Isaiah 54-57:13
Isaiah 54
This blessing is being spoken to all generations of Israel, but is focused on the generation alive when Jesus returns as the conquering king to save and restore Israel. When Jesus reigns they will multiply in peace and no enemy will threaten them.
Isaiah 55
This is a great chapter and one that is on my list to memorize someday. Isaiah is speaking to his people in the current day.
V. 1 Jesus stood up in the middle of the feast of the tabernacles on the great day at the great moment of the procession and yelled this out. How embarrassing. No, how urgent the time was for Israel, the failing servant, to grasp who He was, their king and servant of God who would pour out His life for the sins of the world. This was mentioned in John 7:37-39.
V. 2 This is what Jesus told the crowd in John 6:27, the day many of His disciples left Him.
Vs. 6-11 The appeal to seek the Lord. God's actions and will are not for us to completely understand. We saw this in Job. His will and purpose are described in His control of nature. Verses 10 & 11 were some of the first verses I memorized as a disciple.
Isaiah 56
Isaiah is saying this to his people, present at that time.
Vs. 1-7 This blessing is spoken to Israel and to Gentiles. Anyone could join themselves to Israel. That was the purpose of Israel as God's servant. As hinted at here and seen later, Israel will again be God's restored servant and all nations will come to the Lord through them.
The mention of the Sabbath during the time of the law was really a sign of faith. It took faith to keep the Sabbath when others might be working on the Sabbath, getting your jobs and making more money than you. It was easy to look around, be jealous of the ungodly and give up keeping the Sabbath.
Vs. 9-12 This punishment is on those who won't listen and will continue to verse 13 of the next chapter.
Isaiah 57:1-13
This is God warning these people. Notice that the righteous live alongside the ungodly, and though faced with the same circumstances, take refuge in the Lord and lie in peace in their beds.
Ephesians 6
Vs. 1-4 This is walking as saved kids and saved parents.
Vs. 5-9 Imagine being a slave and coming to Christ. This would require a lot of faith. Laura and I just saw, "The Help." Just watching the injustice and treatment of these people was jarring. I don't think you can imagine the faith needed to follow Christ in those kinds of circumstances unless God places you there. Believing masters were to walk by faith in Christ also.
Vs. 10-18 Putting on the armor in verses 11 and 13 is commanded, and it is used to withstand, not to attack. We don't attack them, we walk, following Christ in the harvest, focused on lost people and making disciples. There is no hint of an idea of being preoccupied with the spiritual battle. Our job is the rescue, turning our attention to this battle only as we are attacked and they stand in the way. It is all around us, so we wear the armor; but our goal is something different: reaching out to the dying and making disciples who make disciples. The command to stand in verse 13 has a sense of urgency.
V.12 This adds definition to every other time we have heard the words, "principalities and powers." According to the book of Revelation, Satan doesn't get kicked out of heaven until the middle of the tribulation.
For my take on the importance of the shoes, look at: http://fencerail.blogspot.com/2010/10/no-shoes-no-service-no-harvest.html
V. 17 I know that all of the pieces of the armor could have books written about them, but I really think being in the Word daily is necessary for all of them. For example, the helmet of salvation. Think of what we have been reading in Isaiah, how God is our creator and redeemer, linking the work of His hands to the love He has for us. I have read that several times, but this last week it has been sinking more and more into my thinking and my heart. That definitely strengthens the helmet of salvation. Actually, we have read Ephesians 1-3 and that strengthens our understanding and awe of our own salvation.
We are all too spiritually bi-polar to go a day without the Word. We only kid ourselves if we are not reading it daily, drawing near to God. Without the Word and the Spirit's constant work in our hearts, all of this armor is meaningless and we're just sitting ducks.
Vs. 19-20 This is Paul's present struggle waiting his trial in Rome.
Vs. 21-22 Paul was always working to strengthen others.
Vs. 23-24 There's a lot of love in these verses. Love and faith are often connected in Paul's thinking, for example, in 1 Tim. 1:14 and 2 Tim. 1:13. Isn't it interesting that Paul makes this last blessing conditional: "Grace be to all who….." These are the ones who live in and truly experience the grace of Jesus Christ.
The word incorruptible sounds moral, or maybe industrial like "rustproof." It is a good word, but doesn't clearly say what it means in this context. I like the RSV and NIV, "undying."
Thinking about undying love, doesn't it seem like that is what God is saying through Isaiah? Finishing up this section of Isaiah on the poured out love of the Messiah, and finishing Ephesians and the limitless grace and love of God in Jesus, what other response should there be from us as His disciples, but undying love and a poured out life, telling of His love in the harvest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-afZJ9_TIM&feature=related
Psalm 70
It's interesting to me that most of the time we don't panic, but when it comes, even though it is really only in our heads and hearts, all of life seems to be full of desperation and stress. If we really could see the spiritual reality around us, we would all be wrecks. If we could see the dark spiritual forces around us, manipulating us and those around us, taking lives, we would probably lose our minds. But at least we would cry out with real urgency. We would cry out like David does here.
The answer isn't to be oblivious to the danger and reality, but to replace our desperation with faith in the love and purpose of our Father, who sent His Son and gave us His Spirit. If He is our refuge and love, we will live forever with Him and can sleep now in peace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y10eQ0IgLVo
Proverbs 24:8
You remember what you just read in Eph. 6:11, right? I'd say that was an interesting coincidence. J
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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