Isaiah 22:1-24:23 ~ Galatians 2:17-3:9 ~ Psalm 60:1-12 ~ Proverbs 23:15-16
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Old Testament - Today in Isaiah chapter 23 we read a message about Tyre. Ancient Tyre was a city on the seacoast of Phoenicia and is still a city today in modern day southern Lebanon. In the days of the prophet Isaiah, it was a major trading center, wealthy and full of corruption. Tyre was also rebuked by the prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Amos, and Zechariah - books that we'll read later this year in the One Year Bible. A good history & overview of ancient and modern day Tyre is at this website link. Below is a map of modern day Lebanon that shows the location of Tyre. And below that is a modern day picture of Tyre's ancient ruins. Some more great images of ancient Tyre's ruins are at this link.
Isaiah chapter 24 today begins 4 chapters of judgment and blessing in the final days! The time of God's final victory over evil. There is some pretty "heavy" stuff to consider about the last days when reading this chapter, to say the least. But, I absolutely love the way the chapter ends - as God's story truly will end as we'll read about more in the book of Revelation later this year - with verses 21 through 24: "In that day the LORD will punish the fallen angels in the heavens and the proud rulers of the nations on earth. They will be rounded up and put in prison until they are tried and condemned. Then the LORD Almighty will mount his throne on Mount Zion. He will rule gloriously in Jerusalem, in the sight of all the leaders of his people. There will be such glory that the brightness of the sun and moon will seem to fade away." Are you looking forward to this moment of the Lord's final victory?
New Testament - Paul's message in Galatians chapter 3 verses 6 through 9 is very good news to the 1st century Gentiles and to you and me today too! "In the same way, "Abraham believed God, so God declared him righteous because of his faith." The real children of Abraham, then, are all those who put their faith in God. What's more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would accept the Gentiles, too, on the basis of their faith. God promised this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, "All nations will be blessed through you." And so it is: All who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith." Do you believe that you can share in the same blessing Abraham received? How? Are you a spiritual descendent of Abraham? Why? What do Paul's words "faith in Christ" mean to you? Is this all very good news to you? Below is a painting from the year 1850 by Hungarian artist Jozsef Molnar of "Abraham's journey from Ur to Canaan":
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Galatians titled "The Cost of Changing Course" is at this link. Below is a great image - nice take off from the "Intel Inside" graphic! - from Galatians 2:20 in today's readings:
Psalms - I like the imagery of Psalm 60 verse 4 a lot - "But you have raised a banner for those who honor you -- a rallying point in the face of attack." I do believe that if we honor God, he will in some profound way "raise up a banner" for us. A banner that will rally and encourage us in the face of attack - in the face of doubt or despair or sickness or just plain old fashioned attack from the Enemy - I believe God will give us a banner of hope. This banner could end up being one of a million different things I think, depending on the circumstances. For me, certainly a banner that rallies me each and every day is God's very Word, the Bible. I believe the Bible is indeed a banner that rallies us in the face of attack... What are some banners in your life that God is providing to rally you in the face of attack? Uh-oh, this whole banner imagery has reminded me of an old childhood song... :) Remember that children's song that goes something like this (over and over and over again...) - "Peter built the church on the rock of our faith. HIS banner over me is love."? What a great simple song! God's love very well should be a banner in our lives!
Proverbs - When I read Proverbs 23 verses 15 & 16 today I felt like God was saying this directly to me - "My child, how I will rejoice if you become wise. Yes, my heart will thrill when you speak what is right and just." Yes, it's true that I do not believe I am wise! Isn't it a Proverb that says something like "be not wise in thine own eyes"? Wise advice... :) Truly, I love the thought of actually someday being wise. On my better days, I seek after wisdom. But I'm not there yet by a long shot. So, I guess today's Proverb seemed to be a bit of encouragement to me from God. Do you believe that God will rejoice if you become wise? Do you believe that God's heart will thrill when you speak what is right and just?
Worship God: Okay, I am having way too much fun with YouTube these days! Based on my Psalm reflection above, I went hunting for my old childhood song "His Banner Over Me Is Love" and found out that this song is alive and well today! I found a ton of great videos of people singing this song, but it came down to 2 videos I just had to share with you. The first video is about 90 seconds long and just incredibly cute as you'll see. The second video is 9 minutes long, but I encourage you to watch it all the way through. And, let me encourage you to participate in this second video. When he encourages everyone to stand up, please do! :) And then try to follow the arm motions of the woman that stands up to his right as they go through the song! So fun! :)
Is God's banner over you? Click here and get under God's banner of love!
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
ISAIAH 23:8, 9
"Who has brought this disaster on Tyre, empire builder and chief trader of the world? The LORD Almighty has done it to destroy your pride and show his contempt for all human greatness."
This makes me think of this passage in Ezekiel:
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.
NOTE:
Whatever the devil uses for evil, God WILL use for good—IF WE CONTINUE TO TRUST JESUS !
PRESS IN, AND PRESS ON !
As Winston Churchill said:
"NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER GIVE UP!"
GALATIANS 3:9
“…And so it is: All who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith."
I like this question:
Do you believe that you can share in the same blessing Abraham received? How? Are you a spiritual descendent of Abraham? Why?
NOTE: MY ANSWER
GALATIANS 3
13
Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified);
14
To the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit.
What does sharing in the faith of Abraham mean?
a. redemption from ALL of the curse of the law, which covers EVERY area of life. The blessing of Abraham is NOT LESS than the curse, but GREATER. Therefore, the blessing of Abraham in Jesus ALSO COVERS EVERY AREA OF LIFE—now on earth and in eternity
b. Receiving the Spirit of God through faith. NOTHING COMES TO US without the personal ministry of the Holy Spirit. THANK GOD !
ROMANS 5
17
For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself]
* REIGN AS KINGS IN LIFE THROUGH THE ONE MAN JESUS CHRIST (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
We are called to reign in life through the Man, Jesus Christ! THANK GOD!
20
But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded,
* GRACE (GOD'S UNMERITED FAVOR) HAS SURPASSED IT AND INCREASED THE MORE AND SUPERABOUNDED,
21
So that, [just] as sin has reigned in death,
* [SO] GRACE (HIS UNEARNED AND UNDESERVED FAVOR) MIGHT REIGN ALSO THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS (RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD) WHICH ISSUES IN ETERNAL LIFE
through Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) our Lord.
THANK GOD THAT GRACE SUPER ABOUNDS!
PSALM 60:4
"But you have raised a banner for those who honor you -- a rallying point in the face of attack."
This makes me think of the very real and encouraging testimony of Martin Luther, a great man of faith. This was one of his comments on part of Galatians 1:1 which reads: "Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?"
“Although I am a doctor of divinity, and have preached Christ and fought His battles for a long time, I know from personal experience how difficult it is to hold fast to the truth. I cannot always shake off Satan. I cannot always apprehend Christ as the Scriptures portray Him. Sometimes the devil distorts Christ to my vision.
But thanks be to God, who keeps us in His Word, in faith, and in prayer.”
The honesty of his struggle and the honesty of his faith in overcoming the struggle is very encouraging!
No matter how hopeless things may feel or look, ALWAYS KEEP BELIEVING GOD! The devil may seem to win a few battles. If so, let those losses become a point of persevering faith. Treat all failure as opportunities to learn to trust Jesus more. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT !
PROVERBS 23:15, 16
"My child, how I will rejoice if you become wise. Yes, my heart will thrill when you speak what is right and just."
As I am getting older and as my father is over 70 years old, I want to leave a godly legacy. I want to be the son who causes my father to lift his head high in honor. I want my father to say: “That’s my boy!” as he talks to others.
Don’t we want the same thing from our heavenly Father? Yes, we do! And, by God’s grace, we can!
For the past few mornings, the radio program “Focus on the Family” has been doing a series of programs about letter writing—sons writing letters to thank and honor their fathers, and their mothers and other family members. The focus was on men honoring fathers and fathers honoring men because sometimes men need more structure and encouragement than women to be open about love and honor.
Take time TODAY to send a letter of honor to your parents. Take time TODAY to BE a letter of honor to your parents—and to your Lord Jesus—in your life!
Vance
Posted by: Vance | September 15, 2007 at 01:46 PM
Galations 2:1-16
I was out of town yesterday, but I want to make two quick points regarding yesterday's Galatian readings.
One is confusing to a lot of Christians and needs to be clarified. The other is deductive reasoning that I am convinced on, but each needs to think about on their own and come to their own conclusions.
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Justifcation
Gal 2:15-16
"We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified."
One needs to be very discerning about Paul's wrtings when he mentions salvation.
In toto Salvation is made up of justification, santification, and glorification.
Here Paul refers to justification specifically.
"Justification speaks of a legal declaration that gives one a right standing before God. It is a one time event. It involves an imputed righteousness of Christ in which we, although we are sinners, are pronounced "not guilty" of sin as in a court of law. We are cleared of ANY charges against us." - from linked article - [caps mine]
Paul here is clearly saying we are "justified" by faith - not works. We are saved, and have the right to go to heaven because of Christ's sacrifice for our sins. Our faith (knowledge, belief AND Trust in Christ) satisfies the demands of the law (with God as judge),and gives God his justice for the sins we commit.
Sometimes Paul just uses the term "salvation" as a process, and he is correct. It is made up of the three parts above. Justification is a one time event, sanctification is the ongoing process of being conformed into the image of Christ that starts right after justification, and glorification is the end result when we are with the Father. When Paul uses the term Salvation in his writings, YOU MUST look at the context of what he is saying to decide if it is one of these parts, or possibly the process as a whole.
Link may help clarify any questions:
http://letusreason.org/OCC1.htm
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Peter and Paul
This one will upset some people, but you need to pray and think about it and make up your own mind.
Gal2:2a
I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.
Gal2:8-9
For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Peterand John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.
Paul three times mentions his apostleship to the Gentiles, and twice that Peter's ministry is to the Jews. There is no ambiguity in the text.
Certainly wherever both preached and planted churches Gentiles and Jews were both present. The distinction between the two ministires is geographical in nature. Paul evangelized in Gentile territories, and Peter in Israel, and places near Israel with considerable Jewish populations.
This brings up the question: How can Peter ever have been the church leader in Rome? Geographically Italy and Rome is Gentile.
I am not denying that Peter ever visited Rome, or perhaps was executed in Rome. However, in my opinion, given Galatians scripture, it is very unlikely that Peter was ever the leader of the Church in Rome.
[More discussion when we reach Peter's writings in the Bible.]
Posted by: John | September 16, 2007 at 10:22 AM
Hello Mike,
Just wanted to say that I very much appreciate your blogs, they make for good Bible studies and I hope you keep it up!
Robert
Posted by: Robert | September 16, 2007 at 02:23 PM
This is Marcia, and just for the record, I did stand up and follow along. Emma would have loved this! :)
Posted by: Marcia | September 16, 2007 at 06:13 PM
Galatians 2:17-3:9
Recap
1) there have been false brethren who teach that you must observe the "law" to please God. You may be saved, but you must be circumcised, eat right things and observe Jewish Holy Days.
2) Peter and Barnabas backing away and wanting no part of a controversy on food at a mixed gathering of Gentiles and Jews.
3) Paul saying, 'I was saved by the cross, and I grow by the Spirit. It has nothing to do with the law - it is of God.
Steve Zeisler (link below) points out that this is a close parallel to John 9 and the Blind man.
The Pharisees insisted that it was there way that was correct. The parents backing away from the controversy, and the blind man saying, 'I don't know what you are talking about - all I know is I was blind and now I see. I was given sight by him and it had nothing to do with what you are talking about.'
http://www.pbc.org/library/files/html/4686.html
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Gal 3:3
"Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?"
Previously (in above post) I talked about justification. Paul is here talking about what goes on in sanctification. The Spirit is in us, and God will change, shape, and mold our lives by the Spirit. We do not proceed on our own, it is of God.
Romans 12:1-3 talks about this. Paul says in 2Cor, 'In Christ I am not the inferior to these super-apostles, but I MYSELF am nothing.'[Caps mine] Abraham was credited righteousness for what he believed, not what he did, and it was centuries before the "law" was given to Moses.
This is not about us, it is about God and His glory. Once saved many Christians, myself included, are tempted to think - now I am "holy", now I can go about God's work. I can win souls, I can do things to please God - to show Him my thanks.
No. God saves souls, not us. God provides us with the works; we do not generate them. It is a very hard line to walk, but the safe path is to pray, admit our need for the Father's work in our lives, and let the Holy Spirit take over. If you do this, abide in Christ, you will be less tempted to fall into "legalism".
Posted by: John | September 16, 2007 at 08:10 PM
I followed the video -- a little late but it was fun. Thanks Mike!
Posted by: Johnnie Ruth Hamill | September 18, 2007 at 05:47 PM
I love your blog site. There are so many inspirational pictures and song. Keep up the EXCELLENT WORK!!
Posted by: Tina Bacon | September 19, 2007 at 12:37 AM
The Galatians passages remind me that we have to ley God forge us. The Spirit refashions us one we believe and follow him. One of the greatest test of faith is when you faith tells you to do something and you want to do something else. Love your enemy or forgive those around you come to mind. I posted on how faith transforms us. That is Life transformed Faith.
Posted by: Ernesto Tinajero | September 16, 2008 at 11:23 AM