Isaiah 29:17-19 Insights: Finding Joy in Spiritual Renewal

Posted on by Adrian Clark

Isaiah 29:17-19 NLT

17 Soon—and it will not be very long—
    the forests of Lebanon will become a fertile field,
    and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops.
18 In that day the deaf will hear words read from a book,
    and the blind will see through the gloom and darkness.
19 The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord.
    The poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Deaf and blind, and poor. Words that describe people who are handicapped in some way by their physical challenges or their circumstances in life. For people living their lives unable to hear what is happening around them, or see the wonders of the world in which we live, it is for them to miss out on God’s plan for His creation. But in verse 18 of today’s reading, the implication is spiritual deafness and blindness. In a previous verse, we read that a spiritual darkness had fallen over the “prophets and visionaries”, stopping their abilities to read from the “book” of Isaiah’s oracles and prophecies. But there is a day coming for the Jewish people, “soon”, when something will change. When the people will be able to see and hear again what God has for them. They will do this with all humility, and “fresh joy from the Lord” will be their reward. And the poor people, who in those ancient times were so suppressed and mistreated, would rejoice once again “in the Holy One of Israel”. 

When will all this happen? Verse 18 records it will be “in that day”. But can we fix the time, past, present or future, a little closer? Some scholars tie the immediate context to the deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian siege under King Hezekiah (around 701 BCE), viewing “that day” as the subsequent relief and spiritual recovery of Judah. Many Christian commentators see the opening of blind eyes and deaf ears in verse 18 as finding its ultimate fulfilment in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ and the dawn of the New Covenant. Other traditions view it as a yet-future end-times event when God will finally judge the ruthless, vindicate the humble, and restore Israel. So there we have it, three possibilities. But then, they could all be correct, and the truth will be revealed when history is finally sealed, on the day of a fresh start with the New Heaven and the New Earth. 

What changed for the people of Isaiah’s day, hearing the words that he had written? The same thing that changed for us pilgrims. We, spiritually blind and deaf people without a future and a hope, one day crossed from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light, God’s Kingdom. We may have been full of ourselves, proud and arrogant, “self-made”, with enough to live on, when we received a vision of the resurrected Jesus, as His truth penetrated  “through the gloom and darkness” in our souls. “In that day” we were freed from our deafness and blindness, a fertile ground for growth in the Kingdom, rejoicing in all that the Lord has done for us. Pride replaced with humility, poverty of spirit replaced with unlimited riches in God. In the Beatitudes, Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven“. We pilgrims are citizens of a new Kingdom where we live to reflect heavenly values rather than worldly customs. We are a countercultural people who value selflessness, purity, and forgiveness over pride, greed, and retaliation. We influence the surrounding culture positively through a distinct commitment to God’s truth. We measure success and security by eternal significance rather than temporary material wealth. But above all, we place Jesus as the Lord of our choices, aligning our personal ambitions with His purpose.

Our new life in God’s Kingdom will change how we live, how we behave, and how we look. The Psalmist David wrote, “So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!” One of the features of a true Christian is the joy that is within them. I can remember some years ago I went for a walk through the Greenwich Tunnel, a walkway under the River Thames in London. I was walking against the flow of the people coming from the Isle of Dogs, but I was struck by the miserable, drawn and hopeless expressions on the faces of the commuters. No joy, not even hidden within them. But it made me think about the expression on my own face. Was it just like everyone else’s, or was it reflecting the joy of the Lord within? Perhaps sometimes we should tell our faces to lighten up and show an expression that makes us different from the misery and hopelessness in the people around us. 

Perhaps today we should pray for the “fresh joy from the Lord” to fill us once again, not “in that day”, but in this day. Right now. Peter wrote, “ … you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light”. With His Spirit within us, are we reflecting “His wonderful light?. Hmmm…

Dear Lord Jesus. You came to this world to save it from the consequences of its sins. Please forgive us, Lord, for the sins we have committed and fill us again with Your Spirit, resourcing us for the day ahead. We know many around us are full of hopelessness and pain, and we pray for opportunities to share Your life-changing, eternal words with them. Please help us today reflect the joy within us, illuminating the lives of those around us, those we meet, and our families and friends. In Your precious name. Amen.

Understanding Dreams and Visions in Faith

Posted on by Adrian Clark
Glowing blue and orange energy ribbons swirling through ancient arched ruins

“All the nations fighting against Jerusalem will vanish like a dream! Those who are attacking her walls will vanish like a vision in the night. A hungry person dreams of eating but wakes up still hungry. A thirsty person dreams of drinking but is still faint from thirst when morning comes. So it will be with your enemies, with those who attack Mount Zion.” Are you amazed and incredulous? Don’t you believe it? Then go ahead and be blind. You are stupid, but not from wine! You stagger, but not from liquor!”
Isaiah 29:7-9 NLT

Visions or dreams? What goes on in our minds when we sleep at night? Sometimes we wake up with no recollection of a nighttime event. At other times, we wake up exhausted by the imaginary events that took place. Sometimes our dreams connect to something that happened the day before. But mostly, our subconscious mind sorts itself out. According to experts, dreams are mental, emotional, or sensory experiences that occur primarily during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, when brain activity is nearly as high as when awake, but the body is temporarily paralysed to prevent us from acting out our dreams. They help integrate recent experiences with past memories, strengthening learning and skill retention. Sometimes they allow the brain to process emotions, reduce stress, and work through unresolved feelings, which may explain why nightmares often reflect anxiety or trauma. But whatever, dreams are part of our sleeping experiences and often the subject of conversation the next day, starting with “I had a funny/scary/strange dream last night. I was in a …”. I’m sure we can all add our own experiences.

But would we recognise it if we had a vision? After Paul’s encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, we read what happened next. “Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied” (Acts 9:10). Many years before “ … the boy Samuel served the LORD by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the LORD were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon”. Reading on, “Suddenly the LORD called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?”” (two verses from 1 Samuel 3). Even earlier, we read, “Some time later, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great ‘” (Genesis 15:1). My favourite visionary account has to be in Isaiah 6:1, “It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple“. To these people, three men and a boy, God appeared, visually or audibly, in a clear and indisputable way. There was no doubt that it was God speaking. But what else must have been present in these lives? There was present a close relationship with God. Otherwise, the vision would have been missed, or ignored or even denied. Perhaps the portion of cheese eaten for supper the night before would have been blamed. Or our minds would have rationalised the experience away. Where would Paul have been if Ananias hadn’t been obedient to the vision? What would have happened with Isaiah’s ministry if he shut his eyes to the amazing vision of God unfolding before him in the Temple?

In his Day of Pentecost sermon Peter quoted the prophet Joel when he said, “‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams'” (Acts 2:17). We note three things from this verse. Firstly, in these last days, God’s Spirit will be poured out on everyone. The Holy Spirit is no longer limited to prophets, priests, or kings. Instead, it is poured out on all people, meaning every believer, regardless of age, gender, or social status, can experience God’s presence and empowerment. There would not just be occasional and rare visitations on particular men for a particular purpose. All of us pilgrims have had an experience of God’s Spirit being poured out becaise we have been Baptised in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5, “Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptised with water, but in just a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit”“). Secondly, God communicates with His people in three ways: by prophesy, through visions and through dreams. These gifts symbolise a deeper spiritual awakening, hope, and purpose in believers’ lives. Thirdly, Acts 2:17 emphasizes that the Spirit’s outpouring is an invitation for believers to participate in God’s plan. It encourages faith, boldness, and active engagement in spreading the gospel, reflecting a shift from selective Spirit-giving to universal access. We pilgrims today are called to seek the Holy Spirit for guidance, empowerment, and spiritual gifts, and to continually pray for an infilling with the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). And in all this, we remember, Acts 2:17 reminds Christians that spiritual gifts are meant for service, encouragement, and building God’s kingdom, not personal gain.

Visions or dreams? Manifestations to the young or old? In faith, we ask God for more of His Spirit in our lives because we need Him and His perspective as we navigate this bad and sad world in which we live.

Dear Heavenly Father. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit today, not for our gain but for Your glory. Empowered we can realise what Paul wrote, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think”. Help us to think and act outside the “box” so that we can accomplish great things for You. Amen.


End Times: Isaiah 26 and Revelation Insights

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“But those who die in the Lord will live; their bodies will rise again! Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy! For your life-giving light will fall like dew on your people in the place of the dead! Go home, my people, and lock your doors! Hide yourselves for a little while until the Lord’s anger has passed. Look! The Lord is coming from heaven to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will no longer hide those who have been killed. They will be brought out for all to see.”
Isaiah 26:19-21 NLT

We come to the final verses of the twenty-sixth chapter of the Book of Isaiah, the prophet. He wrote that a time is coming when Israel will be restored. In the end times, after the Lord has secured His victory, He will raise His people, those who have already died, back to life. They will rejoice in their Lord because death is not the end of the story for the people of God. But verses 20 and 21 instruct the people of God to lock themselves away and hide while the Lord comes to “punish the people of the earth for their sins”, and this is going to happen in public. God’s people were not to be the intended focus of God’s punishment; that was being reserved in all its terrible force for sinners, the unrepentant people throughout history who have denied God and His ways.  

The obvious connection of our verses today is with Revelation 20, where we read about the “Great White Throne”. John wrote, “I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:12-15). The previous chapter in Revelation details the final battle between the world armies, their corrupt system, and their opposition to God. But Revelation 21 paints a different picture, of God making all things new, with God dwelling on the New Earth with His people.

I have assumed that “God’s people” include all those who have believed in God through Jesus, those we call Christians. Pilgrims such as ourselves. However, a school of thought holds that this was a prophecy concerning the Israelites and their local situation in the Middle East at that time. This may well be the case, but through Jesus we know we will escape the judgment to come, whether or not we were included in Isaiah’s writings. Jesus said, “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son” (John 3:17-18). Those around us, the sinners that Isaiah wrote about, are already walking around in judgment. They are effectively out on bail, awaiting their trial date, when they will be called to account for their sins. We don’t know when this will be, but the day will come.  

It will be a terrible time when God brings punishment for the world’s sinners, but we pilgrims pray for these people. We also pray for ourselves that we will stand firm and resolute in our journey to Glory, never looking back. We pray for our governments, our communities, and our friends and families, that they will transition from those to be judged to joining God’s people through His saving grace. We pilgrims have every confidence in our God that He will judge the world with righteousness, and our verses seem to indicate that He will indeed pass us by as the final End Time scenario unfolds. Paul wrote, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). No matter what is to come, we know that God will fulfil the promises He made through Jesus.

Dear Father God. A sobering end to Isaiah 26, but one that bolsters the hope that we have in You. You have graciously saved us from the destruction to come, and we are so deeply grateful. Every day we offer up to You our thankful prayers of worship, but also our petitions for our families and our governments. We understand that You are delaying the final terrible day so that every last person in Your plan for mankind will be saved. Please lead us to those who need a touch from You, bringing peace and joy back into a life of misery. Only You have the words of eternal life. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

The Prophetic Vision of Jesus in Isaiah 9:6-7

Posted on by Adrian Clark
Golden throne with a richly decorated jeweled crown inside a cathedral with stained glass windows

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”
Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT

Isaiah 9:6 is a verse often quoted during the Advent season at Christmas, and it prophesies exactly what happened hundreds of years later: the coming of Jesus as a baby, born to a young teenage peasant named Mary in a stable in Bethlehem. But what about the rest of verses 6 and 7? As we review the Gospels, we find that rather than the Son ruling a government that will never end, His life ended in ignominy on a Roman cross, a life tragically cut short in His early thirties. And as for ruling with “fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David”, His body was interred in a tomb. Surely some will say this prophecy was incorrect. 

But these verses start by describing a Son who will be born, destined to become a ruler because “the government will rest on His shoulders”. Straight away, the assumption would be that this boy child would come from a royal household, because to be a ruler, the most likely source would be a new royal prince. The wise men in the Christmas story certainly thought that this would be the case, and so did King Herod. Matthew 2:1-3, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time, some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem”. 

The new ruler would have several titles, according to the prophecy: “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”. The “Wonderful Counsellor” described the kingly wisdom of a monarch such as Solomon. He would be a leader who would always make the best decisions in every scenario and give unfailing counsel to His subjects. But the next title, “Mighty God”, was something no human could attain. Some scholars render the language here as “great hero,” but Isaiah clearly meant to convey that this deliverer of Israel and the world would be divine in and of Himself. He was describing the Messiah, who will ultimately be revealed to be Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In addition, this King would be called both “Everlasting Father” and “Prince of Peace.” Many kings have been referred to as the father of their people. However, this king’s fatherhood would not end. He would continue as Father to one generation after another and then to all generations of His people for eternity. In short, He was to be God. This king’s reign over Israel and the earth was not to be an endlessly bloody one, where He would rule with an iron fist. This divine king would be so powerful that He would create lasting peace on the earth, bringing an end to all war. Looking to the future, He will rightly be given the title of “Prince of Peace.” This is one of the names by which we know our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy.

So we pilgrims look at these verses from Isaiah 9 today and conclude that Jesus will return to this world as the King described in the prophecy. And it all started with the Resurrection of Jesus, when He left the tomb, alive and well, with an eternal body in which he ascended into Heaven. But there has not been a gap implied in the prophecy. There was to be no arrival on earth of the coming King, and then a significant period of time, in which we are still living, while the world waits with bated breath for His return. As we know, the Holy Spirit was given to the world: John 14:26, “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you”. The Advocate is none other than the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. Other names for Him can be found in the Amplified version of John 16:7, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counsellor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you]”, all names that fit with the prophecy in Isaiah 9.

Daniel was also given a vision of the eternal Ruler. Daniel 7:13-14, “As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honour, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed”. Also, the Angel Gabriel, in his message to Mary, said, “He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” (Luke 1:32-33). I’m sure Mary was in that upper room on the Day of Pentecost, and perhaps received confirmation that what Gabriel had said would one day come to pass, a day when she will look on the events of the final chapters of Revelation, comforted forever.

So we pilgrims read the Advent verses from Isaiah and consider what they say in the context of the eschatological plan God put into place. In Old Testament times, the coming Messiah was only a dim vision, partially revealed through faithful prophets who were prepared to stand up and declare God’s message. In hindsight, we pilgrims have seen part of the picture. We know that Jesus came two thousand years ago as a baby, fulfilling the first part of the prophecy. And we now look forward to what is yet to happen, praying the prayer at the end of the Bible, “Come Lord Jesus”. 

Heavenly Father. Thank You for Jesus and His sacrifice for our sins. We pray for His return, so that we can live in a world “ruled with fairness and justice”. Amen.

Examining Hedonism in Isaiah 5: The Perils of Excessive Drinking

Posted on by Adrian Clark
Four empty wine bottles standing on stone steps along a cobblestone street at dusk

“What sorrow for those who get up early in the morning looking for a drink of alcohol and spend long evenings drinking wine to make themselves flaming drunk. They furnish wine and lovely music at their grand parties— lyre and harp, tambourine and flute— but they never think about the Lord or notice what he is doing. So my people will go into exile far away because they do not know me. Those who are great and honoured will starve, and the common people will die of thirst. The grave is licking its lips in anticipation, opening its mouth wide. The great and the lowly and all the drunken mob will be swallowed up.”
Isaiah 5:11-14 NLT

“Flaming drunk”? Surely a strange adjective to find describing inebriation from the New Living Translation. The words are more genteel in the NIV with “inflamed with wine” or “… Who stay up late in the night till wine inflames them!” from the Amplified. But the versions all agree, describing an occasion marked with debauchery and partying, with probably more going on than can be found in these verses today. In the ancient world, only the wealthy could afford to spend all day, every day, from early in the morning until late at night, getting drunk. These people turned pleasure and drinking into a full-time pursuit. Drunkenness and debauchery were the reasons why these wealthy people got out of bed in the morning. The constant drunkenness brought with it nightly rounds of being “inflamed,” likely indicating participation in sexual immorality.

We notice that the Bible does not condemn the drinking of alcohol, and table wine was a part of Jewish life, with their wines having a lower alcoholic content than would be expected today. In an age with uncertain water purity, wine was sometimes considered a safer option. But drunkenness was frowned upon. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, wrote, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18). There are other Bible verses, notably Proverbs 31:4-7, “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol. For if they drink, they may forget the law and not give justice to the oppressed. Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress. Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their troubles no more”. In these verses, we find that those in leadership should show restraint when alcohol is around, because the effect of the drug on a person’s thinking could lead to situations where an injustice could occur. But it is interesting to note that alcohol was suggested as an analgesic for those in distress as a form of end-of-life care, or a remedy for mental health issues. 

But the problem is that the wealthy people of Jerusalem and Judah made pleasure a way of life. They lived to feel good, which is the definition of hedonism. Because of this, they stopped recognising God for His power or what He had provided for them. They served only themselves. Does any of this sound familiar in societies on twenty-first-century Planet Earth? The way of life in Judah was less demanding than it is today. But in my lifetime, I have met people in high-powered jobs, with consequent generous monetary rewards, but with the cost of experiencing high stress levels that have impacted their mental health. Where have these people turned? To the consumption of alcohol, attempting to drown the pain of having to carry on with long, stressful working hours. But even less demanding jobs still have an element of stress, as any bus driver will testify. 

But living life God’s way avoids such debilitating problems, and rather than apply a “sticking plaster” of alcohol, masking the symptoms of stress and anxiety, it is far better to deal with the root causes, turning to God in the process. About the rich people with all their partying, Isaiah pointed out, “they never think about the Lord or notice what he is doing”. This is a poignant moment in Judah’s history because God made a covenant with these people, yet they turned their backs on Him to pursue hedonistic lifestyles. As Isaiah had previously written, Isaiah 5:11 starts with the word “Woe”. What does that mean? Well, one day will come the time when the partygoers will have to face the consequences of their actions. Verse 13 describes their fate: “So my people will go into exile far away because they do not know me. Those who are great and honoured will starve, and the common people will die of thirst”. 

If the people of Judah had repented of their sins and turned to the Lord, then I’m sure that the judgment of exile would have been averted. Their punishment would have been replaced by blessings once more. In our societies today, God is still being spurned and ignored by most. But judgment in their lifetimes is being held back by God’s grace, giving everyone time to repent. Such grace is available right up to a person’s dying moments, but, sadly, after this, God’s grace is no longer available. All that remains is the terrible time before the Great White Throne. 

So we pilgrims reach out to those around us with our testimonies at the ready. God wants everyone to be saved, and He is graciously giving everyone the opportunity to reach out to Jesus who died in their place for their sins. 

Dear Heavenly Father. We thank You that we can access the wine of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and through You, we will live in Your Kingdom forever. Amen.

The Parable of the Vineyard: Lessons from Isaiah

Posted on by Adrian Clark
Rain showers over vineyard with grapevines and dirt path under dark stormy clouds

“Now I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a rich and fertile hill. He ploughed the land, cleared its stones, and planted it with the best vines. In the middle, he built a watchtower and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks. Then he waited for a harvest of sweet grapes, but the grapes that grew were bitter.”
Isaiah 5:1-2 NLT

A song about a vineyard. A strange topic for the lyrics? But there have been many stranger ones. People of my vintage might remember the Beatles song, “I Am a Walrus”, which contains the words, “Semolina pilchard climbing up the Eiffel Tower/Elementary penguin singing Hare Krishna”. A good example of piffle, and reminiscent of an age of drug experimentation, hippies, and general nonsense. But Isaiah penned lyrics that describe the establishment of a vineyard. It belonged to the “beloved” who prepared the ground well, removing anything that would get in the way of the growing root systems. The best vines were planted, and all the infrastructure necessary for the functioning of a vineyard, such as the watchtower and the winepress, were put in place. But all to no avail – the fruit was not the intended sweet grapes, but instead, the fruit was bitter and of no use at all. 

What was there about this song that led to its being included in the Bible, in Isaiah’s writings? The first two verses of Isaiah 5 are part of the “Parable of the Vineyard”, a seven-verse story of God’s love for His people and how they spurned and abused His care. It was a lengthy process to create a vineyard from scratch. The correct location had to be found, with soil suitable for the best crops and free of rocks and stones that would prevent vine growth. The locals in Isaiah’s time would have known very well what was required and how long it would take, and the song’s topic was a good example of God’s love for His people. The song describes how, after his beloved had worked hard in preparation and waited for his first harvest, the grapes turned out to be “bitter.” Instead of the sweet grapes used for making wine, the owner discovers that after all the work he has put into his vineyard, the harvest is worthless. 

The next two verses of the parable continue with a question: “Now, you people of Jerusalem and Judah, you judge between me and my vineyard. What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done? When I expected sweet grapes, why did my vineyard give me bitter grapes?” Why, after all of that hard work and preparation, did the fruit turn out to be sour and worthless? What more could have been done? Was it the owner of the vineyard who had done something wrong, or was it the vines, or perhaps the soil? At this point, the listeners were asked for their opinions. But the vineyard owner acted before any response was recorded, taking remedial action by abandoning the vineyard. Walls and hedges were broken down, and the beautifully prepared vineyard would become a wild place of weeds, thorns, and brambles; a dry and dreary place indeed.

But finally, the song’s explanation was given. “The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The people of Judah are his pleasant garden. He expected a crop of justice, but instead he found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead he heard cries of violence” (Isaiah 5:7). The verse is self-explanatory and continues the complaint given in previous chapters. Judah was behaving in a way that was against God’s design, a way in which oppression, injustice, unrighteousness, and sin were prevalent, all characteristics that were the opposite of God’s expectations. The vineyard owner was none other than God Himself, and the beloved was the Lord. The vineyard was Israel and Judah, and the Lord was going to great lengths to ensure the people understood that He established His people as His own. They were His vineyard. His desire for them was that of a grape farmer, that his vines would produce good and useful fruit.

What lesson can we pilgrims draw from this parable, since we were not living in Judah nearly three thousand years ago? Our “vineyard” is well established where God has planted us, and we have a manual of expectations, the Bible, that describes the fruit that He expects. Paul even described the fruit, which can be found in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” We would do well to reflect on the “Parable of the Vineyard” and think of our Heavenly Father, who loves us so much, who has done so much for us, and who even sent His Son, Jesus, to ensure that we would one day be in His presence. 

Dear Father God. Thank You for Your care and compassion. Help us to be willing workers in Your vineyard here in our place and generation, that we too would produce the fruit You require. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Joy of the Lord: Strength for Life’s Trials

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet each other with a sacred kiss. All of God’s people here send you their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
2 Corinthians 13:11-14 NLT

So Paul finally reaches the end of his second letter to the Corinthians, as he signs off with “I close my letter with these last words”. And his “last words” were an encouragement to any Christian community, detailing as they did wonderful spiritual words like “love”, “peace”, and “joy”, Holy Spirit gifts available to all believers.

“Be joyful” was an instruction that was definitely counter-cultural in the dark days of the first Christian church plants, because believing the Gospel message took place against a backdrop of idolatry and immorality, where being different, following the one true God, directly challenged the idolatrous societies in which they lived. As a consequence, they suffered much for believing in Jesus. But one thing that the world could not remove from them, or us today, is the joy we have within, joy that originates in God Himself through the Holy Spirit. 

In the 5th century BC, the Jewish exiles were rebuilding Jerusalem, and at some point, the wall was finished, the gates were installed, and all the people met together to hear the Book of the Law of Moses read to them. But when the truth of God’s Word penetrated their hard hearts, there was much weeping and sadness. The enormity of their sin and rebellion which had lead to their exile in the first place, was finally understood. Nehemiah 8:9, “Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law”. In the following verse we read, “And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”” Why were the Israelites weeping? Because they were going through a season of repentance for their sin. Their relationship with God was in the process of being restored.

The joy of the Lord is the gladness of heart that comes from knowing God. Such a joy has nothing to do with happiness, which is based on superficial things like owning something or having a day out. Joy for a believer is a feeling deep inside that no matter what they are facing, it will always be there. Because of its supernatural origin, the joy of the Lord—our gladness of heart—is present even through the trials of life. We know we are children of God, and no one can snatch us away from Him, and we are heirs to “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade,” and no one can steal it from us. 1 Peter 1:4, “and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay”. This was the treasure Jesus spoke about in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.

We pilgrims have been set free, delivered from the clutches of the enemy. We are no longer bound to him by our sin. The joy of this deliverance is life-changing and eternal because we know what we have been set free from. No fear of hell ever again. In the hymn “In Christ alone” there is the line “No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand” and we can live our lives singing that out because it is truth for pilgrims like us everywhere. 

What about the joy of our salvation? Peter wrote, “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9). King David found that after his sin with Bathsheba, he had lost his joy. A brief foray into happiness had a price, and we read his prayer in Psalm 51. Verse 8, “Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice”. And he followed on in verse 12 with, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you”. In Luke 15:7 Jesus said, “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” 

On our Christian journey through this life, we grow in maturity and experience more and more joy. Jesus said, “When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:10-11). Are we pilgrims experiencing overflowing joy this morning? If not, what has stolen it away from us? Worries, anxieties or troubles of any kind? If we can put our hand up to such spiritually debilitating conditions, then we must pause for a moment and adjust our priorities. We must look up to God and not to the issues we experience in this world. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). There is a short poem which reads, “Two prisoners looked out from behind the bars. One saw the mud, the other saw the stars“. Are we mud or star people? I suspect that there wasn’t much joy found with the mud looker.

Dear Heavenly Father, from whom all joy originates. We are in this world for just a short time, so please help us to look up to You, our Source of joy, rather than to this sad world that lacks any sort of joy. Thank You. Amen.

What is Truth?

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority. For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.”
2 Corinthians 13:7-9 NLT

In His trial before Pilate, Jesus was asked a question: “Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognise that what I say is true”” (John 18:37). Pilate’s reply was timeless, and it starts the next verse with “What is truth? …”. Truth is something that has two facets – absolute and relative. Most of what goes on in our world that is defined as “truth” is relative, because it is only through God that absolute “truth” can be realised. 

A secular view on “truth” prioritises empirical evidence, scientific inquiry, and human reason over divine revelation or dogma. It holds that truth is discovered, not revealed, and is constantly updated through investigation and doubt, focusing on verifiable facts and human welfare rather than supernatural explanations or absolute religious certainties. But this definition of “truth” is purely relative, and it is liable to change, making it unreliable. Something that is defined as being true today can be found to be not true, or false, tomorrow. 

But before we get sidetracked into a philosophical discussion about Pilate’s statement, “What is truth?” it is far more rewarding to obtain God’s perspective. Paul said in our verses today, “For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth”. That is our position as pilgrims because, along with Paul and countless others, we believe that God is truth. Famously, Jesus said, “… I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). About the Holy Spirit, Jesus also said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future” (John 16:13). About God, the psalmist wrote, “The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever” (Psalm 119:160). So, for us pilgrims, it is a safe assumption to believe that any words that emanate from the Bible are words of truth. Come to that, Jesus said, about God’s Word, “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth” (John 17:17). Paul wrote, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (2 Timothy 3:16). 

To us believers, we look at Jesus and know in our hearts that He is truth, embodied in Him as a Person. No one can find a word spoken by Jesus that was false. No one can find any sin in Him, or any action that would prove to be sinful. And because He was God, His statement that He is the truth is immutably correct. So anything that God says, or has said, is absolute truth and cannot be changed, and will always happen as He has said. 

God’s truth is trustworthy but in our world system, there is a person who embodies the opposite of truth, the devil. Of him, Jesus, speaking to the Pharisees, said, “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). In Scotland, and as I write this, we are in the run-up to the Scottish parliamentary elections, and when this blog is posted, the outcome will be known. But one thing we electors remember is that little trust can be placed in the statements our wannabe politicians make. To garner votes, they will make all sorts of outlandish statements, most of which are unachievable and, therefore, can be labelled as “lies”. If we enter the world of social media, we will soon find many posts that purport to be truthful statements, but which are based on the poster’s false or skewed interpretation of events. Truth is a scarce commodity in our world, but that is not surprising because Jesus referred to the devil as “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). 

We pilgrims know about the truth because we believe in Jesus. John 8:31-32, “Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free””. We have been set free from the bondage to lies and the relative “truths” that abound in this world. We carefully consider all “truths” presented to us by referring to the Word of God, which is the only Source of truth that this world will ever possess. By looking at the world around us through God’s Biblical lens, we can make right decisions when necessary, discard the half-truths and lies, and keep our feet firmly established on the narrow way that leads to Glory. But there will be many seductive statements that will attempt to throw us off course. Remember what the serpent said to Eve – “Surely God didn’t say …”? If something that is said to us sounds right, but nevertheless seems at odds with God’s Word, then we discard it. The devil will never give up trying to lure us into sin until we are home, safe and sound, in the arms of our wonderful Saviour.

Dear Father God. You are truth. So we pray for protection from the lies of the evil one – “deliver us from evil” – and help for our journey in the years ahead. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Paul’s Warning: Beware of Persuasive Fools

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little. Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool. And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too. After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too.”
2 Corinthians 11:16-21 NLT

There is something deeply unsettling about listening to someone who is clearly confident—but quietly wrong. Confidence has a way of persuading us. It carries weight, presence, and often admiration. Yet in 2 Corinthians 11:16–21, the Apostle Paul exposes a sobering truth: not everything that appears wise truly is. In this passage, Paul does something unusual. He begins to “boast”, but he does so reluctantly, even apologetically. He calls it what it is: foolishness. “Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little” (2 Corinthians 11:16). It’s clear that Paul is not comfortable with this approach. Boasting, in his mind, is not the way of Christ. And yet, he adopts this tone for a reason.

The church in Corinth had become enamoured with a different kind of leadership. Certain individuals, whom Paul later describes as “super-apostles”, had arrived with impressive credentials, persuasive speech, and a commanding presence. They measured success by outward standards. They spoke with confidence. They looked the part. And the Corinthians were captivated. Paul’s irony exposes the flaws in the Corinthian mindsets: “After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!” (2 Corinthians 11:19). In other words, he wrote, you think you are being discerning, but you are tolerating what is actually foolish. In accepting their new leaders, they were taken in by their polished, persuasive words and outward appearances. The problem was that the Corinthians were taken in by these men, lacking discernment, and resulting in them ending up in a dangerous situation

The problem in Corinth is not confined to the first century. If anything, it has intensified in our own time. We live in an age saturated with voices in sermons, podcasts, videos, and books, with each one competing for attention. And often, the voices that rise to the top are not necessarily the most faithful, but the most compelling. We are drawn to confidence and apparent clarity, with the speaker or writer being a charismatic person who seems to say all the right things and who even comes across as a source of truth. But Paul reminds us that confidence is not the same as truth. It is entirely possible for someone to speak boldly, persuasively, and even attractively, and yet be fundamentally misaligned with the Gospel. The Corinthians fell into this trap. They confused charisma with authority, eloquence with truth, and self-promotion with spiritual maturity. And before we get on our high horses and claim that would never happen to us, we are no less vulnerable.

One of the striking elements of our verses today is how willingly the Corinthians accepted these “foolish” voices. Paul says they “enjoy putting up with fools”. We almost get the impression that they were very comfortable and accepting of what the “super-apostles” had to offer. There is almost a sense of eagerness and an appetite for what these teachers had to say, and that raises an uncomfortable question for us, because what do we, as Christians, tend to celebrate and promote? I know someone who spends a lot of time watching Christian speakers on TV, big names who tick all the charisma and charm boxes and confidently speak about Bible verses, even relating them to world events and what they believe is coming. They may even include appeals for donations, thereby manipulating their viewers’ emotions. It is easy for such people to present themselves with confidence and polish, but these are not the marks Paul points to as evidence of true ministry. In 1 Corinthians 2:2-5, Paul wrote, “For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.”

At the heart of Paul’s irony in our verses today is a call to discernment. The Corinthians believed themselves to be wise, yet their discernment was compromised. They were not testing what they heard carefully enough. They were not looking beneath the surface. And so Paul, almost reluctantly, met them on their own terms. If they valued boasting, then he would “boast” as well, but in doing so, he exposed how empty that standard really was.

What do we pilgrims make of all this? I think that Paul has put his finger on something we all need to consider – how discerning are we? When a speaker preaches a sermon, or engages with us in a Bible Study or prayer meeting, do we accept at face value what is said, or do we critically test and examine his or her words? Do we ask ourselves questions such as, “Is this teaching faithful to Scripture?” Or “Does this reflect the character of Christ?” And does the presenter provide the message with a spirit of humility, or is there a brashness or overconfidence present? In James 1:5-6, we read, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind”. We need wisdom whenever we hear messages or read books that contain confident, and even dogmatic, statements, and we should discard anything that has a whiff of falseness or overemphasis.

Paul ironically wrote, “After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!” (2 Corinthians 11:19). This verse is a warning as much as it is a rebuke. In a world full of confident voices, the greatest danger is not always obvious error; it is persuasive foolishness. Beware the kind of message that sounds right, feels compelling, and gains traction, yet subtly leads us away from the simplicity and humility of Christ.

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray for wisdom in our world, where strident and competing voices clamour for our attention with messages of falseness and error. Guide us into all truth we pray, and we do so by looking to Jesus, who is the Author of truth. Amen

The Meaning of Belonging to Christ

Posted on by Adrian Clark

“Look at the obvious facts. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognise that we belong to Christ as much as they do. I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.”
2 Corinthians 10:7-8 NLT

A summary of these two verses indicates that Paul challenged the Corinthians to look beyond outward appearances and recognise the true basis of his authority. He reminded them that if anyone claimed to belong to Christ, they should acknowledge that Paul belonged to Christ just as much. His authority as an apostle did not come from human approval or impressive appearance, but from the Lord Himself. Paul also explained that the authority given to him was not meant to dominate or harm them, but to build them up spiritually. Even if he spoke boldly about this authority, he was not ashamed of it, because it was God-given and intended for their strengthening, not their destruction. We also remember that Paul’s authority was apostolic, emphasising that it came from Christ and was meant for the spiritual growth and encouragement of believers, not for control or intimidation.

Paul made an obvious point, though. Belonging to Christ is a label that applies to all saved Christians who have placed their trust and faith in Jesus, the Saviour of the world. We can never belittle our favoured state, because when we consider what Jesus did for us, in its universal application, what conclusion can we otherwise reach? God had a plan for the salvation of mankind, and He revealed it to His prophets throughout the Old Testament, as in Isaiah 53, which sets it out exclusively. Isaiah 53:10-11, “But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins”. Jesus was clear about His mission, as He implemented the plan, and John 3:16-17 succinctly summarises it. “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”. The “world” is not a word that allows a selection for some people and not others. It is an all-encompassing catch-all that promises salvation for anyone who believes in Him, with all that that entails. 

So we pilgrims all belong to Christ, whether we are the minister or pastor, or just a new Christian sitting in a pew. One day, we will all find ourselves with Jesus in Heaven. Because we now belong to Christ, we live in such a way that honours Him. Paul wrote, “Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honour God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Belonging to Christ is a state that determines how I live, because “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). 

Paul seemed to have some critics in Corinth who perhaps claimed that they belonged to Christ, and he didn’t. Today, some may make similar claims, even if they are not spoken aloud. Perhaps we do it ourselves when we look at other believers who perhaps are not so committed as we are. Other believers who perhaps only make the occasional Sunday service or who neglect to attend the monthly or weekly mid-week meetings. We forget in our criticisms that they, too, belong to Christ, and they are probably in a different place in their journey than we are. Our salvation does not depend on the number of meetings we attend or how many chapters in the Bible we read each day. The thief next to Jesus at Calvary claimed none of these things, and yet was promised a place in Paradise “that very day”. All that matters is what Paul wrote, “we belong to Christ”. From that favoured place, we worship Him today and every day. We were lost but are now found. We are secure in Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father. Thank You for Your plan for our salvation. We confess that we have looked at others and not at Jesus when it comes to matters of our faith. Please forgive us, we pray, and help us on our journey to the Promised Land, our ultimate home with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.