SEPTEMBER 22
Today we are
beginning Ephesians and entering into the second part of Isaiah. This part of
Isaiah is filled with some amazing verses and, of course, great chapters like
Isaiah 53 and 55; both of which are worth memorizing. In fact, Ephesians 1-3
are good memorization material too.
Isaiah 39-41:16
Isaiah 39
I believe these
guys came after the humbling of Assyria. We have seen that Hezekiah showed them
everything. There might be a thought that Hezekiah should have had nothing to
show them; because he had sent tons of gold, silver, and anything that wasn't
nailed down, to Assyria to keep them from attacking. Of course that didn’t
work, and God told them it wouldn't. But after God destroyed the Assyrian army,
their camp was full of loot they had taken from everyone else, and there would
have been tons of precious metals there too. I'm sure Hezekiah got some of
that. In essence, what Hezekiah was showing them had been a gift from God. It
was nothing that Hezekiah had earned or had reason to glory in. But he did.
Vs. 5-7 There
is no expressed condemnation of Hezekiah, but it is implied.
V. 8 This does
not have a complimentary ring to it. This judgment was about 100 years away, so
why get so worked up? We could understand Hezekiah. Would you get worked up
about something that will happen in 100 years from now? But because of this
attitude, Hezekiah had a hand in bringing the nation under that judgment.
Here is the
view of what Hezekiah did from God's perspective:
2 Chronicles 32:24-25
In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed
to the LORD, and he answered him and gave him a sign. 25But Hezekiah did not make return according
to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon
him and Judah and Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 32:31 And
so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to
him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him
to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.
All of the
kings faltered when they found success, but the way they faltered was
specifically unique to each king. They showed a weakness and unwillingness to
fully trust God in some area of their lives. With Hezekiah, I have to believe
that it began when he thought he was going to die. The attack by the Assyrians
was bad, but Hezekiah stood. Hezekiah got sick and he wept bitterly. After
this, even with God saving him, his heart was not fully the Lord's. Hey,
nothing would happen for 100 years. Hezekiah would be long gone. But in those
extra 15 years that God gave him, Hezekiah had a son, Manasseh, who was the
worst and most godless king of Israel, and who is credited by tradition, for
putting Isaiah to death.
For us the
warning here is obvious. Some of us are like a rock in some areas; but it is
our anger, or worry, or our sexual needs, or our need to be secure or to be
liked, to be financially comfortable, that can shred our faith and get us
irrationally focused on ourselves. Some unexpected scare or attraction or
frustration can enter our lives, and suddenly we're faced with a temptation
that could erase all the faith and devotion for God we have shown over the past
years. This story is a warning to us from God.
We need to be
in the Word every day, washing ourselves, refreshing our faith and trust. More
specifically, the Word focuses us on our Lord, our mission, and our life of
following Him through this harvest, glorifying the Father until we are home.
This world is not our home, and neither is this particular body.
Isaiah 40
Now with
chapters 38 & 39, particularly 39, we have the Babylonian exile clearly
stated. Exile meant the extermination of a people. People were forced to
worship other gods, speak another language, take new names; and they were
removed from their land and culture. Most nations taken into exile never
recovered. Judah would not only survive, but thrive because of God. So now, in
the shadow of this dark threat of death to the nation, God breaks out with some
of the brightest and most magnificent declarations of hope and restoration ever
given to man. Isaiah 53, located in the middle of these 27 chapters, is
stirring, and something every disciple should memorize. I wish I had done this
sooner.
Get ready to
meet some very well-known verses.
Vs. 1-2 The
strength of this declaration is in proportion to what Israel has suffered on
this planet since the time God formed them. Israel has been an object lesson
and they have represented mankind.
Notice that
Jerusalem is mentioned.
Vs. 3-5 The
context here is the same in the NT regarding John the Baptist. The Deliverer
and King was coming.
Vs. 6-8 A
warning to all mankind. And our hope: The
Word of our God will stand forever. Amen. It is vital to know the Word of
the Lord and let it wash you daily.
Vs. 9-11 The King
is coming in His kingdom. If you look at the gospel that John, Jesus and the Twelve
preached, this is it.
Vs. 12-20 This
section is about this king and is organized around the question of who He is.
V. 13 Paul
quotes this in Romans 11.
Vs. 19-20 We
will see this description of making an idol repeated. The process itself,
dependent on man, shows how insane it is to worship an idol of any kind.
Particularly funny is the need to nail it down so it won't fall.
Vs. 21-26 Here,
in the 3rd and 1st person, God declares who He is.
Vs. 27-31 In
light of who God is, Jacob-Israel (the unified people of Israel) can trust that
the Lord will deliver and restore them. He will give them strength as they wait
to return from Babylon and as they wait for the Messiah during the Tribulation.
Vs. 29-31 are
some amazing verses and, if you have time, they are worth memorizing.
Isaiah 41:1-16
Vs. 1-7 are a
warning to the nations that nothing will stand in God's way or stop His
predetermined plan.
V. 4 This is
what Jesus says three times in the book of Revelation. Linking this declaration
with v. 2, the world should understand that they are defenseless in their
rebellion to stop the Lord. The proper response would be to turn to the Lord
and submit.
Vs. 8-16 In
these verses you get an idea of how God has used Israel as a servant, and how
He will use them in the future. Their failure has been an example to all of
mankind, and as they represent the redemptive purpose of God in the world, they
have been the object of human and spiritual hatred. These are absolutely great
verses.
V. 10 This is
another one that is good to memorize.
V. 16 Just as
the Assyrians smashed themselves against Jerusalem - in the Tribulation, the
world will smash themselves, fighting against God's people. When the Lord
returns, Israel will rejoice and glory in their Messiah and His kingdom.
Ephesians 1
Ephesians is a
great letter. After Galatians, where grace was mentioned as being so important,
in Ephesians grace is painted for us in the person of our Lord. God's love,
kindness and delight in those who know Him is described, so that by the time
you get to chapters 4-6, you just know that obeying and following are the only
logical things to do since He loves us with such reckless abandon. So, let's
go. I would suggest reading this slowly and trying to drink this chapter in.
Speaking of which, a good latte wouldn't hurt either.
Vs. 1-2 We
often see Paul stating that it was God's fault, I mean His will, that made Paul
an apostle. In some places this came to Paul's defense. In this letter we'll
see that Paul never got over the wonder of being chosen to be used like this.
Apparently it was noted after Paul wrote this letter that it was sent to
Ephesus and the words, To…in Ephesus were added. It was probably
the case that churches had sprung up around Ephesus after Paul's years of
ministry there, and this letter was meant to circulate around this area. It
seems like some of the recipients of this letter hadn't met Paul. This letter
was written from Rome during the time of Acts 28, and before he wrote 1
Timothy.
By the way, vs.
3-14 are all one sentence. Read it slowly and enjoy. Notice the phrase in the heavenly places. We'll see this
again. Also, see if you can find the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in this entire
process.
Vs. 15-16 For this reason. What reason? Why is
Paul saying this? How does this connect with what he has just said? This is a
hinge verse, swinging from what Paul has just said, and going into the prayer.
Because this is true of them and they have received this, Paul as a maker of
disciples is praying for their deepening in this new life of blessing and
privilege.
Vs. 17-23 is
Paul's prayer for them. It is the first of two great prayers in Ephesians.
Think slowly through what Paul is asking for them, realizing it is what God
wants for you too. Notice that this is personal growth in Christ that is
dependent on our following as disciples. Salvation and new life in Christ is in
3-14, but the next steps of growth are in these verses.
Notice that
vs. 20-23 read like Jesus' prelude to the Great Commission. And Jesus came and said to them,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, 20teaching
them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you
always, to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:18-20)
All of this is
not only what God has done for us personally, but there is a great emphasis on
the church. Someone has said that Ephesians is not about "me and my
God," but rather about "us and our God." Those famous verses in
Ephesians 4:12-16 are dependent on all of us growing together in Christ and
working together in the harvest. Paul, in Ephesians, describes how glorious the
church is because of God's plan of redemption and Christ's blood in saving us
to be His church.
Psalm 66
This psalm
doesn't say who wrote it, but I did notice a couple things that reminded me of
David. Notice in vs. 17-20 that the writer, himself, cried out and experienced
deliverance. This would lead me to think it was David.
Vs. 1-4 This
call to all nations is very typical of David. Whoever wrote this understood
that all of what God was doing through Israel was meant to bring the world to
worship God. I was reading about Jesus' second cleansing of the temple the week
He died in Mark 11:17, And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all
the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”
Vs. 5-7 This
describes something the Lord had done, some great deliverance that showed that
the nations were silly to rebel against God. This event could have been the
destruction of the Assyrian army, or it could have been some great victory God
gave to David after he became king of the entire nation. But Israel was always
to have been reviewing and remembering God's deliverance as He led them out of
Egypt. The writer seems to be referring to God's power in making a way through
the Red Sea. The nation should remember that God can do the impossible to
rescue His people.
Vs. 8-12 All
nations are called upon to bless God because of His grace and deliverance.
Coming to God, God would extend to them the same salvation. Yet, as you read
this, it was a wild ride until God delivered them. They had to hang on, hoping
in the Lord and waiting for Him.
V. 9 Do you
notice how often David talks about God setting our feet upon a rock and giving
us firm footing. In the wilderness, on the side of hills and mountains, broken
rock and dirt made for treacherous footing. David must have seen instability in
walking as a symbol of this time of his life.
Vs. 13-15
Again, this sounds like David. His desire was to live in God's presence; and
once he became king, his only desire was to bring the ark to Jerusalem, to set
it in the tabernacle and to fulfill all that he had spoken to God in those
years of living on the run.
Vs. 16-20 Since
this is written in the first person, telling personally of what God did for
him, I really think this is David. Here again is the testimony to all of God's
deliverance and David's claim of knowing the steadfast love of the Lord.
Proverbs 23:25-28
Vs. 25-26 These
are God's words to heed your "godly" parents. They don't have it all
wrong.
Vs. 27-28 This
is very similar to what Solomon wrote at the beginning of Proverbs. The pit and the well might have some double meanings, but the main idea is getting
caught and being unable to save yourself.
You wouldn't
get any of this advice from evening TV or our movies, but we still know this
reality in our hearts. Even in the secular world, politicians and leaders who
are caught with a prostitute or caught in adultery are not looked upon
graciously. Written in our hearts is still the manufacturer's design that one
man should love one woman in marriage forever.
If you’re reading along
and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/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
complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find
it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
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.
If you would like
documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to
print.
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