the watcher

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. There is a song that goes thus: "When I remember His kindness, I shout  halleluyah." The coming of the messiah brought us so much victory and when we read passages like Isaiah 53, we are reminded of the sacrifice and the glory. * He was wounded/pierced that we do not have to be wounded for our rebellion. * He was bruised/crushed that we would not keep the scars of our sin/iniquity. * We enjoy peace from what He suffered. * We received healing by each stripe of the whip He received on our behalf. Isaiah 53:5 But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. The Messiah carried the sin we were born with and all that we committed or will ever commit on Himself that we would not be damned. Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; ...

Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? Matthew 2:3-5 When Herod the king had heard [these things], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, So they knew that a king was to be born, they knew what the prophet said about the messiah being born but they had no idea of the extent of His kingship. It was not just for Judah or the Jews but for the whole world. The same today, we all know that Jesus is returning, yes: Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. If we know what the extent of His return was, what ought we to be doing? * Will the christians in politics be ...

Isaiah 51:1-3 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock [whence] ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit [whence] ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah [that] bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. If only those who God had called deemed it fit to put their trust in the Lord. They were chosen to be the carrier of the good news to the ends of the earth. Christ was to be revealed from their nation but just like king Saul they were carried away by men. 1Samuel 13:14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him [to be] captain over his people, because thou hast not kept...

Isaiah 50:2 Wherefore, when I came, [was there] no man? when I called, [was there] none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because [there is] no water, and dieth for thirst. The prophecy to the people of Judah was that their God was great, God was not the issue. Their sin was the issue, and the root of all sin is unbelief, this breeds fear, doubt and compromise. So they said: Isaiah 49:14&15 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. The same way we as believers could allow the enemy by his tricks to breed unbelief which gives rise to fear, depression, faithlessness, compromise and common living among other natures. Hold it! God has done all He is to do. What...

Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind. We have many denominations here and there and all is to the glory of God: Genesis 11:8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. That God scattered men across the world, giving different languages also led to man having diverse cultures and practices. Yet we should remember that there was always the beginning. (Matthew 19:8) Selah! Yes, there would be some disparity on beliefs and practices yet we should remember that the Word remains ONE. So no matter what we teach, correct, or try to make an impact on, it does not have to become a strife, or a form of superiority it should be with love. Philippians 2:3 [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Thus we will all sharpen one another, edify one another at the end God takes...

Isaiah 45:1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. It is not new that kings and rulers here and there would feel that they have a territory where God would have no jurisdiction. We hear things like: Exodus 5:2 And Pharaoh said, Who [is] the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go. 1 Kings 22:53 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin: Psalm 12:4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips [are] our own: who [is] lord over us? No matter where that authority rules,...

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, From my little experience it seems that everyone has had that thing which had stood as a stumbling block to our release to the full measure of glory in Christ. It could be a sin, a habit, a desire, a weakness or a certain kind of doubt. It is that thing which could hold us back when we are about to take that major step forward or obey that instruction that will elevate us to a higher glory. Most times it says "You are not worthy" then everything becomes still or even return to a "no-zeal" mode. Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. It is time we drop that thing! We cannot hold on to it any longer, no matter how long we have held on...

Isaiah 44:2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, [which] will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. It is fear that would lead anyone to pursue worship of a deity symbolized by human hands. It is easy to say for those of us who were born into christian homes. It may not be that simple for those who were born into families were idol/graven image worship was acceptable. In Isaiah 43, God shows how stupid it is to worship graven images: Isaiah 44:9-20 How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame. Who but a fool would make his own god— an idol that cannot help him one bit? All who worship idols will be disgraced along with all these craftsmen—mere humans— who claim they can make a god. They may all stand together, but they will stand in terror and shame. The blacksmith stands at his forge t...

Isaiah 42:9. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. He is still the great God, the mighty one of Judah. Who chose Israel as His own,  however they as a nation rebelled. Isaiah 65:2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way [that was] not good, after their own thoughts; However they still remain God's people and would be blessed still (the remnant) Romans 11:1-5 I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, “lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill ...

Isaiah 41:24 Behold, ye [are] of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination [is he that] chooseth you. It is great foolishness to put trust in that which is created by human hands. The mundane act of worshiping graven images still exists today just as it did at the time of Isaiah's prophecy. Isaiah 41:23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye [are] gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold [it] together. God was there for Judah, all nations feared them because God was with them, why then would they seek to serve another, why whore after graven images? Isaiah 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Isaiah 41:11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. How foolish it is to seek after graven images. Do we have any? Exodus 20:4-6 Thou shalt not make unto ...

Isaiah 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see [it] together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it]. Yes, at the time of this revelation, the prophecy was released for the punishment of Judah for all its evil. Surely the people hoped for salvation but God had gone beyond Israel and Judah, it was time for salvation of the whole world. Isaiah 40:2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins. Yes salvation was of the Jews, they would be the channel by which the Messiah would be revealed. Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Matthew 2:4-6 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, ...

Isaiah 39:2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. King Hezekiah received an answer to His prayer to God for a long life: Isaiah 38:5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. We looked at long life in our previous study and we said we are not given long life to waste away time or to live in pleasure alone. But every time we have is an investment, we rest that we may arise again and make an impact. Hezekiah was not an idle mind. No. Like most wise and great kings that lived in those times, he was an inventor: 2Kings 20:20 And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he ma...

Psalms 118:17 I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the Lord has done.   Glory! We need to understand that God's desire for us is to enjoy him in a redeemed nature. Our lives are meant to be lived gloriously with Him forever. John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also. However while Jesus tarries we are expected to "occupy till I come" Luke 19:13. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Thus we have to live here doing business that we may have a heavenly reward. Luke 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]? Thus we desire a long life not just to idle away but to invest in good work, fulfil purpose, enjoy the brethren, mentor more believers and enjoy the glory of God. And God is the one who can grant this. So H...

Isaiah 37:33 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it. He was a war lord with a great army, he had conquered many cities and laid them waste, Judah was small compared to the cities he had already captured. He was king Sennacherib of Assyria,  he was conquering nations, he thought he could do it all by his might, however the book of Isaiah made us know that it was because God permitted him to. Isaiah 37:26 Hast thou not heard long ago, [how] I have done it; [and] of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities [into] ruinous heaps. Judah was different, they were the people of God and their king at that time worshipped God. The king of Assyria made the mistake of disrespecting God. Isaiah 37:23 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou e...

Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. One beautiful thing about God is the restoration He brings to His own after times of great turmoil. Even when He brings judgement His mercy is yet great towards us. Most times we feel too important and thus misbehave, we should remember that we are just one person out of many whom the Lord has. Billions have left before us and many more may still come after us. Anyone who rejects God is regarded as foolish just as the Psalmist put it: Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good. Foolish, because since we came from Him we also have to return to Him, the issue is: "Are we returning to be put into the treasure box, or to be cast onto the waste basket?" In all, the love of God ...

Isaiah 33:1 Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou [wast] not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; [and] when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. From the times of old, man has been known to take advantage of their position of power to deal treacherously with those they surpass. God has never supported this evil nature. He is LOVE and expects us to show His nature. However many who refuse to acknowledge God's authority prefer to Lord it over others, to bring pain to others. Jesus said: Mark 10:42-44 But Jesus called them [to him], and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, sh...

Isaiah 32:3 And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. There is a need for watchers in every generation, those that observe the times and thus stand in the gap to intercede for the people of God. You as a believer could be the watcher for your immediate and extended family, your church, your establishment, your nation and for the unsaved. To stand in the gap, ensuring that the will of the Lord comes to pass in their lives. Isaiah 32:3 And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. Daniel stood in the gap for his people and understood by study when the time of their deliverance was due, we see also Ezra and Nehemiah, those who understand that it was time for the rebuilding of their city. Daniel 9:2&3 In the first year of his rule, I, Daniel, saw clearly from the books the number of years given by the word of the Lord to the prophet Jeremiah, in which the making waste of Jerusale...

Isaiah 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because [they are] many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! Rebellion is turning away from the authority of the King. This very well was one error too many the people of Israel kept on doing. They actually took the Lord for granted. Why would we ever do this? Isaiah 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: Yes, that the flesh could have its way. To enjoy the pleasure of sin. The desire to fit in with people of the world that they see around them. 1John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, a...

Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Do we understand that the relationship God worked out with us in Christ Jesus is that of Father to son? Why do we then want to worship God with the wisdom of men. Crafted laws and ideology of men instead of by the Word and the Spirit. Jesus explained that at the new birth the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. God makes our temple His dwelling place. Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. That is why He says:. . . anyone. . . John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: That is, if you believe, you are a son, he believes he is a son, she believes sh...

Isaiah 28:1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty [is] a fading flower, which [are] on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Being drunk is an attribute related to losing control of one's mind due to the strong influence of a substance such as alcohol. There was a woe against the drunkards of Ephraim as we see in Isaiah 28, the rebuke was more on priests, prophets and leaders: Isaiah 28:7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble [in] judgment. See Proverbs: Proverbs 31:4&5 [It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. In a literal sense of being drunk, no ...

Isaiah 17:7-8 At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect [that] which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images. Reading through Isaiah chapter 14 up till chapter 26, we see prophecies of woes against Babylon, Egypt, Assyria, Tyre, Lucifer, Philistine, Moab, Syria, Ethiopia, and even Israel. The woes then moved to the whole world: Isaiah 24:5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. In the midst of all these woes, there still remained the people which kept the truth, the believers! Isaiah 26:2 Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. The timing is dynamic: the time of the prophecy(the time of Isaiah), the near future (revelation of Christ), the further future (the release...

Amos 3:3 can two walk together, unless they are agreed? We cannot overemphasize this! This prophecy came to Amos when the Lord was angry with Israel. He reminded them of his delivering them from Egypt and further took them as His family yet they decided to walk in their own way in variance with God's will for them. Today, we are in the dispensation where God has called all people a family in the new Israel, reaching out to the whole world. Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: Hebrews 2:11 For he who makes holy and those who are made holy are all of one family; and for this reason it is no shame for him to give them the name of brothers, When we meditate on the way the children of Israel messed up in their relationship with God, we marvel at how great their unbelief was. Upon all the Lord showed to the...

Isaiah 14:5 The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, [and] the sceptre of the rulers. One thing is always sure every tyrant's rule has an end point. Every ruler has an end of tenure and the oppressor only lasts for a season. In Chapter 13, we see the prophecy on how Babylon will yet be destroyed. Chapter 14 goes further to speak concerning Satan's fall. We should observe that these prophecies are in two dimensions. "The present and the future". The present prophecy at that time was against Babylon and the king of Assyria however the future prophecy was about Satan. Thus woe unto anyone who works for Satan, the power and glory displayed will be seen as what is "a mirage" at the revelation of his destruction: Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! Isaiah 14:16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, [and] consider thee, [saying, ...

Isaiah 13:1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. Babylon was one nation God used to deal with Israel and Judah. We can recall the story of Nebuchadnezzar and his conquest of Judah and Jerusalem. Even to the stripping clean of the temple's precious items. However as he ravaged, he was also to be, ravaged. I commented on a post that tried to disprove that God had a hand in the leadership of the secular world. The pastor did not agree with my submissions, anyway the book of Daniel, confirmed it: Daniel 4:17 'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.' Daniel 4:25 They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times s...

Isaiah 12:2 See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” The book of Isaiah contains great prophecies of Christ and the salvation He brings to man. See verse 3: Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. See Jesus revealing the same: John 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." If only the people of Israel and Judah at that time had the patience and wisdom to wait on God, how wonderful an ending they would have had. Today, let us remember what great a salvation God has given us. That we are no longer under the bondage of Satan, sin and the world, but we have victory over them all. We are significant and so much empowered because we have been adopted as sons. Isaiah 12:4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people...

Isaiah 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. The prophecy on Judah's predicament did not end there, there was the prophecy of the return of the remnant. The end of the days will see a new wave of peace and joyous happiness. It will be characterized with the initial plan of God being fulfilled. Wildness in animals removed, wars will not need to be fought, snakes would no longer be poisonous. Peace would reign. This prophecy displayed salvation in Christ Jesus for the Gentiles.: Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. Christ Jesus would also bring about the return of the remnant of the children of Israel from all parts of the earth. It would be like the exit of Israel from the bondage they experienced with Pharaoh in Egypt. No matter how we look ...

Isaiah 10:1&2 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness [which] they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and [that] they may rob the fatherless! Isaiah 10 continues to look at the woes that befell Judah because of their rebellious attitude. It stands as a lesson for the nation and the church today, the passages talked about the welfare of the less privileged at that time, there is a tendency to focus on wealth and highly placed people so much as to deny justice and equity to the people. Any country that allows these types of evils should expect evils and God's disfavour on them. The apostles understood the importance of these, that was why they assigned special stewards to cater for the dependent ones in the church. Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom w...

Isaiah 55:9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Israel and Judah had forsaken the way of the Lord, they just kept on rebelling against God, who chose them out of many nations.  Isaiah was one major prophets who foretold their impending doom and their fall into captivity, they never really recovered from this fall even from the rise of Babylon to the time of the Roman empire and time again and again. The Prophesy of Judah's redemption was also revealed. However what they did not realize was that God's thoughts and plans went beyond them. They were chosen as a link to bring salvation to the whole world. Isaiah 9:2 & 6 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be calle...