SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/5/2013
10:03 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Introduction
to Isaiah PT-4
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Isaiah
Message of the
verses: We will look at the last
part of the introduction to the book of Isaiah, and this speaks of how Isaiah
writes about the coming Messiah.
Messiah: Isaiah was
giving out the gospel of Jesus Christ before He was born, and His birth is part
of what Isaiah writes about among other aspects of His life. In Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Isaiah writes like an
evangelist as He presents the Good News of the Gospel. Just a little side note about this section of
Scripture and that is that we know that the chapter divisions were not inspired,
but I have heard it said that this section should may well have been in one
chapter. This section of Scripture is
quoted almost forty times in the NT.
Isaiah speaks of the birth of the Messiah in 7:14 and 9:6
and is seen in Matthew 1:18-25. Isaiah
writes about the ministry of the forerunner of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist
in Isaiah 40:1-6 and this is seen in Matthew 3:1ff. He writes about Christ’s anointing by the
Holy Spirit in Isaiah 61:1-2 and seen in Luke 4:17-19. He writes about the nation of Israel
rejecting their Messiah in Isaiah s6:9-11 and this is fulfilled in John
12:38ff. Next he writes about Christ who
is the “stone of stumbling” in Isaiah 8:14; 28:16 and is seen in Romans
9:32-33; 10:11; & 1 Peter 2:6. Next
we see that the Messiah will minister to the Gentiles in Isaiah 49:6 and seen
in Luke 2:32 and Acts 13:47. Next the
suffering of the Savior along with His death as seen in Isaiah 52:13-52:12 and
seen in Acts 3:13; 8:32-33; & 1 Peter 2:21-25. Next we see the resurrection of the Messiah
in Isaiah 55:3 and Acts 13:34. We see
His return to reign as King in Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1ff; 59:20-21; 63:1-3; Romans
11:26-27; and Revelations 19:13-15. We
will see even more references to the Messiah in Isaiah and will look at them as
we go through the book.
Isaiah wrote mostly about the little nation of Israel
along with other countries that do not even exist anymore, but the main theme
of Isaiah is about salvation, salvation to the Jews and also to the Gentiles.
Jesus Christ quoted from Isaiah 42:7 to Saul of Tarsus
while he was on the road to Damascus as seen in Acts chapter nine, and it may
be that this is part of the reason that Paul quoted from Isaiah over eighty
times in his writings and even used quotes from Isaiah in his recorded messages
from the book of Acts. Dr. Wiersbe writes “Like the prophet Isaiah, Paul saw
the vastness of God’s plan for both Jews and Gentiles; and like Isaiah, Paul
magnified Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Five times in his letter Paul refers to
Isaiah 53.”
Sometimes when we study a prophetic book we are focused
on what the prophet has to say about the future, and Isaiah had a lot to say
about the future, but we should not mess the personal message of salvation, the
forgiveness of sins as we study the book of Isaiah, and there is must to say
about this subject in his writings.
Dr. Wiersbe finishes this chapter on the introduction to
the book of Isaiah with these important words:
“How can the Holly One of Israel,’ a just and righteous God, forgive our
sins and remember them no more?
“But (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions, He was
bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by
His stripes we are healed (Isa. 53:5).
“It was on the basis of this truth that Peter declared, ‘To
(Jesus) all the prophets witness, that through His name, whoever believes in
Him shall receive remission of sins (Acts 10:43).
“Who hath believed our report?’ Isaiah asks us (Isa.
53:1).
“If you will not believe, surely you shall not be
established,’ he warns us (7:9)
“If you have never believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and
received Him into your life, then do so now. ‘Look to Me, and be saved, all you
ends of the earth! For I am God, and
there is no other’ (Isa. 45:22)
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no
other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12).”
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: I want to think
more about my Lord Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for me on the cross,
and then I want to tell others about His saving grace so they too can
experience the precious gift of salvation.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Pray that the Lord will bring about a divine
appointment for me today.
Memory verses for the
week: Psalm 46:1-4
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear,
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 place of the Most High.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
Question: “Seventy” (Genesis 46:27).
Today’s Bible
Question: “How many have sinned and come
short of the glory of God?”
Answer in tomorrow’s SD. 7/5/2013 10:52 AM
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