Isaiah 48:12-50:11
Isaiah 48:12-22
Vs. 12-13 Isn't it interesting that God declares His eternal nature and power as creator to comfort His people, not to threaten them? Who does that? God does.
Vs. 14-22 This is God's promise to free His people from Babylon.
V. 18 Doesn't this sound a little like Jesus crying over Jerusalem? Anyone who says there is no love in the OT hasn't read it and doesn't understand the heart of God. Isn't that amazing to be able to say that, that we can understand the heart of God?
V. 22 There is no rest for the wicked…and then somebody said, "and the righteous don't need any." Not true.
Isaiah 49
The past nine chapters have been focused on giving the people hope. They would be scattered and punished in the world, in Babylon and in the times that precede the coming of Christ in His kingdom.
These next nine chapters will focus on the Messiah. Read these chapters with that understanding and you'll see how some of these verses will pull at your heart.
Vs. 1-4 This is the Messiah introducing Himself.
V. 2 This sounds like what John saw when he saw Jesus in the book of Revelations.
V. 3 The Messiah is called “Israel,” because chronologically on earth, He takes over for Israel as the servant of God.
V. 4 This sounds a little "un-Messiah" like, but as a man, Jesus did cry out to His Father.
Vs. 5-6 This is the Messiah's job. He will bring Jacob back to the Father and He will be a light to the nations.
Vs. 7-12 Amazing verses. God says two things in this section. What are they?
Vs. 13-21 Do you get the message in this portion?
Vs. 22-26 Thus says the Lord. What does He say?
V. 25 This sounds like what Jesus said about binding the strong man and looting his house. In this case, the loot is people. Jesus would free people from bondage to death and the powers of Satan. He will also redeem Israel, allowing Israel to be the servant of God in the tribulation and during the millennial kingdom.
Isaiah 50
Vs. 1-3 Although God had "divorced" Israel because of their "adultery," the Messiah has the power to bring them back.
Vs. 4-6 This introduces the price the Messiah will have to pay to redeem Israel and mankind.
V. 5 He put His hand to the plough and didn't look back. He was obedient and humbled Himself even to die on a cross.
V. 6 This is exactly what happened to Jesus before the cross.
Vs. 7-9 The faith of the Messiah in the help of His Father.
V. 7 I was reading this morning in John 7, "When the days drew near for Him to be received up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem.” That is the context of this verse.
Vs. 10-11 There are two lights here. One light is in trusting in the Messiah. The other light is one's own trust in himself or in whatever. One light leads to the peace that passes understanding and the other light leads to torment in this life, and in the life to come.
Ephesians 4:17-32
With all of the grace that this described in chapters 1-3 and with the inclusion of us all in the mystery of the revealed church, Paul makes his second strong appeal in this chapter. The first appeal was to live a life worthy of our calling to Christ and inclusion in the church. This appeal is even stronger.
V. 17 This verse ought to be stunning. As Christians we can still live in the futility of our minds. This is why church often doesn't work. The love of Christ becomes replaced by routine and order. The love of Christ is supposed to drive us together in the power of the Spirit into the harvest.
Although the next verses will describe the darkness of the lost mindset in terms of ethical malfunctions, the futility of mind that Paul mentions here is living and thinking without being filled by God's Word and Spirit. There is nothing “intuitive” about the spiritual life. We can’t get it from ourselves. We need the solid input of the Word and then must rely on the leading of the Spirit. That old life is lived in our imagination and by our desires and our gut and our resources and our intellect. That never worked before and it doesn't work now. The new life is bound to the Word and our salvation in Jesus. Now we are to follow Him and to walk by asking the Spirit to guide us in all situations, expecting that He is doing it. It’s a wilder ride than we think.
Vs. 18-20 This is the darkness of the lost mind and the reason for it.
What do we/did we learn in Christ?
Vs. 20-24 So, what are we being renewed in? What is it that is constantly making us over and guiding our thinking and attitudes and actions every minute and hour? That would be everything Paul said in chapters 1-3. Based on that, following the Spirit into the harvest with a loving, supernatural, humble mindset should be a given.
Vs. 25-32 Oh, yeah, how does all of that relate to this people in this "divine" organization? If the church is a team, reaching the lost, making disciples who make disciples into the next generation, it has to function like a team. Unlike any other "team" that might work together but not like each other, we are supposed to love one another because of the special bond we share in the love, blood and salvation in Jesus Christ.
V. 32 I've seen this verse abused by Christians. God does not forgive us if we do not repent and say we're sorry. To force others to forgive when a lie still exists in the room is not being like God, it’s just trying to get someone off the hook or sweep the matter under the rug in the name of “forgiveness.”
I used this video yesterday. Sorry if this is over play. I really like this song and image.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4OWswCFx8A
Psalm 69:1-18
Vs. 1-4 It must have made David wonder why so many people wanted him dead. He had done nothing to Saul to deserve that.
V. 5 I can identify with this.
V. 6 And imagine, David had all of these people joining him, following his faith in God. I can sense the weight of that. If you lead people in faith, it is often your faith that they hang on to.
V. 9 The first half of this verse is quoted in John 3 when the new disciples of this new rabbi watched Him go "postal" in the temple (maybe they watched Jesus and came up with the expression, “going temple”), chasing animals, overturning tables, telling people to leave. Then they remembered, "…zeal for your house has consumed me."
Paul quotes the second part of this verse in Romans 15, telling the Romans to live for others because Jesus did not live to please Himself, "but as it is written, 'the reproaches of those who reproached you, fell upon me.'"
Vs. 13-18 David appeals to God's mercy and His steadfast love. Verse 13 is also interesting. David apparently knew that God had a plan and a time in mind for everything that was happening.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHbyzhi70D4
Proverbs 24:5-6
Verse six explains the "full of strength" and the "enhances his might" of verse five. The wise man knows how to go to the right people and get the counsel he needs. In the harvest, we need to learn to seek wisdom and counsel from others, but we often learn this by first having to learn who to go to, or not to go to. Not all believers live by faith and not all are disciples. Finding kindred spirits who are able to help and give good advice is priceless. Sometimes it might seem wiser to go it alone, but that should be the exception. The wisdom from God given here is to seek godly help. If God wants you isolated and alone in the wilderness, you’ll know it.
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 and comments to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
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