Isa 24
Too good to be true. But too bad to be true.
Isa 24 talked about the devastation of the earth -no it wont apply to us, too bad to be true. It is really about doom and gloom. What the Lord has said He will bring them to past.
v3 the earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered.
v11 all joy turns to gloom, all gaiety is banished from the earthof the pit will be caught in a snare - no place to hide or run!
v18 Whoever fless at the sound of terror will fall into a pit, whoever climbs out
v19 the floodgates of heaven are opened - not for blessings like in Malachi - but for devastation
Do we really believe this will happen to us? Why not.
v5 The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant
1. Disobeyed the laws
2. violated the statues
3. Broken the everlasting covenant
If we continue to habour sins and stronghold and allow them to grow - it will be a matter of time before destruction. Guard against them. These are ones that cannot be seen by man.
John 15: 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Abide in Jesus love and keep my commandments (love God, love people).
It is us who choose to break the covenant from God. v1 the Lord is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it ... but He did not destroy the people.
He want us to be back with Him. It is not about working your salvation in fear and trembling. But simple as John 15 puts in abide in Jesus and keep my commandments.
God can do what He said in Isa 24, His choice. But our choice is abide in Jesus and keep our commandments.
Lord I pray, that my heart be right with you. remove any impurity that is hidden and any stronghold that are in me. Let me be that branch that is grafted well into the vine. Let me not withers and be thrown away. Make my desire to be one that is to be with Jesus. Amen.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Isa 23
Tyre and Sidon used to be a sea power in the ancient times. It has grown from a labour-intense society to a trading society (v10).
But v9 The Lord of hosts has purposed it,to defile the pompous pride of all glory, [3]to dishonor all the honored of the earth.
The NIV version, the Lord planned it to bring low the pride of all glory..
Our success did not come at a price. The Lord will give success, but do we then show our success is because of our effort and become proud? That what brought Tyre and Sidon down.
Success is not about money, its about giving glory to yourself (v3 and v8). When in such cases, God is push out of the equation.
v18 Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the Lord, they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the Lord, for abundant food and fine clothes.
This is the concluding verse. The punshisment of Tyre and Sidon. But I took it that if I based and ancorhed on the Lord for the success that He will bless, then I will be set apart. There will be profits, so much that they need not to be stored or hoarded, but will go towards giving to His Kingdom. There will be abundant.
To sum up:
1. Guard against pride
2. Remember your success and return your success to the Lord (in terms of profits and glory)
But v9 The Lord of hosts has purposed it,to defile the pompous pride of all glory, [3]to dishonor all the honored of the earth.
The NIV version, the Lord planned it to bring low the pride of all glory..
Our success did not come at a price. The Lord will give success, but do we then show our success is because of our effort and become proud? That what brought Tyre and Sidon down.
Success is not about money, its about giving glory to yourself (v3 and v8). When in such cases, God is push out of the equation.
v18 Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the Lord, they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the Lord, for abundant food and fine clothes.
This is the concluding verse. The punshisment of Tyre and Sidon. But I took it that if I based and ancorhed on the Lord for the success that He will bless, then I will be set apart. There will be profits, so much that they need not to be stored or hoarded, but will go towards giving to His Kingdom. There will be abundant.
To sum up:
1. Guard against pride
2. Remember your success and return your success to the Lord (in terms of profits and glory)
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
1 King 7:51-9:9
Introductory Comments
The reading anchored on chapter 8 after the completion of the temple, with Solomon bringing in the ark into the temple and the dedication of the temple.
The story began with 1King 7:51 Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver, the gold, and the vessels, and stored them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.
The physical temple was completed, but has no "God". Solomon brought in the ark and subsequently, the glory of God filled the temple. The main part of chapter 8, was on Solomon prayer and the dedication to the temple. The story did not stop there after the prayers. Chapter 9:1-9 God completed the whole picture with His visitation to Solomon.
Therefore, from a lifeless temple to one that filled with His glory, with God dwelling side by side with His people. From a prayer, to one that ended with God's personal visitation. All these points to the realness of God and His desire for us to be with Him.
Chapter 8 Outline
The dedication of the temple. (Verse 1-11.)
The occasion. (Verse 12-21.)
Solomon's prayer. (Verse 22-53.)
His blessing and exhortation. (Verse 54-61.)
Solomon's peace-offerings. (Verse 62-66.)
Commentary about the Chapter
http://bible.somd.com/henry/H11C008.shtml
http://www.keyway.ca/htm2007/20070922.htm
http://www.swedenborgdigitallibrary.org/sower/jj12/1king52.htm
My Study (Bring in God)
1. Bring God into your Temple (life)
The reading anchored on chapter 8 after the completion of the temple, with Solomon bringing in the ark into the temple and the dedication of the temple.
The story began with 1King 7:51 Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the Lord was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver, the gold, and the vessels, and stored them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.
The physical temple was completed, but has no "God". Solomon brought in the ark and subsequently, the glory of God filled the temple. The main part of chapter 8, was on Solomon prayer and the dedication to the temple. The story did not stop there after the prayers. Chapter 9:1-9 God completed the whole picture with His visitation to Solomon.
Therefore, from a lifeless temple to one that filled with His glory, with God dwelling side by side with His people. From a prayer, to one that ended with God's personal visitation. All these points to the realness of God and His desire for us to be with Him.
Chapter 8 Outline
The dedication of the temple. (Verse 1-11.)
The occasion. (Verse 12-21.)
Solomon's prayer. (Verse 22-53.)
His blessing and exhortation. (Verse 54-61.)
Solomon's peace-offerings. (Verse 62-66.)
Commentary about the Chapter
http://bible.somd.com/henry/H11C008.shtml
http://www.keyway.ca/htm2007/20070922.htm
http://www.swedenborgdigitallibrary.org/sower/jj12/1king52.htm
My Study (Bring in God)
1. Bring God into your Temple (life)
2. Bring God into your everyday Activities
3. Bring to God your Service
1. Solomon built the temple. It was just a beautiful temple. But when Solomon brought in the ark, the glory of God filled it (v10). Likewise, if we don't bring in the ark, we are just a temple. Significantly, bring in the ark requires an action and that is to do. We have choices. The ark and the Tabernacle was outside the temple. God glory was over the Tabernacle but not over the temple. So act to bring the ark into your temple. It is both a desire and a conscience act.
2. In Solomon prayer, it talked about happen when a man do this wrong and that, what happen when this and that event occurred. Bring God into your daily activities. Involve God. He knows our doing correct and our doing wrong. But regardless, He wants you. Engaged God in our activities through prayer. Speak to God in anything and in everything. So act to bring Him in picture of our everyday activities
3. It is not passive. It is not just about having God and that's it. If you believe me in my heart, say it aloud. The love for our God has to be translate into action. Solomon gave and sacrifice sheep and cattle and consecrated the temple. All input must somehow translated to some output and that is when we grow - the product of our love for God brings about the fruit of the spirit. No good tree bears bad fruit. In simple terms, it is about our service to God and our giving of our worship, our time, our tithe. Jesus said, for the least you do to my brother, you do it unto me. You grow when you serve and when you serve you grow.
1 King 9:1-9. God visitation to Solomon concluded Solomon act of prayer and dedication to the temple. God came, He has listened to Solomon prayer and accepted Solomon sacrifice. In return, He gave Solomon His promises.
Is it not wonderful to have a personal encounter with God? Is it more wonderful to know that your prayers did not go unanswered? Is it more awesome to know that we have a destiny and promises from God? So bring God into your life, engaged Him in your activities, serving Him in act of obedience!
Comentary for Ps 145
The Story of Psalm 145
We do not know when David wrote this psalm. Some Bible students think that Nehemiah wrote it 500 years after David died, using David’s notes. It is an acrostic. They help in this special use of words that we call "poetry". What is acrostic? The peotry was written with each verse beginning with the Hebrew alphabet.
Study: (Something God wants to speak to me and something about God that I want to know more)
v1: I will extol you, my God and King,and bless your name forever and ever.
When : v2 everyday
Why: v3 His greatness
How: v4-6. Commend, mediate, speak and sing
(if you experience God and know and see His greatness, would not you be doing what v4-6 said and doing it everyday?)
What is this greatness?v8-9
v8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
v9 The Lord is good to all,and his mercy is over all that he has made.
v14-20 speaks about His grace, mercy, about His slow to anger, steadfast love, His goodness (come to that later)
Know that - from the so? to the wow!
v10-13 Give thanks! Praise Him! Give Him the glory!
Our God is not about just saying, it is about His promise and His acts.
v14 The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.
If the Lord just upholds and that's it, then it is not complete. And if He upholds all, then it is not complete. He upholds all who are falling. Basically, to all who runs to Him and need Him. The proud would not. But to those who run to Him, He rasises up all. And the key again is all who are bowed down.
v14 alones speaks about the nature of my God. His grace and His mercy. And it also speaks about His dislike for the proud and wicked. Refer back to v8 and v9 about His greatness.
For v15-v20, same pattern. Come with the right heart and the Lord my God will surely deliver. And also in these verses, look for the nature of God - His grace, His mercy, His love, His righteousness.
Lastly, SO NOW I KNOW, this is my wow - 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
If Psalm 145 were to be written in English it may look like this below:
v1 Always I will *praise you, my God and my king, and I will *bless your name!
v2 "*Bless you" I will say every day and I will always *praise your name.
v3 Clearly the *LORD is great and we can never *praise him enough. We will never know how great he really is!
v4 Down from father to son people will say what *wonderful things you have done. They will tell each other how powerful you are.
v5 Everyone is talking about your *glory and your *beauty. I will keep thinking about the *wonderful things that you do.
v6 Famous are the things that you have done. People talk about them. I also will say what great things you do.
v7 Good things are what everybody remembers about you. They all sing about how kind you are.
v8 How full of *grace and *mercy is the *LORD. He is slow to become angry and is full of kind love.
v9 It is the *LORD that is kind to everybody. He shows his *mercy to everything that he has made.
v10 Joining together, everything that you have made will *praise you, *LORD. Your *saints will *bless you!
v11 "*Kingdom of *Glory" is where you rule. People talk about it and about how powerful you are.
v12 Let everybody know the powerful things that you have done; and the *glory and *beauty of your *kingdom.
v13 Many years, even for always, will your *kingdom remain. You will always rule over it.
Now the *LORD will do as he has promised. All that he does shows his *mercy.
v14 Out of trouble the *LORD will bring everybody. He will give help to everyone that has fallen down.
v15 People and other living things look to you. You give them food when they need it.
v16 Really, you open your hand. And you give every living thing what it wants.
v17 So the *LORD is fair in all his ways. Everything that he does shows us his *mercy.
v18 The *LORD is near to all that pray to him. He is near to all that are honest when they pray to him.
v19 Very soon he will give what they need to those that love him. He will hear what they say and save them.
v20 *Wicked people will the *LORD destroy. But he will save the people that love him.
v21 You will hear me speak the *praises of the *LORD. All that he has made will *bless his *holy name.
We do not know when David wrote this psalm. Some Bible students think that Nehemiah wrote it 500 years after David died, using David’s notes. It is an acrostic. They help in this special use of words that we call "poetry". What is acrostic? The peotry was written with each verse beginning with the Hebrew alphabet.
Study: (Something God wants to speak to me and something about God that I want to know more)
v1: I will extol you, my God and King,and bless your name forever and ever.
When : v2 everyday
Why: v3 His greatness
How: v4-6. Commend, mediate, speak and sing
(if you experience God and know and see His greatness, would not you be doing what v4-6 said and doing it everyday?)
What is this greatness?v8-9
v8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
v9 The Lord is good to all,and his mercy is over all that he has made.
v14-20 speaks about His grace, mercy, about His slow to anger, steadfast love, His goodness (come to that later)
Know that - from the so? to the wow!
v10-13 Give thanks! Praise Him! Give Him the glory!
Our God is not about just saying, it is about His promise and His acts.
v14 The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.
If the Lord just upholds and that's it, then it is not complete. And if He upholds all, then it is not complete. He upholds all who are falling. Basically, to all who runs to Him and need Him. The proud would not. But to those who run to Him, He rasises up all. And the key again is all who are bowed down.
v14 alones speaks about the nature of my God. His grace and His mercy. And it also speaks about His dislike for the proud and wicked. Refer back to v8 and v9 about His greatness.
For v15-v20, same pattern. Come with the right heart and the Lord my God will surely deliver. And also in these verses, look for the nature of God - His grace, His mercy, His love, His righteousness.
Lastly, SO NOW I KNOW, this is my wow - 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
If Psalm 145 were to be written in English it may look like this below:
v1 Always I will *praise you, my God and my king, and I will *bless your name!
v2 "*Bless you" I will say every day and I will always *praise your name.
v3 Clearly the *LORD is great and we can never *praise him enough. We will never know how great he really is!
v4 Down from father to son people will say what *wonderful things you have done. They will tell each other how powerful you are.
v5 Everyone is talking about your *glory and your *beauty. I will keep thinking about the *wonderful things that you do.
v6 Famous are the things that you have done. People talk about them. I also will say what great things you do.
v7 Good things are what everybody remembers about you. They all sing about how kind you are.
v8 How full of *grace and *mercy is the *LORD. He is slow to become angry and is full of kind love.
v9 It is the *LORD that is kind to everybody. He shows his *mercy to everything that he has made.
v10 Joining together, everything that you have made will *praise you, *LORD. Your *saints will *bless you!
v11 "*Kingdom of *Glory" is where you rule. People talk about it and about how powerful you are.
v12 Let everybody know the powerful things that you have done; and the *glory and *beauty of your *kingdom.
v13 Many years, even for always, will your *kingdom remain. You will always rule over it.
Now the *LORD will do as he has promised. All that he does shows his *mercy.
v14 Out of trouble the *LORD will bring everybody. He will give help to everyone that has fallen down.
v15 People and other living things look to you. You give them food when they need it.
v16 Really, you open your hand. And you give every living thing what it wants.
v17 So the *LORD is fair in all his ways. Everything that he does shows us his *mercy.
v18 The *LORD is near to all that pray to him. He is near to all that are honest when they pray to him.
v19 Very soon he will give what they need to those that love him. He will hear what they say and save them.
v20 *Wicked people will the *LORD destroy. But he will save the people that love him.
v21 You will hear me speak the *praises of the *LORD. All that he has made will *bless his *holy name.
22 Feb 2009
Isa 20-21
Obedience
Isaiah obeyed God for 3 years before God told him about the sign that the actions was intended for. He went around naked and barefoot for 3 years. This is obedience. Do first without asking why, but knowing God know for what.
In contrast, the people of Egypt and Cush has disobeyed God or has caused God such anger that the wholde nation was to flee naked and barefoot. But God has given them 3 years to repent.
Individual and the nation
Isaiah is one man while it was for the whole nation.
Why me and not others? God purpose and He knew why. If Isaiah has not obeyed, the people of Egypt and Cush has not seen the act, then they may not repent (least of all a walking sign for them).
Obedience
Isaiah obeyed God for 3 years before God told him about the sign that the actions was intended for. He went around naked and barefoot for 3 years. This is obedience. Do first without asking why, but knowing God know for what.
In contrast, the people of Egypt and Cush has disobeyed God or has caused God such anger that the wholde nation was to flee naked and barefoot. But God has given them 3 years to repent.
Individual and the nation
Isaiah is one man while it was for the whole nation.
Why me and not others? God purpose and He knew why. If Isaiah has not obeyed, the people of Egypt and Cush has not seen the act, then they may not repent (least of all a walking sign for them).
Monday, February 16, 2009
16 Feb 2008
Isa 17
4 And in that day the glory of Jacob will be brought low,and the fat of his flesh will grow lean.5 And it shall be as when the reaper gathers standing grainand his arm harvests the ears,and as when one gleans the ears of grainin the Valley of Rephaim.6 Gleanings will be left in it,as when an olive tree is beaten—two or three berriesin the top of the highest bough,four or fiveon the branches of a fruit tree,declares the Lord God of Israel.
7 In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel. 8 He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands, and he will not look on what his own fingers have made, either the Asherim or the altars of incense.
The grace of God - even though the glory of Jacob was brought low, in the NIV v6 uses the word 'yet' gleanings will be left ...
The mercy of God - even though through all the wrong doing, so that we may come back to God. v7 will look to his maker and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel.
If we want to be grounded and in God, besides the laying the foundation in His word, dwelling in His worship, ask about the grace and the mercy of God (even as He prepares us for times of war, when we can look back and know that the Lord is good).
What is one thing we can give thanks to God for and what is one thing we see how God has see us through
4 And in that day the glory of Jacob will be brought low,and the fat of his flesh will grow lean.5 And it shall be as when the reaper gathers standing grainand his arm harvests the ears,and as when one gleans the ears of grainin the Valley of Rephaim.6 Gleanings will be left in it,as when an olive tree is beaten—two or three berriesin the top of the highest bough,four or fiveon the branches of a fruit tree,declares the Lord God of Israel.
7 In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel. 8 He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands, and he will not look on what his own fingers have made, either the Asherim or the altars of incense.
The grace of God - even though the glory of Jacob was brought low, in the NIV v6 uses the word 'yet' gleanings will be left ...
The mercy of God - even though through all the wrong doing, so that we may come back to God. v7 will look to his maker and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel.
If we want to be grounded and in God, besides the laying the foundation in His word, dwelling in His worship, ask about the grace and the mercy of God (even as He prepares us for times of war, when we can look back and know that the Lord is good).
What is one thing we can give thanks to God for and what is one thing we see how God has see us through
16 Feb 2009
Numbers Chapter 1
God told Moses to take a census of the people. He also told the Levites what to do with the Tabernacle.
It is about grounding yourself in the WORD of God. It is about obedience.
In Numbers the counting is to prepare the people for WAR. We are a people of destiny. We are called not for passive but for the offensive.
The Levites were not number but set aside for WORSHIP. We are made to worship, a self dedication for and to praise God.
Often I am in the passive, ground myself in the word and worship, but it is also about war. I need to lead not only in the word and worship but also prepare my family for war.
Recently, there is a number of members who fell sick and that put offensive work down or productive work down. Even myself was sick and that break the rhythm for my own time alone with God.
I pray for angles to keep safe my family and pray for strength and healing for those who are sick, that we may once again be in good form for worship and war.
As for me, I pray for a list of people to pray and to bless. Let me prepare for war.
God told Moses to take a census of the people. He also told the Levites what to do with the Tabernacle.
It is about grounding yourself in the WORD of God. It is about obedience.
In Numbers the counting is to prepare the people for WAR. We are a people of destiny. We are called not for passive but for the offensive.
The Levites were not number but set aside for WORSHIP. We are made to worship, a self dedication for and to praise God.
Often I am in the passive, ground myself in the word and worship, but it is also about war. I need to lead not only in the word and worship but also prepare my family for war.
Recently, there is a number of members who fell sick and that put offensive work down or productive work down. Even myself was sick and that break the rhythm for my own time alone with God.
I pray for angles to keep safe my family and pray for strength and healing for those who are sick, that we may once again be in good form for worship and war.
As for me, I pray for a list of people to pray and to bless. Let me prepare for war.
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