God’s Judgment and Hope: Lessons from Isaiah 13

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“They come from distant countries, from beyond the farthest horizons. They are the Lord’s weapons to carry out his anger. With them he will destroy the whole land. Scream in terror, for the day of the Lord has arrived— the time for the Almighty to destroy. 
For see, the day of the Lord is coming— the terrible day of his fury and fierce anger. The land will be made desolate, and all the sinners destroyed with it. The heavens will be black above them; the stars will give no light. The sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will provide no light.
Everyone in Babylon will run about like a hunted gazelle, like sheep without a shepherd. They will try to find their own people and flee to their own land.
Babylon, the most glorious of kingdoms, the flower of Chaldean pride, will be devastated like Sodom and Gomorrah when God destroyed them. 
Hyenas will howl in its fortresses, and jackals will make dens in its luxurious palaces. Babylon’s days are numbered; its time of destruction will soon arrive.”
Isaiah 13:5-6, 9-10, 14, 19, 22 NLT

The apocalyptic language of Isaiah 13 is grim reading. The prophetic judgement that will fall on “Babylon”  will come on “the day of the Lord”, with terrible things about to happen. Those familiar with the plagues described in Revelation will immediately notice the similarity of the events. One verse that is repeated several times in Scripture is verse 10, “The heavens will be black above them; the stars will give no light. The sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will provide no light”. Jesus said to His disciples, and after the time of tribulation, quoting Joel 2:10, “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29). There is also a reference to cosmic disasters in Revelation 6.

But Babylon represents the ultimate, global system of sin and opposition to God. Isaiah 13 historically forecasted the fall of the ancient Babylonian empire, but Revelation 17-18 uses the name Babylon the Great as a symbol for the end-time, worldly system of evil and commercial corruption that faces final judgment. In Revelation 17:4-5, we read, “The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewellery made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand, she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality. A mysterious name was written on her forehead: “Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World””. And then, over the page, we find, “He gave a mighty shout: “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal” (Revelation 18:2). The scriptures weren’t referring to a literal Babylon because that was destroyed many years before Jesus came, but the sin and evil that made the city of Babylon great, at least in the world’s eyes, were the very things that God would eventually have to judge and destroy. Today, in our countries and societies, the spirit of Babylon is alive and unfortunately well, but it won’t last forever.

In Isaiah 13:6, we read, “Scream in terror, for the day of the Lord has arrived— the time for the Almighty to destroy”. The “day of the Lord” is also referred to in Revelation 6:17, “For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?” And there are other references and similarities between Isaiah 13 and Revelation’s plagues of trumpets and bowls. It’s a fascinating read to compare the plagues in Egypt, the destruction of Babylon in Isaiah 13 and the chapters in Revelation that describe the end-time judgements.

But Isaiah 13 and the events in Revelation were not primarily given to satisfy our curiosity about the future. Instead, they reveal the character and purposes of God. We learn that God is patient, but He will not tolerate evil forever. Another feature is that human power and pride are only temporary, and nations and empires are accountable to God. Ultimately, He will defeat evil and will rescue and vindicate His people. As we look back over history, we see that it is moving towards God’s appointed conclusion. So we learn that “Babylon”, the world system, may appear powerful and evil may appear entrenched. The world may appear chaotic as we look on at man-made and natural events, but God has appointed a day when He will put everything right. That day may not come in our lifetimes (of course, it might – we just don’t know), but come it will.

The same God who judged Babylon will ultimately defeat every power that opposes His kingdom. For us pilgrims, therefore, the Day of the Lord is not simply a message of judgment. It is also a message of hope. Evil will not have the final word. Suffering will not last forever. The kingdoms of this world will pass away, but the kingdom of God will endure. Until that day, we are called not to live in fear, but in faithfulness.

Dear Lord, when the world seems troubled and evil appears strong, help us to remember that You are sovereign over history. Give us faith to trust You, and courage to remain faithful. Please help us to stand firm in the promise that Your kingdom will ultimately triumph. Amen.

Hearing God in a Noisy World: The Signal from Isaiah

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“Isaiah son of Amoz received this message concerning the destruction of Babylon: “Raise a signal flag on a bare hilltop. Call up an army against Babylon. Wave your hand to encourage them as they march into the palaces of the high and mighty. I, the Lord, have dedicated these soldiers for this task. Yes, I have called mighty warriors to express my anger, and they will rejoice when I am exalted.” Hear the noise on the mountains! Listen, as the vast armies march! It is the noise and shouting of many nations. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has called this army together.”
Isaiah 13:1-4 NLT

Our verses today mark a significant change in the book of Isaiah. With chapter 13, the prophet began a series of prophecies concerning the nations, starting with Babylon. Although Babylon was powerful and proud, Isaiah reminded us that no earthly power operates beyond the sovereignty of God. Babylon was one of the great cities of the ancient world. It was especially glorious during the time of the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar, following the downfall of the Assyrian Empire. Its ruins can be visited today in modern Iraq, south of Baghdad.

The main idea behind this prophecy was that God is Lord over all people and cultures of the earth. He directs their coming and going, their victories and defeats, and their prosperity and poverty. The audience for this prophecy was not the nations themselves, but Israel. The message was clear: Do not look to other nations, or their gods, for salvation. Trust in the Lord alone. The idea that God is still on His throne will be a great comfort to so many people as they weather their own storms of anxiety over the instability and threats of conflict to their own nations. The war in Europe, between Russia and Ukraine, drags on in its fifth year, with little territorial progress being made, but its proximity to nations that previously enjoyed a lengthy period of peace is very worrying for many.

The prophecy in Isaiah 13 described God’s judgment against Babylon for the current and future sins of its people and leaders. Their defining sin was pride. Babylonian culture became famous worldwide for its sophistication and elegance. The important people of Babylon became arrogant and haughty. They were elevating themselves in their own eyes, but the Lord hates human pride, as we know. Isaiah began by calling for a banner, a “signal flag”, to be raised on a bare hilltop. A large banner could be seen from great distances and was raised as a message, one of which was the signal to begin a battle. However, it is crucial to note that those attacking Babylon would not consider themselves to be fighting for the God of Israel. Nor was God robotically controlling their every movement or action, even on a small scale. He was the one arranging events, so they occur His way; God does not require anyone’s permission to determine their fate or function. He “dedicated these soldiers for this task”, consecrating them for the task of attacking Babylon.

But what does our reading today mean for us pilgrims? Is there a message we can glean from the aggressive context of these verses? Perhaps the Lord is grabbing our attention, with an equivalent of the noise coming from the mountains, the “shouting of many nations”. Sometimes in life all we can hear is noise. The noise of worry. The noise of conflicting opinions. The noise of difficult circumstances. The noise of unanswered questions. When life becomes noisy, it can become difficult to recognise what God is doing. But we pilgrims are a people of faith, and faith looks beyond the noise. Faith remembers that God is still on the throne. Faith trusts that even when we cannot understand His purposes, He has not lost control.

There is another important truth in these verses. God calls His chosen ones to accomplish His purposes. In Isaiah’s prophecy, we read, “Raise a signal flag on a bare hilltop”. Is there a possibility that God is trying to grab our attention? We can find many examples in Bible times of God performing a miracle to draw the attention of an ordinary person He wanted to commission for an important purpose. The story of Moses comes to mind, and we can read it in Exodus 3. Moses, at that time, was a shepherd tending to his flock in the wilderness near Sinai, “the mountain of God”, and he suddenly found a bush that had caught fire but didn’t burn up. Moses went over to see what this strange phenomenon was, only to hear “… God [calling] to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied” (Exodus 3:4). We notice that Moses’ response was “Here I am”. Isaiah’s response to the call of God in Isaiah 6 was “Here I am”. In both cases, a man, chosen by God, was given a mission to fulfil His purposes at that time in history. 

What about today? There are many Christians who refuse to do anything until they “see the writing on the wall”, a much misused phrase from the Book of Daniel. They demand a sign from God before they will do anything for Him. But ordinary Christians today will be called to do all sorts of things for God, and the only sign they have is a “signal flag on a bare hilltop”. In a spiritual sense, perhaps that is a call that originates in God speaking to us through His Word, calling us to service, prayer, and to encourage others and to share the love of God with those around us. Perhaps, the “signal flag on a bare hilltop” comes through a series of circumstances, such as a passing comment from a friend, followed by an email or letter, followed by a sermon in church, followed by …Or, as in my case, a path was prepared by God, that took me from the South of England to a job in Scotland, to a house close to a Pentecostal minister and his family, and so on. Did I see a “signal flag on a bare hilltop”? No, but the end result was just as profound as the vision Isaiah received in the temple, or the burning bush that grabbed Moses’ attention.

The issue is not whether God is still working, but whether we are listening. Perhaps, amid all the noise of life, God is still speaking. He is still sovereign even through a world that lurches from one war to the next. There are many needs around us, and God is calling His people, pilgrims like us, to participate in His purposes. Is there a “signal flag” in our lives drawing our attention to something that we have previously ignored? I’m sure “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies” is still calling His army today, as He did so many years ago.

Dear Lord God, when the world around us seems noisy and uncertain, help us to remember that You are still sovereign. Give us the faith to trust Your purposes, even when we cannot understand what You are doing. Open our ears to hear Your voice and give us courage to respond when You call. Help us to look beyond the noise, see Your hand at work, and faithfully take the next step of obedience. Amen

The Fountain of Salvation: A Biblical Perspective

Posted on by Adrian Clark
Stone tiered fountain with water flowing, surrounded by lush garden and flowers at sunrise

“In that day you will sing: “I will praise you, O Lord! You were angry with me, but not anymore. Now you comfort me. See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! In that wonderful day you will sing: “Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done. Let them know how mighty he is! Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world. Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy! For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you.””
Isaiah 12:1-6 NLT

Isaiah 12 commences with “in that day”, a reference once again to the time when the Messiah will return. The exact date was unknown to Isaiah, but he could see that the “day of the Lord” would come. When the Lord arrived, the people would be in a place where they would understand that they had been punished for their sin, His anger being expressed through the death, destruction, and exile of His people. In fact, they composed a song to the Lord, a song of praise summarising that they had moved from a time of God’s anger through to the acknowledgement of his salvation. They would once again trust in Him without fear and instead declare, “The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory”. But there is another verse to the song, in which they would “Tell the nations what he has done”. To Abraham, God said, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). God confirmed His promise to Abraham in Genesis 22:18, “And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me”. It was always God’s intention, when He blessed Abraham, that the blessing would eventually extend to all people everywhere through the Jews. 

Paul made the connection between Abraham and the salvation of the nations in Galatians 3:8, “What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you””. Just to make sure there was no misunderstanding, he continued in Galatians 3:16, “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds’, meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed’, meaning one person, who is Christ”. 

The “fountain of salvation”. What a wonderful phrase describing God’s grace and promise of eternal life to all who believed in Him and His Son, Jesus, who was the “seed” referred to by Paul. Jesus is considered the “fountain of salvation” because He is the ultimate source of spiritual life, offering the “living water” described in the Bible that quenches spiritual thirst forever. Through His teachings, sacrificial death, and resurrection, He provided forgiveness for sins and eternal life to all who believe. We know, of course, John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him”. But a “fountain”? To the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, Jesus said, “… If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10). In reply to some more questions from the woman, “Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life’” (John 4:13-14). 

John recorded that Jesus attended the Feast of Tabernacles incognito, and we read, “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them’” (John 7:37-38). John helpfully then made the connection between the “living water” and the Holy Spirit in the next verse, “By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified”. 

The Holy Spirit is indeed a “fountain” of God’s provision, being without limit and guaranteeing God’s gift of salvation. Ephesians 1:13-14, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory”. 

So for us pilgrims, the gift of salvation comes from a fountain of blessings, love, grace, and so much more that originates in the heart of God. Jesus came to save the world, and that He did, on a Roman cross, leaving behind Him an empty tomb on His day of resurrection. But God’s plan started so much earlier, right back in Genesis. Having to expel Adam from the Garden must have broken God’s heart, but He had a plan, and we pilgrims are a part of it. We are in the period between Christ’s first and second coming, enjoying the fruits of the “fountain of salvation”, and we tell others about it as well. There is an old hymn, written by William Cowper in 1771, “There is a fountain filled with blood / Drawn from Immanuel’s veins; / And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, / Lose all their guilty stains”. Let’s never forget the words as we go into the day ahead, saved by His love and grace.

Dear Lord Jesus. You are the fountain of salvation, who promises us eternal life one day with You. Thank You for Your willingness to die for each one of us, supplying a fountain of spiritual blood forever. Amen.

Jesus is the Way

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“Then at last the jealousy between Israel and Judah will end. They will not be rivals anymore. They will join forces to swoop down on Philistia to the west. Together they will attack and plunder the nations to the east. They will occupy the lands of Edom and Moab, and Ammon will obey them. The Lord will make a dry path through the gulf of the Red Sea. He will wave his hand over the Euphrates River, sending a mighty wind to divide it into seven streams so it can easily be crossed on foot. He will make a highway for the remnant of his people, the remnant coming from Assyria, just as he did for Israel long ago when they returned from Egypt.
Isaiah 11:13-16 NLT

Isaiah continues to write about that wonderful time when “… the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world” (Isaiah 11:10a). The phrase “In that day …” occurs several times, pointing to the time when Jesus will establish His kingdom, a kingdom that will bring His righteousness and truth forever. Verse 13 starts by prophesying that “the jealousy between Israel and Judah will end”. When did it all go wrong between the two Jewish kingdoms? The nation of Israel split around 930 BC due to heavy taxation, forced labour, and King Rehoboam’s refusal to ease the economic burdens of the northern tribes. What happened was recorded in 1 Kings 12, but in Isaiah’s prophecy, the two kingdoms, North and South, will be united once again. Isaiah continues with local battles that will resolve, once and for all, the difficulties presented to both nations by the peoples around them: Edom, Moab, Ammon, and the Philistines. And geographical barriers to the return of the exiles were going to be removed. This was going to be the fruition of the Jewish dream: country reunited, strong once again, and the people able to live in peace.

The last verse in Isaiah 11 reads, “He will make a highway for the remnant of his people”. The prophet recalls Israel’s greatest act of deliverance—the crossing of the Red Sea. Just as God opened a path through waters that seemed impassable, He promises to prepare another “highway” for His people to return home. The message to the people in Judah and Israel is simple but profound: what God has done before, He is able to do again. There are several occasions in the Bible where we find God making roads where none seem to exist. He made a path through the sea for Moses. He brought water from a rock in the wilderness. He opened prison doors for Peter. Most wonderfully of all, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, He made a way for sinners to come home to the Father. What seems impossible to us is never impossible to God.

Have we pilgrims ever found ourselves facing what seemed like an impossible obstacle? A closed door, a broken relationship, a difficult decision, or a burden too heavy to carry? We often feel as though there is no way forward. But the encouragement for all God’s people is the same because there is a wonderful and beautiful promise – God is the One who can make a way through even the most impossible and insurmountable situation. It happens all the time, often when we don’t even realise what has happened. God works behind the scenes, looking after His people. What about that time when the car broke down, and someone came along at just the right time to help? What about the time when an unexpected bill arrived, but then an envelope dropped through the door with just enough money to cover the shortfall? Perhaps these examples haven’t been our experience, but they have been for someone somewhere. God will make a highway for His people. In times of difficulty, we need to look to our Heavenly Father in faith, knowing that He has the solution to our problem.

In verse 16, we read about the remnant of God’s people returning from exile. Isaiah speaks of exiles returning from distant lands, but there is another kind of exile that affects every human heart, and that is sin. Sin separates us from God, and shame and guilt keep us at a distance in a spiritual exile. For many, fear tells us we can never come back, but, as we know, Christ has built a highway of grace. He did not simply point us towards the Father; He became the Way. Jesus said, “… I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Every believer, previously in exile in a hard place because of their sins, has travelled that road, not by personal merit, but because God Himself opened it by showing them the way. As the old chorus says, “There’s a way back to God / From the dark paths of sin”. The “highway” is more than a road; it is the evidence that God goes ahead of His people. He prepares what they cannot prepare. He removes obstacles that they cannot move. Although sometimes we spend all our energy trying to clear the road ahead, Isaiah reminds us that God is already at work before we arrive. Our task is to trust and follow.

In verse 13, we read, “Then at last the jealousy between Israel and Judah will end”. For generations, God’s people were divided through political differences, tribal loyalties and suspicion. But when the Messiah comes, He will heal those divisions. This reminds us that one of Christ’s greatest works is reconciliation. He brings peace not only between people and God, but between people themselves. Every church and every family will become a living demonstration of that promise “in that day”, the day when Jesus returns. The transformation will be amazing, as pride gives way to humility, resentment gives way to forgiveness, rivalry gives way to partnership, and division gives way to unity. The church, and even churches in our towns and cities, will experience a transformation only dreamed of. 

We pilgrims have a challenge to our faith. For example, is there an obstacle that we have assumed is impossible for God? Or perhaps there are relationships in our lives where Christ is calling us to pursue reconciliation. One thing we are often guilty of is trying to force open doors instead of waiting for God to prepare the way. But do we really believe that God is already working ahead of us? These are questions that we must face as we build up our faith in the One who is the Way to eternal life. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the God who makes a way where there seems to be no way. Thank You for removing the barriers of our sin through Jesus Christ and for opening the road home to You. Help us to trust You with the obstacles we face today. Teach us, we pray, to pursue peace with others and to walk confidently along the path You have prepared. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Gathering Under the Banner of Christ

Posted on by Adrian Clark
Banner reading 'Harvest Festival Welcome' with a village lit up at dusk in the background

“Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord. In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place. In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to bring back the remnant of his people— those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt; in southern Egypt, Ethiopia, and Elam; in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands. He will raise a flag among the nations and assemble the exiles of Israel. He will gather the scattered people of Judah from the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 11:9-12 NLT

These verses today introduce the climax of what will be in the world to come. The previous verses in Isaiah 11 gave us a picture of the peace that will come when Jesus reigns on His throne. They spoke of restored relationships in the animal kingdom, to the point of the “wolf and the lamb [living] together,” a situation that is unimaginable today in our sinful world, skewed by so much wickedness. In fact, Paul wrote, “For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay” (Romans 8:19-21). But any observant person will see the pain of our cursed world if they only open their eyes during countryside walks, to find a world where the vegetation struggles to display the beauty of its creation. A natural world where even groans can be heard on occasion.

But Isaiah’s vision moves from inner peace to global restoration, from the transformed creation to the gathering of God’s people. One of the deepest pains we experience is separation. I often meet people whose children and siblings are separated from their family origins and family home by many miles. I have a friend with three daughters, one of whom lives close by within forty miles, but of the other two, one lives three hundred miles away and the other on the other side of the world in New Zealand. Yes, modern technology can eliminate distance through video calls, but it is not the same as giving a loved one a hug. Another friend has siblings in Canada, again, many miles away from the town where they were brought up. But there have always been times and occasions of separation. Adam and Eve were driven from their comfortable home in the Garden through their sin. The people in Babel came to grief after they sinfully tried to build a tower that reached the sky. “Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world”” (Genesis 11:4). “Scattered all over the world” was what happened when God “confused the people with different languages”. And of course, we mustn’t forget God’s chosen people, the Jews, taken into captivity and exile. We share their pain when we read verses such as Psalm 137:1, “Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem”.

In our world today, families are scattered across countries, and friendships are broken. People feel isolated and alone, and even churches experience division. But the Bible tells the story of a God who gathers, because His heart has always been to bring His people home. Isaiah looks beyond the immediate return from exile to a greater gathering under the reign of the Messiah. God Himself raises a flag, a banner—a signal that the way home is open. Isaiah wrote, “He will raise a flag among the nations” That flag ultimately points to Jesus Christ. He said, “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (John 12:32). The cross became God’s rallying point for the nations, and people from every race, language, and culture are invited into one family through Jesus. 

Isaiah wrote, “… for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord” (Isaiah 11:9). Isaiah didn’t merely predict that more people will know about God. He wrote that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. There is a difference between knowing facts about God and knowing God Himself. As we know, many people know Bible stories and the Christian traditions. I often meet a man whose knowledge of the Bible and its themes would put many a believer to shame. And yet, when challenged, he confesses that he doesn’t really believe that what he is reading would make a difference to his life. To him, it is just a good storybook, detailing the history of a bygone age. But eternal life is knowing Christ personally. One day, that knowledge will cover the earth as completely as water covers the ocean floor. Nothing will be more complete. What an encouragement this is for those who pray for family members who have yet to believe, for missionaries serving in difficult places, and for churches that sometimes feel small and insignificant. God’s purpose has not changed. His kingdom continues to advance, and His promise still stands.

Ancient armies raised flags and banners so soldiers knew where to gather during the confusion of battle. But there is a message to us pilgrims from this, because life often feels chaotic and confusing. There is a seemingly unstoppable clamour for more and more of our attention. Social media, advertising, and so much more conspire to pull us away from the battle we are fighting against the forces of evil. Yet God has raised one unmistakable banner: Jesus Christ. He remains the centre around whom His people gather. Whenever we lose our direction, we do not need a new message—we need to return to the banner God has already raised. Whenever we feel a bit lost and rudderless in the seas of life, is it time to return to basics, to come once again to the Cross, and lay down our confusion at Christ’s feet? Is it time once again to get on our knees before God, with a repentant heart and open hands, reaching out to the Rock that will never change? Also, perhaps we need to increase our efforts to help those around us, people who are floundering in our hostile world. There are too many people searching for a banner that is not Christ, and it is destroying them.

The promise that “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord” reminds us that history is moving toward God’s glorious purpose. Evil does not have the final word; God’s glory does. God knows where every one of His children is. Whether scattered by suffering, failure, grief, or distance, none are beyond His reach. The Shepherd who seeks the lost still gathers His flock.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for raising the banner of Your salvation for the whole world. Thank You that Your desire is not to scatter but to gather, not to divide but to unite. Fill our hearts with a deeper knowledge of You, and make us instruments through whom others are drawn to Your love. Help us to live with confidence in the truth that Your kingdom is advancing and that one day the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of Your glory. Amen.

When Peace Replaces Fear

Posted on by Adrian Clark

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. … He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.”
Isaiah 11:1, 5-8 NLT

We read these verses today and wonder about their message. The picture of a world where animals, normally enemies and predators, coexist in a way that seems more of a fairy story than the environment Isaiah sees. A wolf and a lamb living together? The thought must fill any sheep farmer with horror because he will know that a wolf would desire a lamb for food. And children’s stories such as “Little Red Riding Hood”  return to our memories, a story that is the staple diet of many a young child, taught at an early age about the behaviour of predators and evil animals, and people, in our world today. “The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all” conjures an image in our minds that is clearly wrong from a worldly perspective. 

But if we can see beyond our prejudices, we may glimpse what God’s design was originally intended to be. A world where peace is the norm. Peace between all the animals. Peace in all that exists. Peace is something every heart longs for, yet our world seems to know so little of it. Every day brings fresh reports of conflict, division, and violence. Even our personal lives can be marked by anxiety, strained relationships, and inner turmoil. 

The Messiah, the shoot from the stump of David’s family, “will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment”. In other words, when Jesus returns, His character will shape His kingdom. Because the King is righteous, His reign will produce peace. The images Isaiah uses are astonishing. Wolves will no longer threaten lambs, and leopards will rest beside goats. Calves and lions will share the same pasture, and, amazingly, a little child will lead them. An infant plays safely near a cobra’s den. These are not merely charming scenes from a children’s story. They are vivid pictures of a world where fear has been conquered because the King has set everything right.

If we go back to the Genesis story, we read, “Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened. God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:24-25). God “saw that it was good”. God was never going to create an animal kingdom marked by strife and predatory behaviour, as one species caught another for food, and then call it “good”. God’s design, as Isaiah described in the verses we read today, will be restored when the Messiah returns. Why did everything go so wrong? It was all due to sin, the wickedness and evil that shattered the harmony of God’s design, introducing fear, death, and conflict.

What about us pilgrims? What can we learn from these verses from Isaiah’s prophecy? Perhaps we are saying that it’s all very well to look at the relationship between animals and little children, but what about all the issues that are causing us so much angst in our world today? We walk around conflicted and conscious of a lack of peace in our own lives. Well, the good news is that when Jesus returns, bringing righteousness and truth, there can be only one outcome – peace. Peace in the animal kingdom certainly, but do we dare to believe that He can introduce peace into a world that has got it so wrong? 

Peace starts in the hearts and minds of us pilgrims. He softens bitterness and calms anxious hearts. He reconciles broken relationships. He teaches forgiveness where resentment once ruled. Today, the transition will not be instant, but as we let Christ rule and reign in our hearts, the reality of peace will flood over us. The same Jesus who will one day transform creation is already transforming His people. We all have “wolves” in our lives. These can be circumstances that frighten us. Perhaps difficult people we come in contact with. We all have fears within us, perhaps put there by our upbringing, when we saw the reactions of older siblings or parents to things like spiders and snakes, or even to natural events like lightning. Our instinct is either to fight or to run, usually the latter. But Jesus invites us to trust His rule instead.

As Jesus told His disciples, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27). The peace He gives is not merely the absence of trouble; it is the presence of the King.

Dear Lord Jesus. We look forward to the day when You return to this world, bringing peace to the chaos that exists here. We pray, “Come Lord Jesus”, every day. But in the meantime, please help us share the peace in our hearts with all those around us who are terrified about their lives and the chaos within them. Only You are the one who can bring “the peace that surpasses all understanding”. Amen.

The Stump of David: A Symbol of New Beginnings

Posted on by Adrian Clark
Small green plant sprouting from the center of a decayed tree stump in a foggy forest

“Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.”
Isaiah 11:1-4 NLT

Isaiah 11:1–4 is one of the great Messianic passages of Scripture, a prophetic vision that encompasses both the first and second coming of the Messiah. After the devastation described at the end of Isaiah 10, where the mighty trees of Assyria are cut down, Isaiah immediately introduces a picture of hope: not another towering cedar, but a tender shoot emerging from a seemingly lifeless stump. It is a passage that speaks of hope, humility, the character of Christ, and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. The first three verses point to Jesus’s earthly life. He was born as a “[shoot] out of the stump of David’s family“. During His earthly ministry, the Spirit of the Lord rested upon Him, granting Him wisdom, understanding, and power. Verse 4 (“one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked“) points to Christ’s future, ultimate return. This final act of righteous judgment and the complete eradication of evil corresponds with New Testament descriptions of the Second Coming. The Jewish faith does not separate the two, believing that the Messiah will come in one final act, bringing God’s Kingdom forever, but, with the benefit of hindsight, we see how there are two comings of Jesus, the Messiah, the first as a baby and the second as a conquering King.

A stump remains after the tree has been cut down. It speaks of disappointment or failure, loss, broken dreams and what appears to be the end. We all know what a tree stump looks like. A lifeless and rotting remnant of a once glorious tree that reached up into the Heavens. Once a home for birds and other wildlife. A source of oxygen and a sump for carbon dioxide. A plant, slow-growing, but essential to the well-being of our planet. The nation of Judah was a bit like a tree, and the Assyrians were the lumberjacks. The cruel armies of Assyria left behind death and destruction, reducing the once proud and mighty Judah to a nation with no apparent future. The royal line of David had been reduced to almost nothing. Yet God saw what no one else could see.

From the rotting and apparently useless stump came a shoot. A green and vibrant copy of the original tree, and, left alone, it would eventually grow into another tree, as splendid as the one that was cut down. But this is how God often works. When we think everything has been lost, He begins something new. Abraham and Sarah were too old to have a son to make the nation God had promised them. Joseph’s dreams seemed buried in an Egyptian prison. Naomi believed her life was empty, her husband and sons dead and no more. The disciples thought everything ended at the cross, leaving them dejected and demoralised, without hope and a future without their Lord and Master. But God delights in bringing life out of what appears dead. He specialises in bringing miracles to situations that seem nothing more than fit for a grave, with a legacy of disillusionment.

For us pilgrims, perhaps our lives feel like a stump. Relationships have been cut down, a marriage broken, or a child who has become estranged. Plans that we had put so much hope in have failed, and there seems to be no way of bringing them to life again. Perhaps our health has deteriorated, bringing pain and a loss of mobility. Dementia may be starting to emerge in the life of a loved one, or a stroke has stopped our dreams right in their tracks. It could be that a church situation has become unbearable, and our faith has weakened in the face of hurt and rejection. But our God specialises in new beginnings. The stump is not the end of the story.

God brought Isaac from an elderly couple, a miracle if there ever was one. He raised Joseph from a prison cell to a palace. He turned the shame of the cross into the triumph of the resurrection. Again and again, God writes new chapters where we expected the story to finish. The shoot that emerged from Jesse’s stump looked insignificant, but it changed the world. God’s greatest work arrived quietly—in a stable, in a carpenter’s home, in the life of a servant King filled with the Spirit of the Lord.

Perhaps today we pilgrims are staring at the stump of something we once cherished. But we must never mistake God’s silence for His absence or for the idea that He no longer cares for us. What we might consider as the final ending to our story might be just the beginning of a new one. He is able to bring fresh life from places that seem beyond hope. The God of Isaiah is still the God who makes new things grow.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You that You bring life out of what seems dead. When we look at the broken places in our lives, help us to trust that You are still at work. Fill us with Your Spirit, teach us to delight in Your ways, and help us to believe that no situation is beyond Your power to redeem. In Your precious name. Amen.

Falling Trees

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“Look, the Assyrians are now at Aiath. They are passing through Migron and are storing their equipment at Micmash. They are crossing the pass and are camping at Geba. Fear strikes the town of Ramah. All the people of Gibeah, the hometown of Saul, are running for their lives. Scream in terror, you people of Gallim! Shout out a warning to Laishah. Oh, poor Anathoth! There go the people of Madmenah, all fleeing. The citizens of Gebim are trying to hide. The enemy stops at Nob for the rest of that day. He shakes his fist at beautiful Mount Zion, the mountain of Jerusalem. But look! The Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, will chop down the mighty tree of Assyria with great power! He will cut down the proud. That lofty tree will be brought down. He will cut down the forest trees with an axe. Lebanon will fall to the Mighty One.”
Isaiah 10:28-34 NLT

Just reading these verses provides a glimpse of the horror that was to come in the form of the Assyrian army. Isaiah’s prophecy uses words such as “fear”, “running for their lives”, and “Scream in terror”. Pity for Anathoth emerges. The people of Madmenah are fleeing. People are trying to hide. And the enemy will come close enough to Jerusalem to threaten it. I had a picture in my mind this morning of a map set out on a table, and then a bottle of ink was spilt on one edge. Slowly, but surely, the ink started to creep over the map and finally blotted it out. The cartographic features were hidden under a layer of ink, to be seen no more. In Judah, the people would disappear. Towns pillaged and destroyed. People removed into exile, those who escaped the sword. What a scene of devastation was filling Isaiah’s mind. 

The enemy of the Jewish people, the Assyrians, were seemingly unstoppable, but isn’t that like our enemy, the devil? When he is on the attack, nothing seems to stop him. The cancer spreads despite the treatment. No matter how hard we try, a difficult relationship seems unhealable. Despite active lobbying, the government enacts another unjust and anti-God law. Our prayers go unanswered. Darkness gets darker. Depression gets worse. But just when everything seems unbearable, and we look around for somewhere to hide, we find that the enemy is cut down, just like the “mighty tree of Assyria”. God intervenes at precisely the right moment. Not too early. Not too late. Exactly on time.

I am reminded of another occasion when God intervened to save His people. There, by the side of the Red Sea, the Israelites had set up camp. But, “The Egyptians chased after them with all the forces in Pharaoh’s army—all his horses and chariots, his charioteers, and his troops. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon” (Exodus 14:9). The Israelites shouted out in panic and started grumbling and complaining to Moses, “But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm”” (Exodus 14:13-14). As we read the following verses, we can see the amazing miracle that took place and how the Egyptian army was destroyed. 

But back in Isaiah 10, we see how God changed the narrative. The previously strong and mighty Assyria is chopped down “with great power”. Assyria believed itself unstoppable, but God saw them as trees ready for the axe. The King of Assyria boasted, “By my own powerful arm I have done this. With my own shrewd wisdom, I planned it. I have broken down the defences of nations and carried off their treasures. I have knocked down their kings like a bull” (Isaiah 10:13). Pride always precedes downfall, and the tallest trees often fall the hardest.

In a personal sense, we pilgrims need to watch out for an upsurge of pride in our lives. Perhaps we are overly self-sufficient, or finding success in something we are doing. Perhaps we are involved in a church ministry, and feelings of pride are starting to emerge. Perhaps we have managed to purchase a new car, and pride in its shiny paintwork is bubbling up inside us. But with care and concern, we turn to James 4:6-7, “And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”. 

There is something else that we need to take note of from this passage of Scripture today. That is the reference in verse 33 to “The Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies”. Assyria had an army that was more powerful than any other in the region. They were unstoppable, cruel, and terrifying.  Whatever we pilgrims are facing might seem terrifying in its extent, but the God we worship is far more powerful than any power on earth. What seems overwhelming to us is tiny before Him. His resources are limitless. God is never outnumbered. He never loses control.

There is something in these closing verses in Isaiah 10 that is helpful for us pilgrims. When fear rises and circumstances seem overwhelming, God reminds His people that He knows every movement of the enemy, limits every season of suffering, breaks every yoke, humbles every proud power, and arrives at exactly the right moment to save. So, what “Assyria” are we facing into today? Do we need Christ to lift off of us a burden we are struggling to carry? Where are we putting our trust – in our resources or God’s? And the painful bit – is there any pride within us that God wants to cut away, like the Assyrian tree, so that what remains can grow into something new? The thought of cutting away reminds us of John 15:2, “He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more“. Although painful at the time, the Master Gardener’s pruning can only benefit us in the long term. Isaiah 10 closes with the crash of falling trees, but our Heavenly Father isn’t out to destroy us when we need His help. He wants to strengthen us, not tear us down.

Dear Father God. Thank You for Your loving kindness and help in times of trouble. We praise You today. Amen.

Do Not Be Afraid

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“So this is what the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, says: “O my people in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians when they oppress you with rod and club as the Egyptians did long ago. In a little while my anger against you will end, and then my anger will rise up to destroy them.” The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will lash them with his whip, as he did when Gideon triumphed over the Midianites at the rock of Oreb, or when the Lord’s staff was raised to drown the Egyptian army in the sea. In that day the Lord will end the bondage of his people. He will break the yoke of slavery and lift it from their shoulders.”
Isaiah 10:24-27 NLT

Words of assurance from “the Lord of Heaven’s Armies”. God said to His people that He was angry with them, but “in a little while” that anger would turn against the oppressors, the Assyrian army. God reminded the Judaites of what He had done for them in the past; specifically, He mentioned the victory that Gideon achieved over the Midianites and the time when the Egyptian army was destroyed in the Red Sea. When was God’s anger going to be turned? The prophecy didn’t include a time, but it did say that it would happen “In that day”. The people would know when it happened.

In Isaiah 10:24, we read God’s words of comfort to His people, “O my people in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians when they oppress you”. Despite their wickedness, the Judaites were still God’s people, and although they were going to be punished, He still loved them and was committed to them and their future. He told them not to be afraid. Fear is a terrible emotion, debilitating and demoralising, and, faced with a cruel and unstoppable foe, the people were afraid. They were fearful for their lives, their families, their possessions; in fact, everything that they were was under threat. So if God told them not to be afraid, faced with such a devastating situation, what were they to think? Would His words of comfort make any difference? 

Fear is one of Satan’s greatest weapons. The people of Judah had every reason to be afraid, as Assyria was the world’s superpower at the time. Cities had fallen, nations had disappeared, and Jerusalem seemed next. Yet God’s first word was not strategy but reassurance. The Lord reminded His people that, although their enemy was powerful, their suffering was temporary and God, “the Lord of Heaven’s Armies”, was still in control.

What about us pilgrims today? Are we fearful about anything? Are we facing a situation that is debilitating and demoralising, as the Judaites were? Perhaps an unexpected bill has landed on the doormat this morning, and we do not have the funds to pay it. Perhaps the company we are working for is announcing redundancies today, and we are worried about our jobs. Perhaps a loved one is suffering from a terrible disease, and we are fearful of what might happen next. The list of potential fears cooked up by our enemy seems endless, but the same message that God gave the Judaites He gives us as well: “Do not be afraid”. Psalm 27 starts with the verse, “The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” In John 16:33 we read, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world”. Why are these verses in the Bible? Because they show the heart of God to a people easily captured by fear.

It could be that our fears stem from the burdens we are carrying. I don’t mean physical burdens such as a backpack or heavy shopping bag. Burdens such as shame, sin, guilt, and the like. In Isaiah 10:27, we read that God will “break the yoke of slavery”. The yoke, a device that held two oxen together when ploughing fields, was often used as a metaphor for slavery and oppression, just as it was to the beasts coupled together. Too often, we pilgrims can be enslaved by our thoughts, habits, ways of life, influences, and friends. In Matthew 11:28-30, we read, “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ‘ ” Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light””. Jesus has the power to break our “yokes” if we let Him. Galatians 5:1, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law”. 

The Judaites were afraid and oppressed. Believers today can experience the same. But God is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is still in the business of setting people free, and we pilgrims only have to reach out and feel the love of our Heavenly Father as he helps us through whatever we are experiencing. 

Dear Heavenly Father. Thank You for our freedom in You. Jesus said, “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free”. Help us, we pray, as we bring before You all that is enslaving us and stopping us from functioning as a true child of God. Amen.

The Remnant Who Trust the Lord

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“In that day the remnant left in Israel, the survivors in the house of Jacob, will no longer depend on allies who seek to destroy them. But they will faithfully trust the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. A remnant will return; yes, the remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God. But though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore, only a remnant of them will return. The Lord has rightly decided to destroy his people. Yes, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, has already decided to destroy the entire land.”
Isaiah 10:20-23 NLT

There are many references in the Old Testament to a remnant of God’s people remaining after a national disaster. Earlier, we read Isaiah 1:9, “Unless the Lord of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah”. We also read about God’s heart for His people in Jeremiah 23:3, “But I will gather together the remnant of my flock from the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their own sheepfold, and they will be fruitful and increase in number”. Many years before, the Lord made a Covenant with Abraham in which He said, “…Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” (Genesis 15:5). In Genesis 22:17, the Lord introduced the thought that Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the  “…stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore”. And here in Isaiah 10:22, the Lord mentioned once again how numerous the people of Israel are, but the Lord had decided to destroy the majority of the people through the Assyrian attacks, some by the sword, and many others by their removal into exile from their promised land. There, in foreign climes, it seems only a remnant will return, with those remaining in the land being the ones who will “faithfully trust the Lord”. 

The Israelites had reached a stage in their nation where they sought help through alliances with surrounding nations rather than from the Lord Himself. They were deeply involved in wicked and sinful practices and had abandoned any consideration that the Lord Himself would protect them if only they would turn to Him. As far as the Israelites were concerned, God didn’t exist, or was only a faint memory in their collective thoughts. So they had reached a dangerous phase in their nation’s existence for two reasons: one, that they were now away from God’s protection, and two, that they were at the mercy of stronger nations around them who were intent on taking over their land. God decided that the behaviour of His people couldn’t continue, and He decided to destroy the entire land. 

The Israelites were God’s own people. He had made a Covenant with them, with clear benefits if they kept their side of the deal, but significant problems if they didn’t. But God was, and is, faithful, and He always kept His promises to His people. However, He punished His people so that His perfect justice against sin would be upheld, to correct and purify them, and to guide them back into a faithful relationship. God’s relationship with His people, the Jews, was, and still is, unique, and He will allow things to happen to them if it will result in their highest good. Perhaps today they are experiencing so many difficulties with their neighbours because they have once again abandoned their Covenant with God. But the belligerent nations around Israel need to be aware that although God may allow Israel’s punishment for a time, the ones carrying it out are heading for destruction, as happened to the Assyrians. 

The Psalmist wrote, “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him” (Psalm 91:1-2). What a wonderful picture of God’s protection, much like a mother hen protecting her chicks under her wings. We pilgrims can always find rest and protection as we stay close to God. It is only He who can provide that security. The Psalmist realised that when he wrote, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my saviour; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety” (Psalm 18:2). Are any of us feeling a bit wobbly and insecure today? Perhaps we just need to run back under God’s shadow, His protection. It is there that we will find rest for our souls.

Dear Heavenly Father. We know and understand that we are in a privileged position, living as Your children under the shadow of Your wings. Thank You, and please forgive us for when we wander away into danger and all sorts of peril. Amen.