Bible Pathway - Aug. 4, 2011
Read Isaiah 15
Highlights:
God warns: "You'll be sorry if you mess with My children!" (Gen. 12:3). Learn from His judgments against Moab in Isaiah 15 — 16; Damascus (Syria) (Is. 17); Ethiopia (chap. 18); Egypt (chap. 19 — 20); Babylon, Edom, Arabia (chap. 21). God sifts our lives with disappointments, suffering, losses, etc. to remove the chaff and draw us closer to Him (21:10).
Isaiah foretold that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin (Is. 17:4) and would be like wasted wheat left scattered on the ground after the harvest had been gathered (17:5). The destruction would be complete. There was nothing for Judah to look forward to except a long and dark period of Babylonian captivity. The few who were left would realize that it was the result of their sin and that turning to God was their only hope. At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel (17:7-8). Many times, the people of God have had to face a crisis before they would humble themselves and repent of sin, turning to the Lord with all their hearts.
After Israel's dark 70-year period of Babylonian captivity, Babylon would fall to the Medes and Persians. Isaiah prophesied its fall like a watchman stationed in a watchtower (21:1-10).
When the Christian looks out upon the world around him, he will find himself surrounded by a moral and spiritual night — a dark night of unbelief and sin — because men loved darkness rather than light (John 3:19). Only the children of God have a glorious light within them. Every earnest Christian is to be a watchman who longs for the advent of Christ's coming and the world's new morning.
If we are to inherit the Lord's best during our short lives, it is of utmost importance that we not allow anything to keep us from giving Christ first place in our lives and living to please Him. The desire for material possessions, a person, or personal pleasure has kept many from being used by the Lord to take His message of eternal life to a lost world. But a person who earnestly desires to please the Lord will see that our earthly possessions really belong to God; they have only been entrusted to us to give us an opportunity to lay up treasures in heaven — the lives of those we have pointed to eternal life (Matt. 6:20-21; Luke 16:9).
No one can experience true satisfaction or the peace of God, which passeth all understanding (Phil. 4:7; John 14:27; 16:33) until his desire to please God is greater than his desire to please self — or anyone else.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matt. 7:13-14).
Thought for Today:
Incline my heart unto Thy Testimonies, and not to covetousness (Ps.119:36).
Christ Revealed:
As the One who will sit on the throne of David (Is. 16:5). The angel Gabriel told the virgin Mary that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David (Luke 1:32-33). Christ also is revealed as the Saviour (Is. 19:20; comp. Matt. 1:21; Luke 2:11).
Word Studies:
16:3 bewray betray; 16:11 my bowels my inner being, heart; 17:11 a heap a failure; 19:8 angle looks; 21:14 prevented with their bread him that fled gave food and water to the fugitives.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts in memory of Heidi Gulla • Government Officials: Pres. Barack Obama, Rep. Keith Ellison (MN), and Rep. Robert Andrews (NJ) • Country: Serbia and Montenegro (11 million) on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe • Major language: Serbo-Croatian • Religious conflict • 41% Serbian/Montenegrin/Macedonian Orthodox; 33% Catholic; 11% Muslim; 1% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Seek the guidance of God in meekness (Ps. 25:9).
Optional Reading:
Memory Verse for the Week:
Psalms 34:19
