August 29, 2014

From Gary.... Guard what you care about...


Our vacation to New Jersey and Pennsylvania is quickly becoming a distant memory, but a couple of things remind me of it daily; the "BEWARE!" signs that we purchased in the small town of "Intercourse" at the Amish Kitchen Kettle Village.  If you ever doubt how much noise a Miniature Poodle can make; come to my house unannounced and see!!!  The white one (Buddy, on the left) makes a lot of high pitched barks, while our Apricot red (Pal on the right) is more into vicious growling. They both just had haircuts and look their best, but when Pal's hair is short like this, he tends to look more cream colored than reddish.  Wait a couple of months and then you will see his coat turn reddish-cream!!!  Anyway, they are excellent watchdogs (almost too good)!!!  Notice also that there is a squirt gun in the picture (for those times when they are NOT GOOD) and a bottle of natural flee repellent for protection from critters.  To others they may seem ferocious but to us they are both love-bugs; companions and friends. We all care for each other and watch out for one another as best we can.  The Scriptures say...
1 Peter 5:8 NASB
(8)  Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
And we try to be watchful for Satan too!!!  Do the same and be well!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading August 29


Bible Reading  
August 29

The World English Bible


Aug. 29
Psalm 16-19

Psa 16:1 Preserve me, God, for in you do I take refuge.
Psa 16:2 My soul, you have said to Yahweh, "You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing."
Psa 16:3 As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
Psa 16:4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied who give gifts to another god. Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take their names on my lips.
Psa 16:5 Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure.
Psa 16:6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Yes, I have a good inheritance.
Psa 16:7 I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
Psa 16:8 I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psa 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall also dwell in safety.
Psa 16:10 For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption.
Psa 16:11 You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
Psa 17:1 Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn't go out of deceitful lips.
Psa 17:2 Let my sentence come forth from your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.
Psa 17:3 You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
Psa 17:4 As for the works of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
Psa 17:5 My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.
Psa 17:6 I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech.
Psa 17:7 Show your marvelous loving kindness, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
Psa 17:8 Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
Psa 17:9 from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.
Psa 17:10 They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.
Psa 17:11 They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
Psa 17:12 He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
Psa 17:13 Arise, Yahweh, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword;
Psa 17:14 from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.
Psa 17:15 As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.
Psa 18:1 By David the servant of Yahweh, who spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said,>> I love you, Yahweh, my strength.
Psa 18:2 Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.
Psa 18:3 I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; and I am saved from my enemies.
Psa 18:4 The cords of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
Psa 18:5 The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death came on me.
Psa 18:6 In my distress I called on Yahweh, and cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry before him came into his ears.
Psa 18:7 Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.
Psa 18:8 Smoke went out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it.
Psa 18:9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet.
Psa 18:10 He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.
Psa 18:11 He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion around him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
Psa 18:12 At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire.
Psa 18:13 Yahweh also thundered in the sky. The Most High uttered his voice: hailstones and coals of fire.
Psa 18:14 He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yes, great lightning bolts, and routed them.
Psa 18:15 Then the channels of waters appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, Yahweh, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
Psa 18:16 He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters.
Psa 18:17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
Psa 18:18 They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support.
Psa 18:19 He brought me forth also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
Psa 18:20 Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me.
Psa 18:21 For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
Psa 18:22 For all his ordinances were before me. I didn't put away his statutes from me.
Psa 18:23 I was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity.
Psa 18:24 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
Psa 18:25 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect.
Psa 18:26 With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
Psa 18:27 For you will save the afflicted people, but the haughty eyes you will bring down.
Psa 18:28 For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness.
Psa 18:29 For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall.
Psa 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect. The word of Yahweh is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
Psa 18:31 For who is God, except Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God,
Psa 18:32 the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?
Psa 18:33 He makes my feet like deer's feet, and sets me on my high places.
Psa 18:34 He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.
Psa 18:35 You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness has made me great.
Psa 18:36 You have enlarged my steps under me, My feet have not slipped.
Psa 18:37 I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. Neither will I turn again until they are consumed.
Psa 18:38 I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise. They shall fall under my feet.
Psa 18:39 For you have girded me with strength to the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
Psa 18:40 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.
Psa 18:41 They cried, but there was none to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn't answer them.
Psa 18:42 Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I cast them out as the mire of the streets.
Psa 18:43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known shall serve me.
Psa 18:44 As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me. The foreigners shall submit themselves to me.
Psa 18:45 The foreigners shall fade away, and shall come trembling out of their close places.
Psa 18:46 Yahweh lives; and blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation,
Psa 18:47 even the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under me.
Psa 18:48 He rescues me from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.
Psa 18:49 Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, and will sing praises to your name.
Psa 18:50 He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his seed, forevermore.
Psa 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork.
Psa 19:2 Day after day they pour forth speech, and night after night they display knowledge.
Psa 19:3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Psa 19:4 Their voice has gone out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
Psa 19:5 which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a strong man rejoicing to run his course.
Psa 19:6 His going forth is from the end of the heavens, his circuit to its ends; There is nothing hidden from its heat.
Psa 19:7 Yahweh's law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh's testimony is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8 Yahweh's precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. Yahweh's commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psa 19:9 The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever. Yahweh's ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.
Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.
Psa 19:11 Moreover by them is your servant warned. In keeping them there is great reward.
Psa 19:12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors.
Psa 19:13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.
Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.


Aug. 29
Romans 10

Rom 10:1 Brothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn't subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Rom 10:5 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, "The one who does them will live by them."
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down);
Rom 10:7 or, 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)"
Rom 10:8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;" that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
Rom 10:9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed."
Rom 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him.
Rom 10:13 For, "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Rom 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!"
Rom 10:16 But they didn't all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"
Rom 10:17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Rom 10:18 But I say, didn't they hear? Yes, most certainly, "Their sound went out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."
Rom 10:19 But I ask, didn't Israel know? First Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, with a nation void of understanding I will make you angry."
Rom 10:20 Isaiah is very bold, and says, "I was found by those who didn't seek me. I was revealed to those who didn't ask for me."
Rom 10:21 But as to Israel he says, "All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."

From Mark Copeland... An Exhortation To Diligent Service (Romans 12:11)

                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS"

               An Exhortation To Diligent Service (12:11)

INTRODUCTION

1. The twelfth chapter of Romans contains many exhortations pertaining
   to daily Christian living...
   a. E.g., to be transformed by the renewing of our minds - Ro 12:1-2
   b. E.g., to utilize what abilities we have as members of the body
      - Ro 12:3-8
   c. E.g., to love the brethren and hate what is evil - Ro 12:9-10

2. In our text (Ro 12:11), we find "An Exhortation To Diligent
   Service"...
   a. Contained within a triad of simple commands
   b. Which are worthy of careful examination

3. We might begin by asking:  How is a Christian to act...?
   a. In his or her service to the Lord?
   b. In his or her business or job?

4. Sadly, the word "slothful" would apply to some Christians...
   a. Who do as little as they can while at work
   b. Who are similar in their service to the Lord

[As we take a close look at our text, let's first ask...]

I. WHAT DOES PAUL SAY?

   A. "NOT LAGGING IN DILIGENCE..."
      1. The KJV translates it "not slothful in business"
         a. Which may give some the wrong impression
         b. Some may conclude the exhortation is limited to our jobs
      2. The word "business" in Greek is spoude (from which we get the
         word "speed") and denotes "diligence, haste, earnestness"
      3. The idea is that we should be diligent in all that we do - cf.
         Ec 9:10
         a. In secular work, yes - cf. Col 3:22-23
         b. Also in the work of the Lord - cf. 1Co 15:58
      4. Areas of spiritual labor in which we are to be diligent:
         a. In our efforts to enter the heavenly rest - He 4:11; 6:9-12
         b. To found without spot, blameless - 2Pe 3:13-14
         c. In our handling of the Word of God - 2Ti 2:15
         d. In keeping our hearts pure - Pr 4:23; cf. Mk 7:21-23
         e. Repenting of sins - 2Co 7:10-11
         f. Developing Christ-like character - 2Pe 1:5-11
         g. Keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace - Ep 4:
            1-6

   B. "FERVENT IN SPIRIT..."
      1. This defines the enthusiasm or attitude of mind to have as we
         labor
      2. Some are diligent, but begrudgingly so
      3. The word "fervent" is zeo and means "to bubble, boil"
      4. Therefore we are to do our work heartedly - cf. Col 3:23

   C. "SERVING THE LORD..."
      1. This is the motivation behind enthusiastic labor
      2. We are motivated by the fact it is the Lord we serve, even in
         secular work! - e.g., Ep 6:5-8

[Since it is the Lord we serve in both secular and spiritual work, we
are to labor with enthusiasm and diligent effort.  But let's now ask...]

II. WHAT IS TOO OFTEN THE CASE?

   A. DILIGENT IN OUR OWN PURSUITS...
      1. Physical necessity often prompts diligence in secular jobs
      2. Heightened interest often prompts enthusiasm in personal
         hobbies

   B. SLOTHFUL IN THE LORD'S BUSINESS...
      -- Some examples of the contrast:
      1. Some work 40 hours a week (and more) for physical needs, then
         balk at spending 4 hours a week in worship and Bible study!
      2. Some get up early to work or play, yet complain about getting
         up even later on Sunday to worship God!
      3. Some will watch TV an average of 14 hours per week, but can't
         find 3 hours a week to read the Bible!
      4. Some will take courses at night to improve their skills, but
         aren't willing to attend gospel meetings or Bible studies!
      5. Some can learn the stats for their favorite team, but say they
         can't memorize scripture!
      6. Some let or even encourage their children to miss services for
         a sports event or school function, but not vice versa!
      7. Some will make their children brush their teeth, make the bed,
         etc., but make them attend services...never!

   C. CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH SLOTH...
      1. Apathetic in attitude and service to the Lord
      2. Of little use to the Lord in His fight against Satan!

[When such is the case, here's a third question to consider...]

III. HOW DOES THE LORD FEEL?

   A. WE KNOW HOW JESUS FEELS...
      1. He taught that those who put personal pursuits first would not
         enjoy heaven - Lk 14:15-24
      2. He taught the danger of sloth in the parable of the talents
         - cf. Mt 25:24-30
      3. He condemned the church of Laodicea for their lukewarmness - Re 3:14-16

   B. WE CAN IMAGINE HOW GOD FEELS...
      -- Lagging in diligence is:
      1. A destructive hindrance to the work of His Son, who died for us
         - cf. Pr 18:9
      2. An ungrateful response to the mercy of God, destined for God's
         wrath - cf. Ro 2:4-11

CONCLUSION

1. If after self-examination, we admit that we have been slothful in our
   service to the Lord, then the final question might be:

                   WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

2. Some will probably do nothing...
   a. Being dull of hearing and hard of heart
   b. Continuing on as before

3. Some might make an effort...
   a. Because their hearts are still tender
   b. Yet soon grow weary and return to a service of sloth

4. My prayers is that all will make whatever changes are called for by
   Paul's exhortation...
   a. Those who have yet to serve the Lord, will begin a new life of
      faithful service!
   b. Those who have been lagging in diligence, will now give the Lord
      His due!

Shall we not take to heart this exhortation of the apostle Paul...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

The Patriarchal Law by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=894

The Patriarchal Law

by  Eric Lyons, M.Min.

Have you ever found yourself listening to a teacher or preacher repeatedly using a word or phrase that you do not understand? Have you ever heard someone speak about “hermeneutics” or “premillenialism,” and then come to find out in your personal study of the Scriptures that these terms are nowhere to be found in the Bible? Teachers and preachers (like myself) often assume more than we should. We assume that people recognize the phrase “sacred hermeneutics” as “the science of interpreting the Scriptures.” We use fancy words like “eschatology” (the study of final things), but then never define it. Such often is the case when we speak of “the Patriarchal Law.” We mention it, but rarely do we help the audience understand what it is.
The English term “patriarch” derives from the Greek patriarches, which actually is made of two words—pater, meaning “father;” and arches, meaning “head” or “founder.” A patriarch is “the head of a father’s house—the founder or ruler of a tribe, family, or clan” (Nelson’s, 1986). Surprisingly, the term patriarch(s) is found in the Bible only four times. It is applied in the New Testament to David (Acts 2:29), to the sons of Jacob (twice in Acts 7:8-9), and to Abraham (Hebrews 7:4). The title of patriarch often is assigned to those whose lives are recorded in Scripture previous to the time of Moses. In Peter’s sermon in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, he expanded the term to include King David (Acts 2:29). Today, however, when teachers and preachers use the phrase “patriarchal age,” they most often are referring to the time before the Law of Moses was given at Sinai. [NOTE: For the Gentiles, this “age” lasted until the coming of the Christian dispensation.]
But what about the “Patriarchal Law?” What is this law that we hear mentioned so often, yet seldom see explained? The fact is, the phrase “Patriarchal Law” is never found in the Bible. It is simply a name given to the law that governed all men from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, and for Gentiles from Adam until the Christian dispensation began. Other than Christianity and Judaism, there has been but one other law, through the ages, under which God accepted worship: This was a system that had continued since commands were first given in Eden. Although the Bible does not give this law a “proper name,” it has become known as “the Patriarchal Law.”
The Law of Moses was given only to the Israelites—and to those Gentiles who suffered themselves to be proselyted (by circumcision) to it (Deuteronomy 4:1-8; 5:1-21; Acts 2:10; 13:43; 2 Corinthians 3:1-11). But the Gentiles also were under some kind of law, for the apostle Paul stated, “where there is no law, neither is there transgression” (Romans 4:15). For the Gentiles to have been guilty of sin (which we know they were—Romans 3:10,23), they must have transgressed some law. What law was it? It was not the Law of Moses, because they were not amenable to that law. It was not the Law of Christ, because it did not come into effect until the first century A.D. Then under what law (prior to the events recorded in Acts 10—the conversion of the first Gentiles to Christianity) did the Gentiles live? They lived under the only law to which they were amenable—commonly known as “the Patriarchal Law.”
We know from both sacred and profane history that non-proselytized Gentiles were unable to participate in the Jewish covenant. We also know that God would not (and did not!) abandon millions of people to a life without hope of salvation just because they were outside the Law of Moses, since that would make Him a respecter of persons—something Peter stated very plainly He is not (cf. Acts 10:34). When Paul spoke in Ephesians 2:12 of certain Gentiles who in the past had no hope and were “without God in the world,” he did not imply that they were in that position simply because they were Gentiles, but because they were Gentiles who had not been obedient to the particular law they had been given. We know that Gentiles were, in fact, amenable to a law system that was not the Law of Moses, as Paul made clear in Romans 2:12-16 when he wrote:
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law; for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified: (for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves; in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them).
Though Gentiles were not under the Law of Moses (as were all Jews prior to the Christian dispensation), they were under a law, which they could either obey or disobey. At least part of this law included their conscience. In his commentary on Romans, Robertson Whiteside observed:
The Gentiles never had the law of Moses, but there are certain fundamental principles that inhere in the nature of our existence and in our relations to one another. Some things are right, and some things are wrong, within themselves. If a man never had revelation from God, he would know that it was wrong to murder his fellow man, or to rob him of his possessions, or in any way to infringe on his rights. Cain sinned in killing his brother and felt his guilt, though we have no record that God had told him not to kill. God’s moral law is the same to all nations…. [T]hey [the Gentiles—EL] did have an idea of right and wrong (1988, p. 57).
The Gentiles’ Patriarchal Law involved all “the law written in their hearts,” plus whatever direct revelation they received from God. Adam, Cain, Noah, and Abraham all received direct revelation from God. These, and all others who were never under the Law of Moses (e.g., Cornelius, Acts 10), were to obey the commands given to them, as well as “law written in their hearts.” Together, these laws and eternal principles written in the hearts of man made up what is known commonly as “the Patriarchal Law.”
Although there still is much we do not understand about the Patriarchal Law, (e.g., what direct revelations they received; what “laws” were passed down from generation to generation; etc.), we can know that the Gentiles were under a law (that was not the Law of Moses or the Law of Christ), because they were guilty of “transgression” (Romans 4:15; 5:13). And if there is transgression, then there must be some law. Man has given this law a name—patriarchy.
The most important thing you must realize about the Patriarchal Law is that it is no longer in effect today. The reason it continued for Gentiles beyond the giving of the Law of Moses was because the Law of Moses was not a universal law—it was given only to the Israelites and to those Gentiles who suffered themselves to be proselyted to it (Deuteronomy 4:1-8; 5:1-21; Acts 2:10). Today, however, all Jews and Gentiles are under one law—the Law of Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22). Why is this the case? Because this new law is universal in scope. It is addressed to “all nations” and is to be obeyed by both Jews and Gentiles (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:47; cf. Acts 1:8; Acts 17:30).

REFERENCES

“Patriarch” (1986), Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson).
Whiteside, Robertson L. (1988), A New Commentary on Paul’s Letter to the Saints at Rome (Bowling Green, KY: Guardian of Truth Foundation).

From Jim McGuiggan... Why do the trees clap their hands (2)?


Why do the trees clap their hands (2)?

Ezekiel 36 said, “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord...Because they ravaged and hounded you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people’s malicious talk and slander...This is what the Sovereign Lord says...because you have suffered the scorn of the nations...I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will suffer scorn. But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit...I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people on you...I will increase the number of men and animals upon you...I will settle people on you as in the past. I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk upon you. They will posses you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children. Because people say to you, ‘You devour men and deprive your nation of its children,’ therefore you will no longer devour or make your nation childless.”
The prophets know that the land of Israel has suffered famine and drought, that foreign nations had cut down her trees to make siege engines and salted the land in malicious delight. The people who should have rejoiced in her were taken off into captivity and she was left desolate. She had had her share in “vomiting” the people out of the land and so she had gained a reputation as a devourer of her people. All that would change when God would deliver Israel after her long night of purgatory.
When the day of deliverance arrives for the repentant people the land will share in their deliverance. Isaiah 55:12-13 speaks of that coming day when God says of the people, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will bust into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.”
We’re supposed to picture the redeemed people of God coming out of their Babylonian captivity and entering the land of Israel. This is indeed like a second Exodus (see Isaiah 11:10-16) and the land will be thrilled at their coming. In the image of a husband and wife God says of Zion’s land it will be taken in marriage again and will have many happy children running around. The land will no longer be named “Desolate” but will be called “Beulah” (married) Isaiah 62:1-5.
A remnant of Israel arrived back in the land after Babylonian captivity but this was only a shadow of what God had in mind in the coming of Jesus Christ. (Note that Daniel foretold of three more kingdoms to rise over Israel after Babylon.)
The return from Babylon no more filled up God’s promises that come to their completion in Jesus Christ than the Canaan rest that Joshua gave to Israel completed God's promise of rest. See what the Hebrew writer did with the Canaan rest brought to Israel under Joshua (the whole of Hebrews 4). A greater than Joshua was coming and a rest greater than Canaan was coming in the “true” Joshua (which would have been the Hebrew name of Jesus).
The promise to Abraham that he would inherit the land of Canaan was only a shadow of the full inheritance—the entire world (see Romans 4:13). That will be inherited by the “seed of Abraham,” which is all who are embraced in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ (Romans 4, the entire chapter, and see Galatians 3:26-28).
Why do the trees clap their hands? Because they see that in a day coming, under the last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ, the creation will be redeemed from futility and bondage and share in the blessings that come to and through the glorified children of God (see Romans 8:18-22).

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.
Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.