trusted you through joy and strife.
And yet on coming to the end,
I cannot, now, call you ‘my friend’
Cheer up. We read in verse 19 that our Holy Master response to Isaiah’s confession of the people’s guilt and unworthiness.
19 Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
You see our Lord knows that even though we fail, He will not. Do you know the difference between mercy and grace. You see mercy is not getting what we deserve. Grace on the other hand is getting things we do not deserve from our Great God. We see these two facts in play in this verse. You see instead of being upset at the Israelites and us for not totally obeying His instruction and not receiving the results of that disobedience [Mercy] He informs Isaiah to tells us that He wants to spend eternity with us. [Grace].
Here our Lord Promises us a ‘Resurrection’ - 19 Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
What an Awesome and Amazing God we have.
In closing out this chapter we have two more verses to look at. We could just comment that these verses speak about the destruction of the wicked and God’s protection of His own. Yet, there is some important information that we do not want to overlook.
20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. 21 For behold, the LORD comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain.
Why are these verses important. Well, people who believe in a ‘Rapture’ use these verses to try to prove their point.
They teach that our Lord Jesus Christ Is going to come back and hover in space. Then He will give a shout and all of us who are alive who are His will disappear in a instant and be beamed into space to meet Him in the air. He will then take us back to Heaven where we will have a 7 year feast while on earth all hell breaks out.
Now, can you see the ‘Rapture’ believes point in using this two verses - 20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. 21 For behold, the LORD comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain.
If you look at the whole book of Revelation then when does our Lord leave His place in Heaven. The answer is during His 2nd return. He Is not coming for a part A [Rapture] then a part B [2nd Coming].
During the Great Tribulation our Lord gives directions to His angels to carry out the seals, bowls, and trumpet judgments.
Also in the Gospel of John chapter 14 we learn this from our very Lord, ““Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
So, if we consider that our Lord after His death and resurrection went back to Heaven. There He has been many ‘mansions’ for us to be able to dwell with Him forever.
Now, ask yourselves these questions, ‘If our Lord Is taking me back to Heaven for 7 years while the Great Tribulation is going on earth, do I get to live in my mansion, then have to leave it after 7 years and come back with my Lord and dwell with Him on the earth for 1000 years - the Millennium?
And if it is a mansion, then why does Isaiah call it a chamber? - 20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. 21 For behold, the LORD comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain.
And if we are in Heaven, why would we have to worry about hiding ourselves from what is going on in the earth. By being in Heaven we are already immortal. Why would we care or worry or fear what was going on against the world.
I believe that our Lord will protect us during the Great Tribulation. He does not want to remove us, but to protect us. Look at His very words in the Gospel of John chapter 17, ““I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. 9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
Do you understand His request? Our Lord Jesus Is not asking the Father to remove us but to protect us - 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.’
There are other sources I could use to additionally state my point such as our Lord protecting His three servants in the fiery furnace that we read about in the book of Daniel, or how the Lord protected the Israelites on earth while the Egyptians faced the 10 plagues. I think you see my point.
