12/27/2002 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

Last week, Berean shared some important words concerning Yahweh's will for wives. He had planned on sharing a 2nd part of that message tonight, however he still needed to finish its preparation and will be planning on sharing it next week.

In the meantime, I would like to share a study that will touch on the home life but also on our walk with Yahweh overall.

In examining the first chapter of Isaiah, we find that there are some important lessons for our age. Let's begin by understanding the context surrounding this time period:

Isaiah 1:1 - The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

It is very important to understand the context of his prophecies. We can learn important characteristics about each king by comparing the books of Kings and Chronicles. In these, we see spiritual evaluations of each king.

Uzziah is the first king on this list and so would correspond to the first chapter of Isaiah 1

Let's look at his life in 1Chronicles:

Correction, 2Chronicles

2Chronicles 26:1 - Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.

2Chronicles 26:2 - He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

2Chronicles 26:3 - Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

2Chronicles 26:4 - And he did that which was right in the sight of YAHWEH, according to all that his father Amaziah did.

2Chronicles 26:16 - But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against YAHWEH his Elohim, and went into the temple of YAHWEH to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

2Chronicles 25:27 - Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following YAHWEH they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.

2Chronicles 25:28 - And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

2Chronicles 25:29 -

2Chronicles 26:1 - Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.

Notice that they conspires to destroy Amaziah when he turned away from Yahweh and set up his 16 year old son Uzziah to be king in his place.

We also will see that later in this study, the sabbath and feasts were being observed at this time.

Uzziah is called "Azariah" in the book of Kings. In it, we learn a little more about the king's spiritual walk:

2Kings 15:2 - Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

2Kings 15:3 - And he did that which was right in the sight of YAHWEH, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;

2Kings 15:4 - Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

Deuteronomy 12:2 - Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their elohim, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:

Deuteronomy 12:3 - And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their elohim, and destroy the names of them out of that place.

Deuteronomy 12:4 - Ye shall not do so unto YAHWEH your Elohim.

Deuteronomy 12:5 - But unto the place which YAHWEH your Elohim shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

Uzziah's lack of reverence is also revealed when we see he decides to make an incense offering, where the Torah only permitted the high priests to do so. For this reason, he became a leper and died a leper.

2Chronicles 26:16 - But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against YAHWEH his Elohim, and went into the temple of YAHWEH to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

2Chronicles 26:17 - And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of YAHWEH, that were valiant men:

2Chronicles 26:18 - And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto YAHWEH, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from YAHWEH Elohim.

2Chronicles 26:19 - Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of YAHWEH, from beside the incense altar.

It helps us to see the context in which Isaiah's words are spoken

Interestingly, Uzziah was considered to be a fairly righteous King

And the 2 other Kings that lived during Isaiah's prophecies (Jotham and Hezekiah) were also spoken positively about in Kings/Chronicles.

This leads to an important question for us..

If there were an Isaiah among us, what would be written?

Are we sure that we are more righteous than they?

Would Yahweh speak of leaders who compromise and people who secretly walk corruptly?

Would there be scriptures about a lukewarm attitude and warnings about ignoring the oppressed?

While many studies can be written about how mainstream christianity is in error, it is also very important for us to always look at OURSELVES when we examine scripture!

Let's continue in Isaiah 1:

Isaiah 1:2 - Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for YAHWEH hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

Isaiah 1:3 - The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

Isaiah 1:4 - Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken YAHWEH, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

These people were well nourished (see verse 2), and were even keeping the sabbath and feasts (as we will see) but they failed to really consider His words. How important it is to consider His words for ourselves!

Isaiah 1:4 - Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken YAHWEH, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Matthew 11:28 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:29 - Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Matthew 11:30 - For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Continuing in Isaiah 1:

Isaiah 1:5 - Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

Isaiah 1:6 - From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Yahushua also spoke of a people who were in a similar condition, but didn't know it:

Revelation 3:14 - "And to the angel of the assembly of the Laodiceans write, `These things says the Amein, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of YAHWEH:

Revelation 3:15 - "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

Revelation 3:16 - "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

They weren't really denying Yahweh but just not seeking Him and being on fire for Him. I imagine they felt that they had all their needs met. Could this be similar to the condition of the people in Isaiah's day?

Was Isaiah speaking to a "Laodicean" type of people?

Let's read more about what King Uzziah did and find out:

2Chronicles 26:6 - And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.

2Chronicles 26:7 - And Elohim helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Mehunims.

2Chronicles 26:8 - And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.

2Chronicles 26:10 - Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.

2Chronicles 26:11 - Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.

2Chronicles 26:12 - The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred.

2Chronicles 26:13 - And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.

2Chronicles 26:14 - And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.

2Chronicles 26:15 - And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.

Could the people have been a little too confident in these victories and became lukewarm like Laodicea? We see that Yahweh was ready to separate them from His presence just as Yahushua was ready to spit the Laodicean assembly out of His mouth:

Isaiah 1:7 - Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

Isaiah 1:8 - And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

Isaiah 1:9 - Except YAHWEH of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

The situation Judah was in under Uzziah/Azariah was one of peace. In fact, Judah enjoys relative peace from all enemies until the third king listed in Isaiah 1:1, Ahaz.

Therefore we can understand it to be a vision of what Yahweh plans to do to them in the future. Other examples of this are in Isaiah 53 where it speaks of the Messiah and how "WAS despised and rejected of men" (53:3) even though the Messiah had not yet come.

Yahweh can speak of future things as if they have already taken place because when Yahweh says they will happen, THEY WILL HAPPEN!

So Yahweh was ready to separate them from his presence, just like Yahushua was ready to spew the Laodiceans out of His mouth unless they repented. Could any of this pertain to a similar situation we are in today?

I believe so, yes.

Whether or not we realize it, we in this nation are very wealthy.

And the same is true in other developed nations

Many poor in other 3rd world countries would consider OUR poor to be "WEALTHY."

Our POOR would be WEALTHY to a person living in the first century

It is very easy to forget Yahweh when things are going well. It was easy for Israel to forget, and for the Laodiceans to forget, and it is easy for us to forget also! But as Yahweh warned Israel in the Torah:

Deuteronomy 8:11 - Beware that thou forget not YAHWEH thy Elohim, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

Deuteronomy 8:12 - Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

Deuteronomy 8:13 - And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;

Deuteronomy 8:14 - Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget YAHWEH thy Elohim, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

We need to seek to among the remnant:

Isaiah 1:9 - Except YAHWEH of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

Isaiah 1:10 - Hear the word of YAHWEH, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our Elohim, ye people of Gomorrah.

Ezekiel 16:49 - Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

Context is so important! Isaiah isn't just speaking about people who are idolators, homosexuals and blatant sinners who have no desire to serve Yahweh, he is also speaking of a well fed, prideful, lukewarm, idle, and (as we shall see when we study later in this chapter), sabbath keeping, feast keeping people who appear before Him and make prayers to Him!

Therefore, let us be diligent to not fall under the same condemnation. These things are written for our admonition and example:

1Corinthians 10:11 - Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

1Corinthians 10:12 - Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

1Corinthians 10:13 - There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but YAHWEH is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

2Peter 3:13 - Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

2Peter 3:14 - Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

We are in great danger of picking up her traits if we are not on guard. In this next verse, we see that Yahweh is not pleased with the offerings of Judah:

Isaiah 1:11 - To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith YAHWEH: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

Remember what Samuel spoke to Saul:

1Samuel 15:22 - And Samuel said, Hath YAHWEH as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of YAHWEH? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

When David sinned against Yahweh, he knew this well:

Psalms 51:16 - For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

Psalms 51:17 - The sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O Elohim, thou wilt not despise.

Psalms 51:18 - Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Psalms 51:19 - Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Apparently, this was not the case with Judah during this period of time:

Isaiah 1:12 - When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

Isaiah 1:13 - Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

Isaiah 1:14 - Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

Some have used this to say that Judah was observing pagan feasts and new moons. It's possible that they could have been, but I would be wary of relying on this point alone to prove it.

For instance, Yahweh calls them "Your feasts" in the Torah:

Numbers 15:3 - And will make an offering by fire unto YAHWEH, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savour unto YAHWEH, of the herd, or of the flock:

Numbers 29:39 - These things ye shall do unto YAHWEH in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.

An important lesson here though is that just because someone keeps the Sabbaths and feasts, it doesn't mean Yahweh is pleased with them.

And just because a person makes many prayers, it does not mean that Yahweh is pleased with them.

Yes, these are important matters. But if our lives are sinful and we are not interested in turning from our sins, then Yahweh says He actually "hates" them and is "weary of bearing them".

And he will not hear our prayers:

Isaiah 1:15 - And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Isaiah 28:9 - Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

Proverbs 28:9 - He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

But what was it that the people were doing that was so bad?

Let's see:

Isaiah 1:16 - Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

Isaiah 1:17 - Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

For the most part, the people in this country desire to see to it that the fatherless and the widow are cared for

So how could it apply to us?

Some time ago, when doing study on the home, I thought about the reasons Yahweh cares so much for the fatherless and the widow.

Perhaps, because the home was without a father/husband.. it was primarily because their physical needs were not being met. But then I thought, "What about the spiritual needs of the fatherless and the widow"?

The role of a Father and husband in a family is not only one of physical providing, but also one of spiritual leadership and guidance

In fact, the spiritual needs are just as important, if not far more important.

The lack of spiritual leadership and guidance causes many problems in the home

So, in light of the above verse, perhaps our hands aren't full of blood, perhaps our children aren't fatherless and our wives a widow. But is it so, spiritually?

Are our children on the road to destruction?

If they are young, it may not show up right away. But according to the Torah/Law of Yahweh, parents are held responsible for teaching and training their children in the ways of righteousness.

Are our children spiritually fatherless?

How much time is spent with our children in the Word? Do we fail to "talk of them" at all times as scripture commands?

Deuteronomy 6:4 - Hear, O Israel: YAHWEH is our Elohim, YAHWEH is one:

Deuteronomy 6:5 - And thou shalt love YAHWEH thy Elohim with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Deuteronomy 6:6 - And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

Deuteronomy 6:7 - And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Considering all the scriptures where Yahweh is angry because the fatherless and widow are neglected, woe to the fathers who neglect the spiritual needs of their wife and children!

Sadly, the lack of leadership in a home leads a wife to want to "take over"

But she should never usurp his role in this.

Nor should she demand that he do it, for in doing so.. she is the one that is leading

She should commit it to Yahweh Elohim who can convict a husband by His Spirit

These words in Isaiah convict me strongly

For all the Sabbaths, calling of assemblies, feast days can be a burden to Him because He cannot endure the neglect. He cannot endure the sacred meetings, they are iniquity!

We see in scripture that Yahweh is VERY concerned about the widowed wives and fatherless children, shouldn't we be?

And if (as seen in Isaiah 1:13-17) Yahweh cannot endure the offerings, Feast Days and Sabbaths of those who are neglecting the physical needs of what used to be another man's wife and children (fatherless and widow), how much more so if we neglect the spiritual needs of our OWN wives and children?

1Timothy 5:8 - But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

In this age where Fathers are forsaking their responsibilities and women are taking over... surely these things can very much apply to us, a nation very much like Sodom and Gomorrah. Plenty of idle time for entertainment, fullness of bread, neglecting the fatherless & widow, sins reaching to heaven

But there is hope

Isaiah 1:18 - Come now, and let us reason together, saith YAHWEH: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Isaiah 1:19 - If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

Yahweh can cleanse and purify the sins of His people.

As strong and convicting as Yahweh's words are, we find His promises for forgiveness to also be strong toward those who are willing to change their ways.

Isaiah 1:20 - But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of YAHWEH hath spoken it.

Let's seek purity of worship...

A worship without hypocrisy in our own homes

A faith that is on fire for Yahweh and not lukewarm....

Personal names are not translated. For instance, Yitzhak Rabin is Yitzhak Rabin in any language. A general name may have different forms, but we are talking about a Personal name.

To be a remnant...

A remant that flees from idleness and excess in possessions...

A remnant of Fathers that provide for the needs of their family.

And a remant of wives and children who have a ready ear and willing heart to receive a Yahweh's leading and guidance through the head of the home

It's going to take more than keeping a feast

We need to be meek, humble, diligent disciples of Yahushua, both inside and outside the home.. praying for Yahweh's mercy - that we might not be spewed out of His mouth and barred from the Promised land, but instead be prepared and ready to reign with Yahushua in the kingdom to come.

Let's overcome!

Revelation 2:7 - "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the garden of YAHWEH." '

Revelation 3:5 - "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Revelation 3:21 - "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Revelation 3:12 - "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My Elohim, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My Elohim and the name of the city of My Elohim, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My Elohim. And I will write on him My new name.

May Yahweh bless you and may He help us and have mercy on us all!