QT 29 Oct 15, Isa 56:10-11, Spiritual blindness blinds us to our blindness

Isa 56:10-11 (ESV)

10  His watchmen are blind;

they are all without knowledge;

they are all silent dogs;

they cannot bark,

dreaming, lying down,

loving to slumber.

11  The dogs have a mighty appetite;

they never have enough.

But they are shepherds who have no understanding;

they have all turned to their own way,

 each to his own gain, one and all.

NOTE: This verse concerns spiritual leaders, specifically the leaders of Israel, but the principles are applicable now and also repeated in Jude and 1 Peter for the New Testament church. There are a number of problems with these leaders. One, is that they are blind and without knowledge, where the latter term really defines the former term. Spiritual blindness is directly related to a lack of knowledge. How can you see or recognize error if you have no foundation upon which to draw a conclusion? Knowledge of God's word is essential for spiritual sight. For the person who does not believe in Christ and has not experienced rebirth, he also suffers from not having the gift that comes with salvation, the Holy Spirit (HS) living within you, which Jesus called our helper. So, with knowledge and the HS, we are able to discern error and consequently see trouble. A person who is not in the word on a regular basis will be blind, and even worse, he will disagree with that assessment because he is blind. If he has the HS, he has some hope, because Jesus promises us that the HS will reveal things to us, like our blindness. But repeatedly ignoring the HS will result in quenching it and hardening our own hearts, and then our blindness becomes near permanent. And because we are spiritually blind, we will never "see" that we are spiritually blind, but will believe that our wisdom can take us through life without anyone else's help.

QT 28 Oct 15, Isa 55:8-11, Why do we think we have the same mental capacity as God?

Isa 55:8-11 (ESV)

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10  "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven

and do not return there but water the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

 giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

NOTE: These are two separate thoughts and yet they do have a common thread. We can't expect to completely understand and know God's ways, but his word does work in our lives to change us and reveal some of his ways and thoughts. It would be ridiculous to believe a finite brain could understand an infinite brain, even at the smallest level. It really is like a two-year old comprehending quantum physics in a lecture for PhD candidates. And in that case, the brains are actually close and comparable. But we do not compare to God. We understand what he lets us understand but we would be foolish to think we could understand it all. And yet, the brilliant minds of our day, the intelligentsia and the ones who think they are brilliant (atheists) argue against God's observed ways to prove his non-existence. If God exists, we cannot completely grasp his ways and so any argument on that basis would be foolish. We are such a slow and thick-headed species. Why God are you so patient with us? Thank you that you are.

QT 27 Oct 15, Isa 55:1-2, Only God can satisfy what He created in us

Isa 55:1-2 (ESV)

"Come, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and he who has no money,

 come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

2  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

NOTE: I love this chapter in Isaiah. There are so many meaningful verses. These two describe two worldviews, the Babylonian worldview of things and accomplishments, which can't satisfy, and God's worldview, that diligently listening to his word can satisfy our deepest desires. And he offers it free to all who would come to him. But coming him means admitting our need for him. And admitting our need for him, means accepting his rule in our life. That is the cost--to go back to the way God originally intended and created us for--his rule over our life. And the benefit, that which we were created for, we actually can experience. But Satan has so corrupted our thinking that we don't believe God. We believe we can satisfy our souls with things and accomplishments. And yet, it doesn't work. But our response, is that we just need more things and more money and more power and more accolades--then we will be happy, finally happy.

QT 26 Oct 15, Isa 54:9-10, Just as God fulfilled his promises in Jesus' coming so will he fulfill his promises of judgment

Isa 54:9-10 (ESV)

9 "This is like the days of Noah to me:

as I swore that the waters of Noah

should no more go over the earth,

so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you,

and will not rebuke you.

10 For the mountains may depart

and the hills be removed,

but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,

and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,"

says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

https://www.bible.com/bible/59/isa.54.9-10.esv

 

NOTE: I believe this is in reference to the end of days, the end times, when God will pour out his judgment upon the earth for unbelief, rebellion, and sin. Finally, God will bring about the long-promised justice. His current long-suffering is mercy toward us in order that we might repent and turn back to him. But, at some point, he must exercise justice, and his standard is such that there is no person on earth who is not deserving of his wrath. For those, who have exercised belief in his Son, and repented of their rebellion and sin, God promises to protect them. Jesus has paid their price. They are not guilty any longer. No matter how bad things might get, especially for the tribulation saints, he promises that his love and peace will not leave. The time of judgment is coming. It is not a myth or a pipedream. Just as Jesus promised coming was fulfilled, so the last part of God's prophecies will also be fulfilled. The message is very clear to us, even today, repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

QT 22 Oct 15, Isa 53:10-11, The evidence is overwhelming

Isa 53:10-11 (ESV)

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;

he has put him to grief;

 when his soul makes an offering for sin,

he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;

 the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;

by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

 make many to be accounted righteous,

 and he shall bear their iniquities.

https://www.bible.com/bible/59/isa.53.10-11..esv

NOTE: The entire chapter, Isaiah 53, may be the greatest prophetic book in the bible. Only a blind man could ignore the implications of the prophecy. In the last century, before the discovery of the dead sea scrolls, some skeptics claimed that Christians rewrote the chapter to fit the prophecies of Jesus -- although, no one explains why the Jews would have let that happen. The dead sea scrolls contradicted that claim and confirmed that the chapter existed before Christ just as it does today after Christ's birth. It is a very powerful passage, one of many such passages throughout scripture related to the coming messiah. It is undeniably a picture of Jesus and his mission on earth, to die for the sins of mankind. The full chapter is even more prophetic than the summary I quoted here. We really have no excuse for not believing. The proof is in plain sight. Men choose not to believe and it is not for a lack of proof but for a refusal to acknowledge God's rule over their life.

QT 21 Oct 15, Isa 52:11-12, God goes before and covers our backs

Isa 52:11-12 (ESV)

11  Depart, depart, go out from there;

touch no unclean thing;

go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves,

 you who bear the vessels of the Lord.

12 For you shall not go out in haste,

and you shall not go in flight,

 for the Lord will go before you,

 and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

https://www.bible.com/bible/59/isa.52.11-12.esv

NOTE: The verse is very specific to the nation of Israel, but I believe that there is a basic principle that is true for believers in God in all situations. The principle is twofold: as we face changes in life, God promises to go before us and to be our rear guard. Changes in life suggest new and unexpected challenges. God is fully aware of those. He promises to "work for good" in those unknown occurrences. He does not promise to take away the pain, but he does know what is best for us and he will work for our good (Rom 8:28). Also, he promises to be our rear guard. What does that mean, since God often lets us experience the consequences of our bad decisions? I think it is similar to the first point. He knows what is coming (from behind as a result of our previous choices) and he will work it for good in our life. He is not surprised. He will not be surprised. He is committed to our relationship with him. He may deflect some of the consequences or reduce them in his mercy, but he will certainly work for our good. That is his promise to the New Covenant believer. He is on our side. He is going before us and he is covering our backs. It will be for our best in the long run. Trust him!

QT 19 Apr 15, Isa 51:14, It is the one who prays who is answered

Isa 51:14 (ESV) He who is bowed down shall speedily be released;

he shall not die and go down to the pit,

neither shall his bread be lacking.

https://www.bible.com/bible/59/isa.51.14.esv

NOTE: What is the point of the verse? We need to pray and we need to accept his will for our life. It will not always be as we would like and that is a difficult thing to let go. But, it will be for our good because he loves us, cares for us, and knows what is best for us.

Father I specifically thank you for two recent answers to prayer. There are some more, but you are fulfilling them and you are bringing good. My goal today is to use idle moments to continually thank you, cast my concerns upon you, and appeal to you for your intervention. Thank you -- we are so undeserving of your mercy, and of your grace.

QT 15 Oct 15, Isa 50:10-11, Be careful of lighting your own way

Isa 50:10-11 (ESV)

Who among you fears the Lord

and obeys the voice of his servant?

 Let him who walks in darkness

and has no light

trust in the name of the Lord

and rely on his God.

11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,

who equip yourselves with burning torches!

Walk by the light of your fire,

and by the torches that you have kindled!

 This you have from my hand:

you shall lie down in torment.

https://www.bible.com/bible/59/isa.50.10-11.esv

NOTE: This has always been a favorite verse of mine. It was a warning many years ago when I was considering writing a girl that I had an interest in, but had not seen for a year. I was praying about writing her and actually spent a lot of time discussing it with God while I walked up and down an civil airstrip. Later that morning, this was my quiet time verse, Isa 50:10-11. The words, "you shall lie down in torment" hit home. I decided not to write her. I decided to wait upon God. A couple of months later I met my future wife. It would still be a few years later before we married, but God provided. We have been married 31 years now. We have had good times and hard times, but I am glad I waited upon God.

I think the key thought in this verse is the danger of lighting your own torches to find your way through a difficult time. Now, there are some things you should certainly do, things that are responsibilities. But some of the other clever ideas, well, those are the things we need to be careful about. We need to pray. We need to listen. And we need to be careful of doing too much. We need to trust God.

QT 14 Oct 15, Isa 49:14-15, God is like a mother, he will never forget us

Isa 49:14-15 (ESV)

14 But Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me;

my Lord has forgotten me."

15  "Can a woman forget her nursing child,

that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?

Even these may forget,

yet I will not forget you.

https://www.bible.com/bible/59/isa.49.14-15.esv

NOTE: It is interesting that God uses the image of a mother instead of a father to answer the complaint of Zion that God has forgotten them. In the midst of suffering, it often feels as if God has forgotten us. Our prayers seem to go un-answered and if answered, not in the way we would desire. A father can be harsh at times as he trains his children. A mother, on the other hand, is often overly tender. She intervenes and cares when maybe she shouldn't. God is both, he knows what is best, but he has the deep yearning of a mother for us. He will never forget us. He loves us greatly. This is where faith is required and this is the definition of faith: that God knows our situation, he understands, he CARES, and he is working to bring about good in our situation. We must believe God cares; we must not think his silence suggests he does not care our has forgotten us. Look for him--He will answer.

QT 8 Oct 15, Isa 48:18, Good flows out of obedience

Isa 48:18 (ESV)

18  Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!

 Then your peace would have been like a river,

and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;

https://www.bible.com/bible/59/isa.48.18.esv

NOTE: This is certainly an old covenant-based statement. It goes back to the provisions in Deuteronomy 29, the curses and the blessings. We misinterpret the old covenant as applying to us and that is not true. We are under the new covenant. But the old covenant does teach us and does provide insight into God's plan and workings with people (Rom 15:4). Additionally, the book of Hebrews teaches about discipline as a father disciplines his son for disobedient believers (Heb 12:7). So, there is a certain amount of truth in this verse that is applicable today. We are NOT in a health and wealth gospel, but God does bless obedience. The blessings may not be material as in the old covenant, but God does bless his children. Peace and righteousness are internal blessings which relate very nicely to the new covenant. I don't think it is unusual to expect a certain amount of peace by living obediently to God. And an obvious effect would be for our righteousness and our witness to be affected by our obedience. Finally, there is a reward in heaven for us at the end of times that will be dependent upon how we lived on earth. 

QT 7 Oct 15, Isa 47:7-9, The worldview of Babylon seems to be winning today, but its' end is already decreed

Isa 47:7-9 (ESV)

7 You said, "I shall be mistress forever,"

so that you did not lay these things to heart

or remember their end.

8 Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures,

 who sit securely,

who say in your heart,

 "I am, and there is no one besides me;

 I shall not sit as a widow

or know the loss of children":

9  These two things shall come to you

in a moment, in one day;

the loss of children and widowhood

shall come upon you in full measure,

 in spite of your many sorceries

and the great power of your enchantments.

https://www.bible.com/bible/59/isa.47.7-9.esv

NOTE: The "you" is Babylon, many years before it would be a world power, but I believe the prophecy is for today. Babylon is two thing or has been two things. It was and will be again a real nation and it is a real philosophy or worldview. The real nation does not exist now, although I believe it will exist again. The worldview has never stopped. It is a mistress who has always had lovers. She has never known loss because she has always found followers. Today, she has more followers than any other time in history. It is a philosophy based upon pleasure, and a denial of God as ruler of mankind. The Babylonian worldview believes that man is god of this world and that man alone will provide the answers necessary for life and existence. The philosophy deeply hates the Christian God, preferring anything to it. The heart of the philosophy is a mixture of atheism and humanism. Spiritualism is tolerated, so long as all ways lead to God. Of course, that position is logically untenable and self-defeating, but Babylon does not care since it is committed to the ultimate destruction of the idea of a God. The message of the bible is that God has decreed and end to the nation, Babylon, and to the worldview of Babylon. It will happen. It is coming.

QT 5 Oct 15, Isa 46:8-11, God rules even in our rebellion

Isa 46:8-11 (ESV) "Remember this and stand firm,

recall it to mind, you transgressors,

9 remember the former things of old;

for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me,

10  declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, 'My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose,'

11  calling a bird of prey from the east,

the man of my counsel from a far country.

 I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;

I have purposed, and I will do it.

https://www.bible.com/bible/59/isa.46.8-11.esv

NOTE: My view of God's sovereignty has evolved over the years. I believe that because of the rebellion in the garden, God has for the most part given us what we wanted: life without his rule. And so we misinterpret this, and come to the conclusion that God is somehow not loving, or not powerful, or not knowledgeable as explanations for the evil in the world. We choose not to recognize that evil and death did not exist in the world God created for us, but only came into being after we rebelled against his rule in our life. Evil has become God's megaphone yelling out to us, "repent and return to me and you will experience the life I always intended." God has promised to "recreate" our planet during the millennial kingdom as he had originally intended.

But, despite the fact that life is as it is because of our rebellion, God maintains a certain amount of control. He knows the end from the beginning. And he sees a purpose. Actually, that person is  justice and his rule over our lives again. He is working in the big picture to bring the end to fruition. He does work in individual's lives but for our good (not our perceived good). But for the most part, life happens, because it is what we wanted.

QT 1 Oct 15, Isa 45:22, There is only one way to God

Isa 45:22 (ESV)

22 "Turn to me and be saved,

 all the ends of the earth!

For I am God, and there is no other.

https://www.bible.com/bible/59/isa.45.22.esv

NOTE: An oft-repeated line in Isaiah is the second half of verse 22, "I am God and there is no other." This is one of the criticisms of Christianity, its exclusivity. The argument against exclusivity is quite feeble and nonsensical. To believe that there are many ways to God and many views of God completely misses out on the very definition of God. He is perfect. He cannot contradict himself. God cannot encouraging working for salvation in one situation and nullify it in another. And what standard would be used to work for salvation? Would it not be God himself, that is perfection? Who could meet that standard? Therefore no works-based salvation can make sense, unless God is less than perfect. And if he is less than perfect, than he could be in error or lack power or be confused, and really, he would not be God. No, the Judeo-Christian God is consistent in definition. Some may point to supposed inconsistencies in the bible, but those are people who have not studied or tried to understand the message. They pull things out of context or without considering the whole book or the genre or many other things, in order to justify their own pre-conceived notions. They are in error and they are foolish.