Isaiah 37-38
Isaiah 37
There are a lot of things for the Spirit to point out to you here. What impresses me is that all of what God said regarding this event was foretold years earlier. We have been listening to Isaiah prophesy and prepare the people for this event for over 50 years. Some people listened. Hezekiah listened and the Word of God bore fruit in him as he led the people through this. His faith is so genuine and deep.
Vs. 5-7 Notice how short God's answer through Isaiah is. God knew the situation wasn't over.
V. 9 This king of Cush is really the king of Egypt. The Egyptians were slowly taken over by their relatives from the south of them.
V. 10 This is Rabshakeh's pride speaking. He had probably expected to immediately begin a siege of Jerusalem. Now with this delay, he allowed his pride to get the better of him. Notice the mention of Jerusalem.
Vs. 14-20 What a prayer.
Vs. 21-35 This is God's response to Hezekiah.
V. 21 Notice why God makes this response. I guess He's trying to teach us something, although it is a very deep lesson if you think about it.
V. 22 Here and in verse 35 notice what God is defending.
V. 26 In his ranting, Rabshakeh said God had sent him. He was so "right" he should have listened to his own words and been humbled. Now it's too late.
V. 29 Hooks were used by the Assyrians to lead people away into captivity.
Vs. 30-32 God is promising Hezekiah that life in Jerusalem will resemble a time of peace and would slowly get back to normal.
Vs. 33-35 Amen.
Vs. 36-38 Notice this happened in one night. By now, you should know "who" the angel of the Lord is.
V. 38 According to history, this happened 20 years later. Assyria was still a world power. In fact, in about 50 years the Assyrians would lead King Manasseh by hooks to a prison in Babylon. But like God's humbling of Egypt years before, they never reestablished their might, and more importantly, they were never a real threat again to Judah and Jerusalem.
Isaiah 38
We have read this before. God is very gracious. I think this shook Hezekiah's life and bent his faith a little. We'll see this more tomorrow. What we read here and tomorrow is a warning for us.
Vs. 1-3 Some suggest because of verse six that this happened before God humbled Assyria. But Assyria was still a world power. God didn't create a vacuum in world politics. Yet, Judah wouldn't have to worry about revenge or having any more problems with Assyria. So, then, in my opinion, this happened chronologically after the events in chapters 36-37.
Vs. 4-8 I'm still amazed that God made the earth go backwards and it was "no sweat" for Him.
Vs. 9-20 So Hezekiah wrote a song of praise to God.
V. 17 Notice Hezekiah's recognition of his bitterness for himself, contrasted with the Lord's mercy.
Vs. 19-20 Hezekiah's promise to praise God for His deliverance.
V. 22 Remember that over 20 years earlier when Isaiah told Hezekiah's father, Ahaz, to ask for a sign he wouldn't. The sign given then was Immanuel. Hezekiah trusted God and asked for a sign.
We'll leave Hezekiah in his health and glory. Tomorrow we'll see that something happened to him in all of this that affected his faith for the worse.
Galatians 6
Vs. 1-5 Is this what Paul did with Peter? "Restore" is the same word for equip in Eph. 4:12, to set in order to make useful, to mend.
So, what is happening in verses two and five? In one we are to bear one another's burdens and in the other we each bear our own burdens.
It seems to me that verse two is helping one another in times of grave weakness, falling and temptation. This is what happens to a fallen brother or sister, and maybe what happened to Peter and Barnabas. Verse five is the reality of our walk with Christ. We need to mature to the place where we maintain our own walk in following Christ in the reality of the life God has given us.
Vs. 6-10 This is generosity, beginning first where we find spiritual equipping and strengthening: the local church and pastor. Verses 9 and 10 are our faith that God will reward our giving of our lives and resources for others.
Vs. 11-18 Just like the opening of Galatians dealt with the problem, Paul ended here with a final jab. I think what started this again was the mention of his signature. It was proof of the authenticity of the letter. I'm also willing to bet that it had to do with Paul's sight and that this "thorn in the flesh" might have come from one of Paul's beatings. Paul paid the price to keep the Gospel free and authentic for them. These Jewish teachers didn't bear fruit and were not willing to face persecution in order to serve churches like Philippi.
Verse 17 really brings Paul's credentials into focus. They were borne on his body, as our Lord's were borne on His body. Literally, Paul was branded, showing who owned him. He had the marks of a disciple in the harvest because he was willing to suffer with Christ to bring and protect the good news of the Gospel.
Psalm 65
For whatever reason, when I read this psalm, I thought of this celebration in the grace of God from Romans 8, "If God is for us, who can be against us. He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?"
What amazing hope we have. We are eternally secure and blessed by the God of our salvation. Is it works or duty to tell about Him, or is it a privilege we don't even deserve?
So in the spirit of all the deliverance and grace we have read about, I present to you the YouTube tee-shirt guy singing "Good To Me."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIvqwvgfoE0&feature=related
Proverbs 23:24
God says it, so it must be true.
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 or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
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