SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/28/2013
8:33 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
Maher-shalal-hash-baz: A Warning of Judgment PT-2
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Isaiah 8:11-22
Message of the
verses: We continue looking at the
second sub-point under the second main-point in today’s SD.
They chose a snare instead of a sanctuary (Isaiah
8:11-15): “11 For thus the LORD spoke to me with mighty power and
instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, 12 "You are not to say, ’It is a
conspiracy!’ In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, And you are
not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. 13 “It is the LORD of hosts
whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread. 14 “Then He shall become a
sanctuary; But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a
rock to stumble over, And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15
“Many will stumble over them, Then they will fall and be broken; They will even
be snared and caught.’”
God is telling Isaiah not to follow these people, and the
reason is that they are trusting in the Assyrians to keep them safe from harm,
but in fact it will be the Assyrians who will try to conquer Judah and come
close to doing so.
I want to look at some NT verses that use these verses in
them. “13 Who is there to harm you if
you prove zealous for what is good? 14
But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are
blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, (1 Peter
3:14-15). “4 ¶ And coming to Him as to a living stone which
has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
5 you also, as living stones, are being
built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture:
"BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO
BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." 7 This precious value, then, is for you who
believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS
REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," (1 Peter 2:4-7).” just as it is written, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN
ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM
WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED,’ (Romans 9:33),”
The verses that I am trying to commit to memory go along with this
section as they speak of the Lord: “God
is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Isaiah speaks of the Lord being a sanctuary,
and a rock that is a refuge for believers, but on the contrary for unbelievers,
for to them He is a snare.
They chose darkness instead of light (Isaiah
8:16-22): “16 ¶ Bind up the testimony,
seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait for the LORD who is hiding
His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him. 18 Behold, I and the children
whom the LORD has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the LORD of
hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. 19 When they say to you, "Consult
the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter," should not a
people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no
dawn. 21 They will pass through the land hard-pressed and famished, and
it will turn out that when they are hungry, they will be enraged and curse
their king and their God as they face upward. 22 Then they will look to the
earth, and behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they will
be driven away into darkness.”
Dr. Wiersbe begins his commentary from this section with
these words: “The nation had rejected
Isaiah’s message, but that didn’t mean that his ministry was a failure. The true disciples of the Lord received God’s
Word and treasured it in their hearts.
By faith, the prophet was willing to wait patiently for God’s Word to be
fulfilled.” On the note of Isaiah’s
ministry not being a failure, we still have it as a part of the Word of God and
so that makes it a success.
When we look at the names of Isaiah and his family we can
see that their names would mean a lot to those who were soon going to be in
captivity. Isaiah means “Jehovah is
salvation” his son Maher-shalal-hash-baz means “quick to plunder, swift to
spoil” and this pointed to the fall of Syria and also the Northern
Kingdom. Isaiah’s older son’s name means
“A remnant shall return,” and this surely was fulfilled.
Verse 18, which I highlighted has much meaning and is
quoted in Hebrews 2:13-14 and the author of Hebrews applies it to our Lord
Jesus Christ. “13 And again, "I
WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again, "BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN
WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME." 14 Therefore,
since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook
of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power
of death, that is, the devil.”
We see from this section that when a crisis came the
people consulted demons and those who could speak to the dead, something that
God forbids in His Law. The book of
Ezekiel shows that the leaders of Judah were sitting in the temple of God
consulting demons, as God would show the prophet. Isaiah writes the following in verse 20 “If they do not speak according to
this word, it is because they have no dawn.” Judah’s leaders were not speaking according
to the word.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: Trust in the
Light, for Jesus tells us in John’s Gospel that He is the Light, and even
though times can be difficult I need to continually look to the Light.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Trust in the Light at all times.
Memory verses for the
week: Psalm 46:1-8
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.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
Question: “Two years” (Acts 28:30).
Today’s Bible
Question: “What did Jesus advise if one
should say to his brother, ‘Raca?”
Answer in tomorrow’s SD.
7/28/2013 9:23 AM
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