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Today’s message title is “Prepare the road!” In verse 14 it says, “And it will be said: ‘Build up, build up, prepare the road!” To “prepare the road” (14) doesn’t mean to do construction. After that it says “Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.” (14)It is to remove the things that cause us to stumble and the bumps in our heart. We have so many bumps in our heart! We have so many various kinds of bumps like uninterest in God, the stones of selfishness only thinking about what is good for you yourself, anger towards someone, rocks of prejudice of looking down on others, thoughts of fulfilling your desires, etc. There are really many various kinds of bumps! We must remove such bumps from the road. What kinds of bumps (obstacles) do you have in your heart?

Today while looking at the bumps that were in Israel, let’s remove the things in our heart that cause us to stumble.

1. The blessings that are coming in the course of time (Vs. 1,2)

First of all, please look at verses 1 and 2. “The righteous perish,

and no one ponders it in his heart;

devout men are taken away,

and no one understands

that the righteous are taken away

to be spared from evil.

Those who walk uprightly

enter into peace;

they find rest as they lie in death.”

This is a prophecy that a time will come when even though “the righteous perish…no one ponders it in his heart…and no one understands.” (1) “The righteous” (1) are those who follow and live for God. “Devout men” (1) are “faithful” and is sometimes translated as “merciful”. They live in God’s mercy and affection. There is still hope for a society that is saddened and angry about the death of the righteous, but there is no salvation for a society that thinks nothing about them perishing. There is no hope. In a sense it is a dead society.  Israel who was proud of being God’s people was really in such a condition.

It is said that this is referring to the Jewish King, Manasseh. He was the king during the age of Isaiah. King Manasseh was different than his father, King Hezekiah. He was a terrible king. He restored the idols that his father Hezekiah had removed.”He did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (II Kings 21:2) and committed detestable sins. He violently oppressed the prophets that earnestly objected, and criticized his policy. If you look at II Kings 22:16, it says, “Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that it filled Jerusalem from end to end.”  Not just the prophets, but ordinary citizens too were killed. It was to the point that it is said that maybe Isaiah too was killed by Manasseh. He was really a terrible king.

However, that is not just in the age of Manasseh. If you look back on history, this has happened over and over again. For example, in 70 A.D. the Jews were violently persecuted by the Roman Empire. In World War I more than 6,000,000 Jews were slaughtered. Such a history has always continued. It has not only fallen on the Jews, but in the same way also on Christians who believe in and live for God. Until now many Christians have been persecuted and martyred.”In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (II Tim. 3:12)

However, here is encouragement. Even if “no one ponders it in his heart;…and no one understands” (1) there is someone who “ponders it in his heart”, (1) That is God. The last part of verse 1 and verse 2 says, “that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.”

Isaiah 56:9-12 describes what Israel’s stupid leaders were like. “They are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream they love to sleep.. They are dogs with mighty appetites…each seeks his own gain.”

However, in contrast to this, here the people that are described believed in God, and followed God living for God. They lived in God’s mercy and affection. Such people certainly don’t attract attention in this world, and leave this world without being rewarded, but that is not so in the future. “The righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.” (1, 2) “Enter into peace” (2) and “find rest” (2) is to die. It means the grave.  Therefore, “that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil…enter into peace” (2) means that they will not meet the disasters at the end of the world.

Please open your Bibles to I Thess. 5:9. It says, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This is a prophecy of God’s wrath that will come in the course of time, in other words, a prophecy of the tribulation period that will occur before the second coming of Jesus Christ. At that time various disasters will occur by the judgment of God.  They will be disasters like no one has ever seen before and they will be accompanied by suffering that no one can endure. Concretely this written about in Rev. 6:17. “For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

No one can stand it. That is how fearful a disaster will come.  However, “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Thess. 5:9) Christians who believe in the Lord Jesus, the people of God will not meet disaster, but will be taken away.  This is called the “rapture”. In the course of time when Jesus Christ returns, the people who believe in God and who are “dead in Christ will rise first.  After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (I Thess. 4:16, 17) I don’t want to go to heaven without experiencing death so I am always waiting expectantly thinking that I want the Lord to hurry and return. In an instant we “will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (I Thess. 4:17) God’s judgment will come in the great tribulation, but Christians will not meet God’s judgment.

How blessed this is. In this world no one may understand us. In some regards it may be thought to be a lonely life. However, in the course of time we will receive such blessings. Truly “the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.” (1, 2)

Therefore, don’t be discouraged thinking that there is no reward for believing in Jesus. I don’t want you to think that that you will not obtain anything for believing in Jesus. We Christians are prone to discouragement thinking that those who don’t believe in Jesus can live as they like while we Christians are suffering. However, our lives are a continuous turn around. Don’t be on an emotional roller coaster by the things that happen before your eyes and keep your eyes on the glory that is appointed for you to come in the course of time and let’s live depending on the Lord.

1. The vain idols (Vs. 3-13)

Next please look at verses 3 to 13.  Verses 3 and 4 say, “But you-come here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! Whom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not a brood of rebels, the offspring of liars?”

Here “sons of a sorceress” (3) and “offspring of adulterers and prostitutes” (3) who are exactly the opposite of “the righteous” (1) and “devout men”, are being described.

The “sons of a sorceress” and “offspring of adulterers and prostitutes” of verse 3 have forsaken God and have run to idols. They mock those who believe in God. They sneer and stick out their tongues.  That’s not all. If you look at verse 5, as it says, “You burn with lust among the oaks and under every spreading tree; you sacrifice your children in the ravines and under the overhanging crags,” they indulged in sexual depravity.

“Among the oaks and under every spreading tree” were places where idol worship took place. There they did obscene sexual acts. Not only that, but they sacrificed their children. Child sacrifice was practiced in the worship of the Ammonite god Molech. This was the result of being separated from God and falling into sin. Today’s abortion is the same, the result of being separated from God and falling into sin.

We may think that Israel wasn’t doing such a thing, that they are God’s chosen people so it’s unthinkable that they would do such a thing, but these words are being spoken to Israel. That was what Israel was actually like. Even though God strongly forbid idolatry, Israel allowed the religious practices of the surrounding peoples to infiltrate into their life resulting not only in idolatry but causing them to indulge in sexual depravity and child sacrifice.

Verses 6 to 8 describe what the idolatrous Israelites were like. Verse 6 says, “The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion; they, they are your lot.  Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings and offered grain offerings. In the light of these things, should I relent?” Like Japan offering wine to the pagan gods was a popular custom.

In verse 7 it says, “You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill; there you went up to offer your sacrifices.” These high places or mountain shrines were places of  worship of Canaanite origin. They were condemned throughout the Old Testament.

Verse 8 says, “Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols.”  What they had to put on their doors and doorposts was God’s word.

“Hear, O Israel; the LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deut. 6:4,5)  These words came to be known as the “Shema” and God commanded them to “Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:9) Even so they put pagan symbols behind the doors and doorposts. As a result they became involved in idolatry and obscene acts.

Please look at verses 9 and 10. “You went to Molech with olive oil

and increased your perfumes.

You sent your ambassadors far away;

you descended to the grave itself!

You were wearied by all your ways,

but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’

You found renewal of your strength,

and so you did not faint.”

Molech was the main god of the Ammonites. Israel went to great costs to seek help from Molech, even bringing perfume to him and alluring him.  Israel had travelled far from God, seeking aid from Molech and even descending to the grave itself. “When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living.” (8:19) Israel was “wearied” with her quest; but she would not confess her weariness. She would not say, “It is hopeless”. (10) She wouldn’t admit that idols are vain and useless. Even though it was in vain, she stirred up her remaining strength, and persisted in her course, and refused to repent.

Then look at verses 11 to 13. “Whom have you so dreaded and feared

that you have been false to me

and have neither remembered me

nor pondered this in your hearts?

Is it not because I have long been silent

that you do not fear me?

I will expose your righteousness and your works,

and they will not benefit you.

When you cry out for help,

let your collection of idols save you!

The wind will carry all of them off,

a mere breath will blow them away.

But the man who makes me his refuge

will inherit the land

and possess my holy mountain.”

God looked at Israel doing evil and continued to warn with words of grace. However, the Israelites hearts were hardened by sin and weren’t able to listen to God’s Word.  They didn’t listen to God’s warnings. They thought that God was silent and their heart became more evil. They didn’t fear God and fell to worshipping a whole “collection of idols”. (13) However their “collection of idols” (13) that they served as gods were in reality a vanity, nothing more than a powerless being. They were so vain that “The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away.” (13) Thus, in order to judge them God reveals the vanity of idols and that He is alive. Their “collection of idols” (13) cannot save them. Rather the wind or a mere breath “will carry all of them off.” (13) They are that vain. To depend upon such vain things will bring no happiness. However, please look at the end of verse 13. Let’s read from the word “but” on. “But the man who makes me his refuge will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.” (13)

“Inherit the land” (13) is to receive God’s blessings.  Also to “possess my holy mountain” (13) is to posses the holy mountain which is Zion.  In other words, God’s presence will become that person’s Have you received the blessings that God gives?  If not, it is necessary to deeply examine your lifestyle.  Perhaps you still have some connection with idol worship. Colossians 3:5 says, “your earthly nature…which is idolatry.” If you love pleasures more than God, if you love your job more than God, if you love recreation more than God, then that is the same as idol worship. If you have such thoughts, then that is the same as the sin that Israel committed.

The devil by your earthly nature distracts you from your faith. Before when the devil tempted Jesus too he showed him all the splendor of all the world and said tempting him, “All this I will give you…if you will bow down and worship me.” (Matt. 4:9)  This is Satan’s old trick. Our heart is pulled away from God by Satan’s attack and we disobey God.

However, no matter how worldly we become it is nothing more than a temporary pleasure. It may seem like it sets us free from stress and we are enjoying life, but soon we become dark again.  Such things will soon be blown away.  “The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away.” (13) Such things are vain. If you give yourself to such things, if you are devoted enthusiastically to such things, then it is so vain! What we must give our life to, what we must seriously concentrate on is God who made us and gave his life to save us. “But the man who makes me his refuge will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.” (13)

1. Prepare the road! (Vs. 14)

Therefore, the conclusion is to “prepare the road!” (14) Let’s read verse 14. “And it will be said: ‘Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”

This means to dig in the dirt and make a road. The interesting thing is that word that is used here means “to pave” They are to dig the road and pave it, and make it level.

This appeared in Isaiah 40:3,4 too. “A voice of one calling; ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.  Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.’”

As it says, John the Baptist appeared in the desert “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.  John wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message; ‘After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.  I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit’” (Mark 1:4-8)

John the Baptist was sent on a mission to prepare the road for Jesus.  Of course that doesn’t mean that he was sent out to do construction work. He was to prepare their hearts so that it would be easy for the Savior Jesus to come, and so that Jesus could pass through easily.

Jesus came to bring God’s love to our hearts and in addition through our heart  love is given to the people around us. However, if when Jesus came, if we had anger burning up in our hearts toward someone, how would that be? Jesus would not be able to enter our hearts. Also through our heart God’s love will not be given to the people around us.  If the wall of indifference towards others in our heart is closed, how would that be? What if the rock of prejudice of looking down on others came rolling what will happen?  Jesus won’t be able to enter our heart and go through our heart.

In order for Jesus to go through our heart we must remove the obstacles that are on the road of our heart.  Before Israel had the obstacle of idolatry.  In order for God to come to them the obstacle of idolatry needed to be removed. However, that is not just Israel. We too, if we have obstacles in our life, we if we have bumps in our heart, we must remove the obstacles and make it level. What bumps do you have in your heart?

In our heart we have various obstacles. There is anger, indifference towards God, selfish thoughts of only what is good for myself, a heart that looks down on other people,  and thoughts that you want to meet your needs. Such obstacles are lying there.

For Jesus to pass through we have to remove all the obstruction. Each single thing must be removed, and the road for Jesus to pass on must be prepared. Then we must be careful not to reject the Savior that is coming. May you give your heart to the Savior and live a life overflowing in the blessings of God.

Up until now Isaiah has prophesized about the salvation that will come by the Lord’s servant’s cross. Also he speaks about how we must respond to this salvation. In today’s passage he speaks about how we should look forward to this salvation which is close at hand.

1. Maintain justice, do what is right (Vs. 1,2)

The first point is that we must “maintain justice and do what is right.” (1) Please look at verses 1 and 2. Verse 1 says, “This is what the Lord says,

‘Maintain justice

and do what is right,

for my salvation is close at hand

and my righteousness will soon be revealed.’”

“Maintain justice” (1) means to obey the Word of God and do the will of God. “Do what is right” (1) is to have a right relationship with God. In other words, it is to believe in the Lord’s salvation, and to live prepared for the Lord’s second coming so that whenever he returns it’ll be o.k. God said to Israel to “Maintain justice and do what is right.” (1) That is because God’s “salvation is close at hand” (1) and his “righteousness will soon be revealed.” (1) If Jesus was coming this evening, how would you prepare? Probably you would go home and desperately try to clean. You will prepare the everything and get dressed, won’t you?  Won’t you stop your life covered with sin and get ready so that you’re o.k. no matter when the Lord comes? All those who look forward to the Lord’s salvation, the Lord’s second coming, keep themselves pure. This is what Christians living in the end times should really be like.

Paul said about this salvation which “is close at hand” in Romans 13:11 to 14, “Do this, understanding the present time.  The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.  The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.  So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Let us behave decently as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

Now the Lord’s “salvation is nearer now” (Romans 13:11) so “put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Roman 13:12) We must “behave decently.” (Romans 13:13)  If you think about it, 2000 years have passed since Paul wrote this.

In other words, the Lord’s “salvation is nearer now” (Romans 13:11) than when Paul wrote this. If so, we must purify ourselves and “behave decently as in the daytime.” (Romans 13:13)

Concretely how we should live is recorded in verse 2. “Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

As an example of maintaining justice and doing what is right here it talks about keeping the Sabbath day. That is because one of the reasons that Israel was captured and deported by Babylon was because they hadn’t kept the Sabbath.  The Sabbath started from sun down on Friday until sun down on Saturday. This day was the Lord’s holy day of complete rest and they weren’t allowed to do any job of any kind. If someone did any work on that day he had to be killed. That was the eternal covenant between God and Israel. It was the unique and special symbol that Israel was the people of God, but they didn’t keep the Sabbath. Therefore, God had them captured by and deported to Babylon. Therefore, for the Jews who were promised that they would return to Jerusalem the number one priority for doing what is right is to keep the Sabbath.

What does this mean for us Christians?  Paul in Col. 2:16-17 says, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat　or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. They are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”

The Sabbath is a pattern of Christ. In other words, it is not necessary to concern oneself with the Sabbath. What we need to be concerned about is Christ himself.  To be concerned about Sabbath is like talking to a shadow. It is a false teaching. It is a wrong teaching that causes people to become separated from the truth. We must not be confused by such teachings. That is because the reality, Christ, is coming.  This Jesus Christ is really the Lord of the Sabbath, what the law was aiming at. Therefore, no matter how earnest you are for the law, if there is a gap between it and Christ, then you  have totally missed the mark so you have misplaced your priorities.  Because Christ is the reality we must do what Christ desires.

What Christ desires is what the rules of the Sabbath were aiming at: to set aside one day of the week as the Lord’s Day and make it holy. That day is to be a rest from all work, and to remember the Lord and for worship.  That is the purpose of Sunday worship.  We gather and worship every Sunday to remember the Savior who has atoned for our sin and rejoice in him, and give praise and thankfulness to him from our heart.  It is dangerous if we fall to legalism and we just stress gathering and worshiping in form on Sunday. The Lord saved us from sin. By the Son, Jesus Christ’s blood he redeemed us from the knot of sin that we could not get out of on our own. We remember this work of salvation and give thanks and worship to the Lord. This is the purpose of Sunday Worship. To do that we separate ourselves from all things of this world and concentrate on the Lord so that we don’t get so busy that we forget the Lord. If not, we can’t concentrate on the Lord. We are easily influenced. So on Sunday, as a memorial to Christ’s resurrection from the dead, we gather together, and worship the risen Lord. This is what is meant by setting the day aside. We make the day as theLord’s Day.  We set the day apart, and cut off all our relationships with this world and the things of the world and look to the Lord. To establish such a life style is what the Sabbath is aiming at.

Of course, not just Sunday is the Sabbath. For Christians every day is the Lord’s Day.  However, if every day is the Lord’s Day, of course, naturally you will want to make this day the Lord’s Day and set it apart to worship together with your loving brothers and sisters in Christ.

By obeying the Sabbath, while having the assurance that we are the Lord’s, by putting all our burdens at the feet of the Lord, we obtain peace and physically and spiritually receive strength. We can be energetic and healthy. This is the secret to the blessing that the Lord has ordained. It’s not good just to work haphazardly.  Work hard 6 days and rest one day and worship God. This is the principle ordained by God for a blessed life. If not, not only will we miss the blessings, we will fall into the condition of being prisoners to something.

In the Living life devotional there was an article by Don Mahban. In the age of the opening of the West in America, a horse carriage left St. Louis in the midland for Oregon. The party was all devoted Christians so the Lord’s Day they stopped moving and rested.  Of course, they rested and worshipped.  However, gradually winter closed in on them. Some of the people became anxious that they would not arrive before the snowstorms came so they suggested that they continue running without resting on the Sabbath.

They weren’t able to unify their opinions so they divided into 2 groups and continued their trip. One group rested completely on the Sabbath and the other continued to travel on the Sabbath.  The group that rested arrived at their goal, Oregon, the earliest. They rested on the Sabbath and were fully rested so they were reenergized and could continue running strong the other 6 days. Don Mahban summed up his conclusion with, “God esteems those who esteem his commands.”

This is what is desired of Christians living in this age. The Lord says,　“Maintain justice and do what is right…Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand

from doing any evil.” (1,2) God will bless such a person. Now the Lord’s “salvation is close at hand” (2) so let’s obey God’s Word more and more and walk the road that pleases the Lord.

1. A house of prayer for all nations (Vs. 3-8)

Next let’s consider verses 3 to 8.  Verse 3 says, ”Let no foreigner who has bound

himself to the LORD say,

‘The LORD will surely exclude me

from his people.’

And let not any eunuch complain,

‘I am only a dry tree.’”

“Foreigner” (3) is the Gentiles and “eunuchs” (3) were men whose testicles had been cut off.   Foreigners were outside the blessings of Israel and they thought that they could not receive those blessings. However, the work of the servant of the Lord would change this. God’s blessings would not only be for the Israelites, but would extend to the Gentiles.  Therefore, ”Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say,

‘The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.’” (3) Also Eunuchs were excluded from the assembly of the Lord. In Deut. 23:1 it says, “No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the LORD.”  Therefore, they were truly like “only a dry tree.” (3) It was though that as a human they were completely without worth. However, such eunuchs were not to say, “I am only a dry tree.” (3) That is because as it says in verse 4 and 5, “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant-to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters. This means that they will be given the same grace as Israel.  That is because in the course of time the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ will destroy the barrier that gave them feelings of alienation.

Ephesians 2:11-16 says, “Therefore. Remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (that done in the body by the hands of men) remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, now has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, but abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.  His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”

The Gentiles (eunuchs) “were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.” (Eph. 2:12) However, even such people by being in Jesus Christ “have been brought near.” (Eph. 2:13) That is because Christ was put on the cross and by his body did away with the hostility. Hostility was put to death by the cross.

The same was for the “foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD.” (3) As it says in verses 6 and 7, the “foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD…all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and hold fast to” (6) God’s covenant, the Lord will bring to the Lord’s “holy mountain and give them joy in” (7) God’s house.  “My holy mountain” (7) and “my house of prayer” (7) is Jerusalem. Jerusalem is God’s temple. God will bring them there and “give them joy”. (7) This is really a surprising prophecy for those who know about the temple courts. That’s because any one including Gentiles could enter the courts, but foreigners could not enter into the temple. However, in God’s kingdom Gentiles and Jews can enter into the same temple and pray. “Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on” (7) the Lord’s altar.  That’s because as it says in the end of verse 7, “my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” It is not just for the Jews. It is “a house of prayer” (7) for all those who believe in Christ. People from all over the world can worship God. Gentiles too, Eunuchs too, those who until now have been separated far from God too, anyone if they believe in Jesus, can center the temple and worship anytime. The benefit of worship is that you will be blessed.

That is because Jesus is really the real temple. Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” (John 2:19) This temple was the body of Jesus. The temple is the place where God and man meet. There is no one else except Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins and then rose on the third day that can really offer us that meeting. In the temple of Jesus’ body all people can worship God. They can receive God’s blessings. However, that is not all. It is said that the body of those who believe in Jesus “is a temple of the Holy Spirit” (I Cor. 6:19) whom they “have           received from God.” (I Cor. 6:19) This means that we ourselves are the temple and we can worship God anytime and anywhere. We don’t have to go out of our way to go to the Jerusalem temple. We don’t have to go the splendid St. Peter’s Cathedral. We can go boldly before God, fall down and worship him and receive grace anytime and anywhere. Anyone can.

Jesus quoted this passage, “my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (8) when he cleansed the temple. “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.” (Matt. 21:13) Then Jesus “drove out all who were buying and selling” (Matt. 21:12) in the temple overturning “the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.” (Matt. 21:12)

Intrinsically, the temple must be a house of prayer. It was to be a house of prayer for all nations, a place where they will be given joy, but at such a place religious business was being performed. Jesus was enraged over it.

How about us? Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit whom we received and it must be a house of prayer, but even so aren’t we making it into a den of robbers? Are we not using it for our own pleasure rather than for God’s glory?

Please look at verse 8. The Lord says, “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.”  “Those already gathered” (8) are the Jews. Those that the Lord will gather besides those already gathered are the Gentiles. In the last days of the world both the Gentiles and the Jews without discrimination will receive God’s blessings.  Such a day will come.  We too who are Gentiles by the blood of Jesus will be brought near. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit whom we received. Let’s remember this grace and may our bodies “be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (8)

1.  Don’t hold God in contempt (Vs. 9-12)

The third point is to not hold God in contempt. Let’s look at verse 9 to the end of the chapter. Verse 9 says, “Come, all you beasts of the field,

come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!”

“Beasts” (9) are a symbol that is used for God’s judgment. For example, Babylon was a beast. Babylon like a beast ate the people of God, Israel.  God is saying to all the beasts of the field to “come and devour.” (9) The reason is in verse 10. “Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.”

“Watchmen” (10) are the people who stand up on the wall and keep watch. If the enemy comes, they announce it without delay.  However these people who are supposed to be “watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge.” (10) The leaders should be watching to see what condition their people are in, but they haven’t realized at all what is happening now

That is really like “mute dogs…they lie around and dream, they love to sleep”. (10) Even if the enemy comes, they don’t bark, but just sleep. The watch dog does not fulfill his role as a watch dog at all.  “They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.” (11) Then they say in that verse 12, “’Come’ each one cries, ‘let me get wine!

Let us drink our fill of beer!

And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better.’”

Surely “tomorrow will be like today, or even far better” (12) so “let us drink our fill of beer!” (12) In other words, they weren’t concerned at all about the coming judgment of God upon them. They though they didn’t have to worry about sinning. They thought worrying about it wouldn’t change anything. They thought they should enjoy life, have fun and be amused. They thought it was best to do what they wanted to do.  They said this and they didn’t try to change their attitude nor change the direction they were going.

However, God is not doing anything because he is being patient. He is being patient and giving us a chance to repent. If we think that our sin is a good thing and continue to sin, then it is natural that God’s judgment will come. God will say, “Come, all you beasts of the field, come and devour,” (9) and the beasts will come.

The disciples saw the magnificent temple of Jerusalem and thought that it would never be destroyed, but Jesus said to them, “Not one stone here will be left on another, everyone will be thrown down.” (Matt. 24:2)  As the prophecy says, the Jerusalem temple was destroyed to dust in 70 A.D. by the Roman Empire.

Therefore, don’t look at the situations that you can see with your eyes and think that its o.k. and all will go well and become prideful. You mustn’t take a defiant attitude thinking that you’re not bothering anyone so its o.k. to do anything you want. We must not hold God in contempt. That’s because God’s “salvation is close at hand and” (1) his “righteousness will soon be revealed.” (1) Let’s once more check to see if your thoughts are separated from Lord’s will or not and if so humbly repent and return to the Lord Jesus Christ.  If so, the Lord will forgive us. He will lead you to a new road of life. No matter how large your sin is, even “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (1:18) That is the Gospel, the good news.  Let’s be like those who live in the life of the Gospel. This is really what the Christian life is like for those who wait expectantly for the salvation of God.