Isaiah 3:1-5:30 + 2 Corinthians 11:1-15 + Psalm 53:1-6 + Proverbs 22:28-29
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Old Testament – Powerful readings in Isaiah today… The southern Kingdom of Judah is getting a stern warning from the prophet today! A scary warning to the people of Judah for their disobedience comes at the end of our readings today in chapter 5 verses 26 through 30: “He will send a signal to the nations far away. He will whistle to those at the ends of the earth, and they will come racing toward Jerusalem. They will not get tired or stumble. They will run without stopping for rest or sleep. Not a belt will be loose, not a sandal thong broken. Their arrows will be sharp and their bows ready for battle. Sparks will fly from their horses’ hooves as the wheels of their chariots spin like the wind. Roaring like lions, they will pounce on their prey. They will seize my people and carry them off into captivity, and no one will be there to rescue them. The enemy nations will growl over their victims like the roaring of the sea. A cloud of darkness and sorrow will hover over Israel. The clouds will blot out the light.” A random side note here, and definitely an indication of how much I’m swimming in our culture… (as we all do to some extent – like fish surrounded by water – though, I think the Lord of the Rings has many redeeming values to it) As I read these verses above, I thought of the orc armies from the Lord of the Rings running amuck over Middle Earth…
This map below gives a good overview of the growth of the Assyrian empire between 824 B.C. and 640 B.C. and how it engulfs Judah during this time period. The prophet Isaiah was preaching his stern warnings right in the middle of this time period!
Isaiah chapter 5 verse 20 was directed at Judah in the 8th century B.C., but I wonder if this verse can have application to our world today? “Destruction is certain for those who say that evil is good and good is evil; that dark is light and light is dark; that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.” Can you think of any examples in our modern world where evil is portrayed as good and good is portrayed as evil? I can think of far too many examples unfortunately. This twisting of good and evil, light and dark, bitter and sweet did not make God happy back in eighth century B.C. Think God is happy about this twisting of good and evil today?
New Testament – Paul’s words in Second Corinthians chapter 11 verse 14 are some of the scariest words in Scripture for each of us to take to heart: “Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.” Do you believe these words of Paul’s are true? How would you know if something that appears to be good on the surface is not really good at all? Let us pray for discernment in this regards! Let us not ever be fooled by Satan and his disguises! (Okay, I found this scary picture below for this verse… what do you think? Too scary for this blog? Or maybe we should get a bit scared by this verse??)
Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Second Corinthians titled “The Father of the Bride Exposes the Master of Deceit” is at this link.
Psalms – If you’ve ever asked yourself – or ever been asked – why do we need a Messiah? What is our need of Jesus? Well, I think this question is clearly answered in verses 2 & 3 of Psalm 53: “God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for God. But no, all have turned away from God; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one!” This is why we need Jesus. With Jesus, we indeed seek for God. With Jesus, we are blessed with the Holy Spirit to begin to have some real understanding. But without Jesus…. well, it reminds me of the old DC Talk song “In the Light” – “What’s going on inside of me? I despise my own behavior. This only serves to confirm my suspicions, that I’m still a man in need of a Savior!” Amen…
Proverbs – Today in Proverbs chapter 22 verse 29 we read: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.” The thing I love about this Proverb is that it encourages us to be skilled in our work. Whether we are teachers, or bus drivers, or accountants, or technicians, or full time moms, I do strongly believe we are called to be skilled in our work! Do you really focus on your work and make sure you give 100% to your job? Do you avoid surfing the internet at work or chit-chatting for too long or checking personal emails? Do you work for your employer as if you were literally working for God? Do you believe that indeed no matter what your job is that you are really working for God? Do you want to give God your all? Will you give work your all? Don’t get me wrong – I’m not encouraging us to be workaholics. I just think that too often we can slack off a bit at work and think it’s no big deal. I think it is just the opposite. I believe if we slack off at work we’ll be more likely to slack off in other areas of our life, including our relationship with God. Are you skilled in your work? Do you realize that through your work you are not serving before obscure men, but you are indeed serving the King?
Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of the terrific Josiah Queen song called “My Promised Land:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwz6dqE511k
Is Jesus your Promised Land? Click here for your Promised Land!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Do you see those who are skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.” Proverbs 22:29 TNIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you are skilled in your work. Pray that you continually grow in your skills in your work. Pray that you don’t ever slack off or steal time or anything else from your employer. Pray that you are serving your King Jesus in your work.
Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up in the “Comments” section below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
Hey Mike,
I’m going to interject some thoughts, early morning thoughts, to your comments on today’s reading in Isaiah and all the other books, but specifically the Prophets. One of the things I have learned in my years of reading through the Bible is that we must be careful to examine who is speaking and who is being spoken to. Is it God speaking to Israel/Judah, is He speaking to the World? Just who is the audience?
Although Isaiah is writing down the visions God has given him during the time of the four Kings, his writings are not to everyone. Here in these three chapters He is speaking to Judah/Jerusalem, God’s people. In fact in these three chapters the words, “My People” can be found four times in the NLT (3:12, 15; 5:13, 29). It is a given that the world (unbelievers) will not adhere to God’s laws and they don’t or haven’t accepted Jesus Christ so they are outside of the law. Remember they will be judged for NOT ACCEPTING Christ or God’s Laws and/or against the laws they do know or keep that know (Romans 2:14, 15). If I am wrong, based on scripture, someone please correct me.
The Law, the Decalogue, plus the other laws written in the Pentateuch, were not given to the world they were given to Israel and for this reason they were given:
Look! I have taught you statutes and ordinances just as the Lord my God told me to do, so that you might carry them out in the midst of the land you are about to enter and possess. So be sure to do them, because this will testify of your wise understanding to the people who will learn of all these statutes and say, “Indeed, this great nation is a very wise people.” In fact, what other great nation has a god so near to them like the Lord our God whenever we call on him? And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as pure as this whole law that I am about to share with you today? (Deuteronomy 4:5-8 NET.)
Israel’s obeying of all of God’s commandments was so the other nations, who didn’t have the One True God, would be drawn to Him. The judgment Isaiah was given through visions in this particular passage was to Israel/Judah actual and spiritual (that’s us). So this is for the Church. The question we must ask ourselves is why God would speak to His people like this? It could only mean that His people are not acting like His People.
(2 Chronicles 7:14 KJVR) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
If doing the “right” thing was all that it took to be “saved” or “redeemed” we would have an easier job of it but it is accepting our own weaknesses and calling on the Name of the Lord that saves us, making Him Lord and Savior.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Caryn:
Mike commented: “Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.” How would you know if something that appeared to be good on the surface was not really good at all?
I can think of two examples when I was surprised how quickly I could be deceived by false teaching. The first was in a church home group when someone invited a work colleague to share a teaching. He introduced some interesting thoughts on a Bible passage, and asked some questions that I didn’t have answers to, so I was intrigued by his new line of thought, thinking I could learn from it. Chatting about it afterwards with my husband, I realised that the speaker was actually introducing some dodgy stuff, and the following week we had to warn our group to question carefully what was said that evening. It drove home the point that we should ALWAYS be testing what we are taught, even the preaching in churches, against what the Bible says.
The second time was when I started reading Neale Donald Walshe’s book “Conversations with God” on recommendation. At first I thought it was great to read about someone’s experience of hearing God and journalling with Him. Then one or two interesting but questionable thoughts crept in, until eventually, well into the book I realised the author of the book was a New Age guy! I remember thinking that if I was taken in so easily after years of church going and Bible reading, how much more easily would an unchurched person/ new Christian be swept up in the “interesting!” concepts expounded upon. I can say a similar thing for the Da Vinci code – superficially it is convincing, so someone who does not care to look in depth at the facts may simply walk away with some “interesting” things to think about.
At the end of the day, I think we need to be conscientious about getting to grips with the Bible on which our faith is based, and test every teaching against the Bible’s teaching. And I think it’s not only about reading the Bible but SEARCHING the Scriptures and getting a real meaty understanding of the heart of it’s message, which is ultimately the heart of God. John, you are particularly good at delving in, Thank you! [Can’t resist a pat on the back to all of us as well, for doing OYB. 🙂 ]. And yes, Mike, we need to pray for discernment.
Caryn
======= Chip:
Hi Caryn,
Great point! Your comment really emphasizes the importance of II Corinthians 10:5 from yesterday’s reading: in order to identify and correct deceptions and perversions of truth, we must know the truth to begin with.
That’s why studies such as this One Year Bible are so important! Many of Satan’s modern tactics involve some subtle perversion of truth – something that sounds good on the surface, but gives a twinge of hesitation in the spirit upon hearing it. Knowing both the truth (the Word of God) and Truth (Jesus Christ) is vital if we are to demolish every argument and pretension set up against the knowledge of God.
Chip
===== Jan:
The more we read the Will of God which is His Word – we will know & discern the Truth from revelation by the Holy Spirit – that is the little or big “check” as I call it, in the/our Spirit that we get upon coming upon these perversions of the Word trying to be taught or acted out. I have found it hard to “simply” rely on these checks in my/our spirits & sometimes I stumble, but the more I practice/act upon the unction/impression of the check/discernment (HOLY SPIRIT) – I become more obedient more quickly – God would love for us to practice/have immediate obedience & I am convinced that it is learned as Jesus learned it also as he was growing up into Christ as a divine man (willing & obedient to go to the cross & lay down our lives for each other – so we can be One with Him/The Father/others).
Jan
======= Ramona:
Men may want to skip my comments ‘cause I’m going to deal with “hair.”
Moreover the LORD said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched-forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet; Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their anklets, and the fillets, and the crescents; the pendants, and the bracelets, and the veils; the headtires, and the armlets, and the sashes, and the corselets, and the amulets; the rings, and the nose-jewels; the aprons, and the mantelets, and the cloaks, and the girdles; and the gauze robes, and the fine linen, and the turbans, and the mantles. And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet spices there shall be rottenness; and instead of a girdle rags; and instead of curled hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; branding instead of beauty.
(Isaiah 3:16-24 JPS)
As I read this passage I thought, this is happening now, right here in this generation. Especially the part about hair or lack of hair. Yesterday I asked, in so many words, who is our Isaiah, or John the Baptist crying loud and sparing not and who ever it is are we listening. Today, when I read the above passage, my heart skipped a beat and I declared, women today—at least black women in New York City—are loosing their hair and the evil is being declared good and good, evil (Isaiah 5:20).
If I am in business and I’m selling you something or providing a service and I tell you that it will benefit you but in reality it will destroy your hair and the follicles the hair grows out of, I am calling evil good so I can make a profit. But the client that keeps coming back to have this procedure done after the first time has now become a party to her own destruction. I am sorry that my thoughts are going in the direction of black hair care, but this has wider implication, at least for me.
I don’t think what God gave Isaiah to proclaim to the people of Judah happened overnight. And like the Emperor’s new clothes that really wasn’t made from a fabric so fine that only stupid people couldn’t see it because it was made of nothing. Until the little boy cries out, “The Emperor has no clothes on!” we become a party to our own deceit as the prophecy is played out in front of our very eyes. What baldness is covering our scalps that is being masked by weaves, braids and hair extensions covering up beautifully our slowly balding head?
And women may not want to admit that Paul is right, but a woman’s (long) hair is her glory. (1 Cor. 11:15) Just check out a woman walking by a mirror or primping in the mirror. And Yes, I know that some woman shave their heads, but way are they doing that—that is the question?
This post will probably get me in trouble, but just drop those rocks.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Sue:
Ramona, I agree and have seen it happening in the Caucasian community also; we used to “rat” our hair and put tons of hairspray on it to keep it in a “beehive,” and many are having thinning hair as a result.
I was also quite intrigued to read:
“Isa 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.”
Women ruling over the men. Are we going to have a woman ruling over us in the white house next term or soon?
And, children being our oppressors…we cannot discipline our children without the fear of retribution from the law, and have you noticed the sitcoms and commercials clearly show the power is from the bottom up: Children are smarter and rule the parents, mothers are wisest, and men are simply unnecessary or, at best they are “meal tickets” if they are even present.
Yes, we have come to the place where we call good evil and evil good. 🙁
Sue
====== Steve:
Hey Guys!
Re: Psalm 53 – I guess the idea of a Savior makes little sense to a person who is unaware of the seriousness of their sin. I have soooo many unsaved friends and family members. God help me never to hesitate to talk to them about Jesus!
Re: 2 Corinthians 11 – I think most people have a picture in their minds of Satan as a red demon- looking guy with a pitchfork, pointed nose, ears and tail. He is ugly and scary. That’s what we think evil looks like. But, remember, he is “a liar and the father of lies,” he is an expert at deception. How tempting is an ugly, rotten piece of cake? He uses things we are naturally attracted to – things that look good to us, to tempt us. Don’t get the idea that you are somehow immune to temptation either. Also, don’t get the idea that there is something wrong with you because you are tempted. I believe there might be something wrong with a Christian who is not tempted. I’ve heard that if the devil isn’t bothering with you, maybe he already has you right where he wants you! Remember, temptation is not sin. Just a few thoughts.
In His Service,
Steve ><>
======= Jan:
Vanity & pride make women or men do these things to their hair. I am just now starting to gray & will not put anything on my hair to cover those gray hairs. I am 53 & have never put any coloring on my hair. I truly don’t believe in breast agumentation or coloring/dying hair & when I was much younger I had a few perms & hated them. I am pretty much low maintenance when it comes to all that. I wish that I could go without makeup & I guess I can/could – but I do look a little better with it on. I don’t spend hours in the morning putting makeup on or fixing my hair – I wash my hair & it dries naturally. I use a little foundation, some light blush, mascara, lipstick & that is it. I have never been one to try to make myself up to be something I’m not – vanities upon vanities for sure.
Jan
======= Robert:
Thank you for the good word, it is good to see that the curse of Genesis 3:17-19 can now be viewed as serving God.
Robert
====== TJ:
I don’t often add comments, and appreciate the ability to do so on days like this when something jumps out at me. From Isaiah 5:20-23 through the NT, Psalms and Proverbs reading I’m reminded that God is not ignorant of what’s happening in the world today. The voices declaring evil is good cry louder, but God’s Word remains true that it is simply not so. Those who embrace what Satan dresses up as good things are being led astray. Christians have these reminders in God’s Word to stay away from the evil fo the world and stay close to God.
God bless you as you continue to serve Him.
TJ
====== Jessica:
This commentary goes hand in hand with something my boss emailed me tonight! I am so encouraged by this entry and cannot wait to go to work tomorrow!
Jessica
======= Julie:
Dear Mike,
I appreciate being reminded of my weaknesses by the Bible and with your encouragment. Thank you for reminding us to pray for discernment. As for me, I don’t like the photo 🙂
Julie
======= Cindy:
I think I’m struggling with jealously right now. so the scripture “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” was right on time.
I’ve been focusing too much on other people and not enough on God.
Cindy
======= Ronald:
Amen is enough!
Ronald
======= Imja:
Beginning with Isaiah 4:2 (in the middle of God’s judgement) ..l love how God suddenly interjects His restoration of beauty.
The Branch of the Lord
2 In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. 3 Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit[a] of judgment and a spirit[b] of fire. 5 Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory[c] will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
To me, this scripture Is the worlds current mindset, nothing is new…
Is. 5:20
20 Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
Shalom to all 🙂
Imja
====== Nancy:
One way to combat Satan’s wiles is listed in Ephesians 6.14-17 tha armor of God. The lynch pin holding it all together is v18. That says AND (which is a continuation of the scripture)
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Nancy
====== Vance:
Isaiah 3 (NKJV)
1
For behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stock and the store, the whole supply of bread and the whole supply of water;
2
The mighty man and the man of war, the judge and the prophet, and the diviner and the elder;
3
The captain of fifty and the honorable man, the counselor and the skillful artisan, and the expert enchanter.
8
For Jerusalem stumbled, and Judah is fallen, because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of His glory.
9
The look on their countenance witnesses against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom;
They do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves.
Isaiah 5 (NKJV)
4
What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?
Psalm 53 (NKJV)
1
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
2
God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
NOTE:
God never “chooses” in advance who is going to be judged or not. That kind of “predestination” is not the determination that God makes. “For they have brought evil upon themselves”.
Note in Isaiah 3 that God gives us what we want when we turn away from God. In the process, He removes all elements and sectors of society that are designed to be instruments of His will and grace on the earth: “mighty man, the man of war, the judge and the prophet”.
When the leadership of a society becomes corrupt, God must remove them, and we are left to fend for ourselves.
Rejecting God is the greatest sin of mankind. Rejecting Jesus as Savior is rejecting God, for Jesus is God.
Greed, which is life centered within the self which has rejected God, is never good.
Colossians 3 (NKJV)
5
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth:. . . covetousness, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3 (NIV)
5
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:. . . greed, which is idolatry.
Proverbs 22 (NKJV)
29
Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.
NOTE:
All of life is sacred—that is, all of life is a gift from God and is to be given back to God as our gift of love and worship. There is really no distinction between “sacred” and “secular”.
Yet, there is a distinction between “sacred” and “secular” when “secular” means that which is sin and is against the Lord.
When we serve with excellence, it allows God to place us as a model of integrity and faithfulness to others. Then we can testify to God’s integrity and faithfulness by our words and actions!
Vance
====== Vance:
ISAIAH 5
3
“Now, you people of Jerusalem and Judah,
you have heard the case; you be the judges.
4
What more could I have done
to cultivate a rich harvest?
Why did my vineyard give me wild grapes
when I expected sweet ones?
7
This is the story of the LORD’s people.
They are the vineyard of the LORD Almighty.
Israel and Judah are his pleasant garden.
He expected them to yield a crop of justice,
but instead he found bloodshed.
He expected to find righteousness,
but instead he heard cries of oppression.
RESULT:
6
I will make it a wild place.
I will not prune the vines or hoe the ground.
I will let it be overgrown with briers and thorns.
I will command the clouds
to drop no more rain on it.”
NOTE:
God has given us SO much. Are we grateful? What God has given us is HIS LOVE and HIS WISDOM. These are not only for us… but to EQUIP us to be the people we could never be without Him.
I really like the prayer at the end of the “Four Spiritual Laws”—which is something like:
Lord Jesus, make me to be the person You want me to be.” SO TRUE!
I JOHN 5
18
We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ’s divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him].
BE ESTABLISHED IN THE LOVE OF GOD! Then, no one will be able to move us, and we will not allow the devil to steal the Word from us out of fear.
2 CORINTHIANS 11
3
But I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent.
10
As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, I will never stop boasting about this all over Greece.
11
Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do.
12
But I will continue doing this to cut the ground out from under the feet of those who boast that their work is just like ours.
13
These people are false apostles. They have fooled you by disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14
But I am not surprised! Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.
A false apostle or teacher has an ulterior motive: Not to glorify Jesus (even though they may SAY they glorify Jesus), and not to help people. Really, they are serving themselves.
How much of what I do is motivated out of God’s Love? We need to be grounded in His Love…so our security is in Him and He is able to love through us.
I CORINTHIANS 13
1
If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth , but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal.
2
If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, BUT DIDN’T LOVE OTHERS, WHAT GOOD WOULD I BE? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody.
3
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; BUT IF I DIDN’T LOVE OTHERS, I WOULD BE OF NO VALUE WHATSOEVER.
Vance
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