Isaiah 25-28:13
There are a million things to observe and note today, so enjoy the stroll through these verses, knowing that next year and the year after, you'll see more and more. Basically, today Isaiah 25-27 is talking about the future blessings to Israel. Chapter 28 begins chapters full of woes.
Isaiah 25
This is a song of praise to God in the future Millennium and beyond.
V. 8 Notice that this verse is quoted twice in Revelation. If you have time, find these.
Vs. 10-12 The pride of Moab is used here as an example of how God will bring down the proud who oppose the Lord, Israel and Jerusalem.
Isaiah 26
V. 3 I could never have told you this verse was in Isaiah, much less here in Isaiah.
V. 7 This sounds like John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Lord, making the high low, the crooked straight and the rough ways smooth.
Vs. 10-18 Notice the repetition of "Oh Lord."
V. 15 sounds like the prayer of Jabez.
V. 19 sounds like the resurrection.
Vs. 20-21 God tells the people to find shelter in the tribulation as He punishes the earth. One of the things mentioned in Revelation is that the nations will put to death those who follow Christ. God will use the blood of His people to prove the guilt and sin of the world, and the righteousness of His judgment of the people on earth. Revelation 16:6 For men have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink. It is their due!"
Isaiah 27
Notice the marker, "in that day."
V. 1 Some say this is God's judgment on a mythical creature representing all that was chaotic and against God. Others say it looks like that old serpent, the devil. I think it's Satan.
Vs. 2-5 This is the Lord making an invitation to come into His vineyard.
Vs. 6-11 This seems to be God cleansing His people through hardships and exile.
Vs. 12-13 Now He is calling them out of exile to Jerusalem. This gathering of Israel to Zion will be true after the Babylonian exile and at the end of the tribulation.
Isaiah 28
V. 1 The word the ESV says is "Ah," is actually, "Woe." In Hebrew it is "OY!" Isaiah is beginning here with the northern kingdom, represented by Ephraim.
Vs. 9-13 After Isaiah pronounces judgment on the northern kingdom, apparently the leaders of the northern kingdom got wind of his prophesy against them. Verses 9-10 were their words back to Isaiah. Basically they are making fun of Isaiah, as they say, for treating them like children. The words of verse 10 are actually mocking to Isaiah because in the Hebrew it is the equivalent of sounds like, "blah, blah, blah, whatever, whatever, whatever, yakity, yakity, yak."
Vs. 11 Paul quotes this in 1 Cor. 14:21. God is saying that since the people would not listen to Him, He would speak to them through others to get His point across. In Isaiah's day, it would be the Assyrians leading them into captivity. In Paul's day, the strange tongues were telling the Jews that the word of redemption was going beyond them to the Gentiles.
V. 12 God offered them rest and they would not hear it.
V. 13 So now, because they hardened their hearts, the Word of God (and the gospel of Christ in the future) will sound to them like "blah, blah, blah, whatever, whatever, whatever, yakity, yakity, yak." And in their pride they will not accept it.
Galatians 3:10-22
Vs. 10-14 Did you get that? Good!
Notice that Paul mentions the Holy Spirit here. Following Christ in this body is extremely difficult as it is, but without the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us, it would be pretty ugly. What a wonderful gift from God.
Vs. 15-18 Did you get that? Good!
Vs. 19-20 The reasons for the law were several. Here Paul gives the obvious reason: because of the sin of man. The law was like the markings on a highway to steer us in the right direction, waiting until Christ came, when we could understand God and follow Christ by the Spirit as new creations.
V. 20 This is a contrast between the law through Moses and the promise to Abraham. Apparently, Moses received the law from God but also through angels. This meant more than one intermediary. Abraham received the promise directly from God. The law was a covenant, based on the agreement of both parties, God and Israel. If you look at the promise to Abraham, although the covenant ceremony was set up with pieces of animals on both sides with a path through the middle, God was the only one who walked that path, making God solely responsible for keeping this covenant. The Mosaic covenant required two. The Abrahamic covenant is really a promise made by grace to Abraham and so only one person is required. And, God is one.
Vs. 21-22 The law isn't contrary to the promise, anymore than a temporary splint put in place until you get to a doctor is contrary to being healed by a doctor. It was necessary for a time, but only for a specific purpose. It couldn't fix the problem.
This is coming close to what Paul says in Romans 5:20, "Law came in, to increase the trespass; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more," and in Romans 11:32, "For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all."
I know this is all pretty tight theology, but remember the issue Paul was dealing with in the harvest. What must a person do to be saved and become a follower of Christ? The cry of the reformers was "only faith in Jesus." A person is saved and sustained in their walk with Christ by grace through faith. Grace and faith are both things we grow in our understanding of, as we follow Christ in the harvest reaching the lost and making disciples who make disciples.
Psalm 61
The more I'm living where I am, the more I appreciate how the Lord drove David to his knees to burn these words on his heart. All I can say is amen.
Proverbs 23:17-18
Boy, do I need to hear this every day. Between this and the psalm, I guess the Lord is telling us to keep holding on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZtd6dB6ms0
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 any feedback or comments to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
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