ISAIAH 272008 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: Isaiah 27

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2008. Isaiah chapter 27. Chapter 27 finishes off a little section here in the book of Isaiah. We're finishing off chapters 24 through 27 are all dealing with the end time scenario.

The tribulation period, the judgment that is going to be brought upon the earth, the seven years of God's wrath being poured out. Isaiah has dealt with some of the prophecies and promises about that period and how God will protect Israel during that time, during the time that that wrath is being poured out.

And then heading off of the tribulation period, then into the second coming and the establishment of the kingdom of the Messiah when Jesus comes and sets up his kingdom centered there in Jerusalem and establishes his reign on the earth for a thousand years. Chapters 24, 25, 26, and 27 all deal with that end time scenario, that time frame, the last seven years and the thousand year reign of Christ that is yet to come and

And we're finishing it off here. Now, chapter 24 was really kind of the narrative of the account, detailing the different situations, the things that will be going on. Then chapter 25, if you have headings in your Bible, it says praise to God. And it's what it really is. It's praise to God about what he is doing in that time and the things that he is going to be accomplishing.

Chapter 26 was a song of salvation, the song that will be sung by Israel as they experience the salvation of God and the work of God in the midst of the tribulation, through the tribulation, and then on into the millennial period. And now as we go into chapter 27...

This also is a song, and it's the song not sung by Israel, but it's the song that's sung by the Lord, really in response to Israel and in response to all that he has done with the nation of Israel. As we look at chapter 27, and we're looking at God's song regarding Israel and specifically the nation of Israel, the Jewish people,

We know that it is literally talking about the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. There's some in the church today that teach that the church replaces Israel in end time scenarios and promises and blessings.

But that is not the case. There is yet a work that God wants to do with the nation of Israel. He has promised many things in the scriptures, including what we've been looking at in chapters 24, 25, 26, and 27. And those things will be fulfilled literally with the nation of Israel and with the Jewish people. And if you don't believe me, then talk to Paul in Romans chapter 9, 10, and 11. And Paul will tell you that God still has a plan for the nation of Israel and he's not finished with them yet.

But as we look at these things, we're seeing principles of God that I also want to carry over and encourage us to abide in Christ. As we learn about the principles of God and the things that he is saying, some of these things he has applied to his disciples. And we see here from chapter 27, the need for us to abide in Jesus Christ, something he encouraged us to do in John chapter 15, which we'll be referring to throughout the evening.

But let's start it off here in Isaiah chapter 27, starting in verse 1. It says, Verse 2, Verse 3,

I, the Lord, keep it. I water it every moment, lest any hurt it. I keep it night and day. Fury is not in me. Who would set briars and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them. I would burn them all together. Verse 5. Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me, and he shall make peace with me.

Here in the first part of chapter 27, it says,

It's continuing on from what we've been looking at in the millennial period. Verse 1 of chapter 27 probably should be included with chapter 26 because there at the end of chapter 26, God is saying to his people to come into their chambers and

He's shutting the doors behind them while he pours out his indignation upon the Lord, punishing the inhabitants of the earth. And along with that, he goes on to say that in that day, at that time, he is also going to punish Leviathan.

In that day is a term that refers to this end time scenario. Sometimes referring to the wrath of God, sometimes referring to the millennial period, but it's that end times, the look at the end of things when God is fulfilling all of these promises and the plan that He has set forth from the very beginning.

And in that day, at that time, as God is pouring out his wrath upon the inhabitants of the earth, he's also going to be doing some severe punishment. It says, in that day, the Lord with his severe sword, great and strong. This is going to be a very great punishment that he is unleashing. And it's directed towards this creature called Leviathan. Who is Leviathan?

Well, there's some speculation here. There's some discussion that we could have. Job chapter 41 describes this creature called Leviathan. And it seems to be very clear that he's describing some type of huge creature, Leviathan.

A dinosaur, perhaps. Others have gone as far as to say that it's more of a dragon than a dinosaur, but maybe they're one and the same. Job chapter 41 talks about this creature and it breathes forth fire and smoke comes from its nostrils and that this creature was greatly feared. It was something that was monstrous and huge that lived in the sea.

Well, here God is saying that he is going to punish Leviathan with a severe sword. But he also describes him as the fleeing serpent. He says, Leviathan, that twisted serpent, and that he will slay this reptile that is in the sea. And so Leviathan,

It's probably not this dinosaur that God is referring to, although that could be. But instead, I would share with you that this is a reference to Satan. In Revelation chapter 12, Satan is described as and pictured as a dragon. In verses 6 through 9, I believe it is, 7, 8, 9, around there, he's described as a Satan. He's called that serpent of old. And

And it talks about how God throws him out of heaven. And it's during that tribulation period that he's thrown out of heaven that he begins this all-out war against the children of Israel, against the people of God. And knowing that his end is near, he unleashes hell upon the earth.

And I believe it's the same time that we're dealing with here in Isaiah chapter 27. That God is with his severe sword dealing with Satan, referred to as Leviathan, that fleeing serpent, the serpent of old, that twisted serpent, that reptile that is in the sea.

God is dealing His punishment to the enemy. He's not going to win. Although, sometimes as we look around the world today, we can think that the enemy is winning. You know, when you watch movies or hear stories, sometimes it's easy to think that God and Satan are equals, that sometimes good wins and sometimes bad wins or evil wins. But it's not the case. The devil will not succeed.

His plans will fail. He will be punished. God will bring his severe sword, his great and strong sword against the devil and he will be defeated. God is promising that here in Isaiah chapter 27 verse 1. And you and I as believers or as human beings, we need to make a choice because there's only two choices.

You're either with God or you're with Satan. You're either with God or you're with Leviathan. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 12 verse 30, you're either for me or you're against me. There's no middle ground when it comes to Christianity. There's no middle ground when it comes to a relationship with God. You're either sold out for Jesus Christ or

Or you're not. You're either with him or you're against him, Jesus said. You have to make a choice. You can't serve two masters. You can't be half-heartedly following Jesus Christ. And it's a very serious choice because who you align with, well, it determines some very serious things. Because Leviathan will be punished with God's severe sword.

So who do you want to be aligned with? Now, he goes on to talk about Israel. But again, I extend these things to you and I as believers in Jesus Christ, because in John chapter 15, Jesus said, abide in me. I'm the vine. You are the branches. And here in verse two, he says, in that day, sing to her a vineyard of red wine. Now, as God's talking to Israel,

He's pouring out His judgment upon the earth, upon the devil. He's wiping out the earth. He's protecting His people, though. He's protecting the nation of Israel. He says in verse 3, "...I, the Lord, keep it. I water it every moment, lest any hurt it. I keep it night and day."

He says, Israel is my people. I'm protecting them. I'm taking care of them. All of these things are happening in the rest of the world. This judgment is being poured out at this time. But on my people, I'm taking care of them night and day. He refers to them as a vineyard, which is something that we've seen in the past.

In fact, in Isaiah chapter 5, verses 1 through 7, God describes Israel as his vineyard, but it's in a different light. There in Isaiah chapter 5, as God describes Israel as the vineyard, it's a promise that he's going to stop protecting the vineyard because Israel did not produce the fruit that God desired, because they did not continue in relationship with God.

God said, I'm going to tear down the walls. I'm going to remove all of the protection that I've set up around them. And there's going to be some devastation, some desolation in the land of Israel for the nation. But God is not done with them. Now, as we look at chapter 27, there's still his vineyard. And now he's promising in that time, he is going to

Keep them. He's going to build a wall around them. He's going to water them every moment to make sure that they are not hurt. They're His vineyard.

A vineyard of red wine. That word red wine or that term, it's used to describe pure wine as opposed to wild wine. Now in Isaiah chapter 5, the problem that God had with Israel was that they produced wild grapes, wild fruit. They just did their own thing. They didn't follow God. They didn't continue in relationship with God. And so the fruit of their lives, the fruit that they produced was not pure, was not good. It was wild.

But here God says, now the work is done. Now they are, they're my choice vine. They're a pure vineyard producing red wine, not wild fruit any longer. And I, the Lord, keep them. I protect them. I water them night and day. And so you and I get to choose sides. Where do you want to be? Where do you want to stand? With God or with Leviathan?

With God, that you abide in Him and you have no worries. He waters, He protects, He provides, He takes care of you. Or with Leviathan, and you get to experience the punishment and the judgment of the Lord. Jesus said, you're either for me or against me. You either abide in Jesus Christ or you do not. And here in verses 1, 2, and 3 of Isaiah 27, we see that contrast.

The choice that needs to be made. Are you with God or against him? Are you with God or with Leviathan, the devil, awaiting the judgment of God? With God's vineyard, those who are part of it, they experience his protection. Specifically, this is dealing with Israel. They're in that end time scenario. But also it extends to us as believers in Jesus Christ.

Since Jesus said, abide in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. We're part of that vineyard. We've been grafted in to use the terminology of Paul in Romans chapter 11. And he waters and he keeps. He provides and he protects.

And as a result, look at verse 5 and 6. Well, actually, let's look at verse 4 first. He says, Now, here's our choice. Again, it's either with God or against God. Now, if you're against God, what are you going to do? How do you fight God?

Whatever you set up, whatever you establish, okay, I'm going to set up my thorns and briars and protect myself in here and nobody can come through. But God says, that doesn't stop me. You can't put barbed wire around your property and that will keep God from you. No, nothing that we can establish, no defenses that we can mount up will keep us from God if we choose to fight him. But God says, there's no fury in me. I'm not out to get you. I'm not...

full of wrath towards you. Instead, he says in verse five, let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me. God says, look, I'm not out to get you. I'm out to make peace with you. Now, if you insist on fighting me, well, nothing that you set up and no defenses that you can establish and no attack that you can mount will succeed, will be accomplished. I'm not out to get you, but if you're out to get me, if you're against me, nothing you do will prosper.

You can't stop me. You can't stop my work. You can't stop my word from being fulfilled. You can't stop my promises. But God says, look, I'm not out to get you. I'm out to make peace with you. I want you to be a part of my vineyard. Lay hold of my strength. Grab hold of me and make peace with me, God says. Again, we have the choice.

If we're with God, it includes his protection, his provision, his peace. But it also includes fruitfulness. It says in verse 6, Again, been grafted in from Romans chapter 11. What did Jesus say? He says,

The result of abiding in Christ is we're part of His vineyard. We have His protection, His provision, His peace. But we also bear much fruit. You have a choice to make. Are you with God or with Leviathan? You can't win against God. He'll burn up all the briars and thorns, the thickets, everything that you can mount up in trying to escape His plans and His purposes. They won't work. You can't accomplish them. But if you're with Him,

There's great blessing. There's great promises that God has for those who abide in Jesus Christ. You can fight him or you can make peace with him. You can surrender to him and allow him to offer you the life, the abundant life that he promises to those who follow him. So God's vineyard, we have the choice to abide or not to abide, to be with Christ, to walk with him or to fight against him.

Again, there's no gray area. Jesus said, you're either for me or you're against me. You're either abiding in me or you're not a part of me. And we'll see that even as we go further. Let's look at verses 7 through 9. He says, Has he struck Israel as he struck those who struck him? Or has he been slain according to the slaughter of those who were slain by him? In measure, by sending it away, you contended with it.

He removes it by his rough wind in the day of the east wind. Therefore, by this, the iniquity of Jacob will be covered. And this is all the fruit of taking away his sin. When he makes all the stones of the altar like chalk stones that are beaten to dust, wooden images and incense altars shall not stand. Here in verses 7 through 9, God is continuing to deal with Israel and

And he's sharing about his merciful judgment. On the one hand, Israel is God's vineyard. He's protecting them, he's keeping them, he's watering them. But at the same time, he's needing to deal with their iniquity. He needs to deal with their rebellion. He needs to deal with their sinful activity, their idolatry specifically.

And so in verses 7 through 9, actually 7 through 11, but we'll get to the rest later, we see God's merciful judgment. He's judging them. He's bringing some punishment, some chastisement, some discipline, but it's not as severe as is deserved, nor is it as severe as he has dealt with other nations. He says, "...as he struck Israel as he struck those who struck him."

God has dealt very severely with some of the other nations surrounding Israel. Some of the nations that have come against the work of God. The nations that have been in rebellion to God. And he's dealt severely with them to the point that he has wiped them out completely.

They no longer exist. They have no history. They have no ancestors up to this day. There's no heritage there. They're just completely wiped out. He's dealt very severely with them. But in dealing with Israel, God has not gone to that extent. The judgment that he has poured out has been merciful toward them. Has he struck them? Has he struck those? No. It says in verse 8, in measure. What does that mean?

The judgment that God gives to His people is measured. That's good to know. If something is without measure, it's an all-out, just completely go for it. God's judgment towards His people and God's judgment towards Israel specifically is not without measure, that He's just going to wipe them off the face of the earth. He's just going to obliterate them completely. No, it's in measure, which means it's calculated. God knows exactly what it takes to

exactly what it will require for Israel to turn, to repent, to come back to him, to be purified, to be able to produce the fruit that he desires the vineyard to produce. And so in measure, with calculation, he sends them away, verse 8. He removes it by the rough wind, the day of the east wind. And because of this measured, merciful judgment, their iniquity is dealt with in verse 9.

God is dealing out the exact measure of judgment that is necessary for Jacob to get rid of their idolatry.

to throw away all other gods and to turn to the one true and living God. He's dealing out the exact amount of judgment, exactly what is necessary for Israel to repent. It's the way that God deals with his people. In Hebrews chapter 12, verses 3 through 11, the author of Hebrews shares something very similar about the judgment of God in the life of a believer. Judgment in the form of, or described as, discipline or chastisement.

Hey, there's things in our lives that God needs to deal with. And the way he does that is he gives us merciful judgment. It's in measure. It's not without measure that, hey, we blew it. And so God just, you're out of here. No more chances for you. Although that's what we deserve. He's merciful.

He still judges. He still takes care of the sin. He still works in our lives. Yet, it's with mercy. It's with measure. It's calculated that God is giving to us exactly what is necessary for us to repent. For Him to deal with that area in our lives that He wants to work on. It's discipline. It's chastisement. And it's proof that God loves us according to the author of Hebrews. There in Hebrews chapter 12. And so God deals with us

In merciful judgment. In measure. Sending us away. We go through hard times. We go in times of bondage perhaps. And yet God is not finished with us. He's pruning us. Preparing us. Refining us. That we might shine forth as gold. Verse 10. Yet the fortified city will be desolate. The habitation forsaken and left like a wilderness. Verse 10.

Verse 2.

Now we go from merciful judgment to some pretty severe words here in verses 10 and 11. He's saying their iniquity is going to be covered. He's dealing with them in measure. And yet, even though he's merciful, the fortified city, the nation of Israel, will be desolate. There is going to be a measure of judgment that comes upon the nation, Isaiah is saying. And it's true. It's taken place many times.

God has had to deal with them. They've been carried away captive. The city has been left desolate many times. There the calf will feed, which is meaning that there's no inhabitants. It's just completely empty. Perhaps you are experiencing a time like that where you feel like your life is just desolate.

You've experienced the judgment of God. Merciful judgment, but at the same time, you know God loves you. You know you're a part of Him. And yet, things are just desolate. The fortified city, all the things that you were hoping in and relying upon, they've just been laying waste. And there just seems to be barrenness and emptiness. Emptiness.

Now there's good news for those who are experiencing that, just like for Israel who has experienced that, because in verses 12 and 13, God will go on to say, I will gather them back. I will reestablish them. They'll come back and they'll experience the salvation of the Lord and they'll worship the Lord at the Holy Mount at Jerusalem.

Although things look bleak now because the city is desolate, Isaiah is saying, things look bleak because of this judgment that God is pouring out, yet it's merciful judgment, it's calculated judgment, it's just what is necessary so that when God brings them back...

No longer will there be the other altars and the altars of incense and the other idols that they worship. They'll come back and they'll worship the Lord in the Holy Mount at Jerusalem. Let's look at verses 12 and 13 and we'll come back to 11. It says,

So it shall be in that day the great trumpet will be blown. They will come who are about to perish in the land of Assyria, and they who are outcast in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. Here God is saying, and some of this we've seen to be begun to be fulfilled, that he is going to bring them back into the land of Israel.

He says, I'm going to gather you one by one. Nobody's going to be left out. Wherever you are in all the land, I'm going to bring you back. I'm going to gather you back. And in that day, there's a trumpet that's going to sound and you're going to be gathered back and you're going to worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. This has always been God's issue with the nation of Israel, their worship of other gods. That's what the Babylonian captivity was all about.

being captive in Babylon for 70 years. God was seeking to break them of their idolatry. And it worked to an extent, to the extent that they didn't bring back the Baals and the Ashtoreths. And yet to this day, there's idolatry by the Jewish people. Perhaps not in the same sense of kneeling down and bowing before altars, but by refusing to worship the Lord.

Because idolatry is when anything in our life is more important than God. And God is dealing with His people because He's not their God, yet they're His people. They're His vineyard, and yet there's these other things that they're worshiping. And so He deals out merciful judgment in measure. It's exactly what is necessary, not more than can be handled, so that His people will understand

Crush those other gods and tear down those altars that they'll recognize that he alone is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and worthy of all of our worship. And in that day, Israel will be gathered back. And it says there at the end of verse 13, they shall worship the Lord and the Holy Mount of Jerusalem. The issue is, who is your God? Who is my God? Are there other altars that God needs to deal with in my life?

God disciplines those he loves, Hebrews 12 says. And it's not pleasant. Sometimes there's times of desolation like Jerusalem has experienced. There's times of drought and difficulty. There's times of great pain. But through it all, verse 9 says, by this, iniquity is covered. The iniquity of Jacob will be covered, he says. This is the fruit of taking away his sin. This is what's necessary. This is how God is dealing with

and removing that sin from His people. Discipline. Chastisement. Merciful judgment. That's for those who are with God. For those who abide in Christ. For those who are His. We will experience the judgment, the discipline, the chastisement of the Lord. It will be in mercy. And it will be in measure. And we can count on it. We can know and rest assured God will not give us more than we can bear. But only what is necessary.

exactly what is necessary for him to accomplish the work in us that he wants to accomplish. As Romans shared in Philippians 1.6, he'll be faithful to complete the work that he began in us. We say, hallelujah, praise the Lord. And then, well, that includes chastisement and discipline. Oh, wait, never mind, Lord. No, he will be faithful to complete it if you abide in him. And that includes dealing with those issues, those areas that he needs to remove from our lives.

Going back to the beginning, you have a choice to make though. Are you with God or with Leviathan? Are you abiding in Jesus Christ or are you not? Because here's the danger for those who do not abide in Jesus Christ. Verse 11, he says, when its bows are withered, when its branches are withered, they will be broken off. And he says, the women will gather together

or they'll come and they'll set them on fire. Much like Jesus said in John chapter 15 verse 6. He says, Here in Isaiah chapter 27 as well as John 15, we learn the importance, the need, the necessity of abiding in Christ. Abiding in God. Those who do not abide...

Here in verse 11 of Isaiah 27, he says, He says at the end of verse 11 there, He says,

Therefore, he who made them will not have mercy on them, and he who formed them will show them no favor. Some very difficult and harsh words that God is saying here. For the boas that don't produce fruit, or the boas that are withered, they'll be broken off. The women will come and set fire to them. Why? God says, because it's a people of no understanding. And because it's a people of no understanding, he will not have mercy on them. Now,

You could think, man, that's cruel, God, because you're punishing them, having no mercy because they do not have understanding. It sounds cruel. I can see it. It could possibly sound mean, make God out to be some type of ogre. Ha, you're stupid. I'm going to hurt you. But here's God's point. There's no excuse, no reason for you to have no understanding. In 2 Thessalonians 1, verse 8 says,

Paul tells us that God is bringing vengeance upon those who do not know God. God's wrath, His vengeance, His judgment is for those who do not know Him. For those who have no understanding. Romans chapter 1 verses 18 through 21, Paul builds the case. There is nobody who has an excuse.

Everyone is accountable for knowing God, for walking with Him, for having a relationship with Him. There's nobody without excuse. I don't care if you go to the deep, dark jungles of Africa. Everyone is accountable to God, to know Him, and to have understanding.

Those who have no understanding are the ones who know the truth but suppress it. They've made the choice, I don't care, I don't want to listen to what God has to say, I don't want to submit to God. They've chosen not to abide. It's those who have no understanding, those who have chosen not to walk with God, not to know God,

They've chosen to rebel against God, and God says there will be no mercy on them. For those who are in the vine, merciful judgment. Yeah, God deals with us, and there's issues, and He's refining us, and making us more like Him, conforming us into His image. But it's in measure. It's just exactly and precisely what is necessary, no more, no less. But for those who choose not to abide, for those who choose not to understand, not to know God,

vengeance, judgment, no mercy upon those bows, upon those branches, upon those who choose not to walk with God. He says, He who formed them will show them no favor, no grace, no grace, no mercy. It's a scary and dangerous place to be. And so you have a choice. I have a choice. Are you for God? Are you with God? Are you abiding in Jesus Christ? Or are you not?

Jesus said, he who is not for me is against me. Are you abiding in Jesus Christ this evening? For those who abide in Jesus Christ, specifically as we're looking at Isaiah 27, for Israel in that end time scenario, God has some great promises for them. They're going to survive. They're not going to be abolished. They're not going to be obliterated. The Antichrist and the rest of the world is not going to be successful in

and destroying Israel. No, God is going to protect them and provide for them. He's going to deal out merciful judgment to bring them to the point of completion, to the point that they will worship the Lord in Jerusalem. He will allow merciful judgment, but it will be in measure, it will be calculated, and the end result will be a people that worships Him, that honor Him.

For you and I as believers, these same principles are true. That we have a choice to make. The world wages war against us. Seeking to sway our minds and sway our hearts and pull us away from the things of God. To get our hearts consumed with and focused on the things of this world. Focused here on this life. The enemy, through temptation, exploiting our weaknesses, seeks to do the same.

Our flesh wages war also. We have three great enemies, Leviathan, this world, and our own flesh come against us continually, seeking to devour us, seeking to lead us away from the things of God, to pull us out of the vine. But we must abide. Jesus said, Abide in me, and I'll abide in you, and you'll bear much fruit. But if you don't abide in me, there's a danger that

There's a warning that is being presented. There's a choice that must be made. You're either with him or you're against him. There's no middle ground. There's no gray area. There's no 50-50. God said to the Laodicean church, because you're lukewarm, you're neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other, hot nor cold, but you're lukewarm and I will spew you out of my mouth. Are you abiding in Jesus Christ this evening?

Just because you're going through hard times or experiencing desolation, that doesn't mean you're not abiding. It just means that God is dealing out exactly what is necessary. He's brought you to this point. And he's saying, will you now demolish those idols?

Those altars, those things that you worship, the things that you value more than me, the things that you put more importance on than you put upon me. Will you remove those things and will you give me the rightful position in your life? Will you abide in me? Will you let me be the Lord of your life? Are you abiding in Jesus Christ this evening? The worship team is going to come up and I want to encourage you as they lead us in this first song.

to abide in Jesus Christ wherever you are if you need to remove some idols let God do that work in your heart this evening if you need to make a commitment to Jesus Christ then do that in your heart this evening commit your heart and your life to him we pray you have been blessed by this Bible teaching the power of God to change a life is found in the daily reading of his word visit ferventword.com to find more teachings and Bible study resources