ISAIAH 32
Righteous King is coming verse 1- 2
Behold a king shall reign in righteousness
and princes shall rule in judgment
And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind
and a covert from the tempest
as rivers of water in a dry place
as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land
Gift of understanding given verse 3- 4
And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim
and the ears of them that hear shall hearken
The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge
and the tongue of the stammerers
shall be ready to speak plainly
Time of Vile person will end verse 5- 8
The vile person shall be no more called liberal
nor the churl said to be bountiful
For the vile person will speak villany
and his heart will work iniquity – to practice hypocrisy
and to utter error against the LORD
to make empty the soul of the hungry
and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail
The instruments also of the churl are evil
he devises wicked devices to destroy the poor
with lying words
even when the needy speaks right
But the liberal devises liberal things
and by liberal things shall he stand
Hard days are coming verse 9- 15
Rise up – you women that are at ease
hear my voice
you careless daughters give ear unto my speech
Many days and years shall you be troubled – you careless women
for the vintage shall fail – the gathering shall not come
Tremble – you women that are at ease – be troubled
you careless ones – strip you – make you bare
gird sackcloth upon your loins
They shall lament for the teats – for the pleasant fields
for the fruitful vine
Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers
YEA – on all the houses of joy in the joyous city
Because the palaces shall be forsaken
the multitude of the city shall be left
the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever
a joy of wild asses – a pasture of flocks
Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high
and the wilderness be a fruitful field
and the fruitful field be counted for a forest
Time of peace and safety verse 16- 20
THEN judgment shall dwell in the wilderness
and righteousness remain in the fruitful field
And the work of righteousness shall be peace
and the effect of righteousness
quietness assurance for ever
And MY people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation
and in sure dwellings
and in quiet resting places
WHEN it shall hail – coming down on the forest
and the city shall be low in a low place
Blessed are you that sow beside all waters
that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, And princes will rule with justice. The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
DEVOTION: “A picture of the ideal king and government, fully realized in Messiah when He comes again to establish His righteous government of earth.” (Ryrie Study notes) He comes before us here, not only as a King but as a Saviour. He will be someone that will protect and cover His followers regardless of the circumstances. While we struggle with the sin and depth of depravity that wracks our society Christ foretells of a future where wickedness, deceit and foolishness will be exposed. In the church age we are left here to be light and salt to a world that is in need of a Savior. We are expected to be torches and preservatives in the decaying state of a sinful society. Do not grow weary in the task that Christ has appointed you to accomplish. Examine your life and follow Jesus closely, then anticipate the return of our Sovereign and Holy Savior!
CHALLENGE: May our prayer be that of John in Revelation 22:20, “Amen, Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 For the vile person will speak villany and his heart will work iniquity, to practice hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. (5039 “villany” [n@balah] means senselessness, folly, foolishness, implying moral failure, senselessness, disgraceful, profane actions or disgrace.)
DEVOTION: There are many fools in the world. The word for “vile” is Nabal, which means fool. Abigail was married to a man by that name. He mistreated David before he was king. He humiliated David and David was going to kill him before Nabal’s pleaded for his life. Nabal was kill by the LORD.
The fool has said in his heart that “There is no God.” There were people living in Israel who were guilty of this belief. They faked their relationship with the LORD. They were ignorant of God and how HE worked in our world.
Here we have a fool who speaks senselessness. He speaks folly. He is a disgrace. Isaiah tells us that he practices hypocrisy. He practices speaking false doctrine. He leaves the empty soul hungry for the truth of the Word of God. He causes people who are thirty for the Living Water to go away thirsty.
Does this sound like many churches today? There are pastors who quote everything but the Word of God on Sunday. There are many Bible believing churches that teach very little of the Bible each Sunday. There are many people leaving Bible believing churches that are hungry for the Word and thirty for the Living Water and leave empty. This should not ever happen. Let’s spread the Word each Sunday.
Warning there are many ignorant people in our world who need to know the truth of the Word of God. Some will listen but others will not listen. Our responsibility is to reach all those we can. The fools will have to stand before the LORD on judgment day and answer for their foolishness. We will stand before the LORD at the Bema Seat of Judgment for the rewards we will receive for our faithful service to HIM. Speak to everyone with the realization that most will not be willing to listen because they are blinded by their sin nature and an unwillingness to admit they are wrong. Only a fool thinks he is never wrong.
CHALLENGE: Never give up. Everyone is worth a witness.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 15 Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. (3759 “fruitful” [karmel] means plantation, garden-land, orchard, or garden-growth.)
DEVOTION: This is passage that is surrounded with warning of judgment because the children of Israel were disobeying the LORD. They were called a vile people. They were wicked in their relationship to the LORD and to others. There was going to be a time of captivity because of their disobedience.
However, with every warning and judgment there was a promise of hope. This promise was yet future but it was still coming. Isaiah told of a time when the Holy Spirit would be poured out on the land.
Not only Isaiah but many of the prophets told of a future time period when the Holy Spirit would be very active. HE is active now but at that time period HE was going to be more active.
On the day of Pentecost we have the Holy Spirit filling the disciples so that they could preach with amazing results. They had the Holy Spirit come on them as cloven tongue. They were able to speak in the known languages of many people from other nations that were in Jerusalem. Luke quotes a passage in Joel related to the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Other references to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit are found in Ezekiel (Ezek. 36:26-27; 37:14), Joel (Joel 2:28-29), and Zechariah (Zech. 12:10, niv marg).
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was nothing compared to what was going to happen in the future during the Millennium. It will be a time period with Christ reigning as King. The land will be fertile beyond belief. These who sow will be followed directly by those who reap. The Promised Land will be so full of produce that no one will go hungry.
Until that day we find that there are going to be hungry in the Promised Land during the time period of Isaiah until the present day and beyond. Sin had affected not only human being but the animal kingdom and plant kingdom. The world is presently groaning until the time period when Christ will reign.
CHALLENGE: We need to look forward to a time period when we will reign with Christ during the Millennial period. It is a time period of hope. We need to share this hope with all those who are around us. There is future hope to those who are presently living in hard times.
________________________________________________________
: 17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever. (983 “assurance” [betach] means safely, security, a state of confident hopefulness that events will be favorable, without worry, peacefully, or undefended condition.)
DEVOTION: All those who are genuine believers are covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. HE paid the price for those who are genuine believers by his death on the cross for their sins.
The LORD wants those who are believers to understand that because of Christ we can have a peace that the world doesn’t understand. It is a peace that lasts through eternity. With this promise we need to face each day with the knowledge that HE is there to give us this peace, no matter the circumstances that we face on that day.
Not only is there peace but we can let the LORD answer all the questions or trials that we face from those around us. HE is going to help us not only face the questions but give us answers that will cause them to step back and wonder where we received the wisdom from to give the answers.
If we understand what the provisions of salvation that are given to us at the time we become a genuine believer we will never doubt when we are faced with questions from those who don’t know the LORD.
CHALLENGE: We are to have the peace that passes understanding in this evil world each day. We are to thank the LORD each day for this peace. We are not to doubt HIS provision.
_________________________________________________________
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)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
_______________________________________________________________
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
MY people verse 18
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
King shall reign in righteousness verse 1
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit poured out verse 15
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)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Vile person verse 5, 6
Iniquity verse 6
Practice hypocrisy verse 6
Utter error against the LORD verse 6
Make empty the soul of the hungry verse 6
Evil verse 7
Wicked devices verse 7
Destroy the poor with lying words verse 7
Hurt the needy verse 7
Liberal things verse 8
At ease individuals verse 9, 11
Careless verse 9- 11
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Righteousness verse 1, 16, 17
Eyes that see verse 3
Ears that hear verse 3
Understand knowledge verse 4
Tongue speak plainly verse 4
Joy verse 13
Spirit poured out verse 15
Judgment verse 16
Peace verse 17, 18
Quietness verse 17, 18
Assurance verse 17
Blessed verse 20
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
King verse 1
Princes verse 1
Joyous city verse 13
God’s people verse 18
Peaceable habitation verse 18
Sure dwelling verse 18
Quiet resting place verse 18
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
___________________________________________________________
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
____________________________________________________________
QUOTES regarding passage
That great time-the Millennium-will come about after the Holy Spirit is poured out (cf. 44:3) on Israel (us) from on high. Other prophets also spoke of this outpouring of the Holy Spirit, including Ezekiel (Ezek. 36:26-27; 37:14), Joel (Joel 2:28-29), and Zechariah (Zech. 12:10, niv marg.). (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (Is 32:15). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
__________________________________________________________
15. The Spirit: the Spirit of God was the divine power at work in creation (Gen. 1:2; Ps. 33:6). He is the life-giver (40:7; 42:5; Ps. 104:30). He raises people to new heights of ability (Exod. 35:30–31) and empowers for mighty deeds (Judg. 14:6; 15:4; 1 Sam. 10:6). He indwells the great line of messianic figures (Num. 11:17; 27:18; 1 Sam. 16:3; Isa. 11:2; 42:1; 61:1) and is the Agent in the regeneration which will mark the messianic future (Ezek. 36:27). Poured: the Spirit originates in God who ‘pours out’ his own life for purposes of renewal (44:3; Ezek. 39:29; Joel 2:28). The first result of this future outpouring is a transformed creation (15). What now appears as desert will be changed into ‘garden land’ (fertile field), with all the beauty the ordering hand of God will impart; what is now reckoned as ‘garden land’, ordered and purposeful, will, by comparison with the true order and beauty of that day, seem as haphazard as scrubland (forest). (Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, p. 232). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
________________________________________________________
32:15a. After speaking of desolation on Judah (vv. 9–14) Isaiah described a time of future blessing on the land and the people (vv. 15–20). That great time-the Millennium-will come about after the Holy Spirit is poured out (cf. 44:3) on Israel (us) from on high. Other prophets also spoke of this outpouring of the Holy Spirit, including Ezekiel (Ezek. 36:26–27; 37:14), Joel (Joel 2:28–29), and Zechariah (Zech. 12:10, niv marg.). As the redeemed of Israel enter the millennial kingdom they will have the same benefit of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit as do believers in the Church Age today. Therefore they will have an inward compulsion to do the will of God (Ezek. 36:27).
32:15b–20. Along with the outpouring of the Spirit will be fertility, justice, and security. Israel’s deserts will be fertile (cf. 35:1–2), and with justice and righteousness (cf. 9:7; 11:4; 16:5; 33:5) will come peace and quietness (32:17) and security for the redeemed (cf. Amos 9:15; Micah 4:4; Zech. 3:10; 14:11). Under the Deuteronomic Covenant if the people obeyed God the land would be productive. Similarly in the kingdom, righteous living will result in fertility. In contrast with the destruction that would come in Isaiah’s day (Isa. 32:19), the redeemed nation is assured that they will be blessed with agricultural productivity (cf. Ezek. 36:30) and with no rivalry over each other’s grazing land. (Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 1082–1083). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
____________________________________________________
32:15 the Spirit is poured out upon us. The infusion of God’s Spirit was to transform the land into productive fruitfulness (Joel 2:28–3:1). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Is 32:15). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
_________________________________________________________
In 32:15–20, the prophet returns to his description of the messianic kingdom and emphasizes the restoration of peace and prosperity. None of these changes took place after the deliverance of Jerusalem in 701 B.C. or when the remnant returned to Jerusalem from Babylon, so we must assign these prophecies to the future kingdom. Because of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, there will be peace and plenty because there will be righteousness in the land (Joel 2:28–32; Zech. 12:10; Ezek. 36:26–27). The land will be so productive that the desert will be like a fruitful field and the fruitful field like a forest. The people will fear no enemies, and their work will be rewarded.
Judah could have enjoyed safety, quietness, and assurance had they trusted wholly in the Lord and not turned to Egypt for help (Isa. 30:15–18; 32:17–18). Righteousness is the key word in verse 17, for there can be no true peace without a right relationship with God (Rom. 5:1; James 3:13–17). When sinners trust Christ and receive the gift of righteousness, then they can have peace in their hearts and peace with one another. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Comforted (pp. 82–83). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
____________________________________________________________
Scripture not only teaches a first and second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; it also predicts a first and second coming of the Holy Spirit. His first coming, to baptize believers into one body and empower them to carry His gospel throughout the world, occurred at Pentecost. Peter applied the words of Joel 2 to what then took place, not as indicating that the prophecy was exhausted by that outpouring, but that it was of the same character as what was yet to come when Israel shall be brought back to God and the Spirit poured out upon them from on high and all the spared nations be blessed accordingly. It is of this the present passage speaks. What a time of blessing it will be for this poor world when war and strife have come to an end; sickness and sorrow flee away; poverty and distress disappear; and men will enjoy the loving favor of the Lord and find every need met in abundance. So fruitful will the earth be at that time that a garden of herbs will become as a forest and the wilderness, as we are told elsewhere, will blossom as the rose. It is a great mistake to try to spiritualize all this and deny a coming literal fulfillment. There will, indeed, be great spiritual blessings at that time, but linked with the spiritual will be the literal fulfillment of this and other prophecies. The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will be the portion of those who enter the kingdom and enjoy the blessings of Messiah’s reign, but we may be sure that the promise that they shall dwell in a peaceable habitation is to be taken in absolute literalness. There will be protection from every ill when Messiah takes over the reins of government. (Ironside, H. A. (1952). Expository notes on the prophet Isaiah. (pp. 203–204). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
___________________________________________________________
The supreme need in every hour of difficulty and distress is for a fresh vision of God. Seeing Him, all else takes on proper perspective and proportion. G. Campbell Morgan
__________________________________________________________
Ver. 15. Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, &c.] That is, Jerusalem shall lie in ruins until this time comes; which therefore can’t be understood of the effusion of the spirit on the day of Pentecost, which, as it was before the destruction of the city by the Romans, so the desolation it was brought to by the Chaldeans did not last so long; but must be interpreted of a pouring forth of the spirit in his gifts and graces yet to come, which will bring on the fulness of the Gentiles, and the conversion of the Jews, and till that time comes Jerusalem will continue in a ruinous condition; the sense is the same with that of Luke 21:24. Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The Targum of the place is, “until refreshing comes to us from the face of him, whose Shechinah, or Majesty, is in the highest heavens;” with which may be compared Acts 3:19: and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest; this will be the consequence, fruit, and effect of the effusion of the spirit in the latter day; that such parts of the world as were like a wilderness, barren and unfruitful, producing nothing but the briers and thorns of impiety, infidelity, superstition, and idolatry, should now become like a fruitful field; the Gospel being now preached everywhere, multitudes of souls converted, churches raised and formed, and these filled with such as were laden with the fruits of righteousness; and such places where the Gospel had been preached and professed, and where churches had been planted, and there were some good degree of fruitfulness in word and works, now should be abundantly more fruitful, and the professors of religion more numerous, and look more like a forest, for number of trees, than a field. Kimchi says this whole paragraph shall be accomplished in the days of the Messiah. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, p. 185). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
___________________________________________________________
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!!)
_________________________________________________________
Many False Prophets
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)
There is an unusual emphasis in the New Testament about false prophets. The Greek word pseudoprophetes appears 11 times and has no corresponding word in the Old Testament.
Of the 298 usages of “prophet” in the Hebrew Scriptures, eight of them are connected to “false” prophets, and only in relation to visions and dreams. In the New Testament, the pseudoprophetes are workers of “miracles” and “signs and wonders.”
John gives the warning to “try the spirits” because many false prophets are now here. Prior to Christ’s coming, the false “dreamer” (Deuteronomy 13:1-5) would readily be exposed when his prophecy did not come about. Such a false prophet was to be executed!
But the prophets of the “last time” (1 John 2:18) will perform great wonders (Matthew 24:24) and can “seduce . . . even the elect” (Mark 13:22).
Here’s the problem: They come from among Christians! Peter warns us in 2 Peter 2:1-3 in five ways:
• They come from a “Christian” background.
• They deny the biblical Lord Jesus in some way.
• They will become very popular, especially with emotionally motivated people.
• They will degrade doctrines of the Bible.
• They will stimulate greed to attract followers.
We are warned to test every one of them, and when they do not abide in the doctrine of Christ, we are to reject their teaching and not have any fellowship with them (2 John 1:9-11). They are dangerous (Matthew 7:15)! (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
__________________________________________________________
Genesis 43
Jacob is forced to send his youngest son, Benjamin, to Egypt.
INSIGHT
In his commentary, F. B. Meyer regards Joseph as a reflection of Christ who, when his brothers come to him in fear, has only love to bestow on them. Meyer writes:
“Very often we move forward with dread into the unknown.” In reality, our fears are groundless. “If only we realized that [God’s] love is waiting for us there.” His love requires little from us . . . just ourselves. He enables us to live a happy life when we realize the good He has for us. So, “lift up your hearts; a feast awaits you!” (Quiet Walk)
___________________________________________________________
FAITH AND REASON
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious. 1 Peter 2:7
What is the relationship between faith and reason? The best answer I can give is that faith is not a matter of reason. Some people teach that it is. They say that if only men and women would use their minds, they would be bound to become Christians; they can reason themselves into Christianity. But that is thoroughly unscriptural. They cannot because the natural man’s or woman’s reason is also fallen. Not only that, there are supernatural and miraculous elements in faith to which reason cannot attain. So true faith is not entirely a matter of reason. Indeed, I would quote to you the statement of the great Blaise Pascal, perhaps the greatest mathematician that the world has ever known and who had an evangelical conversion. He said that the supreme achievement of reason is to teach us that there is an end to reason.
So what about faith and reason? Well, faith is not mere reason, but on the other hand, neither is it contrary to reason. It is not unreasonable; it is not irrational. That is the charge that is brought against us.
“Ah,” people say, “but what you’re teaching is a kind of irrationality. You say that faith isn’t a matter of reason. Well then, is it opposed to reason?”
“No, it is not. It is not reason; neither is it contrary to reason. What is it then? It is supra-reason. It means that our reason brings us to the point where we realize that reason is not enough, and at that point we have nothing to do but submit ourselves to revelation. And that is faith. Faith is accepting this revelation.
More and more I like to think of it like this: Faith means that I deliberately shut myself down to this Book, the Bible. I refuse to philosophize. I refuse to ask certain questions. People are always asking them. They want to understand the doctrine of the Trinity. You cannot. You will never understand it. It is too great. So you accept it; and you stop asking questions.
A Thought to Ponder: Reason brings us to the point where we realize that reason is not enough, and at that point we submit ourselves to revelation. (From God the Holy Spirit, pp. 147-148, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
__________________________________________________________
We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.