Dear Ones:
Isaiah wrote his book over almost three thousand years ago…and yet, the timeless truths of God, and His dealings with us, reverberates with reality and power through history until it arrives to us TODAY. One of the great truths in Isaiah has to do with the knowledge of the invisible, and the consequent actions by God. There are very important lessons and applications to our lives that are derived from this subject.
In Isaiah 11:2-5, the author is writing about the Lord Jesus, “the Branch.” And in the discourse he deals with this declaration: “… The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him.” This reality is so very important, for in His humanity the Lord Jesus reveals to us how this applies to us concerning the same Spirit of the Lord. He goes on to write, ” …the Spirit of wisdom and understanding in the fear of the Lord.” Jesus, to a great extent, in taking human flesh, did limit Himself absolutely to the resources of the God the Holy Spirit, and this for all things. He was showing US the way, His way of living…and discerning. This Spirit of counsel, might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord will also be the one who gives to the Branch “quick understanding in the fear of the Lord.” In other words, His presence will reveal Himself quickly in whatever circumstance that may arise, IF He is trusted in. Now, practically this works out like this: “….and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears., but with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth.” What do we see here? Jesus, in His humanity, was shut up to the Spirit of God to receive the discernment of the invisible, the reality of what was in the heart of man. He would not, as we read in Proverbs 3:5-6, “…lean to his own understanding.” And though He would use fully every faculty of His being, He would ultimately trust only in the discernment of the Holy Spirit. He would perfectly apply what Solomon writes: “…In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy steps.” (v.6)
How shall we deal rightly with true discernment, unless we trust in the Spirit of God, and believe in Him to give us the wisdom and understanding that we need in order to discern that which is right and just in the eyes of God? Jeremiah writes: “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is NOT in man who walketh to direct his steps.” (Jer. 10:23) Why is this true? Because of spiritual and physical limitations. On the one hand, sin clouds our judgement, and on the other, physical limitations hinder us from seeing the invisible, and understanding what is the truth.
So, today, as always, God instructs us: “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” (Ps. 37:5) The Spirit of God has been given to us to BE our teacher, and the One who reveals to us (always in accordance with the Word of God), the way in which we should go. We can count absolutely upon it. Let us believe, and live practically…by the Spirit.
Love, Dad