My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.

Proverbs 1:8-7

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Proverbs 3:1-2

As part of my D-Group's study of Proverbs using the Knowing the Bible study series for this book, I continue with an examination of Proverbs, moving to week 3, which focuses on Proverbs 1:8-7.  The first four questions ask, in the context of:

• 1:8-19: what might loss of life include?
• 2:6-8, 9-22: what aspects of God's character discovered, how does wisdom benefit those who find it?
• 3:1-12: are the described rewards always experienced in tangible ways?  How best should we understand them?
• 3:21-35 (with James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5-6, Psalm 138:6): what do these passages reveal about the folly of pride
  

While all of these questions are of value to explore, the third question today is what strikes a chord.  A key statement made in the opening chapter of the study states that Proverbs, while they are "observations of how God has designed the world to work[,] they should not be taken as promises."  This said, as I try and reconcile this statement with 2 Timothy 3:16, which states about scripture: "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness[.]"  As I answer the third question, I move to closer to reconciling how Proverbs should not be taken as promises per se, perhaps not tangibly, but instead as spiritual rewards and blessings.  Clarity of purpose (straight paths), emotional and spiritual healing, and spiritual/emotional wealth (eternal rewards), are all examples of how we experience tangible rewards of seeking God's wisdom (and seeking His love and glory).  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You do bless by making paths straight, by spiritual/emotional healing, and by providing spiritual/emotional wealth - I have experienced all of these blessings - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of these blessings.  My sin is great and it continues - today I did not come to You first but instead sought earthly comfort over You - sinful!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me[.]

Isaiah 44-46

Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me[.] Isaiah 46:8-9

I resumed my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series - today moving on to Lesson 17 day 4 and 5 where I reflect on Isaiah 46 after a read of my commentary's perspective on this chapter.  My commentary offers the following divisions for this chapter:

1. The gods of Babylon are a crushing burden, crushed in the end (46:1-2)
   
2. The incomparable God carries His people from birth to old age (46:3-5)
3. The idols cannot move, neither can they save (46:6-7)
4. Remember the God who plans and orchestrates history (46:8-10)
5. God's plan is to bring salvation near to those far away (46:11-13)

The two key applications recommended by my commentary include:

1. We should not "glibly" assume we have no idols; we should ask God to search our heart and expose them; "anything we put ultimate value on other than Christ is a "functional savior" and an idol
2.  Delight in a God who carries you

The core method God uses to show us the futility of idol worship is a comparison of idols to the One True God and of course NONE compare!  My commentary states very aptly: "[t]hough we may not go to a goldsmith with a bag of gold and ask him to melt it into a golden statue that we worship, our covetousness and materialism are every bit as idolatrous as that....idols are burdens that we carry around, burdens that will crush us someday if we do not cast them off. God has systematically exposed and destroyed all his rivals in every generation."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is like no other - You are the One True God that carries burdens and saves - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You carry burdens and save.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.

Isaiah 44-46

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it. Isaiah 46:11

I resumed my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series - today moving on to Lesson 17 day 3, which examines Isaiah 46. This chapter includes several core messages/applications:

• v1-2: the futility of idols - they cannot carry burdens nor save; Israel's kings and citizens had allowed themselves to fall prey to the religious practices of neighboring countries and disobeyed God's commands to love Him and to not have other gods before Him (see Exodus 20:3-4).
  
• v3-7: none compare to the One True God, the King of Kings who created everything, is before and in everything and holds all things together 
• v8-11: nothing can stop God from accomplishing His will
• v12-13: God promises a remnant of Israel that He will save them - a coming Messiah
  

Of particular note, we should take great comfort in knowing that when God makes a promise - He is faithful and He will accomplish His will.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and I take great comfort in how You are faithful.  All of Your promises come to pass.  Thank You Jesus for Your faithfulness - none compare to You.  I am not deserving of Your faithfulness, nor any of the blessings You pour out for me, including my salvation.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you[.]

Psalm 31

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you[.] Psalm 31:19

I pause my studies of both Isaiah and of Proverbs to listen once again to John Piper's daily devotion Solid Joys on DesiringGod.com. Today's devotion is a promise of future grace for those who are desperate and helpless, and for those who plead to God, depending on Him for refuge.  God desires this dependence on Him - He does not want for us to be self-sufficient. Piper provides Psalm 31:19 as an expression of this promise, and Piper provides the following other scripture examples:

• None of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. (Psalm 34:22)
• He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. (2 Samuel 22:31)
• Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 2:12)
• The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. (Nahum 1:7) 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great indeed and there are none like You.  Only You can the helpless find true and lasting refuge and protection.  Thank You Jesus!  I am certainly not deserving of such a blessing.  My sin is great, it is daily, and I am helpless in face of my sin - without You.  Help me turn from my sin, overcome it, and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Proverbs 1

 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. Acts 9:31

As part of my D-Group's study of Proverbs using the Knowing the Bible study series for this book, I continue with an examination of Proverbs 1:1-7 for week 2 - we meet tomorrow night and I wrap my review of week 2 today, focusing on Proverbs 1:7 where it says "fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."  My study defines fear of the Lord as "reverent awe and healthy fear of God's displeasure and discipline."  Believers should all know and understand that we exist to glorify God and we certainly don't do that when we displease and disappoint God.  Once we accept God as our Lord and Savior we set our hearts upon Him and develop a "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matthew 5:6) such that we spend time in Bible study (emphasizing rigor) and prayer daily.  The more we get to know God the more our sanctification process should drive us to please and glorify (vs disappoint and dishonor). A quick examination of "fear of the Lord" in the Bible reveals that this phrase appears 27 times in the Bible, including:

• 2 Chronicles (14:14, 17:10, 19:7, 19:9)
• Job 28:28
• Psalms (19:9, 34:11, 111:10)
• Proverbs (1:7, 1:29, 2:5, 8:13, 9:10, 10:27, 14:26-27, 15:16, 15:33, 19:23, 22:4, 23:17)
• Isaiah (11:2-3, 33:6)
  
• Acts 9:31
• 2 Corinthians 5:11

Acts 9:31 describes collective or "corporate" fear on the part of the church and how the early church grew as a result of such fear. Walking in the fear of the Lord implies how the church worked together to please God and avoid displeasing Him.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and worthy of praise, honor and glory - and You bless me...greatly, including my salvation - tshe greatest gift of all time.  I am not deserving of such blessings and gift.  My sin is great and it continues...please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message to me today and every day. 

 

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

1 Timothy 6

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 1 Timothy 6:6-10

I pause from both my study of Isaiah and of Proverbs to listen to today's daily devotion from John Piper's Solid Joys found on DesiringGod.com.  Piper warns us, as does Paul, against covetousness for either possessions or wealth - this is a dangerous snare that seeks to not only pull us away from Jesus but also jeopardize our salvation. As Paul writes and Piper emphasizes us to pick up, we are to flee such pursuits and to take hold of our eternal life (lest we lose it!). 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I know that all things come from You and they belong to You to be used for Your glory.  You provide - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide, bless, and save.  My sin is great - every day it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.

Proverbs 1

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. Psalm 111:10

As part of my D-Group's study of Proverbs using the Knowing the Bible study series for this book, I continue with an examination of Proverbs 1:1-7 for week 2. My study looks at the text of Proverbs 1:7 and where this text appears elsewhere in the Bible and how knowledge and wisdom are closely tied together in Proverbs, stating that "[k]nowledge has to do with developing a correct understanding of the world, while wisdom is the acquired skill of applying that knowledge rightly."  Endeavors to seek either knowledge or wisdom without fear of the Lord is a destructive path - and we should avoid such efforts. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible and amazing God and all knowledge and wisdom comes from You - thank You for how You have provided both in my life - I know this is a journey where I lack knowledge and wisdom in many areas in life but You provide!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the blessings of how You provide.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

...to give prudence to the simple[.]

Proverbs 1

 ...to give prudence to the simple[.] Proverbs 1:4

I resume meeting with D-Group as we continue a study of Proverbs using the Knowing the Bible study series for this book.  This week's focus is Proverbs 1:1-7. The introduction for this chapter (week 2) states that verses 2-6 lay out the goal of Proverbs "which is the acquisition of knowledge."  One of the questions from the study for this week looks at v4 and how we are to be "simple." The takeaway is that we should not be committed to either wisdom or folly as these can be idols in and of themselves.  Instead, we should commit to the Lord and fear Him first, and it is through a right relationship with Him where we fear God and act out of humility (knowing our place with God) that God reveals Himself to us (including wisdom).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I have seen the blessing of fearing You as You have dispensed wisdom and words to say in challenging circumstances - thank You Jesus!  I know this comes only from You.  I am not deserving of such blessings - my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Who stirred up one from the east whom victory meets at every step? He gives up nations before him, so that he tramples kings underfoot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow....I stirred up one from the north, and he has come, from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name; he shall trample on rulers as on mortar, as the potter treads clay.

Isaiah 44-46

Who stirred up one from the east whom victory meets at every step? He gives up nations before him, so that he tramples kings underfoot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his  bow....I stirred up one from the north, and he has come, from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name; he shall trample on rulers as on mortar, as the potter treads clay. Isaiah 41:2, 25

I resumed my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I continue with Lesson 17, which examines Isaiah chapters 44-46.  My focus for today is Day 2(b), which completes a review of Isaiah 44:24-45 and how God raised up Cyrus to conquer Babylon, free Judah from exile and encourage and support Judah to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.  The study looks closely at how Cyrus is the subject of prophecy from Isaiah 41:2 and 25 that God raised up from the east and north.  Clearly, Persia is from the East and several commentaries indicate that Mede is likely to be the land from the north referenced from Isaiah 41:25. These sources indicate that while Cyrus' father was Persian, his mother was Median.  Additionally such sources indicate that Cyrus was "directed" by an uncle from Media, Darius from Mede joined Cyrus on the attack of Babylonia, and how Cyrus attacked Babylonia from the north (from Mede). The key takeaway is how God is in control of all the details - big and small - of our lives and how He uses the circumstances of our lives to direct His will.  God raised up Cyrus, and He also created us, sustains us, and moves in our lives for His purpose.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Comment and and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, Jesus, You are an awesome God and I KNOW You are moving in my heart and life - thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of the blessings and compassion You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  sHelp me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

Isaiah 44-46

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. Isaiah 45:1-3

I resumed my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I continue with Lesson 17, which examines Isaiah chapters 44-46.  My focus for today is Day 2(a), which looks at Isaiah 44:24-45 and the role of King Cyrus of Persia.  My study looked at the following scriptures to provide a more complete view of Cyrus:

• 2 Chronicles 36:11-23: "Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus"
  
• Jeremiah 25:12, 29:10-11: Prophecy that after 25 years, the Lord will punish the king of Babylon; God promising freedom of Jewish exiles in Babylon and return to Jerusalem
  
• Ezra 1:1-11, 5:11-6:15: Description of Cyrus' decree to free exiles for them to rebuild Jerusalem; leadership by tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levites, freewill offerings and return of temple treasures taken by Nebuchadnezzar; Darius reinforcing Cyrus' words to rebuild Jerusalem
  
• Daniel 1:21, 6:28: Daniel prospers during both reigns of Cyrus and Darius

The study also encouraged use of extra-Biblical sources to better understand Cyrus and this source describes Cyrus as conciliatory towards conquered peoples, allowing local customs, including worship.

Upon review of all sources, of course primarily from other OT sources, we see a fulfillment of Isaiah's (Isaiah 45) prophecy of Cyrus' conquest of Babylon and a return of the exiles to rebuild the sacked city of Jerusalem and the temple. God is faithful - we can trust in His promises. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great and You are faithful - I can trust in You and You keep Your promises.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the blessings that You pour out from Your faithfulness.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me....To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15 and 2 Thessalonians 1

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me....To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Today, I once again draw on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper describes how grace is not just pardon for our sins but also power for our obedience.  Piper states: "[t]herefore, the effort we make to obey God is not an effort done in our own strength, but “by the strength that God supplies — in order that in everything God may be glorified” (1 Peter 4:11). It is the obedience of faith. Faith in God’s ever-arriving gracious power to enable us to do what we should."  Humility remains one of the cornerstones of our faith: faith is a gift (Ephesians 2:8) and we are not deserving (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8, Romans 6:23) and here we are reminded how this cornerstone of faith works with regards to grace and how it drives our obedience. Thank You Jesus!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who is full of grace for me - for my salvation and faith, but also for my obedience and sanctification - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of any of these blessings - my sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.

1 Samuel 15

Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 1 Samuel 15:24

I once again pause from my study of Isaiah and of Proverbs to listen to the Solid Joys daily devotion on DesiringGod.com. Similar (albeit by way of contrast) to a post a couple of days ago where the devotion from Solid Joys encouraged us to pray in a way that pleases God, today we see how God is not pleased when we fear man vs Him. Piper writes how this is a form of pride. Piper writes: "[i]n fact, Isaiah says it is a kind of pride to be afraid of what man can do while we disregard the promises of God. He quotes God with this piercing question: “I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker?” (Isaiah 51:12–13). God is infinitely good and infinitely powerful.  Our lives are in His hands and we all know that (1) we all sin (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8), and (2) the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23) - so we have sufficient reason to fear God - He is God!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I know You made me and You are saving a place for me in Heaven and I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Isaiah 44-46

I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things. Isaiah 45:5-7

I resumed my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I start Lesson 17, which examines Isaiah chapters 44-46.  My focus for today is Day 1, which looks at Isaiah 44:24-45:25. Isaiah prophecies in Isaiah 39:5-7 how Judah will fall and be taken captive by Babylon, and here in Isaiah 45 (starting in v1) we see how God uses King Cyrus of Persia to sack Babylon and free Judah from exile.  This is yet another example of how God uses people outside of the faith as part of His plans. God reigns over all - in v7 we also see how God works in evil and calamity.  We should never question that God is in all things - see also Colossians 1:15-17.  We should also see how God works in all things for good - see Romans 8:28 - for many circumstances in our lives we may never know the good that is being worked out but we CAN rest assured that it is good and God does love us.  We will have trouble (John 16:33), but God has overcome and in so doing gives us eternal life.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great and how You work is amazing - You are in all the details of my life and all the details of all lives - You hold all things together and I know You love me and give me eternal life - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word....The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Isaiah 66, Psalm 51

But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word....The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Isaiah 66:2, Psalm 51:17

This morning, I pause on both my study of Isaiah and my study of Proverbs, to listen to John Piper's daily devotion on DesiringGod.com.  The focus of the devotion is a question which should interest all believers - "[w]hat kind of prayer pleases God?" Piper first answers in the negative by looking at God's word in Isaiah 66:3-4 - the prayers of those who go through the motions of worship (i.e. ritual, heartless sacrifice and worship) but do not seek God's word.  I was once in this latter category and I am grateful that God grew my love of Him.  Piper then moves on to the affirmative where he emphasizes how humility and a contrite heart - our recognition of our brokenness and a God that loves us and seeks to redeem us. We must DAILY seek Him and hunger and thirst for righteousness as we ALL sin and need a Savior - that Savior is Jesus Christ and our need of a Savior should drive us into the arms of Jesus, manifesting itself in a daily, lifelong personal relationship with Him.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who saved me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving - not by a long shot.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.

Isaiah 42-44

Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people.  Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Isaiah 44:7

I continue with my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I wrap Lesson 16 by addressing the questions posed on lesson Day 5, where the focus is Isaiah 44. My commentary outlines the following divisions in this chapter:

1. God promises to pour out his Spirit and create His children (Isaiah 44:1-5)
2. God alone can explain the past and predict the future (44:6-8)
3. God ridicules idol makers (44:9-20)
4. God has swept away our sins like a mist, so rejoice (44:21-23)
5. God raises up Cyrus to rebuild Jerusalem (44:24-28)

We must see the stark contrast between God and the false gods called out in this chapter.  While we can stand on God's promises as He is faithful, we, at the same time, must acknowledge how the false gods we often chase fall short of the One True God. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and NONE can compare to You.  You are my Lord and Savior and saved me - while I was still hostile and an enemy to You...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  My sin continues and it is great.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such a sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

Isaiah 42-44

Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Isaiah 43:19

I continue with my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I continue with Lesson 16, wrapping up the remaining lesson questions from Day 4, where the focus is Isaiah 43-44:5. My commentary raises the concept of reprobation, which I had never learned prior. The commentary raises this concept in the context of Isaiah 43:19 where God says that He saves believers but does not save others. This of course makes our own salvation even more amazing because as John Piper points out in DesiringGod.com that "[God] doesn’t choose to save certain people because they are better than others (unconditional election), [and] neither does he choose not to save certain people because they are worse than others (unconditional reprobation, or double predestination). Rather, everybody is lost in sin and no one has anything to recommend them to God above anyone else."  Believers rejoice and be thankful for the amazing grace He has poured out for us!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who saved me - not through my own actions but out of only amazing grace - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love me nor of my salvation.  My sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 42-44

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

I continue with my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I continue with Lesson 16, moving to Day 4(a), where the focus includes Isaiah 42:18-25 and 43:1:21. Building on my post yesterday, Isaiah 43:19 gives us a glimpse of a salvation that my commentary indicates is far better than what Israel experienced with their escape from Egypt and entry into the promised land. This of course is Jesus Christ.  Before believers rejoice in our Savior, we must acknowledge that we are no less sinful than Israel - see Isaiah 42:18-25 for the depth of Israel's sin.  God made us one of His elect while we were still enemies of Him (Romans 5:10) and hostile to Him (Colossians 1:21-22).  This should make all of us as believers all the grateful of our salvation.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for my salvation - I know I am not deserving but You provided it anyway - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Isaiah 42-44

I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. Isaiah 42:6-7

I returned to my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I continue with Lesson 16, Day 3b, where the focus remains on Isaiah 42, particularly v5-17. As the primary focus of the latter chapters (40-66) of Isaiah shifts to messianic prophecies and hope for the remnant of Israel, we see Isaiah 42 an example of such prophecies.  God is talking about Jesus and refers to Jesus as "as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness."  My study refers us to Matthew 26:26-28, John 1:1-9, 8:12, and 1:14.  In Matthew 26, we see Jesus instituting the Lord's Supper - representing the New Covenant based on Jesus' broken body and shed blood. In John 1 and 8 we see Jesus as light and as the Word dwelling among us - consistent with Isaiah 42 - so we have fulfillment of prophecy.  Once again, God keeps His promises. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who always keeps His promises - You are faithful and You never leave or forsake me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

As part of my D-Groups Proverbs study, we are reading C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters.  Christianbook.com describes the novel's summary through the lens of the two key characters: Wormwood and Screwtape. "Wormwood, a demon apprentice, must secure the damnation of a young man who's just become a Christian. He seeks the advice of an experienced devil, his uncle Screwtape."  The novel chronicles a series of letters from Screwtape to Wormwood.  In the Preface, Lewis writes that are "two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils.  One is to disbelieve in their existence.  The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them."  Peter, in 1 Peter 5:8, warns believers of the power of Satan and how he is seeking souls to devour. My own studies over the years here in this blog include posts on how to avoid the second mistake, of becoming a "friend of the world."  This particular post stands out this morning.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You arm me and protect me from Satan - thank You Jesus for arming me and for your protection.  I am not deserving of such protection - my sins are great and they continue daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.

2 Corinthians 1

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. 2 Corinthians 1:20

I paused both of my studies of Isaiah and of Proverbs to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional.  Here, John Piper urges us to see how we should trust in all of God's promises. Trust in these promises can be "based on all the glorious grace of the past, especially the grace that God did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all (Romans 8:32)."  If our faith reflects trust in God's promises, we position ourselves to fully "embrace the power for radical service in the strength that God (in every future moment) will supply (1 Peter 4:11)."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and whose promises I can trust as You are faithful - faithful like no other. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings that flow from Your promises.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myesle wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old....when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth....The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 8-9

The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth....when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman....The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverbs 8:22-23, 8:29-30, 9:10

This week I start a deep-dive of Proverbs based on the Crossway Knowing the Bible series volume for this book.  Week 1 of this study starts with a few broad questions, including a look at Proverbs 8-9, and it asks "how should we understand the personification of wisdom" in these chapters? Proverbs 8:22-23 indicates that God possessed wisdom and it existed both before creation (as part of Himself) and at the start of creation, before He created anything else.  The implication is that He brought it forth, distributing it as part of creation, manifesting in creation a part of Himself.  Colossians 1 helps further unpack how perhaps Jesus Christ is wisdom when Paul writes:  

[Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:15-16

Proverbs 8:29-30 and 9:10 continue to explain how we should understand the personification of wisdom by pointing out that wisdom was "beside" God during creation and how fear of the Lord initiates wisdom - we must see God first and foremost and He reveals and creates wisdom in our hearts and minds.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the source of all creation, and You both possess and distribute wisdom - to those who submit and follow You.  Thank You Jesus for giving me wisdom as a means to navigate life - and my prayer is that I use it to please and glorify You as I know that is why exist.  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  My sin is great and it continues daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?

1 Kings 3-4

And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? 1 Kings 3:7-9

This week I start a deep-dive of Proverbs based on the Crossway Knowing the Bible series volume for this book.  Week 1 of this study provides an overview, and points us to the historical context of Proverbs from 1 Kings 3-4 where God gives Solomon wisdom as unmatched by any other - either before or after Solomon.  Key for me to unpack as I explore Proverbs is the inherent conflict (and how to resolve) in Proverbs, which is stated in the study guide as "[the] observations" as recorded from Solomon in Proverbs on "how God has designed the world to work...should not be taken as promises."  The conflict arises when I view this statement with 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which states that "[a]ll Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."  If all scripture is God-breathed, how can I not see Proverbs as promises of God?  I will not answer this question today but will unpack this in the coming weeks, perhaps sooner rather than later. For now I start with the historical context for Proverbs.  God appears to Solomon at night in a dream (1 Kings 3:5) and grants him a wish and 1 Kings 6-9 records Solomon's response.  We see in v10-14 how this request pleased the Lord, and ends with an exhortation to Solomon that "if you walk in my ways..[God] will lengthen [Solomon's] days."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are sinless - yet You willingly laid down Your life for me so that I could life - now to the full on earth - and forever in Heaven.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving...like Solomon and any other that walks the earth - I am sinful.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and energy.  Heal Lisa from her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.      

He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench[.]

Isaiah 42-44

He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench[.] Isaiah 42:2-3

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I move on to Lesson 16, Day 3a, where the focus remains on Isaiah 42, largely on v1-9 where we examine the subject of these verses, and of course it is Jesus.  My study encourages me to see how Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy, pointing to Matthew 12:15-21, where Jesus says as much pointing back to Isaiah 42:1-3. As I read this morning these verses, I struggled to fully understand the intent of how Jesus does not "cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench[.]"  I leaned on John Piper to deepen my understanding and here is Piper (in the broader context of a message on the Pleasures of God) on these verses as he describes (using Jonathan Edwards words): the "excellencies" of Jesus (emphasis added): 

"[T]his servant, in whom the Father so fully delights, is so gentle that if he finds your wick, the wick of your little candle of faith, just smoldering — it’s not even making any light; it’s just smoke — he extinguish you but gently blow on your to light the flame again. That’s tenderness. There’s a grass that grows in Georgia that could be six feet tall. You could break it at the bottom and make a spear. If you hit one of them in the middle, you know it’s just going to flop over. If Jesus finds you that way, he’s not going to but you down. He props you up. A bruised reed, he will not break.

On the one hand, we have a majesty that is breathtaking. He made the world. He upholds the world. On the other hand, you have the most intimate, tender, kind, gentle, patient, loving, sweet, warm, breathe-on-your-wick friend, and the Father delights in that. It really makes God happy when he sees that.

One of the most moving sermons I have ever read on the excellencies of Christ is by Jonathan Edwards. Edwards argues that for us and for God, what makes Christ so delightful, so satisfying is not just his majesty and not just his meekness. It’s the conjunction of many diverse excellencies. It’s that way with people isn’t it? If you meet a masculine man and he’s all man, he’s not a very impressive fellow. He must have some feminine traits. If you meet a woman and she’s all feminine, she’s not impressive either. She needs some masculine traits."

What a perfect and amazing God we have!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who never leaves or forsakes me - You are a great encouragement - supernatural encouragement!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the encouragement and hope You provide.  My sin is great and it continues daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

Isaiah 42-44

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. Isaiah 42:1

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I move on to Lesson 16, Day 2, where the focus is Isaiah 42.  Here, my commentary outlines the following divisions:

1. The Gentle King and His Irresistibly Advancing Kingdom (v1-7)
2. The Message of the Kingdom Resulting in Joyful Praise (v8-12)
3. The Zeal of the Warrior God Rescuing His Captive People (v13-17)
4. The Shameful Condition of God's Sinful People
   

In v1-7 we see a prophecy of the coming Messiah - Jesus Christ. He is referred to as God's servant (v1).  He has chosen Him (v1).  He delights in Him (v1).  He put His Spirit upon Him (v1). He is "giving" us Christ "as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon from the prison those who sit in darkness."  Behold indeed!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You ARE the Promised Messiah, the One told about and anticipated about long ago in the book of Isaiah.  You came to save me and all of humanity throughout redemptive history - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You came to save me and how You did save me.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.   

Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you; you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.

Isaiah 42-44

Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you; you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. Isaiah 44:21-22

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I move on to Lesson 16, Day 1, which encourages us to read all of Isaiah 42-44 and to see general broad themes that strike us as we read. Much of Israel's history (including that of both parts of the divided kingdom - northern/Israel, and southern/Judah) is that of rebellion against God.  Throughout the Old Testament, God is seen punishing Israel, yet at the same time He is faithful to the promise and covenant He made to Abraham and his descendants, so God is full of grace and compassion - saving a remnant of the faithful to be a root for the nation God promises (see Genesis 12:1-3 for the Abrahamic Covenant). My initial reading of Isaiah 42-44 is consistent of this broad theme of God's grace in the face of Israel's rebellion.  I must remind myself (daily) that my rebellion and sin is no less than that of Israel in the Old Testament.  This makes God's gift of faith and salvation for me all the more stunning - amazing grace indeed!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your love and grace is amazing indeed!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing and grace.  My sin IS great...and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Pausing once again from my deep-dive study of Isaiah, today I listened to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion - which focuses on the extent to which God is dependable - not just through the miracles of the "biggest things" which were promised and fulfilled, such as the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but also through the miracles of the mundane such as the "practical provision of our daily bread and financial support." Piper encourages us to see the message in Matthew 6 (v25-34 focuses on anxiety/worry) where Jesus seeks for us to avoid being anxious.  We are encouraged because God is dependable in the "mundane" details of our life through our faith.  Piper states that "[l]ives of faith are the great mirror of the dependability of God."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who is dependable in all the details of my life - large and small...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and form the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16

Pausing again from my deep-dive study of Isaiah, today I listened to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion - which focuses on the extent to which God is proud of us. John Piper uses Hebrews 11 as the text to examine this question. The author of Hebrews (11:8-21) describes the faith of Abraham, Sarah, Issac and Jacob and Piper zeroes in on v16 where he unpacks how these faithful "died in faith", and "not having received the things promised" (v13) and how it is that "God is not ashamed to to be called their God" (v16). Core to Piper reasoning is the "before" where these faithful "desired a better country" - heaven.  We of course are not citizens, nor should our allegiance be to this earthly life, but to heaven which is our home. The more we truly believe this and long for the day when we ultimately will be at home and with Jesus (after meeting Him face to face). 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves and who is saving a place for me in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessed gift - the greatest gift of all time.  Please forgive me for my sin, help me overcome it, and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me udnerstand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.    

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith....He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Romans 4

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith....He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Romans 4:13, 19-21

Pausing from my deep-dive study of Isaiah, today I listened to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion - which focuses on Paul's description (in Romans 4) of Abraham's faith. John Piper refers to Abraham's faith (and believers today who share that faith) as "for the impossible."  He states that "Abraham’s faith glorified God by being fully assured that he could and would do the humanly impossible. This is the faith we are called to have. That God will do for us what we could never do for ourselves."  I seek this faith for myself - God please give me this faith in increasing measure.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who gave me faith - through grace and as a gift.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving.  My sin continues daily.  Please forgive my sin and help me overcome it and turn from it towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.