If you don't
have a One Year Bible or prefer something online, this link will take you to
the day's reading, http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/. This
site allows you to select from several languages and several English
translations.
SEPTEMBER 20
Isaiah 33:13-36:22
Today we have read more than half of Isaiah. Not only that, we are
coming to the close of the first half of the book. These first 39 chapters deal
with the coming attack by Assyria and how God would protect Zion. The Assyrians
will be defeated tomorrow. The second part of Isaiah has to do with the coming
of the Babylonians. They will eventually destroy Jerusalem and the temple.
Through Isaiah, the Lord will be talking about this judgment of Israel. He will
tell of the reasons for the judgment and how He will restore His people. That
restoration will not only be at the end of the Babylonian exile, but Isaiah
will look ahead to the final restoration when the Lord brings Israel back to
Zion in the millennial, and eternal, kingdom of the Messiah.
Isaiah 33:13-24
V. 13 So, the day the people have been fearing for years is coming.
Some have trusted the Lord; some have trusted political strategy, and some have
been burning incense secretly and praying to a piece of wood coated with gold
or silver.
V. 14 Guess which group this is? Notice the use of who. Who will be answered
in the next verses.
Vs. 15-24 This is the blessing and these are the promises for those who
fear and trust the Lord, now and in the future in Zion.
V. 23 This is an image of a wrecked ship, a picture of the Assyrian
army after God takes care of them.
V. 24 These are the inhabitants of Jerusalem, looking to the near
deliverance and to the future and final deliverance.
Isaiah 34
This is apocalyptic imagery regarding the final battle and flows into
an eternal punishment. It is also a warning to the surrounding nations that
might rejoice over the hardship of God's people and the destruction of
Jerusalem.
Vs. 1-4 Notice how this points to the end times.
Vs. 5-17 So why this curse against Edom? I believe it is a future
warning, both for Edom in the not-so-distant future and for all the nations
present at the time of the Tribulation.
Zion would not be overthrown now, but it would in about 100 years. This
was fair warning to Edom. After Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city and the
temple, after the smoke cleared, the Edomites went up on the temple mount and
held a drunken celebration. There was more, but this was the main stroke. The
book of Obadiah (only 21 verses) and a chapter of Jeremiah are devoted to this
future judgment of Edom. When you get to the book of Malachi, these actions by
Edom are the explanation of Jacob I
loved, but Esau I hated. God put both nations into exile because of their
sins. Edom's sin was what they did in God's city. Jacob was loved, in that
Israel returned and Jerusalem was restored. Esau was hated, in that the
Edomites never returned and they ceased to be a people. Now imagine, those
actions and judgments are still over 100 years away. You can't say they didn't
see it coming. Regardless of how God judges His own, He still loves His people
and His city and they will become a stumbling block for all nations who mistreat
them.
Anyone who has
ever visited Petra has seen that what God foretold has come to be. If Edom says, "We are shattered
but we will rebuild the ruins," the LORD of hosts says, "They may
build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and
‘the people with whom the LORD is angry forever’" (Malachi
1:4).
Vs. 16-17 are the restoration of Zion. You'll see this if you look at
the end of Obadiah, v. 21.
Isaiah 35
This is a chapter of millennial blessing as God restores His people and
Zion.
Vs. 1-2 This is the declaration of hope.
Vs. 3-4 Based on the hope that is promised, the people should be
strengthened and be without fear. Notice how similar this is to Hebrews 12:12.
Vs. 5-7 I guess
this is the blessing of health to the people and to the land. Notice how vs.
5-6 sound like Jesus' ministry as the Messiah. And
he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed,
and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to
them" (Luke 7:22).
Vs. 8-10 The way of return to the Lord will be holy and safe, and the
saints will be singing.
This ends the prophetic section of how God prepared the people and the
city for the attack from Assyria.
Isaiah 36
This is the third time this event is mentioned. It must have been very
important.
Vs. 1-3 Back in Isaiah 22:15-25, God spoke about both Shebna and
Eliakim. One was a practical, political animal and the other was a man of God.
The heart of Shebna is described in Isaiah 33:14. Eliakim is described in
Isaiah 33:15-24.
Vs. 4-10 When I read these words of the Rabshakeh (officer), I can hear
in the background Satan shaking Eve's confidence and trust in God. This is why
we always need to stay in the Word and allow God and His love in Christ to be
enough for us. Remember that last line of the Lord's Prayer, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver
us from evil (NIV - the evil one). Since we never hear what this guy's name
was, maybe he was inspired by Satan.
Vs. 8-9 Notice his boasting of the Assyrian army. God would strike him
in this area of his pride.
Vs. 11-12 It is interesting that this guy spoke Hebrew. It is also
interesting that he is offering the people a culinary choice between this and
what he offers in vs. 16-17.
Vs. 13-20 The attack on Hezekiah and God is very strong and must have
been emotionally overwhelming.
Vs. 21-22 It is amazing that the people obeyed Hezekiah. God was right.
For thus said the Lord GOD, the
Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in
quietness and in trust shall be your strength" (Is.
30:15).
As disciples we
will eventually be called on to hear this kind of strong antagonism and
arrogance. Our strength is not in having a good answer; it is in the Lord and
His Word. These things I have spoken to
you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy
may be full (John 15:11).
Galatians 5:13-26
In Paul's letters he frequently had to address two extremes. We find
some mention of both of these extremes in Galatians. We've already seen
Christians becoming enslaved to religious works to gain discipline, guidance,
approval, love and favor from God. The other extreme was to misuse their
freedom in Christ. We saw this very clearly in 1 Corinthians. The Jewish teachers
were trying to correct this "misuse" of grace by moving people back
to the law. The false argument against grace was that if God's love was totally
unconditional, you could do whatever you liked and still be forgiven. And
apparently then, as today, some of the Galatians allowed their conduct to slip,
using grace and forgiveness as a "get out of jail free" card. The
real response to the freedom of grace and love is the freedom to be grateful
and lovingly obedient in following the Spirit.
Vs. 13-15 The key
"directive" here is to love. Knowing the love of Christ, our primary
response is to love God and our neighbor and use that love in following the Great
Commission. In dealing with some who were trying to bring the law into the
rebuilding of the church at Ephesus, Paul told Timothy in 1
Timothy 1:5 (RSV), "…whereas (in
contrast to them) the aim of our charge is love
that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith."
Vs. 16-26 The phrase, walk by the
Spirit, is the key to life as a Christian. We can understand following the
impulses of the flesh, but what are the impulses of the Spirit? Walking by the
Spirit is what we don't sense. It is not the same as walking by the thoughts of
your head, just like following sinful desires isn't necessarily following your
head. The sense of impulse and leading is important. We are pros at the one and
very "kindergarten" regarding sensing or following the Spirit.
Freedom in grace means following Christ and being able to respond to the Spirit
in every situation. If we are exposing ourselves to the Word to learn the mind
and heart of God, we have the maturity to ask Him to direct us and show us what
He is doing. We don't have to live by following religious rules. Since Christ
is in us, we follow Him as He leads. Jesus followed the Spirit as He led Him
every day. Jesus didn't live guided by works or a religious routine. That isn't
how we should walk in Christ either. We are free to know Him, surrender our
hearts to seek Him and follow as the Spirit leads.
Psalm 64
Reading this I was caught by the opening requests to God: Hear my voice, preserve my life, and hide me. I guess that sums up what I
need most days.
Vs. 1-6 This is a fairly long complaint at the beginning of this psalm.
Apparently David was moved by the relentlessness of these people, thinking that
God would not see.
Vs. 7-8 I was reminded of what Paul told the Romans in 12:19-21. Let
God take care of it.
Vs. 9-10 David was already saying this before God had delivered him. He
knew that God would judge in His time. For us, as disciples, we need to wait,
but still be doing what Paul suggested in those verses in Romans.
Proverbs 23:23
It is interesting that we expect this stuff to just come to us as a
consolation prize or byproduct of life. God is saying to make it our aim, and
everything else becomes the consolation prize.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are 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, that is, 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 and important discipleship manual we have and it is the 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, or whom we are to be following. 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, as disciples, 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, 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 (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
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. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that
will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are
reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a
supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we
will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making
disciples, who make disciples. Being in
the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the
essential essence of being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full
presentation of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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