ISAIAH 29
LORD sends judgment to Jerusalem verse 1- 4
Woe to Ariel – to Ariel – the city where David dwelt
add you year to year – let them kill sacrifices
Yet I will distress Ariel
and there shall be heaviness and sorrow
and it shall be to me as Ariel
And I will camp against you round about
and will lay siege against you with a mount
and I will raise forts against you
And you shall be brought down
and shall speak out of the ground
and your speech shall be low out of the dust
and your voice shall be
as of one that has a familiar spirit
out of the ground
and your speech shall whisper out of the dust
LORD delivers Jerusalem verse 5- 8
MOREOVER the multitude of your strangers shall be like small dust
and the multitude of the terrible ones
shall be as chaff that passes away
YEA – it shall be at an instant suddenly
You shall be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder
earthquake – great noise – storm and tempest
and the flame of devouring fire
And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel
even all that fight against her and her munition
and that distress her
shall be as a dream of a night vision
It shall even be as when an hungry man dreams
and – behold – he eats
BUT he awakes – and his soul is empty
OR as when a thirsty man dreams
and – behold – he drinks
BUT he awakes – and – behold – he is faint
and his soul has appetite
SO shall the multitude of all the nations be
that fight against mount Zion
Israelites don’t believe Isaiah verse 9- 12
Stay yourselves – and wonder – cry ye out – and cry
they are drunken – but not with wine
they stagger – but not with strong drink
For the LORD has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep
and has closed your eyes – the prophets and your rulers
the seers hath HE covered
And the vision of all is become to you
as the words of a book that is sealed
which men deliver to one that is learned
saying
Read this – I pray you – and he says
I cannot – for it is sealed
And the book is delivered to him that is not learned
saying
Read this – I pray you – and he says I am not learned
LORD states their worship is fake verse 13- 14
WHEREFORE the Lord
said
Forasmuch as this people draw near ME with their mouth
and with their lips do honor ME
BUT have removed their heart far from ME
and their fear toward ME is taught by the precept of men
THEREFORE – behold
I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people
even a marvelous work and a wonder
for the wisdom of their wise men
shall perish
and the understanding of their prudent men
shall be hid
Israelites think LORD can’t see in dark verse 15- 16
Woe to them that seek deep to hide their counsel
from the LORD
and their works are in the dark –
and they say
Who sees us? and who knows us?
Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed
as the potter’s clay
for shall the work say of HIM that make it
HE made me not?
OR shall the thing framed say of him that framed it
HE had no understanding?
Future day of peace verse 17- 21
Is it not yet a very little while
and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field
and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
AND IN THAT DAY shall the deaf hear the words of the book
and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity
and out of darkness
The meek shall increase their joy in the LORD
and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel
FOR the terrible one is brought to nought – and the scorner is consumed
and all that watch for iniquity are cut off
that make a man an offender for a word
and lay a snare for him that reproves in the gate
and turn aside the just for a thing of nought
LORD predicted this day to Abraham verse 22- 24
THEREFORE thus says the LORD – WHO redeemed Abraham
concerning the house of Jacob
Jacob shall not now be ashamed
neither shall his face now wax pale
BUT when he sees his children – THE WORK OF MINE HANDS
in the midst of him – they shall sanctify MY name
and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob
and shall fear the God of Israel
They that erred in spirit shall come to understanding
and they that murmured shall learn doctrine
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! Add you year to year; let them kill sacrifices. (2282 “sacrifices” [chag] means feast days, festival, hold a festival, religious feast, festal procession, pilgrim-feast, or holy festival)
DEVOTION: It seems that many think that “Ariel” means lion of God which stands for the city of Jerusalem. This is where the Temple was located and where the gathering of the children was to take place when they had their festivals to worship HIM.
However, we find that like today the festivals turned into times where they only thought of themselves rather than God. So we find that the LORD had to judge the city for their treatment of their times of worship like it was not really to worship the LORD but to just have a good time together.
This has happened to the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus today. We call the time period Christmas which should be a time when we gather all our friends and relatives together to remember the birth of the Savior of the world but it turns out that we are just looking for good time and not a time of worship.
The children of Israel were doing the same thing with their times of worship of the LORD. It was turned into a party for themselves rather than a time to genuinely worship Jesus and hear a message of salvation both in homes and in churches.
The children of Israel wandered from genuine worship and today in our churches we are not really worshiping with our whole heart and soul but looking to be entertained by the service.
God wants our hearts as well as the hearts of the children of Israel to worship HIM alone in spirit and in truth. This can only be done with our hearts concentrating on winning others to HIM and our wanting to serve HIM with our whole body, soul and spirit.
CHALLENGE: Have you wandered away from genuine worship of the LORD? If so, walk back to a place where you can genuinely worship the LORD in spirit and in truth.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 13 Wherefore the LORD said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men (4687 “precept” [mitsveh] means tradition, commandment, prohibition, man-made rules, or authoritative directive)
DEVOTION: There are laws in every nation in our world. Each country has its own laws. Some laws are based on human tradition and some are based on the Word of God. Our nation started with a belief in God and with laws based on the Word of God. One of the reason people came to this land was for religious freedom. They put a statement in the constitution regarding “freedom of religion” and stated that there should not be any one established religion for everyone in the nation. There were states that had state religions when they started. This has all changed.
Our world has no absolutes according to those who teach in our state colleges and institutions of higher learning. The problem is that even some Christian schools are beginning to change the beliefs they were established on. Things are changing.
This was true in the days of Isaiah. The LORD stated that the people were saying that they believed in God. Their lips seemed to have all the right words to honor the LORD.
However, it was the heart that the LORD wanted. Their hearts were far from the LORD. Their beliefs changed. They thought that the things that the priests were teaching were coming from them and not from God. They thought that the basis of their teaching was just human tradition. The problem is that in Christ’s day that was true of the Pharisees.
If they believed that it was just the traditions of man then there was no real authority for them to worry about. They could act as they pleased and not worry. This displeased the LORD.
HE would have to show them that what was given to Abraham and Moses came from HIM and HIM alone. They were not just human instructions they were HIS instructions.
HE didn’t want their outward appearance to look like they were believers when their heart was not actively seeking to please HIM. This is true today as it was in Isaiah’s day.
The LORD wants our hearts. HE is more concerned with our thoughts and our attitude than with our outward appearance. We can fake our outward appearance to make people think that we are good people who follow the LORD but in reality our heart are only interested in pleasing ourselves.
CHALLENGE: What is your heart telling you about your relationship with the LORD? Are you faking it? Is the LORD real to you and because of this reality you want to truly worship and serve HIM?
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:15 Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the LORD, and their works are in the dark; they say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). מַעֲשֶׂה [maʿaseh /mah·as·eh/] work, labour. 1C business, pursuit. 1D undertaking, enterprise. 1E achievement, deeds, work)
DEVOTION: Isaiah warns the people of Israel that their freedoms were dependent upon the Lord and not themselves. Their city walls may protect and enemies be repulsed but it was God who reigned over the land. Repeatedly God warns them that their arrogance would lead to deaf, blind and drunk responses to God’s words and actions. People are sinners until the Lord opens their senses to the word and work of God! Whereas previously the vision had been sealed and unreadable now the promise is for fruitfulness and joy! Individuals may think they can hide their sins with darkness or secrecy but God sees through the darkness and into secret places.
David thought he could avoid Nathan’s rebuke and Ananias and his wife thought they could test the Spirit of God. (Acts 5)
Whether it is Old or New Testament God works to teach His people of sin and righteousness. Do you know the Lord’s forgiveness and cleansing power? Have you had your eyes opened to the sin and depravity you have committed?
CHALLENGE: Jesus will protect and guide His children as we walk in His ways! If we seek to deceive and hide our wickedness He will reveal it in sometimes unpleasant ways. (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. (3948 “doctrine” [leqach] means learning, teaching, insight, instruction, or persuasiveness.)
DEVOTION: Isaiah states that judgment is coming to Ariel or Jerusalem. The LORD is going to visit them with thunder, earthquake, great noise, storm and tempest.
During this time period people that are hungry and thirsty are going to dream that they have these things provided but it will only be a dream. The LORD has caused Jerusalem to fall into a deep sleep because they don’t want to listen to HIM.
They talk like they are following the LORD but their heart is far from the LORD. They think that God doesn’t see what they are doing. They think they can hide in the darkness from God. However, Isaiah ends the chapter with hope. There is coming a time of joy and rejoicing. There is coming a time of worship. There is coming a time of understanding the plan of God. There is coming a time when followers want to learn about the teaching of the LORD.
One of the things that is happening today is that many churches and pastors are saying that there only needs to be one doctrine and that is “salvation is of Christ.” That is a good doctrine but there are MANY basic BIBLICAL teachings that are important to salvation and spiritual growth. . One such teaching is regarding the substitutionary atonement of Christ. Those who say that Christ didn’t die for our sins are changing the cross to mean something else. If Christ was not our substitute on the cross then we are still in our sins and on our way to hell.
There are churches that teach that God doesn’t know the future. There are churches that are teaching that there is no hell. There are churches that are teaching that everyone is going to heaven. These churches are WRONG. The Israelites were following men who had the “book” but didn’t want to read it or didn’t care what it said. They were going to answer for their beliefs. We are going to answer for our beliefs. Are our beliefs Biblical? How do we know? The Holy Spirit will instruct those who are honestly seeking for wisdom from HIM what is the truth.
In the end times there will be instruction regarding the true teachings of the “book.” Are we just going to wait around until then or are we going to start learning now????
These daily meat devotions list the twelve basic doctrine of the Word of God. The devotionals are a study in Biblical Theology, which leads to Systematic Theology from which we practice Practical Theology.
CHALLENGE: We had a friend who stated that true Biblical doctrine or teaching is: “In the book!” Learn what the “Book” has to teach you. Our only book of FINAL authority is the BIBLE!!!)
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Prayer for readers of sealed book verse 11, 12
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Kill sacrifices verse 1
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 6, 10, 15, 19, 22
Camp against Jerusalem verse 3
Visits HIS people verse 6
LORD of hosts verse 6
Thunder
Earthquake
Great noise with storm and tempest
Flame of devouring fire
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 13
Marvelous work verse 14
Counsel from the LORD verse 15
Creator verse 16
Holy One of Israel verse 19
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 23
Holy One of Jacob verse 23
God of Israel verse 23
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Strangers verse 5
Terrible ones verse 5, 20
Nations verse 7, 8
Precept of men verse 13
Wisdom to the wise men shall perish verse 14
Understanding of their prudent men
shall be hid verse 14
Lebanon verse 17
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Familiar spirit verse 4
Empty soul verse 8
Drunken verse 9
Strong drink verse 9
Lip service to God verse 13
Heart far from the LORD verse 13
Precepts of men verse 13
Hide counsel from LORD verse 15
Dark works verse 15
Turning things upside down verse 16
No understanding verse 16
Scorner verse 20
Iniquity verse 20
Offender verse 21
Snare verse 21
Erred in spirit verse 23
Murmured verse 23
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Willing to learn verse 12
Deaf hear verse 18
Blind see verse 18
Meek verse 19
Joy verse 19
Rejoice verse 19
Just verse 21
Redeemed verse 22
Sanctify verse 23
Fear of the LORD verse 23
Understanding verse 24
Learn doctrine verse 24
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Ariel (Jerusalem) verse 1, 7
David verse 1
Heaviness and sorrow verse 2
Speak out of the ground verse 4
Low in the dust
Like having a familiar spirit
Whisper
Visited of the LORD of hosts verse 6
Mount Zion verse 8
Spirit of deep sleep verse 10
Prophets verse 10
Rulers verse 10
Seers verse 10
Words of a book that is sealed verse 11
Works are in the dark verse 15
Not learned verse 12
Abraham verse 22
House of Jacob verse 22
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
In that day verse 18
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QUOTES regarding passage
However, the commandments possess no real value if they are considered only a human document learned by rote (Isa 29:13f.). (Hartley, J. E. (1999). 1887 צָוָה. In R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (758). Chicago: Moody Press.)
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13. In verse 10 it was ‘the Lord’ who reacted: Yahweh loves his people but he is not mocked (Gal. 6:7–8). Here it is the Lord (i.e. ’ădōnāy, the Sovereign One) who notes that religious reality has gone (13bcd) even though observance continues (13de). Come near: cf. Exodus 28:43. Worship: ‘their fear of me’, the sense of awe and reverence proper to those who approach God (cf. 23). As the Sovereign reviews their worship, all he sees is conformity to human rules. It is not that the Lord belittles the use of words; but words without the heart are meaningless; and worship is not worship (Mark 7:6–8) unless it is based on and responds to what God has revealed. (Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, p. 215). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press)
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13–16 The spiritual blindness of vv.9–12 is an appropriate partner of the externalism and traditionalism of v.13. So often these qualities are associated in godless religion. In 1:15 the God of Israel rejected prayers that were offered in a formalistic spirit. Here the spiritual condition is diagnosed and found to be malign indeed. Verse 13 is quoted by our Lord in Matthew 15:9 with reference to the Pharisees. The spiritual parallel is very striking. In both cases wrong teaching was based on a mishandling of God’s true revelation, the sacrificial regulations, and the Mosaic Law as a whole respectively. In each case tradition allied to bad theology resulted in a mishandling of Scripture, and in each the result was a self-justifying complacency in the presence of the most holy God. “Rules taught by men” would apply, of course, not to the Levitical teaching itself, but to the way it was applied by the priests. Human nature does not change through the years but finds different religious as well as nonreligious expressions of its fundamental rebellion against God.
So often in the prophecy of Isaiah the prophet says in effect that the God of Israel who had shown himself to his people in one of his great attributes for their blessing would demonstrate that same quality in an act of judgment (see comments at 10:17 and 28:20–22). He is “wonderful” (peteʾ) and has done wonderful things for his people (Exod 15:11; Ps 77:2, 15; cf. Isa 9:6), but his power to astound them is turned against them. The prophet seems still to have in mind the judgments God has decreed against his people in vv.1–3, and the repetition of the word “woe” in v.15 confirms this. The apostle Paul quoted v.14 in 1 Corinthians 1:19. Isaiah shows great interest in the distinction between worldly and godly wisdom (e.g., 5:21; 11:2; 26:7, 10). This makes a verse like v.14 most appropriate in the context of Paul’s thought in 1 Corinthians 1.
Negotiations with Egypt to form an anti-Assyrian alliance were probably carried on in secret. If that is in view here in v.15, then Isaiah was implying that the negotiators thought their actions were so clandestine that even the Lord himself was denied access to them. When men’s minds are not controlled by the revelation of God, their thoughts of him easily become unworthy of what he really is. The prophet suggested that such people have a completely illogical view of God. With out doubt total depravity so affects the mind that men and women can no longer think God’s thoughts after him in any adequate way.
Isaiah anticipates Jeremiah in his use of the illustration of the potter and the clay (v.16; cf. 45:9; 64:8; Jer 18:1–6). Paul too used this illustration in Romans 9:19–21. Each of the three writers made somewhat different points; yet each argued for the sovereignty of God from this analogy. The Assyrian too had boasted of his independence from this sovereign God (10:15). (Grogan, G. W. (1986). Isaiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, pp. 188–189). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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29:13–14. The people of Jerusalem, professing to know God, were formally involved in acts of worship but they did not worship God from their hearts. They were more concerned with man-made legalistic rules than with God’s Law, which promotes mercy, justice, and equity. Because of that, God would judge them; their wisdom would vanish. (Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1079). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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“Ariel” is a code name for Jerusalem and means “lion of God.” The lion was a symbol of Assyria, so the prophet may have been saying, “Assyria is now God’s lion, and Jerusalem is God’s lion in name only.” But the Hebrew word also means “an altar hearth,” where the burnt offerings were sacrificed (Ezek. 43:13–18). “It [Jerusalem] shall be unto me as Ariel [an altar hearth]” (Isa. 29:2). In other words, it would become a place of slaughter.
God was going to humble the proud city. Instead of roaring and frightening the enemy, the lion would only whisper from the dust (v. 4). Instead of their sacrifices being accepted by God (v. 1), the entire city would become an altar; and God would make His people a sacrifice.
When did these things happen? God began to “turn on the heat” in 701 B.C. when Assyria marched triumphantly through Judah and almost took Jerusalem. God defeated Assyria in an instant (37:36), “suddenly” (29:5), like blowing away dust or chaff (v. 6). This discipline should have brought Judah back to the Lord; but after the death of Hezekiah, they returned to their sins. So, in 586 B.C., God sent the Babylonians, who conquered Jerusalem and destroyed it, taking thousands of Jews into captivity. God did His “strange work” and permitted His own people to be slain by the enemy. The city indeed was like an altar hearth, and thousands were sacrificed to the wrath of the enemy.
But Isaiah looked far down the highway of history to the end times when Jerusalem would be attacked by the armies of the world (vv. 7–8; Zech. 14:1–3). This is what prophetic students call “the battle of Armageddon,” though that title is not used in Scripture (Rev. 14:14–20; 16:13–21). When it looks as though the city is about to fall, and the enemy armies are sure of victory, Jesus Christ will return and deliver His people (19:11–21). The enemy victory will vanish.
Why were the people of Jerusalem so ignorant of what was going on? Their hearts were far from God (Isa. 29:13). They went through the outward forms of worship and faithfully kept the annual feasts (v. 1; 1:10ff), but it was not a true worship of God (Matt. 15:1–9). Going to the temple was the popular thing to do, but most of the people did not take their worship seriously. Therefore, God sent a “spiritual blindness” and stupor on His people so that they could not understand their own Law. Such blindness persists today (Rom. 11:8; 2 Cor. 3:13–18). If people will not accept the truth, then they must become more and more blind and accept lies. (See John 9:39–41 and 2 Thes. 2:1–12.) (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (pp. 73–74). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Because of this willful blindness, God will send judicial blindness so that those who had no heart for His Word will be given over to strong delusion and believe the lie of the Antichrist, that they all might be judged who obeyed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Outwardly they kept up the form of religion, and professed to worship and honor the God of their fathers, even when in works they denied Him. Because of this, judgment, long delayed, must be poured out; and this has been true throughout all the centuries since the hand of God first fell upon them because of their disobedience to His Word and their rejection of the Saviour that He provided. In the time of the end their unbelief will come to its full consummation, when instead of the Christ of God they accept the false Messiah, the Man of Sin, and thus fill up their cup of inquity to the brim. Then God will deal with them in unsparing judgment, destroying the apostate part of the nation, but saving a remnant who will turn to Him in that hour of desperate sorrow and will become the nucleus of the new nation to be blessed under Messiah’s rule when He appears in glory to set up the kingdom of God in visible manifestation here on the earth, returning to the very city where He was crucified and from which He ascended to heaven. His feet shall stand on that day on the Mount of Olives, and He will take over His great power and reign. (Ironside, H. A. (1952). Expository notes on the prophet Isaiah. (pp. 180–181). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 13. Wherefore the Lord said, &c.] Concerning the hypocritical people of the Jews in Christ’s time, as the words are applied by our Lord himself, Matt. 15:7: forasmuch as thispeople draw near to me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me; Kimchi observes, there is a double reading of the word ננש, rendered draw near; in one reading of it, it signifies to be afflicted; and then the sense is, when this people are afflicted, with their mouth, and with their lips, they honour me; that is, when they are in distress, they pray unto him, and profess a great regard for him, speak honourably of him, and reverently to him, hoping he will help and relieve them; see ch. 26:16 but the other reading of the word, in which it has the signification of drawing near, is confirmed, not only by the Masora on the text, but by the citation of it in Matt. 15:7 and designs the approach of these people to God, in acts of religion and devotion, in praying to him, and praising of him, and expressing great love and affection for him, and zeal for his cause and interest; but were all outwardly, with their lips and mouths only: but have removed their heart far from me; these were not employed in his service, which is the main thing he requires and regards, but were engaged elsewhere; whilst their bodies were presented before him, and their mouths and lips were moving to him, their affections were not set upon him, nor the desires of their souls unto him, nor had they any real hearty concern for his glory: and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men; their worship of God was not according to the prescription of God, and his revealed will; but according to the traditions of the elders, which they preferred to the word of God, and, by observing them, transgressed it, and made it of no effect; see Matt. 15:3, 6, 9. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, p. 166). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Just before his death, David blesses Israel and gives his blessing to Solomon.
INSIGHT
How we spend our money is a powerful reflection of our value system. If we have strong spiritual values, we give our money generously to spiritual things. If we have primarily temporal values, we resist–and perhaps even resent–giving to spiritual things. After completing the temple, the Israelites rejoiced, “for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD” (v. 9). Where are your values? (Quiet Walk)
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WHAT HAPPENS IN REVIVAL? PART 1
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Acts 2:1-2
Consciousness of a power and of a presence is sometimes physical, as it was here in the “sound…of a rushing mighty wind.” But what believers are always conscious of is the sudden awareness of a glorious presence in their midst, such as they have never known before—a sense of power and a sense of glory. Sometimes this sense of power and glory is so great that people are prostrated to the ground by reason of it. As you hear of people literally fainting when they suddenly get a piece of good news that they have not expected, so when men and women experience this glorious presence, sometimes it is too much for their physical frame. We must not stay with these things, but they do emphasize the sense of God, the presence and the presidency of the Holy Ghost.
In any record of great men of the church who have given an account of how they have passed through times of revival, you will always find that what they experience is that they no longer merely have a belief in God—God has become a reality to them. God has come down, as it were, into their midst. In revivals the meeting is sometimes taken out of the hands of whoever may have been in charge, and the Holy Ghost begins to preside and to take charge, and everybody is aware of His presence and His glory and His power. That is what happened on the Day of Pentecost. That is what happens, in some measure and to some extent, in every revival that the church has ever known.
A Thought to Ponder
They no longer merely have a belief in God—God has become a reality to them.
(From Revival, p. 204., by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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In the Days of Thy Youth
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
Here is the wisest counsel a young person can receive. Though it was first written many years ago, it is more relevant than ever today when young people are being bombarded daily with the propaganda and practices of evolutionary humanism. They urgently need to realize that despite these pressures, they are not products of chance, with pleasure their only aim in life. They are special creations of God, with a high and holy purpose destined for them by their Creator.
If they will only recognize this fact, acknowledging God, in Christ, as Creator and Savior while they are young, trusting and obeying His Word as they mature, they can anticipate a life of fulfillment. “I have been young, and now am old,” David said, “yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalm 37:25).
If they refuse their Creator in the days of their youth, however, then it will become increasingly difficult to remember their Creator as the years go by. Few are converted in later life. They can only anticipate the bitterness and regrets of old age and death, as described so vividly in the verses following our text. Under the figure of a decaying house symbolizing their aging bodies, the forlorn picture is drawn of fading eyesight, trembling hands, buckling knees, sleepless nights, easy irritability, increasing senility, and other aspects of approaching death—all with no pleasure in them because they long ago had forgotten their Creator. Remember now thy Creator, young man, young woman! Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Therefore, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Genesis 40
Joseph is confined in prison.
INSIGHT
Joseph is one of the finest examples in the Bible of faithfulness in the face of tribulation. Wherever he was, Joseph lived for the glory of God. He demonstrated that he could be trusted in the tough times, thereby making himself eligible for God to use him in other settings. Joseph was faithful over small things, so God was able to set him over large things.
Most of our failures come with the small things. It rarely occurs to us that the challenge of the moment is to demonstrate ourselves faithful at that point. Then — and only then — will we be trusted in the greater things. Joseph is a good reminder. (Quiet Walk)
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But Jesus knew the instability of the man who still tried to stand in his own strength and in his own self-trust. (p. 148)
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If we insist upon trusting ourselves, our training, our education, our talents and our human judgment – we make God less than He is and we make man more than he is! We take the the glory from God and give it to our converted and sanctified self – and that is shameful, because it takes from God the ultimate and final trust. (p. 148)
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I claim nothing and my testimony is the same as Martin Luther’s prayer: “Oh, Lord Jesus, Thou art my righteousness – I am Thy sin!”
The only sin Jesus had was mine, Luther’s and yours – and the only righteousness we can ever have is His. (p. 152, I Talk Back to the Devil by A. W. Tozer)
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