Intimacy (Monday) – Isaiah 62

Intimacy – Isaiah 62

In this passage, God is revealing things about himself through the foretelling of His servant Isaiah. The prophet is declaring a reversal of fortunes for Zion. The language is very strong! He is vowing, by His might and power, to cause this to come to pass. Zion will one day enjoy a windfall! Where she has viewed herself as forsaken and desolate, prophecy indicates she will one day see herself in a holy different light.

What will this look like? These are the words Isaiah chose; gloriously beautiful, royal, holy, desirable, an object of praise, worthy of God’s own rejoicing. How will this seemingly impossible thing come about? Isaiah chose the imagery of marriage to convey the answer. God’s might will originate in intimacy! It turns out intimacy, of the strength lovers enjoy, shall be the ways and means of God. Consequently, that Bride, secure in her identity as his beloved, shall become a marvel in the earth and a crown of glory to God Himself.

How could this come about? Not to belabor the point  🙂 but, have I mentioned the Blue Book lately? In its unassuming appearance Jim Branch’s devotional, at its core, is an invitation into intimacy. I will always view it as God’s somewhat nondescript yet personal invitation to the Marriage Supper. When people pick up on the spirit of this devotional, they discover that a feast has already been prepared. Yes, we must take up knife and fork, but the Blue Book points us to Jesus who is our feast. Intimacy with God is a gift but we must learn the process of partaking.

So many of us have been conditioned to think its a professional pastor’s job to prepare the meal and dish it out once or twice a week. Sadly, this idea is a broad path which leads too many into a complacent state of starvation. Where this apathy exists, the Blue Book can help stimulate the native hunger within a redeemed soul. Admittedly, it is a plain vanilla looking invitation but for those willing to engage, the Blue Book can lead to the discovery that the door into the Holy of Holies is wide open. Intimacy is not just the bread of select mystics. It is the inheritance of the redeemed. Intimacy is simply what Father wants with his children and has provided in Christ.

I do not attend a conventional (little “c”) church at this time although I consider myself to be a member in good standing of the (big “C”) Church – the Body of Christ. I have many friends who do attend church and who even lead in this setting. I do not seek to win them away nor do I really want them to try and win me back. I already know when I will return. It will be when I find a core of leaders who have successfully raised up disciples – men, women and children who have formed a living community by partaking of Christ in the ongoing affairs of their daily lives. They will not only tolerate the mystic’s notion that intimacy with God is possible; they will demonstrate how intimacy, since it is a gift, is normative.

Our passage suggests there is another behind-the-scene variable in the ways and means of Israel’s transformation. There are a group of people referred to as watchmen who would simply not be quiet nor would their souls find peace until Zion’s glory is evidenced in the earth. God has uniquely yoked Himself to these people whom He has appointed as reminders to Him and to others. Since God’s memory is fine it seems reasonable that his motive is, at least in part, to include men in this process of restoring identity and destiny to his children.

As a road contractor, I appreciate Isaiah’s,

                 Build up the highways, remove the stones, lift up a standard over the people.

I believe a watchman may be the equivalent to an inspector on a construction project. This person is the owner’s representative. The owner’s standards have created a vision in the watchful inspector’s mind and he knows what the project is supposed to look like when it is finished. The plans are always rolled out in his office and he has poured over them. His experience even enables him to understand the processes required to build the project.  And interestingly, he does not give himself, nor anyone else, rest until the project is completed according to the standards. I believe between now and the time the Church is fully glorified we will see more watchmen.

Note: He didn’t label them watchmen, as such, but Charles Swindoll identifies them in Parts 1& 2 of The Problem With Progress which I have included as an addendum to today’s MwM post. These pieces were originally offered in Crosswalk.com on December 6th and 8th of 2014. This content appeared originally in his book; Come Before Winter and Share My Hope. God bless you C.S.!

Isaiah was a watchman for Zion. Who are the watchman, the standard bearers today for the kingdom of God? I believe they exist. They are the ones who have rolled out the plans, in whose listening hearts God has whispered what He intends His kingdom to look like. Watchmen may appear troubled because what has been built to date does not resemble the standard God revealed to them in His word and by His Spirit.

You may be able to recognize them because they are coloring outside the established lines. With a glorious king and His kingdom in mind, they are envisioning new structures and concepts which to them, more closely resemble the vision that has been planted in their hearts. The hard questions they ask and the radical proposals they consider are warranted (in their view) because what they are observing seems incompatible with the standards as they have come to understand them.

Not all watchmen are atop the walls of the ancient city of Jerusalem crying out for the restoration of that nation or its real estate. Some are weeping and making petition for the Church and are not giving God (or others) much rest until this community resembles the glorified Bride of Christ referred to in Scripture. Some, who have the plans rolled out, see a day where a glorified church will be used to awaken Israel, by way of jealousy, to the intimacy of God’s love. Paul was one of these; in Romans 11, he aspires that…..

                    I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them.

Father raise up those watchmen who are holding up your standard, clinging to the vision You have of Your Bride and Your kingdom. Raise up those who hunger and thirst for kingdom realities. May the children of Zion awaken to Your call as they see glories of intimacy with God. May we individually and corporately see our appointments and pathway to intimacy. May we partake with many of our feast who is Christ Jesus. Amen.

The Problem With Progress: Part 1

Progress seems like a two-headed giant, doesn’t it?Looking back on it, it is admirable, almost heroic. We salute visionaries of yesteryear. They emerge from the pages of our history books as men and women of gallant faith. We shake our heads in amazement as we imagine the herculean courage it took to stand so confidently when the majority frowned so sternly. Yesterday’s progress earns for itself today’s monuments of stone. Looking back, we laud those who refused to take no for an answer. We quote them with gusto. We even name our children after them. But today? What do we do with such creatures today? We brand them as irritating malcontents, reckless idealists who simply won’t sit down and be quiet. Today’s progressive dreamers are seen as permissive, wild-eyed extremists. Not showing much corporate promise (since they hate the status quo mold), most of them have a tough time going along with the system. They in fact loathe the system. But what they lack in diplomacy they make up for in persistence. Cooperative they’re not. Resilient they are. Give most of them a couple hundred years and they’ll be virtually knighted. But at the present moment, they seem nuts. I can scarcely think of a half dozen churches today, for example, that would so much as consider having Martin Luther candidate for the pulpit. It’s doubtful that very many of you in business would hire Thomas Edison or Leonardo da Vinci into your company. And which evangelical seminary would chance turning over its students majoring in systematic theology to a firebrand like John Knox? Or tell me, how would an emotionally charged free spirit like Ludwig van Beethoven fit the stuffy chair of any university’s department of music? And who today would choose to go into battle with a blood-n-guts, straight-shooting commanding officer like George Patton or “Howlin’ Mad” Smith? For that matter, how many votes would a crusty, outspoken, overweight visionary like Winston Churchill—or the rugged Andrew Jackson—get in our day of slick government and touch-me-not bureaucrats and politicians? You think we’d respect their progressiveness and value their vision? Don’t bet on it. People didn’t in their day. One biblical hero who was especially upsetting to the national status quo—and whose life spanned agony and ecstasy—was Elijah. Follow the rise of his prophetic career in 1 Kings 17–19. What is his legacy for you? Tomorrow we’ll talk more about such revolutionary eagle-types. Perhaps you’ll realize that you’re one of them. The Problem With Progress: Part 2 Though in time we may laud their boldness and radical qualities, in their day most progressive dreamers are seen as permissive, wild-eyed extremists. I came across a rather remarkable letter purportedly written over one hundred and fifty years ago by Martin Van Buren to President Andrew Jackson. The contents? A strong, critical warning that the “evil” new railroads would disrupt business, boost unemployment, and weaken our nation’s defense. Historians may debate the authenticity of this little epistle, but see if the underlying tone doesn’t sound vaguely familiar. January 31, 1829 To President Jackson: The canal system of this country is being threatened by the spread of a new form of transportation known as “railroads.” The federal government must preserve the canals for the following reasons: One. If canal boats are supplanted by “railroads,” serious unemployment will result. Captains, cooks, drivers, hostlers, repairmen and lock tenders will be left without means of livelihood, not to mention the numerous farmers now employed in growing hay for horses. Two. Boat builders would suffer and towline, whip and harness makers would be left destitute. Three. Canal boats are absolutely essential to the defense of the United States. In the event of the expected trouble with England, the Erie Canal would be the only means by which we could ever move the supplies so vital to waging modern war. As you may well know, Mr. President, “railroad” carriages are pulled at the enormous speed of fifteen miles per hour by “engines” which, in addition to endangering life and limb of passengers, roar and snort their way through the countryside, setting fire to crops, scaring the livestock and frightening our women and children. The Almighty certainly never intended that people should travel at such breakneck speed. Martin Van Buren Governor of New York How wildly progressive can you get? Just imagine the shock of the Almighty(!) as those iron horses began to rumble by at such “breakneck speed.” It may be amusing in our day of moonshots, Concorde jet flights to London, and intercontinental ballistic missiles, but when the late Governor Van Buren dispatched that epistle in the winter of 1829, he was sober and serious as a judge. The very idea of a President even tolerating such a thought smacked of temporary insanity. Maybe the heat from Old Hickory’s “kitchen cabinet” was getting to him. Are you an eagle-type, soaring to heights beyond your peers? Do you find yourself bored with the maintenance of the machinery . . . yawning through the review of the rules . . . restless to cut a new swath . . . excited rather than intimidated by the risks? Don’t expect pats on the back or great waves of applause. Not today. Chances are good you’ll lose a few jobs, fail a few courses, ruffle tons of feathers, and be the subject of the town gossip. Mavericks who don’t color within the lines are also notorious for not staying within the fences. And that makes folks terribly uncomfortable. There’s something about that old progressive giant that currently casts a shadow on your genius. But take heart! Many an alleged heretic today will be a hero tomorrow. Which is another way of saying, “first the cross, then the crown.”