September 30, Reading Notes

Isaiah 60-62:5

When I read these verses today I was nearly in tears. If only Israel today believed this stuff. They would all call on God and say, "blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord," and the Messiah would come. And He will someday, and they will call Him, but it will be in the darkness of the tribulation.

As you read today remember that Israel was chosen to represent God in His plan to redeem the world. As a result, every power of hell rained upon them to stop them. Israel failed and became a visual aid of the sin of man rebelling in the presence of God's help and love. God has shown us how desperately hopeless we are without Christ and a new birth. In the tribulation Israel will carry God's Word to a visually dying world and will pay a high price for that. So, we shouldn't wonder that when the Messiah comes, all nations will understand what Israel has "borne" for the world. Jerusalem will be in ruins and the throne of Jesus will be in the temple. The nations will come, and in gratitude to God and to Israel as God's servant to the world, they will help rebuild and console this battered servant of God.

Isaiah 60

Vs. 1-2 This sounds like the tribulation and the coming of the Lord. The Lord will rise upon the Jews at the beginning of the tribulation and they will become His servant again. At the end of the tribulation when Jesus returns visibly and bodily to Jerusalem and ends all the fighting, all eyes will be on His people and His city.

Vs. 3-22 These are amazing verses.

V. 14 Notice that, as in all of Isaiah, the city is still a major focus of God's attention.

V. 19 This is what is also described in Revelation.

Isaiah 61

Vs. 1-2 There are words similar to these a few chapters back, but this is the portion that Jesus read in Nazareth. He told the people that as He read these words, they were fulfilled in their hearing. And they took offense at Him, meaning, they didn't believe that Jesus the carpenter could be this person.

Jesus only read to the word "favor" in verse two. "And the day of vengeance of our God" and what follows will be fulfilled at the end of the tribulation when Jesus returns to rescue and restore Israel.

Vs. 3-9 This is what Jesus will do for His people.

Vs. 10-11 This will be Israel's praise of God.

Isaiah 62:1-5

V.1 Zion and Jerusalem again. It seems that God is determined to keep preaching this in spite of the darkness of the times and the sin of the people, because this future glory and blessing is coming to Israel.

Vs. 2-5 The unity between Israel and God will be complete.

Philippians 1:27-2:18

Phil. 1:27-30

V. 27-30 So why this call to unity? I think it was the effect that the persecution was beginning to have on them. Some people might have wanted to draw back and give in.

V. 29 This is a pretty big verse for a disciple. Staying out of trouble is not a part of our call to follow Christ.

Phil. 2:1-18

Vs. 1-11 These are great verses. Songs have been written about these. So, my question is how the call to unity above fits to the call of unity in verses 1-2 and rolls into this description of Jesus.

It seems to me that the unity of the church is dependent upon a deep connection and service between members. Especially in this stress the church was facing, with all sorts of fears and emotions flying around, it couldn't become "every man for himself," but rather everyone had to bind together. But that binding had to be around the same mindset, which I think had to do with following Christ in the harvest.

Vs. 12-13 This unity would take some work and be a matter of obedience. They needed to remember that God was still working, inspiring them and using them in the harvest.

Vs. 14-18 At first, the command to do all things (everything) without grumbling and questioning seems like a general duty, but it is related to their witness in the harvest. Since the grumbling and questioning do not have a clear object, I think it has to do with each member understanding that what was happening to them (like Job) was from God, for His purpose. Those circumstances, if they follow Christ in love, will put them into situations where they will be lights as they hold fast the word of life.

Vs. 16-18 I take this to be Paul's hope as a maker of disciples that those for whom he had risked so much and worked so hard would follow Christ in this time of stress, bear fruit and make disciples who make disciples.

V. 17 Paul seems to have understood that he might not be released and be put to death. When Paul talks like this again at the end of 2 Timothy, he has no doubt.

Since the reading today had the verses of Jesus emptying Himself, I've got to include my second favorite hymn. This version has a little "kick" to it, but it's true to the hymn. Verse two is from Philippians two. The rest is just good discipleship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9I87nVp040&feature=related

Psalm 72

Verse 20 says this is a prayer of David. With that in mind, I'm seeing this talking more about Jesus than Solomon.

Just for exercise in Bible study, circle "may." Also, look at what this king does. You can't fool me (especially after reading Isaiah), this is the Messiah.

Proverbs 24:11-12

Did you get this? This is pretty strong, but it is nothing a disciple in the harvest needs to fear. That's why we are in the harvest and it is what the love of Christ compels us to do. We who have been saved know the peril of those who do not know Christ. Out of love we have to do something, and that something is in the harvest following our Lord. The last thing a disciple should say or feel is, "Who cares?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aTqk5YGiRo&list=FLXNvyvHkjdvvMMDyoTwM5sw&index=10

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 and feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.