Devotional Time with God

Chapters 7 – 8

• The complete first major section of the book of Isaiah containing historical narrative and prophecies during the rule of Ahaz (King of Judah).
• Ahaz was a cowardly king.
• King Rezin and King Pekah were besieging Jerusalem.
• Ahaz was told not to fear the kings’ plot against him.
• The sign of a the child named Immanuel, conceived from a virgin. It’s referring to Jesus Christ, the coming messiah.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

• During the sign, the land will be forsaken by the king.
• Assyria and Egypt desolated Judah instead.
• Isaiah’s second son’s name was Mahar-Shalal-Hash-Baz meaning “Speed the Spoil, Hasten the Booty”.
• Before the child grew up, the riches and spoils of Damascus and Samaria would be taken away by Assyria.
• The people of Judah refused the “water of Shiloah” which is the flowing and nourishing water of life. It also symbolizes the quiet and unseen flow of the power of Jesus.
• God told Isaiah to fear Him, for God will protect him. Those who does not fear the Lord will stumble and fall.
• People must seek God and His word, not the wizards nor mediums.

I missed last week’s study, so I’m combining two studies into one for today’s summary.

• Chapters 2-5 contain the messages for both the present and future of Judah and Jerusalem.
• The future of Zion was foretold with images of mountains and hills.
• It will happen in the “latter days” and will begin when the Lord’s temples are established. All the people will go to it, exalt God’s name on high (on the mountain top), and follow His path.
• The word of the Lord will come from Zion. He will also judge and rebuke many people.
• The moral condition of the people in Zion were detestable: pagan worship, filled with greed and pride, and idol worship.
• God will remove good leadership and supplies. God will only care for the righteous.
• Chapter 3 verses 18-24 details what will happen to the women: how they will be deprived of their looks and possessions.
• Men will die during battle by their enemies.
• God provided healing and blessings to the righteous. Shelter was provided for them also.
• Isaiah sang the song of God and His vineyard. He sang about how the vineyard would be destroyed because it produced “wild grapes”.
• Woes to the drunk, greedy, arrogant, self-righteous, and lazy people who blatantly sin and have confused morals.
• God struck the land by calling mighty nations to invade the land, and left the land in darkness and sorrow.

Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the LORD Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.

– Isaiah 5:24

• In Chapter 6, Isaiah described the vision of the Holy God.
• It was suggested that Isaiah’s vision started his ministry.
• Isaiah saw the vision of the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, with His robe filling the temple. He also saw seraphims or angels, with 6 wings.
• The imagery of the 6 wings were: 2 wings to cover the eyes because they can’t see God with all of His glory; 2 wings to cover the feet because feet are the lowest form of the body; and 2 wings for flying.
• The angels praised, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.“
• Isaiah was approached by one of the seraphim and touched his mouth with a live coal taken from the altar. He is then purged of sins and could serve God.
• Isaiah humbled himself to God. He cried out that he’s not worthy, but he is ready to serve God with no fear.
• Isaiah was commissioned to show the people that their hearts were hardened, and tell the people to repent.
• Isaiah was told to preach until the cities were destroyed and people died.
• The small ray of hope is the “remnant” or the holy seed – the righteous people who seek God’s grace and mercy.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

– Isaiah 6:8

When God asks, be ready to serve with courage humility, and commitment – just like Isaiah did.

The study of the book of Isaiah begins with Chapter 1.

1. Isaiah described his message as a “vision” or prophecy, a sight/word from God. It concerns Judah and Jerusalem. He was concerned about their moral condition.
2. During his time, it was reigned by King Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, approximately 739-690 BC.
3. God called the heaven and earth as witnesses against Israel.
4. God brought charges to Israel for being rebellious children who don’t know their Father.
5. The nation was described as sinful and corrupt. It turned away from God.
6. God described the nation suffering wounds and sores, but still wanted more.
7. Jerusalem is besieged and the country side overthrown by strangers (The Asyrians).
8. God had left some survivors (remnant), otherwise it would have become like Sodom and Gomorrah.
9. God could not longer endure their “religious” activities: the hypocrisies and the meaningless offerings.
10. God would not answer their prayers, for their hands were full of blood.
11. The people must stop sinning and wash themselves clean from wrong doing. As well as do good, seek justice, reprove the oppressor, defend the fatherless and widow.
12. God still offer salvation even after the most wicked acts.
13. God offers blessings for those who obey, and dire consequences for those who are rebellious.
14. The corrupt condition of Jerusalem: was once a place for the faithful became a sinful place. Once full of justice became a place for murderers. A polluted city, corrupt officials, heartless, and not caring about its people.
15. God promised justice to the wicked and refuge for the righteous. He will purify Zion by getting rid of His enemies and restore Jerusalem back to a righteous and faithful city.
16. Those who forsake the Lord would be destroyed. God would make the people be ashamed of the idols (trees and gardens). They would be consumed like dry vegetation.

You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen. You will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without water. The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire.

Isaiah 1:29-31

What I learned today:

• Isaiah was called The Messianic Prophet because he prophesied Jesus’ deeds and messages.
• Interesting note that a prophet does not necessarily mean foretelling the future. A prophet is someone God’s use to speak His words onto the people in the prophet’s day – God’s messenger, so to speak.
• Book of Isaiah is divided into two parts: his condemnation and warning for the people in the Kingdom of Judah, and the prophecies of Jesus.
• Judah gave advice to King Ahaz and Hezekiah.
• The blessings of God will only come to those who are obedient and faithful to God. Otherwise, the riches and victory will no longer be available.

At work, we’re going to start a men’s only bible study every Thursday during lunch hour.  We’ll be going through the book of Isaiah using a provided study material.  I’m looking forward to our first meeting.  Hopefully we’ll have an enthusiastic enough group because generally men are lazy with Bible studies, like me.  This should help me study more and have fellowship with my co-workers.

Pastor Rick’s latest message is about reconciliation. This is not a new topic, but it is a very difficult topic for everyone (me included) because it’s hard for us to get along with each other. The roots of all conflicts are selfishness and sinfulness. I have needs. If my needs are not met, I will get cranky, jealous, and eventually angry. I get angry at the person I love. I get angry at God.

I must learn how to reconcile with others. But first, I must take 7 steps to get there:

1. Make peace with God.
2. Ask God for help.
3. Convene a peace conference.
4. Confess my part of the conflict.
5. Listen for others’ hurt.
6. Be willing to absorb the pain.
7. Emphasize reconciliation, not resolution.

First and foremost, I must surrender myself to God. God is the provider of all things. Going against the flesh, I need an extra strong influence that God can provide. He gives me guidelines to live by through His words. He wants me to live pure and faultless, which is what I have to strife for. To believe in God, I must change my lifestyle. I can’t be a person from this world, where selfish desires are considered acceptable and mostly encouraged! I have rules to live by. If I’ve been hurt by others, I know God will be able to heal me.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:1-2

I must always ask God for help. To get my thoughts going on reconciliation, I have to ask two things:

• How much of it is my fault?
• What does God want me to do about this?

During a conflict, it’s very difficult for me to self-examine myself. That is why I rely on God to give me the wisdom to know what I’ve done, and help me correct my faults.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5

Thank you, Jesus, for surrendering on the cross for my sins. You have shown me how to love God and to love one another. You’ve shown me the wisdom to love by paying attention to other people’s needs, not my own. I thank you for being there for me when I need you. My needs are satisfied every time I ask you and for that I’m forever grateful! Amen.

Last week, Pastor Rick’s sermon was very much appropriate for this blog. It was a topic on devotional. Feeding myself the word of God to ensure my spiritual growth. First and foremost, I must accept the bible’s authority as the source of truths for my life. I have to be in tune with God to get a lot more out of the bible.I must watch out for unreliable source of authorities:

• Culture – truth by personality, truth by popularity. Do not follow the crowd who can turn good to bad, and bad to good, completely muddling the truth. If it was true, it was not new. Truth will always be the same.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Isaiah 5:20

• Tradition – I’ve always done it that way, so it must be right.
• Reason – my logic doesn’t always dictate.
• Emotions – my feelings can lie.

God’s word is always true. His truth, exposes our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training to live in God’s way. God’s words show me the path, when I get off the path, how I can get on the path, and to stay on the path. I must study and search the scriptures, not just read it.

The difference between bible reading and bible study is taking notes. The shortest pencil is the longest form of memory. The secret of bible study is asking questions, asks the usual who, when, where, what, why, and how. The Devotional Study Form is going to help me study the bible even better.

1. Pray. I must ask God for insight. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
2. Meditate (seriously thinking). If I know how to worry, I already know how to meditate. Keep thinking about it and going it over, and over again. Like a cow ruminates on grass. I must reflect on what I’ve just read.
3. Apply it using “S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S” I’ll be blessed if I do them. The application must be personal, practical, possible, and provable.
4. Memorize. It is the sword in my life to resist temptation. Every time Jesus was tempted, he used the scripture to resist the devil.

And [Jesus] will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6b (NIV)

The holiday is over. I’m back to work in my usual mundane office, doing the same stuff as I did for the past 10 years or so, and dealing with the same office politics and red tape. During small talk with co-workers and vendors, we always talked about how we need more vacations, more time away from busy and hectic office life, more peace and quiet. So I asked myself, how can I preserve that “peace”? Is it really the peace I’m looking for?

Jesus reminds me that He is the Prince of peace. I just have to look for Him whenever I’m experiencing stress, despair, or worry. He gives me hope when I don’t feel I have any. He gives me the presence of security. He wants me to live my life and continuously be sanctified in truth: living out my purpose. Nothing is greater than serving God, relying on God, and serve others.

Knowing that God uniquely created me, what areas of my personality, background, and physical appearances am I struggling to accept?

The Purpose Driven Life, p. 26

I am very grateful that my background and my family are well. I am also glad that my physical appearance is not bad. I don’t even mind my personality. But there are some parts of each of them that I’ve sometimes said to myself, “It could be better.” There were regrets that in my life that I wished I could take back or re-do. Fortunately, God let those mistakes happen so that I can learn and be stronger, as stated in 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV):

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

God has one purpose for my life and that is to love me. In turn, He wants me to love Him back, unconditionally (aka Agape love), because that’s exactly what God wants! He gave me free will to choose to love Him. My God is a benevolent God. I have a purpose on this earth. I am not an accident.

I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born.

– Isaiah 44:2a (Contemporary English Version)