Category: God’s attributes revealed

Isaiah, What a book! Thank You Lord for Revealing Yourself to Me

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I have been blogging though Isaiah since February 20, two days before the beginning of Lent, until August 31. It has been an experience like no other. If I had thought to do this, I would not have attempted it, but God brought me to it and through it. I decided to go back and reread my blogs and see what impression I had of the entire book from all the pieces. Here are a few things I gleaned:

God keeps His promises about Jesus whether you are looking at his mission, purpose, places, happenings, etc. They are all true. Many were fulfilled when Jesus came but there are some remaining about His return and reign that we can be assured will be true even though they are future to us. We can trust God to fulfill them just as He promised because He has proven Himself trustworthy 100% on all He has given to us. God also included His promises to save, support, comfort, affirm or always have a remnant of believers present. Isaiah is a book filled with God’s promises. Here are a couple for you to review about Jesus. Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 53:3 “He was despised and rejected by mankind,  a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Here are a couple of promises to claim today. Isaiah 40:27-30 “He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.30 Even youths grow tired and weary,  and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord  will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,    they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 49:16 “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;  your walls are ever before me.”

God’s character is revealed in Isaiah as in no other book. Here is a list of attributes I found and I know I missed some. I was so encouraged by this list! God’s glory is revealed in Jesus. God is Eternal, Powerful, Ruler of Heaven and Earth, Creator, Sovereign, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Redeemer, Savior, foundation of our faith, the One and Only God, Holy, Faithful, Merciful, Defender, Just, unfailing in His Love, Restorer, Zealous, Righteous, Father, Prince of Peace, Peace loving Wonderful Counselor and He grieves over our sinfulness. God is the one and only unique God who loves and bestows compassion, mercy, justice, peace, care, help, guidance, faith, joy, hope and rest upon us. I was so amazed at how much I learned or had affirmed about God- who He is and what He does. How much He loves and cares for me and desires that I follow Him. May these words remind you of whom we worship. Isaiah 40:22-28

25 “To whom will you compare me?    Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,    not one of them is missing. 27 Why do you complain, Jacob?    Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord;   my cause is disregarded by my God”?
28 Do you not know?    Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God,   the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary,    and his understanding no one can fathom.

Isaiah is also filled with God’s grief over the sins of His people. He points out their rebellion (and ours too) and beckons them to return to Him. He is longsuffering and desires a relationship with us. Isaiah 1:2- 4 “Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth!  This is what the Lord says: “The children I raised and cared for  have rebelled against me. 3 Even an ox knows its owner,
    and a donkey recognizes its master’s care—but Israel doesn’t know its master.    My people don’t recognize my care for them.” 4 Oh, what a sinful nation they are—    loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people,
    corrupt children who have rejected the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel
    and turned their backs on him.

What can I take away from this study? God is reliable and keeps His promises. This is a great comfort to me and assures me that my present and future are secure!

God’s is unchanging and I can depend upon His character. His attributes comfort, uplift and guide me. I don’t need to doubt as He is consistent generation to generation. He is unchanging, Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” and Hebrews 6:18 “So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.”

God grieves over my sin and desires a relationship with me. Isaiah 1:18-20 “Come now, let’s settle this,”    says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet,  I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson,   I will make them as white as wool. 19 If you will only obey me,
    you will have plenty to eat. 20 But if you turn away and refuse to listen,
    you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies.     I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Lastly, the phrase that is repeated over and over in Isaiah is God the Holy One of Israel. God’s holiness is seen in contrast to the rebellion and sinfulness of the kings and their people. The way they treated one another and had no respect or love for God is laid out before them. Isaiah does not hold anything back as God is brutally honest and truthful about their sin. We can learn from this and seek Holy God. Come to Him in humility realizing our sinfulness. Isaiah 66:2 God reminds us:

My hands have made both heaven and earth;
    they and everything in them are mine.
    I, the Lord, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts,
    who tremble at my word.”

I pray you were blessed by this study.

Linda

Important facts about God

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In Isaiah Chapters 61 and 62, the prophet us a glimpse into God’s love for the city of Jerusalem. He had dwelt in the temple and was present with the people for years. He had left because of their rampant sinfulness but God cherished this city. You can hear the grief in scripture over the destruction of the city that was to come at the hands of the Babylonians. He wanted the exiled Jews to know it was destroyed because of their sinfulness. God wanted to reassure them that He loved Jerusalem and would see it restored and redeemed. He refers to the city as ‘her’ and promises restoration.

Isaiah 62:1-4 “Because I love Zion,
    I will not keep still. Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem,   I cannot remain silent.
I will not stop praying for her  until her righteousness shines like the dawn,
    and her salvation blazes like a burning torch.
2 The nations will see your righteousness.    World leaders will be blinded by your glory.
And you will be given a new name by the Lord’s own mouth.
3 The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see—
    a splendid crown in the hand of God.

The word pictures of shining, blazing, new name and splendid crown speak of God’s love for this city.

Not only does God love His city, He also loves the people who live within. He promised believers a savior to redeem and purify them.

Isaiah 62:12-13 “The Lord has sent this message to every land:
    “Tell the people of Israel,
‘Look, your Savior is coming.
    See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’”
12 They will be called “The Holy People”
    and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.”
And Jerusalem will be known as “The Desirable Place”
    and “The City No Longer Forsaken.”

In Chapter 63, Isaiah continues to be reminded of the past, recalling their sins. However, he does not focus upon these facts but proclaims the goodness of God. Keeping the right focus is everything!

Isaiah 63:7-8 “I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love.
    I will praise the Lord for all he has done.
I will rejoice in his great goodness to Israel,
    which he has granted according to his mercy and love.” 8 He said, “They are my very own people.
    Surely they will not betray me again.”
    And he became their Savior.

Why is this perspective important? We can see those things that are important to God. The place where God dwells is sacred. In the Old Testament it was in the Tabernacle and then in the Temple. In New Testament times it is within the heart of the believer! God expects us to treat His dwelling place with honor and respect. We are to strive to keep His ways within us. We also see that God loves the believer and rejoices over, claims and seeks to cover them with mercy and love. God considers us His very own!

Just like how God did not give up on the children of Israel, He will not give up on each of us. He seeks to love and bestow mercy and love lavishly upon each of us! Praise God! Thank you Jesus!

Linda

Precious Promises from our Savior

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Isaiah 61 is a chapter filled with encouragement from the coming Messiah. The believers could read it and be filled with hope at his coming. We can read it and know that He is real and the things He promises will come to pass providing a future filled with love, protection, fulfillment and justice. In verses 1-3 we see a picture of what Jesus did for us and continues to do for us through faith in Him.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
    for the Lord has anointed me Jesus preached to the poor in spirit-
    to bring good news to the poor. the good news of salvation.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
    and to proclaim that captives will be released Faith in Jesus brings comfort and freedom
    and prisoners will be freed. from the bondage of sin.
2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn
    that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, Jesus brings comfort to those who
    and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. mourn over their sins.
 To all who mourn in Israel,
    he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, Sorrow of sin will be turned to gladness in Christ.
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
    festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks Through Jesus’ righteousness we will
    that the Lord has planted for his own glory. mature and bring Him glory.

As the chapter continues, Messiah promises hope: verses 3,7 use the word instead of____

 3 instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor. 7 Instead of your shame
    you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
    you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
    and everlasting joy will be yours.

In addition to these promises God says in verse 8, “For I, the Lord, love justice;
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
    and make an everlasting covenant with them.“

What do these verse teach us about God? He loves us and desires to provide for us abundantly. He desires to turn sorrow into gladness. He desires go give us a double portion and provide us with everlasting joy! God loves justice and will be eternally faithful to us who love and trust in Him. What a marvelous God in which we can put our faith and trust! We are so blessed.

Isaiah 61:10 concludes this chapter and is the perfect response to God’s blessed provision for us. I delight greatly in the Lord;
    my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

May your heart be filled with His glorious promises.

Linda

Unshakable with God!

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After telling us to not be afraid in Isaiah 54:4-5, the Lord explains the brief punishment the Israelites will suffer. It may have seemed to them that God was abandoning or turning His back on them. Isaiah 54:7-9

“For a brief moment I abandoned you,
    but with great compassion I will take you back.
8 In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while.
    But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
    says the Lord, your Redeemer. 9 “Just as I swore in the time of Noah
    that I would never again let a flood cover the earth,
so now I swear
    that I will never again be angry and punish you.

It may seem to you too, that you are being abandoned, and are not loved and cared for by God. But God promises that He loves us with an everlasting love. He makes promises to us that He alone can and will keep. God keeps all of His promises! See how God concludes this conversation in verse 10.

“For the mountains may move
    and the hills disappear,
but even then my faithful love for you will remain.
    My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”
    says the Lord, who has mercy on you.”

God promises no matter how things appear His faithful love remains placed upon us. His word and His new covenant through Jesus will not be broken. He always has love and mercy for us.

What do we know about God’s love and mercy? His Love– In Ephesians 6:16-18 Paul explains God’s love to the Ephesian Christians, “ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” Psalm 23:6 by King David, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” From Daniel in Daniel 9:4, “I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands.” His Mercy– It is God’s decision who will receive His mercy. Romans 9:15-16 explains God’s position. “ For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose,  and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” 16 So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.” Mercy and love are part of God’s character, attributes of His, Psalm 86:15 “But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” We can ask God for His mercy. David repeatedly asks God for mercy as in Psalm 25:16 “Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress.” In Daniel 9:8, Daniel pleads for mercy for the nation of Israel who were in captivity in Babylon, “O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.” Paul explains in Ephesians 2:4-5 how God’s mercy towards us led to our salvation, “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)’

Isaiah 54:10 is a verse we can claim and hold onto in our lives. No matter what is happening around us we can count on God’s love and mercy. He delivers on His promises!

Linda

Good News from God Brings Hope and Joy

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Before we get into the 4th and final song about Messiah, I cannot skip the beautiful words of Isaiah 52:7-12. Isaiah is excited about the coming return of the Jews to Judah, after their time of captivity, and it foreshadows Christ’s 1st and 2nd coming. The immeasurable joy and hope that the returns bring are mirrored here.

“How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,
the good news of peace and salvation,
    the news that the God of Israel reigns! Just as the people await the messengers with battle news in ancient days, similarly they are to wait expectantly for the return from captivity and the coming Messiah.
8 The watchmen shout and sing with joy,
    for before their very eyes
    they see the Lord returning to Jerusalem. The arrival will be greeted with great joy and rejoicing. They will see it for themselves!
9 Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song,
    for the Lord has comforted his people.
    He has redeemed Jerusalem. When they return from Babylon, they will find things in ruins but their comfort will come from the Lord. They will see the hope and possibilities in it.


10 The Lord has demonstrated his holy power
    before the eyes of all the nations.
All the ends of the earth will see
    the victory of our God. The miraculous return to Jerusalem by the Jewish captives was only something that could have been provided by God’s hand. He caused Cyrus the ruler of Persia to look favorably on the Jews and provide them what they needed to return and rebuilt. Similarly, Jesus’s coming to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday just as prophesied and his ultimate return at the end of the age are provided by God alone. 11 Get out! Get out and leave your captivity,
    where everything you touch is unclean.
Get out of there and purify yourselves,
    you who carry home the sacred objects of the Lord. They were to return for their fresh start with hope in their hearts and carrying the sacred objects that Nebuchadnezzar took when they were taken into captivity. God had preserved them from the time they were taken until Cyrus ordered them returned! 12 You will not leave in a hurry,
    running for your lives.
For the Lord will go ahead of you;
    yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind. When God is directing our pathways, we do not need to run in fear for we have His promise that He is with us 24/7, ahead and He also has our backs!

I pray these images from our promise keeping God remind and encourage you today that He is with us always, He has our backs, He had a plan for the Jews who languished in Babylon and He has a plan for us. He will not forget us because we are His. Reflect on belonging to Him. Psalm 100:3 “Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his;  we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.“

Linda

Isaiah-Song #3 Servant’s Obedience

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Song #1 introduced God’s Messiah as the chosen Servant in Isaiah 42:1-9, Song #2 spoke of Messiah’s mission in Isaiah 49:1-13, Song #3 today speaks of Messiah’s obedience in Isaiah 50:4-11 and #4 to come will talk about Messiah’s suffering in Isaiah 52:13-53:12.

The Lord’s Obedient Servant Isaiah 50:4-11

4 The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom,
    so that I know how to comfort the weary.
Morning by morning he wakens me
    and opens my understanding to his will.
5 The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me,
    and I have listened.
    I have not rebelled or turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat me
    and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard.
I did not hide my face
    from mockery and spitting. The servant to come would be obedient and responsive to God unlike the Israelites. He listed and offered himself for suffering at the hands of men. These actions point to the fulfillment in Matthew 27:26 and 30 by Jesus. “So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.” 30 And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it.”

7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore, I have set my face like a stone,
    determined to do his will.
    And I know that I will not be put to shame.
8 He who gives me justice is near.
    Who will dare to bring charges against me now?
Where are my accusers?
    Let them appear!
9 See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side!
    Who will declare me guilty?
All my enemies will be destroyed
    like old clothes that have been eaten by moths! We are reminded here of the resoluteness of Jesus as shown in Luke 9:51 “As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” Later in prayer he became resolved to the Father’s will. Luke 26:42-46 “Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

10 Who among you fears the Lord
    and obeys his servant?
If you are walking in darkness,
    without a ray of light,
trust in the Lord
    and rely on your God.
11 But watch out, you who live in your own light
    and warm yourselves by your own fires.
This is the reward you will receive from me:
    You will soon fall down in great torment. Isaiah ends this song with a warning. If you fear the Lord and walk with Him, you will see and experience the Light His light shown to the world in Christ Jesus. It calls for trust and reliance upon God. If you seek to live by your own power and light, beware as your rewards will lead you to great downfall and eternal death. Remember Romans 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” and Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The suffering of the Obedient Servant of God, Messiah, Jesus Christ, would be great. This suffering is further shown in the 4th Song of the Suffering Servant. During this Season of Lent, let us reflect on the suffering of our Lord Jesus and sing a song of praise to Him for all He accomplished on the cross and to God the Father for vindicating Him by raising Him from the dead. Victory in Jesus!


Linda

I love this old hymn- it never disappoints. I smile as I consider the victory I have in Jesus.

3 Mighty Verses from Isaiah 49! (My Opinion)

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As I mentioned yesterday Isaiah 49 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. After the song about the coming Messiah, God enclosed some precious gems to encourage the Israelites and all who believe in Jesus. God wanted to assure the Israelites that He would not forget them, and He will not forget us either.

Isaiah 49:15-16 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
    and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
    I will not forget you!
16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls are ever before me. Just like a mother cannot forget her child, so God cannot forget us. He has us engraved in the palms of His hands and He is always in front of me protecting me. What a fabulous image for us as believers. We can know and be assured that God knows us, our needs and is always holding us close. This image is one I call upon for strength and assurance as who would engrave something on your hand that you did not love? The engraving is permanent and He cannot and will not get ‘rid’ of us. I love John 10:28 “ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Nothing can remove us from the grasp and hold of Jesus! Praise God!

In Isaiah 49:23 God is speaking about the future and how God will restore the nation of Israel and the world will know that He is God. Look at the end of this verse in particular.

Kings will be your foster fathers,
    and their queens your nursing mothers.
They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground;
    they will lick the dust at your feet.
Then you will know that I am the Lord;
    those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” As God revealed Himself further in history, we can see for sure that He alone is God, the Sovereign one. We can be assured that putting our faith and hope in Him will not leave us disappointed. This is a promise we can cling to. God does not disappoint, ever! Perhaps we can’t see the reason for things happening the way they do, but God knows and we can trust Him in all things. We know from Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,” and Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” that God is good and desires to care for us and provide for us a future filled with hope. We can know from Psalm 16:6 “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” that God has drawn His boundaries in our lives in places to fill us with hope and beauty. Be assured of this wonderful promise from God’s Word and believe that hope in Him will not disappoint!

The last verse that speaks loudly to me is Isaiah 49:25. God is affirming that He will avenge the Israelites and see them returned to Jerusalem. The last portion of this verse gives me hope for my future and that of my children.

25 But this is what the Lord says: “Yes, captives will be taken from warriors,
    and plunder retrieved from the fierce;
I will contend with those who contend with you,
    and your children I will save. God promises to fight for us. When we are standing for Him, He will be with us, beside us and engage in the fray. I am reminded of God’s promises in Deuteronomy 32:43 “Rejoice, you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies  and make atonement for his land and people.” and Hebrews 10:30-31 “ For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” God promises to avenge wrongs done to us and protect us. We need to trust Him and leave the timing to Him. When He says it and He will do it! God also promises to save our children- keep on praying that they will turn to Him. He is here and will save them if they will call upon Him. Romans 10:13 “for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” and Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Keep on praying!

Remember: God has you engraved on the palms of His hands. He will not forget you! He will not disappoint. He will fight for you! He will save all who call upon Him. Such precious promises!

Linda

Second Song in Isaiah about Messiah

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The second song about the Messiah to come is included in Chapter 49 verses 1-13. It speaks of Messiah’s character as a servant and his purpose in coming. This chapter of Isaiah is one of my favorites as it has some special verses that speak to me personally. First let’s look at Song #2.

The Lord’s Servant Commissioned

49 Listen to me, all you in distant lands!
    Pay attention, you who are far away!
The Lord called me before my birth;
    from within the womb he called me by name.
2 He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword.
    He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.
    I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver. Here Isaiah uses symbolic language of the sword and arrows. Both the Messiah will use to show and execute judgement.

3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel,
    and you will bring me glory.” The coming Messiah will be the perfect servant bringing glory to God where the nation of Israel had failed.

4 I replied, “But my work seems so useless!
    I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.
Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand;
    I will trust God for my reward.” Just as the nation of Israel has failed so will the Messiah seem to fail as he meets opposition during his time here on earth. The reward mentioned here refers to the reward of all believers both Jews and Gentiles who will be vindicated by Messiah’s work on the cross.

5 And now the Lord speaks—
    the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant,
    who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.
The Lord has honored me,
    and my God has given me strength.
6 He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.
    I will make you a light to the Gentiles,
    and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” Israel was brought back from Babylon at God’s request. The coming Messiah will restore the people to God and will open up salvation to the Gentiles. It is like the message from Jesus in John 8:12 “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” and John 9:5 “But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

7 The Lord, the Redeemer
    and Holy One of Israel,
says to the one who is despised and rejected by the nations,
    to the one who is the servant of rulers:
“Kings will stand at attention when you pass by.
    Princes will also bow low
because of the Lord, the faithful one,
    the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” Messiah would be the despised and rejected one by the nations. 1 Peter 2:4 ” As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—” Luke 17:25 “But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” Isaiah 53:3 “He as despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”

8 This is what the Lord says: “At just the right time, I will respond to you.
    On the day of salvation I will help you.
I will protect you and give you to the people
    as my covenant with them.
Through you I will reestablish the land of Israel
    and assign it to its own people again.
9 I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’
    and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’
They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures
    and on hills that were previously bare.
10 They will neither hunger nor thirst.
    The searing sun will not reach them anymore.
For the Lord in his mercy will lead them;
    he will lead them beside cool waters.
11 And I will make my mountains into level paths for them.
    The highways will be raised above the valleys.
12 See, my people will return from far away,
    from lands to the north and west,
    and from as far south as Egypt.” Messiah will bring salvation, restoration, help and a renewed covenant. He will be a shepherd to the people, a light, one who brings freedom, and He will satisfy their needs. He will guide them and walking with Him will be like being beside cool waters. He will lead them with mercy and hope.

13 Sing for joy, O heavens!
    Rejoice, O earth!
    Burst into song, O mountains!
For the Lord has comforted his people
    and will have compassion on them in their suffering. With the Messiah there will be rejoicing in heaven, and He will bring great comfort and compassion for the people in their suffering.

The language of the song is very poetic in nature but much could be confirmed about the coming Messiah and then was affirmed by Messiah’s life and mission.

Jesus executed judgement on sin and yet brought healing and forgiveness to sinners. Jesus was rejected and despised and yet would provided the light of life for both Jews and Gentiles. Jesus brought healing, guidance, hope and renewal to all who would listen and follow him. Jesus brought compassion on all who came to him and treated them with mercy. What a beautiful song of praise and hope to all who awaited Him. What a glorious reminder of who Jesus is and what he accomplished for us. Christ is the Holy one, the Only one, who can Save us.

Linda

Only God Could Do This!

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Do you believe that God has power over nations and governments? Isaiah 44:24-28 gives us proof that God knows who governs by name and can use powers on earth to affect His people for good. These prophesies were given hundreds of years before they occurred in history. When Isaiah wrote them during the reign of Hezekiah and the captivity of the Israelites by Babylon was in the distant future.

Isaiah 44:24-28 This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer and Creator:
“I am the Lord, who made all things.
    I alone stretched out the heavens.
Who was with me
    when I made the earth? God is the Creator.
25 I expose the false prophets as liars
    and make fools of fortune-tellers.
I cause the wise to give bad advice,
    thus proving them to be fools. God exposes false prophets.
26 But I carry out the predictions of my prophets!
    By them I say to Jerusalem, ‘People will live here again,’
and to the towns of Judah, ‘You will be rebuilt;
    I will restore all your ruins!’ The prophesies of God’s prophets are always true.
27 When I speak to the rivers and say, ‘Dry up!’
    they will be dry.
28 When I say of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,’ God will use Cyrus, the future leader of Persia.
    he will certainly do as I say.
He will command, ‘Rebuild Jerusalem’;
    he will say, ‘Restore the Temple.’”. God will cause Cyrus to order the people returned and the temple rebuilt!

Amazing! God was going to use a pagan king, an unbeliever, to restore the Jews to their homeland of Canaan and then have the temple rebuilt. This story is given in Ezra 1:2-4, “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! 4 Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”

A short while later King Cyrus added to this decree of letting the people return to rebuild, Ezra 6:3-5, “In the first year of King Cyrus’s reign, a decree was sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem. “Let the Temple be rebuilt on the site where Jews used to offer their sacrifices, using the original foundations. Its height will be ninety feet, and its width will be ninety feet. 4 Every three layers of specially prepared stones will be topped by a layer of timber. All expenses will be paid by the royal treasury. 5 Furthermore, the gold and silver cups, which were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar from the Temple of God in Jerusalem, must be returned to Jerusalem and put back where they belong. Let them be taken back to the Temple of God.”

Not only did God provide for the people’s to return to their homeland, but He had neighbors contributing to their expenses. God had all the treasured articles taken from the temple by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon returned with them!

I love this amazing story of God’s provision in the face of total opposition. The Jews were held in captivity for 70 years and then God arranged for their release, money to travel and settle back home and for His temple to be rebuilt. Only God could foretell of this event and then carry it out exactly.

May the power of our God motivate you to cling to Him and His promises today. What He says He will do! God keeps His promises.

Linda

God is the ONE and ONLY!

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How often do you need to be reminded that God is God and that there is no other! The people of Israel were reminded of this truth repeatedly by the prophets God sent. Isaiah is taking up this task in Isaiah 44:6-8 after he has just given them a word of hope and love from God in Isaiah 44:1-3.

“This is what the Lord says—
    Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;
    apart from me there is no God.
7 Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it.
    Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
    and what is yet to come—
    yes, let them foretell what will come.
8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
    Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?
    No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

Truths you can know for certain from these verses:

  1. God Alone is God. There is no other and He is Sovereign., verse 6.
  2. God was there at the beginning and will be there at the end, verse 6.
  3. He is Omniscient. He knows all: past, present and future, verse 7.
  4. God is a rock- solid, stable, the foundation of my life, verse 8.
  5. God is unique. there is no other like Him, verse 8.

What problems are you having today that cannot be known, addressed, solved, or helped by Omniscient, Sovereign God? NONE. What doubts do you have that cannot be solved if committed to God Almighty? NONE David attested to his in Psalm 86:8 “Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.” The prayer in Jude 24-25 sums it up, “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” To whom else can we pray? God is God and there is no other like Him!

May these truths about our loving, merciful and all-knowing God bring you comfort and courage as you face today!

Linda