Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

I just waved from this window to my first wife who was driving out of the driveway. Of course, Becki is my first, last, and one and only. She’s on her way to a Bible Study appointment in Woodburn. Earlier, we had a lot of discussion on the course I took with the devotional…plus we eventually did a WOG. Before breakfast, I became involved with fabricating a fruit salad, whipping cream, frying some eggs, toasting Becki’s home-made bread, and putting on the breakfast. Now, it’s on with the work at hand.

May your life and work be blessed today

Love, Dad/Ray.

This concordance turns up 43 times that Isaiah uses this phrase (in the NIV)—“In that day.” It speaks of Isaiah’s role and function as a dispenser of predictive prophecy—foretelling events and conditions in the future. Many examples of his beyond-accident accuracy could be cited. But it also speaks of God’s absolute grasp of time and events. He is blind-sided by nothing—nothing takes Him by surprise—like, “Oh my!—I didn’t expect this to happen!” Isaiah earlier refers to this facet of God’s sovereignty when he declares, “The LORD Almighty has sworn, ‘Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand’” (14:24). Is there any truth claim in Scripture more awesome and mind-boggling than to hear Jesus present Himself to John the Revelator, “’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty’” (Revelation 1:8)? Wow!

Consider a portion of Isaiah’s predictive prophecy that can only indicate Jesus the Messiah. It appears right in the middle of a description of Moab’s future judgment and punishment. It not only relates to Jesus’ appearance “when the time had fully come” (Galatians 4:4), but also to His Millennial and eternal reign as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:16). Here’s the quote from Isaiah 16: “The oppressor will come to an end, and destruction will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land. In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it — one from the house of David — one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness” (16:4-5).

Is there anyone who does not really long down deep inside for the restoration of all things?—where oppression, destruction, and agression are extinct, and where peace, tranquility, and happiness prevail (Romans 8:22)? Probably not. Is there anyone who really believs that man can pull it off? Far too many. But man never has—and never will. Therefore, that notion becomes a big fat lie! These conditions can only occur under the transformational leadership of this “King of kings and Lord of lords.” And our personal relationship with Him NOW determines how things will go for us THEN.

Toward that end, please be thankful for God’s loving anger. What?! I’m talking about His incredible love for us that is angry at the contamination of sin that would disqualify those whom He loves from receiving the benefits of His love. Therefore, “My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son” (Hebrews 12:5-6). Indeed—where would we be without His loving anger?