“Deliverance & Wholeness – Finally!”

Scripture text: Isaiah 27:1-13

In his discussion of the book of Job, Thomas Long discusses the two biblical monsters of chaos – Behemoth and Leviathan. They both were seen by the ancients as powerful signs of destruction and the ultimate of disorder. For the Hebrews of Isaiah’s time, these two beings were to be feared, almost as apocalyptic symbols.
But God, in Job, the Psalms and Isaiah, doesn’t seem to be taken back at all by these two beasts. In Job (40:15), the Lord says that He created this monster Behemoth, and in Psalm 104:26, we read that God is watching Leviathan frolicking in the sea! For God, they poise no more of a problem than a domesticated pet might. If we ever had any doubt that God is truly in control, here is encouragement that He is.

Long writes:
The images here are so incredible we resist them. We are witnessing [here, though,] the claim that the alternative to our moral scheme of order and disorder is not chaos. It is not even a new and divine scheme of order and disorder. It is rather a vision of only order, of everything — even that which we are now forced to call evil — gathered into the hand of a just God. It is a vision that comes to us from outside the plane of human time, and yet one which serves to give radical hope in the present.

—Thomas G. Long, “Job: Second Thoughts in the land of Uz,” 1988 Theology. Originally published in Theology Today 45 (1988): 5-20. Reprinted with permission.

That’s what Jesus is about –a radical hope, existing in the middle of our chaotic lives, for all who seek peace in Him, not only for His Day of glory that is on its way, but even more so in our day of struggle.

Read Isaiah 27:1-6

The sea has always been a symbol of chaos – from the creation in Genesis to the maritime interests of today. The oceans are vast and uncontrollable – just ask any sailor who has had to endure a storm at sea.
During my Navy days, when we were returning from a Mediterranean cruise, we went through a hurricane. Our ship had 2 inclinometers – devices which show the extent of the rolls that the ship is taking. One of the inclinometers was located on the bridge, and the other amidships just forward of the mess decks. The ship was designed to take 80 degree rolls and still right itself, but you never wanted to actually be on board when it did! One day, as I was passing the lower inclinometer, I stopped to watch for a moment – to see just how far we were rolling. One roll went 35 degrees, the next a little more, and the third went to 45 degrees. Now at 45 degrees, you have two choices – you can either walk on the deck, or you can walk on the bulkheads (the walls) – either one will serve you just as well! And in case you were wondering, the ship did right itself! But trust me – those 2-3 days of storm were, for me, the epitome of chaos!

The sea and everything in it seems to do what it wants, but Isaiah is telling us that even the vastness and power of water comes under the authority of God’s mighty hand. And He is offering peace to all who would oppose His control – to all who sin. And He wants us to have confidence in this assurance. We are to rejoice in the safe place – the sanctuary - that He has created for us, for He is the one who is keeping it safe and secure. God entrusts that task to no one other than Himself.
And does He fear anything? Hardly! “If only there were dangers confronting me!” The opposition that evil can muster up against Him is less potent than that which thorns and brambles could present! Hardly enough to even waste His breath on! But even the opposition is offered the chance for peace with God. “Let them make peace with me.” Give up the fight, and come to me – you can’t win, but in me, you will find victory!
And along with the chosen people of God, anyone who will turn away from the evil that controls them will also “bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.”

Read Isaiah 27:7-11

Those who the LORD has chosen, but who still take a stand against the eternal God will not be destroyed – at least not yet, but they will be chastised, and severely at that. The metaphors that are listed here are very descriptive.
- “.. He drives her out as on a day the east wind blows.” – This would be a hot blast that comes at them from the desert, a reminder of the wilderness and desolation. It is a promise of exile.
- The altar stones, Asherah poles and incense altars are those symbols of pagan gods that had taken the people far away from Yahweh. Their reliance on these devices had corrupted their worship and had created an insurmountable barrier between Israel and God. They had to be destroyed.
- The fortified city, as well as the tree, may very well represent Israel herself. Once proud, once strong, once more wealthy than nearly any other nation, she would be laid lower than low. Once tall, pointing the way toward heaven, bearing fruit and giving shade and comfort to many, would be stripped bare for fodder, the branches would wither and die and would have no earthly use except to feed the fires.
- There would be no understanding by the people, and no compassion or favor from their God.
But even in the depravity that awaited them, the prophet also offers a word of hope.

Read Isaiah 12-13

A trumpet will sound, calling all of God’s people home from their exile and slavery. Finally! An end to oppression, an end to separation, an end to abject poverty, an end to hopelessness!
Can’t you just hear the shouts ringing out throughout the nation – “We’re going HOME!” But this homecoming won’t just be any old gala, and it wouldn’t be only the restoration of Israel to the glory of God. It is to be the Day of the LORD’s coming, too. “Those who were perishing .., and those who were exiled ... will come to worship the LORD” on His Holy Mountain.” And He will meet us there.

On August 28, 1963, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous speech “I Have a Dream” in Washington, DC. It told the story of the exile and slavery that has oppressed a people for hundreds of years. It told of the glimmers of hope that this people had seen over the years, but had never quite grasped, never quite enjoyed. It tells of the impatience of the people, as they eagerly wait to go home again, and even in that anxiety, it tells of the hope that must continue to be present in their lives.
He said “You have been the veterans of creative suffering.” But he also said “Let us not wallow in the valley of despair” I think Dr. King was telling the people to never loose hope, that the dream will come to fruition.
He ended his speech with those now famous words that he quoted from a spiritual
“Free at Last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
He ended his message of hope in the present tense – there is hope and we ARE free. Dr. King knew that the oppression and hatred and “creative suffering” that they all had felt, that it wasn’t over and done with, that it hadn’t stopped, that it was still being forced on the people, but nonetheless, he is free, and no one and no thing could take that away from him – not bigotry, not racism, and not even James Earl Ray.

That is a message that Christians in our country need to learn and live – that in Jesus Christ, there is a glorious hope, and in Him, we are free at last! Yes, there is still persecution toward the church; yes, there is still a worldly distrust of the gospel of Jesus Christ; yes, there is still a battle being waged against the Hope of Christ, but there is hope and we are free, and no one can take that freedom - that salvation in Jesus Christ - away from us! It is promised – “In that day, a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing .. and those who were exiled .. will come and worship the LORD on the mountain.”

Deliverance and wholeness – now, not later. The promise is for today. Yes, we aren’t completely home yet, but we’ve begun the journey, and soon, that glorious trumpet will sound, and we will know for certain that His people have arrived!

Now that’s a reason to rejoice and give thanks to God on this Thanksgiving Day 2009.