Read Isa. 43:20-28
The rest of this chapter is a picture of millennial reign when Israel is in their land reigning over the earth. He mentions that the beasts of the field and the dragons and the owls will honor the Lord. These are three unclean animals that are associated with darkness and the occult. They are animals that feasts on dead things. But one day they will be set free of their curse and become holy. Even the land will become holy and the desert will have rivers running through it and the wilderness will be watered. Whatever happens naturally will also happen spiritually. The actual deserts will have rivers and the people that have lived in a state of thirst for God with no spiritual refreshing will be taught and showered with healing and anointing power. Humanity was created to honor God but they didn't do that. Even his chosen people Israel and Judah didn't honor God by following his covenant. They didn't bring him the sacrifices that he asked. Instead they wearied the Lord with their sins but how merciful is God! He chose to blot out our transgressions and to forget our sins. But, because of his nature, he has to discipline them first. Then he can bless them.
Lord, send us streams in the desert that we might be filled with your spirit.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Tue.'s Devo - New Things
Read Isa. 43:1-18
I love these verses. God tells us that he has bought us back from the devil's domain and called us by name and given us his name. When we go through small and large trials he will go with us through them. He will not let the situation overwhelm us. When we walk through persecution it will not leave us with scars and we will not stay there. Isaiah skips ahead to out lifetime when God began to call the Jewish people back to their homeland. In 1948 the land of Israel became a nation and from then to now God has put it on the heart of his people to come and live in Israel. He has given them scientific secrets into how to turn desert land into farmland. Trees have been planted where there was once barrenness and wilderness. He brought forth the blind people who had eyes and the deaf people who had ears. In other words he called people that don't even know the Lord to come back and follow their heart. They have the ability to know him they just haven't YET. God is the author of humanity. He has always been in control and he will always be in control. The things we have seen God do in the past won't even compare to what he is going to do. We will talk tomorrow about what that is going to look like.
Lord, there is nothing compared to your majesty and your wisdom. I am so blessed to be your child.
I love these verses. God tells us that he has bought us back from the devil's domain and called us by name and given us his name. When we go through small and large trials he will go with us through them. He will not let the situation overwhelm us. When we walk through persecution it will not leave us with scars and we will not stay there. Isaiah skips ahead to out lifetime when God began to call the Jewish people back to their homeland. In 1948 the land of Israel became a nation and from then to now God has put it on the heart of his people to come and live in Israel. He has given them scientific secrets into how to turn desert land into farmland. Trees have been planted where there was once barrenness and wilderness. He brought forth the blind people who had eyes and the deaf people who had ears. In other words he called people that don't even know the Lord to come back and follow their heart. They have the ability to know him they just haven't YET. God is the author of humanity. He has always been in control and he will always be in control. The things we have seen God do in the past won't even compare to what he is going to do. We will talk tomorrow about what that is going to look like.
Lord, there is nothing compared to your majesty and your wisdom. I am so blessed to be your child.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Mon.'s Devo - Restore
Read Isa. 42:13-25
When God gets ready to act there is no stopping him. He comes in like a mighty man who is jealous for his son's bride. He will bring down the authority of the land (the mountains and the hills) and "dry up all their herbs". "Dry up" in the Hebrew means to cause their plans to be confused and ashamed. All the world's systems will not prosper. God will start setting things straight. The blind will be lead by the spirit of God and their ways will become his ways. God will come back and lead his people. The truth will be presented in a way they can understand it and they will be ashamed of their false idols. God will restore his ways and word to his people and they will realize how they have allowed the devil to steal from them and keep them in bondage. God will restore them so that they can get back what the enemy stole from them and be restored to right relationship with God. It was God who allowed Israel to go into bondage because of their sin and it is God that will bring them out and restore them back to him.
Lord, restore your church back to right standing with you and your Word.
When God gets ready to act there is no stopping him. He comes in like a mighty man who is jealous for his son's bride. He will bring down the authority of the land (the mountains and the hills) and "dry up all their herbs". "Dry up" in the Hebrew means to cause their plans to be confused and ashamed. All the world's systems will not prosper. God will start setting things straight. The blind will be lead by the spirit of God and their ways will become his ways. God will come back and lead his people. The truth will be presented in a way they can understand it and they will be ashamed of their false idols. God will restore his ways and word to his people and they will realize how they have allowed the devil to steal from them and keep them in bondage. God will restore them so that they can get back what the enemy stole from them and be restored to right relationship with God. It was God who allowed Israel to go into bondage because of their sin and it is God that will bring them out and restore them back to him.
Lord, restore your church back to right standing with you and your Word.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Fri.'s Devo - The Servant is Coming
Read Isa. 42:1-12
This is the first of many of Isaiah's servant songs. The "servant" may be referring to Israel as a nation, the godly remnant, or the Messiah. This one refers to the Messiah. He is the one that God delights in. He will one day judge the Gentiles. He will not be like the Pharisees who were argumentative and strict. He will be gentle with the weak and not quench the smallest fire in the heart of the people. He will not fail in his mission nor be discouraged by the reaction of the people. He will fulfill his covenant to Israel and be a light to the Gentiles. He will open the spiritually blind eyes as well as the physical. He will bring them out of their man-made and self-made prisons. He will not share his glory with an idol or any other thing. The past is gone and God is going to do a new thing. Praise God for he will give us a new song to sing to him. All earth will rejoice as what the Lord will do. Even the isolated places will hear what God has done and praise him. All this was done by Jesus and will be done again when he comes back.
Lord. How Wonderful you are! We look anxiously for your return.
This is the first of many of Isaiah's servant songs. The "servant" may be referring to Israel as a nation, the godly remnant, or the Messiah. This one refers to the Messiah. He is the one that God delights in. He will one day judge the Gentiles. He will not be like the Pharisees who were argumentative and strict. He will be gentle with the weak and not quench the smallest fire in the heart of the people. He will not fail in his mission nor be discouraged by the reaction of the people. He will fulfill his covenant to Israel and be a light to the Gentiles. He will open the spiritually blind eyes as well as the physical. He will bring them out of their man-made and self-made prisons. He will not share his glory with an idol or any other thing. The past is gone and God is going to do a new thing. Praise God for he will give us a new song to sing to him. All earth will rejoice as what the Lord will do. Even the isolated places will hear what God has done and praise him. All this was done by Jesus and will be done again when he comes back.
Lord. How Wonderful you are! We look anxiously for your return.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Thurs.'s Devo - Only God
Read Isa. 41:21-29
God is challenging the nations of the world to use their idols to predict the future. When they fail and their predictions don't come true they will realize that their pagan gods are worthless. But God is true and he knows the future because he wrote it. God raised up Cyrus from the north to trample Israel's enemies like the potter trampling clay. No one but God has declared this. Their idols were not able to predict this because they were nothing and their works were vanity. God knew that one day Jerusalem would be the place where Jesus would bring the good news of the gospel. Isaiah prophesied Jesus coming more than any other prophet and all his prophecies came true. God is not slow concerning his promises but has the future all mapped out in his perfect timing.
Lord, help us to wait on you and your goodness. Let us not turn to the world for answers because only you hold the future.
God is challenging the nations of the world to use their idols to predict the future. When they fail and their predictions don't come true they will realize that their pagan gods are worthless. But God is true and he knows the future because he wrote it. God raised up Cyrus from the north to trample Israel's enemies like the potter trampling clay. No one but God has declared this. Their idols were not able to predict this because they were nothing and their works were vanity. God knew that one day Jerusalem would be the place where Jesus would bring the good news of the gospel. Isaiah prophesied Jesus coming more than any other prophet and all his prophecies came true. God is not slow concerning his promises but has the future all mapped out in his perfect timing.
Lord, help us to wait on you and your goodness. Let us not turn to the world for answers because only you hold the future.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Wed.'s Devo - A Bright Future
Read Isa. 41:1-20
God is challenging the Gentile nations to come to his courtroom. God raised up Cyrus, the Persian, from the east and gave him power to conquer the Babylonian Empire. It is God that empowered him to rule. Anyone who tried to withstand him would be going against God himself. As for Israel, God will remember his covenant with Abraham and he will strengthen Israel and protect it. Isaiah looks forward to the millennial reign when all their enemies will be ashamed and put down. God will come to the aid of his people. God will make Israel strong and powerful again and make them instruments of war that will fight their enemies and win. Israel will once again rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel. The whole earth will respond to the Lord. The wilderness will blossom, the dry places will be watered with fountains and rivers. Trees will grow and bear fruit where they couldn't before. He lists 7 different kinds of trees that will flourish in the desert. They stand for tenacity, discipline, repentance, , praise, endurance, and steadfastness. God's glory will be evident everywhere. This is what God wants to do in each of us: be strong and powerful, make us bloom and fill us with his Holy Spirit so that we might bear fruit.
Lord, thank you for giving us a hope and a future and the tools we need to bear much fruit.
God is challenging the Gentile nations to come to his courtroom. God raised up Cyrus, the Persian, from the east and gave him power to conquer the Babylonian Empire. It is God that empowered him to rule. Anyone who tried to withstand him would be going against God himself. As for Israel, God will remember his covenant with Abraham and he will strengthen Israel and protect it. Isaiah looks forward to the millennial reign when all their enemies will be ashamed and put down. God will come to the aid of his people. God will make Israel strong and powerful again and make them instruments of war that will fight their enemies and win. Israel will once again rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel. The whole earth will respond to the Lord. The wilderness will blossom, the dry places will be watered with fountains and rivers. Trees will grow and bear fruit where they couldn't before. He lists 7 different kinds of trees that will flourish in the desert. They stand for tenacity, discipline, repentance, , praise, endurance, and steadfastness. God's glory will be evident everywhere. This is what God wants to do in each of us: be strong and powerful, make us bloom and fill us with his Holy Spirit so that we might bear fruit.
Lord, thank you for giving us a hope and a future and the tools we need to bear much fruit.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Mon.'s Devo - The Greatness of Our God
Read Isa. 40:1-26
The next 8 chapters of Isaiah look forward to the time when Israel will be in captivity in Babylon. Isaiah probably wrote these later in his life. He starts out comforting Israel during its time of discipline in Babylon because it is over. Now Isaiah is calling Israel to get ready for God to act. They need to prepare themselves spiritually. They are to make a smooth highway for God to enter in the desert. Every valley will be brought up and every mountain will be made low; the crooked straight, and tough places smooth. In other words, everyone is going to be at the same level. God's glory has a way of reducing us all to dust. No pride stands against his glory. God himself will rule and take care of his people like a shepherd tends his sheep. This God who holds all the waters of the earth in the palm of his hand, who can measure heaven with the spread of his fingers, and knows the measure of the dust of the earth and the weight of the mountains will gently lead us and love us. No one taught God how to judge or live. He is all knowledge and wisdom. There is nothing that can stand before him or comprehend him. People have tried to make images of him for ever and no one has gotten it right. God sits on the path that the earth takes and sees us as grasshoppers. He stretched out the heavens as I stretch out my curtains on my table. He can totally manage and control the heavens and the earth. He decides who rules and who gets dethroned. What on earth do we have to compare to God? No one.
Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! How can we not trust you and love you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)