SPIRITIUAL DIARY FOR 10/21/2013
11:53 AM
My Worship Time Focus: God’s Servant Israel PT-3
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Isaiah 43:1
Message of the
verse: We have looked at the four
pictures in this section, but Dr. Wiersbe has added some more things to this
section to which I think it best if I just quote what he has added, and then we
will be through with this section. I
will paste Isaiah 43:1 to this SD because it is a part of this section: “But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O
Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed
you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!”
“The theme of ‘Israel God’s Servant’ is continued in
Isaiah 43-44 with an emphasis on God the Redeemer of Israel (43:1-7). (Note also v. 14; 44:6, 22-24.) The word translated ‘redeem’ or ‘Redeemer’ is
the Hebrew word for ‘a kinsman redeemer,’ a near relative who could free family
members and their property from bondage by paying their debts for them. (See Lev. 25:23-28 and the Book of
Ruth.) God gave Egypt, Ethiopia (Cush),
and Seba to Cyrus as a ransom payment to redeem Israel from Babylon, because
Israel was so precious to Him. And He
gave His own Son as a ransom for lost sinners (Matt. 20:28; 1 Tim. 2:6).
“Israe is God’s servant in the world and also God’s
witness to the world (Isa. 43:8-13).
This is another courtroom scene where God challenges the idols. ‘Let them bring in their witnesses!’ says the Judge, but of course the idols are
helpless and speechless. Twice the Lord
says to Israel, ‘You are My witnesses’ (Vv. 10, 12, NKJV), for it is in the
history of Israel that God has revealed Himself to the world. Frederick the Great asked the Marquis D’Argens,
‘Can you give me one single irrefutable proof of God/” The Marquis replied, ‘Yes, your majesty, the
Jews.’
“Along with Israel’s new freedom and new witness, Isaiah
writes about Israel’s new ‘exodus’ (vv. 14-28).
Just as God led His people out of Egypt and through the Red Sea (Exodus
12-15), so He will lead them out of Babylon and through the terrible wilderness
to their home in the Holy Land. Just as
He defeated Pharaoh’s army (14:28; 15:4), so He will defeat Israel’s enemies
and snuff them out ‘like a wick’ (Isaiah 43:14 NIV).
“When God forgives and restores His people, He wants them
to forget the failures of the past, witness for Him in the present, and claim
His promises for the future (vv. 18-21).
Why should we remember that which God has forgotten? (v. 25) He forgave
them, not because they brought Him sacrifices—for they had no altar in Babylon—but
purely because of His mercy and grace.
“God chose Israel and redeemed them, but He also formed
them for Himself (44:1-20). In this
chapter, Isaiah contrasts God’s forming of Israel (vv. 1-8) and the Gentiles
forming their own gods (vv. 9-20). ‘I
have formed thee’ is a special theme in chapters 43-44 (43:1, 7, 21; 44:2,
24). Because God formed them, chose
them, and redeemed them, they had nothing to fear. He will pour water on the land and His Spirit
on the people (59:21; Ezek. 34:26; Joel 2:28-29; John 7:37-39), and both will
prosper to the glory of the Lord. The
final fulfillment of this will be in the future Kingdom Age when Messiah
reigns.
“Isaiah 44:9-20 shows the folly of idolatry and should be
compared with Psalm 115. Those who
defend idols and worship them are just like them: blind and ignorant and nothing. God made people in His own image, and now
they are making gods in their own image!
Part of the tree becomes a god, and the rest of the tree becomes fuel
for the fire. The worshiper is ‘feeding
on ashes’ and deriving no benefit at all from the worship experience.
“But God formed Israel (Isa. 44:21, 24), forgave His
people their sins (v.22; see 43:25), and is glorified in them (44:23). He speaks to His people and is faithful to
keep his Word (v. 26). May we never take
for granted the privilege we have of knowing and worshiping the true and living
God.”
This is one of the rare times that I find it difficult to
follow the things that Dr. Wiersbe writes, but with a little study I hope to
understand it with all of the verses that he listed for us to look up.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: It comes from the
last sentence that says that I am never to take for granted the privilege that I
have of knowing and worshiping the true and living God.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Redeem the time and use it to bring glory to
my Lord and Savior.
Memory verses for the
week: 2Peter 1:1-9
1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus
Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the
righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the
knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has
granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true
knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He granted to us His precious
and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the
divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence,
in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance,
and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly
kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
8 For if these qualities are in you, and are increasing, they render you
neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ. 9 For he who lacks these
qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his
former sins.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
Question: “In his own house” (Acts
28:30).
Today’s Bible
Question: “Who was the king’s cupbearer
that was concerned about the walls of Jerusalem?”
Answer in our next SD.
10/21/2013 12:35 PM
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