QT 28 May 15, Isa4:3b-4, We must choose to believe … we are not forced

Isa 4:3b-4 (ESV) … everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.

NOTE: This passage is specific to the Jews who survive the tribulation and live to see Jesus set up his throne on a new mountain that replaces the area of Jerusalem. The key thought to me is the choice of the word "recorded." Like all believers, these Jewish believers have their name written in the book of life, in other words, recorded. I tend to view the concept differently than many. I take the words of Rom 8:29-30 literally, "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." Foreknowledge precedes predestination and calling. I believe that we choose to accept or reject the savior, and that God in his foreknowledge knows our free will choice. On the basis of that, he predestines us. He loves the whole world. The gospel is given to the whole world. Jesus' death pays the penalty of sin for the whole world, but we must choose, like Abraham, to place our faith in God. "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness." Belief precedes justification. I am predestined because I chose to believe. I was not forced to believe. I am freely loved and I love freely -- that is part of what it means to be made in the image of God.

QT 26 May 15, Isa 4:1, Great emotional need will proceed the Millennial kingdom

Isa 4:1 (ESV) And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, "We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach."

NOTE: Culturally, for the time, this would be understandable. Because it is in the bible does not make it a biblical standard. Even more so, when one realizes that it advocates behavior against biblical instructions, such as the multiple marriages. So what is does convey is the feeling of people (specifically women) during the time. Now it was written a long time ago, so it captures a feeling that would be recognizable, but, it prophesies a time that is still future. According to the passage that follows, it seems to represent the time immediately preceding the millennial kingdom. So, what is the feeling of that time? It seems to characterize: a sense of detachment, lacking a loving relationship (of any kind), lacking protection, lacking purpose or value to life, and emotional pain (as emphasized by the more emotionally literate--women). In the millennial kingdom, God will answer these needs, but the answer won't be a husband, but God himself will provide the deepest needs of our soul.

QT 24 May 15, Isa 3:4-5, Judgment: letting youth lead and wisdom disappear

Isa 3:4-5 (ESV) And I will make boys their princes,

and infants shall rule over them.

5  And the people will oppress one another,

every one his fellow

and every one his neighbor;

the youth will be insolent to the elder,

and the despised to the honorable.

NOTE: Isaiah starts out by pronouncing judgment on Judah and Jerusalem, and specific groups of people (mostly leaders). He then describes the judgment, and it is essentially youth will take over the leadership of the nation. Effectively, wisdom is demoted and recklessness is promoted. A terrible thing to do to a nation is to put the youth in charge. The best thing is for the wise to train up the youth by giving them ever increasing responsibility, but while the wise still rule until the youth are ready. It doesn't seem like a huge difference but it is. And unfortunately our society is devaluing wisdom at an increasing pace. We use terms and phrases like archaic, the old ways, the need for new and fresh thinking, … to make us believe that we would be better served by the youth. We are slowing destroying a nation built on wisdom by experiments conducted by those without any wisdom. The only real question is how long until we implode.

QT 22 May 15, Ps 107:43, Sin can have bad consequences

Ps 107:43 (ESV) Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;

let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

NOTE: Of course, this passage is from the OT and so encapsulates the teaching of the law which was a covenant where there was a direct connection between disobedience and suffering. And not suffering and disobedience, because the book of Job suggests that the connection only goes in the one direction. In other words not all suffering is the result of disobedience, but disobedience and suffering at the same time are related, disobedience does result in suffering. Deut 29 (I think) draws out this linkage very clearly. But, this is the old covenant and not the new covenant today. The old covenant was nailed to the cross; and the old covenant is no longer valid when a new high Priest serves (Heb 9-10). But principles do not necessarily disappear, and Proverbs support the proposition that certain behaviors can result in suffering as a "general" rule (as opposed to a promise). This Psalm shows that over and over again that disobedience can result in suffering. And that, if the person will repent and call out to the Lord, God delivers the person from the suffering that is a result of disobedience. We still call out to God today and God still answers prayer, so all of these principles still generally stand. In any case, even if it is not a promise today, we should turn from disobedience because there are natural consequences to our failure to obey.

QT 12 May 15, Isa 2:20-22, We need to stop regarding ourselves as the true source of understanding

Isa 2:20-22 (ESV) In that day mankind will cast away

their idols of silver and their idols of gold,

which they made for themselves to worship,

to the moles and to the bats,

21  to enter the caverns of the rocks

and the clefts of the cliffs,

from before the terror of the Lord,

and from the splendor of his majesty,

 when he rises to terrify the earth.

22  Stop regarding man

 in whose nostrils is breath,

for of what account is he?

NOTE: We think of ourselves, our accomplishments, our intelligence as so great these days. Our idols though are still idols of silver and gold. And when our lives are threatened, we will quickly abandon the things we have put so much trust in, in order to hide. Just like Adam, we will hide from God because we know we have displeased him. Rather than seeking safety in his arms, we will seek safety from his arms. When will we realize that we are not so brilliant or so great? We really do not have the answers to life. Science is a great tool, but it does not tell us that God does not exist. It does not explain existence, truly. And in reality, more often than not, it tells us what we don't want to hear, that we are wonderfully made. When will we stop regarding ourselves and start regarding the God of the universe?

QT 7 May 15, Isa 2:2-3b, Knowing truth not what we want to be true

Isa 2:2-3b (ESV) It shall come to pass in the latter days

that the mountain of the house of the Lord

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

and shall be lifted up above the hills;

and all the nations shall flow to it,

3 and many peoples shall come, and say:

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

to the house of the God of Jacob,

that he may teach us his ways

and that we may walk in his paths."

NOTE:  I believe this refers to the millennial kingdom when the New Jerusalem will descend onto Earth. It will be a fascinating time as God rules the earth directly, and we (believers) support his rule. The good news is that he will "teach" us his ways so that we will "walk" in his paths. For too many believers, and probably me too, we have assumed certain elements of biblical truth and read into passages to support our biases. We somehow shut out the Holy Spirit's influence in our minds on these issues, and we develop rules and principles not based on biblical truth, but on a mixture of our truth and some biblical truth. Thankfully, we will all hear and be taught directly from the Lord -- what a glorious day that will be! We will stop arguing about things we want to be true. We will have new bodies, not corrupted by sin. And we will be taught truth and corrected from our errors. Lord, I so look forward to the day. And it is coming, it is coming soon!

QT 4 May 15, Isa 1:18-20, Repent and return

Isa 1:18-20 (ESV) "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:

though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they shall become like wool.

19  If you are willing and obedient,

you shall eat the good of the land;

20 but if you refuse and rebel,

you shall be eaten by the sword;

 for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

NOTE: This is the message that the Lord has repeated over and over -- turn to me and repent. But also, beware of continued sin. It is a message of hope and a message of fear. In our struggle against sin, Jesus resisted to the point of death (Heb 12), and are struggles are so much simpler. But it doesn't matter how far we have fallen or what we have done, there is mercy and forgiveness available to those who come to God. We can be different, we do not have to be the person we are. God can change us from the inside out. And even more importantly, God desires to change us. Repent and return, that is the echo of God's word to us.