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 1:28 Base things of the world hath God chosen.Walk the streets by moonlight, if you dare, and you will see sinners then. Watch when the night is dark, and the wind is howling, and the picklock is grating in the door, and you will see sinners then. Go to yon jail, and walk through the wards, and mark the men with heavy over-hanging brows, men whom you would not like to meet at night, and there are sinners there. Go to the Reformatories, and note those who have betrayed a rampant juvenile depravity, and you will see sinners there. Go across the seas to the place where a man will gnaw a bone upon which is reeking human flesh, and there is a sinner there. Go where you will, you need not ransack earth to find sinners, for they are common enough; you may find them in every lane and street of every city, and town, and village, and hamlet. It is for such that Jesus died. If you will select me the grossest specimen of humanity, if he be but born of woman, I will have hope of him yet, because Jesus Christ is come to seek and to save sinners. Electing love has selected some of the worst to be made the best. Pebbles of the brook grace turns into jewels for the crown-royal. Worthless dross he transforms into pure gold. Redeeming love has set apart many of the worst of mankind to be the reward of the Saviour's passion. Effectual grace calls forth many of the vilest of the vile to sit at the table of mercy, and therefore let none despair. Reader, by that love looking out of Jesus' tearful eyes, by that love streaming from those bleeding wounds, by that faithful love, that strong love, that pure, disinterested, and abiding love; by the heart and by the bowels of the Saviour's compassion, we conjure you turn not away as though it were nothing to you; but believe on him and you shall be saved. Trust your soul with him and he will bring you to his Father's right hand in glory everlasting. Daily Light on the Daily Path 2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.Isaiah 53:6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. 1 Peter 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. Romans 5:19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, • He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, • whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, • so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Jeremiah 23:6 "In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, 'The LORD our righteousness.' 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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