Isaiah 45. Every Knee Will Bow.

Posted on by richlyspeaking
Everyone will bow to Jesus, who walked along this shoreline of the Sea of Galilee.

Because of the importance of Israel and its people, and my personal love for The Land, I’m inviting you to join me through the key Old Testament book of Isaiah.  Each day I’m posting some simple thoughts about this complex prophet.

Isaiah 45.

This chapter opens with what some commentators suggest is a continuation of the last verse of chapter 44. We see that someone named Cyrus is called His anointed. And we ask, “Is he talking about King Cyrus or maybe Jesus? Most agree this is a prophecy about King Cyrus, written 150 years before Cyrus led the Jews out of captivity and even helped them build the temple in Jerusalem! How did Isaiah know?

Then the prophet pivots to again using “I Am” statements. Four of those are “I Am the LORD, and there is no other.” You think he repeats it four times for emphasis?

Nothing is more important in our lives than our relationship with God through Jesus. He alone will sustain and provide. He alone is our joy! And, like God used Cyrus, He uses all kinds of things and people and circumstances to meet our needs and bring us peace and joy!

Key to those who live in Israel today and are waiting for Messiah: “But Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced to ages everlasting.” (v 17, NIV).

And then there is this celebratory conclusion:

“Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, ‘In the LORD alone are deliverance and strength.’ …All the descendants of Israel will find deliverance in the LORD and will make their boast in him.” (v 23-25, NIV).

See why the words of Isaiah are so important to Israel?! The people of The Land will find their salvation, their deliverance, their strength in God alone! And, because there is only One True God, their salvation will also be found only in Jesus from Galilee!

If you’re new to this journey through Isaiah, you can start here.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald.

Isaiah 44. The LORD is the Source of Your Life.

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Because of the importance of Israel and its people, and my personal love for The Land, I’m inviting you to join me through the key Old Testament book of Isaiah.  Each day I’m posting some simple thoughts about this complex prophet.

Isaiah 44.

We start with a promise that was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, in Acts, Chapter 2: “I will pour my Spirit into your descendants and my blessing on your children.” (v3, MSG). Can we live today without the Holy Spirit? Not at all! God has blessed us with His Spirit. That’s a direct answer to this prophecy!

Isaiah continues to speak about the greatness of God, quoting God himself. Again, as in chapter 42, there are lots of “I Am” statements, which are really big deals.

That’s why Jesus raised so many eyebrows when He used the phrase “I Am…” in the Gospel of John. Only God is the great “I Am.” And how could Jesus, a man, also be God? The Pharisees who challenged Jesus found out at the resurrection, the Son, the Messiah, is also God!

Isaiah also takes note of the eminence of God in comparison to idols made with mere human hands. There is God. Then there is the polar opposite: an idol made of wood. The same wood used to cook your dinner can be fashioned into something one might worship? “How can anyone be stupid enough to trust something that can be burned to ashes?” (v20, CEV).

And it causes me to ask, “What man-made object am I trusting in?” I might not worship money, but do I trust it to provide security for my future? Or do I truly trust only God? Are there things in our life that consume more of our energy than the Lord and serving Him?

“I am the LORD. The source of your life and I have rescued you!” (v 24).

He is worthy of our worship. He is worthy of our praise and our complete trust! Let everything in all of Creation praise the Almighty.

“Tell the heavens and the earth to start singing! Tell the mountains and every tree in the forest to join in the song! The Lord has rescued his people; now they will worship Him.” (v23, CEV).

If you’re new to this journey through Isaiah, you can start here.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald.

 

Isaiah 42. God Will Guide Us.

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Because of the importance of Israel and its people, and my personal love for The Land, I’m inviting you to join me through the key Old Testament book of Isaiah.  Each day I’m posting some simple thoughts about this complex prophet.

Isaiah 42.

“I am God. That’s my name. I don’t franchise my glory.” (v8, MSG).

There is so much in that statement.  “I Am.”  His name is our life and breath. You’ve likely heard how “I Am” is often translated “Yahweh.” When you pronounce “Yahweh” in Hebrew it can sound like breathing. “Yah. Hey. Wey. Hey.” Each breath we take is a gift from the great I Am. There is none like Him. Look around. God created all of this.  He is the only One who deserves our praise, our worship. He is the One we give our lives to. He is the One True God. There is no other.

“Sing to God a new song, sing His praises over all the world… make God’s glory resound; echo His praises from coast to coast. ” (v10, 12 MSG).

This God who reigns in Glory, whose praises are sung from sea to sea and mountaintop to mountaintop, this God doesn’t merely sit on a giant throne somewhere demanding our homage. No, look at this:

“I’ll take the hand of those who don’t know the way, who can’t see where they’re going. I’ll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country. I’ll be right there to show them what roads to take, make sure they don’t fall into the ditch. These are the things I’ll be doing for them— sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute.” (v16, MSG).

Yes, LORD, guide us. Lead us by your Spirit. Show us your ways. Show us which roads to take. Thank you that you are a personal God who is always with us, protecting us, never leaving us.

If you’re new to this journey through Isaiah, you can start here.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald.