August 31, 2011
Isaiah 51:1–8 - "Listen to me, those of you who try to live right and follow the LORD... I will soon show that I do what is right. I will soon save you... My salvation will continue forever, and my goodness will never end. You people who know what is right should listen to me; you people who follow my teachings should hear what I say. Don't be afraid of the evil things people say, and don't be upset by their insults. Moths will eat those people as if they were clothes, and worms will eat them as if they were wool. But my goodness will continue forever, and my salvation will continue from now on."
Isaiah 51:9 - "Wake up, wake up, and use your strength, powerful God." (Psalm 17:13–14 - "LORD, rise up, face the enemy, and throw them down. Save me from the wicked with your sword. LORD, save me by your power from those whose reward is in this life.")
The LORD says, "I am the one who comforts you. So why should you be afraid of those who die? Why should you fear people who die like the grass?" I AM the One! I made the heaven and earth. I AM the One who frees you. I AM the LORD, All-powerful. I AM the LORD your God. Those angry people who troubled you and who wanted to destroy you—where are they now? Those who have been imprisoned will soon be set free. Isaiah 51:11 - "They will have joy and gladness, and all sadness and sorrow will be gone."
Be my witness. "I will give you the words I want you to say. I will cover you with my hands and protect you." I have written beside this: Jane's story—God's story.
We have a choice. We get to decide. Are we going to do what "you want"—OR—are we going to trust God and submit ourselves to His will? That's the choice. There are consequences for what we choose. Choose self—and there is punishment. Isaiah 51:17 - talks about the cup of punishment. (Psalm 75:8 also talk about the cup of punishment.) Isaiah 51:23 - "I will now give that cup of punishment to those who gave you pain, who told you, "Bow down so we can walk over you." They made your back like dirt for them to walk on; you were like a street for them to travel on."
But then God goes on. He says, Wake up! Become strong. You are going to be set free. Shake off the dust and stand up. They had you under their control, temporarily. Free yourself from the chains they put around your neck. Isaiah 52:3 - "This is what the LORD says: "You were not sold for a price, so you will be saved without cost." I just have to repeat what God says, "You were not sold for a price, so you will be saved without cost."
When the Israelites went to Egypt to live it was part of God's plan. There was famine in the land and God was saving them. But the Egyptians/Assyrians were used to getting what "self" wanted and they were threatened by the Israelites. The Israelites might be a stumbling block to what "they wanted" so they put the Israelites into slavery. And God says, "This has happened so my people will know who I am, and so, on that future day, they will know that I am the one speaking to them. It will really be me."
God allows things to happen in our lives for multiple reasons. It may be for the purpose of pursuing those who have wandered away. It may be for revealing Himself to us in new ways. Whatever the reason, it is always for our good. Our responsibility is to search the heart of God to see what it is HE wants us to learn.
In Isaiah 52:11 - God is saying you've been held captive long enough. Now get up. Leave. You will not be forced to run away "because the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will guard you from behind." What a picture. They have been held captive; God releases them; they walk away; they are not leaving and running away in fear; God goes before them to pave the way; God guards their backs while they walk away from those who held them captive. It isn't that the captors decided to let them go, God released them! He led them and guarded them.
God has a long history of being faithful.
Addendum: 5/22/15 ~ Praise the LORD!
Addendum: 8/11/20 ~ Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!
Next Entry: Isaiah 49:1 – 52:12 (Continued)
Isaiah 51:1–8 - "Listen to me, those of you who try to live right and follow the LORD... I will soon show that I do what is right. I will soon save you... My salvation will continue forever, and my goodness will never end. You people who know what is right should listen to me; you people who follow my teachings should hear what I say. Don't be afraid of the evil things people say, and don't be upset by their insults. Moths will eat those people as if they were clothes, and worms will eat them as if they were wool. But my goodness will continue forever, and my salvation will continue from now on."
Isaiah 51:9 - "Wake up, wake up, and use your strength, powerful God." (Psalm 17:13–14 - "LORD, rise up, face the enemy, and throw them down. Save me from the wicked with your sword. LORD, save me by your power from those whose reward is in this life.")
The LORD says, "I am the one who comforts you. So why should you be afraid of those who die? Why should you fear people who die like the grass?" I AM the One! I made the heaven and earth. I AM the One who frees you. I AM the LORD, All-powerful. I AM the LORD your God. Those angry people who troubled you and who wanted to destroy you—where are they now? Those who have been imprisoned will soon be set free. Isaiah 51:11 - "They will have joy and gladness, and all sadness and sorrow will be gone."
Be my witness. "I will give you the words I want you to say. I will cover you with my hands and protect you." I have written beside this: Jane's story—God's story.
We have a choice. We get to decide. Are we going to do what "you want"—OR—are we going to trust God and submit ourselves to His will? That's the choice. There are consequences for what we choose. Choose self—and there is punishment. Isaiah 51:17 - talks about the cup of punishment. (Psalm 75:8 also talk about the cup of punishment.) Isaiah 51:23 - "I will now give that cup of punishment to those who gave you pain, who told you, "Bow down so we can walk over you." They made your back like dirt for them to walk on; you were like a street for them to travel on."
But then God goes on. He says, Wake up! Become strong. You are going to be set free. Shake off the dust and stand up. They had you under their control, temporarily. Free yourself from the chains they put around your neck. Isaiah 52:3 - "This is what the LORD says: "You were not sold for a price, so you will be saved without cost." I just have to repeat what God says, "You were not sold for a price, so you will be saved without cost."
When the Israelites went to Egypt to live it was part of God's plan. There was famine in the land and God was saving them. But the Egyptians/Assyrians were used to getting what "self" wanted and they were threatened by the Israelites. The Israelites might be a stumbling block to what "they wanted" so they put the Israelites into slavery. And God says, "This has happened so my people will know who I am, and so, on that future day, they will know that I am the one speaking to them. It will really be me."
God allows things to happen in our lives for multiple reasons. It may be for the purpose of pursuing those who have wandered away. It may be for revealing Himself to us in new ways. Whatever the reason, it is always for our good. Our responsibility is to search the heart of God to see what it is HE wants us to learn.
In Isaiah 52:11 - God is saying you've been held captive long enough. Now get up. Leave. You will not be forced to run away "because the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will guard you from behind." What a picture. They have been held captive; God releases them; they walk away; they are not leaving and running away in fear; God goes before them to pave the way; God guards their backs while they walk away from those who held them captive. It isn't that the captors decided to let them go, God released them! He led them and guarded them.
God has a long history of being faithful.
Addendum: 5/22/15 ~ Praise the LORD!
Addendum: 8/11/20 ~ Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!
Next Entry: Isaiah 49:1 – 52:12 (Continued)
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