“Who decides what is right and wrong In the world? Who has the authority to define morality for all of creation? It is not the courts, congress, the media, public opinion, the “politically correct” police, the “tolerance” brigade or even the church. The only answer has been, is and always will be Jesus Christ. You can find His opinion on a great variety of subjects in His best seller… The Bible” (Jeffrey E. Ramey).
The king of Assyria embraced a “politically correct” philosophy about Jesus. How do you move way from tolerance or a philosophy about Jesus so He impacts every part of your life?
God Desires Foundation
Woe to the destroyer and traitor who would eventually be destroyed and betrayed. Ask God to be gracious as they longed for Him. He was their strength and and salvation in time of distress. Nations scattered when God rose up. He was exalted, dwelt on high and filled Zion with justice and righteousness. God was a sure foundation for their times and rich store of salvation, wisdom and knowledge. The fear of the Lord was the key to treasure. The land mourned and wasted away. The Lord was exalted and burned the people who conceived chaff and birthed straw (Is. 33:1-12). God desires to be your foundation for strength, salvation, wisdom and knowledge during times of distress.
God Reveals Beauty
Trembling gripped the godless. Only those who walked righteously, spoke rightly, rejected gain from extortion and refused bribes and murder plots could dwell with the consuming fire. They made the mountain fortress their refuge and God supplied bread and water. Their eyes saw the king in His beauty. They would not see arrogant officers anymore with their strange tongues who took advantage of them. Their eyes saw Jerusalem, a peaceful abode and unmovable tent along with the Mighty One who used a judge, lawgiver and king to save them. The spoil would be divided with the lame carrying plunder. No one in Zion would be sick and everyone’s sins were forgiven (Is. 33:13-24). God reveals His beauty as the Mighty One who provides bread and forgives sin.
God Judges Sin
Let the earth hear about the Lord’s anger with all nations. He destroyed all their armies, soaked their blood on the mountains, dissolved stars and rolled up the sky like a scroll. God judged and destroyed Edom to uphold Zion’s cause. God stretched over Edom the measuring line of chaos so that princes vanished away and thorns overrun her strongholds, which became a home for owls. The Lord’s scroll read that no mates would be missing because His Spirit gathered and distributed them together to live there forever (Is. 34:1-17). God judges sin, breaks strongholds and upholds His cause.
God Opens Eyes
The wilderness rejoiced and blossomed. Lebanon, Carmel and Sharon saw the glory and splendor of God. Encourage the exhausted, strengthen the feeble and tell the fearful to be strong. God came with vengeance to save them. He opened blind eyes and unstopped deaf ears with the lame leaping like a deer and the tongue of the dumb shouting for joy. Water gushed forth in the wilderness with streams in the desert. The burning sand became a pool and thirsty ground bubbling brooks. The highway was called the Way of Holiness for the redeemed who walked in that Way. The ransomed of the Lord returned and entered Zion with singing. He crowned their heads with eternal joy and sorrow left (Is. 35:1-10). God opens blind eyes and unstops deaf ears so they can drink from streams in the desert and walk in the Way of Holiness with eternal joy.
God Offers Choice
Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked and captured the fortified city of Judah. He asked Hezekiah on whom he was depending that caused him to rebel against Sennacherib. Did he say Egypt, splintered reed of a staff, or God, the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed? He would get 2,000 horses if he made a bargain with Assyria. Sennacherib said the Lord told him to destroy Judah (Is. 36:1-10). God offers a choice to depend on Him causing people to make fun of you or accept immediate benefits for personal gain.
God Delivers From Evil
The commander called out in Hebrew urging them to not let Hezekiah deceive them if they trusted in God for deliverance from Assyria. Making peace with Assyria would enable everyone to eat from their own vine and drink water from their own cistern in a land like their own with grain, new wine, bread and vineyards. No god had ever delivered any nation from the king of Assyria. The people remained silent because the king said to not answer him. The palace administrator, secretary and recorder went to Hezekiah and told him what Assyria’s field commander said (Is. 36:11-22). God delivers you from evil forces if you refuse making peace with them.
Steps in moving away from political correctness about Jesus to fully embracing Him in your life:
1. Allow Christ be your foundation for strength, salvation, wisdom and knowledge during times of distress
2. Glory in the beauty and mighty power of Christ who provides bread and forgives sin
3. Accept God’s judgment of sin to break strongholds and uphold His cause
4. Rejoice in Christ opening blind eyes and unstopping deaf ears so you can drink from streams in the desert and walk in the Way of Holiness with eternal joy
5. Choose to depend on Christ causing people to make fun of you instead of accepting immediate benefits for personal gain
6. Receive God’s deliverance from evil forces instead of making peace with them
