September 13th One Year Bible Readings

Isaiah 12:1-14:32 ~ 2 Corinthians 13:1-13 ~ Psalm 57:1-11 ~ Proverbs 23:9-11
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We wrap up the book of Second Corinthians today!  Paul's letter to the church in Galatia begins tomorrow!

Old Testament - Today Isaiah chapter 12 is a very short chapter.  But it is a wonderful song of praise to God!  Verse 2 reads: “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." How does this verse resonate with you? Do you frequently sing songs of praise to the Lord? Do you trust in God? Are you not afraid? Is God your strength and your song?

In Isaiah chapter 13 we are beginning a new section of the book.  Chapters 1 through 12 were primarily chapters of judgment against the southern kingdom of Judah, as well as some mentions of the northern kingdom of Israel.  Chapter 13 begins 11 chapters of judgment on other nations, beginning with Babylon.  At this time in history (early 700's B.C.) Babylon was still part of the Assyrian empire.  So this oracle from Isaiah was incredible in that it spoke of Babylon's destruction even before Babylon became a world power!  Babylon brought about the downfall of Judah and Jerusalem later between the years of 605 and 586 B.C.   But then Babylon would be conquered by Cyrus the Persian in 539 B.C.  Below is a map of the Babylonian empire from the late 7th / early 6th centuries B.C.  You'll note in this map below that the actual city of Babylon is located in modern day Iraq, about 90 kilometers south of Baghdad.  An interesting quick history of the city of Babylon, along with some pictures, is at this website link.

An interesting commentary I read on chapter 14 verses 12 through 15 is that some think Isaiah is giving a description of the fall of Satan from heaven in these verses.  However, most commentaries seem to say contextually that these verses are about the king of Babylon.  I do see how some could think that these 4 verses could apply to the fall of Satan - ""How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, `I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.' But instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths."  Below is an engraving titled "Satan Falls" by the artist Gustave Dore:

New Testament - I love Paul's words today in Second Corinthians chapter 13 verse 11! "Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Rejoice. Change your ways. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you."   Imagine that these words were written to you.  Are you rejoicing?  Are you changing your ways?  Are you encouraging others?  Are you living in peace?  Is God's love with you this very moment?  Is God's peace with you now?

Bible.org's commentary on today's (and yesterday's) readings in Second Corinthians titled "Paul's Closing Argument, Appeal, and Blessing" is at this link.

Psalms - Psalm 57 verse 8 is amazing - "Wake up, my soul!"  What 4 great words. . . wake up my soul!  Do you ever feel like you need to say this to your soul?  I know that I have in my past.  There have been times in my life where I have felt spiritually asleep.  Just completely slumbering. . .  and I have begged my soul to wake up!  Fortunately, I finally learned that I could not wake up my soul on it's own.  I needed the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to wake up my soul. . .  and being in relationship with our Triune God keeps it awake today.  If you feel that you need your soul to wake up, will you prayer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to indwell your soul and to wake it up?

Proverbs - Proverbs 23 verse 9 is one of those verses in the Bible that really makes you think about your own life - "Don't waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice."  This is very wise advice.  But it is hard advice at times.  I think each of us often will want to give advice to others.  But truly, some people do not want to hear what we have to say - no matter how wise the advice is.  I struggle with this.  I don't want to ever think that I am "wasting my breath on fools"...  That seems so harsh.  But if we do persist in giving wise advice to those that absolutely don't want to hear it, they will end up despising us as this Proverb says.  How does this proverb speak to you?  In any areas of your life, are you wasting your breath?

Worship God: Psalm 57 verse 8's call to the soul to wake up reminded me of the Jars of Clay song "Something Beautiful."  I love the chorus to this song: "Close my eyes and hold my heart. Cover me and make me something. Change this something normal into something beautiful... "

Has God changed your something normal into something beautiful?  Click here for your spiritual makeover!

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!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[Anka]

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.
A messianic jew once explained to me that the hebrew translation of "wings"here is Talith(a kind of shawl worn by jewish men)During a jewish wedding,the bride goes under the talith sigifying she has accepted to submit to her husband and be protected by him.
I guess with all the free will and being believing in your strength concepts around,submitting and taking cover under God's wings may be a daily battle.Sometimes being spiritually asleep feels kind of like being in the eye of a storm at sea...everything seems to be calm yet outside danger looms.May we all learn to let God be God in our lives.
God bless you all

[john b]

thanks for that anka...I have often thought about GODs wings and that Talith sure makes a lot of sense... Oh that we would all submit, or say in our own mind... I am not in charge here... GOD is... That's Ruthless Trust... That the way to peace...

ALMIGHTY KING OF GLORY, GOD KEEP US UNDER YOUR TALITH TODAY... HELP US BE WISE ENOUGH TO STAY UNDER YOUR PROTECTION.. IN JESUS NAME AMEN

jb

[Pat]

Good morning and it is a good morning for this is the day that the Lord has made!
I would like to make a few comments on both today’s readings from Isaiah and Psalms.
Starting with Isaiah, I don’t think when you compare the reading of Isaiah 14:12-15 with Revelation 12:7-9 that the commentaries are correct when they say the judgment just applies just to Babylon. Why? Because when Isaiah was written we didn’t have the gift of Revelation. I think when you read both Scriptures together you can see that these verses in Isaiah actually relate to BOTH Babylon and Satan. I believe that Satan and the demons are real. I believe that there was an actual battle in Heaven and Satan was defeated there and cast down to earth by our Lord God Almighty and that in the final judgment Satan will be cast from earth into the pit of fire for all of eternity and God will rule forever and ever. I believe that Satan is still here with us today and that he works diligently to draw people down his path and away from God. I believe that any person or any nation that follows the path that Satan will be judged and cast down to the pit. I think that the Book of Revelation actually explains the Scripture in Isaiah and allows us to see the consequences from following the path of Satan, consequences that existed from the beginning when Satan showed his true face in Heaven and still exist today and will continue to exist to the final Day of Judgment. I have put both Isaiah and Revelation verses here together to make it easy to compare them. (These are from the NIV translation but I think Lucifer is pointed out even clearer in the KJV translation.)
Isaiah 14:12-15
How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.
Revelation 12:7-9
And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Now for a short comment about our reading from Psalms 57. I dearly love Psalms 57:1! “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” Each of us will face a time of “disaster” when we feel there is no end in sight or no way out of the problems we are facing, but this passage assures us that the disaster will pass! If we hang on and have faith in God, God will open the right door for us, He will take the lemon life has handed us and turn it into lemonade, He will relieve us from the turmoil’s of life and replace them with the joys of life.

God Bless!
Pat

[John]

Anka,

I want to expand on what you said regarding "talith" and wings.

For a messianic Jew:
It is true that symbolically in Hebrew the "wings" are thought of as regarding the "talith". While wearing the prayer shawl, when the arms are outstretched as in prayer or a ceremony (marriage), the talith (a shawl) hangs down and from front or back resembles the "wings" of a bird.

Reminder, in Mal4:2a
"But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings...." NIV

2,000 years ago the people in Israel knew this - so it is no wonder that the sick (that believed Jesus was Messiah) tried to get near Jesus, touch his talith, and be in the protection of His garment.

For an orthodox Jew:
They may disagree. the literal translation of "wings" - Hb. "kanaph" - is wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt,hem of garment...". So they may or may not agree with "talith" idea.

But it still fits. If we go back to Ruth and Boaz, what was Ruth doing in the threshing area? Ruth lay down at Boaz's feet, and asked him to spread his garment (lower portion including "hem")over her.

Ruth was seeking Boaz's protection as the kinsmen-redeemer. Symbolically as the Gentile Church(Ruth)and Christ (Boaz) the Gentile would receive healing (from sin) by being under the garment (wing,hem) of Christ.

2,000 years ago the woman with "blood condition" touched Jesus' garment in faith.

So either way it works - whether you think of it as a prayer shawl, or the hem of a garment - God provides protection and healing.

[John]

Is 13-14

Two pre-points:

Is14:9-10 Whether symbolic or literal - God speaking through Isaiah refutes idea of "soul-sleep" or "annihilation" in afterlife.

Is14:12 "O morning star" (NIV) and "Lucifer"(KJV) is literally "light-bearer" or "shining one". From a Hebrew Root word "to shine". Oh really???? Gives legs to the translation of serpent in Gen 3 being "shining one" and Paul's observation in 2Cor of Satan masquerading as the "angel of light".
======================================================
Babylon, Assyria, Philistines

Pat mentioned some differing views by commentators, and there are many. Here are some observations I had:

Babylon:
I do not believe Isaiah is refering to a historical (as we see it) destruction of Babylon. I believe it is to come. the question is: is it literal or symbolic?

Is13:19-20
Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms,
the glory of the Babylonians' pride,
will be overthrown by God
like Sodom and Gomorrah.

She will never be inhabited
or lived in through all generations;
no Arab will pitch his tent there,
no shepherd will rest his flocks there. NIV

Babylon was captured and destroyed by man's subterfuge - nothing like fiery demise of Sodom and Gomorrah. People still live in the area,animals are still around, etc.

In fact, and this really irks the "metaphor" prophecy people, there are big plans to rebuild Babylon and make it a tourist center. And surprise surprise - The U.N. is involved!!!!

["Ancient Babylon, celebrated as a fount of law, writing and urban living, sits just outside the modern city of Hilla, about 100 kilometers, or 60 miles, south of Baghdad. Hilla is neither haunted by Sunni insurgents nor overwhelmed by Shiite militia and, while it is home to both Shiites and Sunnis, it has not been afflicted by the sectarian violence that has paralyzed so many other parts of Iraq.

Emad Lafta al-Bayati, Hilla's mayor, has big plans for Babylon. "I want restaurants, gift shops, long parking lots," he said. God willing, he added, maybe even a Holiday Inn.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is pumping millions of dollars into Babylon and a handful of other sites. It has even printed a snazzy brochure to give to wealthy donors. "Cultural tourism could become Iraq's second biggest industry, after oil," explained Philippe Delanghe, a United Nations official helping with the project."]
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/04/13/news/babylon.php
(reprint of original article in NYTimes that requires login/password)

So maybe Babylon will eventually be the center of the AntiChrist's operations in Tribulation, and Isaiah is referring to its literal final destruction. (Put me in this camp:)

Combine this with the idea of:

Symbolically it would represent the world's political and religious structure - thus satan would be its titular head. This might be why God through Isaiah included the verses that Pat accurately refered to as being about satan (IS14:12-15). So that God would totally (and literally) destroy the "world" (represented by the HQ of Babylon)that satan had developed??????
======================================================
Assyria

Fulfilled in near-term of Isaiah.

Tougher to explain in long term, because the empire no longer exists. Unless you look at "the Assyrian" as being symbolically the "anti-christ". Quite a few bible scholars make this association. I am just throwing it out there but notice the pronoun references to Assyria in IS14 are in the singular.

So while it may symbolically refer to anti-christ there will be a literal defeat of "same" in the tribulation.
======================================================
Philistines

Fulfilled in near-term.

Not even going to attempt a long-term here, will do it later in Isaiah.

[Cheryl]

" with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation". I just think this is a beautiful verse. I have been pondering it all day- every sip of water i have taken all day has had me thinking about the miracle of water and baptism(we had a baptism in church on sunday too) and drinking from the "well of salvation."

[Romayne]

Amen and amen to all of that. WOW is there some awesome teaching on this site today from everyone here. Sadly, I'm in the midst of a physical battle (no doubt with Satan!) in my health, and between the difficulties I'm experiencing and the volume of drugs I'm on makes it tough to think straight, so I'm appreciating receiving from the site more now than providing any thoughts of my own. Appreciate you all in the time you give to write your views. BLessings, Romayne

[Jan]

Regarding this verse:
Isaiah 14:12-15
How you have fallen from heaven, O "morning star," son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.

I find it odd that satan is referred to as the morning star also (as Jesus is called the Morning Star too)!!!

jan

[Vance]

ISAIAH 12

2
See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The LORD GOD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation."
3
With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! 4In that wonderful day you will sing:
"Thank the LORD!
Praise his name!
Tell the world what he has done.
Oh, how mighty he is!

5
Sing to the LORD,
for he has done wonderful things.
Make known his praise around the world.
6
Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy!
For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you."

ISAIAH 14
12
"How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world.
13
For you said to yourself, `I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north.
14
I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.'
15
But instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths.
16
Everyone there will stare at you and ask, `Can this be the one who shook the earth and the kingdoms of the world? 17
Is this the one who destroyed the world and made it into a wilderness? Is this the king who demolished the world's greatest cities and had no mercy on his prisoners?'

** MY COMMENT:
These verses in Isaiah 14 remind me of Ezekiel 28:11 – 17 (Amplified). In my studies, both of these passages are referring to the fall of the devil, Satan:

Ezekiel 28:11 – 17 (Amplified)

** NOTE in these verses in Ezekiel how the prophet is speaking about the human king of Tyre, and then shifts to speaking about a heavenly being.

11
Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
12
Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre and say to him, Thus says the Lord God: You are the full measure and pattern of exactness [giving the finishing touch to all that constitutes completeness], full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13
You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, the carnelian, topaz, jasper, chrysolite, beryl, onyx, sapphire, carbuncle, and emerald; and your settings and your sockets and engravings were wrought in gold. On the day that you were created they were prepared.
14
You were the anointed cherub that covers with overshadowing [wings], and I set you so. You were upon the holy mountain of God; you walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire [like the paved work of gleaming sapphire stone upon which the God of Israel walked on Mount Sinai].
15
You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until iniquity and guilt were found in you.
16
Through the abundance of your commerce you were filled with lawlessness and violence, and you sinned; therefore I cast you out as a profane thing from the mountain of God and the guardian cherub drove you out from the midst of the stones of fire.
17
Your heart was proud and lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I lay you before kings, that they might gaze at you.

Pride is such a deceiving attitude. I have heard it said, and I agree with it: “People who are deceived do not know they are deceived—because they are deceived.”

That sounds humorous, but it brings up a sobering reality: How can we know truth?

May that question shake us out of complacency! We have SO MUCH to be thankful for here in America! However, I ask myself this question today: Am I ardently seeking the Lord… or am I depending on my own limited human wisdom?

2 CORINTHIANS 13

5
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.
6
I hope you recognize that we have passed the test and are approved by God.
7
We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. We pray this, not to show that our ministry to you has been successful, but because we want you to do right even if we ourselves seem to have failed.
8
Our responsibility is never to oppose the truth, but to stand for the truth at all times.
9
We are glad to be weak, if you are really strong. What we pray for is your restoration to maturity.

12
Greet each other in Christian love. All the Christians here send you their greetings.
13
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

MY COMMENT:
These verses fit well within making sure that we are not deceived. Believe me, an angel, directly in the Manifest Presence of God, can fall from the Lord as in Ezekiel 28:17 (Amplified): “…Your heart was proud and lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.”

If that is so, we who are a little lower than God
** (Psalm 8:5, Amplified
below)
and who are created to bear His image on the earth can be deceived. We MUST guard our hearts!

PSALM 8:5 (AMPLIFIED)
5
Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor.

NOTE: Without grace, all our strivings are worthless! It is grace that leads us, equips us, and strengthens us in HOLINESS.

Titus 2:11, 12 (Amplified)

11
For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.
12
It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,

What a calling! May we truly enter into the SUBSTANCE of the GLORY of God!

Vance

[Patsy Ray]

I believe that Isaiah 14:12-15 refers both to the fall of Satan and the fall of Babylon, it is not an either/or situation. When you read the scripture in Isaiah and compare it to Luke 10:17-18 and Revelation 12:7-9 when the scripture was definitely talking about Satan, then it appears that Isaiah is saying that Babylon followed the pattern establish Satan and just as Satan was and will be forever cast down so will Babylon be cast down.

Isaiah 14:12-15 “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit."

Luke 10:17-18 “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name. He (Jesus) replied, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”

Revelation 12:7-9 “And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”

The lesson we learn from our study is Isaiah is that any person or any nation who patterns their inner being after that of Satan instead of Christ is going to fall just as Satan is going to fall.

God Bless!
Patsy Ray

[John]

Jan,
"I find it odd that satan is referred to as the morning star also (as Jesus is called the Morning Star too)!!!"
======================================================
Kind of complicated, but the Hebrew is:
"heylel ben shachar yalal"

1) "heylel" - occurs once and appears to be a label or name. I believe Jerome in the Latin translated it "Lucifer". However when you take it to its Hebrew roots it has the essence of 'shining (one), boastful praise, madness and fool'. This would certainly be appropriate for an angel created by God that rebelled against God with the sin of "pride".

Applying "morning star" to satan in this verse seems a stretch for me. Morning stars (plural) are referred to in Job 38:7 and there is an appropriate Hebrew literal expression "boqer kowkab" (morning stars) that clearly refers to angels.

So "heylel" used only once would again seem to be a label (name) encompassing the characteristics of the root word - ergo - not "morning star".

The idea of "shining or brightness" would be consistent with Paul's description of satan as the "angel of light" in 2Cor.

2)"ben shachar yalal" is literally "son of the morning (dawn) howling". Huh? I think it can be looked at as "son" being a characterization/existing from the morning (that is dawn or beginning) and "howling" describes his reaction when being thrown out of heaven to come and rule on earth until Christ comes back.

So the whole phrase can be paraphrased - 'shining one, existing from the beginning (of creation) howling (when thrown out of heaven).' It is just an elaborate (poetic) way of describing this "being".

"Morning star" for Lucifer just does not work for me.
======================================================
Jesus on the other hand is not of the group of morning stars - but the Bright Morning Star or "the" Morning star" as in being pre-eminent. He was not created but existed in the Trintiy with God always.

I believe you know enough Scripture to know this is supported in the biblical text.

So "morning star" is a descriptive name or title for Jesus, but as a singular name - I do not believe it is ever correctly applied to satan, other than in the beginning he was in the group of "morning stars" found in Job 36:7.

[Sharon]

Proverbs 23 reading really spoke to me yesterday,I always want to help or offer a suggestion that might or would help someone. I really enjoy your post each morning since i requested your add as a myspace friend. I am praying and seeking God for His leading as to what He would like me to do with the rest of my life. I am at the "crossroads of my life" so to speak,I am 49 years old,my 3 daughters are grown now and i get such joy from helping other people. May God continue to use you to bless others.