Friday, July 12, 2013

The Branch of the Lord (Isaiah 4:2-6)



SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/12/2013 9:17 AM
My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  The Branch of the Lord
Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Isaiah 4:2-6
            Message of the verses:  “2 ¶ In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the adornment of the survivors of Israel. 3 It will come about that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy-everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem. 4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, 5 then the LORD will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. 6 There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.”
            Remember that when we see the words “In that day” in the section of Scripture we are studying that it will refer to the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Branch of the Lord is a messianic title for the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus came as a “shoot” from what seemingly looked like a dead stump of David’s dynasty.  “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit (Isa. 11:1).”  “For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him (Isa. 53:2).”  “"Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land (Jer. 23:5).”  See also Jer. 33:15; Zech. 3:8; 6:12).  The Messiah, Jesus Christ, will cleanse His people as seen in Isa. 4:4 and also see Zech. 12:10-13:1.  He will restore the fruitfulness of the land and He will dwell with His people like He did in the wilderness where the Lord was a cloud for them in the daytime heat, and a fire for them in the nighttime cold. 
            There is a big difference of the time that Isaiah was living in and in the time when the Messiah will rule over the entire world from Jerusalem which is what this portion of Scripture is speaking about in Isaiah 4:2-6.  This is one of the challenges of understanding the prophets from the OT, the problem of understanding what time period they are referring to.  Dr. Wiersbe pointed out the words “In that day,” from this section to be speaking of the Kingdom of the Lord, which is still yet to come.
            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  In Jeremiah 31:31ff and it is repeated in the book of Hebrews we see a reference to the New Covenant that God would give to His people.  I think that part of this is speaking of all NT believers, and it can also be a reference to those living in the Kingdom of the Lord which will take place after the tribulation period.  Jeremiah speaks of having the Law written in the believer’s heart, and so the believer will live his life by having the Law in his heart.  That is my desire to live like those who will live in the 1000 year reign of the Kingdom of the Lord.
My Steps of Faith for Today:  Proverbs 3:5-6.
Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 46:1-5
            1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  2 Therefore we will not fear, those the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 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. 
Answer to yesterday’s Bible Question:  “Two Years” (Genesis 40:13-41:1).
Today’s Bible Question:  “What was Demetrius’ occupation?”
Answer in tomorrow’s SD.
7/12/2013 9:45 AM

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