01 June 2014
Joshua 18
Isaiah 24
Hebrews 6; 7
“FOR BEHOLD I CREATE …”
Today’s and tomorrow’s chapters in Isaiah [Isaiah 24; 25] contain a powerful message about the climax of human history, yet they are not very often quoted. Chapter 24 ends with “for the LORD of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and Jerusalem and his glory will be before his elders.” [Isaiah 24:23]
The next chapter begins with the reaction of the righteous, “O LORD, you are my God, I will exalt your name for you have done wonderful things …” Humanly fortified cities have become ruins, never to be rebuilt [Isaiah 25:2] and the “cities of ruthless nations will fear you.” [Isaiah 25:3] God has “been a stronghold to the poor … to the needy in his distress” [Isaiah 25:4]
Then a glorious scene opens up, “On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food … he will swallow up death forever and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces … Behold this is our God, we have waited for him … “ [Isaiah 25:6,8,9]. But go back, we jumped over nearly all of Isaiah 24 it speaks of what is to happen before this time of wonder and joy on the earth. It is an extremely frightening picture! Is it about to happen? The chapter started, “Behold the LORD will empty the earth and make it desolate …”
The next verse indicates that all the buyers, sellers, lenders, borrowers, creditors and debtors will suffer. Isaiah 24:3 says, “The earth shall be utterly empty and utterly plundered; for the LORD has spoken this word”. Then we read “the earth lies defiled under its inhabitants” [Isaiah 24:5], “its inhabitants suffer for their guilt” [Isaiah 24:6] and then follows details of the ways in which they will suffer.
Reading further - “The earth is utterly broken … is violently shaken … its transgression lies heavily upon it and it falls and will not rise again” [Isaiah 24:19-20]. This is symbolic language of the heavens and the earth (rulers and people) that now exist being destroyed. But later in Isaiah we will come across a wonderful vision, for God says, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold I create Jerusalem to be a joy … my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” [Isaiah 65:17,18,22] Will you behold these things?
-------
- DC
Thought for the Day
01 June 2014
"When Jesus compared Solomon with the flowers on the hillside at Galilee, he was comparing the beauty of Solomon with the beauty of God. The Bible says that the created things declare the glory of God, and giving glory to God is an essential feature of true worship. There is a sense, therefore, in which the created things worship God by their beauty. And how do they worship? By being true to the law which God has implanted in them. They worship God in the uprising of their blossom, and fruit, and form. They are what God intended them to be, and being that, they give Him glory and He is worshipped in them."
- Dennis Gillett
Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness
Joshua 18:
"And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, how long are ye slack to go into the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you"
The Hebrew for "slack" means to be feeble/faint, what is the antidote to this?
Joshua sends out x3 men from each tribe to go into the land, so that they can then come back and DESCRIBE it, so that it can then be described, allotted and written down.
The scriptures describe the Kingdom to us, and it's different aspects to us, in 100's of verses. What it will be like and the roles the saints will play in it.
We are reminded of the importance of understanding the promises before us in Hebrews chapter 11.
And also Proverbs; "Where there is no vision, the people perish".
As we remember our Lord Jesus Christ today, we are again reminded of the power of a clear vision of what has been promised us:
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God"
Joshua 18
Isaiah 24
Hebrews 6; 7
“FOR BEHOLD I CREATE …”
Today’s and tomorrow’s chapters in Isaiah [Isaiah 24; 25] contain a powerful message about the climax of human history, yet they are not very often quoted. Chapter 24 ends with “for the LORD of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and Jerusalem and his glory will be before his elders.” [Isaiah 24:23]
The next chapter begins with the reaction of the righteous, “O LORD, you are my God, I will exalt your name for you have done wonderful things …” Humanly fortified cities have become ruins, never to be rebuilt [Isaiah 25:2] and the “cities of ruthless nations will fear you.” [Isaiah 25:3] God has “been a stronghold to the poor … to the needy in his distress” [Isaiah 25:4]
Then a glorious scene opens up, “On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food … he will swallow up death forever and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces … Behold this is our God, we have waited for him … “ [Isaiah 25:6,8,9]. But go back, we jumped over nearly all of Isaiah 24 it speaks of what is to happen before this time of wonder and joy on the earth. It is an extremely frightening picture! Is it about to happen? The chapter started, “Behold the LORD will empty the earth and make it desolate …”
The next verse indicates that all the buyers, sellers, lenders, borrowers, creditors and debtors will suffer. Isaiah 24:3 says, “The earth shall be utterly empty and utterly plundered; for the LORD has spoken this word”. Then we read “the earth lies defiled under its inhabitants” [Isaiah 24:5], “its inhabitants suffer for their guilt” [Isaiah 24:6] and then follows details of the ways in which they will suffer.
Reading further - “The earth is utterly broken … is violently shaken … its transgression lies heavily upon it and it falls and will not rise again” [Isaiah 24:19-20]. This is symbolic language of the heavens and the earth (rulers and people) that now exist being destroyed. But later in Isaiah we will come across a wonderful vision, for God says, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold I create Jerusalem to be a joy … my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” [Isaiah 65:17,18,22] Will you behold these things?
-------
- DC
Thought for the Day
01 June 2014
"When Jesus compared Solomon with the flowers on the hillside at Galilee, he was comparing the beauty of Solomon with the beauty of God. The Bible says that the created things declare the glory of God, and giving glory to God is an essential feature of true worship. There is a sense, therefore, in which the created things worship God by their beauty. And how do they worship? By being true to the law which God has implanted in them. They worship God in the uprising of their blossom, and fruit, and form. They are what God intended them to be, and being that, they give Him glory and He is worshipped in them."
- Dennis Gillett
Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness
Joshua 18:
"And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, how long are ye slack to go into the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you"
The Hebrew for "slack" means to be feeble/faint, what is the antidote to this?
Joshua sends out x3 men from each tribe to go into the land, so that they can then come back and DESCRIBE it, so that it can then be described, allotted and written down.
The scriptures describe the Kingdom to us, and it's different aspects to us, in 100's of verses. What it will be like and the roles the saints will play in it.
We are reminded of the importance of understanding the promises before us in Hebrews chapter 11.
And also Proverbs; "Where there is no vision, the people perish".
As we remember our Lord Jesus Christ today, we are again reminded of the power of a clear vision of what has been promised us:
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God"
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