September 12, Reading Notes

Isaiah 10-11

Isaiah 10

Vs. 1-4 are still talking about the sin and guilt of the northern kingdom.

Vs. 5-11 In God’s wisdom and purpose He uses the arrogance of this lost, godless nation to punish godless Israel.

Vs. 12-14 There would be an aspect of Assyria’s victories that should have shown them that God was helping them. This would be an opportunity (like Pharaoh had) to come closer to the true God.  After God has used them, He would judge them for their arrogance.

Vs. 15-19 God says how He would chasten Assyria before it happened.

V. 16 In one night God killed 185,000 men.  This shows us that the physical means was a sudden sickness, like a plague, brought on by the angel of the Lord.

V. 19 The survivors who returned to Assyria were so few that a child could count them.

Vs. 20-23 This is the remnant God will save from the northern kingdom. Paul quotes part of this in Romans 9.

Vs. 24-27 In light of all of this prophesy, Judah, Jerusalem in particular, should trust the Lord. This is exactly what happened when Rabshakeh stood outside Jerusalem in 2 Kings 18:27. The people kept silent and trusted the Lord.

Vs. 28-34 God’s prophetic description of His judgment of Assyria.

Isaiah 11

This is all prophetic regarding the reign of Jesus on earth for those 1000 years.  Take time reading this and making observations.

Vs. 1-9 This is the Messiah and the poetic tenor of His reign. These are great verses talking about Jesus.

V. 10 Notice the “In that day.” Jerusalem will become the center of the earth and Jesus will be the king. This verse is quoted in the Gospels and in Romans.

Vs. 11-16 In that day, the Jews will come from every nation where they have been hiding and scattered.

For us as disciples, the coming kingdom, judgment and blessing of God should always be before us.  In the Lord’s Prayer, the attitude behind all of our praying is to be His kingdom coming.  As we see here, however, His coming is always associated with the distress of this present darkness.  He will be light and salvation for those who know Him, but He will be the opposite for those who don’t.  Our job is to herald His salvation and His coming.  This morning I was reading that Jesus told His disciples to preach as they went saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  It’s still a good message.

I can’t believe they have this song on the web. It’s a funky 70’s song from Pat Terry and the words still fit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKLXKahK2lM&feature=related

2 Corinthians 12:11-21

Vs. 11-13 When Paul said he was nothing, he meant it. Yet, what God did with Paul was the verification that he was sent by God, i.e., an apostle.

V. 13 This is a multidirectional jab.

Vs. 14-18 It seems so unfair that Paul should have to write this, but for the sake of the health of the church, to ward off the false teachers, Paul keeps dealing with the situation. He knows another visit is necessary.

Vs. 19-21 In Paul’s final words here, it looks like the issue he addressed at the end of 1 Cor. 6 still hadn’t been corrected.

As disciples, with the amazing salvation that is offered and with the blessing of Christ’s coming kingdom, you’d think that church might be easier, since the church is the thing that’s supposed to get the job done.  But this is what the Lord has decided and it is our task as disciples, not to reform churches, but to make disciples.  True disciples are in love with their Lord and follow Him into the harvest, making disciples who make disciples.  Get a group of those kind of disciples together and maybe you’ll have a great “church.”

Psalm 56

This again was in those early days of running from Saul. Some of the desperation here might have been self inflicted since David never consulted God before he sought refuge in Gath. It just seemed like a good idea. In God’s mercy, David escaped.

Vs. 10-11 These verses are a very gutty and faith-driven declaration of what God meant to David.

This is an interesting song that covers some of the words, and maybe, a lot of the emotion in this psalm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sBYYrbWvls&feature=related

Proverbs 23:6-8

I think I’ve experienced something like this, even among believers. Better to live a simple life with simple people whose hearts are with you in the harvest. Trying to build things God doesn’t want built and do things God doesn’t want done creates a lot of insincerity.

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.