Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Isaiah 13-14

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

I continue with my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, on Lesson 6, Day 5 (self-study of commentary day), the focus looks back on Lesson 6 (Isaiah 13-14), and it once again remains on the role and fate of Babylon, not just during Isaiah's time, but also during end times as portrayed in the book of Revelation. A brief review of the rise and fall of Babylon indicates that "[a]lthough the fall of Babylon marked the end of political rule of Babylonian rulers, much of the Babylonian culture, its pagan religions, and its ideology were continued in the kingdoms which followed."  Building on my post yesterday, most would agree that Babylon represents Satan and sin in a fallen world, so we see Babylon also playing a role in end times where Babylon is referred to in Revelation and Christ defeats Satan for eternity.  Clearly, whether it is during ancient times or current times, Babylon represents the pervasiveness of sin and a challenge for believers: how can we remain faithful when the world around us is so deeply sinful - it can be discouraging for sure! This post from DesiringGod.com helps I believe by framing the question around how and where do I draw the line when I get pushed to exalt man or the world above God?  

Key of course is daily study and prayer with God where we allow the sanctification process to work - we are transformed by "renewal of the mind."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and I am grateful for how You give me victory of sin and death as sin is pervasive and I know the sanctification process works in my life - thank You Jesus!  Yet I know there is more work in me to do - please keep going and help me submit!  I am not deserving that You made me one of Your elect, justified me, etc.  My sin continues...anger, 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.

So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more[.]

Isaiah 14

So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more[.] Revelation 18:21

After an extended pause, I've come back to my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  Today, I continue with Isaiah 14, where the focus is on Babylon and how not just here in Isaiah it represents sin and a fallen world, but also elsewhere in scripture where Babylon plays this role - including in the book of Revelation.  My study indicates that Babylon appears almost 300 times in the Bible, so its worth looking at how it is represented in the Bible, as God clearly wants us to see the relevance of this ancient once powerful kingdom plays in our lives both now and in the future. The first mention of Babel (Babylon) occurred in Genesis 10:10 and 11:9 where Babel becomes one of the first cities in Nimrod's kingdom and then the tower of Babel is constructed (an abomination to God who then disperses the people and confuses their language).  Babylon is also mentioned in 2 Kings 17 (during Isaiah's time).  Finally, and most importantly, Babylon is Revelation 14, 16-18 where we see how God wants us to have a vivid picture of how the once ancient and sinful city still exists yet its people are dispersed throughout the world just as sin exists everywhere in world today.  However, the great news is that in Revelation we see sin (and Babylon as its representative) defeated one last time and for eternity - we know the outcome!  Jesus wins!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I gain great peace in knowing that You have already defeated sin and death - for me and anyone else that calls on Your name as Lord and Savior.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not deserving of such an act of salvation.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Anger, 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.

[A] bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

Isaiah 42

[A] bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. Isaiah 42:3

This morning, I focus on John Piper's Solid Joys devotional, where Piper seeks for us to be encouraged during periods when we feel our faith is a mere "spark" vs a "flame." Piper starts by stating that "[t]he Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of encouragement...he will not snuff out your spark."  He then provides just a few of the many scriptural examples, besides Isaiah 42:3, where we can gain encouragement during periods of weak faith:

• Luke 4:18
• Malachi 4:2
• Matthew 11:29
• Psalm 27:14
  

This morning, I need more encouragement than usual - thank You Jesus for fanning the flame of my faith!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and and who has given me faith - thank You Jesus!  You also provide the Holy Spirit, the Word, the church, and my brothers and sisters in Christ all to strengthen and build me up in my faith.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of all this!  My sin is great and 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.

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 15

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4

This morning, I focus on John Piper's Solid Joys devotional, where Piper seeks for us to experience an "outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our church and ourselves that fills us with indomitable joy and frees us, and empowers us, to love those around us in ways so authentic that they are won to Christ[.]" Piper writes how God's Word (authored by the Holy Spirit) and the promises contained in them are to be claimed and captured in our hearts as the basis for this joy and hope. We know that God is with us...until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).  We also know that although in this life we will experience challenges, we can take heart because God overcame the world (John 16:33), and our experience in this life is not the end because God give us eternal life (John 3:16).  These are, of course, just a few of the many, many promises God gives in Scriptures so "we might have hope." One more that I have claimed and keep in my heart is how believers are "filled" through a "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matthew 5:6).

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who has filled me with hope, joy, and encouragement.   I am blessed indeed with how You have given me Scriptures that are the basis for my hope - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin of worry and other sins are great - 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 eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

Deuteronomy 33

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27

This morning, I focus on John Piper's Solid Joys devotional, where Piper seeks for us to see how when we struggle, we should consider how God is using our struggle for service to Him. God has us in His everlasting arms and wants to use everything about our experience for His glory and good (see Romans 8:28)- and it is certainly good to help others. Piper writes: "[t]he psalmist said in Psalm 119:71, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” He does not say it was easy or fun or pleasant. In retrospect, he simply says, “It was good for me.”' 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are at all times good and Your design for my experience in this life is good, even when the times are a struggle, I see Your goodness.  Thank You Jesus for Your goodness.  I am not deserving of Your everlasting love and arms.  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.

They do all their deeds to be seen by others. [T]hey...love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.

Matthew 23

They do all their deeds to be seen by others. [T]hey...love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. Matthew 23:5-7

This morning, I focus on John Piper's Solid Joys devotional, where Piper seeks for us to first see the irony of the scribes and the Pharisees as described by Matthew as the proud gain their sufficiency from others or self. Believers should know of course how such pursuits in sufficiency outside of God only result in emptiness.  Piper writes about how "[w]e are in the image of God. And what makes us “like” God is not our self-sufficiency. We are shadows and echoes. So, there will always be an emptiness in the soul that struggles to be satisfied with the resources of self [or from others]."  He refers us to John 5:44 and John 4:14 where Jesus contrasts the emptiness of glory from others with the satisfying fullness of Himself. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and You satisfy with a fullness that only exists in You - and You freely give of Yourself for those willing to deny oneself and surrender to You as Lord and Savior.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the blessings of fullness.  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.

 

I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them....I will rejoice in doing them good[.]

Jeremiah 32

I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them....I will rejoice in doing them good[.] Jeremiah 32:40-41

This morning, I focus on John Piper's Solid Joys devotional, where Piper seeks for us to claim a great promise God communicates through Jeremiah to the exiles in Babylon.  Those in exile, the remnant, will return to the promised land and God "will not turn away from doing good to them."  This is of course a promise just as much for us as it was for those in exile.  Piper not only wants us to see how this is a promise for us but also how this promise works, even during periods of difficulty.  He refers us to Romans 4:18, where Abraham is said to "[i]n hope he believed against hope", and Piper writes that "[i]n other words, you look your hopeless situation in the face and say, “You are not as strong as God! He can do the impossible. And I know he loves to do it for those who trust him. So, hopelessness, you will not have the last say. I trust God!" A great promise indeed!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and Your promises are great and You are faithful - I know that all of Your promises come to pass!  I can rest and have hope in You and Your promises.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  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.