Isaiah 45 - Day 531 (link to today's reading)
Scripture: Isaiah 45:9-10 Commentary (bethmelekh.com): This passage appears to be addressing the complaints of some of Israel’s exiles, who may have taken issue with HaShem’s choice of a goy deliverer (Cyrus). It is the height of hubris for a human being to accuse God of ill planning: it is so foolish as to be likened to a piece of pottery debating the plans of the potter. The Hebrew idiom “Your work has no hands”, is still used today in some Jewish communities to describe something that makes no sense. So great is the foolishness of one who questions God’s work of redemption, that he is compared to a child questioning why his parents conceived him, or why his mother gave birth to him. The “Woes” of these two verses are an incredulous rebuke that is to be heeded, lest the pottery shard be turned to dust, or the child given over to the fruit of his own foolish thinking. Application: The fool says that there is no God, but worse off are those who know that there is a God and choose to rebel against His wishes. Prayer: Lord, Jesus have mercy on us sinners... Isaiah 44 - Day 530 (link to today's reading)
Scripture: Isaiah 44:2 Commentary (bethmelekh.com): God is revealed as “Mercy, Helper, Creator, Artisan” and the One through Whom Israel is called Yeshurun “Upright One”. The title Yeshurun is used elsewhere only three times (Deut. 32:15; 33:5, 26). The first of the three other instances, like the present example, places the “Upright One” in a state of unrighteousness. The second reference alludes to Moses as king in Yeshurun and the third proclaims the uniqueness of the God of Yeshurun, Who has no equal. Collecting these four occurrences of the name Yeshurun, we’re able to conclude that her uprightness is the state in which God sees her complete outside of circumstance and through His redemptive work. She is not upright of her own accord, nor have her actions made her that way, to the contrary, it is because God has chosen her that He has made certain of her redemption. This is the very essence of the Gospel of our King Messiah Yeshua. Application: As it was for the nation of Israel, the same principle applies to every believer in Jesus. We are not upright on our own accord...it is because God has chosen us that He has made certain of our redemption. Prayer: Praise be to God... Isaiah 43 - Day 529 (link to today's reading)
Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7 Commentary (workingpreacher.org): Just as the ancients in Israel and Judah needed to hear divine judgment against injustice, so does the contemporary church. Nevertheless, dispirited people also need to hear reassurance of divine love, protection, and presence. This poem from the prophet scholars call II Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55) speaks tender, encouraging, empowering words to those who faced an uncertain future. In their original context, the words in this passage helped motivate Judean exiles to embrace their faith and return to Jerusalem to rebuild. The wise and brilliant prophet evoked images of divine love and care to speak to the exiles who tentatively considered whether to leave the stability of life in Babylon to return to the rubble of their former home (or the home of their parents). Application: Although we may never have sacrificed our children to foreign gods, we have all sinned and fallen short of God's expectations. The point of reading the Old Testament prophetic books is to gain hope from the fact that God forgave the Israelites so He may forgive us too. Prayer: Lord, words fail me so please listen to my heart... Isaiah 42 - Day 528 (link to today's reading)
Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-9 Commentary (workingpreacher.org): God is the God not of Israel only or even of Babylon, but the one who “created the heavens . . . and stretched out the earth” (verse 5). This is the God of creation, who made everything that is, and who dwells in this wide, open cosmic space, not contained by the cramped space of exile. This is the God “who gives breath to the people upon [the earth] and spirit to those who walk on it” (verse 5). God’s breath animates not only the people of Israel, but every living, breathing creature on the planet. And finally, this is also the God who has reached out to create the particular people called Israel, to call them to righteousness, and to keep them (verse 6). This is the God of the expansive universe and the God of these very particular people. Isaiah proclaims this God acts in particular ways. First, God sends a spirit-filled servant not a conqueror or tyrant — (“a bruised reed he will not break,” verse 3). This agent of God is a liberator who will bring justice, not domination. Second, God works to bring justice “in the earth,” that is, to bring it to all, everywhere. God sends this servant to persevere until justice is done all the way “to the coastlands” (verse 4)... Application: Our Lord Jesus gave us a clear example to follow so why do I hesitate to obey? Prayer: Lord have mercy on me a sinner... Isaiah 41 - Day 527 (link to today's reading)
Scripture: Isaiah 41:10 Commentary (Gill's Exposition): Fear thou not, for I am with thee,.... Not merely by his essence or power, who is every where; or by his providence supporting, preserving, observing, ordering, and overruling all things; but in a way of special grace, to guard and protect his people, support and supply them, comfort and strengthen their hearts; wherefore they need not fear any of their enemies, nor whatsoever they may be called to suffer for his name's sake, even though they pass through fire and water, and the valley of the shadow of death: Application: I've been told that the opposite of fear is faith. That we need to exercise our faith and put it into practice in order to drive out our fears. How's that working for you? Yeah, me too. The context of this chapter and the book of Isaiah is God's love for his children. Rather than driving out fear, what if God is inviting us to trust Him? Prayer: Lord, help me to see what You see... |
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January 2024
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