Isaiah 25:1-28:13 ~ Galatians 3:10-22 ~ Psalm 61:1-8 ~ Proverbs 23:17-18
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Old Testament - We have great readings in Isaiah today about the judgment and restoration of Israel! Below is a great image for Isaiah 26:9 from today's readings -
I think Isaiah chapter 27 verses 11 through 13 capture the essence of today's readings: "The people are like the dead branches of a tree, broken off and used for kindling beneath the cooking pots. Israel is a foolish and stupid nation, for its people have turned away from God. Therefore, the one who made them will show them no pity or mercy. Yet the time will come when the LORD will gather them together one by one like handpicked grain. He will bring them to his great threshing floor--from the Euphrates River in the east to the brook of Egypt in the west. In that day the great trumpet will sound. Many who were dying in exile in Assyria and Egypt will return to Jerusalem to worship the LORD on his holy mountain."
New Testament - Today in Galatians chapter 3 verses 10 and 11 we read: “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith.”” What is Paul saying here? Why would those who rely on observing the law be under a curse? Do you rely on the law? And, no, I'm not asking about this type of law below... :)
Bible.org's fantastic commentary on today's readings in Galatians titled "What the Law Cannot Do" is at this link. Below is a powerful image for Galatians 3:13 from today's readings -
Psalms - Today we read Psalm 61, which has some powerful verses for us to meditate upon when the storms of life come crashing down upon us. This Psalm reminds us of who is indeed our true Rock – our true Refuge. Verses 1 through 5 are so powerful to meditate upon when you are going through a storm in your life –
“Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
For you have heard my vows, O God;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.”
Do you cry out to God in prayer during the storms in your life? When your heart grows faint, do you call on God’s holy name, and allow him to lead you to his Rock? Do you believe that God can be your refuge? Your strong tower against the foe? Do you long to dwell in God’s house forever? Do you long to take refuge in the shelter of God’s wings?
Proverbs - Proverbs 23 verses 17 & 18 are so applicable to our modern day: "Don't envy sinners, but always continue to fear the LORD. For surely you have a future ahead of you; your hope will not be disappointed." Do you ever find yourself envying sinners? I have on occasion. And what a mistake that is. When we envy sinners, we take our eyes and heart off of God. We are no longer fearing the Lord. I do think we'd do well here also to realize that we ourselves are sinners. And we can likely even envy ourselves - or envy our old ways - or envy our "glory days" in the past that may have been full of sin. Let's not go down this path at all! For surely you have a future ahead of you with God. And your hope will not be disappointed!
Worship God: Psalm 61 today reminded me of the incredible song "Bring the Rain" by MercyMe! I have a hunch this song is blessing countless numbers of people these days! I know it has blessed me. I had a bit of a rough week last week, and one day in particular this song pretty much brought me to tears in a beautiful way. Yep, the storms of life can bring us closer to Jesus if we'll run to Him during those storms! It's called intimacy with God and it is a beautiful thing. So, below is a video of the band performing the song live in a tiny little room! I'd loved to have been in that room worshiping along!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw4cxsqp0PQ
Are you weathering the storms of life apart from God? Click here for your only true shelter in the storm!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe." Galatians 3:22 (NIV)
Prayer Point: Pray that you are no longer a prisoner of sin, because of your saving faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Pray for the whole world to come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, and for the world to be saved of it's imprisonment to sin.
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 25:1-28:13
As I read today’s Old Testament passage, I am brought to the Proverb that states,
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit.
(Proverbs 18:10-11 KJVR)
In today’s reading I am focused on the difference between two means of protection, the use of the world’s natural resources used as a defense to guard households, communities, cities and nations as opposed to those who the name of the Lord, their relationship with God to be their strong tower as stated in the above Proverb.
We take what the creator of the universe, God Himself, has made, claim it as our own, and then use them to both defend and attack others who are using the same resources, as if each groups of people own what belongs to God. Those who have mastered the use of what God has created win the contest, we think. It is only when we are in Christ, under the shelter of God’s wings, in the tower of the name of the Lord where we find safety and protection.
In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: (Isaiah 26:1-4 KJV)
A comment: off-topic, at least today’s topic.
I realize that each one of us have differences in how we were parented and how we parent. Many have great parenting skills because great parents have passed down their skills, techniques and wisdom to the children they have parented. There is also a group of us who have had dreadful parents thus we never attained the skills to parent correctly because we had bad examples of what it means to be a parent. Then there are those in the middle, parented by bad parents but managed to go outside the home to get the tools needed to parent successfully. And there are those who had great parents, but never took the time to observe the lessons taught because they fell asleep at their desk of learning.
Yet no matter if we have experienced the worst and been the worst type of parent; or are on the other end, great parents because we have modeled the great parenting skills of those who raised us, we can never be as good of a parent as God the Father. Unfortunately, we bring our ideas of what it means to be a parent, and thus what it means to be a child of that parent to our understanding of God. Whatever the end of the measuring rod we come from, God is not and cannot be measured and perceived by our flawed image of what it means to be a parent.
My prayer for all those who come to OYB site is that in our reading of the Word, the image of God as Father, the understanding of what it means to father and/or our learning of and about God as the perfect Father will change the way we parent. May we not bring the images of flawed parenting skills in our defining of God; but may we learn not only what it means to be a parent and how to parent from our knowledge of God learned through His scriptures. To be a good parent one must know how to be a good son or daughter to a great parent, and that parent is God.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
Posted by: Ramona | September 16, 2011 at 08:27 PM