They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea.
Today’s title is Isaiah 24:14 and tells the reaction of those who experience the LORD’s presence, when He comes near them in the fires and they realize Him. The chapter before and after describes the condition of the earth and the people, and identifies the cause as the institutions of church and state and those in them governing. We are told this is taking place on earth, after the degeneration of these groups into confusion and disappointment: meaning they have become ineffectual: unable to accomplish the mandates of their establishment.
Isaiah 24
1 Behold, the LORD makes [know that] the earth [is] empty, and makes [it known] it [has become] waste, and turns it upside down, and scatter abroad the inhabitants thereof.
2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.
3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD has spoken this word.
4 The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.
5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore has the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
7 The new wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted do sigh.
8 The mirth of tabrets ceases, the noise of them that rejoice ends, the joy of the harp ceases. [All the joys of life are gone, made bitter by defiling {politicizing} everything with delusional and unrealistic expectations that these ideas will produce peace – instead they intoxicated and agitated into chaos].
9 They shall not drink wine with a song [the ideas and words they are drinking are transformed into what intoxicates {stupefying} them into agitation because in this state nothing makes sense]; strong drink shall be [make those who drink it] bitter to them that drink it.
10 The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.
11 There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.
12 In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.
13 When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people [when these things come to pass and you see them], there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree [a harvesting of olives to make oil {to anoint} that will feed the light {a clear mind and understanding}], and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done [a gathering of the grapes that haven’t already been made into the bitter wine – to make a new wine – not to intoxicate but to sooth].
14 They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea [among the masses].
15 Wherefore glorify you the LORD in the fires [the agitation of the intoxicated masses], even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea [the dry land {places without God’s word/water} that have raised up and control the masses – again, see Jonah 2:10].
16 From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs [Psalms 97], even glory [the LORD’s presence – Jehovah’s Salvation {Jesus}] to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.
17 Fear, and the pit [the table of the wicked, that cause of the blindness, and wherein people who are led into blindness fall], and the snare [the corrective word of God, that becomes a snare to those who have learned and only know the ways and ideas of the blind], are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth.
18 And it shall come to pass, that he who flees from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that comes up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open [from where has come the latter rain – the word of God flowing from heaven in it pure form giving light – understanding], and the foundations of the earth do shake [so the wicked and the things they have created {their works of darkness – blindness} are shaken out of it – see Job 38:12 thru 15].
19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage [mluwnah, only used one other time – see Isaiah 1:8]; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. [As a besieged city falls so the new city {heavenly Jerusalem} can be built upon its ruin.]
21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host [the enemy army in our midst] of the high ones that are on high [the mighty who have led the age into the shadow of death, now holding the people there, and who will hold them down {in their pit} until they are taken out of the way], and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. [see 2 Peter 2:1 thru 4, & 17 thru 20, and Jude 12 thru 21 – Jonah 2:8 They that observe lying vanities {worthless words} forsake their own mercy. {Jonah 2 tells of the pit they will not come out of, because they reject the LORD’s mercy, His correction.}]
23 Then the moon shall be confounded [the civil government shall be feckless in confusion], and the sun ashamed [the blind church in darkness – ashamed when her promised ends are realized to be lies], when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. [see Isaiah 60:19 & 20]
Isaiah 23 speaks of these patterns, which we now see clearly. It tells us the visitation spoken of in verse 22 above is the LORD visiting the false rock (Tyre) who the people depend on in God’s place.
Isaiah 23
1 The burden of Tyre [the false rock, depending on lies]. Howl, you ships of Tarshish [the institutions that have carried God’s people away {as Jonah} from His ways and ideas]; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim [seeing the destruction depending on these same lies brought upon other places] it is revealed to them.
2 Be still, you inhabitants of the isle [dry lands risen over the masses – without God’s word, ways, and ideas]; you whom the merchants of Zidon [who hunt souls and make men their prey/merchandise], that pass over the sea, have replenished.
3 And by great waters the seed of Sihor [words of darkness], the harvest of the river [the words that flow into the sea/masses], is her revenue; and she is a mart [a seller and buyer of people] of nations.
4 Be you ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea has spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins. [these men who have made people their prey haven’t produced what they expected.]
5 As at the report concerning Egypt [that her mighty men have been overthrown in the sea], so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.
6 Pass you over to Tarshish [thinking you are escaping God]; howl, you inhabitants of the isle [the places without God’s word].
7 Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days [as in the days of the serpent in the garden – giving advice {as Tyre} that leads humanity into death]? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn [the ways of those who take your advice have carried them away into darkness].
8 Who has taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honorable of the earth?
9 The LORD of hosts has purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.
10 Pass through your land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.
11 He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD has given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.
12 And he said, You shall no more rejoice, O you oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shall you have no rest.
13 Behold the land of the Chaldeans [those who have used their words to manipulate and control all God’s people]; this people was not, till the Assyrian [the communists] founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he [the communists] brought it to ruin.
14 Howl, you ships of Tarshish [those who have fled from the LORD]: for your strength is laid waste.
15 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre [the false rock that people now depend upon] shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king [confusion]: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as a harlot [as one who has been unfaithful].
16 Take a harp, go about the city, you harlot [Mystery Babylon] that have been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that you may be remembered.
17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire [return to the work of the LORD], and shall commit fornication [interact] with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.
18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.
Friends, it’s a simple story that men keep forgetting and repeating. This nation has never been in a state of darkness this drastic, where the wicked, the God haters and the lawless, have taken control of church and state, and God’s people have fled away into self-serving fables and silence of His truth. They, as Jonah did, now find themselves in the midst of an agitated and tempestuous sea, which should refocus their attention on God and reinvigorate (strengthen) them to do His will as He has commanded.
The only answer, the only end of this age of confusion and chaos, is for the church to unite and as God’s army engage the culture. He comes, with His saints to rescue not destroy. If destruction were the goal, He would just need to leave us to continue: doing nothing to stop those destroying themselves and with them the world.
When the LORD said he would be three days in the belly of what is agitating the earth, in Sheol as was Jonah, He was telling of being with us, in death, until our confusion ended and we see Him again. This ending is the resurrection of the dead, the expected end the church has been promised.
Jeremiah 29
4 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away [for the seventy years spoken of above in Isaiah 23:15 thru 17] from Jerusalem [from being taught and founded upon God’s ways of peace and civilization] unto Babylon [confusion and darkness];
5 Build you houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
6 Take you wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that you may be increased there, and not diminished.
7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall you have peace [as we have until now when we need to be awakened].
8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.
9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, says the LORD.
10 For thus says the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon [now] I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you [as it was with Jonah].
13 And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, says the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, says the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
15 Because you have said, The LORD has raised us up prophets in Babylon [our confusion];
16 Know that thus says the LORD of the king that sits upon the throne of David [I am], and of all the people that dwell in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity [who have not remained with the LORD [resting in His peace] even in our time in confusion and in death];
17 Thus says the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
18 And I will persecute them with the sword [this word], with the famine [not hearing it], and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:
19 Because they have not hearkened to my words, says the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but you would not hear, says the LORD.
Jonah 2
1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly [from the confusion covering the world in the shadow of death],
2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of Sheol [among the dead] cried I, and you heard my voice.
3 For you had cast me into the deep [into where meaning is found – below the surface], in the midst of the seas [among the masses]; and the floods compassed me about: all your billows and your waves passed over me [the agitation of confusion that comes when leaving God and following ignorant men].
4 Then I said, I am cast out of your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple. [2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.]
5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. [see Isaiah 24:17 & 18 above – out of the pit and into the snare]
6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet have you brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.
7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto you, into your holy temple.
8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
9 But I will sacrifice unto you with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
10 And the LORD spoke unto the fish [the cause of the confusion], and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land [where there is no word of God flowing or heard].
The snare entered by those coming out of the pit, is coming from death to life and returning to corrupt ideas, taking “seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”
2 Timothy 2
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit you to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 You therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strives lawfully.
6 The husbandman that labors must be first partaker of the fruits. [Romans 6: 20 For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD.]
7 Consider what I say; and the LORD give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, yet he abides faithful: he cannot deny himself. [If we are His He abide with us in our confusion and our death, until He is awakened in us and we see Him in those preaching in His name {presence} to us.]
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the LORD that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to shew yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth [what tells us what we have been promised and brings us to it – His presence].
16 But shun profane and vain babblings [of ignorant men]: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as does a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus [those whose words of ignorance keep God’s people from joining with Him, as they hide behind the spurious mask of false love, which are the snare of the devil];
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection [joining with the LORD in life] is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The LORD knows them that are his. And, let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these [what is not valuable and dishonorable], he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the LORD out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes [Knowing they come from those who are not seeking truth, but are meant to produce a never-ending argument as they endlessly argue with lies and vilify the truth].
24 And the servant of the LORD must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Romans 13
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers [God in us is the highest power on earth]. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God [I am].
2 Whosoever therefore resists [the mark of satan] the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword [this word of God] in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil.
5 Wherefore you must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay you tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.
9 For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill [not even the unborn], You shall not steal [not even by taxation], You shall not bear false witness [not even for political purposes and to gain power – as do the communists and their fake news media beast of confusion], You shall not covet [lust for mammon – what the world trusts in and works for]; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor [rich or poor] as yourself.
10 Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness [confusion], and let us put on the armor of light [understanding].
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put you on the LORD Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
Matthew 6
9 After this manner therefore pray you: Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 Moreover when you fast [go without – abstaining for purity’s sake], be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Truly I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face;
18 That you appear not unto men to fast, but unto your Father which is in secret: and your Father, which sees in secret, shall reward you openly.
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust do corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye [how you see – understand]: if therefore your eye be single [all see these same things], your whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if your eye be evil [seeing for the sake of worldly treasure], your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light [the understanding you claim to have] that is in you be darkness [be confusion], how great is that darkness! [So dark it has darkened the light of heaven and earth]
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [the things the world trusts in – anything or anyone other than the LORD].
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take you thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.
33 But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Psalms 67
1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2 That your way may be known upon earth, your saving health among all nations.
3 Let the people praise you, O God; let all the people praise you.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for you shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
5 Let the people praise you, O God; let all the people praise you.
6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
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