The Lord Will Restore the Nation Part One (Isaiah 26:1-11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/31/2013 10:46 AM

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  The Lord Will Restore the Nation PT-1

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Isaiah 26:1-11

            Message of the verses:  As we look back to the beginning of the chapter from “Be Comforted” which is Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on the book of Isaiah we say that he wrote the following:  “Isaiah makes three declarations that will comfort God’s chosen people in that awesome day of judgment.”  He goes on to say that the declarations that Isaiah makes will be a help to God’s people throughout the history of God’s people, including in the Church Age.  We will begin to look at the third declaration in today’s SD.

            The Strong City:  “1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; He sets up walls and ramparts for security. 2 “Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter, The one that remains faithful. 3 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. 4 “Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.  5 "For He has brought low those who dwell on high, the unassailable city; He lays it low, He lays it low to the ground, He casts it to the dust.’”

            I want to first of all quote verse three from the KJV, as it is one of my favorite verses from Isaiah: “3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”  The verse says that in order to have perfect peace we need to keep our mind on the Lord, but how did we get peace in the first place?  Dr. Wiersbe writes:  “Israel is singing once more (24:14-16; 25:1ff), and this time the emphasis is on righteousness and peace.  There can be no true peace apart from righteousness (32:17), and there can be no righteousness apart from God’s salvation in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-31).  It is at Calvary that ‘righteousness and peace have kissed each other’ (Ps. 85:10).  When Jesus Christ reigns on earth, the promise of 72:7 will be fulfilled:  ‘In His days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more’ (NKJV).  Jesus Christ is our true Melchizedek—King of Righteousness and King of Peace (Heb. 7:1-3).”

            We have seen the phrase “In that day” many times in this section and it refers to  “The Day of the Lord,” and also the blessings that will follow.  Dr. Wiersbe writes “In these two chapters (26-27), the prophet encourages God’s suffering people by describing in seven pictures the kingdom blessings that await them in the future.” 

            In verses 1-6 Isaiah speaks of the strong city, Jerusalem, that is the future of that city for we know that Samaria fell to the Assyrians, and the Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians, and in the future “tribulation” period Jerusalem will be a cup of trembling as described by Zachariah, but then when the Lord Jesus returns as described in Revelations chapter nineteen He will redo not only the earth, but Jerusalem too, and then after the 1000 year of His reign He will “un-create” the earth as Peter describes in the third chapter of second Peter and then a new Jerusalem will come down as described in Revelations 21:1 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.”

            That city will only be for those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, and they will live with Him for eternity in that city.  In that city all will find true peace, and “peace is not just an absence of war for it includes blessings such as wholeness health, quietness of soul, preservation, and completeness.”  I am looking forward to that day, for in that day and in that place I will not have to fight the battle of living a righteous life, for there will be no more sin there.

            The level path (Isaiah 26:7-11):  “7 The way of the righteous is smooth; O Upright One, make the path of the righteous level. 8 Indeed, while following the way of Your judgments, O LORD, We have waited for You eagerly; Your name, even Your memory, is the desire of our souls. 9 At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For when the earth experiences Your judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. 10 Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is lifted up yet they do not see it. They see Your zeal for the people and are put to shame; Indeed, fire will devour Your enemies.”

            Isaiah seems to be talking about a “highway” which is one of the words and themes that we have seen in this book before, and I suppose that we will see it again.  We know that it has been a pretty rough road for the Jewish people, and most of it is because of their own sinfulness, but rough it has been for them, and in the future it will be smooth.  As I was reading through these verses verse ten seemed to kind of jump out at me and my first thoughts about it were that there are many people in this world that are receiving favor from the Lord, but they do not realize that the favor that they are getting is from the Lord.  I suppose that another way of explaining this is that they are receiving “common grace,” things like food to eat, air to breathe, a place to live, things like that, but they just don’t want to give credit to the Lord for providing these things for them.  We have to remember that this earth is the Lords and all the things in it belong to the Lord, as we are just stewards of what He has given to us.  Dr. Wiersbe concludes his remarks on this section by writing:  “According to Isaiah 26:9-11, God wants the world to learn righteousness.  He sends his judgments, but the people still will not repent (Rev. 9:20-21; 16:9).  He shows them His grace in a thousand ways, but they continue to do evil.  His hand is at work, but they will not see it.  The prophet prays that God will reveal Himself through His people as He works on their behalf.  The reviving and restoring of Israel should help to convince a lost world that God is not dead and that He keeps His promises.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I think about the many “common graces” that the Lord has given to me I can’t help but think that I need to do a better job in thanking God for them.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Thank God for the common graces that He has given to me.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible Question:  “Mark.”

Today’s Bible Question:  “From which son of Noah did the Jewish people come from?”

Answer in our next SD.

8/31/2013 11:47 AM

  

The Lord Will Preserve His People (Isaiah 25:1-12)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/30/2013 12:11 PM

My Worship Time                                                        Focus:  The Lord Will Preserve His People

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Isaiah 25:1-12

            Message of the verses:  Dr. Wiersbe points out that “this chapter is a song of praise to the Lord from the believing remnant that He preserved during ‘the Day of the Lord.’  In this song, three striking images stand out.”

            The Ruined City (Isaiah 25:1-3):  “1 O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. 2 For You have made a city into a heap, A fortified city into a ruin; A palace of strangers is a city no more, It will never be rebuilt. 3 Therefore a strong people will glorify You; Cities of ruthless nations will revere You.”

            Isaiah did not exactly say what city he was writing about in verse two, but there are two options that can be used to explain which city.  It could be Babylon for we have mentioned before that there are two chapters in the book of Revelations, 17-18 that speak of the destruction of Babylon and these chapters speak of the two Babylonians that the Bible talks about.  One it the “religious Babylon,” while the other it the corrupt type of government that has been seen since long ago in human history.  The other possibility could be that Isaiah is speaking about all cities that God will destroy during the tribulation period which culminates the Day of the Lord.

            The Refuge (Isaiah 25:4-5):  “4  For You have been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall. 5  Like heat in drought, You subdue the uproar of aliens; Like heat by the shadow of a cloud, the song of the ruthless is silenced.”

            “4 They’ll see that you take care of the poor, that you take care of poor people in trouble, Provide a warm, dry place in bad weather, provide a cool place when it’s hot. Brutal oppressors are like a winter blizzard 5 and vicious foreigners like high noon in the desert. But you, shelter from the storm and shade from the sun, shut the mouths of the big-mouthed bullies (Message).”

            What we see here is that God will take care of His own people during this difficult time which is called the Day of the Lord.  He will protect them from the buffeting of a storm and He will protect them from a burning sun.  We can see things like this happening in the book of Revelations chapters 6-19 where the great plagues are described there during the last seven years of history as we know it come to an end. 

            This is not the first time that God has cared for His people as described from the pages of Scripture for He cared for Noah when He sent the flood upon the earth, He cared for Israel as He brought her out of the land of Egypt while destroying Egypt with the great plagues He sent upon Egypt.  He cared for Rahab and her family when God destroyed everyone else during the destruction of Jericho.  We mentioned in an earlier SD about the eleventh chapter of Hebrews which has been called “God’s Hall of Faith.”  The first part of it speaks of those God protected from death, but also showed their faith working, and then the writer speaks of those who died for their faith in the later portion of the chapter.  Those who died for their faith throughout history have been ushered into the very presence of God.

            The Feast (Isaiah 35:6-12):  “  6 The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine. 7 And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations. 8  He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.

    “9 And it will be said in that day, "Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation." 10 For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, And Moab will be trodden down in his place As straw is trodden down in the water of a manure pile. 11 And he will spread out his hands in the middle of it As a swimmer spreads out his hands to swim, But the Lord will lay low his pride together with the trickery of his hands. 12 The unassailable fortifications of your walls He will bring down, Lay low and cast to the ground, even to the dust.”

            This section pictures the great feast that will happen during the first part of the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ upon the earth.  What a wonderful time that will be as there will be no more death for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, and there will be no more tears shed.  Dr. Wiersbe says “the funeral will be turned into a wedding!”  If verse eight looks familiar to you it quoted in 1 Cor. 15:54 and also in Rev. 7:17 and 21:4.”

            In verse seven we see a veil mentioned a veil which is stretched over all nations.  One possible meaning to this is spoken of in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians where he writes about a veil that covers the eyes of the Israelites, similar to the veil that Moses had to where when he came from talking to the Lord, as there was part of the Lord’s glory seen in the face of Moses.  Isaiah may be talking about this veil being lifted as when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to planet earth and they will look upon Him who they have pierced and then realize that He is indeed their Messiah.  His second coming is described in Revelations chapter nineteen and Zechariah speaks of them looking upon Him who they have pierced.

            Now why is Moab mentioned when there are many other countries who have tried to destroy Israel?  Dr. Wiersbe writes “Isaiah probably selected Moab as an example of how God will humble all of Israel’s enemies.  The imagery here is quite graphic:  The Moabites are compared to straw trampled so deeply into manure that the people have to swim through the manure to get out!  (See the NIV).  While Jews are enjoying a feast of good things, the Moabites are trying to escape from the excrement of the animals the Jews are devouring!  Moab was always know for its pride (16:6ff), but God will bring them low along with all the other nations that exalt themselves, exploit others, and refuse to submit to the Lord.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I see the Middle East heated up again with trouble in Egypt and Syria and also Iran I can take comfort that the Lord is in control of all of what is going on there and I believe that He is getting the nations aligned there for the showdown that will soon take place that will led the world into the tribulation period that we have been studying about in this section of Isaiah.  I have never been a date setter as to when the Lord will return for His Bride, but the world has not seen things like what is happening around the world since time began, and many of those things are like what an author wrote about before WWII, “The Winds of War.”

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord in the difficult time of history to work out His perfect plan.

Memory verses for the week:  I am going over the 46^th Psalm, but will not write it out here.

Answer to our last Bible Question (08-28-13):  “Jairus” (Luke 8:41).

Today’s Bible Question:  “Which Gospel is referred to as the Gospel of Power?”

Answer in our next SD.

8/30/2013 1:02 PM

 

More from Isaiah Chapter 24 (Isaiah 24:1-23)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/29/2013 10:29 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  More from Isa. 24.

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Isaiah 24:1-23

            Message of the verses:  I promised to quote from the John MacArthur Study Bible on Isaiah 24, and in many cases in the OT there is not a note from this study Bible on each verse, but in this case there is a note from almost each verse, to which I will quote so that we all can better understand this prophetic chapter in Isaiah’s book.  The version of this Study Bible is the NASB-95.

            “24:1-27:3 These four chapters give praise to God for His future victory over all enemies and the final deliverance of Israel in the Day of the Lord.  The judgments in this chapter (24) look forward to the tribulation as described in Rev. 6ff.

“1 Behold, the LORD lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface and scatters its inhabitants.”  “Waste…distorts…scatters.  The prophet generalized and broadened the destruction about which he had written more specifically in chapters 13-23.  The Lord is to deal with the whole earth more severely than He did at the tower of Babel or through the Noahic Flood.”

“2 And the people will be like the priest, the servant like his master, the maid like her mistress, the buyer like the seller, the lender like the borrower, the creditor like the debtor.”  “People… priest…creditor…debtor.  Neither rank, wealth, nor power were able to deliver from God’s judgment.”

“3 The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for the LORD has spoken this word.”  The Lord has spoken.  Isaiah used this expression or a comparable one 9 other times to emphasize the certainty of his predictions (1:20; 21:17; 22:25; 37:22; 38:15; 40:5; and 58:14).”

“4 The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away.”  “Exalted of the people.  The prophet again called attention to pride as the reason for God’s judgment (cf. 23:9).”

“5 The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant.”  Everlasting covenant:  Likely, this referred to the Abrahamic Covenant, frequently referred to as ‘everlasting’ (CF. Gen. 17:7, 13, 19; 1Ch. 16:15, 17; Pss. 105:8, 10; 111:5, 9), which contained devotion to God’s moral law and salvation by faith in Him.”

“6 Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.”  Few men are left:  This Gentile remnant differed from that of Israel.  Presumably they will join in support of Israel when the Messiah returns.”

“7 The new wine mourns, The vine decays, All the merry-hearted sigh. 8 The gaiety of tambourines ceases, The noise of revelers stops, The gaiety of the harp ceases. 9 They do not drink wine with song; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.”  “24:7-9 merry-hearted sigh.  The future Day of Judgment will terminate all merriment derived from natural sources.  Cf. Rev. 18:22).”

“10 The city of chaos is broken down; Every house is shut up so that none may enter.”  24:10 shaking of an olive tree.  The same figure spoke of leanness in the judgment against Ephraim in 17:6.”

“14 They raise their voices, they shout for joy; They cry out from the west concerning the majesty of the LORD.”  “24:14 raise their voices…shout. The songs of the godly remnant (cf. v. 6), celebrating God’s righteous judgment, replace the drunken music (cf. v. 9).”

“15 Therefore glorify the LORD in the east, The name of the LORD, the God of Israel, In the coastlands of the sea.”  “24:15 glorify the LORD.  This call summoned all people worldwide to attribute to the Lord what was due Him.”

“16 From the ends of the earth we hear songs, "Glory to the Righteous One," But I say, "Woe to me! Woe to me! Alas for me! The treacherous deal treacherously, And the treacherous deal very treacherously.’”  “24:16 Glory to the Righteous One.  This refers to God.  But I.  Isaiah could not yet join in the celebration of God’s glory because he pondered the grief and corruption in the world before that final celebration of God’s vicory.”

“17 Terror and pit and snare Confront you, O inhabitant of the earth. 18 Then it will be that he who flees the report of disaster will fall into the pit, And he who climbs out of the pit will be caught in the snare; For the windows above are opened, and the foundations of the earth shake.”  “14:17, 18 pit…snare.  The figure of an animal caught in a trap set by humans frequently symbolized the principle that life is a series of inescapable traps.”  “24:18 windows above.  In Noah’s day, God judged with a flood (Gen. 7:11).  He will judge again from heaven, but not with a flood.  Cf. Rev. 6:13, 14, *:13; 1k6:1-21).  Foundations of the earth.  Unparalleled earthquakes will mark the future visitation during and after the fulfillment of Daniel’s 70-week prophecy.

“20 The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard And it totters like a shack, For its transgression is heavy upon it, And it will fall, never to rise again.”  “24:20 drunkard…shack.  Two more comparisons picture the ultimate collapse of the presumably strong and dependable planet earth: a staggering drunkard and a flimsy lean –to shack.

“21 So it will happen in that day, That the LORD will punish the host of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on earth.”  “24:21 the host of heaven on high…kings.  In climactic phase of the Day of the Lord, He will strike against rebelling forces, both angelic (Eph. 6:12) and human.

“22 They will be gathered together Like prisoners in the dungeon, And will be confined in prison; And after many days they will be punished.”  “24:22 confined in prison.  The NT teaches more about the imprisonment of fallen angels before their final assignment to the lake of fire (2Pe. 2:4; Jude 6; Rev. 9:2, 3, 11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1-10).  It does the same regarding unbelieving humans (Lk. 16:19-31; Rev. 20:11-15).” 

“23 Then the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed, For the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, And His glory will be before His elders.”  “24:23 moon…abashed…sun ashamed.  In the eternal state after Christ’s millennial reign, the glory of God and of the Lamb will replace the sun and moon as sources of light (Rev. 21:23).  Reign…in Jerusalem.  In Rev. 11:15-17; 19:6, 16 (cf. Lk. 1:31-33), John confirmed this clear prophecy of Messiah’s future earthly reign in Jerusalem.”

8/29/2013 11:19 AM    

           

The Lord will Judge His Enemies PT-1 (Isaiah 24:1-23)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/28/2013 8:06 AM

My Worship Time                                                         Focus:  The Lord Will Judge His Enemies

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Isaiah 24:1-23

            Message of the verses:  “1 Behold, the LORD lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface and scatters its inhabitants. 2 And the people will be like the priest, the servant like his master, the maid like her mistress, the buyer like the seller, the lender like the borrower, the creditor like the debtor. 3 The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for the LORD has spoken this word. 4 The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away. 5 The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left. 7 The new wine mourns, The vine decays, All the merry-hearted sigh. 8 The gaiety of tambourines ceases, The noise of revelers stops, The gaiety of the harp ceases. 9 They do not drink wine with song; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. 10 The city of chaos is broken down; Every house is shut up so that none may enter. 11 There is an outcry in the streets concerning the wine; All joy turns to gloom. The gaiety of the earth is banished. 12 Desolation is left in the city And the gate is battered to ruins.

    “13 For thus it will be in the midst of the earth among the peoples, As the shaking of an olive tree, As the gleanings when the grape harvest is over. 14 They raise their voices, they shout for joy; They cry out from the west concerning the majesty of the LORD. 15 Therefore glorify the LORD in the east, The name of the LORD, the God of Israel, In the coastlands of the sea.

    “16 From the ends of the earth we hear songs, "Glory to the Righteous One," But I say, "Woe to me! Woe to me! Alas for me! The treacherous deal treacherously, And the treacherous deal very treacherously." 17 Terror and pit and snare Confront you, O inhabitant of the earth. 18 Then it will be that he who flees the report of disaster will fall into the pit, And he who climbs out of the pit will be caught in the snare; For the windows above are opened, and the foundations of the earth shake. 19 The earth is broken asunder, The earth is split through, The earth is shaken violently. 20 The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard And it totters like a shack, For its transgression is heavy upon it, And it will fall, never to rise again. 21 So it will happen in that day, That the LORD will punish the host of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on earth. 22 They will be gathered together Like prisoners in the dungeon, And will be confined in prison; And after many days they will be punished. 23 Then the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed, For the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, And His glory will be before His elders.”

            I have highlighted “the earth” in this chapter to show how Isaiah used the Hebrew word erets in this chapter.  I put the meaning of this word in yesterday’s SD, and Dr. Wiersbe reported that that word was used some sixteen times in this chapter of Isaiah.

            As I was thinking about this chapter yesterday a verse came into my mind from the book of Revelations which says in “Re 11:18  "And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.’”  There is another verse that went through my mind this morning that I think has to do with this chapter and that comes from the book of Romans: 8:20-22:  “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.”  All of God’s creation, the entire earth and all the planets have been suffering because of the curse of sin that is upon it and one day the Lord Jesus Christ will return to the earth and set up His kingdom, and even though there will be sin going on during that time it will be so much better than it is now.  At the end of those 1000 years the Lord will destroy all of the earth and planets that He made and will create a new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem, and then the curse of sin will finally be over with.  Satan has access now to heaven and I believe that is why the Lord will even destroy heaven and make a new one.  We see some of these things being spoken of in this chapter of Isaiah.

            If I understand my eschatology correctly Isaiah 24 is speaking of the times of the tribulation which will close the Day of the Lord as the Lord Jesus Christ will come to earth as seen in Revelations chapter nineteen and then will judge the sheep and the goats which are spoken of in Matthew chapter twenty-four.  This will be the most devastating time that has ever happened on planet earth and the Lord stated that if He did not return at this time then no one would be left alive.  He returns to the earth and judges those who have been left on the earth, casting the “goats” into hell along with Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophet, and sets the “sheep” on His right side to go into the 1000 year kingdom to repopulate the earth.  At the end of that 1000 year reign there will be a war as Satan will be let out of prison.  The war will be short as the Lord will end it and then put all those who were with Satan into hell forever.  Just a note on this, and that is that the earth will be perfect during the 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth, but sin will still take place which shows that sin is a heart problem and not an environmental problem.  

            I want to give a quote from Dr. Wiersbe at this time and then quote John MacArthur in the remaining part of this SD:  “Why does God punish the inhabitants of the world?  Because they have defiled the world by their sins.  When Adam sinned, God cursed the ground as a part of the punishment (Genesis 3:17-18; Rom. 8:20-22), and God warned the people of Israel that their sins polluted the Promised Land (Num. 35:33).  Today we see man’s greed polluting land, water, and atmosphere, as well as exploiting the earth of its God-given treasures.  Sin has consequences in nature as well as in human character and conscience.”  Just a note on this that I want to say and that is that in our country the environmentalists to me, have little interest in caring for the world, but more interest in making money.  Making pollution is wrong, and destroying the earth this way is wrong, but it is wrong because God says it is wrong, and that is the only reason that it is wrong.

            I think that it is best to quote John MacArthur in the next SD because of the already length of this one, and so I will plan on doing that in the next SD.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think because of the environmentalists in this country and what they stand for, which is wrong, it was hard for me to get a good perspective on the sin of doing harm to the earth, and so with this in mind I want to do a better job, for the cause of Christ, to do a better job of this.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust the Lord in guiding my steps today.

Memory verses for the week:  Review Psalm 46 on my own.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible Question:  “In the land of Shinar” (Genesis 11:2).

Today’s Bible Question:  “Whose daughter did Jesus raise from the dead?”

Answer in tomorrow’s SD.

8/28/2013 8:57 AM  

A Refuge From the Storm (Introduction to Isaiah 24-27)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/27/2013 1:32 PM

My Worship Time                                                                     Focus:  A Refuge From The Storm

Bible Reading & Meditation                               Reference:  Introduction to Isaiah 24-27

            Message of the verses:  I mentioned in the last SD that we would be beginning a new section in the book of Isaiah in today’s SD, and that section is from chapter 24-27 of the book of Isaiah.  I have mentioned on many occasions that I follow the outline from Dr. Warren Wiersbe’s “Be” series books and the reason that I do this is because of his wonderful way of explaining the Scriptures in a way that is very understandable.  It has been said of him that he puts the cookies on the shelf where you can reach them, and I have found this true in his explanation of the Scriptures.

            He title for this fifth chapter from his book “Be Comforted” which is his commentary on the book of Isaiah is “A Refuge From the Storm” and that is what we will be looking at in the next few days.  I have found this study in the book of Isaiah very rewarding as I have never studied any of the prophets of the Old Testament as I am doing now.  I had a Sunday school class on the book of Ezekiel and have studied the book of Daniel several times in Sunday school, and am presently studying Daniel in a similar way as Isaiah, but as far as studying these books like I have the other books of the Bible I have not done that before.  Prophecy is the tool that God used to led me to Himself in 1974 and for the first few years of my Christian life that is all that I would look at, but then I decided that I needed to study the other things that are in the Bible and now after forty years I am once again back to studying prophecy through the prophets of the Old Testament and am happy to do so.

            The first thing that I want to discuss in this introduction is a Hebrew word that is found some sixteen times in the 24^th chapter of Isaiah and the world seems to have many meanings.  I will copy and paste the meanings of this word from my Online Bible Hebrew/English dictionary so we can better understand its meaning.  It is first found in the first verse and is translated “earth.” 

0776 ץרא ‘erets eh’ rets

 

from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; n f; {See TWOT on 167 }

 

AV-land 1543, earth 712, country 140, ground 98, world 4, way 3, common 1, field 1, nations 1, wilderness + 04057 1; 2504

 

1) land, earth

1a) earth

1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part)

1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven)

1a3) earth (inhabitants)

1b) land

1b1) country, territory

1b2) district, region

1b3) tribal territory

1b4) piece of ground

1b5) land of Canaan, Israel

1b6) inhabitants of land

1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world

1b8) city (- state)

1c) ground, surface of the earth

1c1) ground

1c2) soil

1d) (in phrases)

1d1) people of the land

1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance)

1d3) level or plain country

1d4) land of the living

1d5) end( s) of the earth

1e) (almost wholly late in usage)

1e1) lands, countries

1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan

            Dr. Wiersbe writes the following about this word:  “The Hebrew word erets used sixteen time in chapter 24, is translated land, earth, and world in the King James Version.  It is not always easy to tell when erets refers to one country or to the whole earth, but the context usually guides us.  Isaiah 24-27 describes a global judgment that will end with the destruction of God’s enemies and the restoration of God’s people Israel in their land.”

            We have seen that Isaiah has warned the Northern Kingdom that they would be defeated by the Assyrians and that the Southern Kingdom would be defeated, and then taken captivity by the Babylonians, but these were local calamities and they were a forerunner to what the Bible describes and “The Day of the Lord.”  We have talked about this phrase in past SD,’s and this is described in what scholars call the “Olivet Discourse” that Jesus gives in the 24^th chapter of the book of Matthew and also the 13^th chapter of the book of Mark.  We see more detail of this time in the book of Revelations, chapters 6-19, as these chapter describe what scholars call “The Tribulation.” 

            In order for us to better understand what we will be looking at during our study of these four chapters Dr. Wiersbe writes:  “Isaiah makes three declarations that will comfort God’s chosen people in that awesome Day of Judgment.  These declarations also encourage us today as we see our world plunging headlong into sin and rebellion against God.  Will God ever deal with the wicked?  What hope is there for the righteous?”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have often studied the prophecies that are in the Bible but not often though about the comfort that the Lord gives to those who will go through these difficult times of trouble that may not be too far off.  As we look at the things going on in the Middle East, knowing that it is a power cake ready to be light and then now knowing how much or how fast it will burn, it actually gives us hope that the Lord’s return to snatch His bride from the earth is near.  This in and of itself is comforting, and I am thankful for the Word of God which tells us what the future holds for those who love Him.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust the Lord for direction in my life that the things I do will bring honor and glory to Him.

Memory verses for the week:  A Review of Psalm 46

            1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.  Selah.  4 There is a river whose streams make glade the city God, the holly dwelling place of the most high.  5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved, God will help her when morning dawns.

            6 The nations make an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted.  7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.  8 Come behold the works of the Lord, Who has wrought desolations in the earth.  9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the sword in two; He burns the chariots with fire.  10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold.  Selah.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible Question:  “Jesus” (Matthew 10:32)

Today’s Bible Question:  “Where was the tower of Babel?”

Answer in yesterday’s SD.

8/27/2013 2:10 PM

The oracles of Phoenicia Part II (Isaiah 23:8-18)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/26/2013 11:02 AM

My Worship Time                                                                                 Focus:  Phoenicia Part II

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Isaiah 23:8-18

            Message of the verses:  We will look at two sub-titles from the main title which talks about the oracles of Phoenicia.

            Explanation (Isaiah 23:8-1 4):  “8 Who has planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, Whose merchants were princes, whose traders were the honored of the earth? 9 The LORD of hosts has planned it, to defile the pride of all beauty, To despise all the honored of the earth. 10 Overflow your land like the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish, There is no more restraint. 11 He has stretched His hand out over the sea, He has made the kingdoms tremble; The LORD has given a command concerning Canaan to demolish its strongholds. 12 He has said, "You shall exult no more, O crushed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, pass over to Cyprus; even there you will find no rest." 13 Behold, the land of the Chaldeans-this is the people which was not; Assyria appointed it for desert creatures-they erected their siege towers, they stripped its palaces, they made it a ruin. 14 Wail, O ships of Tarshish, For your stronghold is destroyed.”

            We see a question in verse eight and the answer of course is the Lord Almighty!  He is the one who destroys Egypt as seen in Isaiah 19:23 and Babylon as seen in Isaiah 14:27, and in the same way He has purposed to judge Tyre.  We mentioned that this will happen by the revived Babylon in 585-572 B. C. as seen in verse thirteen of our text today.  In verse nine we can conclude that Tyre had a great deal of pride, and we know from past SD’s that pride is something that the Lord will not put up with.

            Anticipation (Isaiah 23:15-18):  “15 Now in that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years like the days of one king. At the end of seventy years it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the harlot: 16 Take your harp, walk about the city, O forgotten harlot; Pluck the strings skillfully, sing many songs, That you may be remembered. 17 It will come about at the end of seventy years that the LORD will visit Tyre. Then she will go back to her harlot’s wages and will play the harlot with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. 18 Her gain and her harlot’s wages will be set apart to the LORD; it will not be stored up or hoarded, but her gain will become sufficient food and choice attire for those who dwell in the presence of the LORD.”

            We have highlighted “seventy years” three times in this section, and this tells us that there is meaning in this phrase.  Dr. Wiersbe explains “Even before their eventual destruction, Tyre and Sidon would not be involved in business for seventy years.  History tells us that the Assyrians restricted Phoenician trade from 700-630 B. C.; but when Assyria began to weaken in power, Tyre and Sidon revived their businesses.  The prophet compared the revived city to an old prostitute who had to sing lovely songs in order to get attention.  Apparently the shipping business would not be as easy or as lucrative as it once was.  In verse 18, Isaiah looked ahead to the messianic kingdom, when the wealth of Tyre would not be horded (see Zech 9:3), but given to the Lord as a holy offering.”  “For Tyre built herself a fortress And piled up silver like dust, And gold like the mire of the streets (Zech. 9:3).”

            We have now come to the end of these eleven chapters in the book of Isaiah, and it was kind of a fast trip through it.  Warren Wiersbe gives the following as an ending to his comments on these eleven chapters and I want to share that with you:  “Our trek through these eleven chapters has taught us some important lessons.  First God is in control of the nations of the world, and He can do with them what he pleases.  ‘Through the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small’ (Friedrich von Logau, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow).  Second, God especially hates the sin of pride.  (See Isa. 13:11; 16:6; 23:9; and Proverbs 8:13.)  When nations turn from the living God to trust their wealth and their armaments, God must show them that He is the only sure refuge.  Third, God judges the nations for the way they treat each other.  Judah was the only nation mentioned that had God’s law, yet God held the other ten Gentile nations accountable for what they did.  ‘For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law’ (Romans 2:12)  finally, God always gives a word of promise and hope to His people.  Babylon will fall, but God will care for Judah (Isa. 14:1-3), 32).  Moab will not accept sanctuary from Jerusalem, but God will one day establish Messiah’s throne there (16:5).  Assyria and Egypt may be avowed enemies of the Jews, but one day the three nations will together glorify God (19:23-25). 

            “Therefore, no matter how frightening the national or international situation may become, God’s children can have peace because they know Almighty God is on His throne.  The nations may rage and plot against God, but ‘He who sits in the heaven shall laugh’ (Psalm 2:4).

            “When the Lord of heaven and earth is your Father, and you gladly wear Christ’s yoke, you have nothing to fear (Matthew 11:25-30).  Therefore, be comforted!”

            Lord willing we will began to look at Isaiah chapters 24-27 in our next SD.  Dr. Wiersbe entitles this chapter “A Refuge from the Storm.”  Looking forward to this, and once we get through these four chapter we will be into September and will look at the seventh chapter of the book of Daniel, and that chapter is a very exciting chapter to study.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  We can take comfort in knowing that indeed God is in control.  

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Because the Lord is in control, and I can take comfort in that fact I trust the Lord to guide my path as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6.

Memory verses for the week:  A review of Psalm 46.

            1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.  Selah.  4 There is a river whose streams make glade the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the most high.  5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved, God will help her when morning dawns. 

            6 The nations make an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted.  The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold.  8 Come behold the works of the Lord, who has wrought desolations in the earth.  9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the sword in two; He burns the chariots with fire.  10 “Cease striving and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.  Selah.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible Question:  “Ten” (Luke 15:8).

Today’s Bible Question:  “Who said ‘Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father, which is in heaven?’”

Answer in tomorrow’s SD.

8/26/2013 11:47 AM

 

The Burden of Tyre PT-1 (Isaiah 23:1-7)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/25/2013 8:53 AM

My Worship Time                                                     Focus:  The burden of Tyre PT-1 (Phoenicia)

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Isaiah 23:1-7

            Message of the verses:  This is the last of eleven nations that Isaiah has written about concerning the burden or oracle depending on which version of the Bible you read.  Phoenicians were a merchant people whose land was in modern day Lebanon.  They were a people who dealt in merchant ships to send the worlds goods around the known world at that time.  Both David and Solomon made use of the workers from Tyre and Sidon for building buildings during their time.  Dr. Wiersbe writes that “King Ahab married the Phoenician princess Jezebel, who promoted Baal worship in Israel (1 Kings 16:29-33).”

            Declaration (Isaiah 23:1-7):  “1 The oracle concerning Tyre. Wail, O ships of Tarshish, For Tyre is destroyed, without house or harbor; It is reported to them from the land of Cyprus. 2 Be silent, you inhabitants of the coastland, You merchants of Sidon; Your messengers crossed the sea 3 And were on many waters. The grain of the Nile, the harvest of the River was her revenue; and she was the market of nations. 4 Be ashamed, O Sidon; For the sea speaks, the stronghold of the sea, saying, "I have neither travailed nor given birth, I have neither brought up young men nor reared virgins." 5 When the report reaches Egypt, They will be in anguish at the report of Tyre. 6 Pass over to Tarshish; Wail, O inhabitants of the coastland. 7 Is this your jubilant city, Whose origin is from antiquity, Whose feet used to carry her to colonize distant places?”

            It would be in 332 B. C. that Alexander the Great would conquer the island part of Tyre as prophesied by Ezekiel in Ezekiel chapter 26, but Nebuchadnezzar would conquer Phoenicia in 572 B. C.  What Isaiah is writing about are ships from Spain which is Tarshish that were docked in Cyprus and they would not be delivered because Tyre was destroyed.  Dr. Wiersbe writes that there is a parallel to this in Revelations 17-18 “and note that both Babylon and Tyre are compared to prostitutes [Isaiah 23:16-17].  One can only be amazed at how the Lord, through His prophets can foretell things will happen years from the time that they are written.  This is one of the ways that we can know that the Word of God is true and can be relied upon.  Miracles and fulfilled prophecies go together in proving that the Word of God can be trusted.  I read some place or heard from some Pastor that if the state of Texas was filled with silver dollars six foot high and that if a person could go there and pick out one certain silver dollar that would be the same odds of all the fulfilled prophecy that came about with the first coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and all that He accomplished during that visit to planet earth.  One more interesting thing and that is that the prophet Jonah was heading to Spain (Tarshish) when he was disobeying the Lord.  God wanted him to go to Nineveh which was in the opposite direction.

            We will try and finish this section in our next SD, as it will finish this forth chapter in Dr. Wiersbe commentary on Isaiah, “Be Comforted.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Knowing that the Bible is true about the prophecies that are in it and knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled much prophecies with His first coming causes me to believe the truth of Salvation that is seen in the pages of the Bible.  Man is born into sin because of the sin that our first parents committed, and therefore in order for us to come into a personal relationship with God, Jesus Christ died in our place on the cross, He became sin for us and then exchanged our sin for His righteousness so that God can now look upon us who believe in this as forgiven sinners who have a perfect relationship with God our Maker.  It is all about God’s grace, love and the justice that He took out upon His One and Only Son on the Cross.  What amazing grace!!

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Pray that the Lord will bring someone into my life for me to tell the good news of the gospel with today.

Memory verses for the week:  Review Psalm 46.

            1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

    6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has wrought desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.   

Answer to yesterday’s Bible Question:  “For wrath and for conscience sake,” (Romans 13:5).

Today’s Bible Question:  “In the parable of the lost coins, how many pieces of silver did the woman have?”

Answer in tomorrow’s SD.

8/25/2013 9:29 AM

The Oracles of Judah and Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:1-25)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/24/2013 11:37 AM

My Worship Time                                                                Focus:  Oracles of Judah & Jerusalem

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Isaiah 22:1-25

            Message of the verses:  When the Lord began the people of Israel with the miracle birth of Isaac it was His desire that they would become a people who would make a great deal of difference in the world.  They have made a great deal of difference to the world, especially by bringing the Lord Jesus Christ into the world, but there were times when they were living in the Promised Land that they became as much like their heathen neighbors that they could not be seen as any difference as them and so Isaiah includes them in the nations that God would judge because of their sinfulness.  Dr. Wiersbe points out “Isaiah pointed out two particular sins that would cause Judah to decline and ultimately go into captivity in Babylon.”

            The unbelief of the people (Isa. 22:1-14):  “1 The oracle concerning the valley of vision. What is the matter with you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops? 2 You who were full of noise, You boisterous town, you exultant city; Your slain were not slain with the sword, Nor did they die in battle. 3 All your rulers have fled together, And have been captured without the bow; All of you who were found were taken captive together, Though they had fled far away. 4 Therefore I say, "Turn your eyes away from me, Let me weep bitterly, Do not try to comfort me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people." 5 For the Lord GOD of hosts has a day of panic, subjugation and confusion In the valley of vision, A breaking down of walls And a crying to the mountain. 6 Elam took up the quiver With the chariots, infantry and horsemen; And Kir uncovered the shield. 7 Then your choicest valleys were full of chariots, And the horsemen took up fixed positions at the gate.

    “8 And He removed the defense of Judah. In that day you depended on the weapons of the house of the forest, 9 And you saw that the breaches In the wall of the city of David were many; And you collected the waters of the lower pool. 10 Then you counted the houses of Jerusalem And tore down houses to fortify the wall. 11 And you made a reservoir between the two walls For the waters of the old pool. But you did not depend on Him who made it, Nor did you take into consideration Him who planned it long ago. 12  Therefore in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing, To shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth. 13 Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die." 14 But the LORD of hosts revealed Himself to me, "Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you Until you die," says the Lord GOD of hosts.”

            Although some of the things that we read about hear may seem to have happened when the Assyrians began to attack Jerusalem during Isaiah and Hezekiah’s day, most of what is talked about here will happen in 586 B.C. when the Babylonians attacked and destroyed Jerusalem and sent many people captive to Babylon, and killed many more in the battle.  During the time when Isaiah lived there was much partying going on in Jerusalem as we see some of that in this section as people went up to the housetops to party, however Isaiah would go to the valleys and receive visions from the Lord about what He was going to do with this people of His, and they were not at all comforting visions.  Isaiah saw people dying from the upcoming battles along with people dying from the wounds they received in the battle, and also from starvation and disease they would receive due to bad living conditions.  During the siege the people would prepare for it, but the one thing they did not do and that was trust the Lord as seen in this section.  They would get a lot of water and supplies to keep the walls of Jerusalem intact, but in the end they would still be defeated due to their unbelief in their God.

            The unfaithfulness of the leaders (Isa. 22:15-25):  “15 Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, "Come, go to this steward, To Shebna, who is in charge of the royal household, 16 ’What right do you have here, And whom do you have here, That you have hewn a tomb for yourself here, You who hew a tomb on the height, You who carve a resting place for yourself in the rock? 17 ’Behold, the LORD is about to hurl you headlong, O man. And He is about to grasp you firmly 18  And roll you tightly like a ball, To be cast into a vast country; There you will die And there your splendid chariots will be, You shame of your master’s house.’ 19 “I will depose you from your office, And I will pull you down from your station. 20  "Then it will come about in that day, That I will summon My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, 21  And I will clothe him with your tunic And tie your sash securely about him. I will entrust him with your authority, And he will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22  "Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open. 23 “I will drive him like a peg in a firm place, And he will become a throne of glory to his father’s house. 24 “So they will hang on him all the glory of his father’s house, offspring and issue, all the least of vessels, from bowls to all the jars. 25 “In that day," declares the LORD of hosts, "the peg driven in a firm place will give way; it will even break off and fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut off, for the LORD has spoken.’”

            The man that Isaiah is speak of, Shebna, was second to King Hezekiah in authority as seen in Isaiah 36-37, and he was not a spiritual man, but a man who probably sided with those who wanted to side with Egypt to receive help to defend Judah from the Assyrians.  This passages speaks of him being taken captive into Assyria and this would be where he would die, not having some kind of a great funeral as he would have had if he stayed in Jerusalem, but God was judging him for his many sins.

            God chose another man, Eliakim (“God will raise up”), and the Lord called him “My Servant.  This passage speaks of him being a peg, a godly leader for the cause of God.  Dr. Wiersbe writes “Eliakim is a picture of Jesus Christ (Rev. 3:7), the greatest Servant of all.”  “"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this.”  (Rev. 3:7)

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  There are certain people whose names are written in the Scriptures that many people do not know and Eliakim is probably one of them, and yet he is a man whom it would be good to pattern one’s life after, for he was a true servant of the Lord. 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I desire to be a true servant of the Lord as Eliakim was.

Memory verses for the week:  All of Psalm 46.

            1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.  Selah.  4 There is a river whose streams make glade the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the most high.  5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved, God will help her when morning dawns.

            6 The nations make an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted.  7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.  Selah.  8 Come behold the works of the Lord, who has wrought desolations in the earth.  9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.  10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  11 The Lord of Hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold.  Selah.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible Question:  “That they kill all male children at birth” (Exodus 1:15-16).

Today’s Bible Question:  “For what two good reasons should one be subject to the laws of his government?”

Answer in tomorrow’s SD.

8/24/2013 12:23 PM