日: 2014年1月22日

From Isaiah 13 on Isaiah is warning of God’s judgment on the nations surrounding Israel. Until now he has spoken about Babylon, Assyria, Philistine, Moab, Damascus, Cush and Egypt. In today’s passage he is talking about Babylon again, then Edom and also Arabia. From these prophecies to these countries today I would like to talk about the hope and power of living in that age.

I. God doesn’t show favoritism (vs. 1-10)
Please look at verses 1 and 10. Let’s read verses 1 and 2.
“Desert by the Sea” (1) is Babylon. While Babylon is desert, the Tigris and Euphrates, huge rivers that look like an ocean, flow through it so it is called a “Desert by the Sea”. (1) This is a prophecy concerning Babylon. Chapter 13 and 14 is about Babylon. Here again Babylon is talked about.
This is a “dire vision”. (2) In verse 2 it says, “The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot.” “Elam” is Persia. Persia along with Media will attack Babylon. This was fulfilled 200 years after Isaiah prophesized this. In chapters 44 and 45 this is prophesized giving the name of the Persian king, Cyrus, who will destroy Babylon. It happened just as it was prophesized. At the time that Isaiah prophesized this Media and Persia were still small countries. It was Assyria that was in full flourish at that time. After that Babylon rose up, but this Babylon would later be destroyed by the allied forces of Persia and Media. It happened just as it is said here. This is the greatness of Biblical prophecy. What the Lord says always is fulfilled.
Please look at verses 3 to 5. Here describes what the destruction of Babylon will be like. In verse 5 it says, “They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!” “They” (5) is Babylon’s king Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, Belshazzar. They gave a great banquet at the palace. Suddenly the allied forces of Persia and Media attacked. The detailed account is recorded in Daniel 5 so later please look at that. Belshazzar used “the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem” (Daniel 5:2) to drink wine with and worshipped gods made from stone and wood. Suddenly a hand appeared there and wrote some letters on the wall. Belshazzar who “was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way,” (Daniel 5:6) so he called David and asked him what it meant. It was a message that Belshazzar had been measured in the light of God’s standards and was “found wanting”. (Daniel 5:27) His reign is over and his kingdom will be divided in two. That night Media and Persian came and destroyed Babylon.
Babylon which was said to be impregnable was destroyed in a flash. Babylon was enclosed by a stone wall 90 meters high, 24 meters wide and its length extended over tens of kilometers. They were off guard thinking that no one could break through this stone wall. Media and Persia didn’t break through the wall, but how they did it was they used the water system and they were able to gain entry inside the walled city. Babylon who never dreamed they would be attacked was in one night destroyed. Exactly like the prophecy of Daniel, Belshazzar’s rule ended.
Even so when Isaiah talks about the condition of Babylon, he says in verse 3, “At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear.”
It was so brutal so Isaiah’s “body is racked with pain” (3) and he was “staggered”. (3) It was more than he could stand to hear or see. Isaiah’s heart ached. His heart ached watching Babylon not listen to God’s warning and being destroyed.
How about us? When we see those who if they don’t believe in the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ will go to eternal destruction, are our bodies “racked with pain”? (3) We have believed in Jesus and are saved so we are o.k., but what about our families and friends? They will perish. They will fall into hell. There is no other name except Jesus Christ in which they can be saved. It is sad if they don’t believe in Jesus and go to hell. Our hearts will be in pain. It will be more than we can stand to see or hear. So that that doesn’t happen, we must preach the words of salvation, and pray that many people will believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. If we see such people and don’t think anything about it, then we are a people without compassion. Let’s have the same heart as God that feels for others.
Verses 6 to 9 report what it was like when Media and Persia entered Babylon. “This is what the Lord says to me: Go post a lookout and have him report what he sees. When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert.’ And the lookout shouted, ‘Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post, Look, here comes a man in a chariot with a team of horses. And he gives back the answer: ‘Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!’” (6-9)
The allied forces of Media and Persia used not only chariots and horses, but donkeys and camels too. The lookout at the lookout is called. When the allied forces of Media and Persia came and destroyed Babylon, the lookout excitedly called out, “Babylon has fallen, has fallen! “ (9) He calls out twice that Babylon has fallen. “Babylon has fallen, has fallen!” (9) That is how stirred up he is. It shows how surprising it was that Babylon which was thought of as never falling had been destroyed. Babylon that was said would never be destroyed was in this way destroyed. This happened 200 years after the age of Isaiah. At the same time this is a prophecy of events at the end of the world. In other words, it is the destruction of “Babylon the Great” of Rev. 18:2. This “Babylon the Great” (Rev. 18:2) is powers that are against God, the system of evil. At the end of the world, evil will inevitably be judged.
Please look carefully at verse 10. Here it says, “O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD Almighty, from the God of Israel.” “My people, crushed on the threshing floor” (10) refers to Israel. Isaiah is prophesizing beforehand what is going to happen to the countries surrounding Israel. Not only the surrounding countries, but Israel too must hear what is being said. They must feel as if it were one’s own affair. It should not be put off as no concern of theirs. They must not think that they were a holy people chosen by God and so they had no relationship to what was being said. Rather you are no different from the neighboring countries so listen carefully to the message and you must accept it seriously. .
This is what the New Testament says too. Please open your Bibles to Romans 2:5-11.
Romans 2:5-11
“God does not show favoritism.” (Romans 2:11) Because you are the people of God, because you are Israel, because you are a holy people doesn’t mean that its o.k. to do anything. Even if you are the people of God, if you “reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” (Romans 2:8) “For God does not show favoritism.” (Romans 2:11) “There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (Romans 2:9,10) Even if you a Jew, even if you are a Christian, if you sin and are forever hardened and don’t repent, then like Babylon you will be judged. Therefore, Isaiah says here, “I tell you.” (10) You must feel as if it is your own affair. If you are the same as them, you will experience the same things they will.
Isaiah said, “O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD Almighty, from the God of Israel.”(10) I ask you, “Are you saved? Are you certain that you have received eternal life? Are you 100% sure that you are going to heaven? If not, without fail, don’t be embarrassed, now make a decision. If you believe in Jesus as Lord and if you confess it with your mouth, “you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Your eternal destiny is decided by this. By how you look at Jesus Christ your life is determined. Those who confess Jesus at Lord are citizens of heaven. Those who don’t will be judged. They will go to hell. There are some people who don’t want to go to heaven or hell, but they want to go to China. However, that is not an option. You must choose heaven or hell.

II. Morning isn’t coming, there is no night (Vs. 11,12)
The second point is that morning isn’t coming and there is no night. Please look at verses 11 and 12.
This is a prophecy concerning Dumah. “Dumah” (11) is Edom. Edom was the descendants of the older son of the twins, Esau and Jacob. “Dumah”(11) is another name for Edom. If you look at a map, you will see that it is south of Moab. This is a prophecy “concerning Dumah”. (11)
“Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?” (11) The “watchman” (11) is like the night guards in Japan. Here Isaiah is being called a “Watchman”.(11)
“Watchman, what is left of the night?” (11) Isaiah is being asked how much of the night is still left. Assyria being attacked is being spoken in similitude to night. They are asked by Seir, the Edomites about what the future holds, how long the night will be.
Isaiah’s answer is in verse 12. “Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again.” “Morning is coming” (12) means that morning will certainly come. This is hope. There isn’t a night where morning does not come. It certainly comes. They may be destroyed by Assyria, but even so for sure morning will come. The captured people will certainly be freed. That is morning. However, again night will come. For morning to come means that night will also come. This is what occurs on the earth. Certainly Assyria attacked Edom and swallowed it up, but that is not the end. When the long night of Assyria oppression is over, a short “morning” will precede a Babylonian rule. After the morning comes night will come again. This is the watchman’s proclamation. “If you would ask, then ask” (12) means come and ask how the world affairs will be. God’s word will tell you so “come back yet again.” (12) This is the prophecy concerning Edom.
This is what will certainly occur at the end of the world. At the end of the world night will come. God’s judgment will come on a larger scale than ever before. Unheard-of disasters, and a convulsion of nature will come. It may have already started to come. However, it will come on a bigger scale. It will occur at the end of the world in the great tribulation. Such an age will come. The night will come.
Our age is surely moving towards night. A completely dark day is near. The world is gradually getting darker and darker. If you look at the daily news, it has only dark news. There is hardly any bright news. It seems like every day tragic incidents occur. The other day there was a shooting in a movie theater in Denver, Colorado. Several people died and several were injured. Such things are everyday occurrences. A long time ago what were considered unthinkable atrocious incidents became and will become more continuous. Already when we see such news or hear such things, we no longer think much about it. We’re used to it. It has become that ordinary. The world has become that sick. It is become darker and darker. However, if you asked Jesus Christ, he would say those are the signs of the end of the world. Matt. 24:12 says, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” People “will grow cold.” (Matt. 24:12) Certainly now is such an age. Parents unashamedly kill children. Children too unashamedly kill their parents. It is such an age!
Please open your Bibles to II Timothy 3;1-5. Here is recorded what the conditions of the end of the world will be.
II Timothy 3:1-5
This is the end of the world. This will increase during the tribulation period. At that time “people will be lovers of themselves.” (II Timothy 3:2) They will only be concerned about themselves. They will be self-lovers. They will be selfish. They will want to show off themselves and what they can do. They will want to be the center of attention. Therefore things like murdering a person that walks past occurs. The person wants attention so it doesn’t matter to them who they murder. They wanted to kill. They wanted to stand out. They wanted to be featured in the mass media. For that reason people are being killed. “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful…lovers of pressure rather than lovers of God.” (II Timothy 3:2,4) Such people will prevail. We find many reasons like “They’re adolescents” or “recently young people leave a lot to be desired”, but the real reason is different. They have no love. Their love is cold. The end of the world is near.
The Bible clearly says that the world will not get better. Civilization has developed and life has become convenient, and the world should be brighter. But it isn’t. The world is getting darker. A greater age of tribulation will come. The end of the world is coming. A good old fashioned age will not come. No matter how hard mankind tries, society will become only worst. I am a probation officer. Every year at this time we go out on the street and do a “Making society bright campaign”. We pass out Kleenex and try to educate and enlighten the people we talk to. Through conversations with junior highers, we encourage the junior highers to have hope. However, society doesn’t become bright. It is becoming darker and darker.
No matter how dark society becomes we must definitely not give up. We shouldn’t become negative. Rather we Christians should expect morning to come. We can’t avoid night coming, but we need to look forward to morning coming.
That morning is the Lord Jesus’ second coming. The Lord Jesus will come to meet us. He will return again to meet his bride, the church. At that time we will be resurrected in a resurrection body like our Lord Jesus, a body that is imperishable, a risen glorious body. In a moment we will be taken up into the clouds, and in the sky will meet the Lord. Then we will be forever with the Lord. That is the time when our salvation will be completed, and the time of greatest joy. This is morning for Christians. It is the morning of hope. This is something that seems like a dream that non-Christians can’t believe in. It sounds absurd. You may think this may never happen, but it is written right in the Bible.
I Thess. 5:9
Christ is called the morning star. It is the first star to break through the darkness. It is morning. Therefore, for those who believe in Christ the end of the world does not mean that the future is all black. Rather it is a time for us to shine in hope with our hearts bulging in the expectation that morning will come soon. No matter how dark this world is for sure morning will come. There is no night when morning does not come.
Therefore, how do we see this age? Are you anxious about what will happen to this country that has a national debt of over \1,000,000,000,000,000? Even if you say that you have no personal debt, each person has a several million yen debt that all citizens including babies must bear. Someday this country may go bankrupt. We can’t be certain about our social security. The young people have no future. Yen is currently high. There is no hope for the future and the world is only getting darker. However Christians have hope. It is not necessary to become hopeless. We have a living hope. In addition eternal living hope has been given to us. If we believe in Jesus Christ, we have hope. Then the morning that Christians bring will not become night. If you read Revelations, there is no night in heaven. That is because the lamb, Jesus Christ becomes the light and shines.
This hope is given to us. Someday it will be like this. Not only that but it will be in the near future. Our Lord Jesus may come back tonight. Are you prepared? So that we are o.k. whenever our Lord Jesus returns we should be awake and prepared. “Since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet” (I Thess. 5:8) and we should wait expectantly for the morning.
Someone called to the watchman from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?” (11) Already the night had considerably advanced, and morning was approaching. Christians must become watchmen and proclaim this to other people. Tonight go to the city and see. It is not just young people that are loitering around. There are people who have turned adrift. Many people don’t know why they are living. They are many who are just meeting death. Recently there have been big reports about the problem of bullying in schools. They need the message of the watchman. It is necessary that you preach the message of hope as a watchman to those who think that they only will not die. Someday they will die. It is necessary to preach that our life is short.

III. Take refuge in the Lord (Vs. 13-17)
Lastly let’s look at the prophecy concerning Arabia. Please look at verses 13 to 17.
Arabia is present day South Arabia. The name means “desert”. Assyria will attack this desert. It says that the Dedanites, an Arabian tribe of merchants were camped “in the thickets of Arabia.” (13) However, another Arabian town Tema, is told to meet the merchants of Dedanites and give them water and food.
The reason that they should watch over the Dedanite merchants was because “they flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.. Before in the message concerning the Moabites, it was said, “be their shelter from the destroyer.” (16:4) God’s will was that Judah become a shelter for the refugees and help them.
Even so Dedan was 130 km away the way the bird flies from Tema. 130 km. SE from Dedan is Tema. These two towns were only separated by 130 km., but one had refuges and the other was to be a shelter for the refuges. If you research both towns, they are both towns in the desert. Even though they are both in the desert, Tema was an oasis with abundant underground water running through it. It was famous for its fountain from the underground water. The reason given of why Tema helps has to do with this water. Even though they were both cities in the same desert Tema had enough water to quench the thirst of the thirsty,
Christ said, “I am living water”. Anyone who drinks the water that Christ gives will never thirst. It will become a spring within him, and “streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:38) Christ is our real refuge. If we take our refuge in him, He will give us the water and bread that we need. If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believe in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living waster will flow from within him.” (John 7:38)
Who are you finding refuge in? Come to Jesus Christ. If so you will never be thirsty. No matter how dark it is in the world, morning will certainly come. That is the hope and power for living in this age.

Applying it to our lives
 Do you have the preconceived idea that because you are a Christian that all is o.k.? Do you have something that you should be repenting of?

 For you what is darkness? How are you walking in the darkness? Let’s wait expectantly for the second coming of Christ, the light that shines in the darkness,

Today I would like to talk from Isaiah chapter 20. In chapter 20 a stripped. prophet appears. Isaiah is commanded by God, “Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.” (2) so for 3 years he went “around stripped and barefoot.” (2) Today let’s together look at this “stripped and barefoot” (2) Isaiah.

I. Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet (vs. 1-4)
First of all please look at verses 1 to 4.
Isaiah prophesized about Cush in chapter 18. In chapter 19 he prophesized about Egypt. Towards Cush and also towards Egypt he said that if they repented and turned back to God, then God will forgive them, and will save them. Especially in the end of chapter 19 God calls Egypt, “Egypt my people”. (19:25) Egypt, a pagan people, also are not omitted from God’s salvation. However, this Cush and Egypt didn’t repent. Therefore, God in chapter 20 is pronouncing judgment on these two countries. However, the way he declares it is very strange.
“Ashdod” of verse 1 is a Philistine town. The Assyrian King Saragon captured it in 711 B.C. “At that time the LORD said” (2) a very strange thing to Isaiah. “Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.” (2)
“Sackcloth” (2) was the clothes that Isaiah usually wore. Sackcloth was normally the garment of mourners and sometime the garb of prophets. God tells Isaiah to take off that sackcloth and the sandals from his feet. God told Isaiah to do this because by doing so God’s message would make an impact on the people. This was called a prophet’s “symbolic behavior”. The prophets often, so that the words that they spoke would make an impression on the people, expressed their message in a form like this that could be seen with eyes.
The prophet Ezekiel lied on his left side of 390 days. When that was finished then he lied on his right side for 40 days. He did this to show Israel’s sin. 1 year was represented as 1 day so 390 days represented 390 years of Israel’s sin. Also the 40 days represented the 40 years of Judah’s sin.
Also Jeremiah bought a linen belt. Then he took the belt down to Pereth and hid “it there in a crevice in the rocks”. (Jer. 14:4) Then after a while he took out the belt that he had hidden but “it was ruined and completely useless.” (Jer. 14:7) He did this to show that Judah “will be like this belt-completely useless!” (Jer. 14:10) Like this the prophets often in order that the message would more strongly move the people’s hearts, expressed it in a form that could be seen with their eyes.
Recently, I heard that the traveling evangelist Asa Holland is carrying a heavy cross and walking throughout Japan. Before he did the same thing and it became news. This is the same thing. People see this and wonder what is happening and ask about it. That is just like when Jesus walked towards Golgotha. It is a reenactment. He testified that while he walks he prays that the people of Japan will believe in Jesus Christ. That has an impact that is greater than words. It conveys the message that the cross is a symbol of God’s love and the source of your salvation. However, I don’t know how many people understand that.
Here it doesn’t say to lie down on your side or to make your linen useless or to walk carrying a cross. It says to “Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.” (2) It is to go “around stripped and barefoot.” (2) This does not mean that he was completely nude. He was probably wearing some kind of underwear. Even so it was odd behavior. To understand this, please look at verses 3 and 4.
This is a prophecy about Cush and Egypt. In other words, Cush and Egypt will be defeated in a war with Assyria and will be led “away stripped and barefoot.” (4) Like Isaiah walked around “stripped and barefoot,” (2) in the same way “the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles.” (4)
Even so, to go “around stripped and barefoot” (2) for 3 years is not usual. Generally it is unthinkable. However, at times God so that his Word is preached, uses such means. If we can we want to use a good method to share the Gospel that will make Christianity look good. However, at times we are shown to do something that transcends common sense. At such times, even if at a glance it seems embarrassing, let’s remember that we are asked to have courage to obey and an obedient faith.

ＩＩ．The stripped prophet (vs. 2)
Next let’s look at how Isaiah responded. Please look at verse 2. “And he did so going around stripped and barefoot.” (2)
Even if it is the command of God and no matter how much the prophet serves the Lord, it is unthinkable that for 3 years he could go “around stripped” (2) in public. People will only think that he is insane. Especially since Isaiah was respected and trusted by the nobility, to walk “around stripped” he must have had quite a bit of opposition. Even so he followed God’s command. He went “around stripped and barefoot” (2) for 3 years. The reason he could do this was because he understood that to follow God meant to accept and do what God says at face value. Even if that is something that is embarrassing, even if it is something that might make others think that he’d gone crazy, if it is something that God has said, then he had the faith to obey.

Within us, we think we want to be like Isaiah. Like Isaiah we think we want to directly explain the Word of God, we want to be a vessel that the Lord can use. However, on the other end when we look at Isaiah, we don’t to be like him. We don’t want to do embarrassing things. We think we will be thought of as insane. We will be made fun of. We don’t want to do that! However, if you want to be like Isaiah, if you want to be a vessel that is used by God, then you have to obey what God says. You must not follow just only one part of what God says, but must follow all that God says. No matter what other people think, no matter how much people hate you, or reject you if God says to do something, we do it. This is the attitude that we should have.
This is how Jesus was. Jesus came into this world exactly as these words say, “stripped”. (2) The glorious Lord who made the whole world was “stripped” and was born as a human, the same as us. Then when he became 30 years old, he appeared in public. He taught about the kingdom of God, healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, and worked hard serving people.
However, when the crowds realized that Jesus didn’t come to save them from the rule of Rome, it was like they turned their hands over and didn’t think Jesus was necessary and put him on the cross and killed him. Jesus was stripped of his clothing and whipped. This was a real stripping. Then carrying a heavy cross he walked the road of sadness. Then being stripped of his clothes he was nailed on the cross. He became the laughing stock of people. This happened just at the Passover. It was the time when many people had gathered in Jerusalem from all over the world. It was at that time that Jesus was “stripped” and hung on cross and became the laughing stock of people. It was for you and I and for everyone here that He did this. For all people he paid the redemption price for our sins. Isaiah walked around stripped for 3 years, Jesus walked a life publically for 3 years and at the end was “stripped” and then died.
We joyfully help people who heal the sick, cast out demons, and perform miracles. However, we do not want to become a laughing stock of people, made fun of, to be whipped, to be spit upon, nor to be put on a cross. We are concerned about how others look at us. We’re concerned about our reputation. However, Jesus was different. Jesus didn’t care what other people thought of him. Jesus didn’t care how others looked at him. With singleness of mind he bore the cross wanting only for you and I to be saved. Even though people said that he was insane or Satan, and received various slanderous abuses, for your salvation he became “stripped”. If so then we who follow in his steps even if we have something happen that we think is embarrassing, even if we are made fun of, if that person is saved from eternal damnation, we must be prepared to do anything.
Please open your Bibles to Philippians 1:12-15.
Philippians 1:12-15
That was Paul’s experience. “What has happened to me” (Phil. 1:12) refers to his imprisonment. He was imprisoned on a false accusation. However, he is saying that he is thankful for that. That is because his imprisonment “has really served to advance the gospel.” (Phil. 1:12) That was because “most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” (Philippians 1: 14) Therefore, he is confessing that no matter what the reason, if the Gospel is advanced that is wonderful. The key to why he was able to react this way is written in Philippians 1:20 and 21.
Philippians 1:20,21
This was the way Paul lived. He desired only for Christ to be worshiped. He was of no significance. No matter what he experienced, what was done to him, even if he was stripped, even if he was made fun of, even if he is degraded, even if he is insulted, or even if it is said that he was strange, it didn’t bother him. If he could through himself show the greatness of Christ, then it was o.k. Christ, who for me and for you became “stripped” and was put on the cross and died, being worshiped is real hope. For Paul, “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21)
What a wonderful confession! If we like Paul only desire for Christ to be worshiped, if we live desiring only for the Gospel of Christ to be carried forward, you won’t have to think about yourself. Shameful things or looking bad, or being thought of as a strange person won’t make any difference to you. We have been made a citizen of God’s kingdom. Therefore, all we have to do is to desire to live a life appropriate to the Gospel of Christ.
We want to become like Christ. That is the Christian’s ultimate goal. However, we hate to be “stripped” like Christ, cursed, spit upon, beaten, whipped, and in the end put on the cross. Instead we want to be like Christ and perform miracles in front of the crowds, heal the sick, become a miracle worker and receive admiration from people. We want to be in the spot light. We want to be thought of as a wonderful person, as a good person. We want to help others. We want to be thanked. But we can’t stand things like being out cast from people, rejected, “stripped”, and to be made guilty when not guilty. We want to be like Isaiah. We want to be used like Isaiah, but we don’t want to walk around “stripped” for three years like Isaiah. We don’t like others to look at us negatively. “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.” (Phil. 1:29) Of course, faith isn’t always agony. However at times if we think we want to live devoutly in Jesus Christ, just as all are persecuted, there are times we must be “stripped”. There are times when we have to receive insults. There are times when we are looked at coldly and with contempt. We give someone a Bible as a present, but it is returned to us or we want a person to be saved so we with all our might counsel them, visit them, help them, but never the less, there are times when the person says that he does want to associate with you any more or see you anymore or he says he doesn’t want you to call anymore, or not to invite him to church any more. However, we must remember that Jesus has taken the same road.
Therefore, don’t forget to be “stripped”. Jesus was “stripped” for you. Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel”. We must not be ashamed of the gospel. Jesus bore shame so that you might be saved. Just as the words say, he was “stripped”. Have you ever been spit upon? Have you been beaten or made fun of? Have you been whipped on the back with a whip? Have you been whipped to the point that your bones break and your internal organs fly out? Have you been “stripped” and from a high place become an object of everyone’s ridicule? Have you been hung by nails through your arms and feet? Christ has received all of these insults. This was all for you.
Even so we are ashamed of the Gospel and think that if we say something other people will think we are strange or are fearful that we won’t get along well with others at work and home. We don’t want to be hated. We don’t want to be made fun of. We want to be a good person. We want to be competent people. We want people to think we are nice. We are worried about our reputation. We are interested the most in what others think about us. Jesus said, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26) When Isaiah was commanded, “Take off the sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet”, (2) no matter how embarrassing it was, how degrading it was, even it was thought to be absurd, he obeyed. We too if the Lord is commands something, even if it something that is difficult for us to accept, we must seek to obey it.

III. Who we can really rely on (vs. 5,6)
Lastly, let’s look at verses 5 and 6. Here we can see that Isaiah “going around stripped and barefoot” (2) for 3 years wasn’t just a sign against Egypt and Cush. It was also a sign against Israel. It was so that Israel will depend upon the real God.
“Those” of verse 5 is Israel and the Southern kingdom of Judah. Israel (Southern Judah) that had asked help from Cush and Egypt in preparation for an attack from Assyria will be “put to shame”. (5) That is because Egypt and Cush will be destroyed by Assyria. They will be led “away stripped”. (3) Israel who sees this will say like verse 6, “See what has happened to those we relied on, those we fled to for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria!” This is “the people who live on this coast.” (6) Specifically this is the people of Philistine cities including “Ashdod”. (1) However, whether it is Israel or whether it is “the people who live on this coast” (6) isn’t important. People who rely on things other than God have the same lament.
The same thing occurs in our lives. Until now it has been safe, the things that we didn’t doubt and considered to be safe lost all credibility and we wonder what we have believed up until now and lament. Therefore, so that doesn’t happen let’s listen to Isaiah’s prophecy, to the Word of God and obey it.
From a little while after World War II the value judgment of the Japanese life was what was wrong and what was right. After that until the present it has been measured by what I gain and what I lose. However, recently it is different. It has become an age where judgment is made by whether it is real or not. There are some things that make us think that they are real, but they are not necessarily so. Real things don’t move no matter what happens. Real things are never ruined. They are eternal forever. That is God who made the heaven and the earth. God is who we can really rely on. If we rely on him we definitely won’t be disappointed.
This is the road that you must choose. If you depend on God, you definitely won’t be disappointed.
Psalm 32:7,8
God “will instruct you…counsel you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8) This is the real thing. May you flee to Him. Isaiah went to the point of being “stripped” because he wanted to proclaim this message of God.

Applying it to our lives

* If God asked you to do something that you couldn’t understand by common sense, what would you do? What does it mean to you to be stripped?

* To get out of a crisis who do you seek help from? Now how does God desire for you to obey him?

Today let’s look at Isaiah 19. Verse 25 says, “The LORD Almighty will bless them, says, ‘Blessed by Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.’”　These are really strange words. Here God calls Egypt, “my people”. (1) “My people” (1) is usually used for the Israelites, but here it is used for Egypt and Assyria. Today let’s look at 3 aspects of the prophecy about Egypt.

I. The judgment upon Egypt (Vs. 1-15)
First of all let’s look at the prophecy of judgment upon Egypt. Please look at verses 1 to 15. First let’s read verse 1.
Verse 1
Here “the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt.” (1) This means that God will come swiftly to judge Egypt. The problem is Egypt had idols, false gods. Therefore, it says here, “The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within them.” (1) Also verse 3 says, “The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead, the mediums and the spiritists.” This is what Egypt was like Egypt was full of different kinds of idols. There was The Son god, The god of the Nile, The Frog god, The Black fly god, and The Horsefly god. The Egyptian Pharaoh was also god. In Egypt everything and anything became god, everything and anything was worshipped.
The reason Egypt worshipped idols was the idols were a projection of themselves. Idolatry was born as a projection of your own desires. When you do something, you make an idol so that it will go well. People that desire prosperous business, or so that they can pass the entrance exams to the college go to shrines. They are seen writing their prayer requests on little pieces of wood at the shrine. That is the same. It is necessary that there is a god that will hear their prayers so man makes gods. Therefore, idols are made to be a projection of man’s desires. Also in Japan where we live there are many idols. Japan is a land of 8,000,000 gods. Everything is god. Anything that will meet your desires is fine. It is made into a god. This is what the world of sin is like. That is what the world of sin looks like. “The LORD rides on a swift cloud” (1) to judge such idols.
How God will judge is written in verse 2. Please look at verse 2.
“I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian.” (2) This is civil strife. Egyptian comrades will fight. Their own national power will be weakened. At present too Egypt internal troubles never cease. The court and army tried to make the recent presidential election invalid. The president and the congress violently conflicted. If you trace the history of Egypt it has always be like that. For example, the famous ancient Egyptian Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, Tutankhamun (about1342 B.C.-about1324 B.C.) was proud of his tremendous treasure, but one civil strife after another their national power was expended. After Tutankhamen finally it deteriorated, and hardly had any power in the world. That was God’s judgment because they didn’t take God into account and walked by their own wisdom. .
Another reason for the judgment was the invasion of foreign countries. Please look at verse 4. Not only internally, but from the outside too they were trampled down. In reality in the age of Isaiah Assyria gained power, and attacked Egypt and took the capital Thebes (664 B.C.) The after that they were really threatened by Babylon and Persia. Eventually they were unified by the Grecian king Alexander. It happened just as this prophecy said.
Not only that but if you look at verse 5 to verse 10 you will see that the Nile “river will dry up”. (5)
As you know, the ancient world developed and the longest Egyptian civilization developed thanks to the Nile River. Every year by the flooding of the Nile River, from the upper stream soil full of nutrition flows so by fertilized dirt and water it produces abundant crops. The Grecian historian of the 5th century before Christ、Herodotus said, “Egypt is a gift of the Nile.” Egypt’s economy was completely dependant upon the Nile. The Nile “will dry up.” (4) This didn’t occur in Isaiah’s age, but recently this was fulfilled. Because the Aswan High Dam was made in 190, the Nile River’s ecological balance was broken, and the entire environment was changed. The abundant soil that was brought by the river’s overflow did not flow in and instead the salt water from the Mediterranean Sea came in. It spoiled the agricultural industry. It was not just the agricultural industry, but the fishing industry too. Then industries involved with making clothes from thread from reeds also hard hit. There was a rippling effect with losses in the entire economy.
That was because Egypt worshipped false gods, idols. They didn’t fear the real God. They didn’t honor God. They didn’t worship God. It was because they worshipped the gods that they had made themselves. Here we must once more ask ourselves and answer ourselves, “what is the center of our lives?” We must ask ourselves and answer ourselves what it is in our life that makes our live abundant right now. If it is like Egypt an idol, then God will in the same way judge us.
Please look at verses 11 to 15. Egypt’s problem wasn’t just her idols. They depended upon man’s wisdom.
Egypt was not only famous for its idols and magic, but also for its wisdom. Many different areas of knowledge were developed in Egypt. Moses too who lived in the Egyptian palace until he was 40 years old was taught all Egyptian academics. “Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.” (Acts 7:22) Also Israel’s King Solomon was famous for being wise. It is said about how much wisdom that “Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.” (I Kings 4:30)
However, no matter how great a wisdom, they weren’t able to give a solution to God’s judgment that came down. The said that they were wise, but they didn’t “make known what the LORD Almighty has planned against Egypt.” (12) It was like the Joseph’s age when none of the wise men in Egypt to explain the Pharaoh’s dream. It was from God, so it was only by the spirit of God that it could be discerned. Please open your Bibles to I Cor. 1:18 to 25. It is a little long, but let’s read it.
I Cor. 1:18-25
You can’t by your own wisdom know God. However, by God’s wisdom, by Christ, the power of God, you can know God. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (I Cor. 1:18)
We have a desire to know what is happening in the world, and what is happening around us. However, first of all what we must know is that what is happening now is that the Lord is coming, and recognize that. Even if you don’t know what is happening now, we need to recognize that the Lord is leading according to his plan, and that by the grace of God you are living. To accept in your heart and believe in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who was put on and died on the cross and then 3 days later rose again, and to live by Him is the beginning of wisdom.
If not, we will be shaken up by elementary knowledge of this world. In verse 14 it says, “The LORD has poured into them a spirit of dizziness; they make Egypt stagger in all that she does, as a drunkard staggers around in vomit.” Like when you are drunk, they have lost discernment and their ability to separate the good from the evil. Then as it says in verse 15, “There is nothing Egypt can do-head or tail, palm branch or reed.” The entire country in now in the condition of not knowing what they should do. The “head” (15) are the wise men and leaders that appear here. The “tail” are the fortune tellers and sorcerers that the ordinary people depended upon. In other words, such wise men, and political leaders too don’t know what they should do and the entire country is staggering around.
It seems like it is talking about Japan. However, this is not just Japan, but shows us what the entire world looks like. This world separated itself from God and ran to idols, and boasted about its own wisdom. It is in the condition of not knowing what it should do.
When you are flooded by dangerous conditions in your life, how do you try to solve it? Do you try to find a solution by the wisdom of this world? However, know that the wisdom of the world has limits. And let’s be someone that depends upon the wisdom of God. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (I Cor. 1:25)

II. The salvation of Egypt (vs. 16-22)
The second point is Egypt’s salvation. Isaiah’s prophecy about Egypt makes a turn from judgment to talking about the restoration of Egypt. Please look at verses 16 to 22. First of all, I will read verses 16 and 17.
Verses 16 & 17
From here until the end of verse 19, there is a succession of the words “in that day” five times. This is one of the key words in Isaiah. He is prophesizing about the tribulation period at the end of the world. At the end of the world the following things will happen.
“In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the LORD Almighty raises against them.” (16) To “be like women” (16) is to become weak. Recently there are quite a few cases where it is different, but basically women are weak. “In that day the Egyptians will be like women.” (16) Egypt who was pride of its wisdom and power will have their pride broken down and become weak like a woman. “They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the LORD Almighty raises against them.” (16) That’s not all. Verses 18 to 22 have a surprising thing written there.
Here it says that “in that day” (19) in the center of Egypt “there will be an altar to the LORD.” (19) All the Egyptians will make sacrifices to the Lord. “When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them…In that day they will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices” (20, 21) and they will serve the Lord.
These are words spoken about Egypt. Egypt before had worshipped idols, and boasted about their wisdom and power, but the Lord promises that they will become like Israel. The private relationship that God had with Israel here is being applied to Egypt. It’s amazing. This is not just Egyptians, but is possible for all people. If they return to the Lord, the Lord “will respond to their pleas and heal them.” (22) This means that the purpose of the judgment upon Israel is not to destroy them, but so that they will be saved. It is so that they will be saved, so that they will be healed. The Lord will strike the Egyptians. God will strike, and then heal them. This is the way God saves us.
The reason that we have sufferings and problem is so that we will be saved. It is so that we will be healed. The Lord strikes us and afterwards heals us. This is the way of the Lord’s salvation. Please don’t make a mistake. God isn’t trying to judge you. The Lord wants to save you. God wants to save you so at times so at times he gives punishment. Let’s read Hebrews 12:7-11.
Hebrews 12:7-11
In a small booklet, “Daily Bread” Joe Stowell, the president of the Cornerstone College in Michigan who loves Jesus more than anyone and more than anything treasures speaking about the word of God wrote about an event from his childhood.
He had an even in his childhood that he remembers very well. He doesn’t remember what the teacher said to him, but he said to the teacher, “Shut up.” He says that he can’t forget what happened at that time. The teacher said, “Go home”. Therefore he left the classroom and started walking towards his house which was within a hundred meters. As he continued along the sidewalk saw his mother weeding in the yard. What should he do? He was compelled to make a strategic choice. Either he continue walking and talk to his mother as to why he was sent home early or else return to the kindergarten and face up to the teacher.
When he returned to the classroom the teacher him to the restroom, and washed out his mouth with soap. Today this kind of discipline has almost disappeared, but this method was really effective. Even today he is very cautious about what he says. He is very careful when he open his mouth. What Joe Stowell is today is due to this event. By having his mouth washed out he learned that he has to use his mouth correctly.
God as treats us as his children. He strongly wants us to grow up properly. For that purpose at times he punishes us. By that steadily “it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.” (Hebrews 12:11) God’s discipline is our hope for having a better life. Therefore, if we are disciplined by God, let’s not reject God’s hand. As much as God is concerned about what kind of person you will become, God loves us. Therefore, if God scolds you, let’s accept it with thankfulness, and in the midst of it return to the Lord. Let’s call out to the Lord. Then as the Lord struck Egypt and then healed them, He will heal you too.

III. Egypt my people (vs. 23-25)
The Lord is calling Egypt “my people”. (23) Please look at verses 23 to 25
If you look at this passage you will see that God’s salvation does not stop only at Egypt. A huge highway from Egypt to Assyria will be built. ”The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.”(23,24) Assyria was the worst of all the neighboring countries. The other neighboring countries too did bad things, but Assyria swallowed up the other countries, plundered them as they wanted, and destroyed them. That Assyria too will return to the Lord and will take part in the salvation of God. Before there were people who were in the Yakuza that returned to the Lord. hey formed a ministry called Mission Barnaba and is giving a good testimony. When I heard their testimony, what I thought was no matter how low you fallen in your life you are still o.k. No matter how terrible Assyria was, when they repent, they will be saved. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come!” (II Cor.5)17) No matter how terrible a life you lived in your past, you can start your life over again. If you repent, and return to the Lord, the Lord will forgive your sin, and purify you from all evil. Also Assyria and Egypt had a relationship of being enemies. However, by faith their relationship of enemies will be settled and they will have peace with each other. The road that was used for plundering and occupation will be changed into road for going to worship together. What a wonderful promise!
The best is the words of verse 25. “The LORD Almighty will bless them saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.” Is there any greater passage than this! “My people” are words usually used for Israel. Here it is being used for Israel and also for Assyria. Those who were antagonistic towards God, who were separated far from God, by the grace of God became the people of God.
There is no one that is omitted from God’s grace. Even the　Gentiles　who　before　were　fleshly　separated　from　God,　by　being in　Jesus Christ, by　believing　in Christ, become the people of God. God’s salvation reaches to the entire world. Japan is not an exception to this. Looking from Israel, Japan is at the world’s end. Not only that, but Japan has 8,000,000 gods. It has idols. It is full of sin. It is a country that seems like it can’t be saved. However, by the blood of Jesus Christ, by believing in Jesus Christ, you can become the people of God. Upon Japan too God’s love is being poured out. God’s salvation reaches out to the ends of the earth. Therefore, Isaiah is calling out “Turn to me and be saved. all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” (45:22)
Are you looking to God?　　Are you looking to Him and are you saved? God’s grace reaches out to you too. Please believe in Jesus Christ and even if you are separated far from God please become the people of God.
Also if this salvation is being offered to the ends of the earth, then we need to think about how we can concretely spread it. We must not think only about ourselves. We have to open our eyes up to the whole world. Jesus said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) We may not be able to go ourselves to the end of the world. However, we have opportunities to invite people from other countries. Many of such people are from Buddhist, and Islamic backgrounds. They do not know the real God. We need to believe that such people are to be considered as “My people” and we must deal with them with Christ’s love. The salvation of God reaches to the entire world. We need to accept this as the will of God and for this purpose seriously desire to be used of the Lord.
Applying it to our lives
* Do you have idols that are fulfilling your desires? Col.3:5 says, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” What earthly nature do you have within yourself?

* What are you proud of? Worldly wisdom? or Christ on the cross?

* God called Egypt, “my people”. (25) Even if before you were separated from God, if you repent and return to God, God will forgive that sin. Please look to God and be saved. What keeps you from looking to God?

Today let’s look at Isaiah 18. Verse 1 says, “Woe to the land of shirring wings along the rivers of Cush.“ This is Ethiopia. Cush at that time covered a wider area than present day Ethiopia and included the present day areas of Sudan and Somalia. “The rivers of Cush” (1) are the tributaries of the Nile River. It was called a “land of whirring wings”. (1) We don’t know for sure what the “whirring wings” (1) are, but this country had a lot of tsetse flies. Ethiopia is very hot and humid it is famous for “whirring wings” (1) Today from God’s prophecy of judgment on Cush let’s look at 3 aspects of God’s overwhelming power.

I. Just depend upon God (vs. 1,2)
The first point is to just depend upon God. Please look at verses 1 and 2.
As I said before, Cush is Ethiopia. Cush “sends envoys by sea in papyrus boats over the water.” (2) They are sending the envoys to Israel, to the Southern kingdom of Judah. They are sending envoys to make an alliance. At the time that Isaiah prophesized this Cush was very powerful and trampled other countries underfoot. As verse 2 says at that time they were “feared far and wide.” At that time Cush was at its height and was “feared far and wide.” (2) King Piankhi (or Piye) ruled Cush, but his power was not just over Cush but extended as far as Egypt and became the ruler there. Then in 715 B.C. he became the 25th dynasty of Pharaoh
About that time Assyria prospered in the East. Assyria destroyed Syria in 732 B.C., then Northern Israel in 722 B.C. and then Philistine in 701B.C. Not only that, but Assyria controlled Moab and also Southern Arabia, east of the Jordan. Assyria’s tremendous power was unchecked and next continued down south. It pressed on to Egypt. Therefore Cush sent envoys to Southern Judea to make an alliance in opposition to Assyria. This is what is meant by “Cush, which sends envoys by sea in papyrus boats over the water.” (1, 2) In other words, this was Cush’s diplomatic action against Assyria’s threats. Cush subjected Egypt, and the surrounding countries feared Cush. Even so, in order to confront the large country of Assyria, Cush tried to make an alliance with Judah and pull Judah into supporting them.
How the king of Judah responded is written in verses 2 and 3. “Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned, to a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers. All you people of the world, you who live on the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it, and when a trumpet sounds, you will hear it.”
Isaiah is speaking to the messengers, “Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned.” (2) The people that are “tall and smooth-skinned” (2) are the people of Cush. He says to clearly say to the people of Cush, “All you people of the world, you who live on the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it, and when a trumpet sounds, you will hear it.” (3)
Here it is calling out to “All you people of the world.” (3) It is not just Cush. God is declaring that the Lord is going to fight and that the whole world is to watch the works that the Lord will perform.
This must have been a huge temptation for Judah. This is the background for the words of Isaiah 36:6. The Assyrian King Sennacherib through his field commander, said to Hezekiah, the king of Judah, “Look, I know you are depending on Egypt that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh King of Egypt to all who depend on him.” (Isaiah 36:6) These words were spoken with this chapter 18 as the background. Judah was being invaded by Assyria and were being driven into a corner that there was no way to get out of. When the Judah King, Hezekiah, heard that Cush had an anti Assyria policy he must have thought that they could expect support from Cush/Egypt. He probably wondered if by joining hands with them they could overcome this difficult situation. However, Isaiah the same as up until now said only to depend upon the Lord. He said not to depend upon the power of foreign countries, but to look forward to the Lord working and to wait upon the Lord.
We too when are under such situations, rather than God we want to trust in the people that are around us or in things. Man always thinks that way. We put our expectations in people and don’t ask of the Lord. However, who we really need to ask of is the Lord our God, not someone or a powerful country.
Please open your Bibles to Isaiah 2:22.
Isaiah 2:22
Man who breathes through his nose soon dies. Such things boast of their beauty today, but tomorrow like a flower is dried up so it is easily broken. Such a thing is of no value. No matter how great a leader, he can’t be depended upon. We are all destined to die. Our breathing will stop. The moment the fire of life vanishes that persons plan of life completely disappears. Who we can depend upon is the Lord God who made heaven and earth. He is God who has loved us through history.
Right now we are studying Exodus at the prayer meeting. God called Moses to save Israel from Egypt. Even so Moses made many excuses and didn’t attempt to go. He didn’t want to go. He didn’t want to go so he made many excuses for refusing his commission. His first reason was “Who am I that I should go?” (Exodus 3:11) I don’t have that strength. Towards that the Lord promised, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3:12) It doesn’t matter who you are “I will be with you…it is I who have sent you.” (Exodus 3:12)

Towards that Moses said, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you’ and they as me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said, “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3:14) This means God exists entirely by himself. He depends upon nothing. Man is not like this. Man has food, drink, and breathes. He depends on other people, on other things in order to exist. The real God doesn’t. He can exist without anything. He is the source of His existence. He exists from eternity to eternity. He exists in the past, present and future, for eternity. He is God who made all things. Tell the Israelites that “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14) sent you.
This is God’s name. It is the name that God has been called throughout eternity. “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14) God is not dependent upon anything but exists by himself. He exists from eternity to eternity and he created everything in heaven and earth. God is who we can really depend upon. He loves you and sent his son Jesus Christ for you. If that’s the case, God with his son will have mercy upon all. God will give you all that you need. He is who you need to depend upon.
David said, “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:1, 2) David was able to testify to this because knew through experience that the Lord God, the creator who loved him was worthy of his faith.
There is someone who loves you. No matter what happens, he will not leave you or forsake you. That is the Lord, the Lord God who created heaven and earth. If you come running into his arms, when you are confident that all is o.k., then in you too praises like David will be born. You will be set free from the curse of various kinds of fears and uncertainties and will able to be content in His arms.

II. God has his own timing (Vs. 4-6)
The second thing is that God has his own timing. Please look at verses 4 to 6. In verse 4 it says, “This is what the LORD says to me: ‘I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place, like shimmering heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”
Imagine this situation. For Cush and also for the southern kingdom of Judah, the threat of Assyria was putting them in a bind that they couldn’t match, and their hearts were troubled. They were panicky. To the people of Cush, the Lord says, “I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place.” (4)
Here God is not shook up at all. He is not panicky. He is not in a bind. He is just watching quietly. ”I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place.” (4) He’s really an onlooker. Fully-knowing the situation, He just remains quiet and looks on. God has no need to panic or be shaken up. No matter how much they joined forces and attacked they were like a small ant forming an army and invading man. It would be useless. God can in a breath blow them away, and by His foot trample them down. No matter how much man kicks up a racket, God it is completely unmoved. That is because God has overpowering strength.
Please open your Bibles is Psalms 2:1-6.
Psalms 2:1-6
This is called the famous messianic psalm. “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.” (Psalm 2:1, 2) This is the prophecy of the Last War at the end of the world, The War of Armageddon. From all over the world armies will gather at Armageddon against the LORD and against his Anointed One.” (Psalm 2:2) “His Anointed One” (Psalm 2:2) is Christ, the Messiah. They are against Him. However, the Lord breaks their chains and throws off their fetters. They aren’t a match for Him at all. No matter how unified attack they make, the Lord in a breath destroys them. Just by a snort they are blown away. God is that powerful. Therefore, “why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?” (Psalm 1:1) The real solution is to leave all in the hands of the Lord who has overpowering strength.
What moves your heart? What is disturbing your heart? Around us are many things that disturb our hearts. However, no matter what it is, our Lord is not moved at all by it. and is able to easily solve the situation. If that is so, then we should put everything in His hands and no matter what situation not be disturbed by it. God will solve it so let’s quietly wait for the Lord’s solution.
To do that we need to remember one thing. That is the Lord has his own timing. We have to wait for His timing. That is written here. In verses 5 and 6 it says, “For, before the harvest, when the blossom is gone and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the shoots with pruning knives, and cut down and take away the spreading branches. They will all be left to the mountain birds of prey and to the wild animals; the bird will feed on them all summer, the wild animals all winter.”
This is an example taken from the pruning of grapes. In Palestine grapes are harvested around May. The flower has already bloomed and the grape tree has already started to bear a lot of grapes. Then the farmer so that it will be able to bear good grapes, he prunes off all the branches that are not bearing any fruit. He cuts them off. Then the branches that are not bearing fruit are left as food for the birds in summer and food for “the wild animals all winter.” (6) In other words, the Lord who is looking quietly from his “dwelling place” (4) has a time for pruning.
God is waiting for the ripe time. When Israel was in Egypt too, God waited. During the 400 years after Jacob came to Egypt, of course God worked, but God did not directly intervene. Under the heavy slavery of Egypt, when they thought that they had been abandoned, God heard their lamenting and remember the covenant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and took action. It took a long time for the time to be ripe. However the time had come to God called Moses and he saved them from Egypt.
Also when they left Egypt too, they weren’t able to leave right away. They couldn’t leave until God made the Pharaoh’s heart hard over and over again. That was so that God’s glory would be seen. Like this in the end God divided the Red Sea into 2. By walking on the dry road they were saved. Then the Egyptian army was destroyed by the water. This is what God does. Like this God shows his great works to Israel and also to the whole world by being so bold as to establish the time.
Among the people that Jesus really loved were the sisters Mary and Martha. It was the same when their brother Lazarus died. Mary and Martha sent a messenger to Jesus and told him that their brother was sick, but Jesus even though he heard that Lazarus was sick, stayed where he was at for 2 days. Therefore, Lazarus died. Later Jesus went to their house. Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21) The reason why Jesus didn’t come sooner, why he didn’t come before their brother died was so that they would see God’s glory. It had been four days since he had died, but Jesus said to them, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40) We think that if man dies it is the end. However, Jesus said to Martha, “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” (John 11:25) Then Jesus stood in front of tomb where Lazarus was and Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43) and Lazarus who had been dead was resurrected. He came out with his hands and feet still wrapped in strips of linen.
Jesus didn’t go right away so that the glory of God would be seen. This is how God does things. We must put all things in God’s hands and in His timing. We have to believe. If you believe, you will see the glory of God.
At a glimpse it seems like God is not saving us. It feels like God is not doing anything. However, that is not so. On the contrary God is going to save us and is waiting for the ripe time. Also He is working so that His glory will be seen. We must remember this. Then even when the situation is not changing at all, wait expectantly with patience for God’s timing.

III. Gifts will be brought to Mt. Zion (Vs. 7)
Lastly let’s look at even though Cush is like that, God’s grace is poured out upon Cush. Please look at verse 7.
As a countermeasure against Assyria’s attack, Cush who was in turmoil sent messengers to the King of the Southern Kingdom, Judah to make an alliance with them. The Lord through Isaiah said to Cush that they didn’t have to do such a thing. God was looking on them and in his time would knock down Assyria. Therefore, they need to be still. Just believe in God and wait quietly upon God.
However, Cush didn’t accept God’s Words. If you look at chapter 20 you will see that Egypt along with Assyria was destroyed. Just as with Moab, they asked why they had to believe in the Israelite God; why they who were as strong as they were should have to expect help for the God of Israel. They refused God’s Word.
However, when we look here, this Cush, Ethiopia, will bring gifts to Mount Zion. These gifts are conversions. Such Ethiopians too will return to the Lord. This is what Ethiopia will be like in the last days. In the last days, “gifts will be brought to the LORD Almighty from a people tall and smooth-skinned, from a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers- the gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the LORD Almighty.” (7) Cush will bring gifts “to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the LORD Almighty.” (7)
This will happen just as it says. Please look at Acts 8:26 to 38. It’s a little long, but let’s read it. This is the story of the Ethiopian official being saved. He went to Jerusalem to worship God. On the way back, he was reading Isaiah while riding in his chariot. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” (Acts 8:29) It’s almost time for the London Olympic to start. Philip could run really fast. He was able to catch up to the chariot. If he was in the Olympics, he would be able to get a gold medal. “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” (Acts 8:35) The Ethiopian official believed in the Lord Jesus and was baptized. As a result Christians increased in Ethiopia so there are also old churches, the Coptic Church there. The arrogant Cush, Ethiopia, had a hard time accepting Isaiah’s prophecy. Even so, the Lord will raise up people that believe and “gifts will be brought to the LORD Almighty from” (7) them.
This is the model of salvation of the Gentiles. The Lord gives salvation not only to Israel, but this Ethiopia and the surrounding countries too. Let’s remember this, and not be arrogant and not reject God’s Word. Let’s be thankful for God’s grace and that He had mercy on us when we didn’t deserve it and take part in the salvation of the Lord.
Here this says that “gifts will be brought to the LORD Almighty.” (7) The gift that the Lord is the happiest about is not silver and gold, but ourselves, our souls. God is the happiest when our souls return to God and when we live with God.
The other day my daughter who is in Tokyo when she returned home went to the prayer meeting and gave a testimony. My daughter is now going to the church, Jesus Live House in Tokyo. That church every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday night evangelizes by doing “Street Live”, street evangelism. My daughter goes on Tuesday nights. It takes place in Rokupongi. There are a lot of bars. A bartender was outside passing out advertisements about his bar. He came to where the church members were gathered and as he started to pass out the advertisement he said, “The mood is good, and the bar is a lot of fun.” Then one of the young members of the church said, “We know someplace that is even a lot more fun and the mood is great!” He wanted to know where so they answered “Church” and gave him a church flyer and invited him to church. The next Sunday that person came. The church has four services at 11:00, 12:45, 3:30, and 5:30. He came to the 12:45 service and then attended two more services. In other words, he attended 3 services that day. At that church at the end of every service they ask people to put their hands up if they want to receive Christ as their Savior and Lord. The first service he didn’t put up his hand. The second service he didn’t either. However, the third service he responded to the invitation and put up his hand.
My daughter very happily welcomed him. The person said, “Everyone is so bright so I came to see what was here. Here is really bright!” More than anything God is so happy. What God likes the most is “a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart.” (Psalm 51:17) God desires that our soul return to the Lord and that we live with him.
“Gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the LORD Almighty.” (7) This country too will surely be like this. A time will come when our souls will be brought as a gift to the Lord. Let’s believe this and obediently follow the Word of God. Also let’s quietly wait expectantly for the Lord to perform His works in His time.
Let’s apply it to our lives
* When you are in a pinch, who or what do you depend upon? What is necessary for you to depend upon the Lord?

* When your prayers are not answered readily, are you disappointed in God? How are you expectantly waiting for God’s timing?

* God’s will is that all people will be saved. What can you do for that?