Tag: Isaiah 28-30
The Cornerstone in Zion!
Scripture reading for July 25th: Isaiah 28-30
Beer and alcoholic beverages have been a source of trouble from ancient times. Noah planted a vineyard after the flood and then proceeded to get drunk. (Genesis 9:20-24) The officials of Ephraim and Israel had a drinking problem. (Isaiah 28:1, 7) They were full of pride and under a delusion of invincibility. (Isaiah 28:15) They thought that their “religion” had made them immune to any foreign invasion or correction from God. They were “good people” who were a part of “God’s chosen” and they had Abraham as their father! What more could God want?
The priest and prophets were “blinded” and “drunken” by their refusal to truly love and obey God from their hearts. They were honoring God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him! (Isaiah 29:13) Their worship of Him was merely rules taught by men, not in Spirit and truth! They thought that they were doing fine but were really lost and heading for judgment! (Isaiah 29:9-10) They could not understand God’s Word because their attitude of pride and self-sufficiency made their hearts hard! In this state, they were worse off than an unbeliever because they were deceived!
God has strength for His people who are by faith trusting in Him. He has a solid Cornerstone that He has placed in Zion. It is a tested Stone that is precious and those who trust in this Stone will never be deceived or dismayed! (Isaiah 28:16) This Stone is a living Stone. (1st Peter 2:4) We who trust and believe are resting on this Cornerstone and become living stones in His temple! Those who reject this Stone and stumble over Him do so because they disobey the message of God because of their pride and hard hearts! (1st Peter 2:7, Isaiah 8:14) In repentance and rest on this Stone will be salvation for all who will trust in Him! (Isaiah 30:15)
The only sure foundation for our life today is to repent and rest on Jesus Christ! False religion encourages us to work our way into God’s favor. When we rest in Christ’s sacrifice, we are saved from the lie of trusting in our own work. What a place of quietness and confidence we have in Christ! (1st Peter 2:4-5, 9-10)
A Stone in Zion!
Scripture reading for July 23rd: Isaiah 28-30
Beer and alcoholic beverages have been a source of trouble from ancient times. The officials of Ephraim and Israel had a drinking problem. (Isaiah 28:1, 7) They were proud and thought they knew more than God. They thought that their “religion” had made them immune to any foreign invasion or even correction from God. They were “good people” who were a part of “God’s chosen” and they had Abraham as their father! What more could God want? They believed that death couldn’t touch them because they were trusting in a lie!
Part of the delusion was false religion. The priest and prophets were “blinded” and “drunken” by their refusal to truly love and obey God from their hearts. They were honoring God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him! (Isaiah 29:13) Their worship of Him was merely rules taught by men, not in Spirit and truth! When we engage in false religion, we become drunk on false doctrines! They thought that they were doing fine but were really lost and heading for judgment! (Isaiah 29:9-10) What a terrible condition to be in! In this state, they were worse off than an unbeliever because they were deceived!
God has a solid Cornerstone that He has placed in Zion for His people. It is a tested Stone that is precious and those who trust in this Stone will never be deceived or dismayed! (Isaiah 28:16) This Stone is a living Stone. (1st Peter 2:4) This Stone is none other than Jesus Christ who has become the living Cornerstone of the New Temple. We who believe are resting on this Cornerstone and become living stones in His temple! Those who reject this Stone and stumble over Him do so because they disobey the message of God! (1st Peter 2:7, Isaiah 8:14) In repentance and rest on this Stone will be salvation for all who will trust in Him! (Isaiah 30:15)
False religion keeps us trying to work our way into God’s favor. This is a lie and delusion that results in deception! When we rest in Christ’s sacrifice, we are saved from false religion and the lie of trusting in our own work. What a place of quietness and confidence we have in Christ! Take time today and thank Him for His gift to you! (1st Peter 2:9-11)
Empty Worship
Scripture reading for July 26th: Isaiah 28-30
“The Lord Says: “These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men.”” (Isaiah 29:13) .
Man has a deep inner need to worship God. That is his ultimate purpose and greatest delight. God chose Israel as His special treasure and chose to dwell among them, first in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple at Jerusalem. They were given laws and strict rules about where and how they could approach God safely to worship. When Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord, they were warned by example that worship in an improper manner could result in sudden death. (Leviticus 10:1-3)
Throughout their history, the Israelites struggled to worship God from their heart with all their strength. They drifted into idolatry again and again. They would sometimes worship God and then go up to an idol temple and offer sacrifices there. Sometimes, they just went through the motions and really had no personal love or care for the Lord Himself.
In our reading today, Israel is involved in this empty worship. God seeks to wake them up and warn them through Isaiah’s prophesy. “Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the Lord, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting Me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge.” (Isaiah 30:1-2) Israel worshiped God, but then ran to Egypt for help without consulting God. They made plans to protect themselves, but failed to rely on the Lord for their refuge in time of trouble. Their worship was empty words and rituals, filled with unbelief that God could provide for them and protect them.
The Israelites wanted things in their control. They told the prophets to tell them pleasant things (illusions) and quit confronting them with the Holy One! (Isaiah 30:10-11) Empty worship and illusions go together. A false understanding of God leads to judgment and destruction. The American church must wake up to the warnings of Scripture. God requires repentance and rest in His care and protection. He wants His people to wait upon Him in quiet confidence and to see His salvation come to pass. (Isaiah 30:15)
A Stone in Zion!
Scripture reading for July 25th: Isaiah 28-30
Beer and alcoholic beverages have been a source of trouble from ancient times. Noah planted a vineyard after the flood and then proceeded to get drunk and exposed his nakedness. (Genesis 9:20-24) In today’s reading, the officials of Ephraim and Israel had a drinking problem. (Isaiah 28:1, 7) They were proud and thought they knew more than God. They were under a delusion and lie of the devil, which was likened to drunkenness. (Isaiah 28:15) They thought that their “religion” had made them immune to any foreign invasion or even correction and teaching from God. They were “good people” who were a part of “God’s chosen” and they had Abraham as their father! What more could God want?
Part of the delusion was false religion. The priest and prophets were “blinded” and “drunken” by their refusal to truly love and obey God from their hearts. They were honoring God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him! (Isaiah 29:13) Their worship of Him was merely rules taught by men, not in Spirit and truth! When we engage in false religion, we become drunk and delusional, but not with wine or beer! They thought that they were doing fine but were really lost and heading for judgment! (Isaiah 29:9-10) They could not understand God’s Word and His commands because their attitude of pride and self-sufficiency made their hearts hard! What a terrible condition to be in! In this state, they were worse off than an unbeliever because they were deceived!
God has strength for His people who are by faith trusting in Him. He has a solid Cornerstone that He has placed in Zion. It is a tested Stone that is precious and those who trust in this Stone will never be deceived or dismayed! (Isaiah 28:16) This Stone is a living Stone. (1st Peter 2:4) This Stone is none other than Jesus Christ who has become the living Cornerstone of the New Temple. We who trust and believe are resting on this Cornerstone and become living stones in His temple! Those who reject this Stone and stumble over Him do so because they disobey the message of God because of their pride and arrogance and hard hearts! (1st Peter 2:7, Isaiah 8:14) In repentance and rest on this Stone will be salvation for all who will trust in Him! (Isaiah 30:15)
The only sure foundation for our life today is to repent and rest on Jesus Christ and His finished work! False religion keeps us doing and trying to work our way into God’s favor. This is a lie and delusion that results in drunken deception! When we rest in Christ’s sacrifice, by faith through grace we are saved from false religion and the lie of trusting in our own work. What a place of quietness and confidence we have in Christ! Take time today and thank Him for His gift to you! (1st Peter 2:9-11)