Blessed to be a blessing

David Chadwick recently gave a message about gleanings and giving from our abundance. He said the only reason he could think that God has blessed him so much, is so he can use his blessings to be a blessing to the nations. That’s the picture I get in our reading this week, specifically in Isaiah 16. This chapter is in a series of judgments against the nations for their terrible treatment of Israel and their rejection of God. The chapter focuses on the people of Moab, but it has surprises.

Let’s look at vs. 3-5, “Give counsel; grant justice; make your shade like night at the height of noon; shelter the outcast; do not reveal the fugitive; let the outcast of Moab sojourn among you; be a shelter to them from the destroyer. When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land, then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David, one who judges and seek justice and is swift to do righteousness.”

You’re probably asking, who are the Moabites? And where is this discussion going? According to Genesis, the Moabites were relatives of the Israelites, both peoples tracing their descent back to a common ancestor, Terah. The Moabites originate from Moab, who is Lot and his daughter's son (Genesis 19: 37). The story of Ruth testifies to the existence of friendly relations between Moab and Bethlehem, one of the towns of the tribe of Judah. By his descent from Ruth, David is said to have Moabite blood in his veins. He committed his parents to the protection of the king of Moab (who may have been his kinsman), when hard pressed by King Saul (1 Samuel 22:3,4). But, here all friendly relations stop forever and there was tension for the rest of their history.

In this passage, the Jews are called to reach out to their relatives and show them mercy. Somehow this grace is connected with the kindness of God coming to Judah in the form of the Messiah. In other words, there is a direct connection between our showing grace to others and our hearts expanding in love for God and his work. (I guess the story about the Grinch is right.) Jesus said, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Well here’s the Old Testament story to illustrate that very well. But, the question is how am I blessing others with what God has given me?

Tips for Reading - (Observation tip # 9)

Note: This section is help for Bible Reading in general. It has been building throughout the year under the topics of Observation (what the Scripture says), Interpretation (what it means) and Application (what it means to your life). Feel free to look back over past weeks to get the whole picture.

When did this happen?

We are making our way through the “W’s” Now, lets deal with the question of time. WHEN? When did this event take place? When did it occur in relation to other events in Scripture? When was the writer recording the event? In short, always determine what time it is.

The Passover is a good example of why we need to look at time. How long was Israel enslaved? We know that some of Israel’s darkest days came when they were enslaved. God used these tough times to make them ready for rescue. They went through a long period of having land and now they are about to lose it. So, how would you describe the times of the people listening to Isaiah speak of Judgment? We can learn so much just by simply asking “when?” It takes a little time and investigation, but the return in understanding is well worth it.

Notes from David’s Journal

As you read these chapters (and others in the Old Testament), you will see a continual reference to “The Day of the Lord.” These are days when God shows his awe-inspiring Lordship over creation, especially godless enemies doing warfare against God’s will. We see these “enemies” in Isaiah in the nations of Syria, Assyria and Babylon. That’s why Isaiah (and other prophets) predicts a “day of the Lord,” when God intervenes for his people and relieves them from the yoke of bondage from these nations.

However, in understanding the Bible, we need to realize there is an immediate and future “day of the Lord.” The “immediate” is the day when God overthrows an earthly oppressor from his children. The future day is the assurance of one day, in the future, God will judge all nations and people throughout human history in a final conflict, a final judgment. Christians believe that day will be when Jesus returns and eradicates evil finally and forever from this earth.

When you read about the “day of the Lord” in these chapters and others, it should give us all the absolute assurance that evil does not win, that God is sovereign and justice will one day conquer all. It should put our hearts at peace.

God is sovereign. God is in control. We should therefore fear nothing.

The Good News

I know you have heard the phrase, “You had to be there.” Someone tells a joke, and you don’t understand what was really funny and they tell you, “you had to be there.” That’s at least a bit of the feeling I get as I read this section of Scripture. This is one of the passages we read at Christmastime to remind us of the good news that God sent a Messiah to redeem the world from their sins and to offer salvation through trusting in this gift. “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) But, there is context to this passage that is different than we normally take in.

Two chapters before this, God sends Isaiah to King Ahaz and offers a sign of deliverance for the Southern Kingdom, Judah, from the Assyrians, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign, Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.” (7:14) Ahaz, using pious language, refuses to trust God and this sign. As a result, he is bringing judgment upon his people.

In our passage this week there is a warning of judgment and an offer for rescue still in view, but this time it is aimed at the Northern Kingdom of Israel (which is also called Ephraim or Samaria). God continues to ask, “What will I do with a people who will not seek me even in a situation of social collapse and threatening devastation?” Ultimately, the answers will be destruction for the Northern Kingdom in 722 B.C. and a major ransacking for the Southern Kingdom in 701 B.C. all by the hands of Assyria.

So, in this backdrop, the verses that had fulfillment in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, and the one’s we read to bring us hope today have a bigger punch. I think it shows that we, as a people of God, are always more needy than we think and that God’s grace in the midst of our craziness is more radical and restorative than we know. It is really good news.

Tips for Reading - (Observation tip # 8)

Note: This section is help for Bible Reading in general. It has been building throughout the year under the topics of Observation (what the Scripture says), Interpretation (what it means) and Application (what it means to your life). Feel free to look back over past weeks to get the whole picture.

The question “where” gives a location perspective. Just like we looked at last week the family of faith is really out of faith and facing destruction. So, a key question to get perspective is where is this narrative taking place? Where are the people in the story? Where did they come from? Where have they been living and where are they going? Where is the writer? Where were the original readers of this test?

The question “where” is the reason we have maps in the back of the Bible or in Bible Atlases. It is to show where the Biblical events took place. You can trace on the map all the places we see the characters of the Bible visit. This is definitely a blind spot for someone from our culture because most of us have never been to these places. The more you understand the geography of the story, the more you will get out of it.

Notes from David’s Journal

In looking at Isaiah 8-14, I would especially draw your attention to chapter 9. It is one of the most famous prophetic chapters in the Bible, with clear focus on an upcoming Messiah entering the world. Examine some of the most known verses:

-vs. 2: “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.” Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” He came into the sin and darkness of this world to give us light regarding how to walk now and the path home. Without His light, how can we even find the path?

-vs. 4: “For you will break the yoke of their slavery.” For Christians, this is Jesus who breaks the power of the yoke of our sin. Galatians 5:1: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free, no longer to be under the yoke of slavery.”

-vs. 6: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.” This child is Jesus, from conception to birth the long-awaited Messiah.

-vs. 6: “The government will rest on his shoulders.” All the governments of the world will be under His authority and His authority alone.

-vs. 6: “And he will be called wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” All these names of Jesus are still being used by Him and for Him today!

-vs. 7: “His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne and his ancestor David for all eternity.” Jesus is from the lineage of King David. Jesus’ reign will never cease. He is Lord of the universe forever!

When one reads these verses and realizes they were written by Isaiah, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit 600 years before Jesus ever came, not only does one believe the Scriptures are divinely inspired, but we want to fall on our faces and worship Jesus even more.

To Him belongs all the glory forever!!

Recipes for Love - Forgiveness

A song by Don Henley of the Eagles says, “The Heart of the Matter is Forgiveness,” and I believe he is right about that. Like David Chadwick says, “The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart.”

About 2,800 years ago my good friend Isaiah said the same thing (I call him a good friend because he is my favorite prophet). “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord; though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be a white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

This sounds like a positive, uplifting book you might be saying to yourself. Well, remember we have just finished reading 2 Kings and have witnessed this story first hand. Isaiah’s prophecies are contained in 2 Kings. The first chapter of Isaiah shows that the people of Judah have fallen away from God, “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.” (Vs. 2)

The pictures in this chapter are desolation, cities on fire and foreigners devouring. Isaiah has seen it first hand; he knows what he is talking about. In 701 B.C., Judah was invaded by the Assyrian armies led by Sennacherib and experienced this kind of tragedy.

But, just as the beginning paragraph suggests, forgiveness and restoration are always offered. You might be tempted to say, since we just read the end of 2 Kings and saw the people attacked and ultimately dispersed, that there is no hope. But that would be a wrong assumption as long as God is in the mix. Forgiveness is offered for every individual, no matter his or her situation in life, and corporately for Israel there is a future restoration. Look at Isaiah 1: 27, “I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning, Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness.” This implies a future for the people of Israel.

One last note, when Isaiah experiences God’s cleansing in Chapter 6, he immediately offers his service to help others know forgiveness. If we have met the good graces of God’s love, we must pass that mercy on to others. And that would be a key ingredient in the recipe of love.

Tips for Reading - (Observation tip # 7)

Note: This section is help for Bible Reading in general. It has been building throughout the year under the topics of Observation (what the Scripture says), Interpretation (what it means) and Application (what it means to your life). Feel free to look back over past weeks to get the whole picture.

Why

We’ve asked the question “who?” and explored some of the “what.” Now, let’s look at “why?” which really gets to the heart of things.

We may not always be able to come to a definite answer every time, but asking why helps us to see the purpose behind the actions we are reading about.

Sometimes I will even just write “WHY?” in the margin of my Bible and allow God to unpack an answer as I continue reading.

One of my big why’s in this week’s reading is, why does God show mercy to those who have wronged him? It seems that the people have chosen against God over and over and yet He promises a restoration. (Of course, this is the very compassion that I desperately need.)

Here is another why? Why does God use a seraphim to cleanse Isaiah? Or why does the truth spoken to these people dull their hearts and blind their eyes? Am I like that? Why?

Notes from David’s Journal

Isaiah begins a study in the Old Testament of the prophets. It is the longest prophetic book. Isaiah is speaking to the southern kingdom over almost five decades. His teachings are powerful and relevant, filled also with prophetic teaching about the coming of Jesus, almost five hundred years in the future.

As you read the first two chapters, I’d like to ask you to get a feel for Isaiah’s understanding of the holiness of God. His deep respect and reverence for God, especially as he is in God’s presence is astounding. He notices all the angelic hosts crying out God’s holiness.

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray in Matthew 6, he taught us to begin with an understanding of a loving Father, but also One who is holy, different than we are. We always run a risk of trying to make God our Buddy and forget He is also transcendent, different than we are, holy.

The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This “fear” is not cowardice but a holy reverence for God. That is where salvation begins. When we realize how holy God is, and how sinful we are, that’s when we seek for One who can save us. Of course, for Christians, that “One” is Jesus.

“Holy is the Lord”. Isaiah helps us like no other Biblical figure to understand this truth.

Leaving a Legacy: Love God’s Word

If you want to know how fast a nation can move from God fearing and scripture knowing to complete apathy and ignorance, just look at our readings this week. We are 75 years removed from the devastation of Israel in the north and the great reformation that Hezekiah led in the south, and there is no sign of godliness again. (Doesn’t this sound like some aspects of our culture today?)

Upon this scene comes the last serious attempt at moral and theological reformation in the Kingdom of Judah. King Josiah leads the reformation and the key is finding commitment to the word of God. “And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord…When the King heard the word of the Book of the Law he tore his clothes…then the king sent and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were gathered to him. And the king went up to the house of the Lord and with him all the men of Judah…and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the Covenant.” (2 Kings 22:8,11; 23:1-2)

Josiah hears the truths from probably Deuteronomy and changes are instituted. On every front where he could effect change, Josiah brought the nation into line with the Law of God. He reinstituted the Passover and pulled down altars to other gods and put away the mediums and necromancers. In other words, Josiah left a legacy of being submissive to the Scriptures and what God had commanded.

Someone once said the church is never a generation away from apostasy and oblivion. Are we living our lives committed to the truths of the Scriptures so that we leave a legacy for the next generation of a love of God’s word?

Tips for Reading - (Observation tip # 6)

Note: This section is help for Bible Reading in general. It has been building throughout the year under the topics of Observation (what the Scripture says), Interpretation (what it means) and Application (what it means to your life). Feel free to look back over past weeks to get the whole picture.

Key People doing WHAT?

Hopefully this idea of observation is becoming second nature to you. We will work on observation a few more weeks before moving to interpretation. In the meantime, we are building our detective skills.

Last week we focused on people in the text. Moving on, our next observation question is What? What is happening in this text? (Plot) What is the order of the plot? (Sequence) What happens to the characters? (Character Development)

If it’s a passage that argues a point, what is the argument? What is the point? If there is a problem, what is the issue? What’s missing? And the biggest question of all, what is the writer trying to communicate? All of these are just observations. You have to see what’s there before you can even answer the question. Using a journal to bombard the text with these types of questions can bring about amazing answers that you never dreamed of.

Take time to answer some of these questions about Josiah’s time as King. Talk to someone else about what you saw. That is the fun of doing this together.

Notes from David’s Journal

I love King Josiah. He is another example of a good and Godly king who helped retard moral decay and allowed Israel to receive blessings from God.

The story is really interesting. Josiah commands a search of the Temple archives for anything interesting to help him lead. What is found is a copy of the “Book of the Law,” the Old Testament Scripture. In reading it, Josiah discovers all the promises from God that he would bless obedience and judge disobedience (particularly found in Deuteronomy 28 and 29).

Josiah’s heart for God expanded and grew. He told the nation that he would lead a commitment to obey the Book of the Law. Revival broke out nationwide. People everywhere made this same commitment. They fell on their faces, starting worshiping God with passion and committed themselves to obedience. And, God started blessing the nation.

The Book of the Law for us today is God’s Word, the Bible. I think God is ready and willing to bless a people who makes Him their one true God but also commits to obey Him in every way. Jesus taught in John 15 that blessed are those who not only love Him but obey His commands.

The Bible is God’s Word. It’s given to us to read, study and also obey. It increases our love for God and our faith in Him to be able to do all things.

I pray for a similar kind of revival among God’s people and His Church today. But, it will only happen when we reclaim our love for, belief in and obedience to God’s Holy Word.