Bible Pathways - August 2, 2005

August 2

In Today's Reading:

God's judgment upon sinners; Isaiah's vision of God's holiness; his message for King Ahaz; Christ's birth and Kingdom foretold

The prophet Isaiah foretold the judgment of God against the kingdom of Judah because of the people's sins.

Ahaz, king of Judah, was facing war. The prophet appealed to him, saying: Ask . . . a sign of the LORD (Isaiah 7:11). Although Ahaz refused, Isaiah spoke a glorious prophecy of the true King of kings who was yet to come. The sign Isaiah offered was the declaration of a special Child who was to come: The virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel (God With Us) (7:14). Seven hundred years later, the Angel Gabriel confirmed to the virgin Mary: The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that Holy Thing (One) which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). In fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, Jesus, the Son of God, was born. To reject the virgin birth and question either the deity or the humanity of Jesus of Nazareth is to miss the significance that Jesus was both God and Man. As sinless man, He could atone for the sins of mankind and redeem what Adam had forfeited.

The prophet Isaiah received another glorious revelation of the eternal King of kings of whom he foretold: To us a Child (Jesus Christ) is born, to us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). We recognize the fulfillment of that prophecy in Jesus, who was born of the virgin and later crucified, providing eternal life to all believers by dying on the cross for our sins and by His triumph over death. Not only was His first advent declared, but also His second. We can rejoice as we look forward to the time when He will reign in righteousness on earth as the most Wonderful Counselor.

Jesus is the Second Person of the Godhead. The Same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:2-3; also Hebrews 1:3).

Christ Revealed:

As Immanuel, God with us in the form of the Son of the virgin (Isaiah 7:14). Other prophecies concerning Jesus Christ are found in Isaiah 8:14; 9:2. Isaiah reveals that a Child shall be born; a Son shall be given (crucifixion); and the government shall be upon His shoulder (His Second Coming) (9:6-7). The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God (I Thessalonians 4:16).

Word Studies:

5:1 vineyard = the Israelites; 5:5 go to = listen to Me; 5:23 reward = bribes; 7:16 abhorrest = hate, despise; 8:21 hardly bestead = sorely distressed, hard pressed; 9:9 stoutness = arrogance.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for Staff: Benjamin Wallace · Government Official: Sec. John Snow (Department of the Treasury) · Country: India (1 billion) in southern Asia · Major languages: Hindi and English · Religious freedom, but increasing harassment and persecution of Christians by religious radicals · 78% Hindu; 12% Muslim; 2% Protestant; 2% Roman Catholic; 2% Sikhs · Prayer Suggestion: Thank God for the spiritual rest that is in Him (Hebrews 4:9-10).

Optional Reading: Hebrews 10

Memory Verse for the Week: 1 Thessalonians 4:18