The Plumbline Series: I Saw the Lord

There are seasons when the God of the Bible applies what is known as the plumbline. The plumbline is God extending His hand of mercy to Israel, the church, and the nations to acknowledge and change their ways. Plumblines in the Bible reveal God’s unchanging nature, test the quality of workmanship, and are a sneak preview of a righteous and just God. In crisis, like the world is in today, it is important for the true church (ekklesia) to have a revelation of the God of the Bible to accurately prepare and position itself for the harvest of nations.

In order to understand how plumblines work (although the word plumbline is not specifically mentioned in these chapters), we look at chapters 5 and 6 of Isaiah. Here, we have a divine process at work. This process starts with the individual, then the family, the community, the city, the nation, and the nations.

Here is a simple outline of chapters 5 and 6:

Chapter 5:1-4               the parable

Chapter 5:5-7,24-30   the punishment

Chapter 5:8-23            the problem

Chapter 6:1-4               the Presence

Chapter 6:5-7               the purging (purification, cleansing)

Chapter 6:8-13            the proclamation (commission)

The parable

God had done everything possible for Israel, as a father would his children. The vineyard pictured in these verses is Israel. Yet, when He looked for it to yield grapes (healthy), what He found instead were wild (Heb:beushim: Wild grapes, sour grapes, worthless ones). In a similar way, God through Christ has granted to the church all things that pertain to life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3). Yet, the reality is that many believers fail to investigate their own lives, and ask an important question of themselves, “what kind of fruit is being produced from my life?” Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” (John 15:16). The parable reveals Gods heart then, now, and forever as it concerns His people.

The punishment

The hedge is removed. God’s divine protection is removed from His people. It pictures a life that is open to the destroyer. Such a life cannot yield good fruit, because the walls are broken down. There is perpetual disobedience to Gods repeated instructions. There will be no rain, meaning, there is no hope of a harvest, personally or as a community. The land lies arid, and unbroken. The foxes come in and devour the vineyard. (Song of Solomon 2:15)

The problem

God lovingly highlights the problem He sees with His people. This is not just meant for Israel but for the church today. God highlights six areas that are problematic and need immediate attention. These six “woes,” are the opposite of blessing.

Verse 8 materialism, accumulating possessions

Verse 11 pleasure seekers

Verse 18 defiant sinfulness, “let me see what God will do”?

Verse 20 moral perversion, moral reversal

Verse 21 conceited and self-centred, “what’s in it for me?”

Verse 22 corrupt leadership

The Presence

In chapters 1-3, Isaiah was already warning the people of Judah of the impending judgement of God on their sinful ways. Yet, it was the sovereign removal of king Uzziah after 52 years, which opened his eyes (revelation) to God’s majestic holiness and his own sinfulness. Such is the deceitfulness of sin; it is far easier to be lenient with ourselves yet be critical of someone else’s sin. It is easier to lay the blame at someone else’s doorstep, than take ownership for our own words and actions. Many are living like this and think it is Christianity. This is only plain hypocrisy and God hates it!

Personal holiness is to be worked out in reference to the holiness of God, not people.

The purging

Struck with the formidable holiness of this God, Isaiah has a first-hand experience of his own sinfulness. This personal realisation is necessary if you desire to be used of God among people and nations. It is out of the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34.37). The Holy Spirit applies the fire to our hearts as we allow Him to. Our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29); this fire will reveal one’s true heart condition, will test the quality of workmanship i.e., the fruit of one’s life and will reward the one who survives this baptism of fire. (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)

The proclamation

After a personal revelation of Gods holiness and a cleansing of his mouth, he was now ready to be commissioned. God asks him to go and proclaim the message to a stiff-necked people, stubborn and refusing to change. Such was the nature of his ministry, an extremely hard one, with little to show for. Yet, God’s hand on him would ensure he persevered in season and out of season. On God’s part, a remnant (a tenth) would remain as a holy seed.