Month: September 2016

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ISAIAH 51:1-53:12 | EPHESIANS 5:1-33 | PSALM 69:19-36 | PROVERBS 24:7

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Isaiah continues as the Lord’s mouthpiece in these writings that are prophetic in nature, for the most part.  This chapter opens up with the Lord saying this to the children of Israel—referring to Abraham, the Lord says:

When I called him he was only one man,
and I blessed him and made him many.
³ The LORD will surely comfort Zion
and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden,
her wastelands like the garden of the LORD.
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

In a most poetic way, the Lord is saying of his people:

“You were sold for nothing,
and without money you will be redeemed.”

And in some of the most memorable verses from the book of Isaiah, we have these verses that announce the great coming of the Messiah:

⁷ How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
⁸ Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the LORD returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.
⁹ Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the LORD has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
¹⁰ The LORD will lay bare his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.

In Chapter 53, we find a culmination of the great event of the advent and treatment of the Messiah, and the purpose that it served.  Referring to the man known as Jesus Christ, who was none other than God incarnate, Isaiah says this of Jesus’ crucifixion and death:

⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

But this was no ordinary death, neither was it for naught.  There was a great purpose to it, and this is what Isaiah tells us:

¹⁰ Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
¹¹ After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
¹² Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Turning now to our reading of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we find Paul yet again reminding his readers about the important aspect of this new faith that they have adopted. 

He says:  ¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

And then he goes another step to spell out what he exactly recommends. 

He says:  ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Paul is all about being practical with the advice he dispenses.  He is not speaking in esoteric terms, rather, he is as down-to-earth as can be.  Here are some additional words of advice that he has for the Ephesians, and it goes without saying that these are timeless words for all of us to live by even today. 

Paul says:¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And if this wasn’t practical enough for you, Paul has more advice—on personal relationships, especially those pertaining to between a husband and wife. 

Paul says:  …husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰ for we are members of his body. ³¹ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” ³² This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³ However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Turning now to our psalm for the day, we find David offering praises to the Lord, and he rightfully argues that such offerings of praise and thanksgiving are more precious to God than any other offering.  Remember, this was during the pre-Messianic era where there was no other way to approach God besides making animal offerings, but even in that day, David already possesses the wisdom of what might truly be pleasing to God.  He says:

³⁰ I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
³¹ This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.

Finally, one verse from the book of Proverbs which is another “saying” authored by Solomon, wise king of Israel who says:

⁷ Wisdom is too high for fools; in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.

Click Here For Today’s Reading

ISAIAH 48:12-50:11 | EPHESIANS 4:17-32 | PSALM 69:1-18 | PROVERBS 24:5-6

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Isaiah is foretelling the future of Israel, and in these magnificent verses we learn of Israel’s redemption and freedom.  The Lord says through Isaiah:  “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” 

Israel is not only being restored, it is through Israel and because of Israel that the hope for the rest of mankind will come to pass.  And if this is a shocking prophecy to you, it was to Israel as well.  Because Isaiah goes on to offer a prophetic response on behalf of Israel in these words:¹⁴ But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” 

And the Lord’s response to this is plain and simple:

¹⁵ “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!
¹⁶ See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.
¹⁷ Your children hasten back,
and those who laid you waste depart from you.
¹⁸ Lift up your eyes and look around;
all your children gather and come to you.
As surely as I live,” declares the LORD,
“you will wear them all as ornaments;
you will put them on, like a bride.

This is not a God who minces his words, but one that spells them out.  Whether or not you are Jew or Gentile, it is words like these that you would want to read not once or twice, but many times over to allow for its meaning to come through.  The Lord says to Israel:

²⁶ I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh;
they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine.
Then all mankind will know
that I, the LORD, am your Savior,
your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Turning next to our reading of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we find Paul giving his readers a list of instructions for Christian living.  If there was danger of lapsing back into the very orthodox Jewish beliefs and customs that were now meaningless—such as circumcision—that Paul had to caution the Corinthians and the Galatians about, likewise Paul now had to caution the non-Jews and Jews alike to beware of certain Gentile practices. 

Paul’s advice is solid common sense, yet one that needed to be stated—clearly and concisely.  Paul tells them:  ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Then, he goes on to tell them this:  ²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

The importance of exercising self-control over one’s words is an important theme in Paul’s communications, and even here, he does not spare the opportunity to tell them this:  ²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Finally, turning to our psalm for the day, we find one which must have surely been written at a time of deep despair in the life of David, king of Israel.  Who among us has not experienced despair in the same degree?  And while we might readily agree to having shared in such despair, could we also say that we have turned to the Lord for help in the same way that David does? 

This is David’s plea for help, and the sheer faith in God’s power to save him is inspiring in each and every line!  May it be that we might learn from this prayer on how to place our complete trust in God’s ability to rescue us in our darkest hour.  David says:

¹³ But I pray to you, LORD,
in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
   answer me with your sure salvation.
¹⁴ Rescue me from the mire,
do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
from the deep waters.
¹⁵ Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
or the depths swallow me up
or the pit close its mouth over me.

¹⁶ Answer me, LORD, out of the goodness of your love;
in your great mercy turn to me.
¹⁷ Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
¹⁸ Come near and rescue me;
deliver me because of my foes.

Finally, two verses from the book of Proverbs that comprise one of the “sayings” authored by Solomon, king of Israel:

⁵ The wise prevail through great power,
   and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
⁶ Surely you need guidance to wage war,
   and victory is won through many advisers.

May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.