Isa.49
God's broader plan. 6 - "...He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth..."
Nail scarred? 16 - "...Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me..."
22,23 - "...Thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations And set up My standard to the peoples; And they will bring your sons in their bosom, And your daughters will be carried on their shoulders. "Kings will be your guardians, And their princesses your nurses. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth And lick the dust of your feet; And you will know that I am the Lord; Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame..."
25 - "...Surely, thus says the Lord, "Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, And the prey of the tyrant will be rescued; For I will contend with the one who contends with you, And I will save your sons..."
Isa.50
4-9 - "...The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not disobedient Nor did I turn back. I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. For the Lord God helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. He who vindicates Me is near; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand up to each other; Who has a case against Me? Let him draw near to Me. Behold, the Lord God helps Me; Who is he who condemns Me? Behold, they will all wear out like a garment; The moth will eat them..." Isaiah? Christ? Any servant of God?
Isa.51
9-11 Remembering what God has done brings gladness and joy while waiting for restoration.
21-23 Turn of events, like America needs.
Isa.52
5-15 The continual blaspheming of God's name will not go on forever. There's good news, there's comfort, there's restoration.
Isa.53
1-12 Think about when this was uttered.
Isa.54
2 - "...Enlarge the place of your tent; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; Lengthen your cords And strengthen your pegs..." Think bigger? Influence more?
4-8 God's relationship with His people described as a husband and wife.
9-10 "...For this is like the days of Noah to Me, When I swore that the waters of Noah Would not flood the earth again; So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you Nor will I rebuke you. For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken," Says the Lord who has compassion on you..."
17 - "...No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their vindication is from Me," declares the Lord..." Have any weapons been formed against God's people? Have they appeared to succeed? Have they prospered? Rev. martyrs under the altar.
Isa.55
1-3 "...Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance. "Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David..."
6 - "...Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near..." Not always possible?
8,9 - "...For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts..."
11 - "...So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it..."
Isa.56
1 - "...Thus says the Lord, "Preserve justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come And My righteousness to be revealed..." Our part, His part?
2 - "...How blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who takes hold of it; Who keeps from profaning the sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil..." Sabbath?
3-6 Expounding on the Sabbath! "...Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, "The Lord will surely separate me from His people." Nor let the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree." For thus says the Lord, "To the eunuchs who keep My sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, And a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off. "Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the Lord, To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath And holds fast My covenant;.."
7 - "...Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples..." ALL!
God's people need to be rescued from:
10 - Watchmen who are blind.
11 - Shepherds who have no understanding.
Isa.57
Rebuke of children of rebellion, offspring of deceit (v4).
13 - "...When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry all of them up, And a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land And will possess My holy mountain..."
15 - "...For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite..."
21 - "...There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked..."
Isa.58
2 - "...Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways, As a nation that has done righteousness And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask Me for just decisions, They delight in the nearness of God..." Sounds right.
but problems with fasting:
3-5 "...Why have we fasted and You do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?' Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, And drive hard all your workers. "Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high. "Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one's head like a reed And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord?..."
Do people want what people want, or what God wants? Why fast?
6-7 "...Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? "Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?..."
10,11 "...And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail..."
13,14 "...If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word, Then you will take delight in the Lord, And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of the Lord has spoken..." This is one of the best descriptions of God's Sabbath expectations.
Isa.59
1,2 "...Behold, the Lord's hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear..." When people say there is no God, or evidence of God, what has really happened?
10 - "...We grope along the wall like blind men, We grope like those who have no eyes; We stumble at midday as in the twilight, Among those who are vigorous we are like dead men..." Blindness like the men of Sodom.
14,15 - "...Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands far away; For truth has stumbled in the street, And uprightness cannot enter. Yes, truth is lacking; And he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey. Now the Lord saw, And it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice..."
21 - "...As for Me, this is My covenant with them," says the Lord: "My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring's offspring," says the Lord, "from now and forever..." What are the sustaining threads throughout history? [God's Spirit and God's word]
Isa.60
1-3 "...Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. "For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you. "Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising..." Are we shining for the world?
10 - "...Foreigners will build up your walls, And their kings will minister to you; For in My wrath I struck you, And in My favor I have had compassion on you..." Two sides of God?
Who makes good things happen?
15-22 peace and righteousness, no violence, no sun or moon, the Lord is an everlasting light, all the people righteous. Sounds like a major shift of reality.
Isa.61
1-2a Jesus quoted as being fulfilled by Him at His first coming (Luke 4:18-19) What about 2b? Second coming?
8 - "...For I, the Lord, love justice, I hate robbery in the burnt offering; And I will faithfully give them their recompense And make an everlasting covenant with them..." What does the Lord love? Hate? What difference does this make in how you live your life?
10-11 "...I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise To spring up before all the nations..." Does He?
Isa.62
1-5 What is described as the bride of the Lord? ["...to Him your land will be married..."]
Isa.63
5 - "...I looked, and there was no one to help, And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; So My own arm brought salvation to Me, And My wrath upheld Me..." What astonished God, and what did He do about it?
14 - "...As the cattle which go down into the valley, The Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. So You led Your people, To make for Yourself a glorious name..." What was God accomplishing by leading His people? [making His name glorious] Is this happening now?
Isa.64
4-5 "...For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him. You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways. Behold, You were angry, for we sinned, We continued in them a long time; And shall we be saved?..." On whose behalf does God act?
But people aren't so good. 6-7 "..For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on Your name, Who arouses himself to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us And have delivered us into the power of our iniquities..." Does sin have its own power?
Isa.65
2-4 “...I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts, A people who continually provoke Me to My face, Offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on bricks; Who sit among graves and spend the night in secret places; Who eat swine's flesh, And the broth of unclean meat is in their pots...” Is it amazing that He continues to spread out His hands to us?
10 - “...Sharon will be a pasture land for flocks, And the valley of Achor a resting place for herds, For My people who seek Me...” Trouble becomes rest for those who seek God.
12 - “...I will destine you for the sword, And all of you will bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not hear. And you did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight..." What do we choose?
17-20 “...For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. "But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing And her people for gladness. "I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; And there will no longer be heard in her The voice of weeping and the sound of crying. "No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, Or an old man who does not live out his days; For the youth will die at the age of one hundred And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred Will be thought accursed...” When is this, that there is still death? Millennial reign? Is this when we reign with Him?
Isa.66
2 - “...For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being," declares the Lord. "But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word...” God’s heart?
3,4 - “... they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations, So I will choose their punishments And will bring on them what they dread. Because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen. And they did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight..."
JEREMIAH
Spokesman for God for 40 years.
Stood alone and took much abuse.
No one seemed to pay attention to his words - will we?
Basic message? [Repent]
Jer.1
4-10 Call and commission.
5 - Known before birth.
7 - To speak what God gives him.
8 - Without fear. Why would God tell him to not be afraid [He would have a lot of opportunity to be afraid]
19 - “...They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you," declares the Lord...” Is there still resistance when working for God?
Jer.2
Incorrect walking.
5 - Walked after emptiness and became empty.
8 - Walked after things that did not profit.
11 - Changed their glory for that which does not profit.
13 - Two evils committed by God’s people:
1 - Forsaking God, the real fountain.
2 - Making their own source, that can’t hold God stuff.
19 - “...Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to forsake the Lord your God, And the dread of Me is not in you," declares the Lord God of hosts...”
20 "...For long ago I broke your yoke And tore off your bonds; But you said, 'I will not serve!' For on every high hill And under every green tree You have lain down as a harlot...” Is this typical? Does God deliver so people can do what they want, or so they can take their proper place relative to His Lordship?
32 “...Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me Days without number...”
Jer.3
2,3 “...Lift up your eyes to the bare heights and see; Where have you not been violated? By the roads you have sat for them Like an Arab in the desert, And you have polluted a land With your harlotry and with your wickedness. "Therefore the showers have been withheld, And there has been no spring rain. Yet you had a harlot's forehead; You refused to be ashamed...” How has the land been polluted? What is the result? [God withholds blessing]
11-14 God’s conditions for a banished people to return:
13 - “...'Only acknowledge your iniquity, That you have transgressed against the Lord your God And have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree, And you have not obeyed My voice,' declares the Lord...”
Results of returning to God:
15 - “...Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding...”
22 - “...Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness." "Behold, we come to You; For You are the Lord our God...”
Jer.4
More conditions for returning:
1 - Put away your detested things.
3 - Break up your fallow ground.
4 - Mark yourselves as God’s.
6 - Lift up a standard.
14 - Wash your heart.
Jer.5
God is looking for, but God gets? 3 - “... O Lord, do not Your eyes look for truth? You have smitten them, But they did not weaken; You have consumed them, But they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent...”
5 - “...I will go to the great And will speak to them, For they know the way of the Lord And the ordinance of their God." But they too, with one accord, have broken the yoke And burst the bonds...” People break the yoke and burst the bonds and think they are free. NOT!
10 - “... Go up through her vine rows and destroy, But do not execute a complete destruction; Strip away her branches, For they are not the Lord's...” Does God prune (and graft)?
Problems with:
Prophets - 13 “...The prophets are as wind, And the word is not in them. Thus it will be done to them!...”
Hearts - 23 “... But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; They have turned aside and departed...”
Deceit - 27 “...Like a cage full of birds, So their houses are full of deceit; Therefore they have become great and rich...”
Focus - 28 “...They are fat, they are sleek, They also excel in deeds of wickedness; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the orphan, that they may prosper; And they do not defend the rights of the poor...”
Leadership - 31 “...The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?...”
Jer.6
Jerusalem will be punished:
10 - Ears are closed.
13 - Greedy for gain.
14 - Brokenness cared for superficially.
15 - Not ashamed.
16 - “...Thus says the Lord, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it...”
Jer.7
Offer from God:
3 - “...Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, "Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place...”
5 - "...For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor,...”
6 - “...if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin,...”
Reminder of initial offer:
23 - “...But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you...'
Response/Result:
26 - “...Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers...”
28 - “...You shall say to them, 'This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God or accept correction; truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth...”
Jer.8
7 - “...Even the stork in the sky Knows her seasons; And the turtledove and the swift and the thrush Observe the time of their migration; But My people do not know The ordinance of the Lord...”
10 - “...Therefore I will give their wives to others, Their fields to new owners; Because from the least even to the greatest Everyone is greedy for gain; From the prophet even to the priest Everyone practices deceit...”
11 "...They heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace...” Again the superficial answer to deep issues. You can’t just say all is well. Make is so.
Jer.9
3 - Lies, not truth, prevail in the land.
5 - Everyone deceives, tongues are taught to lie (learned).
6 - Refuse to know God.
14 - Walked after stubbornness of their heart.
What is one thing worthy of boasting? 24 - “...but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the Lord...”
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