stability

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The Stability of our Times
by Joseph Prescia

Isaiah 33:6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. (KJV)

When this was written, an unbelieving king of Assyria had sent his army against Hezekiah, king of Judah. There were several words that this Assyrian army used to try to put fear in the hearts of the believers in Jerusalem. They had a choice to believe the words of Assyria, or to believe the encouragement Hezekiah, the man of God, told them regarding trusting the Lord. One choice would make them slaves to the king of Assyria and the other choice would allow them to be free under the direction of the Lord God.

Isaiah 33:6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. (KJV)

The King James Version uses the phrase “wisdom and knowledge as the subject in this verse. Other translations more appropriately use God as the subject. You can see this better by reading the context starting in verse 5.

Isaiah 33:5 The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he (the Lord) hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. (KJV)

Then verse 6 in the Revised Standard Version:

“And he (God) will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is his treasure.” (RSV)

God is the subject in both verses. God is the stability of our times. This Hebrew word for “times” is a word that means time in general (‘eth). There are other words for time that mean a special night, a special year, an appointed season or time past. But this word means “time in general” (Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies). God is our stability all the time. Things in the world are constantly changing. Change is what the news media reports on. But the truths in the Word of God are fixed and solid.

When David was threatened by his enemies he reassured himself with God’s Words.

Psalm 31:11-21 11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. 12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. 13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. 14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. 15 My times are in thy hand (David says “all the time, my times are in thy hand.”): deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. 16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. 17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. 18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. (KJV)

David knew that God would be there to deliver him. He trusted the stability of the Lord. How many times have people put their trust in their investments, politics, their family, only to be let down by one tragedy after another. All of those situations change, but God is a solid foundation.

Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not...(KJV)

Nothing in life can be a substitute for the stability of the Lord. Someone once said, “When you have nothing but God, you will find that God is enough” (author unknown). David, a man after God’s own heart saw God as a solid rock and refuge.

Psalm 62:1-2 1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (KJV)

Psalm 46:1-3 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the (terrorists strike, or the) earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. (KJV)

Even if the solid earth beneath our feet were to rumble in an earthquake, the earth be removed and the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, God is a solid rock to put our trust in. Verse 1 says, “a very present help in trouble.” Another translation (Complete Jewish Bible) says “an ever-present help.” When the earth is crumbling around us, no government program can make that claim. Knox (The Holy Bible) translates this same phrase as, “sovereign aid he has brought us in the hour of peril.”

Psalm 46:10-11 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. (KJV)

When the turmoil inside is so great because of evil situations and people around us God says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” The New American Standard Bible says, “Cease striving, and know that I am God.” We don’t need to be divided between two opinions; one produces fear and the other produces strength. Worldly opinions change with the new day, but God and His Word changes not.

Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. (KJV)

Kindness and peace are from the Lord that has mercy on us. Mercy is the withholding of merited judgment. We deserved judgment for wrongdoing, but because of God’s mercy we are not consumed.

Lamentations 3:22-23 22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (KJV)

The afflictions we go through are always less than the judgment we are owed. But because of His mercies we have peace with God, otherwise we would have been wiped out like Sodom and Gomorrah. We have a compassionate God.

Luke 6:47-49 47 (Jesus says) Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. (KJV)

In The Lord: The Stability of our Times, Ken Petty makes the following observation:

“Notice in this illustration that the difference between the two houses became evident only when the storm came. From outward appearances both houses may have seemed the same. Neither the beauty of the house nor the exquisiteness of the workmanship nor the riches of the furnishings are mentioned. During fair weather, both houses may have been equally suitable. The storm however, tested the foundation upon which each was built. One was shaken and the other was not. What are we building our lives upon-that which can be shaken or that which cannot? It is only through the doing of God’s Word that an unshakable foundation for our lives is established.”

The question to ask is, “What foundation are we building upon?” Are we building upon the changing world with its unreliability and limited aid? When the storms of life come are we getting beat and tossed around? Or are we building upon the solid rock of God and His Word, the stability of our times?

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (KJV)

Jesus Christ is the foundation that we can build upon. Jesus Christ is the subject in the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. He is the rock of all ages.

When Jesus Christ was here upon earth the religious leaders of his day were the builders. They rejected the stone, the Rock, Christ Jesus. Their rejection is mentioned after Pentecost, during the grace administration.

Acts 4:8-12 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought (Strong’s-“to make of no account, despise utterly”) of you builders (the religious leaders), which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (KJV)

How did the religious leaders, the builders set the stone at nought? They crucified him. But God raised him from the dead and since then he has become the head of the corner.

Ephesians 2:20-21 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (KJV)

Christ is not only the foundation upon which the whole church rests but he is also the chief cornerstone. In the construction of a building, the cornerstone was set so that the first two walls would be square, using the cornerstone for alignment. This would set the standard for the entire building to be aligned. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Bible Commentary states the following:

“Paul supposes a rock so large and so fashioned as to be both at once supporting the whole as the foundation and in part rising up at the extremities, so that the sidewalls are united in it as the corner stone.”

A believer can line their lives up with Christ, being the head of the corner. Our lives are set upon the foundation built by the apostles and prophets. The entire building is fitly framed together and continues to grow unto a holy temple in the Lord.

The Amplifies Bible translates verse 20-22:

“You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone.
In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously; and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord-a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated and sacred to the presence of the Lord.
In Him-and in fellowship with one another-you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God (by, through) the Spirit.”

Ephesians 4:14-16 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (KJV)

The way we grow up with Christ as the head is to speak the truth in agape love. This way, the body can be fitly joined together and can make increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. This is the stability of our times, to walk in love.

Romans 8:35-39 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (KJV)

This love gives us a foundation that cannot be shaken. We don’t need to latch on to changing evil situations like bad news, politics, man’s religion or any other doctrine outside of the greatness of the Scriptures. God’s Word is the solid rock to stake our lives upon. We can trust the Almighty for it was He who inspired the words on the pages of the Bible. We can read His Word and be comforted everyday. We can live a life without fear, condemnation, inferiority, etc. Since God so loved that He gave we can now walk with that same love of God. This is the stability of our times.

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