Old Testament reading: Isaiah 34-36

Isaiah 34 is a graphic description of God’s judgment upon the nations. “The sword of the Lord is filled with blood… For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom… Their land shall be soaked in blood… For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance” (vv 6-8). Isaiah 35 foretells of the restoration of God’s people, Israel. In view of the coming deliverance, God’s children are urged to strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees (v 3). Moreover, they are not to be fearful but strong (v 4). These verses are quoted in Hebrews 12:12, and in the same context. In Hebrews 12 the brethren are told not be discouraged though the time is coming when they must shed their blood for their faith (vv 3-4). Verses 5-11 instruct that this suffering is the discipline of the Lord. Then verse 12 quotes Isaiah 34:3. Seeing Old Testament verses in New Testament contexts helps to properly understand the intended meaning in both appearances. Isaiah 35:8 speaks of the highway of holiness. I believe this to be a reference to Christianity, the only road of holiness for men today.

New Testament reading: Revelation 1-3

Revelation is a book of great symbolism, but one must also understand the nature of the language used. For example, when Jesus speaks of the seven stars being the seven angels of the churches, He does not speak of angels in the sense of literal, heavenly creatures (cf Luke 22:43). And when instructions are given to these angels, He does not speak of heavenly beings. The word “angel” is from the Greek angelos, thus the rendering is not a translation, but a transliteration, meaning each Greek letter or sound in the is given its nearest English counterpart. The word appears 186 times in the New Testament, and overwhelmingly it refers to heavenly beings. But the meaning of the word is “messenger.” Angels are God’s messengers (cf Matt 1:20). But Jesus called John the Baptizer “My messenger” (Matt 11:10), and even those sent from John to Jesus were called John’s messengers (Luke 7:24). So, these churches did not have angels preaching to them, neither did they receive special messages from angels. These angels of the churches were preachers of the gospel.

Old Testament reading: Isaiah 31-33

Where does your faith rest? Isaiah 31 continues the theme begun in chapter 30 with regard to the futility of trusting in armaments or earthly alliances to deliver in God’s day of wrath – “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!” (v 1). Why is such an alliance doomed to fail? Because “the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out His hand, both he who helps will fail, and he who is helped will fall down; they all will perish together” (v 3). Compare this to Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord of God.”

New Testament reading: 2 John, 3 John, Jude

There is no love apart from obedience. “He who has My commandments, and keeps them, is he who loves Me” (John 14:21). The theme of the inseparability of love and obedience is continued in John’s epistles – “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:2-3). But in 2 John we see not only the repetition of the command to love one another and keep God’s commands, but we are also given the reason for so doing. After repeating the Lord’s commandment to love one another (v 5, cf John 13:34-35), John exhorts the brethren saying, “This is love, that we walk in His commandments” (v 6). Then the reason is seen in verse 7, “For many deceivers have gone out into the world.” Loving one another and following the commands of God provides us with protection from false teachers. Loving one another causes us to focus on the well being of our brethren. Collectively keeping God’s commands creates a wall of protection against false teachers who might otherwise gain advantage over an isolated Christian. John encourages the brethren to take heed to things that have been worked for, and in so doing be assured of receiving a full reward from the Lord (v 8).

Old Testament reading: Isaiah 29-30

These two chapters are a trove of truisms and future New Testament references. Before we delve into these, let’s note what appears to be a play on words in Isaiah 29:1-2. Ariel is a reference to Jerusalem, “the city where David dwelt,” and represents the nation of Judah in the way as Ephraim did Israel in chapter 28. Ariel is also the name of the altar of the temple in Ezekiel 43:15-16. As Isaiah 29:1-5 describes the woe of Jerusalem, the place where sacrifice for sins was offered, it seems Isaiah utilizes a play on words to indicate that the city itself will be made an altar of sacrifice for her own sins. Thus, the statement that Ariel “shall be to me as Ariel.” Now to the gems of the text… Isaiah 29:7-8 speak of the ultimate futility in fighting against God’s people. I love the imagery! A hungry man goes to sleep and dreams of eating, but when he wakes, he is still empty. In verse 9 Isaiah turns his attention back to Jerusalem, comparing their immorality to drunkenness and blindness. Being so far removed from God and His word, they are as reeling, staggering drunks. Placing their confidence in the doctrines of men, they have become blind to the righteousness provided by God (cf Matt 15:7-9). Isaiah 25:15-16 is another eye opener. How in the world could God’s people become so deceived to think their thoughts and deeds were hidden from their maker? Isaiah 30:1-5 reminds us that God is our only refuge and strength. Placing confidence in any other is pure folly and vanity. Egypt could not protect Israel against Assyria because she was God’s instrument to punish Israel. God’s plans will not be changed or brought to naught by man.

New Testament reading: 1 John

“I want to know what love is; I know you can show me” (“I Want to Know What Love Is,” Foreigner, 1984). This is still one of my favorite songs. John repeatedly answers this inquiry in today’s reading. Those who want to know what love is should know God, “for God is love” (4:8). Love unexpressed is not love at all, thus God “loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (4:10). Thus, John admonishes us, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (v 11). Loving one another as Jesus loved us is a true mark of discipleship (John 13:34-35).

Old Testament reading: Isaiah 27-28

O that ambiguous Leviathan! We first read of him in Job 38, and you may recall my comments on him from Job 41 on Day 200 (Yes, I still believe in dragons!). The Septuagint here renders Leviathan as “the Dragon.” I believe Isaiah 27 corresponds nicely with the imagery of Revelation 12 in light of the context of our readings in Isaiah 24:21 and the long awaited salvation of the Lord. In Isaiah 27:1, the Leviathan (dragon) will be defeated by the Lord in the day of salvation. In Revelation 12, the great dragon, (“the Devil and Satan” v 9), is defeated and cast out of heaven. Note the associated references to salvation in Revelation 12:10. Continuing in Isaiah 27 we read of the restoration of Israel, who will “fill the face of the world with fruit” (v 6). Chapter 28 is a curse upon Israel, represented as she often was by the name Ephraim, the largest of the ten northern tribes. Verses 7-8 paint a vivid picture of the error of those who deceived through wine and strong drink. This condemnation continues in verses 9-15 as these drunken scoffers are mocking the instruction of the prophet as “precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line.” The picture here is one of a teacher instructing children, imparting a little knowledge, then repeating it over and over until that instruction is instilled in their minds before moving to the next set of truths. But it was due to their own wickedness that Isaiah had to teach them as little children. In verse 16 we see the Lord, our stone of foundation, proven, precious and sure.

New Testament reading: 2 Peter

“If you do these things you will never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10). 1 Peter 1:5-7 contain what are commonly called “The Christian Graces.” I hope our readings have encouraged the development and growth of these beautiful marks of the child of God. Note the conditional nature of God’s promise in this text. After commanding the brethren to be diligent to add “these things” (an imperative), the promises of neither being barren nor unfruitful, the promise of never stumbling, and the promise of being supplied with an abundant entrance into the kingdom are given. We must do the first in order to be the recipients of the second.

Old Testament reading: Isaiah 24-26

Isaiah 24 serves as a summary of all the burdens pronounced in the previous eleven chapters, but there appears to be a particular emphasis on Jerusalem and Judea. In verses 21-23 there is a reference to a subsequent reign of the Lord from Mount Zion. This may be a reference to the establishment of the church in Jerusalem. Moreover, the language of verse 23 may also be a couched reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, as it resembles the language Jesus used of this event in Matthew 24:29. Jerusalem’s destruction was God’s final edict against Israel to mark the change from ruling over physical Israel to ruling over spiritual Israel, the church. This line of thought is further confirmed by the consecutive chapters of praise from Isaiah’s pen. For example, consider Isaiah 25:6-8 and the declaration of provision and the removal of the covering  and veil cast over the nations, meaning the ultimate revealing of His will, which had formerly been a mystery (Eph 3:9). Verse 9 declares the day of salvation for which Israel had waited and in such they would rejoice. Chapter 26 is a song of salvation and contains a beautiful statement of Divine provision and assurance – “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (v 3).

New Testament reading: 1 Peter

In keeping with the theme of today’s Old Testament reading, we continue our focus of the revealed will of God, which Paul a dozen times referred to as a mystery. Peter said the prophets inquired and searched diligently into the grace of God resulting in salvation, prophesying of it but never the recipients. The prophets searched for the time when Jesus would come and suffer, but they did not find it. They searched for the glories that followed His suffering, but they did not find it. Additionally, Peter said God’s will was not even manifest beforetime to the angels, but that they had to wait and see it unfold on the earth! It is incredibly humbling, yet at the same time thrilling, to ponder the fact that we are the grand recipients of the final, revealed word of God! As great a man as Abraham was, he didn’t get to see it. As great as the prophets were, they didn’t get to see it. They had to wait to see it unveiled in the life of Jesus and the establishment of the church.

Old Testament reading: Isaiah 20-22

Just because you haven’t found it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. One of the most foolhardy criticisms of the Bible is to attack it as unreliable because “we haven’t found any evidence of it.” For centuries, the first verse of today’s reading was attacked and the Bible’s reliability was rejected, all because there was no historical or archaeological evidence of Sargon’s existence. Skeptics and infidels claimed that Sargon never existed (Dr. James Orr, Presuppositions in Old Testament Criticism, p 6). But in 1843, Paul Emile Botta and Austen Layard forever destroyed that error when they discovered Sargon’s palace and stone reliefs further confirming the Bible record regarding the conquering of Samaria. The place was described by Botta as being “probably the most significant palace the world has ever seen, covering an area of more than 25 acres.” These precious relics, including the massive winged bulls from the palace entrance, can be seen in the British Museum. I can save you some time and money by directing you to some photos I took of these items in 2007.  Go to http://burlesonchurchofchrist.com/trustyourbible/slideshow.htm (Slides 8-11). I encourage you to take a moment to view all 50 slides in this presentation, as doing so will certainly warm your heart to think of archaeology’s many testimonies to the integrity of the Bible. As slide #1 says, “You Can Trust Your Bible!”

New Testament reading: James

“You better watch your mouth young man!” I heard that more than a few times growing up. James 3 is a reminder to keep our tongues in check: “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body” (3:2). And, “Even so the tongue is a little member that boasts great things. See how great a forest fire a little fire kindles!” (3:5). James here shifts direction. Rather than speak of moving things in a proper and orderly direction to everyone’s good, he speaks of the tongue as a dangerous thing. How much of a spark or flame does it take to burn massive areas of forest? So also is our tongue if not kept under constant guard. It can get away from us before we know it and cause unspeakable damage.

Old Testament reading: Isaiah 15-19

Curses! With the exception of the final ten verses of today’s reading, the entirety of the text consists of burdens, or curses, against five different nations: Moab, Syria, Israel, Ethiopia and Egypt. Chapters 15-16 detail the destruction of Moab, the descendants of Lot’s oldest daughter, whom she bore through incest. The Moabites were a constant thorn in the flesh to Israel, yet Israel was forbidden to harass Moab as he was a kinsman, being the nephew of Abraham (Deut 2:9; 2 Chr 20:10). In Jehoshaphat’s reign, God exacted His revenge on Moab as Israel looked on from afar (2 Chr 20:17-23). Now, less than 100 years later, Moab’s destruction shall be made complete. Moreover, Isaiah specifies the time of this destruction as taking place within three years. Chapter 17 begins with the curse against Syria, represented by its capital city Damascus. In verse 4 the curse is extended southward to Israel. Unlike Moab and Syria, Israel will not be utterly destroyed, for God will leave a remnant, described as a gleaning of grapes and shaking of an olive tree. This hearkens back to Deuteronomy 24:20-22, where Israel was commanded not to completely harvest their olives and grapes, but should only take one gleaning, leaving the remainder for the stranger, the fatherless and the widow. Pictured here is God’s provision and hope for Israel despite the harsh punishment to come.

New Testament reading: Hebrews 8-13

The book of Hebrews was written to help us to understand how the entirety of the Mosaic Law was done away with in Christ. Hebrews 8 is one of the clearest texts on this matter, showing that the bringing of a second covenant of necessity nullifies the first. By inspiration, the Hebrews writer said, “In that He says, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away” (8:13). Twice in this chapter and once in the next we read of this “new covenant” (8:8, 9:15). Hebrews 10:19-20 speaks of the blood of Jesus as securing this new covenant by a “new and living way.” By implication, the Hebrews writer admonishes his audience that any way other than Christ is old and dead.

Old Testament reading: Isaiah 12-14

While we don’t normally think of the prophets as songwriters, Isaiah 12 is a beautiful hymn of praise to Yah, the Lord. In verse 2 is a three point sermon outline: The Lord is My Strength, My Song, and My Salvation. Isaiah 13 contains the burden of Babylon. As Assyria was God’s instrument to execute wrath on His people, but would also be destroyed for his pride (Isa 10:8-16), so also says the Lord of Babylon. Babylon, and Nebuchadnezzar in particular, was used as God’s instrument of wrath against both Assyria and Judah (cf Jer 25:9). Yet we are also told that Babylon will fall prey to the same old, well worn tool of the Devil – pride (v 11, 19). Within this prophecy is foretold the nation that would rise up and destroy Babylon – the Medes (Persians). This overthrow took place in the days of Daniel, just as he told Belshazzar in Daniel 5:28. Finally, within this prophecy is God’s promise to restore Israel (the people, not the nation) to their homeland. This also took place during the days of the Persian empire (cf Ezra 1). And now to one of the most misunderstood texts in all of Isaiah – Isaiah 14:12-17. Ask any person on the street as to the identification of Lucifer, and almost to the person you can expect to hear “Satan” or “the Devil.” Untold multitudes of volumes and popular songs have been written, and movies and television shows have been propagating this error. Isaiah 14:3-23 is a prophecy about Babylon and her greatest king, Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar built the hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the seven great wonders of the world. Nebuchadnezzar ruled over most of the known world, and Daniel identified his kingdom as unsurpassed by any other on earth (Dan 2:37-38). But this great man was brought low as if he had fallen from heaven. Read Daniel’s account of Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and his subsequent punishment for the same (Dan 4:19-33) for a proper understanding of who Lucifer is and how he fell.

New Testament reading: Hebrews 1-7

Hebrews 1:1-4 reminds us that we are now living in the last days, and have been for nearly two millennia: “God who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son” (1:1-2).

Old Testament reading: Isaiah 9-11

In Isaiah 10, we find some who were unwitting servants of God, namely the Assyrians. In verse 5 God calls Assyria “the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hand is My indignation.” Note also how God says He is sending Assyria against “an ungodly nation and the people of My wrath” (v 6). He is here speaking of Judah, His own people. Now look in verse 7. Regarding Assyria, God says ‘it is not his intent to serve my purposes nor does he consider such in his heart.’ But the lack of intent does not mean an absence of Divine service. God simply used Assyria’s bloodlust (vv 7-11) to accomplish His own will. But in verse 12 we see that unwitting service is not in any way accounted for righteousness, as God intends also to punish Assyria for his wickedness. I love how God describes Assyria’s arrogance in verse 15 – “Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it?” Have you ever heard someone mock the conceit of another by saying, “As if!”? God essentially does the same in verse 15, “As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!” The next time you use “As if!”, remember that God used it first!

New Testament reading: Titus, Philemon

Bones provide our bodies with structure, strength and protection. Broken bones have to be set, repaired, protected to heal properly so the body can function as it ought. This is usually by an orthopedist. Paul commanded Titus to “set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (Titus 1:5). “Set in order” utilizes the Greek orthos, meaning to set straight. The importance of the eldership is seen in the earliest days of the church, as elders served alongside the apostles (Acts 11:30). Peter served as an apostle and elder (1 Pet 5:1). God’s church was not meant to function without elders. On their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every new church that had been established (Acts 14:23). The church was not designed to be guided by men’s meetings or function as a democracy. Without elders, the church lacks the structure necessary to uphold and protect the body.

Old Testament reading: Isaiah 6-8

There are a number of familiar verses in today’s reading. Isaiah 6 is a beautiful passage detailing Isaiah’s Divine call to preach. Years ago, I heard Demar Elam preach a masterful sermon on this text titled, “Getting Close to God.” There were four main ideas: Getting Close to God: 1) Causes me to see God’s holiness and glory (v 3); 2) Makes me keenly aware of my sin (v 5); 3) Places forgiveness within my grasp (vv 6-7); 4) Makes me sensitive to God’s call (v 8). In chapter 7 we find the great Messianic prophecy of the virgin birth of Jesus (v 14). But chapter 8 contains several statements that leapt from the page as I read. In verse 12 God warned Isaiah that the response of the wicked to his preaching would be to claim “It’s a conspiracy.” In other words, ‘He’s out to get us!” Jeremiah would face the same in Jeremiah 37. Far too often the sinful accuse those who are trying to correct them of being “against” or “picking on” them. Such could not be further from the truth! Another text I found interesting was Isaiah 8:19-22, wherein God instructs Isaiah on how to respond to those who seek the counsel of the dead as opposed to seeking the counsel of God’s word: “Should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?” We face this today when teaching those who prefer the counsel of their deceased relatives over the counsel of the living word of God which is able to save their souls.

New Testament reading: 2 Timothy

Some things just aren’t as important as they used to be. Isn’t it interesting how our perspective changes as we grow older? I speak not only of those things we once considered as important or even vital, but also to our attitudes on dealing with important things. 2 Timothy is a book that shows the power of maturity and perspective. Paul once considered John Mark as unworthy to take along after John Mark had earlier deserted Paul and Barnabas. His adamancy on this matter led to him and Barnabas going in different directions (physically, not spiritually Acts 15:36-41). Now years later, Paul recognized John Mark as being useful to him in serving the Lord. A lot had changed in the intervening years, and Paul did not continue to hold a grudge against Mark.