Short Reflection from Isaiah 40-53

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

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟜𝟘:𝟛𝟘-𝟛𝟙

"Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 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."

It's not easy but better to wait on God than to do it by ourselves!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟜𝟙:𝟙𝟜

""Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you," declares the LORD, "and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel."

Interesting! God comforted them not to fear, but He still reminded them of their contemptuous nature.

Actually, I like it this way! I love to provoke people into doing good sometimes by piercing them. Last time my friend @Lalit Pune said that I spared no man even my professors 😬😂😎

It's not enough to say 'God loves you,' it must be said "God loves you, wretched filthy sinners." But with a lot of courage and caution! 😎

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟜𝟚:𝟙𝟜

"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."

Hmmm! Indeed, there are times when God is silent but not unaware of or uncaring. He shall break forth again. I am no woman nor a doctor who has seen a woman delivering a baby but the metaphor used here is very telling.

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟜𝟛:𝟟

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

Purpose of Creation: to glorify God.

Purpose of Creature: to glorify God.

Purpose of Creator: to glorify God.

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟜𝟜:𝟟-𝟠

"'Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place. 'Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.'"

Indeed, there's none like God.

 

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'?"

How depressed is a man who quarrels with his creator! I feel sad for such person. I once was. It wasn't nice personally.

How depressed is a man who is angry with God! How depressed is a man who is disappointed with God!

However, from my own experience (though it's not much), and from my thinking (though not a philosopher), and from what I have read and seen, I've learned that those who are angry, disappointed, and quarrel with God aren't that depressed yet!

When somebody is at the end of his resources, he begs, he surrenders!

 

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."

Wow! What a promise! What a faithfulness of God! What a comfort His people must have!

Well, this is said to the house of Jacob, but we do have the same God whose promise is great, faithful, and comforting.

I am uncertain of many things in my life, but I am certain God will work out everything for my own good!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟜𝟟:𝟙𝟝

"So have those become to you with whom you have labored, Who have trafficked with you from your youth; Each has wandered in his own way; There is none to save you."

If God is determined to punish, who can save!? The Lord's will shall be done!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟜𝟠:𝟙𝟘-𝟙𝟙

"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. 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."

God cares about His glory. And He will make sure, every creature will glorify Him and Him alone. If that's is not your delight, how miserable are you because that's what going to happen anyway. How happy (blessed) are you if the glory of God is your delight because it shall last forever!

God's glory is not something humiliating or depriving. It's something to enjoy and be satisfied with. If not, one has no idea what the glory of God is! Like Moses, we should pray, "Show me Your Glory, Lord"

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟜𝟡:𝟙𝟝-𝟙𝟞

"Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me."

One of the earliest songs I learned in school is taken out from this verse. Indeed, how awesome is my God!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟝𝟘:𝟞-𝟠

"I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. For the Lord GOD helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. He who vindicates Me is near; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand up to each other; Who has a case against Me? Let him draw near to Me."

ℍ𝕦𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 to 𝕍𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟝𝟙:𝟙𝟚

"I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass,"

God wants us to fear nobody but only Him.

However, people fear man and neglect God! 😬

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟝𝟚:𝟟

"How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’"

Oh! Would the Lord bring back the high view of the calling of preaching! Cause the preachers to delight in His commission and the people to see the beauty of good news, Lord! 🙏

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟝𝟛:𝟝

"But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed."

My Lord, what love is this that You noticed my vainglorious life and took up the chastening for it upon Yourself!

Short Reflection from Isaiah 24-39

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

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟜:𝟙𝟞

"From the ends of the earth we hear songs, "Glory to the Righteous One," But I say, "Woe to me! Woe to me! Alas for me! The treacherous deal treacherously, And the treacherous deal very treacherously.""

Isaiah lived to glorify God, to rejoice in the Lord. And in this scene, he pictured the faithful glorifying God, but he refused to rejoice because he had a great burden for his people, the wayward stiff neck sinners.

That's a good picture of a godly Christian. He wants Jesus to come soon, at the same time to see sinners getting saved.

Paul wanted to die and be with Christ, at the same time to live for the church.

—Compassion for the lost souls—

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟝:𝟡

"And it will be said in that day, 'Behold, this is our God for whom we have 𝕨𝕒𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕕 that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have 𝕨𝕒𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕕; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.'"

God shall not disappoint those who have waited on Him! Waiting on God involves holiness and righteousness.

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟞:𝟛

"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You."

God's blessing of peace, yea, perfect peace is upon those who hold fast to God (those who trust God).

Over the years, I have been asked by people how I seem to enjoy life and have peace in my life. The answer is "trusting"—trusting God.

More trust more peace. Doubt brings anxiety!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟟:𝟛

"I, the LORD, am its keeper; I water it every moment. So that no one will damage it, I guard it night and day."

What a picture of protection and prosperity! That's what God has for those who would put their hope in Him and not in man's strategies and alliances!

Some people think the Christian life is boring and gloomy. Well, that's totally different from what the Bible says!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟠:𝟙𝟞

"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.'"

Indeed, a prophecy concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. Predicted centuries ago. Jesus and the Apostles have referred to Christ as the cornerstone. He is a stone for some to stumble and be broken to pieces. He is a stone that fell down upon some and crushed them to powder. Also, He is a stone that protects some (those) who put their trust in Him.

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟡:𝟙𝟛

"Then the Lord said, ‘Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote,’"

May we never be indicted of this!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟘:𝟙𝟝, 𝟙𝟠

"For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing"

"Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him."

This is exactly true and exactly applicable to all generations including ours.

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟙:𝟙

"Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!"

How often does the Scripture remind us of our need to rely on God! The positive promise of prosperity for the obedient ones. And the negative proclamation of punishment for the disobedient ones.

 

𝕀𝕊𝔸𝕀𝔸ℍ 𝟛𝟚:𝟡

"Rise up, you women who are at ease, And hear my voice; Give ear to my word, You complacent daughters."

This chapter has an exhortation for women. Three times it is addressed to daughters (v9-11).

And it is said they are complacent. Complacency is a vice. Diligence is a virtue!

 

[6:28 pm, 02/02/2022] S.R: 𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟛:𝟚𝟚

"For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us--"

Well, the guilty ones don't want the judge. The lawbreakers don't want the law-giver. The rebellious people don't want a king.

Yet, this passage talks of God in a positive and personal way. That God will be for their good. We all are guilty ones, lawbreakers, and rebellious people. How do we make sense of this? Well! Watch the movie Chronicles of Narnia😂

In that movie, when the witch queen asked for the blood (death) of Edmund referring to the ancient Law, Aslan roared her to silence saying, He was there when the Law was written.

Indeed, Jesus, the Law-giver has the way of saving us by laying down His life as Aslan did for Edmund.

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟜:𝟙

“Draw near, O nations, to hear; and listen, O peoples! Let the earth and all it contains hear, and the world and all that springs from it.”

The warning of God is for all people of all nations! It must be proclaimed with utmost priority. Everyone is commanded to hear! Actually, everyone must make an effort ("draw near") to hear. Even the plants and animals, rocks, hills, and water, should hear.

Also, the Gospel call is also for everyone. Indeed, our Lord Jesus asked, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?"

C.T. Stud was right, "Only one life 'twill soon be passed; only what's done for Christ will last!"

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟝:𝟛-𝟜

"Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, ‘Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you.’"

It's easier to mock the weak, abuse the feeble, and threaten the anxious. I have seen every day of my life, in history, fiction, movies, literature, and real life. I have seen even in my tongue! Oh! To heed the word of God!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟞:𝟚𝟙

"But they were silent and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, "Do not answer him.""

Indeed, there are times when it's good to keep silent, especially when there's a God in heaven and his servant Isaiah on earth!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟟:𝟟

"Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land."

God can and did and may use rumours for the downfall of some!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟠:𝟝

"Go and say to Hezekiah, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, 'I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.'"

The Bible reveals to us that God listens to prayer and God warrants us to pray like crazy. Even Hezekiah's episode confirmed it.

However, it seems better for Hezekiah to die at that time than 15 years later. Because many bad things happened that he wasn't able to handle himself and he wasn't depending on God wholly.

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛𝟡:𝟚

"Hezekiah was pleased, and showed them all his treasure house, the silver and the gold and the spices and the precious oil and his whole armory and all that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his house nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them."

A word to those who show off!

Short Reflection from Isaiah 11-23

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

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟙:𝟙𝟞

"And there will be a highway from Assyria For the 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕟𝕒𝕟𝕥 of His people who will be left, Just as there was for Israel In the day that they came up out of the land of Egypt."

God saved only the remnants. There aren’t many who are faithful, only a few. The Bible is about remnants. Narrow Gate, Narrow Way!

Even, there are few faithful Bible readers in this world, in our churches, even in this group! While it is not a sufficient indicator of our salvation or even spiritual discipline, it corroborates the truth that there are only a few faithful people.

Btw, even the world knows that the top of the ladder is never crowded!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟚:𝟙

"Then you will say on that day, ‘I will give thanks to You, O LORD; For although You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, And You comfort me.’"

Every night I get to sleep and every morning I get to wake up, it's the sure testimony that God has turned away His wrath upon me, for I don't deserve forgiveness to sleep and to have a new day. But God.

Blessed be His name!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟛:𝟙𝟚

"I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold And mankind than the gold of Ophir."

I would be perishing in this declaration had the Lord not rescued me! The world is complaining about population! A day will come when people will be fewer than gold! Even now in a peaceful time, birth rates are decreasing, and infertility, selfishness, and abortions are knocking off. Diseases can wipe off the population. War can. Natural Disasters can. God shall fulfill what He promised!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟜:𝟙𝟘

"They will all respond and say to you, ‘Even you have been made weak as we, You have become like us.’"

One of the scariest comments in the Bible. The mighty become like the weak. The "pseudo-godly" perishing with the wicked. The rulers suffer with the oppressed.

This is what God will do to the ones who do not fear Him!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟝:𝟝

"My heart cries out for Moab; His fugitives are as far as Zoar and Eglath-shelishiyah, For they go up the ascent of Luhith weeping; Surely on the road to Horonaim they raise a cry of distress over their ruin."

Oh! Who will cry for these sinners around: for the Hindus, for the persecutors, or for the homeless beggars in prayer for they are lost and without hope?

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟞:𝟞

"We have heard of the pride of Moab, an excessive pride; Even of his arrogance, pride, and fury; His idle boasts are false."

God really hates pride. No matter what your assessment is, all sinners are proud ones. In the truest sense, the most prideful Christian is more humble than any unrepentant sinner, be Gandhiji, or whoever!

As long as we are not glorified, we shall still struggle with pride. We are to battle pride every day!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟟:𝟟

"In that day man will have regard for his Maker And his eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel."

Those who are disappointed, angry, and upset with God do not really know the judgment of God.

I have learned from history and my own experience that as long as we complain, we still have strength in our body. When we are too weak, or too afraid, or too desperate, we have no complaints, we want only deliverance.

God's judgment will be so severe that the people will seek God's intervention.

If you are still complaining in life, I have bad news and good news: worse things will come to you, will beat you black and blue; but the good news is that you will learn to be grateful, and when you do that, you will see the abundant grace of God.

God won't surrender, it's we who have (and will be brought) to surrender. Recall the story of Job.

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟠:𝟜

“For thus the LORD has told me, 'I will look from My dwelling place quietly Like dazzling heat in the sunshine, Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.'”

Wow! What a picture!

Two comforting truths concerning God:

1. God is not sleeping. He is watching over us.

2. God is not panicking. He is watching us quietly because everything is under His grand plan!

Let's learn to wait on God!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟡:𝟚𝟜-𝟚𝟝

"In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, 'Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.'"

God shall judge everyone accordingly. Those who fear Him will be made to worship Him, to be His people.

Those who neglect Him shall be removed, replaced, and be in ruin!

May we be those who fear Him, who delight in Him!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟘:𝟛

"And the LORD said, 'Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and token against Egypt and Cush'"

How many of us would like to be mightily used by God? We are inclined to think of it in positive (famous, powerful) terms. What about, like Isaiah, to live like a beggar? No sandals, no pants for 3 years!

When I signed up for (responded to the call of) the Gospel Ministry 10 years ago, I said yes! But I told God that my wife and children (if I ever get married) might not cope with me like that.

Well, I still haven't heard any answer yet🙂😂 but definitely Psalm 37:23-26 say, "Do not fret!"

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟙:𝟡

"Now behold, here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs. And one said, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon; And all the images of her gods are shattered on the ground.’"

A time will come when all the gods and goddesses of all the human civilizations will be shattered as they were of Babylon, as it was of the Philistines. God shall be exalted above all names, powers, and thrones!

How blessed to be His people!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟚:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟜

"Therefore in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing, To shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth. Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die." But the LORD of hosts revealed Himself to me, "Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you Until you die," says the Lord GOD of hosts."

Instead of crying in repentance, they were enjoying self-indulgence. This is what sinners do. The godly weep over their sins and cry out for mercy.

The joy of the Lord is not found in partying. Romans 14:17 says the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking. Joy in the Lord is walking with the Lord, obedient to all His teachings. That's also the great commission of Matthew 28:18-20.

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚𝟛

ℍ𝕞𝕞! 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢!

𝓖𝓾𝔂𝓼, 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮𝓼, 𝓲𝓽'𝓼 𝓸𝓴𝓪𝔂 𝓽𝓸 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓑𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰! 𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓽'𝓼 𝓶𝔂 𝓻𝓮𝓯𝓵𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂. 𝓗𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻, 𝔀𝓮 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓴𝓮𝓮𝓹 𝓸𝓷 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓾𝓪𝓵 𝓭𝓲𝓼𝓬𝓲𝓹𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮. 𝓘 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮 𝓲𝓽'𝓼 𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓲𝓷 𝓪 𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓾𝓷𝓲𝓺𝓾𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝔂! 😬😂😎👍