"The Lord has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people find refuge."

Isaiah 14-18

"The Lord has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people find refuge." Isaiah 14:32

I continue with my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, on Lesson 7, Day 1, I examine Isaiah 14:28-32 where we see an oracle in the year "King Ahaz died." Here we see how an old nemesis of Israel - Philistia - falls prey to "smoke" from the north and the oracle indicates that "[God] will kill [Philistia's] root with famine, and your remnant it will slay." The oracle goes on to state: "[w]ail, O gate; cry out, O city; melt in fear, O Philistia, all of you!" My Isaiah commentary* indicates that "[i]n the end all tyrants must succumb to one simple reality: all existence comes from almighty God, for “in him we live and move” (Acts 17:28)." While Philistia suffers God's wrath, we see how God protects the needy and afflicted (Isaiah 14:30, 32). 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, YOU are my refuge and strength - regardless of what the world throws at me, I know I have Your comforting arms and You will never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such protection and loving arms.  My sin is great and it is daily - worry, etc.  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.

*Davis, Andrew M.. Exalting Jesus in Isaiah (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 138). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.

2 Samuel 1-5

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David. 2 Samuel 5:6-7

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This afternoon, I continue with the story of "David: Giant Problems and Colossal Collapses*".

*Title of lesson five from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day three starts with Max Lucado discussing how David hears of the death of both Jonathan, a dear friend, like a brother, and Saul, someone who had been seeking David's death.  Yet David mourns over both, including Saul who is God's anointed.  David could have easily killed Saul at least once but he knew that Saul's was God's anointed.  David is not perfect but in his mercy and compassion for Saul, he is a man after God's heart. Lucado points to David's mourning as a season for David - temporary - and he uses Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 to remind us how there are seasons in our life, including times to mourn, but again these periods are temporary and God helps us heal and move on in our lives.  David does and he ultimately finds his strength in the Lord and he takes Jerusalem and unifies the northern and southern kingdoms under his reign.  He defeats multiple parties and Lucado encourages us to find our strength in the Lord to defeat strongholds we see in our lives.  Lucado points to how God helps us fight "against the odds" and find the "nevertheless" moments where God enables us to rise up against and defeat our foes.

I am reminded of the highlighted verse in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 from a post couple of days ago.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has helped me through seasons of mourning and difficulty and ultimately strengthened me to defeat foes in my life - including difficult fights with temptation and sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love me and how You bless me.  I am harsh with others and often put my relationship with You below my earthly desires.  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 though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Psalm 121, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, and 1 Samuel 17:38-51

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I start the story of "David: Giant Problems and Colossal Collapses*".

*Title of lesson five from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day one starts with Max Lucado discussing how David faced Goliath, how we all face giants in our lives, and how David did not pause in his approach to Goliath.  "Saturated" in God, David "rushed" Goliath cloaked in the confidence that God is able to tackle any foe - and He has - believers know that God has already defeated Satan.  We are encouraged to arm ourselves with supernatural defenses - we are to, as David does, "take captive captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ". 

Lucado also points out how "[i]t is when we are out of options that we are most ready for God's surprises". David's brothers and the Israelites seemed to surely be out of options but they failed to recognize how they did not go to God for strength and power.  I am prone to worry and I remark frequently how this is a powerful sin in my life yet I know how God has given me strength to rely on Him more and more each day to the point where worry and anxiety does not have the power it once had.  It is through a commitment to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ that I am better able to face Satan and what Satan throws at me.  I know Jesus is not yet done with me and I will continue to stumble....but God gives me the strength to get up and continue the fight.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are always with me and You give me strength - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the many mercies and grace You pour out for me.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet my sin continues, harsh words and actions for other - discouraging words.  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 he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Exodus 1-3

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Moses: A Glimpse of God's Glory*".

*Title of lesson four from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day two starts with Max Lucado pointing out Moses' resistance to God's call that Moses confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses did not feel up to the task and he did not see how God's power would reign in and through him in the task given him.  Of course with such a tall task, this is understandable.  We are encouraged to compare and contrast Moses' initial reaction with that of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago from the Book of Daniel and how they were to be thrown into the furnace unless they renounced their faith in God (they were instead ordered to worship King Nebuchadnezzar) - they did not and God saved them from the fiery ordeal. God eventually demonstrates His power to Moses by turning Moses' walking stick into a snake then back into a walking stick - this same rod is the same one used by God to both confront Pharaoh and part the Red Sea. Lucado wants us to see how we are not to focus on our strength or abilities - but instead on God and His power.  I am reminded of Paul's words.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has strengthened me in my weakest moments and You continue to strengthen me and equip me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin continues - including worry, etc.  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 I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.’

2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36, and Jeremiah 52, 39-40

‘But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.’ Jeremiah 39:17-18

Day 238 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as we actually see the details of actual fall of Jerusalem.  My commentary* describes the details: "the wall is breached in the fourth month of 586 B.C.; when Zedekiah and his troops flee the city by night, they are quickly captured; a month later the glorious temple of Solomon and the royal palace are razed; the remaining noblemen are killed and temple treasures are taken as booty; and, over a period of four years, hundreds of people are taken captive and deported to Babylon."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Just as God promised (as God is faithful), Jeremiah survives the fall and God attributes it to Jeremiah's faithfulness. Time and time again, we see how

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

1 Kings 17-19 

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 1 Kings 19:5-8

Day 154 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Elijah.  According to my commentary* "[w]hen Israel is in a time of great crisis, it is predictable that God will raise up a spokesman to call out to his people and to perform special miracles to confirm his message. (It happened, for example, when Moses spoke God’s message of deliverance in both words and miracles.) Israel is clearly in another crisis of character and direction, and God’s man of the day is the prophet Elijah."  My commentary also indicates that Elijah's powers are so great that "there is great similarity between Elijah’s miracles and the miracles of the Messiah centuries later."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Praying to God, Elijah stretches a meal for two into a meal that did not run out (1 Kings 17:16), raises a young boy from the dead (1 Kings 17:22), rains down fire from Heaven upon wood drenched with water (1 Kings 18:38), and survives 40 days of evil influences in the wilderness (1 Kings 19:8).  God also speaks to Elijah multiple times and appears to Elijah in a wind and earthquake (1 Kings 19:11-12).

As powerful as Elijah's miracles are, we are reminded that Elijah is human and suffers self-doubt.  As Elijah does, we can seek comfort and encouragement from the Lord. See 1 Kings 19:5-8.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has comforted, encouraged, and strengthened me - thank You Jesus!  I am blessed beyond what I deserve.  My sin 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 you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.

2 Samuel 14:25-16 and Psalm 3  

But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. Psalm 3:3-4

Day 101 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on Absalom's growing rebellion against David, as David leaves Jerusalem in exile, fearing for his life.  Psalm 3 captures David's state and his cries to the Lord.

One of my greatest sins right now is pride and arrogance - most prominently in the workplace.  There are days at work that are frantic and this aggravates and exposes my sin - unfortunately.  I seek to grow closer to the Lord so that in these frantic moments I have the peace of God that only He can provide.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me a job - I know there are many who are struggling right now but I have a job and I can provide for my family!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving though because my sin is heavy - pride and arrogance.  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 David found strength in the Lord his God.

1 Samuel 25-30, 1 Chronicles 12:1-22

But David found strength in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:6

Day 92 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues to focus on David on the run from Saul.  He and his men encounters Nabal, a wealthy but evil man who refuses to provide for David's army.  Nabal's wife Abigail provides for David and his men and the Lord strikes down Nabal, and David takes Abigail as one of his wives.  David once again is in a position to kill Saul (1 Samuel 26) but again does not take matters into his own hands (see yesterday and another recent post).  David gains refuge among the Philistines strangely enough but they will not allow him to fight Saul alongside them.  David's forces grow as many men abandon Saul and join David, joining the Thirty among David's might warriors (1 Chronicles 12).  The Amalekites sack David's home in Ziklag (1 Samuel 30) and he and his men are distraught over their families being taken captive and the town destroyed.  Yet David finds strength in the Lord, and goes to the Lord in prayer for wisdom about whether to attack the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30:7-8).

David's life is far from a life free of trouble - although he is anointed he is on the run from Saul for what some estimate as four years (while others choose not to speculate).  Jesus makes many promises for blessings but at least one difficult promise - that we will have trouble, particularly as believers (John 16:33).  David's life I suppose might have been easier had he killed Saul when he had the chance - arguably not from a believers perspective as God might see this as an attempt to thwart His plans. Regardless, the larger point remains that we should expect trouble and as David did, find strength in the Lord.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me strength.  I am not deserving for how You love me and give me strength.  I sin...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.

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.

Joshua 1-5

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. Matthew 1:1-6

Day 67 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on Joshua's initial days as leader of the Israelites as they prepare to cross the Jordan River into the promised land.  Joshua must prepare the Israelites for battle and his spies encounter Rahab, a prostitute (see Joshua 2), who provides critical assistance against Jericho.  Rahab is also in the line of Jesus (see Matthew 1 for genealogy).  In the crossing of the Jordan, the Israelites experience a miracle parting of the waters (see Joshua 3) - just as they did with the parting of the Red Sea during their exodus from Egypt.

God's use of Rahab as an instrument of His plan is of course instructive.  I've previously posted on Rahab - nearly 10 years ago.

God's words of "be strong and courageous" echo this morning in this larger context of how He uses Rahab.  Rahab likely had no idea how she was to be used, and perhaps as a prostitute did not feel as if she was worthy of such use by God, but she demonstrated strength and courage in her belief in God vs strength and courage in her abilities absent God (or vs God).  Our strength and courage must rest in God.

When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. Joshua 2:11

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who gives us life, including strength and courage, particularly during these times of great crisis.  I am not deserving of such love and blessing as I sin and am often harsh to others.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from such 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.