September 22nd readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Isaiah 39:1-41:16 ~ Ephesians 1:1-23
Psalm 66:1-20 ~ Proverbs 23:25-28

Old Testament - Today in Isaiah chapter 39 we read about Hezekiah receiving envoys from Babylon.  Unfortunately, he is a bit too hospitable with these envoys.  He believes showing off his wealth will prove that he has worldly power and that the Babylonians will respect him and Judah.  Isaiah sees that Hezekiah is relying on worldly wealth and not God, and Isaiah delivers a word from God that Judah will be exiled to Babylon  Indeed, this comes true in 115 years in the future from when Isaiah delivers this word in this chapter.  We will read more about the Babylonian exile later in this year’s One Year Bible readings.  How about us, in our lives today – do we try to impress people with our worldly wealth or toys or stuff, like Hezekiah was trying to impress the Babylonians?  And further, do we actually try to rely on this worldly stuff rather than rely on God?

You'll notice that our readings in Isaiah today take on a new tone in chapter 40.  Isaiah chapters 1 through 35 were prophesies against Judah and Jerusalem, chapters 36 through 39 were prophesies against Assyria and a foretelling of the rise of Babylon, and now in chapters 40 through 66 we will be reading about Judah and Jerusalem as if the Babylonian exile was nearly over.  This week in Isaiah chapters 40 & 42 we will read some amazing prophecies about Jesus. (I get chills reading some of the verses in these chapters realizing they were written in the 8th century B.C. . .)  Do you see a foretelling of John the Baptist today in chapter 40 verses 3 through 5 – "Listen! I hear the voice of someone shouting, "Make a highway for the LORD through the wilderness. Make a straight, smooth road through the desert for our God. Fill the valleys and level the hills. Straighten out the curves and smooth off the rough spots. Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together."

New Testament - Today we begin Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus!  The map below shows where Ephesus is located, as well as other churches Paul wrote his epistles to -

~ Ephesians ~
Author: Paul the apostle
Place: Rome
Date: A.D. 60 or 61
Content: Paul wrote this letter while a prisoner in Rome, his purpose being to comfort and encourage the believers in Asia Minor. He presents them with an overview of history, beginning in eternity past where God worked out his plans for the world, moving to the present where God is saving those who believe in Christ, and then to the future where all evil will be overcome. He points out that in the present there will be great conflict because our battle is with the forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12), but because we are members of Christ’s body, we have the power to withstand. Paul then deals with practical matters relating to living the Christian life: marriage, behavior, parents and children, and servants.
Theme: The basic idea in Ephesians is that God’s eternal plan is being worked out through Christ and his body, the church. When a man believes, he is in Christ and finds salvation and safety. God had planned for this from all eternity and has given to the believer everything that he needs for his Christian life, but it is for him to avail himself of the resources at his command. Paul closes the book by describing the provision that God has made for the believer so that he may withstand the worst of Satan’s attacks and when the battle is over, to be victorious. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 26)

More great commentary on Ephesians is at this link -
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=483

There are so many amazing verses in Ephesians chapter 1 today!  I love verse 18 - "I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people."  How does this verse speak to you?  Is your heart flooded with light today?  Do you believe that your heart can indeed be flooded with light so that you can understand your wonderful future in Christ?  I love this imagery of our hearts being flooded with light!  Let God's light flood us today!

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Ephesians titled "The Hope of Glory" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 66 verses 1 & 2 are awesome!  "Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is."  Do you tell the world about how glorious God is?  How do you do this?  Think these kids below might be singing & shouting joyfully to God?  Think there is anything we might be able to learn from these kids?  :)

Proverbs - Proverbs 23 verse 26 today is fantastic - "O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes delight in my ways of wisdom."  Can you imagine God saying this Proverb to you?  What does it mean to give God your heart?  How does one do this? Have you fully given God your heart?  Are your eyes delighting in the ways of God's wisdom?

Comments from you - What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

Isaiah 39 (NKJV)
1
At that time Merodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered.
2
And Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.
3
Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?” So Hezekiah said, “They came to me from a far country, from Babylon.”
4
And he said, “What have they seen in your house?” So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”
5
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:
6
‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the LORD.
7
‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”

NOTE:
The Geneva Study Bible has this note on verse 6:

“By the grievousness of the punishment is declared how greatly God detested ambition and vain glory.”

John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible has this comment on verse 3:

“. . . in the time of [King Hezekiah’s] distress and illness he could sent for [Isaiah the prophet], but now being well, and in prosperity, he forgot the prophet, to send for him, and have his advice, how he should behave towards these men, as not to offend the Lord”

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary has this comment:

“Hezekiah showed his treasures and armour, and other proofs of his wealth and power. This was the effect of pride and ostentation, and departing from simple reliance on God."

"He also seems to have missed the opportunity of speaking to the Chaldeans, about Him who had wrought the miracles which excited their attention, and of pointing out to them the absurdity and evil of idolatry.”

“What is more common than to show our friends our houses and possessions? But if we do this in the pride of ours hearts, to gain applause from men, not giving praise to God, it becomes sin in us, as it did in Hezekiah.”

Isaiah 40 (NKJV)
1
“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” says your God.
2
“ Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.”
3
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “ Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4
Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth;
5
The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

NOTE:
I truly thank God for His everlasting covenant that He initiated with Abraham, that He Himself will keep.

God is the only One Who can ensure His covenant is fulfilled, and God is the only One Who can ensure that we keep His covenant.

Even now, though the godly King Hezekiah had sinned and even though the people of Israel had sinned—God’s purposes will not be thwarted and His promises will be fulfilled:

a. “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” says your God. “ Speak comfort to Jerusalem”

b. “The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Isaiah 40 (NKJV)
11
He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.
12
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?
13
Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or as His counselor has taught Him?
14
With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way of understanding?
15
Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales; look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.

NOTE:
These wonderful verses only highlight more the amazing glory and majesty of Who God is. Human words fail for me at this point.

Also, these excellent verses highlight God’s grace.

Note I Corinthians 2 (NKJV):
15
But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” [Isaiah 40:13] But we have the mind of Christ.

Note the cross reference between this verse in I Corinthians 2 and Isaiah 40:13. This only highlights God’s grace even more.

May we take the time to ponder this. This truly shows me that the Spirit of Christ is within those who have repented and have yielded their lives to Christ as Lord and Savior.

Christ was—and is—a real Person, and as such, He has his own mind.

May we make a point to spend quality time with the Lord in prayer, worship, and prayer.

Then, the wonderful gift of the “Spirit of Christ with His own mind” can rule, guide and enable us to do His will.

Then, and only then, can we fulfill the commandment of our Lord:

John 13 (NKJV)
34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Isaiah 40 (NKJV)
28
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
29
He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.
30
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,
31
But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

NOTE:
This chapter is so wonderfully rich! I need to create a new human word and then explain the definition to people in order to express the wonderful grace of God!

The Creator God actually stoops down to help us—so why would we possibly refuse?

Isaiah 41 (NKJV)
15
“ Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, and make the hills like chaff.
16
You shall winnow them, the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; you shall rejoice in the LORD, and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

NOTE:
What a wonderful privilege we have in prayer and intercession to shape nations.

Of course, we have no power inherent within ourselves. Yet, because we have the actually Spirit of Christ within Who has His own mind, Christ Himself can guide us how to pray.

And Christ will always answer His own prayer.

The entire Godhead, then, is part of this process:

The Spirit of God always prays according to the will of the Father, and the Father God hears the prayer of the Spirit and always answers. Also, Christ—resurrected bodily in glory—is also praying at the right hand of the Father confirming and agreeing with the prayer of the Father and the Spirit. (Romans 8)

If we are in tune with the Godhead through prayer, worship and praise—then this wonderful promise that Jesus made to us can come true:

John 15 (NKJV)
7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Also, then, there is this most excellent promise, spoken by the authority of our Lord Jesus Himself:

Matthew 18 (NKJV)
19
“Again I say [Again, assuredly, I say] to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

We on earth and the Godhead agree. Spirit guided prayers accomplish God’s ordained will!

Ephesians 1 (Amplified Bible)
17
[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,
18
By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),
19
And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,
20
Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places],
21
Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.
22
And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church],
(Psalm 8:6)
23
Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].

NOTE:
This is excellent confirmation by the Spirit to us of our wonderful position in Christ that God has graciously granted to us. We are created to reflect the glory of Christ in our every day lives.

May we truly see: "what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe"

We can only do this as God Himself through His Spirit grants us His wisdom and revelation of what He Himself has given us.

To keep us from falling into pride as King Hezehiah did, we will always need to—and we want to (through grace)—always seek the Lord and be dependent on Him.

Psalm 66 (NKJV)
5
Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.

NOTE:
All I can say is a hearty, “AMEN” !

Vance

[Ramona]

Isaiah 39:1-41:16

Every time I read the 39th chapter of Isaiah I get upset. Hezekiah shows no understanding that God is a God of generations. There is no concern about his on off-spring. He is a I got mine, now you get yours. When his life was on the line, he turned his face to the wall and prayed for his life. When his children’s life is on the line he can only say, "This message you have given me from the LORD is good." But the king was thinking, "At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime." (39:8). When the Assyria was “knocking” at the door using intimidating words, the Lord your God, a statement made to Isaiah quickly become the Lord my God.

How much of this unconcern for the next generation is infused within our church’s. How many of us are sacrificing our children so we can say, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime?

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. (Pro 13:22)

The inheritance we leave for our children should never be a negative one it should be one that secures their spiritual future.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Oriane]

(Ephesians 1:17-20)"....I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms"
This verse really resonates with me today. That the power of Christ live in the believers...the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. Great verse to meditate on! Something we tend to take for granted as christians. We are blessed with God's strength to empower us in our christian walk and give glory to His name. Today I praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit and for the free gift of Salvation.