ISAIAH 30
Israel looking to Egypt for help verse 1- 5
Woe to the rebellious children – says the LORD
that take counsel – BUT not of ME
and that cover with a covering
BUT not of MY spirit
that they may add SIN to SIN
that walk to go down into Egypt
and have not asked at MY mouth
to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh
and to trust in the shadow of Egypt
THEREFORE shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame
and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion
For his princes were at Zoan
and his ambassadors came to Hanes
They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them
nor be an help nor profit – BUT a shame
and also a reproach
Israel pays Egypt for help verse 6- 7
The burden of the beasts of the south
into the land of trouble and anguish
from whence come the young and old lion
the viper and fiery flying serpent
they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of
young asses – and their treasures upon the
bunches of camels
to a people that shall
not profit them
For the Egyptians shall help in vain – and to no purpose
THEREFORE have I cried concerning this
Their strength is to SIT STILL
Israel refuses to listen to the LORD verse 8- 11
Now go – write it before them in a table – and note it in a book
that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever
that this is a rebellious people – lying children
children that will not hear
the law of the LORD
which say to the seers
See not – and to the prophets
Prophesy not to us right things
speak to us smooth things – prophesy deceits
Get you out of the way – turn aside out of the path
cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us
Judgment of LORD: nothing to carry water with verse 12- 14
WHEREFORE thus says the Holy One of Israel
Because you despise this word
and trust in oppression and perverseness
and stay thereon – THEREFORE, this iniquity shall be to you
as a breach ready to fall
swelling out in a high wall
whose breaking comes suddenly
at an instant
AND he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel
that is broken in pieces – he shall not spare
so that
there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd
to take fire from the hearth
or to take water withal out of the pit
Israel refuses to return to the LORD verse 15- 17
For thus says the Lord GOD– the Holy One of Israel
In returning and rest shall you be saved
in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength
and you would not
BUT you said – NO – for we will flee on horses
THEREFORE, shall you flee – AND
We will ride upon the swift
THEREFORE, shall they that pursue you be swift
One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one
at the rebuke of five shall you flee
till you be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain
and as an ensign on an hill
Blessings promised to those who wait on the LORD verse 18
THEREFORE will the LORD wait – that HE may be gracious to you
and THEREFORE will HE be exalted
that HE may have mercy upon you
for the LORD is a God of judgment
blessed are all they that wait on HIM
Israel needs to pray to the LORD verse 19- 22
For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem – you shall weep no more
HE will be very gracious unto you at the voice of your cry
when HE shall hear it – HE will answer you
AND though the Lord give you the bread of adversity
and the water of affliction
yet shall not your teachers be removed
into a corner any more
BUT thine eyes shall see your teachers
and your ears shall hear a word behind you – saying
This is the way – walk you in it
when you turn to the right hand
and when you turn to the left
You shall defile also the covering of your graven images of silver
and the ornament of your molten images of gold
you shall cast them away as a menstruous cloth
you shall say unto it – Get you hence
Future blessings of Israel verse 23- 26
THEN shall HE give the rain of your seed
that you shall sow the ground withal
and bread of the increase of the earth
and it shall be fat and plenteous
IN THAT DAY shall thy cattle feed
in large pastures
The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground
shall eat clean provender
which hath been winnowed with the shovel
and with the fan
AND there shall be upon every high mountain – and upon every high hill
rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter
when the towers fall
MOREOVER the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun
and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold
as light of seven days
in the day that the LORD binds up the breach of HIS people
and heals the stroke of their wound
Description of anger of the LORD verse 27- 28
BEHOLD – the name of the LORD comes from far
burning with HIS anger
and the burden thereof is heavy
HIS lips are full of indignation
and HIS tongue as a devouring fire
and HIS breath as an overflowing stream
shall reach to the midst of the neck
to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity
and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people
causing them to err
LORD deals with Assyria verse 29-33
You shall have a song – as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept
and gladness of heart – as when on e goes with a pipe to come
into the mountain of the LORD
to the mighty One of Israel
AND the LORD shall cause HIS glorious voice to be heard
and shall show the lighting down of HIS arm
with the indignation of HIS anger
and with the flame of a devouring fire
with scattering – and tempest
and hailstones
For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down
which smote with a rod
And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass
which the LORD shall lay on him
it shall be with tabrets and harps
and in battles of shaking will HE fight with it
For Tophet is ordained of old – YEA – for the king it is prepared
he hath made it deep and large
the pile thereof is fire and much wood
The breath of the LORD – like a stream of brimstone does kindle it
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still. (7674 “sit still” [shebeth] means cessation, idleness, ceasing, or inactivity.
DEVOTION: There is a couple of ways to look at this prophecy of Isaiah. There are times when there is no activity because of laziness. There are times of inactivity because of confusion. There is inactivity because they can’t act at all.
In every circumstance there are two ways to go. There is the right way and there is the wrong way. Throughout Isaiah’s prophecy the children of Israel were picking the wrong way. Why?? The LORD continued to warn them that help from any other source was the “wrong way.” They would not listen.
HE instructed them to rely on HIM but they would not trust HIM. They were trusting in a nation that could not help. They were relying on Egypt that was unable to act. Their action was really inaction because it was getting them nowhere.
They had sent a large about of possessions to Egypt to pay them for their defense against the Assyrians. The LORD was informing them that they were wasting their money. It was leaving them and they would never get it back. So often the people of God waste their money giving it to those who can’t help them.
The LORD was going to send them the bread and water of adversity to get their attention. HE was telling them the right way to go. HE told them that when they cried HE would answer. They would be required to rest in HIM.
We find that we have a tendency to go to the world for help quicker than we go to the LORD. Yet we claim to believe the LORD is all-powerful. If the believe that HE is all-powerful, can HE be trusted to help us through any circumstance that comes our way? YES!!!
Do we trust HIM? Sorry to say, NO. HE usually is used as a last resort. Here the Israelites were told by the LORD to just cease from trying to save themselves through their own efforts and trust HIM. They refused.
How about us??? Are we going to wait on the LORD? Are we going to count on HIS strength in all circumstances? How come we don’t learn from their rebellion?
CHALLENGE: Inactivity is wrong. The LORD wants us to occupy until HIS return. Our actions should be done through prayer and fasting. This shows our trust in the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 15 For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and you would not. (1369 “strength” [gabuwrah] means might, valor, fortitude, victory, or achievement.)
DEVOTION: The LORD loves HIS people. The LORD sends messengers to give them HIS Words of instruction. The messengers give only what the LORD wants them to say.
There have always been false messengers who say they are from the LORD but are not. Their words contradict how the LORD acts normally. Those who are truly seeking the guidance of the LORD know through the ministry of the Holy Spirit who is telling the truth and who is lying. Discernment is given to the people of God.
Isaiah is giving a true message from the LORD. He calls the LORD the Holy One of Israel. Our God is a holy God. HE expects us to try with the help of the Holy Spirit to live lives that are pleasing to HIM. HE knows that we are sinners but expects us to confess our sin and walk in a direction pleasing to HIM.
If the children of Israel would listen to HIS messenger, Isaiah, they would return to HIM and rest in HIM. Return means that they have to stop committing the same sin repeatedly. They were living in sin rather than just committing an act of sin. The New Testament makes this distinction. Genuine followers of the LORD are not living in sin without the chastening of the LORD being present in their life.
Once those who are followers of the LORD return then they can rest in HIS presence and his salvation from any circumstance that comes their way. It would be great if all believers just rested in the LORD. HE wants us to turn our burdens over to HIM. The Israelites had the burden of the army of Assyria coming to destroy them.
This verse also states that those who rest in the LOR can have quietness in their life. Not only quietness but also confidence that the LORD will handle their present circumstance.
If God’s people could put this into practice there would be victory in their spiritual walk with the LORD and victory over their circumstances. The problem is that the Israelites would not put this into practice. They failed. The other problem is that this also happens in our lives too many times as we try to walk with the LORD.
CHALLENGE: If we want quietness and confidence in our life we have to rest in the LORD. The choice is ours on a daily basis. Victory is possible.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:18 Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore, He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him. The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
DEVOTION: In spite of our outright rebellion and stubborn refusal to listen and respond to the Lord and His word, He is patient and merciful. The people of Israel had been willing to listen to counselors and to make plans based on the suggestions of unbelievers (Egyptians and Assyrians). Yet to listen to the Lord and to follow His word was impractical. God warns them repeatedly and judgement will be severe. These truths are continually brought to the attention of the Israelites and He is faithful and make His word ring true.
In the midst of this clarion call of impending judgement God also reminds them of His plan for them and His desire to bless them in spite of their stiff neck and rebellious hearts. We serve a wonderful Savior who continually brings to us the reality of His love and grace in spite of us. He promises security, comfort and a response as we call out to Him.
Even though the discipline of a loving Savior is present there is, also, the assurance of correct instructions on where to walk and directions to reach the destination. Isaiah continually reminds the nation of Israel of God’s faithfulness and the New Testament books of Hebrews and Second Peter also remind believers of the dangers of listening to wrong advice and being rebellious followers.
CHALLENGE: Take a few minutes to ask the Lord if you are listening to the right voices in your life. There are many who are trying to direct and influence you today, make sure to listen to the right ones of the Lord! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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: 20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction; yet shall not your teachers be removed into a corner any more, but your eyes shall see your teachers. (6862 “adversity” [tsar] means an oppressive state of physical, mental, social, or economic adversity, distress, affliction, scarce, narrowness, distress, dread, or want.)
DEVOTION: Here we find that the LORD is allowing Israel to go through a time of distress because of their lack of trust in HIM. They would rather look after themselves than let the LORD lead them.
They were acting like the other nations around them and so the LORD allowed the other nations to conquer them, so that, they would find out that it was not as nice as they had it when they were obedient to HIM and HE protected them.
This happens today as well because many people who are believers think that they can go off on their own and do as they please and the LORD will bless them. But, as most find out it is not a good place to be with the LORD.
HE wants us to be obedient and allow HIM to lead and guide us in the right direction in our daily walk with HIM. If we do that we will realize the blessings that HE allows in our lives. HE also allows trials to see what we will do during those times. If we depend on HIM and allow HIM to guide us through them. we will grow in our relationship with HIM but if we don’t turn to HIM during those times we will struggle.
The children of Israel struggled a lot because of their lack of obedience and we do the same even today.
CHALLENGE: What is HE teaching you at this time period in our life? Are you learning? HE wants us to grow closer to HIM each day.
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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)
Write in a book verse 8
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)
Cry verse 19
Answered prayer verse 19
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Song verse 29
Holy solemnity verse 29
Gladness of heart verse 29
Tabrets and harps verse 32
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Law of the LORD verse 9
Word verse 21
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 9, 18, 26, 27, 29- 33
Law of the LORD verse 9
Holy One of Israel verse 11, 12, 15
Judgment of God verse 13, 14
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 15, 20
GOD – Jehovah verse 15
Lord GOD verse 15
Longsuffering of the LORD verse 18
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 18
Gracious verse 18
Exalted verse 18
Mercy verse 18
LORD is a God of judgment verse 18
Hears prayers verse 19
Answers prayer verse 19
Gives bread of adversity verse 20
Gives water of affliction verse 20
Give the rain verse 23
Give land a harvest that is fat and plenteous verse 23
LORD binds up the breach verse 26
LORD heals the stroke of wound verse 26
Name of the LORD verse 27
Anger of the LORD verse 27, 30
Lips are full of indignation verse 27
His lips as a devouring fire verse 27
His breath as an overflowing stream verse 28
Mountain of the LORD verse 29
Mighty One of Israel verse 29
Voice of the LORD verse 30, 31
Flame of a devouring fire verse 30
Breath of the LORD verse 33
like stream of brimstone kindles it
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit verse 1
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)
Egypt verse 2, 3, 7
Pharaoh verse 2- 7
Princes in Zoan
Ambassadors in Hanes
Trouble and anguish
Seers verse 10
Prophets verse 10
Nations verse 28
Assyrian verse 31
Tophet verse 33
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Rebellious verse 1, 9
No counsel of God verse 1, 2
Sin verse 1
Go down into Egypt verse 2
Not asking LORD for help verse 2
Shame verse 3, 5
Trust in Egypt verse 3
Confusion verse 3
Reproach verse 5
Sit still verse 7
Lying verse 9
Not hear the laws of the LORD verse 9
Not want to hear prophets verse 10, 12
Speak smooth things verse 10
Deceits verse 10
Turn out of the path verse 11
Despise God’s word verse 12
Trust in oppression and perverseness verse 12
Iniquity verse 13
Not trusting in the LORD verse 15
Defile verse 22
Graven images verse 22
Molten images verse 22
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Counsel of God verse 1
Covering of the Holy Spirit verse 1
Returning to LORD verse 15
Rest in the LORD verse 15
Saved verse 15
Quietness verse 15
Confidence verse 15
Gracious verse 18, 19
Mercy verse 18
Blessed verse 18
Waiting on the LORD verse 18
Weep no more verse 19
Cry [prayer] verse 19
Answered prayer verse 19
Bread of adversity verse 20
Water of affliction verse 20
Teachers verse 20
Hear the Word verse 21, 30
Walk in the Word verse 21
Rain (Prosperity) verse 23- 26
Healing verse 26
Song verse 29
Gladness of heart verse 29
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Zion verse 19
Jerusalem verse 19
Teachers verse 20
Tophet verse 33
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Time to come for ever and ever verse 8
In that day verse 23
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QUOTES regarding passage
1 The occasion is still the proposal to enter into alliance with Egypt as a defense against Assyria, whose dark shadow looms menacingly on the eastern horizon. Several commentators have noticed the double entendre in v.1, though the NIV translation “obstinate” instead of “rebellious” tends to obscure this. The rebellion against Assyria was at the same time a revolt against God. The verb sārar is often used of a rebellious son (cf. Deut 21:18, 20; Ps 78:8; Jer 5:23); and the full phrase “rebellious children” reminds us of Isaiah 1:2, though the verb is different there. The Christian reader, noting the parallelism in v.1, may view its phrasing as establishing that Isaiah had a Trinitarian theology, or, at least, that to him God and his Spirit were one. It is doubtful, however, whether so much can be built on it; for the Spirit may be looked on here simply as the agent of God’s will, revealing his purpose to the people through the prophet for their obedience.
The accumulation of sin by the people is probably an allusion to the alliance with Assyria in the days of Ahaz, a device to secure aid against Israel and Syria. This, of course, forms the background to the oracles in chapters 7–9. The political alignment was now different but expressed the same sin—refusal to trust in the Lord and him alone. (Grogan, G. W. (1986). Isaiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 194). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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30:1. This woe (see comments on 3:9) was pronounced against those in Judah who wanted to form an alliance. The prophet spoke to those people as if they were children, and obstinate children at that. Like children, they did not have the proper perspective to know what was best for them. Floundering in their desire to save themselves and their nation, they were forming plans but not God’s plans. Actually their plans were sinful because they were not what God wanted them to do. (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. 1080). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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This fourth “woe” begins with God’s rebuke of the nation’s rebellion (vv. 1–17). Isaiah opened his prophecy with this accusation (1:2, 20, 23), and he ends it on that same note (63:10; 65:2). After all that God had done for His people, they turned away from Him and sought the help of feeble Egypt. Unlike the leaders of old, the rulers of Jerusalem did not seek the will of God: Moses (Num. 27:21), Joshua (Josh. 9:14), David (1 Sam. 30:7–8), and Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:7ff). Egypt was but a shadow, and what could a shadow do against the great Assyrian army?
Isaiah then uttered an oracle (burden) concerning the caravan that was then traveling from Jerusalem to Egypt with treasures to buy protection against Assyria (Isa. 30:6–7). He saw the burdened animals making their way through the difficult and dangerous terrain of the Negev (the south), and he cried, “It is all to no profit! It is useless! The Egyptians will help in vain!” In verse 7, which should be read in a recent translation, Isaiah gives a nickname to Egypt: “Rahab-hem-shebeth,” which means “Rahab the do-nothing.” (Rahab is one of the names for Egypt in the Old Testament.)
It was bad enough that Judah rebelled against God by trusting Egypt instead of trusting Jehovah, and depending on money instead of on God’s power, but they even went so far as to completely reject the Word of God (vv. 8–11). God told Isaiah to make a placard that said, “This is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the Law of the Lord” (v. 9). He carried this sign as he walked around Jerusalem, and no doubt most of the people laughed at him. The leaders did not want to hear God’s truth; they wanted “pleasant words” from the false prophets, sermons that would not disturb their comfortable way of life. Is the situation much different today? (See Jer. 6:14; 8:11; and 1 Kings 22:1–28.) (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (pp. 76–77). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The invasion of the Assyrian was but one of the evidences of God’s displeasure with His people because of their waywardness. Instead of turning to the One they had sinned against, confessing their iniquities and judging themselves for their idolatry and their unreality, even in connection with the temple worship, they turned to their old enemy, hoping for assistance against the invader. It seemed, doubtless, to the leaders among them the path of wisdom thus to make a friend of Egypt in order that they might be strengthened against Assyria, but it was a mere human expedient and therefore doomed to failure. They hoped by such an alliance to ward off the impending danger. How much wiser they would have been had they taken the place of repentance toward God and sought counsel, not of worldly-minded leaders, but of God Himself who was at this time speaking to them through Isaiah and other prophets. May we not see in their attitude a lesson for ourselves today? How apt we are in times of stress to depend upon some human expedient instead of relying on the living God. It is always an evidence of declension when Christians look to the world for help rather than turning to the Lord Himself, whose chastening hand may be upon them because of unjudged sin. He always stands ready to meet His people in grace, and we are told that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). But we are ever prone to forget this and to try to find a way out of our difficulties by human means instead of reliance upon the omnipotent God. Just as Judah involved themselves in deeper trouble by their folly in turning to Egypt, so do we always make conditions worse when, instead of looking to God, we endeavor by fleshly means to extricate ourselves from the difficult circumstances into which our own failures have plunged us. (Ironside, H. A. (1952). Expository notes on the prophet Isaiah. (pp. 185–186). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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: 1 Obstinate children: ‘rebellious sons’ (cf. 1:2, 5, 23). Declares (nĕum): see 1:24. Alliance: massēkâ was translated ‘blanket’ in 28:20; the idea is of a protective covering. My Spirit: see on 31:3. The preposition by is not expressed in the Hebrew, but may be introduced legitimately, as in niv. In this case (by) my Spirit is parallel to mine (‘from me’), emphasizing the lack of divine authorization. On the other hand, ‘not my Spirit’ would parallel alliance, the covering they might have had if they had not chosen otherwise. Sin upon sin: the first sin was acting without divine prompting, the second, seeking a ‘covering’ other than the divine Spirit. The first recourse of the Lord’s people, whether for wisdom or provision, is the Lord himself; any other course is sin (ḥaṭṭā’t), a falling short of their true dignity. (Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, pp. 218–219). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press)
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Ver. 1. Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, &c.] The Jews, who were, by national adoption, and by outward profession of religion, the children of God, but were apostates from him, had turned their backs upon him, deviated from his law, and departed from his worship and ordinances; and therefore a woe is pronounced against them, or they are called upon to consider of their evil ways, and return, that iniquity might not be their ruin: that take counsel, but not of me; they met and consulted together about their safety, when in danger, but did not ask counsel of the Lord; they did not consult his word, nor his prophets, nor by Urim and Thummim, as in case of war they should more especially: and that cover with, a covering, but not of my spirit; they sought for a cover, a shelter, a protection from the enemy, but not from the spirit of the Lord, in his word and prophets, who would have directed them to a more suitable and sufficient one. Kimchi understands this of their covert and secret counsels, which they laid deep, as they fancied, and sought to hide. The Targum of the former clause and this is, “that take counsel, but not of my word; that consult a consultation, but do not ask of my prophets:” that they may add sin to sin; the sins of consulting others, and of putting confidence in a creature, to their other sins of rebellion and apostacy: so wicked men, who are enemies in their minds, by wicked works, to God, and commit acts of hostility against him, and are in danger thereby of eternal ruin, do not consult the word and ministers of the Gospel, but flesh and blood, carnal sense and reason, and seek to cover themselves with the rags of their own righteousness, and not with the robe of Christ’s righteousness, and garments of salvation, which the spirit of God reveals and brings near; and so to their other sins they add that of trusting to their own righteousness, and not submitting to Christ’s. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, pp. 169–170). 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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A Note from Pastor Brian
Hello Northview,
At the last church business meeting, we were excited to welcome 4 new families into membership. If you are interested in becoming a member please reach out to me. At that same meeting, we introduced the core values of Northview. The elders and ministry leaders had been working on these values since January. In September, I will be preaching through these values to help us better understand them. Below are the core values and their statements. Please read through them. If you have any questions, please contact me or the elders.
Everyone a Bible Student – Northview holds the Bible as the only inspired, authoritative Word of God that equips believers to be effectual doers of its teachings. A sound biblical understanding of the Bible is central to our ministries.
Everyone a Loving Servant – Northview attendees use their spiritual gifts and natural abilities for the good of the church and the community. We lovingly care for the needs of others.
Everyone a Welcoming Friend – At Northview, we welcome and greet each person who is new to Northview and love well those who call Northview home. We welcome all people to worship with us as we seek to grow into the image of Christ.
Everyone a Disciple-maker – Northview is committed to seeing lives transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit as those from every age group and stage of life grow in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe all followers of Jesus should strive to be disciples who make disciples who make disciples.
Everyone a Worshiper – As the church gathers, we value a God-honoring Sunday morning worship time for both those who can meet in person and those who visit us virtually.
Everyone a Missionary – At Northview, the church is the people and not a place. The church gathers regularly for teaching, encouragement, singing, prayer, and then disperses among those who do not yet know the Lord as witnesses to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. (Our son Brian is instructing his Church regarding goals for the year)
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This term of the U.S. Supreme Court has been consequential, to say the least. In addition to the landmark decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, the court has now issued a second ruling that protects religious freedom. The first, issued about a week ago, protects religious institutions from being singled out and discriminated against by state-run entities and programs. The 6–3 decision was consistent with previous rulings in Trinity Lutheran v. Comer and Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue that state programs available to non-religious entities cannot be withheld from religious entities simply because they are religious. Instead, the state bears the burden of proof to demonstrate a compelling state interest in discriminating against religious institutions. It remains to be seen whether state officials have finally gotten the message.
This week, the court handed down their decision on Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, or what’s become known as the “Coach Kennedy Case.” High school football coach Joe Kennedy was fired for praying on the football field after games by school officials who kept (pun intended) “moving the goal posts” about what religious expressions were allowed.
Contrary to various news reports, Kennedy never forced student athletes, coaches, or anyone else to join him. After school officials raised concerns, he even agreed to pray silently by himself. However, he was told that if he insisted on closing his eyes in silent prayer, he must do it somewhere out of sight. Coach Kennedy rightly recognized their demands as a violation of his right to free religious expression and took his case to the Supreme Court with the aid of First Liberty Institute.
On Monday, the court ruled overwhelmingly for Coach Kennedy, on both free speech and free exercise grounds. As Justice Gorsuch wrote in the majority opinion:
By its own admission, the District sought to restrict Mr. Kennedy’s actions at least in part because of their religious character. Prohibiting a religious practice was thus the District’s unquestioned “object.” The District explained that it could not allow an on duty employee to engage in religious conduct even though it allowed other on-duty employees to engage in personal secular conduct. (Break Point)
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Josiah leads Judah into righteousness.
INSIGHT
It is almost impossible to imagine the Law could have gotten lost in Jerusalem. How could that have happened? The whole nation is to worship the Lord; the dominant building in Jerusalem is the temple. Israel’s entire history revolves around the giving and preservation of the Law. How can this happen? Neglect has a poor memory. How quickly we can drift from the Lord in just a short time of spiritual staleness. Consider our nation. The moral fiber we had 20 years ago is nonexistent today. People are people. Israel drifted the same way–but for a longer time. This ought to serve as a warning to us; the same can happen to us as individuals. (Quiet Walk)
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WHAT HAPPENS IN REVIVAL? PART 2
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4
In a revival the church is given great assurance concerning the truth. It does not have to investigate the truth or set up a commission to look into it. It is given an absolute certainty about it. That is the thing that comes out so clearly in the story in Acts. Take these men, these apostles. You remember how a few weeks before, after the crucifixion, they were very shaken and most uncertain. They had come to a belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, and they had come to see that He was the Messiah; but then He was crucified, and they were shattered and confused in their minds.
You will find, in the last chapter of John’s Gospel, that they were just talking to one another when Peter suddenly said, “I will go fishing. I must do something to relieve this; it is too miserable; it is impossible.” And the others said, “We will go with you.”
You cannot imagine a more dejected picture. They were shaken and uncertain about everything. And then the Lord appeared to them, and He taught them. Ah, yes, this certainly put them in a better condition. But it was only after…the Day of Pentecost that they were filled with assurance and understanding and immediately began to speak to the people about the wonderful works of God. Never again was there any doubt; never again was there any difficulty about understanding. Take Peter himself; look at the sermon that he preached on that occasion. He was absolutely certain and assured. That is something that is absolutely universal in times of revival.
A Thought to Ponder: Never again was there any doubt; never again was there any difficulty about understanding.
(From Revival, pp. 204-205, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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A Keeper at All Times
“He that keepeth thee will not slumber.” (Psalm 121:3)
Everyone needs that one person who “has your back,” especially in times of calamity. But who is equipped to fill this keeper role unilaterally and compassionately “by day [or] by night” (Psalm 121:6)?
The Hebrew word for “keeper” found in Psalm 121 is samar, meaning to guard or keep watch. David directs believers to look to that one Person who holds us fast, keeping watch over us. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD [Yahweh], which made heaven and earth” (v. 1). As pilgrims journeyed to Jerusalem to attend major temple feasts, they would sing and meditate on this Ascent Psalm, reminding themselves that their help came only from the Creator of the universe—Yahweh!
But this psalm is not just for David and these pilgrims. David changed the personal pronouns “I” and “my” in the first two verses to “thee” and “thy” in verses 3-8. David’s keeper is every believer’s keeper! All believers have Yahweh’s protection, underscored by His “keeping role” being repeated six times in the next five verses.
- “He that keepeth thee will not slumber” (v. 3).
- “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (v. 4).
- “The LORD is thy keeper” (v. 5).
- “The LORD shall [keep] thee from all evil” (v. 7a).
- “He shall [keep] thy soul” (v. 7b).
- “The LORD shall [keep] thy going out and thy coming in” (v. 8a).
Believer, be assured we have an eternal keeper “from this time forth, and even for evermore” (v. 8b). (CM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Run From Sin
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22
Twice this summer I suffered the scourge of poison ivy. Both times it happened, I was working on clearing away unwanted plant growth from our yard. And both times, I saw the nasty, three-leafed enemy lurking nearby. I figured I could get close to it without it affecting me. Soon enough, I realized I’d been wrong. Instead of getting nearer to my little green nemesis, I should have run the other way!
In the Old Testament story of Joseph, we see modeled the principle of running from something worse than poison ivy: sin. When he was living in the home of Egyptian official Potiphar, whose wife tried to seduce him, Joseph didn’t try to get close—he ran.
Although she falsely accused him and had him thrown in prison, Joseph remained pure throughout the episode. And as we see in Genesis 39:21, “The Lord was with him.”
God can help us flee activities and situations that could lead us away from Him—guiding us to run the other way when sin is nearby. In 2 Timothy 2:22, Paul writes, “Flee the evil desires.” And in 1 Corinthians 6:18, he says to “flee from sexual immorality.”
In God’s strength, may we choose to run from those things that could harm us.
By Dave Branon (Our Daily Bread)
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This behavior, Gorsuch concluded, was unacceptable.
Here, a government entity sought to punish an individual for engaging in a personal religious observance, based on a mistaken view that it has a duty to suppress religious observances even as it allows comparable secular speech. The Constitution neither mandates nor tolerates that kind of discrimination.
Often, religious liberty violations are more symptoms of bureaucratic inertia or ignorance, than of animus. The first few letters sent by school officials to Coach Kennedy asking him to stop praying are not rantings of radical atheists. Officials acknowledged Coach Kennedy was “well-intentioned” and never forced students to participate in his religious observances. Still, they asked him to stop out of fear they would be sued for a First Amendment violation. In the end, they failed to understand the First Amendment and violated it themselves.
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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)
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Because change is everywhere around us at all times on this earth and among human beings, it is difficult for us to grasp the eternal and unchanging nature and person of Jesus Christ. (p. 153)
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Actually, our craze for activity brings few enriching benefits into our Christian circles. If you look into our churches, you will find groups of half-saved, half sanctified, carnal people who know more about social niceties than they do about the New Testament and more about love stories and soap operas than they do about the Holy Spirit. (p. 156, I Talk Back to the Devil by A. W. Tozer)
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Saving Faith and True Creation
“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Hebrews 11:3)
This is the very first object and example of faith in the Bible’s great “faith chapter,” Hebrews 11. This fact strongly argues that any truly meaningful and effective faith must be founded, first of all, on the revealed fact of special creation—creation ex nihilo—not creation through some protracted, naturalistic, imaginary process of evolution. All of the “worlds” (Greek aion—that is, the “space/ times”—the continuum of space and time which constitutes the physical cosmos) were simply called into existence by God’s omnipotent word. “He spake, and it was done” (Psalm 33:9). In no way did He have to start with some chaotic form of matter already in existence. Jesus Christ—the Word of God (John 1:14)—created space and time as well as matter/energy. “By him were all things created” (Colossians 1:16). “Without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3).
Right at the end of the previous chapter, the apostle asserts that “the just shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38) and concludes by speaking of those “that believe [literally ‘have faith’] to the saving of the soul” (v. 39). Following immediately then is his definition of faith, and after that the great progression of objects and examples of faith in Hebrews 11. Heading the list of these, of course, is faith in the special creation of all things by the Word of God. The necessary conclusion is that a “living” faith and “saving” faith must be founded, first of all, on the fact of supernatural creation of all things by God in the beginning.
Evolution is also based on faith, but it is contrary to Scripture and to true science. “Theistic evolution” is a false faith, and those Christians who believe such things should carefully examine their hearts in the light of God’s Word. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Genesis 41
Joseph rises to power.
INSIGHT
God does the work of God, and man does the work of man. The work of man is faithfulness to what God has called him; the work of God is results. If we reverse the two, we can drive ourselves to an early grave. If we keep them in line, we can labor with freedom.
We need not get puffed up with pride when things go well, nor need we get distressed when things go poorly. To Pharaoh’s question, Joseph answered, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (Genesis 41:16). Our job is faithfulness; God’s job is results. (Quiet Walk)
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No Matter What
BY BARBARA RAINEY
[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – 1 CORINTHIANS 13:7
It didn’t take me long to realize that Dennis was not like my father. My dad was an all-American “Mr. Fixit.” He loved working around the house and the yard—making repairs, painting, tinkering on the car. Dennis, on the other hand, declared early on in jest that “if you can’t fix something with baling wire and duct tape, you should throw it away and get a new one.” Working around the house was simply not his thing.
I remember the early days in our marriage. Dennis would be plopped in his easy chair in front of the television, and I would circle him like a vulture, trying to give him a gentle hint of how I felt he could better use his time. Dennis and I have come a long way since then. He’s still not Mr. Fixit, but he tries. And somewhere along the way he developed an enjoyment of garden-
ing so that he could spend time with me.
Meanwhile, I’ve learned the importance of loving my husband unconditionally. I need to receive Dennis as a gift from God. And I need to remember that God is working in his life. In our first month of marriage, Dennis took the initiative to make a small financial investment, and we lost money. At that point, I faced a choice of my own: Would I accept him, or would I make him feel like a further failure?
I realized God wanted to use this mistake to teach Dennis how to become dependent on Christ and be a better husband. I needed to let Him work in my husband’s life. At times like this, a wife learns that love is not all feelings. This is where you honor your wedding vows and say, “You are the man God gave me and I’m committed to you, no matter what.”
DISCUSS
What are the ways you complement one another in your marriage? See how many you can list. (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
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OUR FELLOWSHIP IN HIS SUFFERINGS
That I may know…the fellowship of his sufferings.
Philippians 3:10
I would now like to emphasize our fellowship in Christ’s sufferings, and our fellowship even in His death. Paul says in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” What great thoughts! We must work them out, think them out, and pray them out.
Paul put it another way in Colossians 1:24: “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.” I do not pretend to understand that fully, but I do know that there is no higher statement of the doctrine of the union of the believer with His Lord. The apostle interprets his own sufferings in the flesh and in the body as, in a sense, filling up what remains of the sufferings and the afflictions of Christ Himself. Paul is bearing that in his own flesh. The result of the mystical union is that he enters into this mystical fellowship of the sufferings of Christ. There were people living in the Middle Ages of whom it is said that they so meditated upon and contemplated their Lord and all that He had done for them that some of them even developed in their physical hands the imprint of nails, the stigmata. It is not impossible. Such things do happen.
But all I am concerned to emphasize is that the more deeply we realize the truth about this union between us and our Lord, the more we shall know something of the fellowship of His sufferings. In this world He was “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah53:3). That was because of the sin of the world. And because He saw the enmity of the human heart against His Father, it hurt Him, it grieved Him, and He suffered. There is no more delicate test of our relationship to Him and our union with Him than the extent to which you and I know something of His suffering.
A Thought to Ponder: The result of the mystical union is mystical fellowship with the sufferings of Christ. (From God the Holy Spirit, pp. 115-116, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Wayne writes (NY): My thermometer is at 5°F. My friend (the cat) is “prayerfully” asking for me to let him go out. I know it would not be good for him. So despite his pleas I am putting off his request until a better time.
The cat has taught me a valuable lesson this morning. My Heavenly Father knows what is best for me! Sometimes I think that I know and ask Him for what I want, and I want it right now. But I’m not much smarter than my cat. God knows what is best for me. He may plan for later or not at all. Should I accept His wisdom or plow ahead on my own? Hmmm. I think I’ll wait on Him. How about you?
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