Isaiah 62:6-65:25
Isaiah 62:6-12
The watchmen are to stay alert watching for the coming of the Messiah. They are to give God no rest, crying out to Him. As disciples this is supposed to be our attitude of heart too. The Lord's prayer has this in it. And I think of the first verses I memorized as an Awana worker, Titus 2:11-14 "For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds."
V. 11 Read Revelation 22:12-17 and you will see verse 11. Those verses in Revelation have the same feel of these verses in Isaiah.
Isaiah 63
Vs. 1-6 This is the Messiah coming to Zion in victory.
Vs. 7-9 What would you call this?
Vs. 10-14 These are the clearest references to the Holy Spirit I know of in the OT.
Vs. 15-19 The people are appealing to God, their Father, to return to them. Again, these are some of the only references in the OT where God is referred to as the Father. This is very special ground.
So in this chapter, we have the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This might be one of those portions of Scripture where the Jews developed their teaching of the Trinity.
Isaiah 64
Vs. 1-7 This sounds like Isaiah, or the nation confessing their sin to God.
Vs. 8-12 They appeal to God for help because He is their Father and because of what has happened to Zion / Jerusalem.
You notice that all of this is prophetic. The city still looked pretty good during the time of this writing. It would still be about 100 years before everything looked like a wilderness and desolation.
Isaiah 65
Vs. 1-7 These verses seem to be God's reasons for rejecting that generation of Israel.
Vs. 1-2 Paul quotes these verses at the end of Romans 10.
Vs. 8-10 This is the blessing of the obedient.
Vs. 11-12 This is the cursing of the disobedient.
Vs. 13-16 In this contrast between the obedient and disobedient, can you hear some of what Jesus said in the Beatitudes; i.e., blessed are, but woe to…?
Vs. 17-25 This will be the blessing of the people in the Millennial Kingdom.
Philippians 2:19-3:4
Phil. 2:19-30
Vs. 19-24 Paul planned to send Timothy because Timothy was a pastor and teacher. Timothy wouldn't just visit, he would strengthen, encourage and correct. From these verses you get some good words about Timothy, and you get the idea that Paul's trial wasn't far off and that he did think he would be released.
Vs. 25-30 It might have been that "E" was to have stayed with Paul longer, but everyone was worried, so Paul decided to send him back. There are also some good words here about "E" and on how to treat people who have worked hard in the Lord and risked their lives.
Phil. 3:1-4
These verses are the prelude to some very challenging and wonderful verses. It is interesting that out of conflict and perversity, God can bring blessing.
V. 1 We will see "finally" again. Apparently what is happening here is that Paul is getting off on a very blessed rabbit trail.
V. 2 There is no political correctness here. These were often Jewish Christians of the circumcision party in Jerusalem who followed and hounded (no pun intended) Paul and disrupted churches.
A note on "dogs." For me the connotation that comes to mind is that dogs were scavengers. These teachers couldn't bear fruit and begin churches, but they could come in behind Paul like scavengers and build stubble on the foundation he had laid.
V. 3 What a great definition of what it means to follow Christ. No denomination, only the worship of God in the truth of the Spirit. We live in the glory of our salvation in this person, Jesus Christ, sharing it with others. And we are always only ever sinners saved by grace.
V. 4 is a springboard into tomorrow.
Psalm 73
Earlier in the year when we read this psalm we hadn't yet read Job. Psalm 73 should "feel" a little different now, having sat with Job in his ashes and misery. The interesting thing is that when you read this again next year, you will see even more here.
Vs. 3-12 Why does God allow the proud and wicked to prosper for a time?
V. 13 This sounds like Job, or me when I'm in a self-piteous mood.
V. 17 was Asaph's turning point. Where is that sanctuary for you? There is no temple. I have this time alone with God in His Word and praying. If not for that, where would any of us be?
Vs. 25-26 With so much we don't understand about God's working day to day, what we know of God through our Lord has to be enough for us and all we need.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnSVgCMfhsY
Proverbs 24:13-14
I like the idea of the comparison, but who of us would really take this advice. Who of us hasn't learned wisdom because of constant stumbling, falling, running into the wall at 100 mph. We who are now older need to tell our stories to help the next generation of disciples "wise up" without having to hit the wall.
Thankfully there is a very gracious Father who heals our self-inflicted injuries and patiently teaches us the wisdom of listening to Him.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comments and feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
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