Skip to main content

May 2 + Daily readings & notes

DAY 122

Image result for suffering servant

DAILY READINGS

Isaiah 52-54 & Psalm 119:97-128

DAILY NOTES

Isaiah 52

  • God tells the people to rejoice.  They were afflicted and led away, but now they can look to "the return of the Lord to Zion" (vs. 8).
  • The last of the Suffering Servant songs.  It begins at Verse 13 and finishes at the conclusion of Chapter 53
    • Notice everything the servant will do.
Isaiah 53
  • Everything the servant did (or would do) would 1) be the will of God (vs. 10) and 2) be for the righteousness of the people (vs. 11).
  • I'm not trying to be heretical or anything.  But the early church read this and immediately said, "Jesus!"  They did that for obvious reasons.  But what about that offspring note in Verse 10?
Isaiah 54
  • The fortune and livelihood of the people will be reversed by God.  
    • Barrenness and shame, for example.
  • The prophet compares God to a grieving wife (vs. 6).
  • Whereas oppression, tribulation and fear established the life of the people in Babylon (most of them?), God promises he will not do that to them.  In fact, no weapon formed against the people will prosper!

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

Maybe you've heard some people talk about God obviously getting ready to bring judgement against us.  Just look at everything that's happening.  God isn't going to stand for much more. He's going to come and punish us.

Please don't misunderstand what I'm about to say.  There are plenty of things that I see as not honoring God.  But not just the things people in the church have traditionally riled against.  There is a lot God could punish us for.  By us I mean to say the American church.  We're a particular bunch.

I've heard many preachers use the threat of God's judgement as their go-to sermon.  What makes that difficult to hear is that they're not referring to the Final Judgement of God.  In fact, we tend to gloss over that a lot.  We believe there is a judgement every person will face.  We will all stand before God to give an account for our life.  But the judgement I often hear about describes how God is going to punish our nation, specifically.  We're going to have freedom taken away from us.  We're going to suffer the wrath of war.  And so on.  All because God has to punish us.

I'm not convinced that is from God.  Here's why.  What do you think when you see a rainbow?  If you're like most Christians, at some point you probably at least think of the name Noah.  The Bible says God put the rainbow in the sky to remind us of God's promise.

In Isaiah 54 God describes a new covenant of peace.  This is the peace the people have to look forward to after they return from exile.  Listen to what God says about it:
This is like the days of Noah to me:
   Just as a swore that the waters of Noah
   would never against go over the earth,
so I have sworn that I will not be angry
         with you
   and will not rebuke you.
Do you ever worry God is going to bring a flood to us?  You shouldn't.  So, why do we think we're so special that we can convince God to turn back on this promise?  We aren't.

Now, that doesn't mean we don't have work to do.  Lord, do we!  We've a story to tell to the nations.  And it doesn't mean there are some hearts that need to be refashioned.  There are.  That's why the church of God must realize its true nature and calling.

Stay blessed...john

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March 27 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 86 Ever notice these books don't end with happily ever afters?   Remember that we are reading an entire story of God told over many years.  The individual books help us follow that story, but we do well in remembering it's still one complete story. Today, we're finishing 1 Samuel.  As we read, we'll see how far Saul has fallen.  Ultimately, what God said would happen, happens. DAILY READINGS 1 Samuel 28-31 & Psalm 86 DAILY NOTES 1 Samuel 28 This chapter is devoted entirely to Saul's encounter with a medium. Notice that Saul had previously expelled mediums and wizards.  This could be a sign of his former faithfulness. Saul's fear overwhelmed him.  He is up against a Philistine army he does not think he can defeat. Since Saul could not hear from God, he seeks a medium to "inquire of her."  What did he want to know (from God or the medium)?  He asks Samuel what he should do.  So, is that asking whether to...
Post a Comment
Read more

January 27 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 27 We'll be reading about atonement today.  T oday's video helps make sense of that biblical theme. DAILY READINGS Exodus 30-31 & Psalm 27 DAILY NOTES Exodus 30:6 Everything has its place.   Exodus 30:10 Once a year would be Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Exodus 12-15 The Lord's offering is required of everyone equally (of the appropriate age).  Strangely enough, there is a designation of rich and poor.  Everyone has just come from Egypt.  How has that distinction arisen?   Exodus 31:13 It's interesting to compare how the idea of sabbath here relates to previous mentions of it.   Exodus 31:18 Moses had written the words down.  Now, with merely his finger, God has provided the tablets for all to remember the covenant that has been made.   Psalm 27 Have you ever prayed and prayed and prayed for something?  The psalmist seems to know the feeling.  His final adm...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more