*(old nfo)

COURAGE

Courage does not always shout . . . Sometimes it is a very quiet voice at the end of the day saying . . . I will try again tomorrow.

Rev 22:20 "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"

Monday, April 5, 2010

Isaiah 28:14-20

A couple of weeks ago the pastor (visiting) used this text for his sermon. I was so intrigued by it that I looked it up in some other versions just to see if any of the meaning changed. Since we use the King James in our church I went online and used Bible Gateway to look up the others.

The message is the same. The strikethroughs are mine as is the blue text. I was going to do it in red but the words of our Lord are in red in most Bibles. And you may trust me when I say that what you read in blue are NOT the words of our Lord. I used "herself" and "her" so that there would be no mistake about the speaker.

“Isaiah 28:14-20 (King James Version)
14Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men [and women] that rule this people which is in Jerusalem the United States of America.

15Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

16Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

17Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

18And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

19From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.

20For the bed is shorter than that a man [or a woman] can stretch himself [or herself] on it: and the covering narrower than that he [or she] can wrap himself [or herself] in it.

Isaiah 28:14-20 (New Living Translation)
14Therefore, listen to this message from the LORD,
you scoffing rulers in Jerusalem the United States of America.
15 You boast, “We have struck a bargain to cheat death
and have made a deal to dodge the grave.[a]
The coming destruction can never touch us,
for we have built a strong refuge made of lies and deception.”

Truer words were never spoken. The entire system is built on lies. It’s sad to see so many people believing these lies. But people have believed them for centuries. It is also heartening to see some are actually beginning to take a good look at the truth and see the lies for what they are. When the light of truth is shown on a lie there is no place for it to hide.

16 “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem,[b]
a firm and tested stone.
It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on.
Whoever believes need never be shaken.[c]
17 I will test you with the measuring line of justice
and the plumb line of righteousness.
Since your refuge is made of lies,
a hailstorm will knock it down.
Since it is made of deception,
a flood will sweep it away.
18 I will cancel the bargain you made to cheat death,
and I will overturn your deal to dodge the grave.
When the terrible enemy sweeps through,
you will be trampled into the ground.
19 Again and again that flood will come,
morning after morning,
day and night,
until you are carried away.”
This message will bring terror to your people.
20 The bed you have made is too short to lie on.
The blankets are too narrow to cover you.
Isaiah 28:14-20

(Today's New International Version)
14 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers
who rule this people in Jerusalem the United States of America.
15 You boast, "We have entered into a covenant with death,
with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie our refuge
and falsehood our hiding place."
16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
will never be stricken with panic.
17 I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie,
and water will overflow your hiding place.
18 Your covenant with death will be annulled;
your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand.
When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
you will be beaten down by it.
19 As often as it comes it will carry you away;
morning after morning, by day and by night,
it will sweep through."
The understanding of this message
will bring sheer terror.
20 The bed is too short to stretch out on,
the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.

Isaiah 28:14-20 (Amplified Bible)
14Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem the United States of America!

15Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol (the place of the dead) we have an agreement--when the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter.”

If ever anyone ever made a pact with the devil it’s that nest of vipers in Washington DC, from Satan’s houseboy to the goat lady from hell to the senatorial snake. And before you get all over me for being racist know this: the campaigner-in-chief could be pink, blue, mauve, yellow, maroon, puce or chartreuse. It would make no difference. Still a houseboy for Satan. Besides, for those of you who haven’t bothered looking into it, he’s not black. He’d like to be, but he’s not. Black was what got him into the Whitehouse. Black is not what he is. But, I digress.

“Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic].

17I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the hiding place (the shelter).

18And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol (the place of the dead) shall not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, then you will be trodden down by it.

19As often as it passes through, it [the enemy's scourge] will take you; for morning by morning will it pass through, by day and by night. And it will be utter terror merely to hear and comprehend the report and the message of it [but only hard treatment and dispersion will make you understand God's instruction].

20For [they will find that] the bed is too short for a man [or woman] to stretch himself [or herself] on and the covering too narrow for him [or her] to wrap himself [or herself] in. [All their sources of confidence will fail them.]”

Isn’t it comforting to know who is really in control? Believe in Him or not He is in charge. Keep this in mind: What do a dead atheist and a born again believer have in common? They both believe in God. We may all get swept away into socialism for a season but in the end the others will be swept away into perdition.

He is risen!

Love

Granny

3 comments:

Old NFO said...

Good post! And yes God IS in control... we may not understand his decisions, but we will find out when he calls us home!

One of the Moons said...

Someone's eating the comments, so if you left one for either Granny or Zion Beckons, we didn't reject them; they simply got sucked up into a cybervortex.

Love

Granny

tha malcontent said...

Amen Sweetheart!