|
Post by Woody Williams on Dec 7, 2018 7:05:10 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Isaiah 40:1-3, 10-11 ---------- Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
See, the LORD GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
Devotional ---------- The Gospel of forgiveness is a word of consolation. God will lift up Israel and set her on a path of return and restoration. Her judgment is over. God's glory and comfort will be revealed to her. Like a shepherd God will bring the flock home to God's consoling love and nurture. Consolation will come even though the present moment seems endless and heavy in its desolation. God will bring a consoling presence back into your life.
Prayer --------------- May I always keep my ear tuned to your consoling Gospel word, gracious God. Amen
|
|
|
Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Dec 8, 2018 0:16:41 GMT -5
Isaiah is prophesying here from God speaking to him. Now in multiple ways, He speaks to all his children. How can we not believe God's word when He tells us what will happen and did happen hundreds and thousands of years in advance. We read it and have seen it happen; it is 100% accurate. No seer or predictor has been this accurate.
Sure there are translation issues with the English Bible we read, but if one goes back to the Hebrew and Greek it becomes clear.
It's easy to see that Isaiah is speaking about the coming of John the Baptist and God in the flesh as the Messiah in the early verses.
The devotion skips to verses 10&11. Jesus is the Shepherd that will lead, comfort and gather in his arms, but this has not happened yet. Remember Jesus saying that he longs to gather Israel, Jerusalem (the Jews) in his arms. This is coming, but at the end when he returns with his reward (his bride the church)vs10.
The Jews as a nation receive Christ during the Tribulation. Our Bible actually tells us that they will all be saved. I haven't looked at this translation. It may be that the nation as a whole receives him or maybe all the ones still alive at this time. I do not know, so cannot say, but Christ will gather them in his arms.
Back in the 80s, I had a Jewish friend at work. I really liked this guy, but he wasn't a Christian. He thought the book of Revelation was the biggest fantasy ever written. Actually back then we didn't understand as much about the book, but God has revealed it to us in our time ...as he said. I told him that the Jews as a nation will acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah and receive him. He laughed at me. I think I really liked him, because he was real. He was who he was and didn't care what anyone thought. I think he was the first Jew that I got to know. Christians should love the Jews ...all of them.
|
|