Bible League: Living His Word "Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."— Isaiah 12:5-6 ESV Imagine with me this image of the prophet of God, known throughout both the southern kingdom and the northern, standing in the courts of Jerusalem, with hands raised high, a smile on his face, with feet near ready to jump up and down with joy as he proclaims praise to God who has revealed the future of His people! Immediately following his commission as a prophet of God (Isaiah 6:1-13), Isaiah was called to give a message of judgment to both the southern kingdom (Isaiah 7:1-9:7) and the northern (Isaiah 9:8-11:16). However, interspersed throughout each of these somber judgments are glimpses of something new that will happen. We begin to see that God will redefine the future of His people. "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (7:14). "For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given... his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace... of his government and of peace there will be no end!" (9:6-7). "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit... In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious" (11:1, 10). Suddenly, the pieces of this prophetic puzzle were all in place, set before the mind of the prophet, and by the time one comes to Isaiah 12, we see he can hardly contain his joy! All six verses of this chapter overflow with an exaltation of joy and thanksgiving for what God has already done, but not yet done (indeed, the mystery of prophecy)! Our verses reveal that Isaiah came to recognize the promise of Messiah as something "glorious" to be accomplished. It was something to be heralded throughout all the earth. Once, within the presence of the "Holy One of Israel," it is time to "shout and sing for joy" throughout the neighborhood (12:5-6)! In this world, however, we know it is not easy to be joyful. Nations rage with hatred and in so many ways cast fear and worry upon the people throughout their lands. The very hearts of all of us are not immune to the physical pain of pending sickness and death or the relational pain wrought from misunderstandings, lies, and deceit. But for a moment in time that caught both the prophet's attention centuries ago, and can catch ours today—we see the God who has kept His promises! "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Brothers and sisters in Christ, "... great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 12:6)! Do not allow the fog of worry or the concerns of this world to dim your view from seeing Him in all His glory, and so recognize His very clear intent on coming to forgive you and reconcile you to His Father in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:18). Indeed, that is certainly something to shout and sing about throughout this Advent Season. Merry Christmas! By Bill Niblette, Ph.D., Bible League International staff, Pennsylvania U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingDaniel 9, 10 Daniel 9 -- Daniel's Prayer and Gabriel's Answer NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Daniel 10 -- Daniel Terrified by a Vision, Comforted by the Angel NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 2 John 2 John 1 -- Persevere in faith and love; Have nothing to do with evil NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.Insight The task of church leaders is to help people mature in Christ. Cooperative followers greatly ease the burden of leadership. Challenge Does your conduct give your leaders reason to report joyfully about you? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Corinthians 9:22 I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.Paul's great object was not merely to instruct and to improve, but to save. Anything short of this would have disappointed him; he would have men renewed in heart, forgiven, sanctified, in fact, saved. Have our Christian labors been aimed at anything below this great point? Then let us amend our ways, for of what avail will it be at the last great day to have taught and moralized men if they appear before God unsaved? Blood-red will our skirts be if through life we have sought inferior objects, and forgotten that men needed to be saved. Paul knew the ruin of man's natural state, and did not try to educate him, but to save him; he saw men sinking to hell, and did not talk of refining them, but of saving from the wrath to come. To compass their salvation, he gave himself up with untiring zeal to telling abroad the gospel, to warning and beseeching men to be reconciled to God. His prayers were importunate and his labors incessant. To save souls was his consuming passion, his ambition, his calling. He became a servant to all men, toiling for his race, feeling a woe within him if he preached not the gospel. He laid aside his preferences to prevent prejudice; he submitted his will in things indifferent, and if men would but receive the gospel, he raised no questions about forms or ceremonies: the gospel was the one all-important business with him. If he might save some he would be content. This was the crown for which he strove, the sole and sufficient reward of all his labors and self-denials. Dear reader, have you and I lived to win souls at this noble rate? Are we possessed with the same all-absorbing desire? If not, why not? Jesus died for sinners, cannot we live for them? Where is our tenderness? Where our love to Christ, if we seek not his honor in the salvation of men? O that the Lord would saturate us through and through with an undying zeal for the souls of men. Daily Light on the Daily Path Hosea 14:5 I will be like the dew to Israel; He will blossom like the lily, And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon.2 Corinthians 10:1 Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ-- I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! Isaiah 42:3 "A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. Luke 4:18,19,21,22 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, • TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." • And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." • And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, "Is this not Joseph's son?" Luke 22:61,62 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times." • And he went out and wept bitterly. Isaiah 40:11 Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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