This is the Psalm that…

Open Bible on a wooden surface with a glowing background, featuring the text 'I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalm 119:16 NIV' in bold white font.

Isaiah 54-55

Psalms 119

Luke 2

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            For many of you “of a certain age” that grew up watching kid shows on TV, you might remember a cute little sock puppet named “Lamb Chop”, a creation of childrens show host and puppeteer Shari Lewis.  Lamb Chop made it’s debut on the “Captain Kangaroo” show in 1956, and starred in “Lamb Chop’s Play-Along” show through ’97 (which won 5 emmys), in addition to appearing in a number of other shows.

            On the “Lamb Chop’s Play-Along” show, they’d play a certain song at the end of every show to play them off, and if you’ve seen it you’re probably way ahead of me here.  The song was called “The Song That Never Ends”, and I’ve included it here for your amusement and a tongue-in-cheek punitive action.  If you’re young enough to have never heard it, look it up on youtube, and I’m sorry (because it will be stuck in your head forever).

The Song that Never Ends

This is the song that doesn’t end
Yes, it goes on and on, my friend
Some people started singing it not knowing what it was,
And they’ll continue singing it forever just because …. (repeats, ad infinitum, ad nauseam)

            When we read Psalms 119, the longest chapter of the bible, it seems like it doesn’t end. In my bible, it takes up about 3 full pages for this one chapter, with 176 verses in it.  About midway through reading it today, I heard the Lamb Chop song in my head and transliterated it “This is the Psalm that doesn’t end…”.  Good luck getting that out of your brain now. 

            All joking aside though, this is a great study with one overwhelming and pervasive message about God’s word.  It should be a very interesting point of study that the longest chapter in the book of  God’s word is about the importance of God’s word.   The author uses about ten different terms for Scripture such as law, statutes, precepts, commandments, etc. to highlight its perfection and necessity.

            Psalms 119 portrays the author’s deep love for and obedience to God’s instruction, presenting Scripture as a lamp and light for guidance and a source of comfort and strength during persecution, affliction, and trials. It emphasizes that meditating on and living by God’s Word brings joy, wisdom, and spiritual renewal, serving as the ultimate refuge and authority for a believer’s life. There are a couple very well known and often quoted verses that you’ll recognize as you read this Psalm.

            It seems like there have been quite a few additions made to God’s word, starting just a few generations after Jesus was resurrected.  Traditions, theories, and speculations.  These are dangerous, and everything you hear from the pulpit should be carefully weighed against the word of God.  1 Corinthians 4:6 warns us “…not to go beyond the things that are written… ” (REV).  Jeremiah 8:8 laments: “How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of Yahweh is with us?’ But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.” (REV). Revelation warns us in chapter 22:18-19 that: “I testify to everyone hearing the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book, 19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.” (REV).  Seems pretty important, right?

            Jesus says in John 5:39: “You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have life in the age to come …” (REV) so yes, it’s super important, if you want to enter the kingdom of God. 2 Tim 3:16-17 says “All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the person dedicated to God can be fully capable, thoroughly equipped for every good work. ” (REV).  Jesus himself (in Matt 4:4, and quoting Leviticus 19:18) declares that humanity lives not by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

            So if the word of God is that important (as we patently see that it is, as exhibited throughout scripture), if the understanding and practice of it can grant us life and literally be the difference between life and death both now and eternally; why don’t people read the bible more?  Why don’t we study it, dissect it, and spend almost every waking hour trying to love it as much as the author of Psalm 119, and to implement it into our lives actively?  We have a God who loves us and seeks to redeem us.  According to the scriptures there is also an adversary, who desparately seeks to distract us and draw our attention to other things.

            Here’s the thing: we are not promised tomorrow.  We live our lives as if they will never end, because we are so short sighted it’s hard for us to even accept that our bodies are finite.  We go through our lives blindly assuming that tomorrow will be just like today, only maybe better, but the reality is: God has set a timeline for these things, from creation to the time of the establishment of His kingdom.  We do not know that timeline, the angels didn’t know it, Jesus didn’t know it, only God knows it.  The point is, our time is limited, we don’t have forever; it would behoove us to do what we can while we’re able to study God’s word and to do His will.

            The below verse highlights this concept perfectly, taken from a portion of our other reading today: Isaiah 55:6-11: “Seek Yahweh while he may be found; call on him while he is near.  Let the wicked person forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him; and let him return to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” says Yahweh.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow comes down from heaven and does not return there, but waters the earth and makes it bring forth and bud and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so will my word be that goes forth out of my mouth; it will not return to me void, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do.“

            Each of us goes through different seasons in our lives.  Sometimes, we prioritize different things during these different seasons.  Psalms 119 tells us clearly that we need to prioritize the word of God, always.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Right now, in this season of your life, what is your priority?

What is the potential gain that you possess by making this your priority?

What is the potential loss that you possess by making this your priority?

How can we shift our priorities to properly align with the design God has for us?

PRAYER

Father God, thank you for caring enough to give us your word, to send us your son, and to continually reach out towards your creation for reconciliation.  Please help us to seek you while you are near, to seek understanding in your word, and to listen when your spirit guides us.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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The Suffering Servant

*Isaiah 52-53

Psalm 119

*Luke 2

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            Isaiah has just so much good stuff in it that every time I read it I feel like I find something new.  When’s the last time you’ve read Isaiah from beginning to end? I recommend it, it’s just got so much good stuff in it, and particularly if you really dig down into the original languages you might find some nice hidden “easter eggs”.  The suffering servant passages are one of those that I recommend doing a deep, original language, dissection of.  You may gain a new understanding.

            Don’t speak Hebrew or Greek?  Not to worry, even a layman can do a moderately accurate dissection nowadays thanks to modern technology: if you look on biblehub.com and enter any verse, you can scroll all the way down to the bottom and it’s got the original language broken down word for word with all of the potential translations of that word.  While that will not give you as full of an understanding as learning the original language deeply, and you may not get some of the syntax or idioms of the original language, it’s still a handy way that anyone can become an armchair textual critic and examine the scriptures.

            Starting in the last portion of Isaiah 52, and continuing through 53, we see the famous “Suffering Servant” passage of scripture, which is a prophetic description of the Messiah, the one whom God has chosen.  Did they understand all of the significance of these prophecies in ancient Israel? It doesn’t seem that way, it seems like they were looking for an immediate restoration of Israel into a position of pre-eminence.  Look at the way the people greeted him at the triumphal entry (listed in all the gospels, Matt 21, Mark 11, Luke 19,  and John 12).  Think of how quickly this esteem changed, as this event was the beginning of the week that he was crucified (and then resurrected).  Like many prophecies, the full significance of these passages weren’t really understood until later.

            Beginning in 52:1 we see (REV): “Behold, my servant will act wisely. He will be high and lifted up and exalted.”  Do you remember when Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemene shortly after that triumphal entry into Jerusalem, praying fiercely to his God (and ours, see John 20:17) to spare him from the suffering which was coming?  During this gut-level, deep pleading for an escape, Jesus also said “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).  This is Jesus acting wisely, and trusting in his God.  He is later lifted up (on a cross), and then exalted (from the grave).  Please note: the definition of wisdom is submitting yourself to the will of God.  Even if you really want to do something else (like Jesus did), even if your will is different than God’s will (like Jesus’ will at the time was, by his own words), submit yourself to God’s will (like Jesus did).

            The body of Isaiah 53 really gets specific on some of the things that the servant will be and do, and have done to him.  It’s impossible for anyone to read this now and not think of some of the things that Jesus endured.  He grows up (v2),  he is despised (v3), he carries our sickness and suffering (v4), he was pierced for our transgressions and by his wounds we are healed (v5).  Verse 6 tells us that “We all like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way, but Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (REV), much like the scapegoat in ancient Israel.  That last line “…the iniquity of us all” strikes me pretty deeply, because I know I had enough iniquity just by myself to make a heavy load.  Imagine the weight of the iniquity of us all; it was laid on Jesus, as a way for God to reconcile with man.  That’s deep.

            Isaiah 53:10 is just a terrible laundry list of things that the servant of God must go through, and an explanation of why (the iniquity of us all).  When we get down to 53:11-12, we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel: “After the anguish of his soul, he will see the light and be satisfied. My righteous servant will make many righteous by the knowledge of himself, and he will bear their iniquities.  Therefore I will give him a portion with the great, and he will divide the spoil with the strong because he poured out his soul to death and he permitted himself to be counted among the transgressors. Yet he himself carried the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. “

            So while Jesus’ will was not to die and suffer, he permitted himself to, to submit himself to the will of God.  God didn’t force it upon him but allowed him the choice, and he chose to do God’s will, and by doing so redeemed us all.  To carry the sins of the entire world is indisputably a heavy, heavy burden, but he chose to do so, because it was God’s will.  As a result, he has become and fulfilled the prophecy of the righteous servant who would suffer.  This is our king, a man worthy enough to lead us because he was willing to bear all of our collective iniquities, the servant of God.

            Luke 2:1-20 describes the wonderful birth of our king, the Messiah, and the first portion of the chapter relays a number of glorious events and declarations that happen.  I think my favorite verse in this section is v19 “But Mary was treasuring up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ” (REV).  Consider what a high honor it was, to be the mother that would birth the Messiah, the one who would save the world.  There are a couple things later in this chapter that give us both a confirmation that this is indeed going to be the Messiah, but also a foreshadowing of the events prophesied in the “Suffering Servant” passages of Isaiah.

            Luke 2:25-35 tell of Simeon, a deeply religious man whom the spirit of God was upon, who was promised to see the Messiah before he passed.  He confirms that Jesus is the Messiah, and rejoices in the honor that God has given him, but tells Mary down in v35 that “…a broadsword will pierce through your own soul.”.  Imagine how you’d feel as a mother, later on.

            One thing that should be painfully clear to us all as we read Luke 11:21-52 is that Jesus was an “orthodox” Jew.  He obeyed all of the Jewish Law, every jot and tittle (the little marks that are identifiers in the hebrew written language).  He had to be, to fulfill all of the prophecies regarding the Messiah.  Later on he would clarify much of this law, to more fully explain the “spirit” of the law as well as the exact letter of the law.

            While we know from scripture that God doesn’t change (Mal 3:6, Ps 102:27, Num 23:19, James 1:17) the last verse in Luke 2 (and the last verse in Luke 1) clearly indicates that Jesus did:  Luke 2:52 “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.” (REV).  He grew in wisdom and in stature, and he also grew in favor with God and his fellow man.  This presents a problem verse for some of the more traditional “orthodox” presentations of the nature of the Christ, but the scriptures themselves are pretty clear and simple and as always; when our interpretations or traditions are in opposition to scripture, we should defer to scripture. 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Have you ever considered the weight of the burden of not just your sin but the sin of the entire world, every other human being throughout all time, placed on the shoulders of one obedient man?
  2. Had you ever considered how proud Mary was of her son, and then tried to imagine what she felt as she watched him suffer on the cross?
  3. Isaiah 53:11 says “my righteous servant”, but did you know the word for righteous is צַדִּ֛יק (tzedekh), and has much deeper connotations than “righteousness”? Do a deep study on this word (it will come up again soon, in another devotion).

PRAYER

Father God, I am humbled that my sins were carried by another.  Please forgive me.  Thank you for life, breath, and all things, and especially for sending us your son.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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A Lesson in Obedience, and Humility

*Isaiah 50-51

Psalms 119

Luke 1

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            In our initial reading of Isaiah 50-51, God is (justifiably) upset with His people, reminding them that He’s still their father and that He didn’t sell them off but it was their own sins that has removed them, and then moves on to say in verse 2: “Why was no one there when I came? When I called, why was there no one to answer?...” (REV translation).  Can you feel the pain?  I am constantly amazed at the longsuffering patience of God toward His creation, and particularly the longsuffering patience of God toward me specifically.  I read stuff like this, as a father, and I can imagine the pain: the righteous indignation of a faithful father whose children have abandoned him to chase after their own foolishness.  I was also that child who chased after foolishness, and now with my new perspective it makes me even more ashamed.

             Isaiah 50: 4-6:(REV translation) “The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, so that I will know how to sustain with words the one who is weary. Morning by morning he wakens me, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.  The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn backward. I gave my back to those who strike me, and my cheeks to those who plucked out my beard. I did not hide my face from shame and spitting.” There are some critical traits we should emulate here, there are some habits that this servant of God has that we who wish to be servants of God should follow.  First note that God has given him words to say, to sustain the weary.  Every morning, God speaks to him and teaches him.  God speaks to him, and he humbly listens, and then walks in humility: accepting abuse, violence, and shame from those around him, while remaining obedient to God.

            I am fully convinced that God is still speaking to us.  The real question is, how many of us are listening?  “When I called, why was there no one to answer?”  On the rare occasions that we do listen, how many times do we rebel, or go backward?  “No, I don’t really have time for that right now, I’m busy ______ing my _____.”  Fill in your own blanks.  How many of us will humbly accept scorn or abuse (like Jesus did), and compare that to how many of us “know my rights and will defend them!” If we were to grade ourselves, what do you think your grade would be? Is it a passing or a failing mark?

            The thing is, we are supposed to examine and test ourselves, and to make sure that we are in line with our master.  2 Corinthians 13:5 says (REV translation): “5Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed you fail the test?”  Did you catch that?  You can fail this test, this isn’t like field day at school where everybody gets a trophy.  Just because you once were “saved” (I hate that term, and prefer “redeemed”) doesn’t mean you are saved forever.  Paul is writing the above verse to active Christians, so that should immediately dispel that erroneous teaching, and also make us sit up straighter at our desks and pay attention to our Teacher.

            So listen.  Being a servant of God is more than just calling yourself a Christian and then going to church on Saturday/Sunday.  Being a Christian is more than just putting on a nice set of clothes for one day and then making sure you’ve got a smiling face for a couple of hours when you’re in a church building.  It’s more than just reading the bible on occasion.  Being a servant of God means that you are listening for God to speak to you, every day, and then obediently doing whatever it is that God tells you.  That’s going to be uncomfortable sometimes, but it’s not about you.  It’s about you being a servant of God.

            Most of us today have become so narcissistically involved in our own well being and self promotion that we don’t even listen for the voice of God anymore and if that’s the case I would caution you: to be a servant of the living God, you need to be listening to God, every day.  He will speak to you in your dreams, and give you instructions and testing.  He will whisper into your ear in the morning when you wake up.  He will place opportunities in front of you throughout the day to be patient, to be humble, to reflect His majesty toward the rest of His creation, and to do the good works which God has prepared for you.

            Forgive your coworker when they are an absolutely offensive jerk.  Help a little old lady with her groceries.  Tell someone God loves them, and you do too, even if you don’t know them.  Next time the driver in front of you is being an absolute idiot, remember that you were an absolute idiot too at least once in your life, and reflect the patience that God had for you upon that driver.  See that homeless guy over in the corner of the parking lot looking hungry? What if that was Jesus?  For the love of God, go buy Jesus a hamburger, if you can spare it.  DO SOMETHING besides just sitting there contently in your redemption.  Every one of these things is a chance to listen to God, go out of your way to show God you’re trying to listen.

            So, can I work my way into the kingdom?  Nope, not even close to what I’m saying.  This is not an action that’s led by you, this is an action that’s led by God: but if you’re sitting on your butt and thinking “I believe correctly and don’t do bad things and that’s enough” you’re incorrect.  Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are his handiwork, created in union with Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them.”  God didn’t redeem us to put us on the shelf and look pretty, God redeemed us to “do good works”.  James 2:26 goes so far as to say: “Therefore, just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also trust (or faith) without works is dead. “(REV translation).  It’s not that what you do is going to redeem you, it’s that since you have been redeemed you are required to do some things, specifically, the things God has prepared in advance for you to do, for His glory.  If you’re not listening to God to know what these things are, you might not do well.

            Isaiah 50: 10-11 (REV): “Who among you fears Yahweh? Who obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness and has no light, let him trust in the name of Yahweh and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with torches. Walk in the light of your fire and among the torches that you have kindled. You will have this of my hand: you will lie down in a place of torment.”  This tells us that even if we don’t see (like my father), we are to trust and rely on God (also like my father) and not ourselves.  If you rely on yourself, even if you think you’ve got it all together, you’re going to be painfully disappointed.

“Why was no one there when I came? When I called, why was there no one to answer?...”

I want to be there and I want to answer, because I can feel the pain, and I’ve already caused God enough pain.  What about you?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

(and some of these are very, very, serious questions that you should give deep thought to)

How can we better listen to God every day?

What opportunities did we have today to reflect God’s glory back upon His creation? Did we take them, or miss out?

PRAYER

Father God, help me to listen; to stop talking long enough to hear your voice, to shut out the clamoring of this world and to hear the words of the spirit that you are constantly whispering to me.  Help me to remember the instruction you give me in my dreams, and to pass the tests of my character when I slumber.  Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me, to your glory, and to the glory of your son.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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My Glory I Will Not Give to Another

*Isaiah 48-49

Psalm 119

*Luke 1

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

I suppose I should start out by saying: we’re all just humans, and that we should in love and patient understanding bear with each other, particularly those who are fellow servants of God.  I should also state that it is my opinion that even with an imperfect theology or understanding of scripture, it is absolutely possible for someone to gain entry and citizenship into the Kingdom of Heaven because God sees the heart of a man, and knows all of our intents. I still think that (in addition to obedience) an accurate understanding of scripture is important since it’s God’s word that He gave us, so here are some observations about today’s readings that I offer in love.

In Luke 1 in today’s reading, Gabriel makes an appearance, first to Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father) and then to Mary (Jesus’ mom).  You may recall when we were first introduced to Gabriel in scripture, back in Daniel 8:16 (and later again in Dan 9:21).  Gabriel is clearly a high ranking angel, as he has authority to stand before God.  He even quotes this to Zechariah after telling him of the impending (and unexpected) birth of his son, in Luke 1:19 ” 19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands before God …”.  This makes it pretty important to listen to the particulars that he tells us because this is a heavenly being who stands in the presence of God (a tremendous honor and privilege).

Let’s examine the conversation Gabriel has with the virgin (at the time) Mary, in Luke 1:26-31 (LSB Translation): “26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.”

Note that like Jesus, like every servant of God, Gabriel was sent by God.  I love that Mary is initially perplexed at the angel’s greeting, and is probably wondering why she is being favored by God.  I also wonder at the translation a little: there is a reference mark in my bible under every instance above where it says “Lord” that says “Yahweh, in the OT” down below at the reference.  I believe that an angel who has the authority to stand before God also has the authority to speak God’s name, and I think that’s what he did here, but that’s just speculation and the actual word used in (the Greek translation of) Luke is “kyrios”.  

This could be a lifetime study on it’s own, but the divine name Yahweh (or its full form YHWH) does not appear in any extant manuscripts of the New Testament.  The New Testament was written in Greek (at least the existing and accepted copies that we are aware of, though Nehemiah Gordon has some counter theories you should check out), and its authors consistently used the Greek title kyrios (“Lord”) to translate the Hebrew Tetragrammaton when quoting the Old Testament, following the tradition of the Septuagint (LXX).  This became extremely confusing when translated into English because the same “kyrios” was also used to translate the word “Master”, referring to any human figure of authority.

Some scholars, such as George Howard, suggest that the original autographs of the New Testament may have contained the Tetragrammaton in Hebrew characters in Old Testament quotations, but these were replaced by kyrios by early copyists.  Few, if any, surviving Greek manuscripts contain the name, but the practice initiated by the copyists to call Yahweh “THE LORD” and also Yeshua “The Lord” has led to a lot of understandable confusion among later believers who may not have understood the distinction between the two, or that there even was one. 

Gabriel goes on to say “32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of His kingdom.” 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.” (LSB).  (FYI, every capital letter in there that isn’t the beginning of a sentence or a proper name is a translational bias in my translation.  It just goes to show.)

So he will be called the son of God, and God will give him the throne of his father David.  God (the ultimate authority), is going to give him (Jesus, our king) the throne of his ancestor David.   In Luke 1:32, Gabriel confirms all of these prophecies are being fulfilled. 1 Cor 11:3 confirms that while the Christ (Jesus, our king) is the head of man, God is the head of the Christ.  Jesus has a God (see for reference John 20:17), and it’s our God too, the same God according to what Jesus told Mary.  Later on, sadly, these very clear scriptures were slowly distorted and changed.

In another prophecy, in Isa 49 God says: “6 He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to cause the preserved ones of Israel to return; I will also give You as a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”” (LSB)  The servant of God, the Messiah, the Christ came not only for the tribes of Israel, but as a light to the nations.  God caused it, Jesus the servant of God obediently fulfilled it, the Messiah, the anointed one, the Christ.

The very word “Christ” is greek for “The Anointed One”, which is also what “Messiah” means.  To be anointed, the obvious question follows: well, who anointed him?  It tells us throughout scripture: Yahweh God anoints His servants and grants them authority.  To be the Messiah (or, The Christ) means that Jesus had to be a human to fulfill the mandatory requirements according to prophecy (an Israelite human descended from David, see Gen 3:15, Deut 18:18, and 2 Sam 7:12-16 among many others).  Not to become a human, but to be born one.

Please don’t misunderstand me, Jesus was the very best of us.  The Lamb of God is worthy, and worthy of praise, because he was obedient to God’s will and gave his own life as a ransom for many, but (according to Jesus himself) God is the one who sent him to do so.  This seems to make it pretty critical to get our theology right when God tells us: “… My glory I will not give to another.” ( LSB Isa 48:11).   

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Why do you believe what you believe, can you find or quote scriptures that support your beliefs? Why is it important?
  2. Have you ever, in patient love and understanding, asked someone who believes differently than you about God to share their beliefs and had a constructive and loving conversation as a result, comparing interpretations while maintaining love and respect?
  3. Do you think what anyone else believes is important? To what degree, to whom, and why?
  4. Which do you feel is more critical toward entering the Kingdom: theological accuracy, humble obedience to God, or a relationship with God?  If you had to assign a percentage to each, where would they fall in your opinion?

PRAYER

Father God, we love you.  Teach us and instruct us, grant us your spirit as a helper, and help us to be humbly obedient to your word.  Thank you for life, breath, and all things.  Please bless all those who seek your favor, and forgive us our shortcomings.  In Jesus name, amen.

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I Will Carry You

*Isaiah 46-47

*Psalm 119

*Luke 1

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            There is a whole underlying theme of “burdens” in the first few chapters of today’s reading, and it begins by speaking of the Babylonian gods “Bel and Nebo” (also known as Marduk and Nabu, 2 Babylonian deities in a pagan pantheon), unflatteringly. 

            Isaiah 46:1-2 describes these ‘gods’ as “bowing down” and “stooping” because their heavy statues were being loaded onto beasts of burden during the fall of Babylon. This imagery highlights the irony that the gods themselves were powerless to save their temples, their people, or even their own images, which became a burden to the weary beasts carrying them into captivity.  Not only could they not carry their people, God is highlighting the fact that they can’t even carry themselves: they’re just statues.

            The next batch of scripture in v3-4 contrasts the above idols with God brilliantly, and says: “3“Hear Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been burdening Me from birth And have been carried from the womb; 4Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you, and I will rescue you. ” (LSB).  God lets Israel know that they’re the burden, that He’s been carrying them from birth, and that like a father to his children He will continue to carry them, bear them, and rescue them. 

            Back before the return (from the Babylonian captivity), idolatry was rampant for the ancient Israelites.  Likewise, in today’s world, mankind has elevated silver, gold, and sometimes even the servants of God to equal status as the God who created everything.  God explains it to us directly and bluntly: “5“To whom would you liken Me And make Me equal and compare Me, That we would be alike?” (LSB, Isaiah 46:5).  Just in case there was confusion later (there is), He goes on to clarify: “9…For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me,” (LSB, Isa 46:9).  What a beautiful, simple, and straightforward understanding about the nature of God, and if you notice there is a strong consistency to the message that Yahweh God is God alone (see also Deut 6:4, which Jesus the servant of God later quotes as the greatest commandment in Mark 12:29). 

            Moving on down to our Psalms reading today, we find ourselves beginning the longest chapter in the bible, and it’s just a really good one.  We’re obviously not going to cover the entirety of Ps 119 today (it’s huge), but we’ll try to get in a good solid overview of the first 40 verses or so. 

            The author of this Psalm spends a lot of time focusing and reiterating on obeying God’s laws, on seeking God with all your heart, and on God revealing His will and precepts as a source of joy and life.  Ps 119:1-40 all carry this theme explicitly, here are just a few excerpts from today’s scripture to reiterate this thematically (these are all from the LSB translation, Ps 119): 

1 How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of Yahweh. 2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,They seek Him with all their heart.

33 Instruct me, O Yahweh, in the way of Your statutes, That I may observe it to the end. 34 Cause me to understand, that I may observe Your law And keep it with all my heart.

            You get the idea.  The author here is very focused on God, and on obeying God’s precepts, and asks repeatedly for his own comprehension and God’s help and protection.  This strikes me as a very healthy outlook for anyone seeking to be a servant of the living God.  We search the scriptures because we believe that by them we may receive eternal life (See John 5:39), and the author of Ps 119 seems to agree with that, and also go further and asks God to change his heart (see also for reference Jer 31:33), and to grant him discernment and wisdom to understand and obey.

            I did want to point out one very cool thing that’s in our Luke reading today.  In Luke 1, Gabriel is a busy angel, God sends him first to Zechariah to inform him about the birth of his son (John the baptist), and then to Mary to inform her about the birth of her son (Jesus).  Note that Gabriel doesn’t just show up and start saying whatever he wants: he is sent by God and delivers only the message(s) that God sent him to deliver, because he’s not God, he’s God’s servant. 

            This is true for any of the servants of God: even though they are not God, they are sent by God to fulfill a specific purpose on God’s behalf, and when they do so we are to accord them the same honor and authority that we ascribe to our Creator, because they are sent by God.  That is actually the criteria to be a servant of God, that God sends you.  This includes Jesus, the son of David, the servant of God (for reference see John 1:22,33, 3:34, 4:34, 5:23-24,30,36-38, 6:29,38-39,44,57, 7:16,28-29,33, 8:16,26,29,42, etc etc etc.-30 times in John per Jesus).  Jesus really tried to make it very clear that God sent him, and that he didn’t act from his own authority but did what God told him to do, and said what God told him to say.  Jesus was completely obedient to the authority of YHVH God, as not only as a servant (which he was) but as a son.

            There’s something staggering that the angel (literally, “messenger”) Gabriel says when he’s delivering his messages here in Luke 1.  Think about the descriptions of the throne of God (see Aug 5th devotional from earlier this year for scriptural references and descriptions about the Courts of Heaven): in every instance you see the Most High God seated on the throne, with the courts full of heavenly beings as supplicants around him, often prostrating themselves.  Gabriel says this particular phrase in Luke 1:19: “…I am Gabriel, who stands before God,”  Stop and think about that for a moment.  That’s huge.  This may be a servant of God, but he is given much power and authority if he is allowed to stand before the most high God.  Now think about the Christ, our king Jesus.  Not only does he stand before God, but God has invited him to sit at His right hand.  The ultimate authority, just under God.  It’s amazing.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

  1. We’re probably all familiar with the poem “Footsteps”.  How many times in your life has God carried you? Reflect on them for a moment.
  2. How can you personally increase the love of God’s laws in your heart, like the author of Ps 119?
  3. Had you ever caught that bit about Gabriel “standing before God” before, and pondered it?

PRAYER

Father God, thank you for carrying me when I couldn’t make it on my own.  Plant within my heart the fervent desire to study and obey your precepts, and to listen to the messengers You sent.  Thank you for life, breath, and all things.  Please carry me just a little bit further.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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Belonging to Yahweh

*Isaiah 44-45

Psalm 118

Revelation 22

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            I have a sister, whose name begins with a J (and which ends in an ennifer).  She is a bit younger, much prettier, and much smarter than I am.  Don’t get me wrong, she’s still a human being (with all of the complexities that come with that), but when I was making exceptionally poor decisions in my youth, she was making better choices.  I think a good number of you folks have met or know our parents, Dr Joe and Rebekah Martin.  That’s why we were all a bit surprised when she happily informed us one day, well into being middle aged, that she had gotten a tattoo.

            If you all just took a collective gasp, well, we did too at the time.  I wanted to say, “Hey, I’m the one who gets to make bad decisions around here…”, but then she told us what it was, and it’s actually taken from our bible reading today.  In fact, it’s a small tattoo in Hebrew that says this:”לַֽיהוָ֔ה”, and it’s written on her left wrist, just below her hand.  Once I understood better, I’ve actually taken to writing that there myself on my own hand occasionally, because it means simply “The LORD’s”, or”I belong to The LORD”, but with the actual name of God, YHVH, in Hebrew.  “YHVH’s”, or “I belong to YHVH”.

            This is a fulfillment of prophecy.  Specifically, Isaiah 44:5 says “5 This one will say, ‘I am Yahweh’s’; And this one will call on the name of Jacob; And this one will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to Yahweh,’ And will name Israel’s name with honor.” (LSB).  Here’s why that’s so cool: back in the day (ie, ancient biblical times) writing on the hand was a mark of ownership, like a brand on a servant (see for reference Ex 13:9, Deut 6:8). 

            To “call on the name of Jacob” (or, alternately translated “to call himself by the name of Jacob”) implies an open acknowledgement and embracing of the heritage of the patriarchs of Israel.  This anticipates gentiles being grafted into Israel’s blessing (see for reference Romans 11:17), and harmonizes perfectly with Gal 3:29 “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise“.  It is absolutely important to remember that as Christians, we are asking to be adopted into the nation of Israel, we are all seeking to be proselytes to the Jewish God, by obedience and the grace of God. 

            So here’s an interesting (and sometimes controversial) side question: Do we as Christians need to keep every bit of The Law?  Why ask me? I don’t necessarily think so, but I’m just a man, and all I can tell you is the gospel according to Jeremy Martin. Read your Bible, and see what you think.  I would suggest that if you feel like God is telling you that you must then you absolutely should, and if you feel like God is telling you that you have freedom from the jots and tittles of the Law then you probably do.  The important bit here is: don’t listen to what anyone else tells you.  Study scripture, pray, and listen to God.  It’s not between you and anybody else, it’s between you and God, like a lot of things.  Don’t let it divide you as believers though, that’s between them and God too, not you and them.  Sometimes we get confused about that.

            All my family’s laundry aside, here is where it gets kind of cool, because throughout the history of time mankind has wondered about God and the nature of God, and here is one of the places that He clearly tells us some aspects of His self.  Do you want to know who God is? Well, listen to what God says about Himself (and listen ONLY to what God says about Himself, and nothing else.  Remember that you don’t want to know the gospel according to some smiling guy in a suit, you want to know the gospel according to God, because again: that’s going to be between you and God, no one else.)

“‘Thus says Yahweh…I am the first, and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.” (LSB, Isa 44:6). God is eternal, and singular in authority, he has a name, and it is YHVH (translated at times as Yahweh since the V in ancient Hebrew was said to make a W sound).  He was here before anyone, and He’ll be here after everyone.  There is no God besides Yahweh.  It’s important to note again that Yahweh (YHVH) is the personal name by which God identifies Himself to His creation (See Ex 3:15 for reference). 

“I, Yahweh, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone,” (LSB, Isa 44:24).  So Yahweh (AKA God, or “The Father”) is the maker of all things (See Ps 24:1 for reference), He specifically tells us that He stretched out the heavens “by Myself” and spread out the earth “all alone”.  I would like to respectfully point out that even if you have a traditional and complex understanding of the nature of God, this verse seems to specifically address that the only person involved in creation is Yahweh God, the Father, there are no other persons or natures involved, no one but Yahweh “Myself”, all alone.  It seems pretty bluntly direct, almost as if it was phrased in such a manner as to avoid any confusion or misinterpretation.

“26 Confirming the word of His servant—And the counsel of His messengers He will complete—” (LSB, Isaiah 44:26).  Yahweh (God) has servants, and He will confirm the word of His servant, and complete the counsel of His messengers.  When God sends one of His servants, they speak with the authority of God, because God not only sent them but gave them authority to speak His words.  Sometimes these servants are heavenly beings or “angels” (literally, “messengers”) such as in Luke 1:19 or 1:28 when the angel Gabriel delivered a message on God’s behalf.  Sometimes those messengers could even be an animal, such as in the story of Balaam in Numbers 26:28.  More commonly, God uses men as his servants to interact with other men, pouring out His spirit on them to communicate with their peers or to fulfill a specific purpose such as with Saul (1 Sam 10:10), David (1 Sam 16:13), and Samson (Judges 14:6) to name but a few.  Of course the most significant servant of God to the Christian believer is the man Jesus (the) Christ himself, and it is clear that he also ascribes to this understanding when he quotes Isa 61:1 and ascribes this prophecy to himself.  Jesus’ friend Peter confirms this later in Acts 2:22, when the spirit of God (also known as the spirit of truth) is upon him. 

            We should read all of these things carefully, and with discernment.  These are some of the things that God has told us about Himself, and His servants, in scripture.  These are clear, and pretty direct.  God spoke to us directly in the scriptures. Please, be discerning when you study your scripture and exclude from your doctrines theories or traditions that conflict with God’s word; in the end your understanding will be between you and your God, nobody else.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Have you ever, to your knowledge, fulfilled a prophecy?  What was it?
  2. Do you think as Christians we are obligated to follow none/some/or all of the Law?  Why?
  3. Can you think of a time when someone told you something about God (or one of His servants) that directly contradicted scripture? 

PRAYER

Father God, Abba, please let me hear only Your words.  Forgive me when I fail.  Teach me, Father.  Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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By a Way They Do Not Know…

*Isaiah 42-43

Psalm 118

Revelation 21

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            If you read your Bible regularly, you’ve probably got a few “favorite” verses or chapters that really stand out to you personally, that really just speak to you on a deep and emotional level.  I’ve got a few: I like Job 33, because it’s basically “my story” and details how God intercedes for the lives of men.  I like the Kings and the Chronicles just because when I was a kid, those were some of the most exciting and action packed.  I like the book of Nehemiah because he’s just so darn scrappy and feisty, but also humble enough to plead with God regularly to “remember me for the good”.  I’m sure we’ve each got our special bits, but the reading in Isaiah 42 today is my absolute favorite chapter in the whole Bible.

            Why is that, you ask?  Well, lucky day kids, I’m going to tell you.  It has been very publicly stated on a number of occasions that when I was a young lad I was quite a scrappy ne’er-do-well: a miscreant, hooligan, a rogue.  I was, not to put too fine a point on it, dumber than a box of rocks: completely ignoring God and seeking only how best to fulfill my own lusts and desires.  It was inevitable on the path that I was travelling that I would run into trouble, and I did: much, much bigger trouble than I was expecting, or had the ability to handle on my own.  Luckily for me (and for you too), we’ve got a great big God who’s exponentially bigger and more powerful than …well, anything.  Including Big Trouble, and the potentially fatal fingers that it sometimes attempts to clutch you with.

            I won’t belabor the depths of my stupidity, but I will say that as a result of my Actions (and attitude), there was a time in my youth (when I was about 25) that I was going to get a hard introduction to Consequences, and as a result was going to probably wake up dead in a hole, six feet from the rest of my life.  Things were not looking good for the home team (for clarification, I am the home team in that analogy), so I fled for my life.  I left in my wake Big Trouble, and Big Trouble was angry, murderously angry, and seeking a reunion.  I was going to die.

            So I started digging deeply into scripture, as if my life depended on it (it did), looking for an out, hoping that God would save me.  Obviously, He did (this is now over 30 years later), but at the time it was a very dark season for me: filled with fear and trepidation, and expecting at any moment to die.  I was already a pretty crazy lad, my previous lifestyle hadn’t helped that in any way, and add to that the constant fear and threat of being murdered at any moment and it begins to wear on one’s psyche and sanity. 

            Think for a moment of the most stressful event that’s ever happened to you, a time when you were in actual danger.  Now stretch that moment out, and imagine that you had that tension, that stress, that apprehension every second, every minute, every hour: day after day, then week after week, then month after month.  That constant level of tension will drive you insane.  That’s where I was at.  Do you know what saved me from going absolutely bonkers?

            Isaiah 42, when it is talking about the servant that God has chosen (The Messiah, or Christ), specifically this bit in verse 3: “3 A crushed reed He will not break And a faintly burning wick He will not extinguish;” (LSB).  Every time I read that, I knew that the Christ would not allow me to be snuffed at that time, because I was that reed that was crushed in spirit, I was that candle that was burning low and flickering in my faith, but I was seeking God’s will and this reassured me that His servant the Christ would not break me or extinguish me nor allow it to happen by the hand of another.  So I kept praying, and reading scripture.  Slowly, very slowly, some of the crazy started to leach away, and I began to be restored, to see my folly, and the path that God wanted me to walk.

            For the longest time leading up to that moment, I was blind.  Spiritually blind, street smart but God stupid.  I knew all the right things about all the wrong things.  Isaiah 42:3 helped me get refocused, to know that even if I was a smouldering wick that I would at least get an opportunity to burn brightly, so long as I was trying.  Then I read Isaiah 42:16, and it was like fireworks went off in my head, and I knew that our God was a great and merciful God.  This is, by the way, my singular favorite verse in the entirety of the bible:

“16 I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, In paths they do not know I will guide them.

I will make darkness into light before them And rugged places into plains.

These are the things I will do, And I will not forsake them.” (LSB)

            That’s exactly what He did, for me.  I can’t even begin to describe how beautiful this is for me, because I was that (spiritually) blind guy, and He sure did lead me by a way I did not know, and He guided me in paths I had no idea even existed: to safety, and life.  The darkness that I was living in was  slowly illuminated, and the obstacles that were the rugged places were miraculously removed from my path.  God said that He would do these things, and that He would not forsake me and He kept His promise.  Why?  No clue, I wasn’t worth it at the time, but He did.  Fiercely.

            Then, my dad went blind, and God gave me a gentle slap in the face to remind me of some things, and to remember some of the words my mouth had spoken earlier when He saved me. 

            When I say my dad went blind, I mean literally blind, not spiritually blind, and you know what? That verse means even more to me today, because:  “16 I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, In paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them And rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, And I will not forsake them.” (Isa 42:16 LSB).  I was a complete idiot.  I was a jerk.  I was not a nice guy, but my dad…my dad is amazing.  So is my mom.  They have both been faithful servants to the living God since before my birth, and humble me with their faith.  How much more will our faithful God, who never lies nor abandons His children, lead my blind father by a way that he doesn’t know?  How much more will He turn the darkness into light before my father, and make the rough places smooth where he walks?  How much more will he not forsake my father, the faithful servant?

            I take great comfort and solace in knowing that our God never lies.  Lead us, Father God, even if it is by a way we do not know.  I have died now once already, and I no longer fear death.  I fear God.  If Big Trouble ever does come to speak to me about the sins of my youth, I hope I get the chance to tell it everything God has done for me, and what an awesome God He is before I die.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. What is/are YOUR favorite verse(s), and why does it speak to you?  Take a moment and reflect on the circumstances which endeared it to you, and praise God.
  2. Is there a specific verse in scripture that has carried you through a particularly difficult time? What was it, and how did God act to help you in that moment?
  3. Have you ever considered how amazing it is that even when we are dumb and completely unworthy of redemption, our God is faithful and restores us for His own name’s sake?

PRAYER

Abba, Father, My God, thank you.  You have been faithful even when I was not.  You saw value in me when even I did not.  You paid the ransom for me.  I am unworthy of the favor shown me.  The price was too high, My God.  Please forgive me, and lead me in a way that I have not known, to Your glory, and for Your name’s sake.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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The Millennial Kingdom and It’s Purpose

Isaiah 40-41

Psalm 117

Revelation 20

-Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

The Millennial Kingdom is a controversial topic today and we need to see the importance of this period of time to our understanding of God’s purposes and to show us the way to the new heavens and earth where righteousness will be the only standard. Today we also read from Isaiah who is the most quoted prophet in the New Testament. Hear Isaiah’s words today :

Isaiah 40:12-14(NLT) Who else has held the oceans in his hand?
Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers?
Who else knows the weight of the earth
or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?
13 Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD?
Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?
14 Has the LORD ever needed anyone’s advice?
Does he need instruction about what is good?
Did someone teach him what is right
or show him the path of justice?

The purpose of the Millennial is shown where the promises made to the nation of Israel about this earth will be fulfilled. It also is a time when the sinfulness of man’s heart will ultimately be revealed and destroyed. The first lie told by Satan is that if Adam and Eve disobey God and eat of the fruit they will become like god, knowing good and evil, and that they will not surely die. All lies proceed from this one as they are based on disobedience to God’s commands, and the desire in mankind’s heart to be their own god.

The lie that is the last to be destroyed is the lie of perfect justice: “Have a man with great power put over the earth and have perfect justice and righteousness on a restored earth then we will hear and obey God.”

The next coming events on this earth will be the great tribulation and all that happens surrounding these coming events. The Anti-Christ as well as the false prophet will be revealed to the world first as a great savior, and then as the leader of the powers of darkness and this world.  Sin will be openly revealed and then judged by Jesus Christ who is worthy to open the scroll in Revelation 5.  He is the one chosen by God to bring judgement and justice to this present world.  This includes judgement and disposal of the Antichrist and the false prophet who are annihilated and removed from the earth at the end of this time.

The resurrection of those that believe and are judged righteous starts the beginning of the reign of Christ on this present earth. We see this rulership truth from prophecies from the Old Testament prophets and then reflected specifically in this prophecy we are given in the book of Revelation. The dispersion and regathering of the nation of Israel is covered in numerous prophecies of the Old Testament prophets and records. The promises of the future kingdom including Israel is a centering truth of our conference today.

Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV) So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Ephesians 1:9-11 (NLT) God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

Israel is God’s own chosen people and much of the Old Testament prophecy is about what He will do for them in this future kingdom ruled by His Son.  There are sections of scripture that give us specific information about what God will do for Israel, and then also how He chooses those that are true believers from among them.    

Isaiah 59:20(NLT) The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem to buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins,”says the LORD.

The resurrection of the just is found in Revelation 20 where God decides based on His standards of faith those who will become part of the new kingdom of His Son in the time following.  Many of the promises of the OT prophets give us a preview of how God will deal with the people and the land.

Ezekiel 36:24 (NLT) For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.

Those that are judged just and resurrected are those that God finds the Word in their mouths and hearts like Jesus Christ to come. Descendants of Israel in the world today must turn to Jesus and make him their Messiah for them to receive forgiveness of sin, and life to come. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile at this time.  Being Jewish and going to temple will not give them eternal life in the kingdom to come. There is no righteousness today from the law of Moses for Jew or Gentile.

Revelation 20:4-6(NLT) Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.

The resurrection of the just is at the beginning of the Millennial reign of Christ on this present earth. Also, the Devil and all his minions are chained and locked up away from the earth. Satan is removed from having any influence on earthly events and on people’s actions for this thousand-year period. The devil’s influence over events is locked from the earth by his imprisonment and then from the coming mortal human events on this present earth. The excuse that the “devil made me do it” cannot be made by anyone during this time frame. 

Revelation 20:1-3(NLT) Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. 3 The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.

We need to think about how many mortal people might still be on the earth after the tribulation and the battle of Christ against the Adversary that ends this period. There are currently 8+ billion people on the present earth today. If a remnant is saved through the tribulation this still might be as many as 1 billion or more people left to live, procreate, and die on this present earth. They are given God’s promises that the justice and administration of the earth will be done with God’s perfect judgment of good and evil. The earth will be watered literally and figuratively to give everyone all that is needed. The needs for food, shelter, fellowship, and  every other need will be met. 

Ezekiel 34:29-31(NLT) And I will make their land famous for its crops, so my people will never again suffer from famines or the insults of foreign nations. 30 In this way, they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them. And they will know that they, the people of Israel, are my people, says the Sovereign LORD. 31 You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!”

The prophecies of the book of Revelation show us what will happen then in this new kingdom of Christ on this present earth. We see a picture of perfect judgement and administration of justice to all.  Many of those people alive at that time will see, hear, and believe and receive the grace that comes from Christ. The blessings and abundance of that time to come is amazing in the foretelling that we read. We know that mortals continue to populate this earth and procreate, work and live their lives during this time of blessing and abundance.  But the same result comes following the same pattern as through all of time. Some believe, and some reject Jesus as the righteous ruler of the earth and the kingdom of God. It is hard to even understand how people would reject Christ during the proof of God’s grace and love for people.  

Remember that there is also no influence of the Adversary and his minions in the affairs of mankind on the earth in this time. This is an especially important part of the purpose of the millennial reign. To have a new heaven and new earth where all is righteous, all disobedience must be demonstrated, judged, and destroyed. Heaven needs to have all disobedience removed  in order to make all ready for the coming new heaven.   

1 Corinthians 4:5(NKJV) Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

The disobedience that is prophesied in Revelation shows us that the human heart has not changed, and the desire to do evil is still evident even during the Millennial reign. For a new heaven and earth to appear, all evil and rebellion in both heaven and earth needs to be dealt with.  Christ is God’s agent of justice and salvation coming to all the earth. Those that believe and follow Christ are saved to a beautiful future with the rule of God and Christ. Those that desire to do evil and rebel will be annihilated and destroyed forever. This is the second death for all that are judged unrighteous.

The lie of perfect government and rulership is destroyed, and the forces of evil are all annihilated. The Millennial ends with the beginning of the new heavens and earth we will next read about.

Reflection Questions

  1. What are your thoughts and feelings as you read Revelation 20? What verse brings you the most hope and excitement?
  2. What are you looking forward to Jesus bringing to light?
  3. How often do you think of these things: Jesus’ second coming, resurrection, the Millennial reign, the new heavens and earth? How might it change the way you live your life today if you thought of these things more?

PRAYER

Father God, we are so humbled by the wisdom that You demonstrate in the earth, heavens, and peoples that You have created.  We are so thankful that You have invited us to join Your family and to have Your love and protection.  We pray that you will continue to sustain and keep us this day and forever in Your kingdom to come.  Come Lord Jesus come.  Praying to You in the name of Christ this day.

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Hezekiah Sees the First Daylight Savings Time

Isaiah 38-39

Psalm 117

Revelation 19

-Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

In Isaiah chapter 38 we read a remarkable story about Hezekiah the king and the events that happen to him.

Isaiah 38:1-8(NKJV) In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’ ” 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, 3 and said, “Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

How would you feel about it if a known and respected prophet of God came to you and told you to get your affairs and will in order, because you will die soon?

This message would certainly get my undivided attention and reaction.  I can see myself in Hezekiah’s shoes lamenting to God about why this would happen to me!!  I have (in my mind anyway) listened to all Your precepts, followed all Your instructions, and held to Your worship. Why am I sick and what do you mean I’m going to die soon from this disease? This is just not fair to me!

Does it do us good to try to recite to God our goodness and obedience? 

What should we do instead?

Hezekiah cries out to God in his misery and grief asking God to have mercy on him and save him from untimely death. He implores God to hear him and is bitter in his heart about the situation he finds himself in. 2 Kings chapter 20 gives us another version of the events and helps us out with more detail.

2 Kings 20:4-6 (NKJV) “And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 5 “Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. 6 And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.” ’ “

We see in this section that God heard Hezekiah’s prayers and God decided to intervene in the course of his disease and deliver him from death for another 15 years.  God says that He will “surely” heal him. Then Isaiah goes to Hezekiah and delivers the message from God.  Hezekiah, like all of us, wants an assurance that what the prophet says will actually happen. What a human reaction to a Godly message (also, what – only 15 years!). God then gives this message to Isaiah about His Word.

Isaiah 38:7-8(NKJV) And this is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing which He has spoken: 8 Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward.” So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down.

Think of the miracle that God must do to accomplish this event.  All the universe must have the clock of God turned back approximately 40 minutes for this to happen.  How does this happen?  How can God do this? We read further in 2 Kings to get more details of the miracle.

2 Kings 20:8-11(NKJV) And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What is the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the LORD the third day?”9 Then Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing which He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees or go backward ten degrees?” 10 And Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees; no, but let the shadow go backward ten degrees.” 11 So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.

Is it harder for God to turn time forward 40 minutes or backwards 40 minutes?  Clearly both take the same miraculous movement of planets, suns, stars, and earth.  But Hezekiah picks the answer that will silence all the critics of miracles.  He may even be trying to convince himself of the truth, and the going back certainly can’t be faked or explained by any earthly means.

How are we like Hezekiah in our shaky belief in miraculous works of God?

What is our assurance today that God’s hand is in our lives?

1 John 5:13-15(NLT) I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

When we pray and ask God for help when we are doing the will of God He promises that He hears us.  When God promises that He hears us then we should be good to go with whatever the answer to our prayer will be.  We cannot obligate God to do our will by our good works or supposed obedience.  God so loved that He gave, and God will so love again because it is His will to do what He has decided to do.  We should live our lives in humble obedience to the God that loves us and have the confidence that He will do all that will bless us and sustain us.  Cast all our cares upon our God for He cares for us.

Reflection Questions above in Bold Text

Prayer:

Father God be with us this day, and deliver us from the evil one.  Give us the bread of our need this day to sustain and keep us.  Please hear our petitions and prayers for Your help and healing as needed for our lives.  Show us the way to walk like Your Son the Lord Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life for us.  We praise Your Holy Name and lift You up with our prayers and hearts.  Our Lord hear our prayer.  In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.

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Faith in God

Isaiah 36-37

Psalm 116

Revelation 18

-Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

Isaiah 37:1-7(NLT)When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on burlap and went into the Temple of the LORD. 2 And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the court secretary, and the leading priests, all dressed in burlap, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 3 They told him, “This is what King Hezekiah says: Today is a day of trouble, insults, and disgrace. It is like when a child is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to deliver the baby. 4 But perhaps the LORD your God has heard the Assyrian chief of staff, sent by the king to defy the living God, and will punish him for his words. Oh, pray for those of us who are left!”
5 After King Hezekiah’s officials delivered the king’s message to Isaiah, 6 the prophet replied, “Say to your master, ‘This is what the LORD says: Do not be disturbed by this blasphemous speech against me from the Assyrian king’s messengers. 7 Listen! I myself will move against him, and the king will receive a message that he is needed at home. So he will return to his land, where I will have him killed with a sword.’”

Psalms 116:6-8(NLT) The LORD protects those of childlike faith;
I was facing death, and he saved me.
7 Let my soul be at rest again,
for the LORD has been good to me.
8 He has saved me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.

Our subject today is that of our faith.  We use the word “faith” very freely here in the United States, in the churches here, but I do not know that we always realize the full measure of what the word means. We tell each other to have faith or greet each other with the word faithful but often it is very shallow in its meaning.  We need to examine what Hezekiah does in the face of an overwhelming army and disaster from Sennacherib the king of Assyria.

Where does Hezekiah turn?  And what does he petition God for in his message to Isaiah?

The word “faith” in Hebrew in the Old Testament comes from the Hebrew word “emunah” which gives us two other words of “faithfulness” and the word “Amen” which means “full agreement”.  The word faith in the Hebrew gives a meaning of action and movement in our lives.  We do not only have faith in God, but we should live out our faith in God.

Habakkuk 2:4(NKJV) Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.

We cannot separate our intellectual understanding of the Words of God from action about them in our lives.  We may agree with what the Word says in our minds, but this is just a mental assent intellectually that the Word is true.  When we truly believe the Words of God then we will live out our lives in accordance with what they say, we will live by our faith.

 You do not merely think that you have faith,  you should walk it, breathe it, make it your own. This is our relational trust in the truth of what God says to us in all of life.  We show what we believe by what we do in our lives.  Do you put your full trust in our God?  Or do we secretly in our hearts not fully believe His Words?

Look at our father Abraham in Genesis where God tells him to go to a new land where God will bless him and give him land and descendants.  Did he live out his life with full agreement of what God told him to do?  The central theme of Abraham is that we are saved by our faith, and not our meager works of righteousness.

Galatians 3:6-7(NLT)  In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.

Our salvation in Christ comes from putting our full trust of our lives in the truth that God saves us because He wanted to do it.  God is our Savior in the sense that He is the author of salvation for us.  Jesus Christ is the agent of salvation for us because he is how God did the saving of us.

Our faith must stand in this truth, that God so loved us that He sent Jesus to be the payment for you and for me. We have no works of righteousness that we can do to save us.  We should be morally good, and strive for virtue in our lives, but this is a response to the saving grace we have received, not a means of gaining eternal life. What a wonderful truth for us to see. 

Do we rejoice in our hearts over the love and grace that God has given each of us?  Where are our joy and rejoicing? 

We should get so excited by God’s love and relationship with us that we will live out the grace that he has called us to. We also are proud to call Jesus Christ our brother and Savior, ready to tell any man or woman about what God has done for all of us.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

The evil kingdom of this world lies to us and tells us that we are helpless, hopeless, broken, and worthless.  The kingdom of God within us tells us that we are loved, cared for, restored to life, and valuable children of the God who created the heavens and the earth. All that happens to us in life must be seen through the reality of this conflict between the two kingdoms. Do not be deceived by the Adversary and his lies.

2 Peter 1:2-4(NKJV) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

We have exceedingly great and precious promises through Christ who brings us to God.  We need to give our hearts fully to God who called us and saved us for His own purposes. 

What has God called you to do?  What are the works of righteousness that God has prepared for you to do?

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The good works of our lives that we do for God are the ones that He has prepared for us to do.  This is acting out our lives with the full agreement that Jesus is our guide, showing us the way to go and lighting the path for our lives.  We need to trust that God has us by the hand guiding our thoughts and our lives towards Him because He loves us. 

This trust does not easily grow because we want to be the ones in charge of our own lives and hearts.  We want to be the god of our lives and have control of everything.  But we need to ask how well does that work out? 

Are you a success by your own efforts, or do you need the Father to show the way to walk?

John 20:30-31 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

We have confidence in our God because we have the history of His faithfulness to His own promises to read about and understand.  When we see God being faithful, it gives us the confidence to let Him guide our thoughts and lives, and not to take back our hearts from Him.

Romans 15:4-6(NKJV) For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When we see that God is able and willing to do all that He has promised in the past, then we will have confidence, meaning, hope and salvation in this world and the promise of life in His kingdom to come.

Reflection Questions above in bold TExt

Prayer:

Father God, we love You and praise You from our hearts.  We are so thankful for all You have done to save us and bring us to You, Father. We thank you for the bread of our need this day, and the promise of our future life in Your kingdom.  Help us to change our hearts and give us the steadfastness of Your love to keep us firm in our lives.  We pray this in the name of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.  

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