SEPTEMBER 24
Isaiah
43:14-45:10
Reading these
portions of Isaiah, we can see why everyone who has loved God has loved these
verses. There is something that wells up in you spiritually by reading what God
confirms about Himself. So imagine being a Jewish leader who was familiar with
this section of Isaiah and being very aware that Israel was the nation chosen
by God to take the Word to the nations. And then you hear a man named Jesus say
this, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. (John
8:58) As you read today look for I am,
and you will understand why the Jews were angry when Jesus said that. Not
everyone was angry. Some people understood, and love for God began to well up
in their hearts.
Isaiah 43:14-28
Vs. 14-21 Even as God speaks to the people of
Judah who will be going into exile, and to the generation in exile, note how
God affirms His love for them. His names reflect His care and His sovereign
control. Notice the assurance in vs. 18-19. With a history like Israel’s, they
could easily sink into despair because of their failure. God said He was doing
something new. Even the wild and barren wilderness would answer God’s call and
provide a way, and water, for God’s chosen people.
Vs. 22-24 In contrast to God’s promises and
affirmations going back to Adam and Eve, this people disregarded God. Even
though there were laws to follow after Moses, God didn't burden them in that
they never really honored God; but they burdened Him by their rebellion and
sins.
Vs. 25-28 Isn't v. 25 great? God will forgive
their sins in spite of their sins. God made a promise to Adam and Eve and to
Abraham. And before the foundation of the world, He had already ordained a Savior.
That is why God can state v. 25 like this. That's not just mercy, that's grace.
Isaiah 44
Vs. 1-8 This is an amazing declaration of
God's love for His people. Much of this will not happen until Christ returns.
Take note of what God says here. There are some great verses, and notice again
the purpose of prophecy.
V. 3 This mention of pouring out the Spirit
would eventually make sense on the day of Pentecost as proof of the salvation
offered in Christ. In Romans 5:5 Paul says that the love of God has been poured
into our hearts by the Spirit. I'll bet Paul was thinking of a verse like this.
Vs. 9-20 In contrast to God and the hope
presented in vs. 1-8, this is the brilliance of making idols. In our case, it
would be finding security and hope in anything but God. It would be finding
fulfillment in any life other than following Christ in the harvest. Before the
Babylon exile, Israel and Judah were full of idols. When the Jews returned,
idolatry was never a big problem. But they did develop other problems. Sin
without God's cure and help remains sin and finds something other than God to
occupy it.
Vs. 21-28 This is an amazing expression of
God's love.
Vs. 21-22 These two verses comprise the
beginning and the future fulfilling of Israel's purpose. God made them, and in
essence, has redeemed them. Based on all of the promises and God's
faithfulness, their future is absolutely secure.
V. 23 Since God owns the future, they could
have sung this back then. It will be sung in the future as Jesus returns to
Jerusalem.
Vs. 24-28 Just follow the word who. And, looking at v. 24, can you
sense the impact of Jesus saying “I Am?”
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. The miracle of this
will slowly begin to unfold the day that Nebuchadnezzar takes the first Jews
captive. That begins the book of Daniel. The chapters in Daniel make great
kids’ stories, but as we go through Daniel it will amaze you to see what God is
doing. It is amazing love.
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 the Mede was a great king and loved and feared
Daniel. Darius gave the command that the Jews be protected and permitted to
worship their God only. When Cyrus heard of what happened in Babylon (Daniel
6), 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. What you
see in Nebuchadnezzar and in Darius might give you hope that those men were
saved. Who knows about Cyrus?
Vs. 5-8 Who is a God like this? There is no
other God. Notice that God doesn’t just give light. He forms it. Edison made
the light bulb; God made light.
Vs. 9-10 Faith doesn't strive with God; only
unbelief contends with God.
It is hard to read all of this and not be
affected by the love and greatness of the Lord. We are so undeserving, yet we
should be so grateful that He has reached out to save us.
Ephesians
3
If this reading in Isaiah wasn’t enough to
inspire you, this might do the trick.
V. 1 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 judge for yourself.
Vs. 2-13 These verses make up one wonderful
sentence. As you read this and glean what you can, it is good to think of what
the mystery is (vs. 4-6). 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 Psalms say the nations will worship God. 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. According to God’s purpose in the OT, if only Israel could be a witness to
God in the world, then 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.
After the church does its work in the harvest, then God will put believing Israel
in center stage and bring His purpose of redemption to completion.
Vs. 7-8 This was Paul's understanding of his life in God's
plan. In our own place in the harvest, reaching out to those whom God has put
around us, we have the same mission and calling.
V. 10 Note again the rulers in the heavenly places. These rulers
and authorities are mentioned again in Eph. 6:12 as the evil spiritual
forces we wrestle with.
Vs. 14-19 In light of what Paul has just said regarding the
unfolding grace and revelation of God's plan of redemption, he has to thank God
and pray for these people.
Vs. 16-19 Think through this prayer. This is what God wants
for each of us.
V. 16 This strengthening comes as a result of internalizing
the riches of God's glory and it is a requirement for v. 17 to be possible. When
you look at the glory of what God has done in creation, there should not only
be a sense of awe, but also a sense that this wise God is watching over us and
in control of all things. This was God's argument to Job. The glory that Paul
is pointing to here is particularly in how God has engineered redemption since
before the foundation of the world, shrouding it in mystery and suddenly
revealing it fully in Christ. This is something it might take us a lifetime to
internalize and appreciate, but there are pieces of it, right now, that should
cause awe, gratitude and trust to rise up in us. This is designed to give us an
unwavering hope so that, as v. 17 says, Christ can continually dwell in your hearts through faith. Fear
drives faith from our hearts and keeps us from abiding in Christ.
V. 17 Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith is
dependent on us standing strong in the Spirit. This abiding in Christ goes
beyond just being a believer. The Ephesians were already believers. This
process of being strong in the Spirit so as to abide in Christ takes place in
the harvest and gives us a sense of joy, a sense of mission and sense of
destiny. It is being a disciple in the harvest in every sense of what Jesus
taught His disciples to be.
Vs. 18-19 Laura's comment here was that one knowledge is
traded for another. Knowing Christ is greater than all knowledge. Knowing
Christ is greatest and it is the relationship of being saved, abiding in His
world and following Him. Following Christ in the harvest on this dying planet
begins and ends with knowing 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. The more we follow in His Word and in the harvest, the
better we know our Lord and abide in Him.
Vs. 20-21 This is the benediction to the people and the
close of this very amazing prayer. Notice that what God can do is tied to the
harvest by His glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations.
That's where the power is. By this my
Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
So what is the love of Christ? It is not just some feeling.
God expressed His love in a lot of planning and doing. It is messy. It involved
time and birth and sweat and tears and conflict and blood, lots of blood.
Without all of God’s planning and work, we have no love and would not know
love. With all of what God has done, we are alive in the love of Christ and
have a model to follow and a commission to fulfill.
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.
Vs. 1-3 David had seen this over many long
years. This is an encouragement to those looking to God. It reminds me of Jesus
telling His disciples that they would have sorrow, but that their sorrow would
turn to joy.
Vs. 4-6 God leads the faithful to His own
habitation, but the rebellious get to live somewhere else.
Vs. 7-10 David is recounting God's provision
and love for Israel as He led them through the wilderness. Isn’t it interesting
that we just read in Isaiah about God leading his remnant through the
wilderness?
Vs. 11-14 The key here is that God gives the
Word. This sounds similar to things God is saying in Isaiah.
Vs. 15-18 Mountains are looked upon figuratively
as being proud. That's why in Isaiah it says that before the coming of the
Lord, the mountains will be leveled. There will be humility in His presence.
In this case,
the humble mount that God has chosen, Jerusalem, is full of His power and glory.
In fact, He would have a victory outside of Jerusalem and lead captives free. Therefore it says, "When he
ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." (Eph.
4:8)
Proverbs
24:1-2
So much for desiring to hang with the cool,
the celebrities, the rich and the beautiful.
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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