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 24th
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 24th
chapter of the book of Matthew and also the 13th 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
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