Isa. 53

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground:

He hath no form or comliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him"

Isaiah 53:1,2

It was definitly one of those days yesterday. You know, one of those days that push you to your limits! I guess the LORD really knew what he was talking about when He gave me yesterday's post! (If you're interested to know what I'm talking about- see the post entitled "Draw Me Close to You")

Yes, it was definitly a "Chamber" experience. I won't bother you with the details, but I will say that no matter what I did, I could not seem to shake my rebellion and attitude.

I lifted up the Name of the LORD 100 times. I prayed constantly for the LORD's forgiveness for my attitudes and dispositions. All these things worked, for I felt relief, but not ultimate relief. Does that make sense?

I would be delivered of what I cried out from, and then I would pick it back up, voluntarily, because I was still angry. How stupid!

Well, long story short, after a while of this, I couldn't feel anything spiritually. I was so carnally minded by the end of the night that I could barely bring myself to pray. But God is faithful!

I picked up my Bible while I was at work and asked the LORD to guide me. I always seem to end up in Isaiah 53 in times like this. Usually, a once over of the chapter cures me of my self-pity and attitude and reminds me how ungrateful I am.

Well, I still can't read it through with out crying, but the LORD hit me from a different angle this time.

He reminded me of the LORD Jesus Christ- God's humble, perfect and obedient servent! He reminded me that He grew up before the Father as a "tender plant and as a root out of dry ground". Isn't that powerful?

This goes back to the Acacia or Shitta tree. This tree is a special tree for it survives in the harshest of conditions. In the midst of a drought, this tree will flourish! There are too many special things to mention of this tree to mention all right now, but I would like to mention at least a couple.

This was the wood that the LORD specified to be used in the building of the Old Testament Tabernacle, which was a type and shadow to show in explicit, vivid detail, God's only begotton Son, Jesus Christ.

"Which was a figure for the time then present,

in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices,

that could not make him that did the service perfect,

as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in

meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances,

imposed on them until the time of reformation.

But Christ, being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater

and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say,

not of this building;"

Hebrews 9:9-11

There were seven pieces of furnniture to be used in the building of this temporary Tabernacle, and of those Seven pieces, only 2 of them were PURE GOLD, namly the the Candlestick and the Mercy Seat. The Laver was to be made of brass. All other pieces were to be made of Shittim or Acacia wood, and then overlaid with either gold or brass.

This wood would represent the LORD's humanity. This was to show that, just as the Acacia wood, the LORD Jesus Christ could survive in the dryest, most barren climate, for He was a root out of dry ground!

If we are to please the LORD, if we are to be like Jesus, we must not depend on our ground, or our enviornment of friends, relatives, circumstances, etc. Our roots must run all the way straight down, past all of these things, to draw life from the LORD and His word.

It goes on to tell us that He would have no form and no comliness. We always want to maintain our form and beauty. We want to form our image, yet, the precious Lamb of God had NONE!

If the truth is told, we have "bad" days when our form is disturbed and our image is disturbed!

I ended up pondering at the end of the day about what form I am trying to hold on to and how can I give it up! LORD, how I want to put my form on your altar, so that it becomes ashes- NO FORM!

If the LORD is willing, maybe we can have a part two to this, because we have just scratched the surface.

Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness to expose my forms of pride!

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!