February 12, 2010 (Isaiah 49-58)

Kind of a "mixed bag" of thoughts today. Here's one of the first things I read:

^{Isaiah 49:3} He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel,
and you will bring me glory.”

⁴ I replied, “But my work seems so useless!
I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.
Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand;
I will trust God for my reward.”

You know, it's easy to feel that way. "What's the use? Why am I expending all this energy for God's work? It's amounting to nothing." But that's just what the enemy of our souls wants us to think. And we know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord. And so we must leave it in God's hand, and just trust Him for our reward.

In this next section, I had always thought it was a Messianic prophecy, but my footnotes make no mention of that.

^{Isaiah 50:4} The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom,
so that I know how to comfort the weary.
Morning by morning he wakens me
and opens my understanding to his will.
⁵ The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me,
and I have listened.
I have not rebelled or turned away.
⁶ I offered my back to those who beat me
and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard.
I did not hide my face
from mockery and spitting.

⁷ Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore, I have set my face like a stone,
determined to do his will.
And I know that I will not be put to shame.
⁸ He who gives me justice is near.
Who will dare to bring charges against me now?
Where are my accusers?
Let them appear!
⁹ See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side!
Who will declare me guilty?
All my enemies will be destroyed
like old clothes that have been eaten by moths!

¹⁰ Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys his servant?
If you are walking in darkness,
without a ray of light,
trust in the Lord
and rely on your God.
¹¹ But watch out, you who live in your own light
and warm yourselves by your own fires.
This is the reward you will receive from me:
You will soon fall down in great torment.

My reading for today encompassed Isaiah 53. This chapter is referenced as a 'Major Messianic Passage'. As I read a certain section of this, I again thought of David Hames, our acquaintance (I would call him friend, and he was, just not a close friend) that was killed in Haiti. Here are the verses that stuck out to me:

^{Isaiah 53:10} But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
¹¹ When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
he will be satisfied.

This is obviously pointing to Christ, but I thought of the similarities. Our friend was 'crushed' in the rubble, but his life was lived in such a way that his funeral will speak volumes to our city. I have a feeling that many will come to Christ as they attend his funeral. His life was one of purpose. He was a Messianic Jew, coming to Christ about seven years ago. As I thought of the above verses and their pointing to Christ, I thought "Christ didn't live a long life. He died at the age of 33". But, Christ is not dead, and neither is David. He is more alive than he has ever been and he is now experiencing the reality of his faith. And I think of verse 11 - and knowing him and his heart for orphans and children, if he sees people come to Christ because of his anguish, he will be satisfied. That is my opinion, at least.

And again, we are challenged to seek the Lord:

Isaiah 55:³ “Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.

⁶ Seek the Lord while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
⁷ Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

⁸ “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
⁹ For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

And finally, this is the section that we used for "Mama Debra's" gravestone:

Isaiah 57:¹ Good people pass away;
the godly often die before their time.
But no one seems to care or wonder why.
No one seems to understand
that God is protecting them from the evil to come.
² For those who follow godly paths
will rest in peace when they die.

There is so much more. God's word is rich with wisdom. But I will try to keep these fairly brief.