Skip to main content

April 30 + Daily readings & notes

DAY 120

DAILY READINGS

Isaiah 45-48 & Psalm 119:33-64

DAILY NOTES

Isaiah 45

  • Cyrus does not know it, but he will be an instrument of the Lord.  He is the founder/leader of the Persian Empire.  "Cyrus is the only non-Israelite designated in the OT as God's anointed (messiah), a term usually reserved for Israel's kings or high priests."
  • What a message!  God says that it was never his intention for his people to live in chaos.  Did God ever say, "Seek me in chaos" (vs19)?  No!  
    • Another way it's thought God asks the question is: I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, "Seek me in vain."
Isaiah 46
  • Idols are made need to be carried.  God does not.  God says, "I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save."
Isaiah 47
  • Babylon is illustrated as a princess who has been stripped of all things.  She was once a princess, but now she stands in disgrace.
  • The reason Babylon is punished by God is because they showed Israel "no mercy" (vs. 6).
    • Did God expect them to be nice to Israel?
Isaiah 48
  • God has told the people what to expect so that they would be ready and so that they would not give credit to their idols when it all happens.
  • God will save the people from Babylon.  It will be for his name's sake and for the sake of his praise (vs. 9).  

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

God has us figured out!

Why do we turn against God?  Why do we continually seek our own glory?  Put our trust in other things?  Forget God?  We're stubborn.  Specifically, we're stubborn of heart (Isaiah 46:12).

Everything has been spelled out for us.  But we still turn.  If there's one thing we're good at it's being stubborn minded.  It could be the one thing we could do in order to be more faithful to God is loosen our stiff necks.  Don't be so stubborn about our own way.  In doing so, we might find there's a whole other life God has for us.

Stay blessed...john

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

March 29 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 88 Now that Israel has one king, it's a good time to consider the role of Israel's messiah.  Check out today's Bible Project video that explains how Jesus fits the narrative of messiah. DAILY READINGS 2 Samuel 4-8 & Psalm 88 DAILY NOTES 2 Samuel 4-5 The murder of Ishbaal, Saul's surviving son, prompts all the people to anoint David king over the entire kingdom. Notice that over the last several chapters, David does not approve of these political murders. The first act of David, as the narrative is concerned, is to stand against the Jebusites.  These are the people Joshua did not drive away (Joshua 15:63).  As a result of their conquest, David makes Jerusalem the capital of the kingdom.   David continues to rise in stature and respect. 2 Samuel 6 After establishing Jerusalem as the capital, David's next effort is to bring the ark to the capital.  It is the nation's most sacred object and it belongs in the nation's capital. I

February 26 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 57 Today's Bible Project video centers on what the Bible means when it speaks of the heart.   DAILY READINGS Deuteronomy 13-14 & Psalm 57 DAILY NOTES Deuteronomy 13 Any prophet or "dreamer of dreams" lead you away from God to other gods, he is to be put to death.  That person has, among other things, spoken "treason" or "falsehood" against God. The same thing should happen to "anyone" who tempts you in secret to follow another God, even if that anyone is a family member.   Notice that you're not even to show them "pity or compassion" or even try to protect them.   The text (Verse 13) says to watch for scoundrels--literally, sons of decadence.  If they are found to be leading people away from God, they are to be put to do as well, and all those of their town that followed them. Deuteronomy 14 The Isrealites were to remain a distinctive people.  They were not to follow the customs or practices o

April 11 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 101 The great prophet Elijah leaves the scene (He'll appear again later.  Do you remember where?).  Elisha takes his place and immediately begins to act as prophet among the people.   DAILY READINGS 2 Kings 1-3 & Psalm 101 DAILY NOTES 2 Kings 1 King Ahaziah is injured and he wants to know if he'll live.  He seeks input from the prophets of Baal-zebub.  Elijah finds out and interrupts Ahaziah's men from going to the prophets.   Notice that Elijah, that hairy man, is divinely protected by the captain and his men.   Ahazia never hears from the prophets.  Elijah speaks directly to him to tell him that he will surely die. 2 Kings 2 Where did the idea of a whirlwind come from?  Did anyone expect that Elijah would be taken "to heaven by a whirlwind"?  Everyone seems to know that today Elijah will be gone. Elisha's command to the band of prophets seems to indicate his sense of loss but also a vigor within himself; he is standing up to