Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Bible Scripture Reading Tuesday 3 January 2012

"Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 3 January 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Red As Scarlett, White As Snow"
Today Scripture Reading: Isaiah 1:1-31
Today's Key Verse: Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like Scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

CHAPTER 1 SUMMARY

Little is known about the prophet Isaiah, but his striking literary gifts suggest upper class birth and education.  Isaiah pictures the southern kingdom of Judah as ungrateful children rebelling against their parents.   Verses 2-4 serve as a "great arraignment" of the chosen people., who have become corrupt and backslidden. The prophet calls them back to obedience to God.  "The Holy One of Israel," is Isaiah's favorite designation for God.  It appears 25 times throughout the Book of Isaiah. 

The nation of Judah is described after a severe beating and is not merely ill.  The desolation described was familiar to the prophet, who lived through several invasions in his lifetime.  Isaiah pictures the nation of Judah as having suffered a brutal assault and being virtually left for dead. The very small remnant refers to the true believers for whose sakes God would yet spare the land. 

Isaiah addressed the people of Judah as if they were the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. His criticism of their hypocritical religion should not be taken as a reflection of the divinely ordained sacrificial system. Rather it is a condemnation of their superficial worship.  The nation of Judah was merely going through the ritual of religion with no real heart for God.  Vain oblations are worthless offerings.  The very prayers of the unrepentant will be rejected even today as it was in the day of Isaiah.

The prophets appeal to come and reason together reveals God's gracious invitation to all men.  Scarlet and crimson were shades of red drawn from the same source, the crushed body of an insect.  Isaiah chose the image not because of the color, but because this was the most securely fixed dye then known.  Nothing could remove that color from cloth.  Isaiah thus says God can do the impossible and that He stands ready to cleanse and forgive all who will turn to Him.

The concluding verses of Chapter 1  is supplementary to the rest of the Chapter. It looks forward to the millennial kingdom when Jerusalem will again be restored as God's faithful city. In verse 24 it uses three different divine names for God: (1) Lord (Adon) (2) LORD (Yahweh) (3) Mighty One of Israel (Abir Yisrea'el). In closing spiritual sickness (sin) can be healed only by forgiveness and a restored relationship with the Lord.  

Today's Hymn: "Jesus Paid it All" (verse 1)

I hear the Savior say, "thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me, thine all in all."
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, as we begin a study of the Book of Isaiah, I pray that you will open the minds, hearts, and eyes whoever reads these Words from Your Holy Word,
whether they be in the United States, or in another Country.  If Father there is anyone who does not know You as the Only True, Living, and Almighty God it is my sincere prayer that they will come to You for that forgiving Grace and that there sins be as scarlet and though they be red like crimson they shall be white like snow and shall be as wool.  Thank you Jesus for shedding Your blood on the Cross of Calvary that washes us of all our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.       Amen

Today's Biblical Truth: "God can forgive us, based on the payment for sin, in the death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 

Clink on the link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for Today's Bible Verse from Philippians
4:8-9.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord Our God with Gladness. Love God More Today.  Pray for our Brothers and Sisters who are being persecuted for their Faith and Trust in Jesus Christ.  Also Pray God's Blessings on the Nation of Israel.  Always remember that when you have a spiritual dilemma in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T,"  GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

"The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows his handiwork." Psalm 19:1

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi


      

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