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The Bible Breakdown
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The Bible Breakdown
Isaiah 33: Look Who's Laughing Now
Unlock the transformative power of faith with Pastor Brandon as we explore the profound themes of Isaiah, chapter 33. Imagine a world where the seemingly invincible are humbled, and the faithful are uplifted. This episode unravels the prophecy that Assyria's fleeting dominance will be overshadowed by God's enduring justice. We promise a message of hope and assurance that steadfast trust in God is the key to protection and deliverance. Witness how Jerusalem is envisioned as a sanctuary of peace and righteousness, emphasizing that God's salvation and forgiveness remain ever-ready for His people. Prepare to be inspired by the notion that those who trust in God will bask in ultimate victory and restoration.
In our conversation, we emphasize the virtues of trust and patience, even when life's trials tempt us to go it alone. Through scripture, we find that God calls us to be strong and confident, not weak and helpless. Embracing this divine strength paves the way for healing and restoration in times of uncertainty. The episode concludes with a heartfelt prayer inviting you to seek God's guidance, encouraging reliance on His strength in every facet of life. Drawing wisdom from Isaiah, we affirm our faith in God's promise to save, strengthen, and lead us to triumph. Join us for this enlightening journey of faith, hope, and divine assurance.
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The More You Dig. The More You Find.
Welcome back to the Bible Breakdown podcast with your host, pastor Brandon, today. Isaiah, chapter 33, and today's title is who's Laughing Now? Who is laughing now? We're getting into all that in just a moment, but, as always, if you like what we're doing here, make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel and the podcast, make sure you leave us a five-star review on the podcast and make sure you're going to the Bible Breakdown discussion on Facebook and thebiblebreakdowncom. It's an amazing team of people doing wonderful work and the more we dig, the more we find.
Speaker 1:That's definitely the truth today, as we turn to Isaiah, chapter 33. And what I love about this chapter, don't forget, by the way. The overall theme is God is our salvation, and there are moments when God shows us what his salvation is going to look like. Now he's going to wreak havoc on all these enemies, right? Well, I love that about Isaiah, chapter 33, because at one point, god is almost like looking at Assyria and saying do you not know who I am Exactly? Who do you think you are? And it's almost like God is saying okay, you think who I am Exactly, who do you think you are? And it's almost like God is saying, okay, you think you've got the upper hand. But do you know who I am? And it's really. Isaiah 33 could be just a tale of hope and a warning to the wicked about what God's going to do and say listen, you may be laughing now, but I'm going to get the last laugh, like in the end I win. And so let's dive into this together and let's see if God can give us some hope as well. You ready? Isaiah?
Speaker 1:Chapter 33, verse 1 says this what sorrow awaits you, assyrians, who have destroyed others but have never been destroyed yourself. You betray others, but you have never been betrayed. When you are done destroying, you will be destroyed. When you are done betraying, you will be betrayed. But, lord, be merciful to us, for we have waited for you. Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble. The enemies run at the sound of your voice, and when you stand up, the nations flee. Isn't that amazing. What a wonderful prayer to pray every day. Let's keep going. Verse 4. Good heavens, that sounds painful and disgusting at the same time. Verse 5. That sounds painful and disgusting at the same time. Verse five. Though the Lord is very great and lives in heaven, he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness. In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom and knowledge. The fear of the Lord will be your treasure. Pause. I wonder if, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount for Jesus, talking about those who build their life on me is like building their life on the solid rock. I wonder how many people looked back, thought about Isaiah 33, and realized even then he was talking about how he is more than just an earthly Messiah, but he is God. Because this is what God is saying he was going to do right, all right, let's keep going.
Speaker 1:Verse 7, but now your brave warriors weep in public. Your ambassadors of peace cry in bitter disappointment. Your roads are deserted. No one travels them anymore.
Speaker 1:The Assyrians have broken their peace treaty and care nothing for the promises they made before witnesses. They have no respect for anyone. The land of Israel wilts in mourning. Lebanon withers in shame. The plain of Sharon is now a wilderness. Bashan and Carmel have been plundered. But the Lord says now I will stand up, now I will show my power. And might you Assyrians produce nothing but dry grass and stubble. Your own breath will turn to fire and consume you. Your people will be burned up completely like thorn brushes, cut down and tossed in the fire. Listen to what I have done. You nations far away For you that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear. Terror seizes the godless. Who can live with this devouring fire, they cry. Who can survive this all-consuming fire? Those who are honest and fair, who refuse to profit by fraud, who stay away from bribes, who refuse to listen to those who plot murder. Verse 1. Will be their fortress. Flood will be supplied to them. Excuse me, food, no floods, all right. Food will be supplied to them. I was getting carried away and they will have water in abundance.
Speaker 1:Verse 17,. Your eyes will see the king in all his splendor. You will see a land that stretches into the distance. You will think back to this time of terror, asking where are the Assyrian officers who counted our towers? Where are the bookkeepers who recorded the plunder taken from our fallen city? You will no longer see these fierce, violent people with their strange, unknown language. Instead, you will see Zion as a place of holy festivals. You will see Jerusalem, a city, quiet and secure. It will be like a tent whose ropes are taut and whose stakes are firmly fixed, the Lord will be our mighty one. He will be like a wide river of protection that no enemy can cross, that no enemy ship can sail upon, for the Lord is our judge, our lawgiver and our king. He will care for us and save us. The enemy's sails hang loose, our broken mass with useless tackle. Their treasure will be divided by the people of God. Even the lame will take their share. The people of Israel will no longer say we are sick and helpless, for the Lord will forgive their sin. In other words, who's laughing now? The one who laughs last laughs best.
Speaker 1:And what God is saying is even when things look bad for a season, man, if you would just turn back to me, if you would just trust me and hang in there and not give up, god is our salvation. I heard someone recently say that if you were to look at all of the Old Testament, you would see it as God's relentless stubbornness not to give up on his people. I think that's beautiful. I think you can see that in this chapter where Isaiah is saying we have turned from God over and over and over again, but God is going to continue to come to our rescue if we will just turn to him and he even looks at these enemies and he's saying you're nothing. I can get rid of you in a day if my people would just turn back to me and trust me. I got this.
Speaker 1:And what that says to me is many times the things in my life that seem like the biggest enemies of my life are really not that big. Is that my trust and patience in God is too small that if I would turn my heart back to him completely, trust him completely and wait on him, god will always come through. Many times, what we deal with in our life is not a lack of God's ability. It's a lack of trust and a lack of patience. Now, I don't know about you. I've not met many people who are good at both of those. Right, I know many people who are good at trusting God but not so good at patience. I've met people who are not so good at just trust in general, but are really good at patience. I've not met many people who are good at both, and I've met a whole lot of people that are bad at both, including me, like I. Just, I am a natural skeptic. I trust the Lord, but I don't trust a lot of other things, and I just struggle with patience as well.
Speaker 1:And so this chapter speaks to me, because it reminds me that, no matter what we go through in life, if we will trust the Lord and be patient, god always comes through. And I love this last verse, this promise where it says the people of Israel no longer say we are sick and helpless, for the Lord will forgive their sin. In other words, he will restore everything they've lost. He'll restore their health, their wholeness, their ability to take care of themselves. God doesn't want us weak and helpless. God wants us strong and confident. We put our trust in him.
Speaker 1:I'm going to ask you this question when in your life do you need to trust God more and be patient and wait on him? Maybe it's not a sin issue. It's just an issue where you have unintentionally told God I got this Like you, take care of that over there. I'm going to figure this out. Where in your life do you need to trust God more and be patient and wait on him? Wherever that area is, that is an area where God wants to show up strong in your life. Let's pray together right now.
Speaker 1:God, thank you so much that you are trustworthy and that you know us, god. You know the areas we sometimes struggle. You're not mad at us, you're not ashamed of us, you're not any of those things. You love us and I pray today, holy Spirit, you'll open our eyes and reveal to us an area where we can take a step forward in trusting you. And as we trust you and as we're patient and wait on you, I pray you open our eyes to see that you are working in more ways than we can imagine. We celebrate you today In Jesus' name. We pray Amen and amen. God's word says in Isaiah 12, chapter two God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord is my strength and my song. He has given me the victory. I love you. I'll see you tomorrow for Isaiah, chapter 34.
