In days to come Jacob shall take root, Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots and fill the whole world with fruit.

Isaiah 26-27

In days to come Jacob shall take root, Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots and fill the whole world with fruit. Isaiah 27:6

I continue with my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, on Lesson 10, Day 4, the focus continues with Isaiah 26-27, moving on to Isaiah 27, where my commentary describes, using v6 or "prefigures" messianic prophecies of preserving a fruitful remnant to "fill the whole world with fruit." Yet we must see how God is emphasizing a remnant as most of Israel remains unfaithful.  My study points to Isaiah 24:6 where God is specific that His judgement of the whole earth will come to pass and only a "few men are left." Isaiah 27 describes how this happens through Israel's exile and desolation where God seeks to purify His people. This purification process is what God ultimately seeks from all believers who trust in Him...that through a closer relationship with Him, we would seek to please, honor and glorify Him for that is why exist - and we come to know this more and more through the sanctification process (see also refiner's fire).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who sanctifies me - purifying me of sin and making me more like You.  Thank You Jesus for such love, compassion and grace.  I am not deserving.  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.

Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock.

Luke 6

Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. v46-48

Two takeaways this morning:
1. Build your faith during the good times such that when the difficult times arrive, you have a strong enough faith that you can persevere through the difficult times.  Of course, the difficult times will further sanctify and mold you into more of who Jesus intends you to be. 
2. That our time spent with Jesus in study and prayer is meant to be "spring board" for action, not just words on paper.

During the good times, we can draw upon our growing knowledge of the Bible, the increasing power of prayer in our life, and a deepening well of gratitude of what God has done for us and continues to do for us.

John Piper and DesiringGod.com on building faith during the good times and how trusting the sanctification process can help us: 
How can I have faith in times of crisis?
Trust the Process: God's at Work in Your Lowest Times

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has done much in my heart and life - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth all of the rich blessings You pour out for me - I am undeserving.  I daily miss the mark - 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.

Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

Daniel 11

Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. v35

God either causes or allows us to stumble and for us to suffer the consequences of our actions and as result we are refined and purified – becoming more like Him. 

Through a vision, Daniel continues to hear God’s plans for Israel and Judah, including details of the tribulation.

We may not know what God has in store for us and we may not like the refiner’s fire, but it is for our good and His glory.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have blessed me during all times – even when I felt times were difficult I can now see how You have done a work in me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth all of the love and effort You pour out on me.  I worry and I am often harsh with my words and actions.  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.  Please 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.

How the precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, are now considered as pots of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!...Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion; he will not prolong your exile.

Lamentations 4

How the precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, are now considered as pots of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!...Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion; he will not prolong your exile. v2, 22

As Jeremiah continues to "lament" over the destruction of Jerusalem, we also see signs of hope, some of which point to our Savior Jesus Christ.

In verse 2, we see a reference to the Jews as pots of clay - fragile, of less esteem than pottery of more fine material (vs gold), disposable, yet created by and mold-able by God who so often uses difficulties as a way to shape and refine us into who He desires us to be.  See various commentaries on this here.  In the New Testament, Paul refers to persecuted Christians as "jars of clay" (2 Corinthians 4:7) "to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

We should desire to be "jars of clay" so that others see Jesus in us.  No one desires to be broken but Jesus' words to Paul that "[His] grace is sufficient" should give us strength.

In verse 22, Jeremiah indicates that this exile is not permanent - see also my post from yesterday.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and who died for us - thank You Jesus!  What an amazing God You are - the gratest gift of all time!  I am not worth such love.  I am often harsh with my words and actions.  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 do.  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 cancer.  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.

Then the land had peace forty years.

Judges 5

Then the land had peace forty years. v31

In the book of Judges, the Israelites do as we all do...we do "evil in the eyes of the Lord". Thankfully, God has raised up for us a Savior in Jesus Christ who nailed all of our sin to the cross so that we would not be caught in the cycle of sin and shame and sin.  

We must be humble and allow Jesus to work in and through our lives - to be transformed to be more like Jesus.  

As I posted yesterday, we may not like what God is doing in our lives but He is always present with us, by our side, working in and for us, refining and training us.

Lord Jesus, please take my life and make me more like You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You are my God. I am Your child.  I desire to be more like You.  I want to please You and glorify You.  Thank You that You loved me enough to not only adopt me as Your child but that You would go to the cross for me.  Thank You Jesus! I am not worth such love.  Please forgive me for my harsh words and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  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.  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.

Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.

Deuteronomy 8

 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. v5

Just as the Israelites were humbled and disciplined for their sins in the wilderness (v2-4), God has disciplined me for me sin and humbled me - helping me understand His greatness and my utter dependence on Him alone.

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. v3

We all go through periods where we are molded by God and often it is painful - but a necessary thing if we are to be who God intends for us.

See also posts here and here, including posts on how we go through a refinement process.

"My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-6

 

This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. Zechariah 13:9

 

Lord Jesus, please help me not lose heart as You discipline me.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - full of love and compassion for me - even as You discipline me - it is an expression of Your love for me.  Thank You for how You have molded me.  I love You.  Yet I am not worth such love.  I worry - 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 do.  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.  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.

This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold.

Zechariah 13

This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. v9

Zechariah's prophecy indicates that 2/3 of Israel will be unfaithful yet 1/3 will and it will be those who stand in the final days (see also MacArthur Bible Commentary).  This final remnant will be refined as gold.  In the same way, we are to be refined as we grow and mature into the disciples God calls us to be.  This refinement process is difficult but produces value - for God most importantly but also for us.

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3

 

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:7-11

 

 We can take comfort in knowing Jesus will be with us in our trials and that is able to help us both endure and defeat both sin and death.

 

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

 

My Prayer: Lord You are a great God, full of love and compassion for me...even though I know I am not deserving.  Thank You for Your many blessings and mercy, but please forgive me for my lack of patience and anger.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please cure 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.  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. 

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.

Proverbs 22

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. v15

Tuesday, I posted about fatherhood and parenting and once again this is our topic today.  As a parent we are train our children, most importantly in the ways of the Lord.  Part of this training includes discipline:

Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. Proverbs 13:24

 

Discipline is something that all of us must experience, even as adults.  God continues to mold us and we experience discipline, hardship, punishment, etc. as part of God's refining process.

Yet you, Lord, are our Father.  We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love, compassion, patience, etc. for me - Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not worthy of such love.  I am broken and I continue to sin.  Please forgive me for my lack of patience for others.  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You alone as their Lord and Savior.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

Proverbs 17

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. v3

God created us and did so for a reason and all the days of our lives are ordained by Him (Psalm 139) for His glory and purpose.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

God is always molding us and preparing us for our next tasks.  

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

So, gold and silver are refined through the crucible, God refines us...we must be aware of how God is preparing us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are!  You are there always for me, full of compassion, mercy, patience, encouragement, training, wisdom, etc.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I continue to lack patience and am quick to anger and slow to listen.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Help me be aware of how You are training me.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You and that they choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve and lead my family and serve You and the church.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored

Proverbs 13

Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. v18

Punishment and discipline are often difficult to take - yet we must accept the consequences of our sin and understand that God is ALWAYS molding us by removing impurities.

Because God is all knowing, He is perfectly fair.

He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. Psalm 9:8

We should not fear discipline or punishment - God does not stop loving us. In fact, He disciplines us BECAUSE He loves us.

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:11-12

 

"My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-6

 

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Revelation 3:19

 We must also understand that God's word often reveals our heart condition as God's word is flawless (Proverbs 30:5), and it serves to both rebuke and train us on our journey to be transformed (Romans 12:2) and be more like Him.

 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

My Prayer: What a great God You are!  I am so blessed to have a God who is so patient with me and whose discipline and punishment is with and from love.  Thank You Jesus!  I know You love me yet I also I am undeserving of such love.  I am lazy and harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin..and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Proverbs 3

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. v11-12

I have had difficulties in my life and nearly all of the time I don't think of the difficult times as training, or that God is refining me by removing sin or impurities.  Accepting discipline or punishment as training or refining can only be done by renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) because it is not an earthly way (Isaiah 55:8).

For seeing discipline as training, see also Psalm 119:71, Hebrews 12:5-6, Revelation 3:19. 

For more on the refiner's fire, see also here.

My Prayer: Lord, You are without a doubt, an awesome God - full of love, mercy, compassion, etc.  I know I am deserving of the many, many second chances You give me.  Thank You Jesus!  Please forgive me for not being the man You intend for me, for my anger and impatience, which continues to rage on.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.   Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.