Isa 44:1 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
Hear me now my servant Jacob, the conniver; and Israel the nation I have chosen. I made you great by my design, it was not of your doing, the LORD is God.
Isa 44:2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
Fear not the things coming, thou man Jacob, my servant; and thou Jesurun:
"upright one", describing Israel's ideal character; of whom I have chosen. Jesurun was used only here in the KJV Bible. Jacob was the flesh person and Israel is the name the LORD used to describe His overcoming nature. In Christ Jesus we are the Jesurun, He makes us His righteousness.
Rom 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
1 Th 3:8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
Isa 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
John 4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?John 4:12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
John 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Isa 44:4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
Plants by the water grow very well. There is the natural and the spiritual.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Isa 44:5 One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.
We belong to the Lord, not a denomination, a people our a sect. The apostle Paul addressed this problem. There should be no divisions among Christians.
1 Cor 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1 Cor 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Jesus is Lord.
Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
The LORD is king of Israel and the redeemer. He alone is God. He is the first and the last. Jesus also spoke that he was the alpha and omega, He is our redeemer.
Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Father and Son are one God. The Father sent the son; they are one God with the Holy Spirit.
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:...
Isa 44:7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them.
Isa 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Isa 44:9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
God made all things, all the people and he knows the future; who can claim to do this? Why do you not trust Him? Fear not and do not trust in foolish manmade idols.
Isa 44:10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
Isa 44:11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.
Foolish and worthless metal idols made by men; let them be ashamed who worship them and those who make them.
2 Tim 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
2 Tim 4:15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
All these graven images are made by the skills of men.
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exo 20:6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
They are weak and frail men and their work is an abomination to the LORD.
Isa 44:12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.
Isa 44:13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
Isa 44:14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
Isa 44:15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
Isa 44:16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
Isa 44:17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.
The LORD shows us how foolish this is.
Isa 44:18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
Isa 44:19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
Isa 44:20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
The LORD has given them over to their choices. They were stubbornly going in a way that they chose. Perhaps the felt power in making things that others worship, or maybe pride? They also may have thought that it would give them wealth? How many have turned from God, to gain worldly power, pride and wealth? We are not to seek these things.
Psa 89:14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
Isa 44:21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
Isa 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
Remember how you served these foolish idols and that you were created by the true God of Israel.
Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Isa 44:23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Will only 144,000 Jews be saved, as in Revelation 14?
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Or will all be saved, as in Romans11:26?
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Isa 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;Isa 44:25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
The LORD is truth, those who know him are not fooled by the world's wisdom and fortune tellers. He turns wise men backwards, godless scientists and professors who teach global warming and evolution, I see as some of todays foolish ones.
Isa 44:26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
Isa 44:27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
Isa 44:28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
The prophecy of King Cyrus was given 200 years before he was known. The God of Israel is the Almighty God who knows all things.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
God Cares For Israel - Isaiah 43
Isa 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
Fear not; comforting words from the LORD of comfort. What were they fearing? The Babylonians, who were coming to bring them as prisoners to their land. Fear not Jacob, says the LORD who created you and formed you: for I have redeemed you; looking by faith to the promised redeemer, Jesus. I have called you by name. Whether Jew or Christian, we are called by God and belong to Him.
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
These can be taken as literal events and as metaphors of troubles in our lives; God will be with us. Literally, the LORD brought them through the Red Sea and through the Jordan river on dry land. Two notable miracles. Looking ahead to Daniel we see the LORD in the furnace with the three faithful children of Israel who were not harmed by the fire. The LORD can be with us through difficult times and we can call on him for protection and grace. Yes, even grace to die or to be martyred, if this is allowed by God. Whatever our situation, our LORD is with us, bringing us peace.
Isa 43:3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
The glory of these nations will cease but Israel will remain a people.
Isa 43:4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
Others will give their lives for you, my precious people, but you will endure as a chosen people. Those who curse you, will be cursed.
Isa 43:5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
Isa 43:6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
Isa 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Israel will return from captivity and in 1948, the nation was reborn. Jews scattered in all the nations are coming home to their homeland.
Isa 43:8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
Truth is given by God through his chosen people. Those who receive the truth of God will see and hear. Those not receiving the gospel message will remain blind and deaf.
Isa 43:9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
Prophecy is given through Israel. God's dealing with Israel is unlike any other nation. They were chosen of God. Through Abraham we partake of the promises of the messiah.
Isa 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
The other peoples and nations serve idols. Only the God of Israel is the true God. The Bible is God's true message. Jesus is the Son of God, not just a prophet or teacher, but God the creator and redeemer, sinless and perfect. He is greater than all other religious men; the Living God, not an idol.
Isa 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
So many say all religions lead to the same God. No, only through the God of Israel and Jesus shall we be saved. Islam rules be force and violence. The true God rules by truth, righteous judgment, love and peace.
Isa 43:12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
The LORD will have no other god's worshipped before him.
Isa 43:13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
God is the I AM. Who will tell him what to do? He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Do not let a preacher on T. V. say that you can order God to do something. He is almighty, we submit to His will and then he will work his purpose through us.
Isa 43:14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
He brings down mighty nations, for the sake of his people.
Isa 43:15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
There would be no Israel without the LORD making a covenant with this people.
Isa 43:16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
Isa 43:17 Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.
All the might of men who come against my people shall be no more. They are quenched like the wick of a smoldering lamp. Jesus came not to quench but to give life to all who would receive him. Such grace, oh what a savior He is.
Isa 43:18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Do not dwell in the past.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Cor 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Isa 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Isa 43:20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
The dragons or lizards drink of the water that was hidden under the land of Israel. The LORD provides for his people.
Isa 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise. Many churches appeal to the flesh and they teach that God is a only wanting to serve them and their desires.God did not create us to just receive blessings. We are to praise him and glorify him. We are to do his work on earth.
Isa 43:22 But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.
Isa 43:23 Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.
At the time of the prophesy, Israel was not trusting in the LORD. They were involved with idols and had left the practice of the law and ceremonies. in most part. But there was a remnant that worshipped him in the appointed way.
Isa 43:24 Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.
They were a sinful people, how the LORD tires of constant sinning. He would In the fullness of time, send forth his son to blot out their sins. All who would receive him by faith.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Isa 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Isa 43:26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
Isa 43:27 Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.
Isa 43:28 Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.
Because they continued in idolatry and sin, God would give them over to Babylon. But he had not forgotten them and would send Jesus to redeem them. All who can see, by faith, are forgiven of their sins.
Fear not; comforting words from the LORD of comfort. What were they fearing? The Babylonians, who were coming to bring them as prisoners to their land. Fear not Jacob, says the LORD who created you and formed you: for I have redeemed you; looking by faith to the promised redeemer, Jesus. I have called you by name. Whether Jew or Christian, we are called by God and belong to Him.
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
These can be taken as literal events and as metaphors of troubles in our lives; God will be with us. Literally, the LORD brought them through the Red Sea and through the Jordan river on dry land. Two notable miracles. Looking ahead to Daniel we see the LORD in the furnace with the three faithful children of Israel who were not harmed by the fire. The LORD can be with us through difficult times and we can call on him for protection and grace. Yes, even grace to die or to be martyred, if this is allowed by God. Whatever our situation, our LORD is with us, bringing us peace.
Isa 43:3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
The glory of these nations will cease but Israel will remain a people.
Isa 43:4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
Others will give their lives for you, my precious people, but you will endure as a chosen people. Those who curse you, will be cursed.
Isa 43:5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
Isa 43:6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
Isa 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Israel will return from captivity and in 1948, the nation was reborn. Jews scattered in all the nations are coming home to their homeland.
Isa 43:8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
Truth is given by God through his chosen people. Those who receive the truth of God will see and hear. Those not receiving the gospel message will remain blind and deaf.
Isa 43:9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
Prophecy is given through Israel. God's dealing with Israel is unlike any other nation. They were chosen of God. Through Abraham we partake of the promises of the messiah.
Isa 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
The other peoples and nations serve idols. Only the God of Israel is the true God. The Bible is God's true message. Jesus is the Son of God, not just a prophet or teacher, but God the creator and redeemer, sinless and perfect. He is greater than all other religious men; the Living God, not an idol.
Isa 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
So many say all religions lead to the same God. No, only through the God of Israel and Jesus shall we be saved. Islam rules be force and violence. The true God rules by truth, righteous judgment, love and peace.
Isa 43:12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
The LORD will have no other god's worshipped before him.
Isa 43:13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
God is the I AM. Who will tell him what to do? He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Do not let a preacher on T. V. say that you can order God to do something. He is almighty, we submit to His will and then he will work his purpose through us.
Isa 43:14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
He brings down mighty nations, for the sake of his people.
Isa 43:15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
There would be no Israel without the LORD making a covenant with this people.
Isa 43:16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
Isa 43:17 Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.
All the might of men who come against my people shall be no more. They are quenched like the wick of a smoldering lamp. Jesus came not to quench but to give life to all who would receive him. Such grace, oh what a savior He is.
Isa 43:18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Do not dwell in the past.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Cor 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Isa 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Isa 43:20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
The dragons or lizards drink of the water that was hidden under the land of Israel. The LORD provides for his people.
Isa 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise. Many churches appeal to the flesh and they teach that God is a only wanting to serve them and their desires.God did not create us to just receive blessings. We are to praise him and glorify him. We are to do his work on earth.
Isa 43:22 But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.
Isa 43:23 Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.
At the time of the prophesy, Israel was not trusting in the LORD. They were involved with idols and had left the practice of the law and ceremonies. in most part. But there was a remnant that worshipped him in the appointed way.
Isa 43:24 Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.
They were a sinful people, how the LORD tires of constant sinning. He would In the fullness of time, send forth his son to blot out their sins. All who would receive him by faith.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Isa 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Isa 43:26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
Isa 43:27 Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.
Isa 43:28 Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.
Because they continued in idolatry and sin, God would give them over to Babylon. But he had not forgotten them and would send Jesus to redeem them. All who can see, by faith, are forgiven of their sins.
Monday, February 23, 2009
The King's Dream
Dan 2:1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
The second year, in which Nebuchadnezzar reigned apart from his father, who reigned with him for two years. It was the forth year of Daniel's captivity, He had completed is training in three years. Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams that troubled him, but he could not remember them.
Dan 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
magicians: those who claim to understand magic, demonic hocus pocus or illusions.
Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Acts 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
Acts 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Acts 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Acts 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Acts 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Acts 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Acts 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Acts 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
astrologers: using divination by consulting the planets and stars
sorcerers: one who practices magic by using spoken formulas, incantations and mystic mutterings. Witches practice sorcery too, casting spells and putting demonic thoughts in peoples minds. Familiar spirits are those evil spirits that have been with the deceased family, and know things about them.
1 Sam 28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
Chaldeans: skilled in the science of astronomy. They were the first to calculate that a year was 365 days; they also practiced astrology.
Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Deu 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
Deu 18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Deu 18:13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
We are not to mess with the occult, but Babylon did and so did Adolf Hitler. They had no regard for human life.
Dan 2:3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
Dan 2:4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
An official greeting to the king was to say "live forever." The Chaldean spoke in the language of Syria, a close ally to Babylon. Often the kings were considered as gods. The Egyptian kings were worshipped as gods by their people. In Israel, Herod was struck down by an angel because he allowed others to worship him as a god.
Acts 12:21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
Acts 12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Acts 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Dan 2:5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
The king forgot the dream, now he wants to be told the dream and it's meaning. He must have felt it was of great importance, for his wrath would go out upon his wise men if the secret was not revealed. He would cut them to pieces, showing his heart was that of a tyrant. How should we respond to threats? I think we should consider them as to Biblical truth. If the person is dangerous try to make peace and withdraw from them. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. A modern example of a tyrant was Adolf Hitler. The Jews had no recourse but to trust God and to flee.
Dan 2:6 But if ye show the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore show me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
The king would give gifts and rewards to the one who would reveal his secret dream and it's meaning. Who wants gifts from such an irrational person. Do we seek gifts and promises from the ungodly of the world?
Prov 23:6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
Prov 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Only the LORD knows all things and to whom the LORD reveals his secrets by revelation knowledge.
The Apostle Paul heard from Jesus in secret.
Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
God is able to reveal secret things to his dedicated servants.
Dan 2:7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation of it.
Dan 2:8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
Dan 2:9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation thereof.
The king wanted them to repeat his dream, before they interpret it. Otherwise, they could make up some meaning; probably an illusion of truth. For those who follow the dark things cannot speak the truth but in part, for satan is a liar.
Dan 2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
Dan 2:11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
Mat 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Mat 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
The Chaldeans were considered the wisest men of the region. They spoke with some truth when they said only the gods could know the king's secret. In truth, only the God of Abraham would know.
Dan 2:12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
Dan 2:13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
Daniel and his fellows were also in the decree to be slain. Why were they not called by the king? Perhaps because they were Jews and so young? Those who are in darkness cannot come to the truth, but by revelation of God. Millions follow false gods in ignorance. Some make up their own spiritual reality and some trust in made up science. The word of God is truth, in the Bible or from prophesy.
Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Glory to God
Dan 2:14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
Dan 2:15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
The captain was truthful to Daniel, allowing him to know why he was being condemned without a hearing. The king was upset with all of his worldly advisers, they had no truth beyond what they could see and touch, or imagine. The king punished for lack of knowing secrets. Our heavenly Father, the King, gives us what we need and expects us to obey. All wisdom is from him.
Israel had been punished by God for not seeking Him. The song of Moses speaks of God's nation and their need of the Lord's counsel:
Deu 32:28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
They followed false gods.
Deu 32:29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
Deu 32:30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
The Rock of their salvation, Jesus is that rock. Daniel was of the remnant that obeyed God and God was his counselor.
Dan 2:16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.
Daniel was already under a death sentence, so he approached the king and asked for time so that he may give the interpretation. To approach the king without being called, could result in your death. I am thankful that we can approach the throne of grace through King Jesus.
Dan 2:17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
Dan 2:18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Daniel shares with his friends so that they would pray to God for his mercy. We need to share our concerns with faithful friends, so that they can fill in the gap through intercessory prayer. They were to fill-in the gaps of the hedge. Each believer must be using their gifts, to fill in the gaps of the spiritual hedge.
Ezek 13:4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
Ezek 13:5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
Dan 2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel gave glory to God, speaking of his great virtues.
Dan 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
Dan 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
Dan 2:22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Dan 2:23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
Our God was faithful to Daniel, making known the secrets. Shall he not be praised? Praise our LORD God, your savior and king for the great things he has one in our lives. God expects to be praised for his glory, as the one leper who returned to Jesus after his healing.
Luke 17:15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
Luke 17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luke 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
Luke 17:18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
May we never forget to give God glory and praise.
Vision Revealed
Dan 2:24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will show unto the king the interpretation.
Daniel intercedes for the wise men and his brethren with a promise to reveal the dream. His spirit was good, a life giving spirit, not a killing spirit.
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Dan 2:25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
Arioch was confident in Daniel before the king. If Daniel failed, he too would be killed. Daniel knew that he was not to seek glory, but that all good comes from above, the King in heaven.
Dan 2:26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
Dan 2:27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, show unto the king;
Dan 2:28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
Daniel reveals the source as from the most high God in heaven. He gave all glory to God. For he works in you and through you.The contents were to show the latter days, the things to come before the end of the world.
Dan 2:29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. The king in quiet upon his bed received the vision, but soon forgot it.
This is like the parable of the sower.
Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Daniel in a night vision, perhaps a dream, we do not know receives the revelation from God.
Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Dan 2:30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
Daniel will not receive glory, he points to God as the source. He was concerned for the lives of the wise men. From this we know that the great servants of God were great, because God trusted them to be messengers, not putting flesh in the way and not seeking self glory, but being reliable channels for God to flow through to others.They are used of God to seek and to save the lost and to reveal His secrets. The true servants of God do not have their names up in lights, as the world's favorites. Jesus gave us a word on this;
Mat 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
The second year, in which Nebuchadnezzar reigned apart from his father, who reigned with him for two years. It was the forth year of Daniel's captivity, He had completed is training in three years. Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams that troubled him, but he could not remember them.
Dan 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
magicians: those who claim to understand magic, demonic hocus pocus or illusions.
Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Acts 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
Acts 8:11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Acts 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Acts 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Acts 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Acts 8:21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Acts 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Acts 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
astrologers: using divination by consulting the planets and stars
sorcerers: one who practices magic by using spoken formulas, incantations and mystic mutterings. Witches practice sorcery too, casting spells and putting demonic thoughts in peoples minds. Familiar spirits are those evil spirits that have been with the deceased family, and know things about them.
1 Sam 28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
Chaldeans: skilled in the science of astronomy. They were the first to calculate that a year was 365 days; they also practiced astrology.
Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Deu 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
Deu 18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Deu 18:13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.
We are not to mess with the occult, but Babylon did and so did Adolf Hitler. They had no regard for human life.
Dan 2:3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
Dan 2:4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
An official greeting to the king was to say "live forever." The Chaldean spoke in the language of Syria, a close ally to Babylon. Often the kings were considered as gods. The Egyptian kings were worshipped as gods by their people. In Israel, Herod was struck down by an angel because he allowed others to worship him as a god.
Acts 12:21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
Acts 12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Acts 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Dan 2:5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
The king forgot the dream, now he wants to be told the dream and it's meaning. He must have felt it was of great importance, for his wrath would go out upon his wise men if the secret was not revealed. He would cut them to pieces, showing his heart was that of a tyrant. How should we respond to threats? I think we should consider them as to Biblical truth. If the person is dangerous try to make peace and withdraw from them. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. A modern example of a tyrant was Adolf Hitler. The Jews had no recourse but to trust God and to flee.
Dan 2:6 But if ye show the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore show me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
The king would give gifts and rewards to the one who would reveal his secret dream and it's meaning. Who wants gifts from such an irrational person. Do we seek gifts and promises from the ungodly of the world?
Prov 23:6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
Prov 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
Only the LORD knows all things and to whom the LORD reveals his secrets by revelation knowledge.
The Apostle Paul heard from Jesus in secret.
Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
God is able to reveal secret things to his dedicated servants.
Dan 2:7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation of it.
Dan 2:8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
Dan 2:9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation thereof.
The king wanted them to repeat his dream, before they interpret it. Otherwise, they could make up some meaning; probably an illusion of truth. For those who follow the dark things cannot speak the truth but in part, for satan is a liar.
Dan 2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
Dan 2:11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
Mat 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Mat 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
The Chaldeans were considered the wisest men of the region. They spoke with some truth when they said only the gods could know the king's secret. In truth, only the God of Abraham would know.
Dan 2:12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
Dan 2:13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
Daniel and his fellows were also in the decree to be slain. Why were they not called by the king? Perhaps because they were Jews and so young? Those who are in darkness cannot come to the truth, but by revelation of God. Millions follow false gods in ignorance. Some make up their own spiritual reality and some trust in made up science. The word of God is truth, in the Bible or from prophesy.
Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Glory to God
Dan 2:14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
Dan 2:15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
The captain was truthful to Daniel, allowing him to know why he was being condemned without a hearing. The king was upset with all of his worldly advisers, they had no truth beyond what they could see and touch, or imagine. The king punished for lack of knowing secrets. Our heavenly Father, the King, gives us what we need and expects us to obey. All wisdom is from him.
Israel had been punished by God for not seeking Him. The song of Moses speaks of God's nation and their need of the Lord's counsel:
Deu 32:28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
They followed false gods.
Deu 32:29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
Deu 32:30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
The Rock of their salvation, Jesus is that rock. Daniel was of the remnant that obeyed God and God was his counselor.
Dan 2:16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.
Daniel was already under a death sentence, so he approached the king and asked for time so that he may give the interpretation. To approach the king without being called, could result in your death. I am thankful that we can approach the throne of grace through King Jesus.
Dan 2:17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
Dan 2:18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Daniel shares with his friends so that they would pray to God for his mercy. We need to share our concerns with faithful friends, so that they can fill in the gap through intercessory prayer. They were to fill-in the gaps of the hedge. Each believer must be using their gifts, to fill in the gaps of the spiritual hedge.
Ezek 13:4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
Ezek 13:5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
Dan 2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel gave glory to God, speaking of his great virtues.
Dan 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
Dan 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
Dan 2:22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Dan 2:23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
Our God was faithful to Daniel, making known the secrets. Shall he not be praised? Praise our LORD God, your savior and king for the great things he has one in our lives. God expects to be praised for his glory, as the one leper who returned to Jesus after his healing.
Luke 17:15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
Luke 17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luke 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
Luke 17:18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
May we never forget to give God glory and praise.
Vision Revealed
Dan 2:24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will show unto the king the interpretation.
Daniel intercedes for the wise men and his brethren with a promise to reveal the dream. His spirit was good, a life giving spirit, not a killing spirit.
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Dan 2:25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
Arioch was confident in Daniel before the king. If Daniel failed, he too would be killed. Daniel knew that he was not to seek glory, but that all good comes from above, the King in heaven.
Dan 2:26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
Dan 2:27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, show unto the king;
Dan 2:28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
Daniel reveals the source as from the most high God in heaven. He gave all glory to God. For he works in you and through you.The contents were to show the latter days, the things to come before the end of the world.
Dan 2:29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. The king in quiet upon his bed received the vision, but soon forgot it.
This is like the parable of the sower.
Mat 13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Daniel in a night vision, perhaps a dream, we do not know receives the revelation from God.
Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Dan 2:30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
Daniel will not receive glory, he points to God as the source. He was concerned for the lives of the wise men. From this we know that the great servants of God were great, because God trusted them to be messengers, not putting flesh in the way and not seeking self glory, but being reliable channels for God to flow through to others.They are used of God to seek and to save the lost and to reveal His secrets. The true servants of God do not have their names up in lights, as the world's favorites. Jesus gave us a word on this;
Mat 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Come to Jesus; can you hear?
2 Pet 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Beautiful verses describing the messiah, Jesus, when he shall come. Spoken by inspiration of God 700 years before it happened.
Behold my servant: Jesus; who did nothing apart from the Father's will. My soul delights in him.
Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
He was tempted in all things, without sinning. He had the Holy Spirit as we do, to guide us. He shall bring forth truth and righteous judgment to the Gentiles. He was sent first to Israel, but as prophesied he would also bring judgment and justify both Jew and Greek through his atoning sacrifice.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Isa 42:2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
Isa 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Luke 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
Luke 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
Luke 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
He brought goodness, gentleness and healing. If there was any life in a person he brought them hope. He did not come to qwench the burned out life; he came to bring new life in His Spirit. He brought light, not darkness. He restored the lamp of truth in people. He was righteous judgement and the way of truth.
Isa 42:4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
Jesus did not fail. His death was the payment for sins. He judged sin on the cross and is the way to eternal life for all people who will believe. His law was from the heart: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Isa 42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
Isa 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Mat 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Luke 2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Luke 2:31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
Luke 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Isa 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Mat 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luke 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Isa 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
It is important to understand that Jesus shares in the glory of the Father. Jesus prayed:
John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
The LORD God - Yahweh - is one God in Three Persons.
No one is given the glory of God, let no man glory in himself or any graven image. When we are born again of the spirit, we become adopted sons of God. But, we are not the creator, but we are the redeemed of his creation, created in his image and likeness. We do not worship the creation, but by grace and faith we are lifted up to serve Jesus at the throne of God.
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev 7:15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Isa 42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
A true prophet speaks what God speaks and all shall come to pass.
Isa 42:10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
Psa 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psa 33:2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Psa 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. Oh LORD how beautiful are your words, to bring light and truth to all people, let us sing from places of bondage where we are to be set free and let us sing praises from the church up through the steeple.
Isa 42:11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
Isa 42:12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.
Mal 2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
Isa 42:13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
Isa 42:14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
Isa 42:15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
Isa 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
Isa 42:17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
Deu 5:7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
Deu 5:8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:
Deu 5:9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,
Deu 5:10 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
The difference between He shall cry out, yes should aloud and He will not cry out, nor raise His voice (Isaiah 42:2) shows the difference between the first and Second Coming of Jesus. The first coming was meek and lowly; the Second Coming will be loud and demonstrative! (Guzik)
Isa 42:18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
Isa 42:19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant?
Isa 42:20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
THE LORD spoke first to the heathens who worship graven images; now he speaks to Israel, his elect. They also were spiritually blind and deaf.
John 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
John 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
John 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Isa 42:21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
The LORD loves the law; he will magnify the law and make it honourable. The law is holy.
Psa 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psa 119:12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Isa 42:22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.
Isa 42:23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?
Sin and flesh put Israel in bondage. Look at America with all the wealth and privileges, how they have turned from God and have become addicted and angry and slothful. No one takes responsibility, but everyone finds someone to blame.
Isa 42:24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.
The LORD will give people over to their choices, even sending foreign nations to take them captive, because they would not hear the LORD.
Isa 42:25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
1 Pet 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1 Pet 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 Pet 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
The LORD poured out chastisement, and still they would not hearken to him. As wonderful as Jesus is, few would seek him or trust in him. It is the same today and it is heartbreaking. If you are in Christ, the fiery trials are to bring you closer and more dependant on him.
1 Pet 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Beautiful verses describing the messiah, Jesus, when he shall come. Spoken by inspiration of God 700 years before it happened.
Behold my servant: Jesus; who did nothing apart from the Father's will. My soul delights in him.
Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
He was tempted in all things, without sinning. He had the Holy Spirit as we do, to guide us. He shall bring forth truth and righteous judgment to the Gentiles. He was sent first to Israel, but as prophesied he would also bring judgment and justify both Jew and Greek through his atoning sacrifice.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Isa 42:2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
Isa 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Luke 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
Luke 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
Luke 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
He brought goodness, gentleness and healing. If there was any life in a person he brought them hope. He did not come to qwench the burned out life; he came to bring new life in His Spirit. He brought light, not darkness. He restored the lamp of truth in people. He was righteous judgement and the way of truth.
Isa 42:4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
Jesus did not fail. His death was the payment for sins. He judged sin on the cross and is the way to eternal life for all people who will believe. His law was from the heart: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Isa 42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
Isa 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Mat 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Luke 2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Luke 2:31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
Luke 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Isa 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Mat 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luke 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Isa 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
It is important to understand that Jesus shares in the glory of the Father. Jesus prayed:
John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
The LORD God - Yahweh - is one God in Three Persons.
No one is given the glory of God, let no man glory in himself or any graven image. When we are born again of the spirit, we become adopted sons of God. But, we are not the creator, but we are the redeemed of his creation, created in his image and likeness. We do not worship the creation, but by grace and faith we are lifted up to serve Jesus at the throne of God.
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev 7:15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Isa 42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
A true prophet speaks what God speaks and all shall come to pass.
Isa 42:10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
Psa 33:1 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psa 33:2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Psa 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. Oh LORD how beautiful are your words, to bring light and truth to all people, let us sing from places of bondage where we are to be set free and let us sing praises from the church up through the steeple.
Isa 42:11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
Isa 42:12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.
Mal 2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
Isa 42:13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
Isa 42:14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
Isa 42:15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
Isa 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
Isa 42:17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
Deu 5:7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
Deu 5:8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:
Deu 5:9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,
Deu 5:10 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
The difference between He shall cry out, yes should aloud and He will not cry out, nor raise His voice (Isaiah 42:2) shows the difference between the first and Second Coming of Jesus. The first coming was meek and lowly; the Second Coming will be loud and demonstrative! (Guzik)
Isa 42:18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
Isa 42:19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant?
Isa 42:20 Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
THE LORD spoke first to the heathens who worship graven images; now he speaks to Israel, his elect. They also were spiritually blind and deaf.
John 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
John 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
John 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Mat 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Isa 42:21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
The LORD loves the law; he will magnify the law and make it honourable. The law is holy.
Psa 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psa 119:12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Isa 42:22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.
Isa 42:23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?
Sin and flesh put Israel in bondage. Look at America with all the wealth and privileges, how they have turned from God and have become addicted and angry and slothful. No one takes responsibility, but everyone finds someone to blame.
Isa 42:24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.
The LORD will give people over to their choices, even sending foreign nations to take them captive, because they would not hear the LORD.
Isa 42:25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
1 Pet 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1 Pet 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 Pet 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
The LORD poured out chastisement, and still they would not hearken to him. As wonderful as Jesus is, few would seek him or trust in him. It is the same today and it is heartbreaking. If you are in Christ, the fiery trials are to bring you closer and more dependant on him.
1 Pet 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Monday, February 16, 2009
The God of Jacob
Isa 41:1 Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.
Islands or coastlands, nations, let the people renew their strength. The only way the nations can be renewed is to come to the God of Jacob and the promised Messiah. Let them come near, putting away their idols. Let them speak before the judge of the world.
Isa 41:2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.
Isa 41:3 He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.
Isa 41:4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
Who raised the righteous man from the east? Who raised Cyrus, who conquered the kings? The LORD gave the nations to him. The LORD sets up kings for His purpose. He is the Alpha and Omega. Jesus is Lord and truly he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
Isa 41:5 The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.
Isa 41:6 They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.
Isa 41:7 So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the soldering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.
They tried to encourage themselves as they saw the power of king Cyrus; it was the God of Jacob who allowed Cyrus to be king. The nations still returned to idolotry, making graven images, carefully making them so that they would not fall apart. People see the work of the true God, but return to the idols made by hand. They do not have faith to receive the true God. How many know of Jesus and yet reject him and go back to serving the things of this world?
Isa 41:8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
Isa 41:9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
God chooses and he chose Abraham and Jacob to bless. Abraham was God's friend because he obeyed Him. Jesus also spoke to us as friends because we were chosen disciples and we obeyed him.
John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Psa 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Psa 28:8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
Psa 28:9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.
Psa 20:6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
Psa 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Isa 41:11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.
Isa 41:12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.
Isa 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
Rom 8:31 ... If God be for us, who can be against us?
Psa 27:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psa 27:2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Psa 27:3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
We must remember that the enemies of God will perish. We are to be as the son's of God, living a good life before those who oppose God. In reality , they oppose themselves and their own salvation.
2 Tim 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2 Tim 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2 Tim 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Isa 41:14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Psa 22:4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
Psa 22:5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
Psa 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
The name Jacob, refers to the man Jacob who by deceit took the blessing of his father. In himself there was no good, but God was faithful and Jacob became Israel; one who overcomes with God. Apart from God we can do nothing. We were no good until Jesus saved us. Now we are in him the righteous of God.
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Isa 64:7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Isa 41:15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.
Isa 41:16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.
If we trust in the LORD, nothing shall be impossible to us.
Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Isa 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
Isa 41:18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
Isa 41:19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:
Isa 41:20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
When Israel again became a nation in 1948, they found that there was an abundant supply of water under the ground. They turned the desert into rich farmland.
Isa 41:21 Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
Listen you fake gods. Show me something you can do? The LORD God is the king of Jacob.
Isa 41:22 Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
Isa 41:23 Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.
Bring your gods to the LORD GOD, let us see their works. These in which you trust; evolution? Let us see the proof of your theory. There is no substance to your gods. You worship them so that you will not come to the true God. You hide yourself from the true God and serve the works of your imagination because you want to keep on sinning. Can your god predict the future with accuracy? Do good or do evil, show your works so that we may look upon them? If your lie is true, then our God would be a lie and Jesus did not come to save us from our sins. But, if the God of Jacob is almighty God, you have no excuse.
Isa 41:24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.
It is an abomination to God to worship these false gods. I think of our nation who will not allow God to be taught in the schools or to be honored in public places. Our nation honors every evil god. The god of abortion, the god of lust, the god of evolution, the god of homosexuality, the god of pornography; the god of greed, the god of pride, all these are gods of this world and those who worship them are an abomination to God.
Isa 41:25 I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon mortar, and as the potter treadeth clay.
A conqueror will come from the north, under the direction of the LORD and he shall trample the powerful kings. This is thought to be Cyrus who showed favor to Nehemiah in allowing the Jews to return from captivity and to rebuild their city walls.
Isa 41:26 Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that showeth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.
Your gods cannot prophecy, they are not righteous, they do not show you anything. They do not declare anything and none hear your words when you call upon them. Like the prophets of baal, they made much pleading and cutting of themselves, but their god could not answer them.
1 Ki 18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
1 Ki 18:28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
1 Ki 18:29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
Isa 41:27 The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.
Isa 41:28 For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
Isa 41:29 Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.
Their molten images are wind (useless) and confusion. There is no God like the God of Jacob. He will strengthen you, he will help you, he will uphold you, he is the Almighty God.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Daniel 1
In the year 721 B.C. Israel was carried away captive by Sargon, into Assyria. These became the lost tribes of Israel, never to be heard of again. At the time of king Hezekiah, an angel destroyed the invading Assyrians coming to Judah. Hezekiah had foolishly shown all of his treasures to an envoy from Babylon and this brought Isaiah to the king with a message:
Isa 39:6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
Isa 39:7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
The time is 605 B.C. and the word of the LORD was to be fulfillled.
Dan 1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
Jehoiakim was a Judean king placed in power by the king of Egypt. His name meant "Yahweh raises up" but he was raised up by the King of Egypt. The King of Babylon came into Judah because the Pharaoh of Egypt had invaded Babylon. In response the young king of Babylon pursued the Egyptians, taking captive the Judeans and chased the Egyptians all the way to the Sinai. The Jewish nation fell because it was allied with Egypt, a symbol of the world. Judah had trusted the world and had turned from the LORD.
Dan 1:2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
Some of the articles of the Temple were taken, not all, perhaps the remainder were hidden. Removing the sacred vessels from the temple was as to say "my god is greater than your god," but God would show His glory to the mighty Babylons. There is none greater than our God.
Dan 1:3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
Dan 1:4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
2 Ki 24:12 And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.
2 Ki 24:13 And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.
2 Ki 24:14 And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
2 Ki 24:15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
2 Ki 24:16 And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
2 Ki 24:17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
A new home and a new language for Daniel who was among the young princes, in his early teens. He was uprooted, brought to a strange land to learn the wisdom of the land and the Chaldean language. Beginning in chapter 2 and verse 4, the book of Daniel was written in Chaldean.
Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Dan 1:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
A new diet. The king's fine food and wine, was a special diet given to the young men. The king's meal was the best the king had to offer, better than the average Babylonian meal. They were favored by the king.
Dan 1:6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
Dan 1:7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
They were given new names after the gods of Babylon. The Hebrew given names were changed to Babylonian names; each had their own meanings.
Daniel, God is my judge was named Belteshazzar, Bel's prince.
Hannaniah, beloved of the LORD was named Shadrach, illumined by Sun-god.
Mishael, who is as God was named Meshach, who is like Venus.
Azariah, the LORD is my help was named Abed-Nego, servant of Nego
The four boys were dedicated to the LORD by their parents and had godly names. Now they were given names of Babylonian gods. The world will try to change the children dedicated to God, but God is faithful. If they were connected to the God of Israel, they would stay connected.
For three years the young men were to be trained in the knowledge of the Babylonians; the history, the literature and the language. Nebuchadnezzar was much more interested in indoctrination than in education. In a sense, this is no different from college today. Colleges and universities are all too often used to shape and bend the minds of young people to particular ideological views. Except for Christian colleges, most state and private schools are opposed to Christianity and it seems that three to four years is about the time needed to flush out Christianity and give a young person a new point of view. Would they stay true to the LORD or would they become as the world? The Hebrew children would serve the LORD first and then the king.
Daniel's Convictions
Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Dan 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
This was a decision based on spiritual convictions. The law of Moses has restrictions on foods and the meat prepared was to be bled and prepared in a "kosher" way. Orthodox Jews today will not eat meat that is not prepared under the law. No doubt the kings meat was sacrificed to idols. Paul in the New Testament speaks about not eating because it might offend. We are no longer under these laws, but we should be sensitive to those who are offended.
Rom 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Rom 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Rom 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Rom 14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Rom 14:20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Daniel chose to abide by the dietary laws that he had, under the law of his people. He had the courage to stand for his convictions. We are free to eat whatever we choose as long as it doesn't cause another to stumble. What are your convictions?
Dan 1:9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
The man who was in charge of the keep and training of Daniel, was kind and sympathetic towards the young Daniel. This was of God, for surely many of us have had masters who were more as from the devil to work under.
Dan 1:10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
He was hearing Daniel, but he also feared the king. He was in charge to see that they were fed properly and kept in good shape. If he failed, his life would be in danger. Daniel stood by his convictions, yet others of his people were not spared. The king could be quite cruel. Just because we honor God, does not mean they will.
Jer 39:6 Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.
Jer 39:7 Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon.
Dan 1:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Dan 1:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
Dan 1:13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
Dan 1:14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
Dan 1:15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
Dan 1:16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
This was God's doing, for eating vegetables only does not make one look fatter, they may make you healthy, but normally meat and gravy would make one fatter. God had his hand on these four boys. God has his hand on you too. Obey him and do not fear doing the will of God. Our convictions if based on God's word, will bring forth the blessings of God.
God Given Knowledge
Dan 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
God given abilities were given to these who were faithful and who trusted God. They gave themselves totally to God and he rewarded them with his knowledge and wisdom. Daniel was given understanding in all visions and dreams.
Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Dan 1:18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
The three years of training were over. It is time to wait on the king. If the king required preparation to serve him, how much more should we be prepared to serve the King of Kings?
Dan 1:19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
They spoke together, they conversed. With the king, one must speak politely and be quick to hear and respond to the king's words. How do we come to the king of kings? Are we polite and do we listen to his words? We begin to listen by studying his word. Then we will know his voice from the voice of the devil. Do we come to God in anger and resentment? What would happen to those who approached the king of Babylon that way? Our God is loving and merciful, but his wrath will come to those who do not come to him through his son. He sent Jesus, because he loves us and desires to commune with us.
Dan 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
The children who served God were ten times wiser and more understanding then who? the wisest of the Babylonians who inquired in the the devil's magic and astrology. We do not receive wisdom from darkness. This is false knowledge. A dedicated person with God's spirit is wiser than the children of the world.
Dan 1:21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Daniel served in the government during the reigns of 4 kings including Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus, over a period of 60 or more years. He served in three kingdoms: Babylon, Media and Persia.Daniel and his friends had convictions based on God's law. They were faithful and God rewarded their faithfulness by increasing their abilities. They had great character and wisdom when faced with change and retraining, they held on to their faith. He will do the same for all who trust him and live by faith.
Isa 39:6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
Isa 39:7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
The time is 605 B.C. and the word of the LORD was to be fulfillled.
Dan 1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
Jehoiakim was a Judean king placed in power by the king of Egypt. His name meant "Yahweh raises up" but he was raised up by the King of Egypt. The King of Babylon came into Judah because the Pharaoh of Egypt had invaded Babylon. In response the young king of Babylon pursued the Egyptians, taking captive the Judeans and chased the Egyptians all the way to the Sinai. The Jewish nation fell because it was allied with Egypt, a symbol of the world. Judah had trusted the world and had turned from the LORD.
Dan 1:2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
Some of the articles of the Temple were taken, not all, perhaps the remainder were hidden. Removing the sacred vessels from the temple was as to say "my god is greater than your god," but God would show His glory to the mighty Babylons. There is none greater than our God.
Dan 1:3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
Dan 1:4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
2 Ki 24:12 And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.
2 Ki 24:13 And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.
2 Ki 24:14 And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
2 Ki 24:15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
2 Ki 24:16 And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
2 Ki 24:17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
A new home and a new language for Daniel who was among the young princes, in his early teens. He was uprooted, brought to a strange land to learn the wisdom of the land and the Chaldean language. Beginning in chapter 2 and verse 4, the book of Daniel was written in Chaldean.
Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Dan 1:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
A new diet. The king's fine food and wine, was a special diet given to the young men. The king's meal was the best the king had to offer, better than the average Babylonian meal. They were favored by the king.
Dan 1:6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
Dan 1:7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
They were given new names after the gods of Babylon. The Hebrew given names were changed to Babylonian names; each had their own meanings.
Daniel, God is my judge was named Belteshazzar, Bel's prince.
Hannaniah, beloved of the LORD was named Shadrach, illumined by Sun-god.
Mishael, who is as God was named Meshach, who is like Venus.
Azariah, the LORD is my help was named Abed-Nego, servant of Nego
The four boys were dedicated to the LORD by their parents and had godly names. Now they were given names of Babylonian gods. The world will try to change the children dedicated to God, but God is faithful. If they were connected to the God of Israel, they would stay connected.
For three years the young men were to be trained in the knowledge of the Babylonians; the history, the literature and the language. Nebuchadnezzar was much more interested in indoctrination than in education. In a sense, this is no different from college today. Colleges and universities are all too often used to shape and bend the minds of young people to particular ideological views. Except for Christian colleges, most state and private schools are opposed to Christianity and it seems that three to four years is about the time needed to flush out Christianity and give a young person a new point of view. Would they stay true to the LORD or would they become as the world? The Hebrew children would serve the LORD first and then the king.
Daniel's Convictions
Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Dan 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
This was a decision based on spiritual convictions. The law of Moses has restrictions on foods and the meat prepared was to be bled and prepared in a "kosher" way. Orthodox Jews today will not eat meat that is not prepared under the law. No doubt the kings meat was sacrificed to idols. Paul in the New Testament speaks about not eating because it might offend. We are no longer under these laws, but we should be sensitive to those who are offended.
Rom 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
Rom 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Rom 14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Rom 14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Rom 14:20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Daniel chose to abide by the dietary laws that he had, under the law of his people. He had the courage to stand for his convictions. We are free to eat whatever we choose as long as it doesn't cause another to stumble. What are your convictions?
Dan 1:9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
The man who was in charge of the keep and training of Daniel, was kind and sympathetic towards the young Daniel. This was of God, for surely many of us have had masters who were more as from the devil to work under.
Dan 1:10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
He was hearing Daniel, but he also feared the king. He was in charge to see that they were fed properly and kept in good shape. If he failed, his life would be in danger. Daniel stood by his convictions, yet others of his people were not spared. The king could be quite cruel. Just because we honor God, does not mean they will.
Jer 39:6 Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.
Jer 39:7 Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon.
Dan 1:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Dan 1:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
Dan 1:13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
Dan 1:14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
Dan 1:15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
Dan 1:16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
This was God's doing, for eating vegetables only does not make one look fatter, they may make you healthy, but normally meat and gravy would make one fatter. God had his hand on these four boys. God has his hand on you too. Obey him and do not fear doing the will of God. Our convictions if based on God's word, will bring forth the blessings of God.
God Given Knowledge
Dan 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
God given abilities were given to these who were faithful and who trusted God. They gave themselves totally to God and he rewarded them with his knowledge and wisdom. Daniel was given understanding in all visions and dreams.
Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Dan 1:18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
The three years of training were over. It is time to wait on the king. If the king required preparation to serve him, how much more should we be prepared to serve the King of Kings?
Dan 1:19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
They spoke together, they conversed. With the king, one must speak politely and be quick to hear and respond to the king's words. How do we come to the king of kings? Are we polite and do we listen to his words? We begin to listen by studying his word. Then we will know his voice from the voice of the devil. Do we come to God in anger and resentment? What would happen to those who approached the king of Babylon that way? Our God is loving and merciful, but his wrath will come to those who do not come to him through his son. He sent Jesus, because he loves us and desires to commune with us.
Dan 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
The children who served God were ten times wiser and more understanding then who? the wisest of the Babylonians who inquired in the the devil's magic and astrology. We do not receive wisdom from darkness. This is false knowledge. A dedicated person with God's spirit is wiser than the children of the world.
Dan 1:21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Daniel served in the government during the reigns of 4 kings including Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus, over a period of 60 or more years. He served in three kingdoms: Babylon, Media and Persia.Daniel and his friends had convictions based on God's law. They were faithful and God rewarded their faithfulness by increasing their abilities. They had great character and wisdom when faced with change and retraining, they held on to their faith. He will do the same for all who trust him and live by faith.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Behold the Lord - Isaiah 40
Isa 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Chapters 40 through 66 focus on the coming Messiah Jesus. In him we have comfort. Comfort is to speak to ones heart.
2 Cor 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2 Cor 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2 Cor 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
Isa 40:2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
Jesus has won the victory for us. Our iniquity is pardoned, by faith in Jesus our sins are forgiven. Jerusalem and the people of faith, have received double for all her sins. I think of forgiveness and mercy, but still more we are made eternal sons and daughters of God. Jesus has given himself as our sacrifice for sin and is also our Great High Priest. He is our propitiation: the giving of his human life and the giver of Spiritual life, He is the sacrifice and the Holy place of forgiveness.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isa 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
Isa 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
John the Baptist had the Spirit of Isaiah when he repeated this verse.
John 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
The real preparation must take place in our hearts. Hearts must prepare to receive the coming of the Lord. The message of John was of repentance.
Isa 40:6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
Isa 40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
Isa 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
The message of the prophet is that man's life is as the grass , he will grow in his time and soon fade away. The flesh man will perish and should not be glorified. We are to glorify that which is eternal: the word of God shall stand forever.
Isa 40:9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
I think of the song "Go tell it on the mountain." Proclaim the gospel news!
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Isa 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Isa 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Isa 40:12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
Isa 40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
Isa 40:14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding?
Isa 40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
Isa 40:16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
Isa 40:17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
Isa 40:18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
Psa 89:6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?
Psa 89:11 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
Prov 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
Isa 40:19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
Isa 40:20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.
Isa 40:21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
God is alive and not a dumb idol.
Hab 2:18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
Hab 2:19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
Hab 2:20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
Isa 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
The Bible says the earth is a circle. This was not known until modern times. God's word is truth and true science.
The Lord made everything and he can take it away.
Isa 34:4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
Heb 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
Heb 1:11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
Heb 1:12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Isa 40:23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
Isa 40:24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Those of power he sets them up and he can take them down.
Isa 40:25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Isa 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
Psa 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Hosts; stratia, army, angels or stars. The Lord knows the names of all of the stars and the angels.
Isa 40:27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Isa 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Psa 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
Psa 34:16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
Psa 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Psa 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Isa 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
2 Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Cor 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Isa 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
To wait on the LORD is to actively seek Him. We wait until His power and direction is given to us. We mount up with wings as eagles, above the concerns of this life. We peacefully soar in the Spirit with the LORD. He takes us above the concerns of this life into heavenly places.
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
We shall run the race that is set before us and not tire. We leave our burdens at the cross. Sins can weigh us down; give them all to Jesus and be free.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Finally we are to walk in the Spirit and not faint.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
We soar as an eagle, we run and we walk across the finish line, by the Spirit we stay in the will of God, until we finish this life and Jesus welcomes us into His eternal presence.
Chapters 40 through 66 focus on the coming Messiah Jesus. In him we have comfort. Comfort is to speak to ones heart.
2 Cor 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2 Cor 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2 Cor 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
Isa 40:2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
Jesus has won the victory for us. Our iniquity is pardoned, by faith in Jesus our sins are forgiven. Jerusalem and the people of faith, have received double for all her sins. I think of forgiveness and mercy, but still more we are made eternal sons and daughters of God. Jesus has given himself as our sacrifice for sin and is also our Great High Priest. He is our propitiation: the giving of his human life and the giver of Spiritual life, He is the sacrifice and the Holy place of forgiveness.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isa 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
Isa 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
John the Baptist had the Spirit of Isaiah when he repeated this verse.
John 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
The real preparation must take place in our hearts. Hearts must prepare to receive the coming of the Lord. The message of John was of repentance.
Isa 40:6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
Isa 40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
Isa 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
The message of the prophet is that man's life is as the grass , he will grow in his time and soon fade away. The flesh man will perish and should not be glorified. We are to glorify that which is eternal: the word of God shall stand forever.
Isa 40:9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
I think of the song "Go tell it on the mountain." Proclaim the gospel news!
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Isa 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Isa 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
The Lord is our Good Shepherd.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Psa 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Jer 31:10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.Isa 40:12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
Isa 40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
Isa 40:14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding?
Isa 40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
Isa 40:16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
Isa 40:17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
Isa 40:18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
Psa 89:6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?
Psa 89:11 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.
Prov 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
Isa 40:19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
Isa 40:20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.
Isa 40:21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
God is alive and not a dumb idol.
Hab 2:18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
Hab 2:19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
Hab 2:20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
Isa 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
The Bible says the earth is a circle. This was not known until modern times. God's word is truth and true science.
The Lord made everything and he can take it away.
Isa 34:4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
Heb 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
Heb 1:11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
Heb 1:12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Isa 40:23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
Isa 40:24 Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Those of power he sets them up and he can take them down.
Isa 40:25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Isa 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
Psa 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Hosts; stratia, army, angels or stars. The Lord knows the names of all of the stars and the angels.
Isa 40:27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Isa 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Psa 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
Psa 34:16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
Psa 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Psa 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Isa 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
2 Cor 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Cor 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Isa 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
To wait on the LORD is to actively seek Him. We wait until His power and direction is given to us. We mount up with wings as eagles, above the concerns of this life. We peacefully soar in the Spirit with the LORD. He takes us above the concerns of this life into heavenly places.
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
We shall run the race that is set before us and not tire. We leave our burdens at the cross. Sins can weigh us down; give them all to Jesus and be free.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Finally we are to walk in the Spirit and not faint.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
We soar as an eagle, we run and we walk across the finish line, by the Spirit we stay in the will of God, until we finish this life and Jesus welcomes us into His eternal presence.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
TRIBULATION AND FEAR
Idols and treasures will not save you, so who and what will you trust in these last days? The LORD has warned us of the end times, we must trust in Jesus and not join the people of the world who walk in fear and scare each other with stories from others who are fearing.
Isa 2:5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Isa 2:6 Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.
Isa 2:7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:
Isa 2:8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:
Isa 2:9 And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.
Isa 2:10 Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.
Isa 2:11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
Isa 2:12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
Isa 2:13 And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,
Isa 2:14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,
Isa 2:15 And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,
Isa 2:16 And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.
Isa 2:17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
Isa 2:18 And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
Isa 2:19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
Isa 2:20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
Isa 2:21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
Isa 2:22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?
Our trust is not in a man, in our personal power or possessions; some will hide in the rocks and caves from God, we had better put our trust in Jesus.
Micah 7:17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.
The end time warning is repeated by Jesus, Two or more witnesses confirm a thing as true in the Law; God's word is truth.
Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luke 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luke 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luke 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luke 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luke 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Watch and pray always, be the light of God, not as a worm with no hope. Stand in the Lord in faith. Jesus died on the cross to make you acceptable. Hold onto that in faith.
Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Tribulation ten days. Ten represents the law. They will use their law to cast you in prison and perhaps to kill you, but your faith will give you eternal life.
Persecution is promised, we may avoid it where possible, but do not become as the lost to avoid it. Stand in truth as the light of the world.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you
.
Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
Mat 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mat 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Mat 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Mat 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Mat 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mat 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Mat 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
John 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
How we should live in perilous times: We are to love as Christ loved and be as He is in the Holy Spirit He has given to us.
Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Rom 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Do not act as the world: full of fear, seeing idols and money, believing every lie of the devil. Hold fast to the word of faith. Jesus is your salvation. Be about his business and behave as a child of God. Put off the darkness and walk in the light of His truth. Jesus will receive us into everlasting joy.
Isa 2:5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Isa 2:6 Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.
Isa 2:7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:
Isa 2:8 Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:
Isa 2:9 And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.
Isa 2:10 Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.
Isa 2:11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
Isa 2:12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
Isa 2:13 And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,
Isa 2:14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,
Isa 2:15 And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,
Isa 2:16 And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.
Isa 2:17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
Isa 2:18 And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
Isa 2:19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
Isa 2:20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
Isa 2:21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
Isa 2:22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?
Our trust is not in a man, in our personal power or possessions; some will hide in the rocks and caves from God, we had better put our trust in Jesus.
Micah 7:17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.
The end time warning is repeated by Jesus, Two or more witnesses confirm a thing as true in the Law; God's word is truth.
Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Luke 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luke 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luke 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luke 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luke 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Watch and pray always, be the light of God, not as a worm with no hope. Stand in the Lord in faith. Jesus died on the cross to make you acceptable. Hold onto that in faith.
Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Tribulation ten days. Ten represents the law. They will use their law to cast you in prison and perhaps to kill you, but your faith will give you eternal life.
Persecution is promised, we may avoid it where possible, but do not become as the lost to avoid it. Stand in truth as the light of the world.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you
.
Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
Mat 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mat 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Mat 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Mat 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Mat 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mat 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Mat 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
John 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
How we should live in perilous times: We are to love as Christ loved and be as He is in the Holy Spirit He has given to us.
Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Rom 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Do not act as the world: full of fear, seeing idols and money, believing every lie of the devil. Hold fast to the word of faith. Jesus is your salvation. Be about his business and behave as a child of God. Put off the darkness and walk in the light of His truth. Jesus will receive us into everlasting joy.
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