Isaiah 43:14-45:10
Isaiah 43:14-28
Vs. 14-21 God can put down armies and bring His people back through the desert by His power.
Vs. 22-24 God didn't burden them in that they never honored God, but they burdened Him by their rebellion and sins.
Vs. 25-28 Yet God will forgive their sins in spite of their sins. That's not just mercy, that's grace.
Isaiah 44
Vs. 1-8 This is a great declaration of God's love for His people. Much of this will not happen until Christ returns. Take note of what God says here.
Vs. 9-20 This is the brilliance of making idols. In our case, it would be finding security and hope in anything but God. Before the Babylon exile, Israel and Judah were full of idols. When the Jews returned, idolatry was never a problem. But they did develop other problems. Sin without God's cure and help remains sin and finds something other than God to occupy us.
Vs. 21-28 There is a contrast here between the verses on the idols and who God is. This is God, caring and almighty.
V. 28 This mention of Cyrus will be expanded on. Since it will be a dark day when Jerusalem is destroyed and the people go into exile, God is giving them hope. God names by name the king who will order the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
Isaiah 45:1-10
Vs. 1-4 These are good words for Cyrus because of how God will use him. Actually, it says more about who God is. Cyrus' claim to fame is that He commanded the Jews to return to Jerusalem. Other than this, we don't know five other words he spoke. On the other hand, we have far more dialogue from Nebuchadnezzar, who God called a great king and who might have been saved. Darius was a great king and loved and feared Daniel. Darius made the command that the Jews be protected and permitted to worship their God only. When Cyrus heard of what happened in Babylon, he commanded the Jews to return. There is a good chance that Cyrus knew Daniel personally and knew all of what God had done to Nebuchadnezzar.
Vs. 5-8 Who is a God like this? There is no other God.
Vs. 9-10 Faith doesn't strive with God; only unbelief contends with God.
In spite of all the judgment against Israel, they are still His people. The spiritual forces standing in opposition to the salvation of man couldn’t figure out how God could use Israel. God is God. God will make a way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zo3fJYtS-o
Ephesians 3
Now this chapter is a major digression of sorts, but never has so much cool stuff been said on a "rabbit trail." Some say Paul gets back to the subject in 3:14 where he begins to pray. I think the entire chapter is a Spirit inspired interruption, and that Paul gets back to the point in 4:1. You can be the judge yourself.
V. 2 This begins one wonderful sentence until verse 14.
As you read this and glean what you can, it is good to think of what the mystery is. The mystery is not that the Gentiles would be saved. It says that the Gentiles will hope in the Messiah when Isaiah is talking about the Millennial Kingdom. The mystery that was hidden was the church, that is, that group of people from the Gentiles (with those few believing Jews) who were now taking the gospel to the world. Up to now, that had been Israel's job. The Gentile church was totally unforeseen. This is what the principalities and powers (satanic also) did not see. If only Israel could be a witness to God in the world, all you had to do was to get the Jews to kill their Messiah and the plan of God would stop. But as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:8, "None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
The death of Jesus didn't mean the end of Israel's ministry to the world. It meant the beginning of the church, formed not of a people with a nation and a language and geography, but of those saved by grace through faith and united in Christ. Satan never saw that coming. That was the mystery.
V. 10 Note that these rulers and authorities are mentioned again in chapter 6:12 as the evil spiritual forces we wrestle with.
Vs. 16-19 Think through this prayer. This is what God wants for each of us.
V. 16 Learning to stand strong in faith following the Spirit is a step or the requirement for verse 17 to be possible.
V. 17 This is more than just being a believer. These people were already believers. It is following Christ in the harvest with a sense of joy and a sense of mission and destiny. It is being a disciple in the harvest in every sense of what Jesus taught His disciples to be.
Vs. 18-19 Following Christ in the harvest, on this dying planet begins and ends with the love of Christ. What opened our eyes? The love of Christ. Why do we forsake all else and follow? The love of Christ. Why are we willing to suffer and give our lives for Him that others might be saved? Guess. What is our joy in all circumstances and our confidence for the future? The love of Christ.
Vs. 20-21 Notice how what God is capable of doing is tied to the harvest…His glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations. That's where the power is. "In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples."
So what is the love of Christ? Beware of the theoretical here. It is not some feeling; it is messy. It involved time and birth and sweat and tears and conflict and blood, lots of blood. Without all of this we have no love, and with all of this we have a model and a commission.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noIqO2sS9W0&feature=related
Psalm 68:1-18
I guess this is David's version of, "If God is for us, who is against us." Following Christ doesn't always appear to make sense, but God can open windows in heaven in a night or decimate an army while they are sleeping. He can certainly protect us and we can't be more secure in life than when we are standing with Him. Faith knows this.
Proverbs 24:1-2
So much for desiring to hang with the cool, the celebrities, the rich and the beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9mpDAJOPac&feature=related
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 feedback or comments to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
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