The Bible Project @ Kelsey

DAY 125 DAILY READINGS Isaiah 61-64 & Psalm 120 DAILY NOTES Isaiah 61 Either God's spirit is upon the prophet Isaiah or on the servant of God (why not both?).  Since he is anointed by God he has a message and a mission (vss. 1-3). In response, the people of God will have work to do as well. Remember when God said to "speak kindly to Jerusalem" because she had received double for her sins (40:2)?  Now God says, because their shame was double, they will receive a double "portion" (vs. 7).   Isaiah 62 God will give the people of God a new name.  This new name will replace what they had been known as to others in their exile and shame.  Actually, it looks like there may be several new names: My Delight Is in Her (vs. 4) The Holy People (vs. 12) The Redeemed of the Lord Sought Out A City Not Forsaken Isaiah 63 God has just come from bringing judgment on Edom (vss. 1-6).  It seems pretty graphic. God's mercy is praised....

DAY 124 DAILY READINGS Isaiah 58-60 & Psalm 119:153-176 DAILY NOTES Isaiah 58 God makes a case against the worship of the people.  While their worship was "right," it wasn't righteous.  They were doing worship for their own benefit.   Y'all don't want me to start preaching, right? God mentions fasting.  Notice that God isn't pleased if you fast but ignore the needs of others.  An acceptable fast allows you to  loose the bonds of inustice undo the thongs of the yoke let the oppressed go free break every yoke share your bread with the hungry bring the homeless poor into your house see the naked and cover them not hide yourself from your own kin Can not eating M&Ms during Lent do all that? Isaiah 59 Israel recognizes its sin (vs.12).  God dressed himself (vs17) to battle against injustice. There is a promise that the spirit of God will be given and not taken away.  God puts the spirit in the mouth of ...

DAY 122 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...

DAY 121 DAILY READINGS Isaiah 49-51 & Psalm 119:65-96 DAILY NOTES Isaiah 49 Of course, the Church has long seen Christ in these passages.  We recognize various aspects of the Gospel story within details of the servant's mission. The servant of God will not just deliver Israel and bring them back to their land, the servant will also be a "as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6).  Remember when Jesus told his disciples to go make disciples of all nations? Remember how we used to sing "This little light of mine...." Israel will feel like God has forgotten them.  But God cannot forget his people.  They are inscribed on the palms of his hands.   They will be surprised by their deliverance.  There will be so many children that they won't know what to do with them! Isaiah 50 Israel's rebellion does not negate God's redeeming power.  Praise God! The servant of God is a tea...

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 th...

DAY 119 We are taking 6 days to read Psalm 119.  Yes, it has that many verses!  If you want to know how to read the Bible, take in all the words of Psalm 119.  It's not about reading for reading's sake.  It's about pursuing the heart of God. Today's Bible Project video talks about the way Jesus announced and spreads the news of God's kingdom. DAILY READINGS Isaiah 42-44 & Psalm 119:1-32 DAILY NOTES Isaiah 42 A servant of God is announced.  This chosen one of God will have God's spirit and bring justice to the world.   This is one of several "servant songs" written in Isaiah. His arrival is a part of God's redemption plan. A hymn of praise springs forth as a result.   God's redemption comes even though Israel has been disobedient. Isaiah 43 God promises that the people who have been scattered will return. What about those taken by Assyria? This new thing of God will take the place of the suffering and punis...

DAY 116 DAILY READINGS Isaiah 31-35 & Psalm 116 DAILY NOTES Isaiah 31 Notice the imagery the prophet uses to describe God.   The people have trusted the alliances they have made with Egypt. Isaiah 32 A future king will rule over the people.  The king will rule in righteousness and the kingdom will do likewise.   Isaiah 33 God again assures the people that they will be restored. Isaiah 34-35 The prophecies deal with the time after the exile.   Psalm 116 The psalmist was "brought low" and God saved him. The psalm points to an illness the psalmist endured that God delivered him from. The outcome is healing and thankful praise. OTHER OBSERVATIONS "The Egyptians are human, and not God."  Of course.  We know that.  We know that we are not God. What happens, though, is that we put too much trust in ourselves and/or other people.  We give others or ourselves the place God should have in our...

DAY 115 DAILY READINGS Isaiah 28-30 & Psalm 115 DAILY NOTES Isaiah 28 The people had trusted in themselves. God assures them he has "one who is mighty and strong."  It's been said that God has a mighty wind that will bring destruction to the people. The Church has found in this chapter (Verse 16) a messianic prophecy that points to Jesus. Isaiah 29 How low will Jerusalem be brought down?  Verse 4 says their voice will come "deep from the earth," and "from the ground like the voice of a ghost." Verses 9-10 remind me of what God told Isaiah to do back in Chapter 6. Isaiah 30 The people had planned to align themselves with Egypt.  They were confident in the protection and aid Pharaoh would give them.  Of course, to turn to Pharaoh meant to turn their back on God.   Not only did they turn from God, the people wanted to make sure the prophets weren't speaking what God told them.  They wanted to hear "smooth things,...

DAY 114 DAILY READINGS Isaiah 23-27 & Psalm 114 DAILY NOTES Isaiah 23 A judgement against Tyre Isaiah 24 The whole earth is called to judgement.   Verse 5 tells us why. Notice why Isaiah is upset in Verse 16. Isaiah 25 Another hymn/psalm of praise.  God will deliver his people. Isaiah 26 This is the song of Judah that will be sung "on that day."   "On that day" is a common phrase in Isaiah.  You should have noticed how important that day, when God executes judgement, is. There will be victory and a song because God is just. Isaiah 27 What a great chapter.  There are a couple of images that we have already seen in Isaiah to illustrate the people.  In Chapter 27 those images still illustrate Israel but in a different way.  Can you name them? Psalm 114 A call back to the exodus and when the people crossed the Jordan River.  Notice the earth's participation. OTHER OBSERVATIONS F...

DAY 112 Today, we're reading a part of Isaiah that centers on oracles against some of the foreign nations.  You'll notice how they are spoken against because of their pride and arrogance.  As we've already seen before, they are used as weapons of God, but will endure judgement, too. DAILY READINGS Isaiah 13-17 & Psalm 112 DAILY NOTES Isaiah 13 I've read "oracle" translated as burden and or harsh prophecy.  That puts these words into great perspective Babylon will face the the day of the Lord's judgement as well.  It will mean destruction for the nation. Isaiah 14 Judah will be restored.  Not only will they live in peace, but they will have dominion over those who ruled them. God gives them a "taunt," also translated as a proverb or parable, to use against Babylon.  A spiritual nana-nana-boo-boo? Isaiah 15 There is an oracle spoken against Moab. Notice the  sense of compassion in Verse 5.  Does this mean the prophe...

DAY 109 You'll notice that we are skipping around a bit in our reading.  1 Chronicles would be next, but we're actually finishing the Old Testament with that book.  So, today, we're starting with the book of Isaiah.  You'll notice some familiar themes, names and occurrences--that's part of why we're reading the prophet now. Here's today's Bible Project video to help illustrate the content of Isaiah 1-39 : DAILY READINGS Isaiah 1-4 & Psalm 109 DAILY NOTES Isaiah 1 God condemns the people of Judah.   God also says that he has no joy in the people's offerings (worship?).  Notice what he wishes they would do instead. And always notice the sign of hope! Isaiah 2 Jerusalem will be built as a city that nations recognized as blessed.   Isaiah 3-4 Notice how so much is what would be considered backwards, or not the way it was intended to be.  Still, by the end of Chapter 4, there is a promise that the "branch of t...