Bible Guys Classics: Isaiah 26:8–13

You're listening to The Bible Guys, a podcast where a couple of friends talk about the Bible in fun in practical ways. Hey, everybody, welcome to the Bible Guys. Today is Friday, Friday. I love Friday. Yes, it's been a great week, Kyle, it's been a great week. It's been a great, great week to be with you. Thanks for having me. Man, Well, I didn't even notice. This is like fluffy. It's fluffy saw, Yeah, what is it. It's like it's like, uh, it's it's Old testamented pretty cool, but it's Old Testament advised, right, it's all fun created exact. Yes, yeah, yeah, mine is a T shirt, which I. Like to do. You're always representing heritage well on Bible Guys. Yeah. Yeah, and the Bible Guys T shirt everything while yeah, I like it so and the lines uh huh so hey, uh today on Friday, it's very unusual day. It is get this Desiree says it is the Bible Guy's birthday. That's awesome, it says today the Bible Guys are three years old. Could you imagine, dude, when you first started, you know, like that's wild to think three years later. Well, yeah, and plus we did the HG daily for like almost a year. Right, Yeah, so that's pretty crazy. And so in honor of it being our birthday, let's share some of our favorite birthday memories over the years. And I asked her about this right before we started filming. She's meaning just birthday memories from our past, just for fun, right, not Bible Guys stuff, but just our birthdays memories all right. But by the way, I think that the Bible guys birthday deserves us to sing Happy birthday to us. Yes, ready, let's do it. Ready, Happy Birthday to us, Happy Birthday to us, Happy Birthday, dear Bible Guys, Happy Birthday to us. Woo. I was gonna try harmony, then I was afraid to. So I just decidedly put the auto tune in my voice. Later, if you could desiree make me sound good. Yeah, I'm not a very good harmony guy. But that is amazing that we are three, and so thank you for our faithful listeners who have been here from day one. Yes, So, Kyle, what memories birthday memories specifically do you have of the past? Okay, So I will say I think I might have one of the best birth dates of anybody. And here's why. My birthday is actually on March seventeenth, which is Saint Patrick's Day. Oh nice, which is a fun birthday to have because everywhere I go people are celebrated, right, think about it. May almost any time on Saint Patrick's Day. Sometimes people go a little too far. Of course, yeah no, they say, nothing like a birthday with a drunken people. Any restaurant you go to, though, people are out. They've either skipped work, so that's a good thing. Or a lot of times, you know what happens, it's March Madness. So almost I'd say every couple of years it's either that Thursday or Friday Saturday of March Madness and people are watching basketball, they're off work. So to me, I think my birthday, I think landing on Saint Patrick's Day is one of the best things. I'll share one quick story. It's it's actually the I mean, there's a lot of birthdays that stand out. There's one though that I'll never forget. So not on my actual birthday, but a couple of days after my birthday, we went to a family we had a family thing at night, and I had a serious stomach ache like you ever had that where you're like, you know, like the flus come. You ever had that feeling where you're like, you know, you're gonna be in the bed, in the bathroom for the next like three, you know, seventy two hours or so. And so that's where I was at. It was like a day or two after my birthday and we're at this family thing and my wife is kind of telling me, She's like, you need to, like, you know, pull together. I'm like, I'm sick, and she's like, no, no, like you need to like you know, I'm like, what do you want from me? Like, I'm literally like my stomach is killing me. I'm in the bathroom every ten minutes. So then I tell her, I'm like, i just cannot wait to be done with this thing. I'm gonna go home and I plan I just go into bed and just like sleeping through the night. That was That's why I told her. I'm like, I cannot wait to get home. She's like giggling. As we're driving home. I'm like, what is your problem? I just I think it's funny that you're so sick. I'm like, but why are you? Like this is weird? I'm like very sick. She's not at all like consoling, she's like laughing about my sickness. Super weird. And I walked through the front door, and my whole plan is just to go upstairs, go to bed, I'll see you in twelve hours kind of thing. Walk in and I guess what I hear? Surprise surprise. There was a. Surprise birthday party. There's plan for me at my house and you were sick, and I faked it the whole night. People stayed late, and I was just it was bad. It was like one of those things where it was like, you know, you're trying your best not to be sick, to ruin it for everybody else, but it was. It couldn't have been any worse of a time for surprise party. So sometimes when I think about my birthday, I remember that because I'm so thankful for people that surprised me. They pulled one over on me, but just the circumstances couldn't have been any worse. So that's a birthday I will not forget. Yeah, I would say probably one of my best birthday memories was at my good friend's house. I got a friend, crys La Bell, and my wife organized a. It was actually during it would have been twenty twenty one, so April fourth, nineteen twenty twenty one. It was my fiftieth birthday, and she organized a surprise party, so like Jeff and Chad were there along with you know, so many friends, so I would say probably fifty people. That's awesome, and it was all then they have this really great grand staircase. So they opened the door and I walked in through the door, and everybody was surprised. It was just kind of the same thing. It was neat. It was really neat. So I really had a good time that day. That's really great. Yeah, there's there's nothing like that, right, that idea of being surprised, especially for you. They actually they actually pulled it all like you had no idea, Yes. And no, I was. I was actually a little confused, but I kind of knew something. But strangely enough, I just put it out of my mind because I thought, you know what, I'm just gonna I'm just I'm just gonna I'm just gonna try to forget about the surprise, and I'm just gonna try to not expect one. So I'm not so I'm not like disappointed. So actually when they surprised, I actually seemed surprised. Okay, gotcha. In the back of my mind, I was like seventy five percent expecting third to be a surprise. Yeah, okay, gotcha, gotcha. Yeah it is. It is funny when that's legitimately happens to you. Okay. So segueing to today's topic, because obviously it's amazing that we're celebrating the Bible guy's third birthday. Yes, at a lot of times at a birthday party or what we just did? We sang a song, right, we sang a song today we're gonna be reading. Actually in Isaiah is kind of like a song. It's like a song of praise. It is a song. Wow, Yes it is. Although it's a prayer. It's also like a prayer of praise, a song of praise. And so that's my awkward or what do you call it, transition? Awkward trands? Actually, the correct term is bad. Transpag there's my bad transition. Yes, let's get our goal. Our goal is to get bad transitions. Okay, great, so. So hey, very cool. Oops, I forgot to turn that back off. We should mention too, that the change of translation for what we're going to read today, I'm going to mention that, Yeah, so normally we read out of the New Living Translation, I think probably ninety nine percent of the time, But for this particular verse, we're going to look at the NIV because you know, when Chris was looking at it, he brought up a couple of things that he remembers gleaning from the NIV translation. I think it sticks a little bit more so, you know, I know, for the people who are just listening, doesn't affect you a ton, But if you're going to go back and research this, or you're pulling up your Bible or your Bible app make sure to check out the NIV version. It's Isaiah chapter twenty six, verses eight through thirteen. Okay, so it says this, Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you. Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. My soul yearns for you in the night and the morning. My spirit belongs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness. Even in a land of uprightness, they go on doing evil. And do not regard the majesty of the Lord. Lord, your hand is left at high, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame. Let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them. Lord, you establish peace for us. All that we have accomplished, you have done for us, Lord, our God, other lords. Besides, you have ruled over us. But your name alone do we honor. That's good. I think that's that's good. I like that. Yeah, and yeah, I definitely like the NIV translation. Here. There's a couple different things here that are that would be qualified as a dangerous prayer. Right first and foremost sort of look at the end of this, but he says, he says, when your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness, he says, but when the grace is shown, they don't necessarily learn righteousness. And so he says, let them see yourself for your people, that the fire reserve for your enemies, consume them, establish peace for us. What he's really doing is is he's praying for judgment. Talk about a dangerous prayer. Yeah, I mean, like, I mean, think about it. I mean, just that concept alone, right, I mean, forget the fact that Isaiah is talking about enemies because you know, whether enemies or not. The idea to even pray for judgment of God and to recognize that judgment can sometimes bring a righteousness righteous right, because judgment brings repentance. You know, think about like, you know, whenever, for instance, you're doing something wrong, if you get caught or if you suffer consequences, it's bad, right, depending on the thing, it could be really bad, and then of course, you know, you have no choice but to be sort of crushed and then repent. And a lot of times in our lives we get humbled, and you know, maybe people's lives even can fall apart, and then all of a sudden righteousness comes, right because because of all these bad things. But it's because judgment came. And for years and years there was no judgment, there was no consequences, it was just getting away with it. And then when judgment came, boom, the person was crushed and then all of a sudden righteousness comes along. He's saying, that's a good thing, yeah, And then he's saying, you know, bring it upon our enemies. But still, I mean, just the idea that judgment would bring. Righteousness is a dangerous thing. It's dangerous territory to even go down. But yet he's doing it for the right reasons. Yep. Yeah. And then even he kind of starts off in verse eight, Yes, Lord, walking the way of your laws, we wait for you, your name and renown or the desire of our hearts. You had mentioned what you said earlier about Louis Giglio, pastor of Passion City Church. I know you said you had attended their church where you were living in Atlanta. You said that, So twenty six eight you're saying, this is like his life. Is the verse's entire ministry is founded on. And that's such a cool one verse. I'm not if I would have I guess I would have not seen that, that twenty six eight thing. But it is a really cool power that just this verse right here, If this was a like a life verse, a mission statement, a ministry focus, I love this eight. Yes, Lord, walking the way of your laws, We wait for you. Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. That's really cool. That's powerful mission statement right there. Yeah, so I went I just mentioned this a couple of days ago, but I went to the Green Bay game, you know, uh, just last week, right, and so whenever they had this really irritating chant, go pack and go. Okay, maybe it's go packs go maybe whatever it is, it's pack. Yeah, I think it's pack, which which I think I would want to say packs, right, I think it's go pack going, but they but it's constant. So we showed up and by the way, I love the people of Green Bay. It was great, so it wasn't irritating. But the idea that like this song played every I don't know three seconds, right, and then the whole audience is like, go pack yo, and it's irritating because we're losing, right, And then you know, we're there and we're watching the Lions lose, and then all of a sudden something happens and they're like, yeah, go pack go. But it's this that's the idea of renown. If you look around the stadium and you see like the fame of the Green Bay Packers being celebrated and shouted, it is the fame. It's it's renown. And and so that's why you're saying, you're saying your name and renown are the desires of our hearts. It's it's it's all about it's all about the renown of your name, so that people would know your name, they would praise your name, that they would celebrate your name, that it would be it would be lifted up, it would be praised. That's what renown is. And so that if you're wondering what renown is, that's what it is. It's this idea of like saying, you know, and and for a Michigan fan, it'd be like go Bloom right, and then the other people on the other side, I would say, go Chrier right, And they're all just decked out and they're in, they're in, They're dressed to represent who they're shouting about, right, So everything about them in that moment just reflects you know, who they're cheering on and there and they're shouting the praises of that team. And that's what it is. That's what a Christian should do, uh, you know, to to think about this prayer and say, God, the desires of our hearts. Think about this. Our desires more than anything else as followers of Christ, is your name and renown to to you know, to be to be spoken, to be praised, to be celebrated, to be to be known on the earth. That's great. Pretty careful, you know, as you're saying that, it's making me think this verse here, you know, may for somebody listening, this could actually be like, oh man, this is like a life first, This is like a maybe write it on your mirror or whatever. But maybe think, Actually, this whole week with these dangerous prayers actually had a lot of memorable statements when you think about it. So this one here verse eight, so twenty six eight amazing yesterday. You could argue that the one we talk about is like, when I am weak, then I made then then I made strong, right, So that's that, yeah, for sure. Then the one before I'm trying to remember the timeline of things. But then Moses saying show me your glory. Yep. Then you got the disciples, disciples saying it basically. Increase our increase, show us how to increase our faith. Right, And then the first one was then Isaiah saying, here might send me. It's actually kind of powerful. Like this whole week has been like these statements that are powerful great life versus. Yeah and uh and and in Paul's case, when he said when I'm weak, then I'm strong. It's a it's a you know, it was sort of a combination. In that prayer, he was also praying Lord take away my Yeah, my thrown into the flash too. But yeah, you're right, that is the powerful version. And they're all and they're all they're like powerful verses. They're like motivational, inspirational, but they're all about God's glory. Yeah, because it's very easy for us to take the especially in America nowadays, where we're so self focused, right, you know, in scriptures, especially in this time ancient Israel, people were very much it was group think in a lot of ways. There were tribes, there was groups that are speaking to people. Didn't have a lot of individualism that we have in the West right now especially, And so a lot of times we can take the Bible and think, man, this vers is for me, and I do think the verses can be for you. They can be like your anthem, your mission statement. But we have to remember that first and foremost it was written to those people at that time. It was applicational for them, and then we have to apply it to us. But even still, when you read it, you realize, man, these are great for us because they kind of make us realize how much we need God and his renown. As you mentioned, Yeah, for Cutain. So I have actually not a life application study Bible. I've actually been reading these last few weeks from the Transformation Study Bible, doctor Warren Wiersby. But there's a note here and that says this about verses seven through eleven, which is what you just read. It says the way is not steep or rough. It uses the image of a highway, as in chapter eleven, verse sixteen. During much of the history, the Jews have traveled through a rough road. But when the kingdom is established, God will give them level paths in smooth ways. Because they are walking in the will of God, their way will be safe and enjoyable. They will wait on the Lord to discern his will. They will yearn for the Lord and worship him even through the night. So he's talking about just the He's probably referring to the verse right before that. So actually it's interesting I read a note that actually highlighted the verse that we didn't read. Sorry, let me let me back up one verse just to give that context. Verse number seven. We started in eight. But it says, but for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them. Yeah, that concept is radically different than the other verses we read. Yeah, but yeah, it's not steep or rough. He's talking about the roads being challenging versus a road that is smooth. And then in a point here in Isaiah twenty six y ten in the Study Bible, it says that it's somewhat the wicked people, because I think a lot of times we get frustrated with that that wicked people can prosper. Here's what it says. Even wicked people receive God's benefits, but that doesn't teach them to do what is right. Sometimes God's judgment teaches us more, as you mentioned, than God's good gifts. If you have been enriched by God's goodness and grace, respond to him with your grateful devotion. So it is an interesting thing because I think when you read that part, you notice that, and it's so true. Right, you can have somebody who's a wicked person and then they prosper. They're reaping the benefits of what you would say, somebody who follows God, what you would hope. Isn't it true though, that God is not fair? I know you've talked about that a lot a lot messages and whatnot, But a lot of times you read that, you're like, how does God allow bad people to succeed and prosper? How does he allow sometimes good people to struggle and be challenged and whatnot? And I think even this verse he talks about it like that God ultimately will judge him. And that's what Isaiah is asking for, that God will judge him. He will bring upon them the fire as he mentions. But at the same time, it's also not to make us think that, oh, just because somebody is successful and doing well means that they must be following the Lord. Evil, wicked people can prosper well. It's the curse of free will, isn't it. So? You know, God extends and gives freely free will to everybody, and then on top of it, you know, he gives forgiveness, grace, love, acceptance, and yeah, he does bring judgment, and yes he does, you know sometimes do all those things, and yet sometimes he doesn't. Right, And so the idea, excuse me, the idea that God would allow anybody to go unpunished. Is just speaks to the nature of who he is. And so, yeah, it's the people, both bad and good benefit from it, right. And if you think about it, it's very much similar to a king. They think about a good king. A good king is gonna lavish and take care of all of the subjects in his kingdom, whether they are good citizens or bad. Right, And so everybody gets to take advantage of the good and the bad, you know, or the good and the bad, right, take advantage of the king, and they get to be under his good rule. And so God the Father is you know, graceful and merciful to those we like and those we don't like, those who deserve it and those who don't deserve it. And I think that it's just part of the fact that, you know, free will exists and we can't control wicked people, and God allows them to continue to exercise their free will. Yeah. And another thing too that stands out that I think is a really cool part of this passage here and this prayer that he gives out. He says that in verse nine that my soul yearns for you in the night and the morning, my spirit wongs for you. I love that like honestly feels like almost like a psalm in that way you know, of David, just that idea of soul yearning for you, My spirit longs for you. So here's a person who is a prophet. This is somebody who God. He's on God's side, and he has that mindset of just yearning for God, longing for God. I love that. It's like the humility and like the desire to want to continue to get close to God. I love that. Just think it's really cool perspective. You know, I'm at the age now where I know a lot of older people like my parents, for instance, or in their mid eighties, and Liz's parents are in their mid eighties. But you know, so I'm just for some reason, I'm just in conversation with a lot of people who are older. And it's interesting when I read that verse how it could come to you because you know, back back in this day, I'm sure that the average lifestan was probably in the thirties, yeah, or forties or something crazy like that, right where people may have feared death in the night. But like the older people for instance, that's what came upon my mind. So for instance, it says, I long for you in the evening, and then I long then I yearned for you in the morning. Right, it's yearned for you in the night. Because this translated yeah, yeah, oh I didn't. I don't know if you're trying to make no. No, no no no yearns and long I'm just using no no no no. Yeah, longing and yearning are the same thing, right, But it says, my soul yearns for you in the night. And I'm thinking to myself, like, that's what I've been told recently. Every time i lay down at night, I'm afraid I'm not going to wake up. It's like there was there was a fear, and I'm sure it was back then too, right, especially at a younger age, But like I long for you in the night, meaning God, uh, please sustain me, please be with me, please prolong my life, please give me favor. And then it says, and then my in the morning, my spirit longs for you. And you know what that is. That's like, thank you for another day, and now help me to you know, get through this day. I long for you in this day. They could mean different things, and so maybe it doesn't mean those things, but that's where I like that that's where my mind went to. Yeah, because I mean, nowadays, dude, think about any ailment you have, any sickness, you're quickly diagnosed, right, you could find through Google, you can go to a doctor or whatever. Like you said, they had shorter life spans. And then also I can imagine just with certain sickness's health whatever, there's probably always a constant threat and people around them dying who they didn't even know that they had something, right, So, yeah, that makes sense to them that every night it's like I'm yearning for you, that you sustain me through the night and the morning, I'm longing for more of you throughout the day. I like that. Yeah, And it's also a great model for us, right we're giving thanks to God at the night, at the end of every day, God, thank you for this day, you know. I remember one college professor said, it's a good day when you could lay your head down on the pillow with a clean conscience, knowing that you've tried your best, you know, for the Lord. And so it's like, if you think about it every day, one at a time, one day at a time, say did I do my best today for God? Or did I try right did I did I put what was God a part of my every decision? And you know, and you may not have been perfect, of course, right, no, no day is perfect. But you know, did you consider God throughout the day? And did you try to pray the dangerous prayers that we talked about here? You know, God, send me, use me, you know, help me to be humble, help me to be weak. God, help me to yearn for your name and your renown, and you know, help me to increase my faith. You know, all these different prayers. You know. Can you lay your head down tonight and think of those things and then in the morning to say, okay, God be with me, be with me throughout my day, help my day to be that way. It's just a great pattern for us today too. Yes, my grief. No, that's good. Now. Well, hey, that's probably a great place to end. And what a great week, great topic, and hopefully we will see you next week on the Bible Guys,