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 21
This is a big day. We will see the defeat of the Assyrians, which is a
major event in Isaiah. Also, we will finish Galatians. This might be a good day
to get some fall air and something hot with pumpkin spice from your favorite
coffee establishment.
Isaiah 37-38
It is too bad that chapters 36-39 are broken up like this. Chapters
36-37 show the faith of the leaders as they trust God against the Assyrians. In
chapter 37 God destroys the Assyrian army. Chapters 38-39 show why and how
Hezekiah stumbles in faith as he faces death and then basks in the glory of
God's victory. In chapter 39 Hezekiah basically betrays the future generations
of the people, and God promises that the nation will go into exile in Babylon.
Isaiah 37
There are a lot of things for the Spirit to point out to us here. What
impresses me is that all of what God said regarding this event was foretold
years earlier. We have been listening to Isaiah prophesy and prepare the people
for this event for over 50 years. Some people listened. Hezekiah listened and
the Word of God bore fruit in him as he led the people through this. His faith was
genuine and deep.
Vs. 1-4 Hezekiah led the people in humility and in seeking God. It is
interesting that Isaiah wasn't there and had to be found.
Vs. 5-7 Notice how short God's answer through Isaiah is. God knew the
situation wasn't over.
Vs. 8-13 Lachish was where the camp of the Assyrians was located. It
was their base of operations and was about 25 miles south, southwest of
Jerusalem. Today 25 miles is nothing. If you were driving 60 mph that would
only be 25 minutes. But back then that distance was hours. A fast jog is about
8 mph and I'm sure they didn't do that with their foot soldiers, so it probably
took this army 4-6 hours. I'm sure this was a frustration for the Rabshakeh and
it seems like his anger and arrogance got the better of him. The moral of this
story is to be careful what you say to God.
V. 9 This king of Cush is really the king of Egypt. The Egyptians were
slowly taken over by their relatives from the south of them.
V. 10 This is the Rabshakeh's pride speaking. He had probably expected
to immediately begin a siege of Jerusalem. Now with this delay, Rabshakeh gave
free expression to his pride and frustration. Notice that now he is accusing
Israel's God of deception.
Vs. 14-20 What a prayer. I can almost visualize Hezekiah coming in and
spreading this letter out before the Lord.
Vs. 21-35 This is God's response to Hezekiah. Notice that this time
Hezekiah didn't have to send word to Isaiah. God spoke to Isaiah and Isaiah
sent this message to Hezekiah. Notice too, that it is longer than the last
response.
V. 21 Notice why God makes this response. I guess He's trying to teach
us something, although it is a very deep lesson if you think about it.
V. 22 Here and in v. 35, notice what God is defending.
V. 26 In his ranting, Rabshakeh said God had sent him. He was so
"right" he should have listened to his own words and been humbled.
Now it's too late.
V. 29 Hooks were used by the Assyrians to lead people away into
captivity.
Vs. 30-32 God is promising Hezekiah that life in Jerusalem will
resemble a time of peace and would slowly get back to normal. Since they would
be eating what the land naturally provided, God would provide for them. Also, I
think God had a surprise in store for them.
Vs. 33-35 Amen. For all of their arrogance, the Assyrians wouldn't be
allowed to even spit against the wall of Jerusalem.
Vs. 36-38 Notice this happened in one night. By now, you should know
"who" the angel of the Lord
is. We have seen the result of having a large army defeated by both Asa and
Jehoshaphat. The gold, food, materials, and animals they found in those camps
fed and provided for the people for a long time. I'm sure the Assyrians left a
lot at Lachish, and Jerusalem was well supplied for the months ahead.
V. 38 According to history, this actually happened 20 years later.
Assyria was still a world power but very much toned down. In about 50 years the
Assyrians would lead King Manasseh by hooks to a prison in Babylon. But like
God's humbling of Egypt years before, they never reestablished their might; and
more importantly, they were never a real threat again to Judah and Jerusalem.
Isaiah 38
We have read this before in 2 Kings 20 (on July 2). God is very
gracious. I think this shook Hezekiah's life and bent his faith a little. We'll
see this more tomorrow. What we read here and tomorrow is a warning for us.
Vs. 1-3 Some suggest because of v. 6 that this happened before God
humbled Assyria. But Assyria was still a world power. God didn't create a
vacuum in world politics. Yet, Judah wouldn't have to worry about revenge or
having any more problems with Assyria. So then, in my opinion, this happened
chronologically after the events in chapters 36-37.
Vs. 4-8 I'm still amazed that God made the earth go backwards and it
was "no sweat" for Him.
Vs. 9-20 So Hezekiah wrote a song of praise to God. I guess we can't
blame Hezekiah for thinking that life is only worth living if it is on earth,
but maturity in Christ says we need to have the same outlook as Paul did when
he said, for to me to live is Christ, and
to die is gain.
V. 17 Notice Hezekiah's recognition of his bitterness for himself,
contrasted with the Lord's mercy.
Vs. 19-20 This is Hezekiah's promise to praise God for His deliverance.
V. 21 I don't know if this procedure is widely recognized in medical
circles.
V. 22 Remember that over 20 years earlier when Isaiah told Hezekiah's
father, Ahaz, to ask for a sign he wouldn't. The sign given then was Immanuel.
Hezekiah trusted God and asked for a sign.
We'll leave Hezekiah in his health and glory. Tomorrow we'll see that
something happened to him in all of this that affected his faith for the worse.
Galatians 6
Vs. 1-5 Is this what Paul did with Peter? Restore is the same word for "equip" in Ephesians 4:12,
to set in order, to make useful, to mend.
So, what is happening in vs. 2 and 5? In one we are to bear one another's burdens, and in the
other we each bear our own burdens.
It seems to me that v. 2 is helping one another in times of grave weakness,
falling and temptation. This is what happens to a fallen brother or sister, and
maybe what happened to Peter and Barnabas. Verse 5 is the reality of our walk
with Christ. We need to mature to the place where we maintain our own walk in
following Christ in the reality of the life God has given us.
Vs. 6-10 This is generosity, beginning first where we find spiritual
equipping and strengthening: the local church and pastor. Verses 9 and 10
express our faith that God will reward the giving of our lives and resources
for others.
Vs. 11-18 Just like the opening of Galatians dealt with the problem,
Paul ended here with a final jab. I think what started this again was the
mention of his signature. It was proof of the authenticity of the letter. I'm
also willing to bet that it had to do with Paul's sight, and that this might
have been his "thorn in the flesh." It might have come from one of
Paul's beatings. Paul paid the price to keep the gospel free and authentic for
them. These Jewish teachers didn't bear fruit and were not willing to face
persecution in order to serve churches like Philippi.
V. 17 really brings Paul's credentials into focus. They were borne on
his body, as our Lord's were borne on His body. Literally, Paul was branded,
showing who owned him. He had the marks of a disciple in the harvest, because
he was willing to suffer with Christ to bring and protect the good news of the
gospel.
The mark of a church is the love of Jesus Christ. How do you know if
they have that love? They are in the harvest, reaching the lost, making
disciples, loving one another. The Galatians and the Corinthians were missing
it. Many churches miss this. In our work in the harvest we need to keep an eye
on our church, so that we keep our hearts and our eye clear to follow Christ. Mixing
our relationship to Jesus and our mission for Him with traditions becomes
dangerous. We easily come under the bondage of doing things the same way. When we
become a socially active, politically complaining church, we become so much
like the world that you can't tell us apart. In both cases we are no longer
living in the daily grace of Christ and we become ineffective. We need to guard
the truth and keep moving forward, motivated by the love of our Savior, reaching
the lost and making disciples, who make disciples.
Psalm 65
For whatever reason, when I read this psalm, I thought of the
celebration of the grace of God from Romans 8, If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own
Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give
us all things? What amazing hope we have. We are eternally secure and
blessed by the God of our salvation. Is it works or duty to tell about Him? It
is a privilege we don't deserve.
Vs. 1-4 Notice David's mention of Zion, the courts of the house or
temple and his desire to dwell there. At this point David only had a tent set
up, but he was collecting huge amounts of everything for the building of the
future temple.
Vs. 5-8 Notice that God is not only sovereign over all creation, but
also over all nations. That points to the plan of redemption. He will bring
salvation to all.
Vs. 9-13 God not only blesses the earth, but as a result of that
blessing, all mankind is cared for.
Proverbs 23:24
God says it, so it must be true.
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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