Covered but not by the Holy Spirit

Isaiah 30v1

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.

The Lord quickened this scripture to my heart as I was going to bed last night.

The particular part that was quickened to my mind is in capitals.

Rebellious children that cover with a covering but it's not from God, the Holy Spirit, which beggars the question if it is not a covering that is from the Holy Spirit who or what is it from?

Isaiah speaking to the children of Israel rebukes them for relying on the arm of flesh, in this case, Egypt, for help instead of the Lord.

The covering was a false covering, which provided a false sense of security and was destined to fail.

Isaiah goes on to expose the root cause of their rebellion, reliance on the flesh for advice and to provide a covering.

v9-12 clearly states that at the root of it all was

1. A rejection and refusal to hear and obey the Word of the Lord

2. A desire to hear what they wanted to hear instead of what they needed to hear.

v10&11

10Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

11Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

Is that not the attitude of much of the apostate church system.

Give us a positive message, one that is uplifting and makes us feel good about ourselves. Just turn on Christian TV and you will be inundated with so called preachers, who blabber about how to improve yourself, how God wants you to be rich and live your best life now but no talk of sin, repentance, laying down your life or taking up your cross.

A seeker friendly gospel that condemns nothing and fails to shine the light of the glorious gospel of Christ into the hearts of the saved and unsaved in case it might offend.

Truly 2 Timothy 4v1-4 is being fulfilled in this our day and the great falling away from truth or apostasia spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2v3 is happening before our very eyes.

This apostasy along with the revealing of the man of sin/AntiChrist must happen before Christ gathers (raptures) His church unto Himself.

This refusal to hear the Truth and rejection of the true Word of God manifests itself in:

1. Rebellion v9

2. Lying v9

3. A desire to hear only that which feeds the flesh and sinful nature v10

4. A rejection of the prophetic word v10

5. A trust in perversion and oppression v11

The Hebrew word for cover and covering is translated in the NKJV as devise plans i.e.

Who follow their own heart, rely on their own wisdom and in pride and arrogance, ignore and refuse to acknowledge God.

As Proverbs 3v5 says they lean on their own understanding.

This is not the world or unsaved this is talking about, this is God's own people, those who are called by His name and just as it was in Isaiah's day so is it in this day.

Church leaders and believers are wise in their own conceits and rely on their own ability, wisdom and intellect, to devise plans and rely on a covering that is fake, superficial and abhorrent to God.

Isaiah 4v1 says

1¶And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Prophetically speaking these 7 women can represent the 7 churches in the book of Revelation i.e. the corporate church of Christ and the one man is Jesus.

Notice the mindset and attitude.

We will eat our OWN bread, meaning we don't want the true Bread of Life, we'll provide our own source of sustenance but don't want the Word of God.

Secondly they say, we will wear our own clothing (i.e. we will provide our own covering) just let us be called by your name.

Remember Jesus told the church at Laodicea that they were naked and counselled them to buy white raiment so that they would be clothed and their nakedness would be covered. Revelation 3v18.

I'm reminded of Paul's words to Timothy.

Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3v5

The Greek word for form is "morphósis" (Strong's g3446) and means form, outline, semblance.

It originates from morphoo; formation, i.e. (by implication), appearance (semblance or (concretely) formula).

It's looks like the real thing but it's just a false appearance or outward show.

Remember the man in the parable in Matthew 22v11-14 who was at the marriage of the King's son.

When the king came to see the guests he noticed a man who was not wearing a wedding garment. He wasn't wearing the correct and prescribed covering.

It says when the king questioned him as to why he was not wearing the wedding garment, the man "was speechless" v12

The outcome was that the king commanded that he be bound hand and foot and cast into outer darkness. v13

What a solemn and frightening thought.

Imagine on that day wearing a covering which you think is acceptable to God but ultimately being rejected and cast out because it's not the garment He has provided.

We need to be clothed and covered in the robe of righteousness and the garment of salvation. Isaiah 61v10

We need to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, He and He alone is our covering. Romans 13v14

We need to be endued or clothed with power from on high. Luke 24v49