"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus for 4 May 2012"
Today's Blog Title: "Israel Assured of God's Help"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Isaiah 41:1-29
Today's Blogs Key Verse: Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
"The righteous man from the east" is certainly a reference to Cyrus the Great of Persia (558-529 B.C.), though He is not named until Isaiah 44:28.. He is introduced as the one who is raised up from the East to fulfill the will of God. It is God who raised up righteousness toward His people in the deliverance, He provided through Cyrus the Great.
"Thou, Israel. art my servant" is the first reference to the Servant of the Lord, here pictured as the believing remnant of Israel. The designation "servant" means "a slave" or "bondsman," yet in this context it has honorable connotations that indicate the close intimacy between master and servant. The term is use frequently throughout this section of Isaiah's prophecy and reaches its greatest climax in Isaiah 52:13-53:12.
In view of the judgement that is coming upon Israel, God reminds her, "I am with thee...I am thy God." The designation "thou worm Jacob" is a reminder to Israel of her frailty and need for God who is pictured as her "redeemer" and the "Holy One of Israel." The latter designation is Isaiah's favorite expression for God and appears equally throughtout both halves of the book. the prophet then gives a beautiful picture of God's provision of water to abundantly supply the needs of His people. God promises them, "rivers, fountains and springs of water." He will also plant various tress in the wilderness: the "cedar, shittah, myrtle, olive tress, fir, pine and boxwood. These seven trees, all common to Syria and Israel, would have been especially well known only to an author who lived in that region. They symbolize the perfection of God's work on behalf of His people.
The Lord challenges the gods of heathen nations to "produce your cause" and to "bring forth your strong reasons." The heathen gods are challenged to predict the future and to explain their past. But they can do neither, for they are not gods at all. Thus the fulfillment of predictive prophecy is shown as proof of divine inspiration. The law of Moses (Deuteronomy 18:21-22) gives the stipulation of exact fulfilment of predictive prophecy as an evidence of the divine authority and genuineness of the prophets message. Nonfullfillment is an indication of false prophecy. Obviously, Isaiah believed his own prophecies were predictive of future events and would be literally fulfilled.
May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
Today's Blog Title: "Israel Assured of God's Help"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Isaiah 41:1-29
Today's Blogs Key Verse: Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
"The righteous man from the east" is certainly a reference to Cyrus the Great of Persia (558-529 B.C.), though He is not named until Isaiah 44:28.. He is introduced as the one who is raised up from the East to fulfill the will of God. It is God who raised up righteousness toward His people in the deliverance, He provided through Cyrus the Great.
"Thou, Israel. art my servant" is the first reference to the Servant of the Lord, here pictured as the believing remnant of Israel. The designation "servant" means "a slave" or "bondsman," yet in this context it has honorable connotations that indicate the close intimacy between master and servant. The term is use frequently throughout this section of Isaiah's prophecy and reaches its greatest climax in Isaiah 52:13-53:12.
In view of the judgement that is coming upon Israel, God reminds her, "I am with thee...I am thy God." The designation "thou worm Jacob" is a reminder to Israel of her frailty and need for God who is pictured as her "redeemer" and the "Holy One of Israel." The latter designation is Isaiah's favorite expression for God and appears equally throughtout both halves of the book. the prophet then gives a beautiful picture of God's provision of water to abundantly supply the needs of His people. God promises them, "rivers, fountains and springs of water." He will also plant various tress in the wilderness: the "cedar, shittah, myrtle, olive tress, fir, pine and boxwood. These seven trees, all common to Syria and Israel, would have been especially well known only to an author who lived in that region. They symbolize the perfection of God's work on behalf of His people.
The Lord challenges the gods of heathen nations to "produce your cause" and to "bring forth your strong reasons." The heathen gods are challenged to predict the future and to explain their past. But they can do neither, for they are not gods at all. Thus the fulfillment of predictive prophecy is shown as proof of divine inspiration. The law of Moses (Deuteronomy 18:21-22) gives the stipulation of exact fulfilment of predictive prophecy as an evidence of the divine authority and genuineness of the prophets message. Nonfullfillment is an indication of false prophecy. Obviously, Isaiah believed his own prophecies were predictive of future events and would be literally fulfilled.
May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
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