This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of
Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just
mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
Isaiah
CHAPTER 50
1 Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
2 Wherfore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
Motherhood is a symbol of love and protection. God had not "put away" Israel's love and protection. They had done it themselves by their "iniquities" and "transgressions."
God was still quite able to deliver them from the Babylonians. His "hand" of power is not "shortened." He is still the God of POWER Who dries up seas and rivers, and controls storms.
Israel could not say that God had forsaken them because they had pushed Him away by their sin.
4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
In contrast to Israel, the "servant" of God (see verse 10) receives instruction from God. He awakens each day to LISTEN to what God says so that he can be OBEDIENT (verse 4).
Of course this is prophetic of THE Servant, our Lord, Jesus Christ. However, it is also symbolic of any believer who truly determines to follow the will of God in his life.
Verse 5 refers to the commitment of the Servant. Verse 6 refers to the persistence of the Servant. Our Lord Jesus did not turn away from His commitment to serve God for the provision of our salvation, even though men beat Him and plucked out His beard.
When a person truly gives himself to God, that person realizes that God gives him the strength to endure whatever atrocities the world may hurl in his direction (verse 7).
The love and protection of God is enough to deliver anyone who is committed and persistent in servitude.
10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
Two "paths" are given here: the path of the servant of God, and the path of the rebellious.
For those who "fear," "obey," "trust," and "stay upon" God there is love and power to deliver in justification, honor and eternal glory.
For those who are "sparks" of resistance to God, there will come a day when they will "lie down in sorrow." They will lie down in death and be risen for judgment to condemnation, dishonor and eternal hell.
Now, God inspires Isaiah to give us two full chapters of encouragement for those who SERVE Him.
PLEASE CONTINUE IN BIBLE STUDY WITH US TOMORROW.
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)
The apostle Paul takes a "spin" on verses 8-9 with the following statement:
"30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:30-39)
Jesus has shown all believers the way. He was despised, rejected, maligned, scorned, beaten, arrested, and crucified shamefully. But the power of God's love and protection raised Him up on the third day!
The contrast is given. God's love and power to deliver is poured out to those who SERVE Him. God's condemnation is poured out to those who REFUSE Him.