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 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 Ephesians 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.
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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