Marching Orders

One Year Bible (Sep. 16)

Isaiah 22:1-24:23

Marching Orders

Yesterday we learned that God is “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies”. You will see this phrase over and over again today.

How are you with taking “Marching Orders”?

I have a GPS and when driving on strange freeways through Southern California she’s the Boss! Sometimes, however, she is a LOSER! I call her Alexa just so I don’t get confused with who I am talking with, but in any case, I lack confidence in the orders that she gives me.

Take today, for example, I was driving from Palm Springs to Rancho Santa Margarita and I wanted to catch a Toll Road as a shortcut. I have my transponder to handle my fee, and I was prepared… My GPS has a habit of telling me things like “turn right ahead”, but she doesn’t bother to tell me the name of the street. I have talked over and over to Alexa about this, but she “digs in her heels” and I would like to “dig up her heels and bury her!

I was on the far left side of the freeway with white posts in between me and the rest of the freeway (No crossing. No exit. No way out!) So, I waved “bye-bye” to my exit which was to the far right about five lanes over…. Ughhh. Lost in the woods again! I did not intend to miss the correct freeway, but I was on my way to a whole new adventure!

I guess you could say that confidence in the one who is giving the “Marching Orders” is vital!

Our highways today are much different than those of Isaiah’s times, but they were the same in many ways as well.

In Isaiah’s day, the issue with the people was that they liked to take shortcuts as well… They jumped on the “Hedonism Toll Road”. This is the pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence. Their philosophy was that satisfaction of desires is the highest good and aim of human life. They found life’s meaning in getting as much pleasure out of the world as possible.

They worshipped the idols that promised enhanced pleasure and sexuality. In fact, they offered their own babies on the altar so that they could be blessed. This was an abomination to God, their maker, and it would not go unpunished.

How much different is the Toll Road that we choose to take today for our shortcut to pleasure?

I just read a scathing post on social media where a woman was saying, “ I have my rights to abortion and no man is going to tell me what I can do with my body.” That’s the cleaned-up version leaving out her expletives.

Ronald Reagan once said, “I see that the only one supporting abortion is already born.” You've got to admit, he made a good point!

Everyone has a choice of what to do with their body, and the choice that many make is to do whatever they want and then to choose whatever is most "convenient" for them…

The theme, "My body, My Choice" is nothing new... Just ask the people in Isaiah's time...

We seem to prefer PLEASURE, not Marching ORDERS...

Please, note that their nation gave the people permission to pursue their polytheistic pleasures. The problem with their thinking and lifestyle is that God did not!

Listen to Isaiah 22:13, “Instead, you dance and play… Let’s feast and drink for tomorrow we die.” This same passage is restated in I Corinthians 15:32, “If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.”

Today’s passage reminds us of two choices: 1) Living for Today-- ENJOYMENT or 2) Living for Tomorrow--ETERNITY.

God is NOT political and he doesn’t change to be politically correct. Instead, HE CORRECTS POLITICS!

The book of Isaiah is all about ENTIRE NATIONS being brought down by The Lord of Angel Armies!

He takes away kingdoms and hands them to another for gain or for punishment at HIS discretion for his purposes. We see in 22:19 that Eliakim will be replacing Shebna. Listen to this passage as it will also be restated in the book of Revelation with greater meaning.

“I will give him the KEY to the house of David--the highest position in the royal courts. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them.” (22:22)

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” (Revelation 3:7)

These passages were written hundreds of years apart from each other. Pretty amazing, Isn't it?

Have you heard of the tradition of giving a KEY TO A CITY to an important hero or dignitary through an elaborate ceremony to honor them? That honor will only belong to Jesus Christ not to man and with it comes the power of life and death... Shut or Open!

The God of Angel Armies is in CHARGE! He opens and shuts doors and holds the key of David (the lineage of Jesus). He accomplishes His purpose, plan, and promises, and no enemy of God can thwart HIM.

You see, the problem with MARCHING ORDERS is that a lot of people are listening to the wrong voice, and choosing the road of self-pleasure and pride rather than worship and praise.

Another Timely and Timeless message from Isaiah…Who are you serving?