There was a time I really trusted in luck. Good thing that time is no more. Find out why from an ancient prophecy!

Just a few years before I surrendered to Christ I was really depending upon luck. Charms and trinkets were in my pockets and I tried to follow the correct behavior for some superstitions. At that time, I had little inkling that I was on the wrong path, in fact, a dangerous path at that.

The Holy Bible warns about luck, superstition and related matters, one of those passages being Isaiah 65. Let us specifically focus upon verses 8 to 12, and 17 to 25. Apparently because of the intricacies of Hebrew, many translations, including the KJV and the NKJV, do not show the most probable meaning of verse 11. To show you what I mean, let me first present the KJV of Isaiah 65:11 then show it in the Jewish Publication Society’s (JPS) rendering and that of the American Standard Version (ASV).

“But ye are they that forsake YHVH (The Existing One), that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.” -- KJV*

“But ye that forsake YHVH (The Existing One), that forget My holy mountain, that prepare a table for Fortune, and that offer mingled wine in full measure unto Destiny,...” -- JPS*

“But ye that forsake Jehovah, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for Fortune, and that fill up mingled wine unto Destiny;” -- ASV

Alert Barnes {1} and other commentators indicate that the Hebrew words of  Isaiah 65:11 translated as Fortune and Destiny in translations like the JPS and ASV point to pagan deities of that time.

With that in mind, considering our text, Isaiah 65:8-12 and 17-25, we will see two things.

I. The Tragic Truth About Luck 11-12 {2}

“But you who forsake YHVH (The Existing One), Who forget My holy mountain, Who set a table for Fortune, And who fill cups with mixed wine for Destiny, 12 I will destine you for the sword, And all of you will bow down to the slaughter Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not hear.And you did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight.”

When I was into charms as a child and youth I did not think I was practicing idolatry even when I heard luck personified as Lady Luck. However, as our passage shows, I was. Any such thing we rely upon for anything is a god unto us.

When we consider the latter portion of verse 11 we will see the motives for using fortune or putting stock into destiny. First of all, this is a way for many to forsake YHWH, God, just like Adam and Eve forsook Him. In some cases people already know that in certain cases God is not going to let them have things their way and luck / fortune appears quite appealing. It is so sad to think that some, even some who name the Name of Christ, consider a message in a fortune cookie more valid than the Word of God.

Destiny is a theme of astrology and similar pursuits, sometimes offering little opportunity to change one’s fate and, when it does, there is no godly power behind it. Destiny is used by some as an excuse for their sinful ways or for conditions that they could have otherwise gotten out of with the help of God.

And we see the true destiny of destiny and playing with fortune in the first part of verse 12. The latter part of 12 shows that the core of the problem is a lack of true love for God.

II. The Triumph Of Blessing 8-10, 17-25 (ASV*)

One is far better off by trusting in the blessings of God. There are at least seven types of blessings in the verses just mentioned above. For most of them, I will just present very brief comments with the Holy Scripture (all ASV).

Purpose 8a-d: “Thus saith Jehovah, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it”. The cluster is spared but, considering the rest of the verses, apparently only to be destroyed after the grapes with new wine are separated from them. Being a pre-tribulationist, I feel the true Church through the Holy Spirit is the preservative of the world until the Church Age ends and we are removed.

Protection 8e-f: “so will I do for my servants’ sake, that I may not destroy them all.” One thing most Holy Bible scholars agree upon is that the true disciples of Christ will be spared from the wrath of God. Once covered with the blood of Christ, we are protected from God’s wrath, although we often face the wrath of people.

Prevailing 9a-b: “And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains;”. There are times in this world that it seems like true Christianity is losing. The night is to come when “no one can work" (John 9:4). True disciples belong to the Day (1 Thessalonians 5).

Predestined 9c-d: “and my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.” By predestined the Holy Bible does not mean only a select few are spared from damnation the moment they are conceived. All of us are sinners (Romans 3:23) and are destined for hell unless we surrender to Christ. Christ called Himself “The Way” in John 14:6. Once we commit to Christ we are then, at that point, predestined to be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29).

Provision 10a: “And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks”. God can, and will, supply our needs in Christ. We must remember, though, a different set of parameters are activated if He so chooses for us to face persecution or some type of tragedy.

Prosperity 10b: “and the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down in”. The prosperity that God wants us to have is spiritual prosperity, that no matter our circumstances, we can have peace in Him (Philippians 4:11).

Promise 10c and 20 to 25: In 10c we read, “for my people that have sought me.” As we draw near to God, He draws near to us (James 4:8) even though we go through the end of the Age (Matthew 28:20 Darby). Verses 20 to 25 speak of the Millennial Reign of Christ:
  
“There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days; for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed.
21  And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22  They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23  They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for calamity; for they are the seed of the blessed of Jehovah, and their offspring with them.
24  And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25  The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith Jehovah.”

This is just part of what the true disciple can look forward to if they remain in Christ unto physical death or the rapture. Revelation 20, 1Thessalonians 3:13, and other passages show that we will reign on earth with Christ if we overcome with Him. 

Additionally, verses 17-19 speak of the blessings when the Kingdom of God is ushered into eternity:

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
18  But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
19  And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and there shall be heard in her no more the voice of weeping and the voice of crying.”

Revelation 21 and other Holy Scriptures indicate the world will be destroyed some time at the end of the Millennial Reign and then there shall be a new earth and heavens. Best of all, as we read Revelation 21-22, we see that Christ will be forever with those who have stayed faithful to Him.

Notes:

Read about what I did on Saint Patrick’s Day in 1973 and see a picture of my wife and I back then when we attended Northeast Bible Institute in Green Lane, PA,  at http://www.sapphirestreams.com/BGL/paraiba_tourmaline001.html !

{1} From an electronic version of Barnes’ Notes, by Albert Barne, incorporated into the Online Bible computer program.

{2} This text appears in poetic meter, but to save space I have brought the lines into one paragraph. Generally, capitalization within the paragraph will indicate the start of a new line.

This article is a form of a message (sermon) outline. God willing, you will find links to the actual message at http://www.sapphirestreams.com/life/audioM.html#M240 .

Unless otherwise noted all Holy Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible changing LORD to YHVH as it rightly should be when the text so indicates and adding “(The Existing One)” to readily express the meaning of His Name without making repeated explanations in articles. * = For other versions the spelling of some words is updated for our time in addition to changing LORD to YHVH as it rightly should be when the text so indicates.

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