SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/7/2013
8:29 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
Invitation to the Gentiles PT-1
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Isaiah
55:1-5
Message of the
verses: Today we begin our second
main section from the chapter title “Promises and Punishments,” a commentary on
the book of Isaiah by Warren Wiersbe.
Introduction to the
Section: Dr. Wiersbe writes: “The Servant died not only for the sins of
Israel (53:8), but also for the sins of the whole world (John 1:29; 1 John
4:14). Isaiah makes it clear throughout
his book that the Gentiles are included in God’s plan. What Isaiah and the other prophets did not
know was that believing Jews and Gentiles would one day be united in Jesus
Christ (Eph. 3:1-12).
“God gives a threefold invitation to the Gentiles: come (Isaiah 55:1-5), seek (vv. 6-13), and
worship (56:1-8).”
Come (Isaiah 55:1-5):
“1 "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have
no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without
cost. 2 “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in
abundance. 3 “Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I
will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies
shown to David. 4 “Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples, A leader
and commander for the peoples. 5 “Behold, you will call a nation you do not
know, And a nation which knows you not will run to you, Because of the LORD
your God, even the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you.’”
At first when I began to read this passage I was wondering
how Dr. Wiersbe and I am sure other Bible commentators knew that this passage
was for the Gentiles. Verse one uses the
words “every one,” showing that what Isaiah is writing is for all peoples, not
just for the Jews. We spoke of Ephesians
3:1-12 in the introduction to this second main section, stating that it shows
that both Jews and Gentiles would be in one body, the Church. This is not mentioned in the OT, but it was a
part of God’s plan. “1 For this reason
I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles- 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship
of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3
that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before
in brief. 4 By referring to this, when
you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known
to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and
prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be
specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body,
and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to
the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His
power. 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach
to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the
administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created
all things; 10 so that the manifold
wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the
authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal
purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have
boldness and confident access through faith in Him (Ephesians 2:1-12).”
We see that Isaiah uses terms that are familiar to
everyone to show their need for the substances that only God can give. In the Word of God we are very familiar with
the bread, water and the wine, for both water and wine are pictures of the Holy
Spirit, and Jesus said that He was the bread of life. Let us look at a familiar passage from the
book of John, that possibly Jesus had in mind when He spoke these words, “"Do
not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal
life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has
set His seal.’” (John 6:27)
When we look at verses 2-3 we see that they have a lot to
do with listening. How is a person saved
from their sins? They have to listen to
the Word of God, for this is the way God draws sinners to Himself: “"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who
hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not
come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.’” (John 5:24)
In verses three and four we see that David’s covenant is
mentioned. The fulfillment of David’s
covenant is that the Lord Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and
He is God’s covenant to the Gentile peoples.
As we look at verse five we see that it indicates that
the Jews will be the ones who calls the Gentiles to the Lord, and in the early
Church this is exactly what happened, but I think that this will also be
fulfilled in the 1000 year Kingdom where Jesus will reign as the King from
Jerusalem.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: I have
highlighted a portion of verse two “And your wages for what does not satisfy,” that I want to speak
of in this section of my SD. I need to
do a better job in using the money God provides for me to do things for His
Kingdom, and for His glory.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Do a better job in giving to the Lord.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
Question: “Rachel” (Genesis 30:22-24).
Today’s Bible
Question: “What precious metals were
used as standards of value for the Jews and indicated by weights?”
Answer in our next SD.
12/7/2013 9:32 AM
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