ISAIAH 51
Abraham was used to start a nation verse 1- 2
Hearken to ME – you that follow after righteousness
you that seek the LORD
look unto the rock whence you are hewn
and to the hole of the pit
whence you are digged
Look unto Abraham your father – and unto Sarah that bare you
for I called him alone – and blessed him
and increased him
Restoration of Israel promised verse 3
For the LORD shall comfort Zion
HE will comfort all her waste places
and HE will make her wilderness like Eden
and her desert like the garden of the LORD
Joy and gladness shall be found therein – thanksgiving
and the voice of melody
Our world is going to wax old like a garment verse 4- 6
Hearken to ME – MY people and give ear unto ME
O MY nation – for a law shall proceed from ME
and I will make MY judgment
to rest for a light of the people
MY righteousness is near – MY salvation is gone forth
and MINE arms shall judge the people
The isles shall wait upon ME
and on MINE arm shall they trust
lift up your eyes to the heavens
and look upon the earth beneath
for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke
and the earth shall wax old like a garment
and they that dwell therein
shall die in like manner
BUT MY salvation shall be for ever
and MY righteousness shall not be abolished
Israel is not to be afraid of her enemies verse 7- 8
Hearken to me – you that know righteousness
the people in whose heart is my law
fear you not the reproach of men
neither be you afraid of their revilings
For the moth shall eat them up like a garment
and the worm shall eat them like wool
BUT MY righteousness shall be for ever
and MY salvation from generation to generation
Restoration of Israel will be a time of singing verse 9- 11
Awake- Awake – put on strength
O arm of the LORD
Awake – as in the ancient days
in the generation of old
Are you not it that has cut Rahab
and wounded the dragon?
Are you not it which hath dried the sea
the waters of the great deep
that has made the depths of the sea
a way for the ransomed to pass over?
THEREFORE the redeemed of the LORD shall return
and come with singing to Zion
and everlasting joy shall be upon their head
they shall obtain gladness and joy
and sorrow and mourning
shall flee away
Remember your Creator Israel verse 12- 16
I –even I– am HE that comforts you – who are you
that you should be afraid of a man that shall die
and of the son of man which shall be made as grass
And forget the LORD your maker
that has stretched forth the heavens
and laid the foundations of the earth
and has feared continually every day because of the
fury of the oppressor as if he were ready to destroy?
and where is the fury of the oppressor?
The captive exile hastened that he may be loosed
and that he should not die in the pit
nor that his bread should fail
BUT I am the LORD your God – that divided the sea
whose waves roared
The LORD of hosts is HIS name
AND I have put MY words in your mouth
and I have covered you in the shadow of mine hand
that I may plant the heavens
and lay the foundations of the earth
AND say unto Zion
You are MY people
Time of judgment is evident verse 17- 20
Awake – awake – stand up – O Jerusalem
which has drunk at the hand of the LORD
the CUP of HIS fury
you have drunken the dregs of the CUP of trembling
and wrung them out
There is none to guide her among all the sons
whom she hath brought forth
neither is there any that takes her
by the hand of all the sons that she
has brought up
These two things are come unto you
who shall be sorry for you?
desolation – destruction – famine – sword
by whom shall I comfort you?
Your sons have fainted – they lie at the head of all the streets
as a wild bull in a net
they are full of the fury of the LORD
the rebuke of thy God
Enemies are going to suffer soon verse 21- 23
THEREFORE hear now this – you afflicted
and drunken – but not with wine
Thus says your Lord the LORD
and your God that pleads the cause of his people
BEHOLD – I have taken out of your hand the CUP of trembling
even the dregs of the CUP of MY fury
you shall no more drink it again
BUT I will put it into the hand of them that afflict you
which have said to your soul
Bow down – that we may go over
and you have laid your body as the ground
and as the street to them that went over
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. (8342 “joy” [sason] means welcome, exultation, gladness, mirth, state of happiness or rejoicing.
DEVOTION: The LORD had established a covenant with the children of Israel. It was a promise to provide for their every need. They were to be obedient to HIS word. They were to come to HIM alone for help. However, we find that the children of Israel counted on themselves or the nations around them for help rather that the LORD.
The LORD is encouraging the people to look to the past and see how HE worked in the lives of Abram and Sarai. Then HE wants them to look for the future. Then they need to look inwardly at what the LORD is doing in their life. Finally, HE expressed their desire to serve HIM with their actions in the near future.
Again HE mentions through Isaiah that they are going through a time of trembling and affliction. However, the LORD is going to encourage them once again. There is future hope expressed in a time when the Messiah will reign on this earth.
Isaiah instructs them of a future when there is going to be a time of rejoicing, gladness, thanksgiving and melody. He mentions a time of great happiness. It will happen in a time when this world will be different. It will be during this time when the deserts will be turned into gardens. It will be a time of comfort. Also it will be a time of mirth. WOW the LORD has a great plan for HIS world.
We have not seen this time come to our world yet. It is still in the future. We are looking forward to a time in which we will have only this in our lives.
Presently we can have rejoicing in serving the LORD while we are here on the earth. There are days when there is not rejoicing but HE will comfort us in those days. The people of Judah went through a time of affliction because of their sin, not because the LORD stopped loving them. There is a day coming when all tears will be gone. It will be a time when the Messiah will reign on this earth.
CHALLENGE: Today we need to be able to express our praise to the LORD for all the benefits HE has given us. What are you thankful for today?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salv ation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. (2865 “abolished” [chathath] means broken, dismayed, be dashed to pieces, discouraged, wane, or be terrified.
DEVOTION: Our world was created by God over ten thousand years ago. It is not as old as many in our world think but it is getting worn out. A scientist told me today that every so many years the earth’s magnetic field loses a half life. Each of these time periods cause the earth to wax old. Once it reaches a certain point there will be a need for a New Heaven and a New Earth.
The Bible instructs us in the fact that the LORD is going to create a New Heaven and a New Earth in the future after the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ on this present earth with HIS saints.
So right after the Great White Throne judgment where all those who have rejected the LORD are going to bow their knee to the LORD for the first and final time because they will be sent to the lake of fire where the devil and his angels are going to reside for eternity. Judgment is going to be final. At that point the LORD is going to cause this present world to be purged with fire. It will be a time when the elements will melt with a fervent heat.
Isaiah is told that this change will not affect the salvation the LORD has provided for all those who are follower of Jesus Christ. Salvation is eternal as well. Those who are followers of the LORD will be in the New Heaven and the New Earth.
Also he is told that the righteousness of God will never end as well. HE will never stop being righteous. HE will never stop being holy. That is why those who reject HIM can’t be in HIS presence. They will not repent of their sins.
CHALLENGE: We need to spread the good news of the Gospel to all those around us, so that, they don’t spend eternity in the lake of fire. Hope is still available until they die and then after that the judgment.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 11 So the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; Sorrow and sighing shall flee away. The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
DEVOTION: The Lord sometimes work in very similar ways to remind us of His power and ability to accomplish great things for and in us. This portion of Isaiah id proclaiming how the nation of Israel will return from captivity of Babylon. It is very similar to the language that was used to describe the exodus from Egypt. As Israel came up out of the land they rejoiced and gave thanks to the Lord for His faithfulness and exceeding power. As Israel is returning to the land now the exiles are to sing and rejoice over the good things that God is doing for them.
God reminds us of His power and abilities by doing similar works in our lives as well. He may answer prayers and then a few years later answer a similar way for our child or relative. By doing this He brings to mind His power of the past as well as the present. The incidents may be completely different, as the nations of Egypt and Babylon are, but the power of God is the same.
We can only rejoice when we see that majestic presence at work in our circumstances.
CHALLENGE: When difficulties arise in life remember how God has worked in the past and look for Him to work in similar ways. When He does do not be surprised but rejoice as He manifests His power and grace. Then break out in a song of praise to the unchanging God we serve. (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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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)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Singing in Zion verse 11
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Law verse 4, 7
Words in the mouth of prophet verse 16
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22
Righteous verse 5, 6, 8
Salvation verse 5
Judge verse 5
LORD your MAKER verse 13
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 15, 20, 22
LORD thy God verse 15
Creator verse 15, 16
LORD of hosts verse 15
Hand of the LORD verse 17
Fury of the LORD verse 20
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 22
Lord the LORD verse 22
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)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Reproach of believers verse 7
Reviling verse 7
Forgetting the LORD verse 13
Oppressor verse 13
Drunken (not with wine) verse 21
Afflict God’s people verse 23
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Listen verse 1, 4, 7, 21
Righteousness verse 1, 5, 7
Seek the LORD verse 1
Look verse 1, 2
Called verse 2
Blessed verse 2
Increased verse 2
Comfort verse 3, 12, 19
Joy verse 3, 11
Gladness verse 3, 11
Thanksgiving verse 3
Voice of melody verse 3, 11
Light verse 4
Salvation verse 5, 6, 8
Trust verse 5
Heart is God’s law verse 7
Fear not verse 7, 12
Awake verse 9, 17
Strength verse 9
Ransomed verse 10
Redeemed verse 11
Joy verse 11
Gladness verse 11
Fear of the LORD verse 13
God’s words in mouth verse 16
Guide verse 18
Rebuke verse 20
Afflicted verse 21
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Abraham verse 2
Sarah verse 2
Zion verse 3, 11, 16
Eden (garden of the LORD) verse 3
God’s people verse 4, 16, 22
Arm of the LORD verse 9
Jerusalem verse 17
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Die verse 6, 12, 14
Salvation forever verse 6
Righteousness of LORD forever verse 8
Everlasting joy verse 11
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QUOTES regarding passage
9. Awake, awake: the doubling here is for emotional intensity of appeal. Just as the anthropomorphism of Exodus 2:24 suggests a sudden reviving of the divine memory after a long lapse, so here to the human eye it may have seemed that the Lord had gone to sleep over his promises. But it is anthropomorphism only in the sense of calling on God to act with the same dispatch and urgency that would be the case with us if we suddenly recollected a long-overdue duty. Clothe: when the Lord dressed himself as a soldier in Joshua 5:13, his garments revealed what he is and what he intends. By ‘clothing himself with power’ the Lord marshals all the almighty power of the divine nature and commits himself so to act. Arm of the Lord, like so much else in these verses, looks back to the exodus (Exod. 6:6; Deut. 4:34; 5:15; cf. Exod. 15:16; 1 Kgs 8:42). Just as the ‘hand’ symbolizes personal agency, so the ‘arm’ symbolizes personal strength in action (52:10); here, the Lord himself in his intervening mightiness. Not even the greatest people of the Old Testament are described as the Lord’s arm. Rather, ‘the Arm’ went with Moses (63:12) and strengthened David (Ps. 89:20–21). The metaphor calls upon the Lord himself to act. Rahab (meaning ‘loud mouth’) was Isaiah’s nickname for Egypt (30:7; cf. Ps. 87:4) and certainly Egypt was shattered by the Lord’s exodus acts, but the reference here transcends the historical. Rahab (‘Tiamat’) was also the sea monster, in Canaanite-Babylonian mythology the deified personification of disorder, typified by the restless, threatening sea, which the creator-god Marduk must subdue before he may pursue the work of ordered creation. The Bible, of course, knows of no such pre-creation combat of opposing forces, but it is not above using the sea and Rahab as a means of asserting the sole and sovereign power of the Lord (Job 26:11–12; Ps. 89:8ff.; Amos 9:3). Isaiah does not give credence to the existence of such ‘gods’, but signals in this way that the people of God are always challenged in their loyalty by other claimants to devotion, yet their history displays their God as the only God and One with power over all the power of the enemy. The Red Sea crossing (10) exemplified that the ‘sea’ for all its monstrous unruliness can do only the Lord’s bidding (Ps. 93:3–4). Nothing can stand in his way, neither impenetrable physical barriers nor supernatural powers. (Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, pp. 364–365). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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51:9–11. These verses could be taken as a prayer of the righteous remnant (though some scholars say they record the prophet’s words as he reflected on what would happen to that remnant). The plea is that God in His power (arm; cf. v. 5) would rise again (Awake; cf. v. 17) and save His people as He did in the Exodus (as in the days gone by). The question Was it not you? (vv. 9–10) was a way of affirming that the Lord did these things for their forefathers. (On Rahab, a mythical sea monster representing Egypt, see comments on 30:7.) When Israel escaped from Egypt the Egyptian army was drowned in the sea. The Israelites crossed over the Red (Reed) Sea on dry ground (Ex. 14:21–31). In the same way the Lord by His strength will allow Israel to return in a new “Exodus” to her homeland (Zion) with joy (cf. Isa. 51:3). (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. 1105). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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51:9, 10 This prayer for deliverance in the future was based on times past when the Lord overcame Rahab, which was a term widely used to refer to things that wreak havoc, often, as in this case, Egypt (see Ps 87:4). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Is 51:9). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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9–11. This precious portion seems to be as in answer to what had been said before. The Lord had been giving exceeding great and precious promises to his people, and now his people, as with one voice, makes the Lord a thankful answer, in prayer and praise, that God would do so. It is the language of strong faith, offered up in Christ Jesus. For the arm of the Lord is Christ, Deut. 7:19; hence, when the Prophet complains of the little success of preaching of the gospel, he calls it the arm of the Lord, Isaiah, 53:1; and hence the Reader will also perceive that the Prophet is celebrating Christ in that arm of the Lord, which cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon; and dried up the sea, and led his people through. For who is meant by Rahab, but Pharaoh, the dragon, the leviathan; and what sea was this but the Red Sea? This is he, saith Stephen, which was in the Church in the wilderness, Acts, 7:38. Reader, how blessed is it to trace Christ, in all the redemption of his people! See those scriptures, Habak. 3:8, to the end; Psalm 74:13, 14. And observe, in this latter scripture, how the sacred writer makes that triumph of God’s people over Pharaoh and his host, to be as meat to them in the wilderness; meaning, that in the experience of the Lord’s victory then, they found food to keep alive their faith, in all the after exercises they were called to. And what is the final song of triumph, but the same? Isaiah, 35:10. Rev. 15:3. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Proverbs–Lamentations (Vol. 5, p. 452). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
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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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Leviticus 16
The Day of Atonement.
INSIGHT
In spite of God’s desire that we be holy, He is fully aware that we will not remain free from sin. But because God loves us and wants to be gracious to us, He provides a way for our sins to be forgiven.
In the Old Testament, the nation is cleansed from sin annually on the Day of Atonement. Since Christ has come, we may be cleansed moment by moment- whenever we ask for His cleansing mercy.
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THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS THE WORK OF CHRIST
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 Corinthians 2:12
The Holy Spirit not only reveals the person—He also reveals the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The preaching of Christ, says Paul, is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks (1 Corinthians 1:23). These so-called wise men frequently stumble at the cross especially. You see, the preaching of the first disciples was not only that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, but that He came into the world in order to deal with the problem of sin. They taught that the meaning of His death upon the cross was not merely that He was arrested by the Romans at the instigation of the Pharisees and put to death by crucifixion. No; they taught also that God had made Him to be sin for us—it was a great transaction between the Father and the Son. To the philosophers this was nonsense. They did not understand because they did not receive the Holy Spirit. But “we,” says Paul again to the Corinthians, “have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).
I want to ask a simple question here: Have you understood this matter of the atonement? Are you clear about the work of Christ? Do you see and know that the Lord Jesus Christ has taken your sins upon Himself and has died for them on the tree? If you are in difficulty, it is because you have not been enlightened by the Holy Spirit. The only way you can come to know this is not to try to understand it intellectually, but to ask God to enlighten you by the Spirit and to enable you to see and receive this truth as the Spirit unfolds the work of Christ.
A Thought to Ponder: Ask God to enlighten you by the Spirit. (From Saved in Eternity, pp. 89-90, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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A Bag with Holes
“Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” (Haggai 1:6)
This biting description of a frustrating lifestyle, penned by one of the Jewish post-exilic prophets, is both preceded and followed by this appropriate admonition: “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5-7). When a professing believer somehow never seems to have enough and his money bag seems filled with holes, it is time for him to consider carefully his ways before the Lord.
After all, our God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and is well able to supply all our needs. In context, Haggai is rebuking the people of Judah for tending to their own welfare and neglecting the work of God. “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled [paneled] houses, and this house [that is, the unfinished temple in Jerusalem] lie waste?” (Haggai 1:4).
Herein is an eternal principle. Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things [that is, food and drink and clothing]. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:32-33). If these necessities of life are not being provided, we urgently need to consider our ways. Are God’s kingdom and His righteousness really our first concerns?
We often quote the wonderful promise “my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). But we must remember that this promise was given to a group of Christians whose “deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality,” because they “first gave their own selves to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:2, 5). (HMM, Institute for Creation Research)
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On-the-Job Training
Marriage is to be held in honor among all. HEBREWS 13:4
When a buffet restaurant offered a free Valentine’s Day lunch to any couple who’s been married for 50 years or more, over 300 people showed up. At a gathering like that, you get a lot more than a good time and good food; you also learn some good advice on what it takes to make a marriage last:
•”If I want anything fairly expensive, I’ll talk it over with him, and he’ll do the same with me.”
•”When you go to bed, always kiss good-night. We always kiss good-bye when we leave each other.”
•”I’m the boss. I make sure that everything she wants gets done.”
•”Treat each other with kindness, love and respect. Just work it out together. Don’t fuss. We stay mad an hour or two, but that’s it . . . and it’s fun to make up.”
•”Look at things in different ways and concentrate on the ‘good’ in your relationship. I always say, ‘This too shall pass,’ and it usually does.”
•”You do a lot of counting to 10 . . . or 20, if necessary.”
•”We were always taught, ‘Till death do you part.’ Divorce was never discussed in our house.”
•”When he was young, he was high-tempered, so I usually didn’t say much. But when you don’t say anything, you don’t have to take anything back.”
•”When we said ‘I do,’ we didn’t say it was just for tomorrow. You’ve got to tie the knot where it can’t be untied.” Spoken like real pros. (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
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