Isaiah 46-47

Dear RTB’ers,

Babylon. Both chapters today. Their idols contrasted with the Lord God, herein speaking: To whom will you liken Me and make Me equal, and compare Me, that we may be alike? … They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer… [but] My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose… (vv. 46:5, 7a, 10b)

Again, God will do what He will do. Our only response is to acknowledge His ways and His means. Babylon failed in that regard: I was angry with My people; I profaned My heritage; I gave them into your hand; you showed them no mercy… Now therefore hear this you lover of pleasures… These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure… (vv. 47:6a, 8a, 9a) Again, God will do what He will do. Our only response is to acknowledge Him.

Blessings!

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See also: August 21 (2023) / Isaiah 46-48.

Isaiah 44:24-45:25

Dear RTB’ers,

Cyrus. Isaiah mentions him by name, some two centuries before he frees the Jews from exile in Babylon: He is My shepherd, and he shall fulfill all My purpose; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’ Thus says the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus … “I will go before you… For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel My chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me.” (vv. 44:28-45:2, 4) Cyrus, chosen and named by God centuries in advance, but it is God who makes all the events unfold. So interesting…!

By Myself I have sworn; … a word that shall not return:‘ To Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’ (v. 45:23) Words that we have seen before…?? Yes, Paul quotes this verse in Philippians 2:9-11, Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Easily lost in that Isaiah quote is another phrase, a word that shall not return. We often speak these words in referring (in particular to a sharing session where we trust that the Holy Spirit will use those words that we have spoken. Most of us know these words from a verse that we will read later in Isaiah: … so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (v. 55:11) Glory!

Blessings!

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See also: August 20 (2023) / Isaiah 44-45 (the latter parts).

Isaiah 43:14-44:23

Dear RTB’ers,

Three major items in today’s reading – the fall of Babylon, Israel’s sinfulness, and the folly of idol worship. It is worth noting, again, that Isaiah is predicting Babylon’s downfall some two centuries before it happens. In Isaiah’s time Babylon had not even become dominant. Hezekiah had shown Babylonian envoys all the treasure of the house of the Lord (II Kings 20:12-19 and Isaiah 39:1-8), but Judah was still its own nation, fully some century and a half before the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.

As for Israel’s sinfulness, it’s interesting when you put it all together – Israel is no longer sacrificing as it had in the past and God does not expect it of them, and with (or because of) all that, they are pretty much forgetting Him! God speaking: You have not brought Me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. … But you have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities. (vv. 43:23-24) They will pay a price for their misdeeds: Therefore I will … deliver Jacob to utter destruction and Israel to reviling. (v. 43:28)

Finally, one of the best sarcastic renditions of the folly of idol worship in all of Scripture, Isaiah 44:9-20. So much humor in those verses – a craftsman fashions idols of metal and wood, but with the wood, from the same tree he makes an idol and also cooks his meals. To me the best line, Shall I fall down before a block of wood? (v. 44:19b) Utterly ridiculous! Some good, light humor for your day!!

Blessings!

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See also: August 20 (2023) / Isaiah 44-45 (the first part).

Isaiah 42:1-43:13

Dear RTB’ers,

For the remainder of our readings in Isaiah I recommend that you first read the STS introduction, then the text, then the introduction again and the text again, then my comments, then the 2023 posts. It’s not easy to follow Isaiah when you just read his words; it requires a bit of digging, but it’s worth it. That’s why he is the most quoted prophet by Jesus and in the other New Testament writings.

Today’s STS intro suggests that much of today’s reading refers to Israel as God’s servant: Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. (v. 42:1) As I have mentioned before, the ESV (quoted) does not capitalize deific pronouns (in bold above). However, the same verse in the NASB (and the NKJV and others) has the words my, him and he capitalized. Obviously, with “my” God is speaking in the first person, but the “he” and “him” are Messianic references in that verse and the next three. These first four verses in Isaiah 42 are quoted in Matthew 12:18-21 as a direct reference to Jesus. My Study Bible notes three other “Servant” passages later in Isaiah in chapters 49, 50, and 52-53. So while Isaiah was likely referring to Israel as God’s servant, many scholars see Messianic references.

And with reference to Israel, two verses today show God’s intent: Who gave up Jacob to the looter, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, in whose ways they would not walk, and whose law they would not obey? So He poured on him the heat of his anger and the might of battle; it set him on fire all around, but he did not understand; it burned him up, but he did not take it to heart. (vv. 42:24-25) It was the Lord, not the advancing nations who were defeating Israel and taking them into captivity; it was His retribution for their sins. But His love also prevailed and He would bring them home: But now thus says the LORD, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. … I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, give up, and to the south, do not withhold; bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made. (vv. 43:1, 5b-7)

As we read these verses, with Isaiah referencing Israel, we might want to put ourselves “into the story” – where Isaiah is referencing Israel (My servant), maybe we are that servant? His discipline and His salvation for Israel – and for us? Those past (or current) difficult times – God knows what He is doing, to us and for us. We need to keep that in mind.

Blessings!

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See also: August 19 (2023) / Isaiah 42-43.

Isaiah 41

Dear RTB’ers,

The STS intro refers to today’s reading as a “magnificent chapter” in which “the supremacy of the God of Israel is further demonstrated” – further demonstrated, in that yesterday’s Isaiah 40 had already established His greatness.

I have suggested many times that you read through the links to prior posts that we offer most days. That’s especially true for Isaiah; John’s posts from 2023 are particularly helpful. Yesterday that link covered both yesterday’s and today’s readings. Let me quote him:

…the LORD’s message of hope and salvation is rooted entirely in Himself. He depends on no one. He is without equal. All else is trivial before Him. Idols are utterly worthless.

Therein John sums up today’s reading. Nations, kings, and idols are worthless. Period.

A verse for us to claim: For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the One who helps you.” (v. 13) Pray through this verse as you go through your day.

Blessings!

Isaiah 40

Dear RTB’ers,

We return to Isaiah and will be with him for the rest of this year and into 2026. In fact, we will not finish Isaiah until January 4, the date of our first RTB gathering of the new year. So, three weeks, get it on your calendars! [NOTE: Carol and I will be out of town, so we will not have an end-of-the-year gathering as in past years.]

Please read your STS introduction. Isaiah began his ministry to Judah in 740 BC, a century and a half before Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BC and its people were taken into captivity to Babylon. Their exile ended around 537 BC, so Isaiah is prophesying their release some two centuries before that outcome – and he speaks most of it in the present tense. Isaiah lived more than seven centuries before Jesus was born. It’s one of the reasons why his Messianic prophesies are so amazing! We read one of them yesterday in our first lesson from Isaiah 7:10-17.

I was taken back to Job beginning in verse 12 today. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span… God challenging his people that He has no equal. Isaiah speaks these rhetorical questions, then makes fun of idol-casting later in Isaiah 40:19-20.

A number of well-known verses today:

• Comfort, comfort my people… (v. 1a)
• A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (v. 3)
• The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (v. 8)
• Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? (v. 21a)

And finally,

• …but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (v. 31)

Blessings!

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See also: August 18 (2023) / Isaiah 40-41.

II John 1-13 & III John 1-15

Dear RTB’ers,

Two more (short) letters from the apostle John, one written to an “elect lady and her children” (possibly [even likely?] to a church and its members), the other to a person, Gaius. I see a common theme in these two letters – discernment. In the first letter John asks his readers to discern traveling missionaries, to test if they are speaking Jesus’ message and abiding in His teaching, and rejecting those missionaries …who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh … [or one who] …does not abide in the teaching of Christ… (II John 7b, 9b) We are fortunate at St. Andrew’s to have good teaching from our pulpit, both with Ben now and with David before him (and from others who have been invited to speak). Still, we need to “test” all teaching that we receive, as to whether a given writer/speaker is following historic, traditional Christian teaching.

In the second letter John again asks Gaius (and others?) to discern these traveling missionaries, lauding him (them?) for receiving Demetrius so well, but also warning Gaius against one leader, Diotrephes, who is rejecting John’s leadership and who likes to “put himself first”, even to the point of excommunicating people with whom he disagrees. Again, discerning our leaders and their messages…!

Finally, John has a good word for us and our Mission Committee, with a full paragraph in today’s second letter (II John 5-8) encouraging us to support those who have gone out for the sake of the name. I especially appreciate his mention of these brothers, strangers as they are. It is often the case that we do not personally know the people whom we are supporting, but we take on faith the word from others who do know them. We need to be thankful that our Mission Committee is supporting six mission families, but we might also consider our own support for these folks. They need that support, both our dollars and our prayers.

Blessings!

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See also:

• December 14 (2021) / II John 1:1-13
• December 28 (2020) / II John 1:1-6
• December 29 (2020) / II John 1:7-13
• December 15 (2021) / III John 1:1-15
• December 30 (2020) / III John 1:1-8
• December 31 (2020) / III John 1:9-15

I John 5:4-21

This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. (vv. 6-8) My understanding… Here, John is confronting the Gnostics who say that Jesus was only man while He walked the earth, that He was born a man and died a man. (Maybe John can shed more light on Gnostic thinking.) But my understanding is that the “water” is Jesus’ Baptism, where the Spirit descended upon Him and the Father spoke. The “blood” is Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection – His Resurrection proving His divinity. And the Spirit was given at Pentecost as Jesus had promised (John 14:16, John 16:7) at the Last Supper. So these three – the water (Baptism), the blood (Crucifixion and Resurrection) and the Spirit (Pentecost) all testify to Jesus’ divinity while here on earth. Yes, it’s confusing, but that’s how I put it together.

Today’s “one word” is “know”, appearing seven times in today’s reading:

• We know that we have eternal life. (I John 5:13)
• We know that He hears us and that He honors our requests. (I John 5:15)
• We know that everyone born of God does not keep sinning. (I John 5:18)
• We know that we are from God and that the world is in the power of the devil. (I John 5:19)

Finally, we know that Jesus has come and given us understanding; that we know Him and are in Him; and that He is the True God and Eternal Life.

If we know these things, all our “necessary” questions should be answered!!

Blessings!

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See also:

• December 26 (2020) / I John 5:6-12
• December 27 (2020) / I John 5:13-21

I John 4:7-5:3

Dear RTB’ers,

“Love.” Each day in I John one word jumps out. Today that word is “love”. I counted 33 occurrences of the word “love” or “loved” in today’s 18 verses. And in these few verses we have a number of “memory verses”, especially I John 4:10,11,16b,18a,19. Pick one and add it to your personal memory verses.

One other item worth noting: For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (v. 5:3) My Study Bible added that obedience is not difficult because we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us. But also, I think one of our Avanza songs says it best. We often play a song, “The Perfect Ten”, a children’s rendition of the Ten Commandments, that makes the commandments more fun. Finally, in Godly Play (or the “Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”) the Ten Commandments are also referred to as “the ten best ways to live”. A good way to think of them! Yes, His commandments are not burdensome. Dwell on that today.

Blessings!

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See also:

• December 24 (2020) / I John 4:12-21
• December 13 (2021) / I John 5:1-21
• December 25 (2020) / I John 5:1-5

I John 3:11-4:6

Dear RTB’ers,

“World”. That one word is mentioned eight times in today’s reading, six of those in the first six verses in chapter 4, three times in just one verse (I John 4:5). For the most part, John applies the “world” to this earthly realm that is not of God, that is under the influence (control, even?) of the devil. The good news in all this is that …He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (v. 4:4b) Another verse put to music…! The world appears three times in one verse, in John’s reference to false prophets: They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. (v. 4:5) The item that troubles me in this verse is that …the world listens to them! People with unperceiving ears, who have not heard the gospel – or certainly have not followed Jesus. They hear “the world” and simply act on their own impulses. This world needs our prayers!

Blessings!

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See also:

• December 21 (2020) / I John 3:10-15
• December 22 (2020) / I John 3:16-24
• December 12 (2021) / I John 4:1-21
• December 23 (2020) / I John 4:1-11