Isaiah 64:1-2 1Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence—2As fire burns brushwood, as fire causes water to boil—to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!
Ultimately, the cry of Isaiah’s heart, for the LORD to “Rend the heavens! That You would come down“, is fulfilled in Christ.
Last week we began to examine why Isaiah was so desperate in His prayer, and how the sinful disposition of the nation of Israel, against the LORD, can be found in us, when we are not walking soberly in our faith.
This week we will look into how Christ’s present with us is the fulfillment of the prophet’s prayer, and causes real shaking events in our lives, which will bring greater faith and sanctification.
“That the mountains might shake at Your presence“
The above call for GOD’s presence to shake the mountains, calls to mind YHWH on Mt. Sinai, after the exodus from Egypt. The mountains indeed shook at His presence. Despite this imagery, the result of the mountain shaking, was to humble the proud of Israel and bring them to holiness before the the LORD.
Throughout Isaiah’s prophecy he uses natural imagery to communicate God’s desire in humanity. Consider the prophecy concerning the ministry of John the Baptist.
Isaiah 40:3-5 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; 5 The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
It is obvious the word of God is using metaphor to reveal John’s ministry of preparing a road for Christ to travel over. That road is into the heart of man, where every weakness (valley) of man will be lifted, while every pride (mountain) humbled–every place iniquity (crooked) holds sway will be made straight–and the wounds (rough place), self-inflicted or other wise, will be paved smooth.
All this road work done by the Baptist, that Christ would have a smooth road, a Kings Highway, on which to travel into the heart of man.
Likewise, God’s presence in Christ, by the Spirit of God with those who follow Christ, shakes our pride, arrogance and the fear that fuels it; reminding us that humility is foundational to intimacy with our God and Father.
James 4:6-8 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
1 Peter 5:5-7 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
When God rends the heavens over our lives and comes down to us in Christ, He shakes our pride and fear to the ground. Our responsibility is to step into the shaking rather than avoid it. Next we will see how God’s presence affects the body of Christ, both negatively and positively.
“As fire burns brushwood“
Brushwood is simply that which is used to kindle and fuel a fire. Gathering brushwood means, breaking off low hanging dead branches and picking them off the ground. These fruitless branches have one purpose and that is fire wood.
In considering, what causes these branches to burn, God’s presence coming down, we are drawn to John 15:1-6. Let remember that Jesus is the fulfillment of God rending the heavens and coming down.
John 15:1-6 1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
A couple of things to be noted, both fruitful branches and dead branches are personally handled by God and secondly both types of branches are said to be “in” the Vine, who is Christ. What are we too make of this statement?
When Christ is in the midst of His church, He is there to cause growth and multiplication of fruit. This fruit in not that of numeric growth, but that of growth in the character of Christ, His commitment to the Father’s will, as we absolutely surrender to Him.
Interestingly, during what may be termed as revival, the first hit of God’s presence almost always begins with the confession of sin, repentance in the saints, as they are convicted by the Spirit of God, and absolute surrender in the congregation to God’s love and chastening; hence the pruning.
In the others, God’s presence, will reveal the true and sad state of their hearts; that they are dead to God and dead to the life of the Spirit. Truth told, this is occurring in the church throughout the world, and is God’s preparation for the return of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 4:17 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
In every church I have pastored there is a clear delineation, between those who love God’s word and His Son, who abide in Christ, and those who have not received the love of the truth that they might be saved, being saved (II Thessalonians 2:9-12).
Just as God’s rending of the heavens and coming down, through Christ, produces a positive negative effect in those not producing fruit, so it dos in those who are, but need a catalyst to advance.
“As fire causes water to boil“
This is an interesting statement, for boiling water was important to those living at the time of Isaiah. Remember the first reason to biol water is to kill that which lives in it, that can kill the one using the water.
God heating us up, is a New Testament principal, which carries with it the same idea of why we boil water.
1 Peter 1:6-7 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ
Although the metaphor used in the passage above is different, that of a gold being super heated, where the dirt and impurities rise to the top, for the purpose of purifying the gold; the reason is the same.
When Christ comes into our lives, He comes with His presence and He is a consuming fire. We feel this in the joy and passion we have to serve the Lord with all our heart, at the beginning of our walk. The hard part is maintaining that heart of fire, amidst other Christians who want to diminish your faith, as your life makes them feel weak–or dealing with continual attacks and temptations–or being wounded by other Christians.
What ever the reason, there are times when we need to come face to face with Jesus again, for our faith and practice has grown weary and cold.
The conclusion of the matter is to ask, where are you?
Are you fruitless?
Are you pruned?
It is not too late, call for God to rend the heavens that God would come down and change your life.
