Bible League: Living His Word The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. The discipline of God does not last forever. For the people of God, there is always a time of favor yet to come, there is always a time of deliverance on the horizon. In our verse for today, Isaiah says he has been anointed by God to proclaim a time of deliverance for God's people. Most immediately, this refers to the people of Judah who would become captives in Babylon in the future. As such, his proclamation was for a limited group of people and for a limited time frame. In Luke 4:18, however, Jesus tells us that this prophecy was fulfilled in Him. Jesus proclaimed a time of deliverance available to the whole human race that would last for all eternity. In Jesus, therefore, Isaiah's prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment. What, specifically, does Isaiah's prophecy proclaim about deliverance for the people of God? First, it is a proclamation of good news for the poor. The "poor" are those who have been impoverished in any way by captivity of any kind. They are those who have been oppressed by the devil and held down in circumstances less abundant than that which God intended for His people. The poor shall experience release from their sorry situation. Second, it is a proclamation that the brokenhearted will be bound up. The "brokenhearted" are those who have been deeply affected by their captive situation. They are those who are sorry for their sins. The Lord will bind up, that is, console their broken hearts (see Psalm 34:18). Third, it is a proclamation of freedom for the captives. The "captives" are those who have been enslaved in any sense of the term. They are those who have been held back by the devil from achieving that which God wants them to achieve in life. The Lord will set them free. Finally, it is a proclamation of release from darkness for the prisoners. The "prisoners' are those who have been kept from seeing the true nature of their captivity. They are those who have been kept in the dark by the devil. The Lord will release them from darkness into His glorious light (see I Peter 2:9). In Christ, the Lord is enriching, consoling, freeing, and enlightening you – and His work in you has really only just begun (see Philippians 1:6). Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingMicah 6, 7 Micah 6 -- God's Punishment against Ingratitude, Ignorance, Injustice and Idolatry NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Micah 7 -- Israel's Misery and Resurrection; I wait for the God of my salvation NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Revelation 12 Revelation 12 -- The Woman, The Dragon, The Male Child, The Angel NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. Insight We may suffer for many reasons. Some suffering is the direct result of our own sin, some happens because of our foolishness, and some is the result of living in a fallen world. Peter is writing about suffering that comes as a result of doing good. Christ never sinned, and yet he suffered so that we could be set free. Challenge When we follow Christ's example and live for others, we too may suffer. Our goal should be to face suffering as he did—with patience, calmness, and confidence that God is in control of the future. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ezekiel 16:10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.See with what matchless generosity the Lord provides for his people's apparel. They are so arrayed that the divine skill is seen producing an unrivalled broidered work, in which every attribute takes its part and every divine beauty is revealed. No art like the art displayed in our salvation, no cunning workmanship like that beheld in the righteousness of the saints. Justification has engrossed learned pens in all ages of the church, and will be the theme of admiration in eternity. God has indeed "curiously wrought it." With all this elaboration there is mingled utility and durability, comparable to our being shod with badgers' skins. The animal here meant is unknown, but its skin covered the tabernacle, and formed one of the finest and strongest leathers known. The righteousness which is of God by faith endureth forever, and he who is shod with this divine preparation will tread the desert safely, and may even set his foot upon the lion and the adder. Purity and dignity of our holy vesture are brought out in the fine linen. When the Lord sanctifies his people, they are clad as priests in pure white; not the snow itself excels them; they are in the eyes of men and angels fair to look upon, and even in the Lord's eyes they are without spot. Meanwhile the royal apparel is delicate and rich as silk. No expense is spared, no beauty withheld, no daintiness denied. What, then? Is there no inference from this? Surely there is gratitude to be felt and joy to be expressed. Come, my heart, refuse not thy evening hallelujah! Tune thy pipes! Touch thy chords! "Strangely, my soul, art thou arrayed By the Great Sacred Three! In sweetest harmony of praise Let all thy powers agree." Daily Light on the Daily Path Mark 4:38 Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"Psalm 145:9 The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works. Genesis 9:3 "Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant. Genesis 8:22 "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease." Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him. Genesis 21:17,19 God heard the lad crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter with you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. • Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the lad a drink. Matthew 6:31,32 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' • "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 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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