Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Isaiah chapter 56 - Titus

Chapter fifty-six of Isaiah opens with admonition to those who are part of the household of God, the children of Israel. The Sabbath was/is not ordained for anyone other than Israel, and in the first five verses of the chapter, the keeping of the Sabbath is mentioned twice along with some other general admonitions for the people of God.

“Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.” (Isaiah 56:1-5)

In today’s vernacular we might call this a sermon on ‘walking the walk’ of a believer. In verses six through nine the same message is applied to “the stranger”, those who are not of the Israelite blood lines but who have chosen to “join” themselves to Israel.

“Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him. All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.” (Isaiah 56:6-9)

Finally, in verses ten through twelve God speaks His indignation against those who have the responsibility of taking care of the flock.

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

There is a statement in this chapter which serves as the portal through which all of the above is connected to the book of Titus, and that portal statement is verse seven. God, speaking of “the strangers” says;

“Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people” (Isa. 56:7)

On the Titus side of that portal there is of necessity a parallel statement, and we find it in Titus 2:11.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11)

The book of Titus is letter that Paul wrote to his disciple in the faith, Titus. Titus was a shepherd of the flock of his day, and Paul addresses parallel issues to those addressed by God through Isaiah in chapter fifty-six. Titus 2:1-3:2 is an exhortation to those who “talk the talk” to ‘walk the walk” so that they can be effective witnesses to those around them.

“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncor-ruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. Put them in mind to be subject to prince-palities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.” (Titus 2:1-3:2)

In Isaiah’s fifty-sixth chapter, the message concludes by identifying a problem area within the household. In Titus 1:10-12, Paul gives advice to Titus on dealing with those who have become a problem for the household of God.

Again we see that the fifty-sixth chapter of Isaiah is linked to the book of the Bible that has the corresponding number, fifty-six, Titus. They are connected.

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