Days of Grace in Action by C. R. Oliver (little bear else holmelund minarik .TXT) 📖

Days of Grace in Action
Isaiah 54-59

Introduction:

When the Lamb was slain in Isaiah 53, the day of Grace that superseded the age of the Law began. 

As the prophet pictured the death and resurrection of the coming Messiah, the Lord began to show him "Grace in Action." The old evaluations of the Law no longer applied. A new day of forgiveness arrived with the resurrected Son of God. 

The ensuing chapters of Isaiah are filled with new valuations, and they reveal the great mercy expressed in the Great Grace which fell among the disciples. Instead of heavy judgments and awesome events of punishment, an avenue to the Throne of Grace was opened. 

Instead of the constant moving in and moving out of favor, based on Israel's repentance or sin, God exercised a level of grace that surpassed anything the ancient world could fathom. With the prophecy of the Messiah also came the "Day of Grace" that never ends. The song rightly says,

O, the love that drew salvation's plan! 
O, the grace that brought it down to man.
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
--At Calvary! (William Newell, 1868-1956)

Grace poured out for all mankind and would precipitate the enlargement of vision and domain for God's covenant people. Hence, the opening lines of Chapter 54 require provision for the 5,000 at Pentecost and the 3,000 afterward. Listen as the prophet expresses the magnitude of such Grace change.

Isaiah 54:1-3
Sing, O childless woman! Break out into loud and joyful song, Jerusalem, for she who was abandoned has more blessings now than she whose husband stayed! 2Enlarge your house; build on additions; spread out your home! 3 For you will soon be bursting at the seams! And your descendants will possess the cities left behind during the exile and rule the nations that took their lands. 
TLB

Grace is poured out first on Jerusalem, the city of great sorrow, which was fresh with memories of slavery and recurring captivities. Grace, coming forth from the heavenly Jerusalem, breaks over the earthly Jerusalem like a soothing balm. The corporate mind of its citizenry expressed itself in such deleterious terms it caused God to embrace them and give assurances of His love. Edification is a major component of grace. Grace encounters sadness and calls for song. Grace looks in the face of shame, grief and abandonment and declares an end to it.

Isaiah 54:4-17
4 Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. The shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood will be remembered no more, 5 for your Creator will be your "husband." The Lord Almighty is his name; he is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth. 6 For the Lord has called you back from your grief--a young wife abandoned by her husband. 7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you. But with great compassion I will take you back. 8 In a moment of anger I turned my face a little while; but with everlasting love I will have pity on you," says the Lord, your Redeemer. 

9 "Just as in the time of Noah I swore that I would never again permit the waters of a flood to cover the earth and destroy its life, so now I swear that I will never again pour out my anger on you. 10 For the mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but my kindness shall not leave you. My promise of peace for you will never be broken," says the Lord who has mercy upon you. 

11 "O my afflicted people, tempest-tossed and troubled, I will rebuild you on a foundation of sapphires and make the walls of your houses from precious jewels. 12 I will make your towers of sparkling agate and your gates and walls of shining gems. 13 And all your citizens shall be taught by me, and their prosperity shall be great. 14 You will live under a government that is just and fair. Your enemies will stay far away; you will live in peace. Terror shall not come near. 15 If any nation comes to fight you, it will not be sent by me to punish you. Therefore, it will be routed, for I am on your side. 

16 I have created the smith who blows the coals beneath the forge and makes the weapons of destruction. And I have created the armies that destroy. 17 but in that coming day, no weapon turned against you shall succeed, and you will have justice against every courtroom lie. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. This is the blessing I have given you," says the Lord. 
TLB

Above, verses 8 and 9 contain some of the most compassionate words in the Bible. Read through these passages and let them soak into your spirit. "Creator-husband"-that's it. That's the whole of the Song of Solomon. That is Jesus and His Bride. 

Oh, reader, these promises go way beyond the mindset of Law-dependant Israel. This reaches to today and saturates the message of the gospel with renewed vigor. Let this set of verses become the texts for Sunday sermons. Let this message pour out from a heart filled with the grace of God and then see the results. 

There is THE event, in verse eleven. God is about to rebuild His people on the foundation of the apostles and prophets-Jesus being the chief cornerstone, and we are fitly joined with Him to make the Holy Temple. 

Verse 15 declares that the enemies of God's people are not sent by Him to punish His people. The invaders will be defeated. Take that, ISIS! 

"IN THAT COMING DAY (verse 17)" is the key wording necessary to properly interpret these passages. It is also a key verse for one of the great verses of Scripture. Hanging on to these verses are literally millions who suffer danger and despair. Comfort beyond measure is hidden in these "blessed assurances." Courtroom lies abound in these days. Contrived accusations and purloined witnesses crowd the judicial systems of the world. BUT God!

(This verse was given me in a post office encounter with a believing brother many years ago. He spoke them as prophecy and as a special word from the Lord. He knew nothing about my going to court that day (confronting a law suit against me based on twisted words). I entered that courtroom and before the day was over, I heard my accuser offer $10,000 for damages to me and drop the suit. Do I believe this verse? Yes! I can prove it.)

This is the heritage of the saints! 

If one reads through to chapter 57, it will become evident that the nation Israel is viewed as "spiritual Israel," incorporating all of God's covenant people. The prophet weaves the whole cloth, by references to both his contemporary circumstances and those of the age which would begin with Calvary's power.

Isaiah 56:3-8
And My blessings are for Gentiles, too, when they accept the Lord; don't let them think that I will make them second-class citizens. And this is for the eunuchs too. They can be as much mine as anyone. 4 For I say this to the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths holy, who choose the things that please me and obey my laws: 5 I will give them--in my house, within my walls--a name far greater than the honor they would receive from having sons and daughters. For the name that I will give them is an everlasting one; it will never disappear. 

6 "As for the Gentiles, the outsiders who join the people of the Lord and serve Him and love His name, who are His servants and don't desecrate the Sabbath, and have accepted His covenant and promises, 7 I will bring them also to My holy mountain of Jerusalem and make them full of joy within My House of Prayer. 

"I will accept their sacrifices and offerings, for my Temple shall be called 'A House of Prayer for All People'!" 8 For the Lord God who brings back the outcasts of Israel says, "I will bring others too besides my people Israel."
TLB

Jesus, being full of truth and GRACE, challenged the religious establishment of His day. In His righteous indignation, He brought the strap against those who desecrated the "House of Prayer." No, Isaiah's prophesied house of prayer is His Spiritual one that cannot be desecrated. That is why "in three days" was spoken by Jesus. Paul said the Law gave way to a greater law of Grace. 

Chapter 55
Who could not love this chapter? It is so rich with blessings you want to say like Peter, "No Lord, not just my feet--wash me all over." One wants to bathe in these verses.

Isaiah 55:1-56:1 1 "Say there! Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink--even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine and milk--it's all free! 2 Why spend your money on food that doesn't give you strength? Why pay for groceries that do you no good? Listen and I'll tell you where to get good food that fattens up the soul!" 

3 "Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, for the life of your soul is at stake. I am ready to make an everlasting covenant with you, to give you all the unfailing mercies and love that I had for King David. 

4 He proved my power by conquering foreign nations. 

5 You also will command the nations, and they will come running to obey, not because of your own power or virtue, but because I, the Lord your God, have glorified you." 

6 Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call upon Him now while he is near. 7 Let men cast off their wicked deeds; let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that He may have mercy upon them, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon! 8 "This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are My thoughts the same as yours! 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours. 

10 "As the rain and snow come down from heaven and stay upon the ground to water the earth, and cause the grain to grow and to produce seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry, 11 so also is My Word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It shall accomplish all I want it to and prosper everywhere I send it. 12 You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills, the trees of the field--all the world around you--will rejoice. 13 Where once were thorns, fir trees will grow; where briars grew, the myrtle trees will sprout up. This miracle will make the Lord's name very great and be an everlasting sign [of God's power and love]. 
TLB

This IS the Grace Plan! Grace is free. It is not of works. The question is eternally valid, "Why waste time on things that will not satisfy and feed the soul?" Thousands of endeavors by the churches of today need to answer this question. 

To receive this nourishment, it is necessary to approach God with open ears. Hear what is being said, "He will make an everlasting covenant with us." This is the everlasting life part of John 3:16. This is the "unfailing mercies" extended to King David (Much is said of the blessings of Abraham, but who preaches the blessing of David?). 

Notice, that one of the blessings