Isaiah 43
27 Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.
28 Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.
Question: What is God's plan for the Jews in the church age?
And who is the first father? One of the Hebrew's ancient ancestors. Adam?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Lord Taketh Away
Isaiah 9
12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still....
The Lord taketh away. Here, from his chosen people, the Jews.
Isaiah 43
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
And the Lord giveth. Here, to his chosen people, the body of Christ in the church age, Jew and Gentile alike.
More From Isaiah 43
20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
Who can ever understand God and his workings...
12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still....
The Lord taketh away. Here, from his chosen people, the Jews.
Isaiah 43
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
And the Lord giveth. Here, to his chosen people, the body of Christ in the church age, Jew and Gentile alike.
More From Isaiah 43
20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
Who can ever understand God and his workings...
Saturday, June 26, 2010
God Speaks Again
Isaiah 43
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
As God speaks in the Old Testament, so God speaks through Jesus in the New Testament.
John 8
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
As God speaks in the Old Testament, so God speaks through Jesus in the New Testament.
John 8
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Ministers Of Christ
2 Corinthians 6
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
This passage applies to Ministers of Christ. That would be leaders of the Church? And not the followers of Christ? To whom the above standards apply?
1 Corinthians 4
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Do you have to be ordained to be a minister of Christ or a minister of God? I set out last year to give some thought to Ecclesiology . Not making much headway in understanding this topic.
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
This passage applies to Ministers of Christ. That would be leaders of the Church? And not the followers of Christ? To whom the above standards apply?
1 Corinthians 4
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Do you have to be ordained to be a minister of Christ or a minister of God? I set out last year to give some thought to Ecclesiology . Not making much headway in understanding this topic.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Thou Worm
Isaiah 41
14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
The Hebrews of Isaiah's time, and maybe Christians also, are worms, the lowest, and most disgusting of life forms. Profound Biblical truth here.
But God, and the saving grace of Jesus Christ, gives us redemption and the strength to carry on.
More From Isaiah 41
15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.
I just love the expression "thou worm Jacob"....
14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
The Hebrews of Isaiah's time, and maybe Christians also, are worms, the lowest, and most disgusting of life forms. Profound Biblical truth here.
But God, and the saving grace of Jesus Christ, gives us redemption and the strength to carry on.
More From Isaiah 41
15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.
I just love the expression "thou worm Jacob"....
Saturday, June 19, 2010
The Righteous Man From The East
Isaiah 41
2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings?
So, who is the righteous man from the east?
Jamieson Faussett Brown
Cyrus; as Isa 44:28; 45:1-4, 13; 46:11, "from the East," prove. Called "righteous," not so much on account of his own equity [Herodotus, 3.89], as because he fulfilled God's righteous will in restoring the Jews from their unjust captivity.
John Gill Exposition Of The Bible
The Targum interprets this of Abraham; and so the Talmud; and this way go most Jewish and Christian commentators, and to him the characters agree; he was a righteous man, believed in Christ for righteousness, had the righteousness of faith when circumcised, did justice, and wrought righteousness himself, and required his children and servants to do the same, Genesis 15:6.
Matthew Henry Concise
Can any heathen god raise up one in righteousness, make what use of him he pleases, and make him victorious over the nations? The Lord did so with Abraham, or rather, he would do so with Cyrus.
There is no doubt that the righteous man, who may be Abraham or may be Cyrus, is a type for Jesus.
And who raised up the righteous man from the east?
Isaiah 41
4 .... I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
And so, the identity of the righteous man may not be that important. What is important is God's sovereignty in the affairs of man.
2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings?
So, who is the righteous man from the east?
Jamieson Faussett Brown
Cyrus; as Isa 44:28; 45:1-4, 13; 46:11, "from the East," prove. Called "righteous," not so much on account of his own equity [Herodotus, 3.89], as because he fulfilled God's righteous will in restoring the Jews from their unjust captivity.
John Gill Exposition Of The Bible
The Targum interprets this of Abraham; and so the Talmud; and this way go most Jewish and Christian commentators, and to him the characters agree; he was a righteous man, believed in Christ for righteousness, had the righteousness of faith when circumcised, did justice, and wrought righteousness himself, and required his children and servants to do the same, Genesis 15:6.
Matthew Henry Concise
Can any heathen god raise up one in righteousness, make what use of him he pleases, and make him victorious over the nations? The Lord did so with Abraham, or rather, he would do so with Cyrus.
There is no doubt that the righteous man, who may be Abraham or may be Cyrus, is a type for Jesus.
And who raised up the righteous man from the east?
Isaiah 41
4 .... I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
And so, the identity of the righteous man may not be that important. What is important is God's sovereignty in the affairs of man.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Isaiah And Paul and Barnabas and Silas and Timothy
Isaiah 42
10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
Who is Isaiah talking about, "ye" that go down to the sea? This is Bible phophesy, and he is talking about Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Timothy.
Matthew 28
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Wonderful echoes between the Old Testament and New Testament.
10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
Who is Isaiah talking about, "ye" that go down to the sea? This is Bible phophesy, and he is talking about Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Timothy.
Matthew 28
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Wonderful echoes between the Old Testament and New Testament.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Goosebumps
Isaiah 40
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
I'm not one for offering advice, but....
If you don't get goose bumps while reading Isaiah 40. Well, then, maybe, you might consider spending a little time thinking about your salvation....
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
I'm not one for offering advice, but....
If you don't get goose bumps while reading Isaiah 40. Well, then, maybe, you might consider spending a little time thinking about your salvation....
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Prayer
1 John 3
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
Maybe you want a nice house, in a good neighborhood, with good schools for the kids. But, you can't afford it. Should you try really hard to live righteously, and pray for it?
No.
If you consider the above passage, and meditate upon it, at length, your focus will shift, and you will want to live righteously, you will want to live the Christian life and all that that entails. You will shift your focus to the glory of God, and you won't be craving that nice house. And, with patience, you may find that peace, which passeth all understanding.
Now, if God wants you to live in that nice house, so be it. He will give it to you. But, that's His business. Not yours.
So, the simple rule is, Don't pray for junk, and stupid stuff....
Psalms 34
18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
Maybe you want a nice house, in a good neighborhood, with good schools for the kids. But, you can't afford it. Should you try really hard to live righteously, and pray for it?
No.
If you consider the above passage, and meditate upon it, at length, your focus will shift, and you will want to live righteously, you will want to live the Christian life and all that that entails. You will shift your focus to the glory of God, and you won't be craving that nice house. And, with patience, you may find that peace, which passeth all understanding.
Now, if God wants you to live in that nice house, so be it. He will give it to you. But, that's His business. Not yours.
So, the simple rule is, Don't pray for junk, and stupid stuff....
Psalms 34
18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
Romans 6 Sin And Death
Job 18
14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.
Here, Bildad the Shuhite discusses death of the wicked. The comfort of the tabernacle are ripped from the wicked, and he meets death, the king of terrors.
Romans 6
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Here, Paul discusses death and the saved. The contrast is stark: death for the wicked and death for the saved. Almost seems....rightly divided....
More From Romans 623 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.
Here, Bildad the Shuhite discusses death of the wicked. The comfort of the tabernacle are ripped from the wicked, and he meets death, the king of terrors.
Romans 6
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Here, Paul discusses death and the saved. The contrast is stark: death for the wicked and death for the saved. Almost seems....rightly divided....
More From Romans 623 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Second Coming, That Most Profound, Complicated And Difficult Subject
John 5
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Well, maybe the subject of the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not that complicated, or difficult. It is profound, though....
And, don't forget. This passage has a second subject. And that is the argument for the equality of Jesus and God. Jesus is, God the son.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Well, maybe the subject of the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not that complicated, or difficult. It is profound, though....
And, don't forget. This passage has a second subject. And that is the argument for the equality of Jesus and God. Jesus is, God the son.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Idols Of The Heart
Ezekiel 14
3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face....
That idol in your heart is a temporary, fleeting, a soon-to-be useless obsession. Just a steaming pile of....
[Google "idol dung hebrew"]
3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face....
That idol in your heart is a temporary, fleeting, a soon-to-be useless obsession. Just a steaming pile of....
[Google "idol dung hebrew"]
Friday, June 4, 2010
2010 Camaro
Isaiah 42
17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
A lot of men seem to worship cars. Every time I see one of these man-made, automotive works of art, I ask myself, "Can we love Jesus and the 2010 Camaro at the same time?"
17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
A lot of men seem to worship cars. Every time I see one of these man-made, automotive works of art, I ask myself, "Can we love Jesus and the 2010 Camaro at the same time?"
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Righteous War
Isaiah 42
13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
I woke up this morning, and the headline was "High Probability Israel and Hezbollah Will Go To War This Summer."
This passage is about war. But, is it about spiritual warfare? Or about a righteous war against your evil enemies?
More From Isaiah 42
15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
I woke up this morning, and the headline was "High Probability Israel and Hezbollah Will Go To War This Summer."
This passage is about war. But, is it about spiritual warfare? Or about a righteous war against your evil enemies?
More From Isaiah 42
15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
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