“…fill all the world with fruit…” is another one of those passages that seemed highlighted for us today.

Fruit is the result of how we live our lives. Are we bearing good fruit or bad fruit? As Christians we should, of course, bear good fruit. What would happen if Christians filled all the world with good fruit? That fruit can take many forms. We bear fruit when we witness for Him. We bear fruit when we exercise our spiritual gifts. We bear fruit when we display the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control). How can we fill all the world with good fruit? Easy…spend plenty of time with Jesus!

Any ideas on Eliakim? He was the one chosen to replace Shebna, the steward of King Hezekiah. On Eliakim’s shoulder was placed the key to the house of David. There is another reference to this “key”. It’s found in the book of Revelation.
Rev 3:7
"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.

It is easy for us today to get caught up in renewal and recommitment like the people of Hezekiah’s day. We can soon slip back into the old ways if we are not careful to maintain that renewal and recommitment. The slipping is so subtle that we might miss it. Isaiah warns the people of this danger.

Isaiah also continues to condemn spiritual leaders who are so consumed with the world that they don’t hear the voice of God. He continues to condemn meaningless worship. What does that look like in our churches today? People go through the motions of ritualistic worship…rituals that are made by men. Our focus becomes the ritual and we neglect to worship Him in the “splendor of his holiness”.

But, as always there is this great promise of restoration and the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, the precious cornerstone, that sure foundation.

What prophetic words for today, “For you this whole vision is nothing but words sealed in a scroll…”
If we do not faithfully and frequently communicate with Him, if we do not know Him intimately and personally, His Words are just “words”. They have no meaning for us. We should approach the reading of God’s Word with “holy expectation”.

Today’s reading in Isaiah tells the story of the wrath of God on the Day of the Lord and gives us a glimpse into the Millennial Kingdom.

“In that day the Lord will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below”
Evil will be destroyed and Satan and his evil angels will be thrown into the Abyss.

Leviathan is mentioned. In ancient Aramean literature this is a seven-headed monster, an enemy of God and God’s created order of things. How very appropriate as a representative of Satan! Satan is most definitely an enemy of God and according to Hebrew word pictures, Satan is “chaos man”. (chaos as the opposite of order)

Isaiah 35 is a peek into the nature of things in the Millennium, as well as the attitude that should be ours as the redeemed today.

Isa 35:8
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.

Imagine walking in that Way, His Way, the Way of Holiness. Do we have to wait until the Millennium?

What an uplifting reading for today…Hezekiah's reforms. He started off really well. His early reforms were done quickly too.
"In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them."
The priests purified the sanctuary and removed everything unclean and then consecrated it. Remember King Ahaz had brought in pagan gods, altars, and high places. If we apply this type of reform to today, how would it look in our churches? What would be the pagan influences that have infiltrated our churches today?

Hezekiah ordered sin offerings for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and for Judah. When the offerings were finished, singing to the Lord began and the whole assembly bowed in worship.

Then Hezekiah did something very significant. He reinstituted observance of Passover. The people responded with great enthusiasm, so much so that they celebrated for an additional week. Sounds like a modern day crusade or revival. "There was great joy in Jerusalem."

When the celebration was over, the people were motivated to go out into the towns of Judah. They smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. They destroyed the high places and the altars…ALL of them. What a testimony to revival! Couldn't we do that today? What would be some examples of sacred stones and high places?

The king set the standard, the people followed. What a concept! Spiritual leaders leading spiritually!
The people brought so many freewill offerings (above and beyond the ten percent tax tithe) that the offerings were distributed to fellow priests according to divisions and even given to males three years old who would later enter temple service. Unbelievable!

Hezekiah listened to the Lord and obeyed. The result…major spiritual reform and renewal. What would happen to our churches today if a spirit of reform and renewal swept our country, or our church denominations, or our local churches, or individuals? You know it ultimately comes down to the individual; will we be willing to institute reform and renewal in our own lives?

Oh, boy, here we go again, back into Isaiah. An interesting application from Isaiah…even though Isaiah knew the ultimate outcome that the nations would bring about the suffering of God’s people, he continued to preach against sin in Judah. Often as Christians we may know that our witness for Him may fall on deaf ears, we should still continue to witness. Our job is to witness, He takes it from there.

Again in Isaiah 13 we have a foreshadowing of a prophecy concerning the Day of the Lord’s wrath.

Isaiah gives us a glimpse into Satan’s plans through the king of Babylon. More details concerning Satan are found in Ezekiel 28 .

Along with a reference to "Babylon fallen" in Isaiah are several in Revelation.

Rev 18:2
With a mighty voice he shouted: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.

Babylon is used in analogy to represent the false church during the last days. Before the false church becomes a haunt for demons and evil spirits, there must first come a “falling away” or a rebellion. The Christian church will become apostate before it becomes the false church.

II Th 2:3
Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

What does this mean for us?

What a sad end to King Ahaz. Why is it that so many of the kings gave silver and gold from the temple to their enemies? Does prostitution come to mind?

Corruptions that led to the downfall of King Ahaz;

1. copied an altar of a false god
2. sought guidance from the bronze altar instead of guidance from the Lord
3. took away the Sabbath canopy
4. offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus
5. took away the furnishings from the temple
6. shut the doors of the Lord’s temple
7. set up altars at every street corner in Jerusalem
8. built high places in every town in Judah

Any connections for today?

Contrast this to his son Hezekiah. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces Moses’ bronze snake because the Israelites were worshiping the object instead God. Hezekiah held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow the command the Lord had given Moses. The result? The Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.

Any applications for us?

Oh, so very much in today’s reading that pertain to the last days.

“…dead bodies will send up a stench; the mountains will be soaked with their blood.”
(Armageddon)

Stars dissolved, sky rolled up like a scroll, starry host will fall…all preparations for the new heaven and the new earth. Throughout the entire Bible are many other references.
Rev 6:14
The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
2 Pet 3:12
as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.

Then we have this great promise.
Isa 16:5
In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it-- one from the house of David-- one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.

And just in case we wonder who is in control…
Isa 14:24
The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.

What comfort! He is the One in control!