Bible Reading Reflection from Isaiah 40-48

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (FG), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝕀𝕊𝔸𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟘:𝟛𝟙

"Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary."

I am sure most Bible-reading Christians remember Isaiah 40 by this verse. Indeed, it's comforting, encouraging, and wonderful. Who doesn't want to fly like eagles? Or run and walk and never get fainted? That's for those who wait on God.

Waiting on God! BTW, look at the order.  It's upside down. Flying to running to walking, because most of our life consists of walking, a little running, and a very rare flight!

 

𝕀𝕊𝔸𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟙:𝟡

"You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.’"

First, This was said of Israel.

Second, After this writing, Israelites ceased to exist as a nation. They were tortured badly over the millenniums of years.

Third, This was said of the future, still to come.

Fourth, This will really come true.

Now, read your Bible wisely. Don't underline Bible verses just because it sounds nice to you. You need to know who the audience is, who the speaker is, and what it meant. Only after that, you can make sense [apply] for yourself.

What do we learn from this verse? Don't we see the sovereignty of God, that blessing will come out from this cursed state? Don't we see the compassion of God that He has for His chosen people? Don't we see the power of God to regather this scattered people? Don't we see the patience of God? Don't we see the faithfulness of God, who remains faithful even after millenniums of years? This is the God we worship. These attributes are true, no matter whether you are Israelites or Gentiles.

 

𝕀𝕊𝔸𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟚:𝟙𝟛-𝟙𝟜

"The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies. ‘I have kept silent for a long time, I have kept still and restrained Myself. Now like a woman in labor I will groan, I will both gasp and pant.’"

When you read this chapter, don't assume that "servant" refers to the same person. The first Servant is capitalized; it refers to Messiah.

The second servant from v18 onwards refers to Israel. And we notice the contrast between the faithful Servant and the unfaithful servant.

The picture of God in v13-14 is comforting to the faithful people of God. Justice will be served! Nobody will escape Him, not even the dead people!

 

𝕀𝕊𝔸𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟛:𝟟, 𝟚𝟝

v7. "Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made."

Why did God create man? For His glory. God created us for Him. Don't ever think you are special apart from that God created you to display His glory. We must glorify God at all times. In the end, all will; some will glorify God by their damnation that God is just, and some will glorify God by their salvation that God is merciful!

v25. "I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins."

Why did God forgive sins? Remember, it's for His name's sake. God did it for Himself. Don't ever think highly of yourself or of any man. Have a big-God perspective!

Know who you are before God: small, tiny, worthless. Yet God chose to dwell among us.

 

𝕀𝕊𝔸𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟜:𝟚𝟙-𝟚𝟚

"Remember these things, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant, O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me. "I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you."

It's difficult to be a leader when the people aren't following, obeying, and listening to you. It's shameful to be a leader. God's people are worse than this but God is not ashamed to be their God. God pled them like a desperate man. God pled them as if He was the guilty one. God pled them as if He wasn't that loving. God pled them as if He wasn't a better God. Leaders do well to imitate God.

Fathers are leaders at home. Teachers are leaders in the schools. Bosses are leaders in the workplace. Elders are leaders in the family. Pastors are leaders in the church. We may be leaders in some areas and followers in others.

Godly leaders are longsuffering, compassionate, and loving. They just don't proclaim, they persuade as well. They just don't order, they beg them to do. And how terribly difficult to do that? That's why we aren't God and not godly. But we are to become like God because we are His children. Transforming day by day...

 

𝕀𝕊𝔸𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟝:𝟡

"Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker-- An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands?’"

A clay never quarrels with the potter. We are the clay and the Potter is God. While human potter errs, God doesn't. While human potter makes a pot to sell, God made us to enjoy His glory!

The Hollywood movie Toy Story comes to mind. Toys were made to make Andy happy, which Woody knew well. Toys themselves find their greatest happiness in fulfilling their purpose when Andy played them. Instead of quarreling, it is to submit to God, for He is a good Potter!

 

𝕀𝕊𝔸𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟞:𝟛-𝟜

"Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been borne by Me from birth And have been carried from the womb; Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you."

How deep is the faithfulness, plan, and love of God for His covenanted people! Look at the word pictures described here in these two verses!

 

𝕀𝕊𝔸𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟟:𝟞

"I was angry with My people, I profaned My heritage And gave them into your hand. You did not show mercy to them, On the aged you made your yoke very heavy."

God gave His people over to Babylonians, and Babylonians were too cruel, so, God will judge them too.

When we are in a power, position, let's be merciful and kind. There's a saying, "Be nice to people around you on your way up because you will meet them on your way down."

 

𝕀𝕊𝔸𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟜𝟠:𝟙𝟙

"For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another."

Who is the most selfish person in or outside the universe? There's only one answer to that: God. God does everything for His glory. He wants everything to glorify Him. He would send anyone to hell who refuses to glorify Him. And He will not share His glory to anyone. That's what theologians called "The Selfishness of God!"

That's one of His many attributes. That God is love, wrath, compassionate, selfish, just, merciful. Who says selfishness is bad? Who is he to say such and such is bad? God is the one who says such and such is good or bad. He is the definer, the lawgiver, the creator.

Illustration: If you love babies, you will hate abortion. And you will campaign against abortion. And those who want an abortion will say you are very unloving! Who defines what is loving and unloving?

When you live for the glory of God, no matter what people may call you, you are doing the right thing. When you live in your own way, rebelling against God's way of Christian living, that's selfish, and this selfishness is what God hates. When people want you to live long to help them; but if you don't deny Christ, the Taliban will shoot you. You decide to be shot. People may say you are selfish, thinking for yourself. That selfishness is good, wonderful, and glorious.

Don't let people define what loving, unloving, selfish, good, bad, etc. are. Know your Bible and your belief!