Don't you just love some of the names in the Bible?
And, have you noticed that so many young parents these days are choosing Biblical names for their children. We had an interim pastor who really stressed that we should name our children names with good, strong Biblical backgrounds!!
I love the name Isaiah....and Jeremiah (wonder why???)....Ezekiel....Daniel....Samuel....Nathanael....and so many others!!!
So....have you all enjoyed your reading in the Book of Isaiah this week? I really enjoyed Chapter 36....because it had a storyline to it....which helps me to follow along. Here's a bit of what took place in that chapter.....
Assyria invaded Judah in the 14th year of king Hezekiah's reign. King Sennacherib of Assyria sent a message to king Hezekiah asking - "What are you trusting in that makes you so confident? Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me"? King Sennacherib tried to strike a bargain with king Hezekiah that if the people would surrender, he would promise them horses and plenty to eat - even saying the Lord had instructed them to "attack this land and destroy it"! (which wasn't true at all!!) The people remained silent because Hezekiah had commanded them to not answer their questions. When king Hezekiah heard their report, he sent his court officials to the prophet Isaiah, telling them it had been "a day of trouble, insults and disgrace." (have you ever had a day like that...yeah, me, too!!!) Isaiah spoke words from the Lord telling the people to not be troubled by king Sennacherib's speech - that the king would receive a message to return home and would be killed by the sword. King Hezekiah went to the Temple and prayed to God asking to be rescued from the power of Assyria. Isaiah sent word to king Hezekiah that because of his prayer the Lord had heard and would answer. That night, the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. King Sennacherib fled home - but one day while he was in the temple worshipping his god, Nisroch - he was killed by his own sons with their swords (just as predicted by the prophet Isaiah!)
King Hezekiah became deathly ill and Isaiah visited him, telling him to set his affairs in order because he was going to die. King Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, asking Him to remember his faithfulness to Him. A message came to Isaiah from God to go back and tell king Hezekiah that because of his prayer and tears, 15 years would be added to his life.
In Chapter 40, Isaiah begins bringing the good news of salvation and comfort for God's people....and for us today, too!!!
Here were some of the verses that spoke to me this week.....
These verses remind me of some of my posts lately....of how I often give a problem to God, but then try to tell Him how to handle it....when He sure enough doesn't need any help from me!!!
Isaiah 40:12-14
Who else held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? Has the Lord ever needed anyone's advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice?
When we're weak and weary....be it physically, emotionally, or even spiritually....here's what God will do for us....
Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Another sweet reminder of God's personal love for us....
Isaiah 41:10
Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
This so reminds me of me.....and a conversation that I had with a friend about a post that I had several weeks ago about REALLY listening when people....and God....speak to us.....
Isaiah 42:20b
You hear with your ears, but don't really listen.
AMEN to this verse.....
Isaiah 43:10c
There is no other God - there never has been and there never will be!!
Oh, if I would only listen to that still small voice....
Isaiah 48:18
Oh that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.
God knew me even before I was even born....so I was already a person....a human being....not "just a fetus".....
Isaiah 49:1b
The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by my name.
I wonder how often this has happened and I never even knew about it....God's protective hand over me.....
Isaiah 49:2b
He has hidden me in the shadow of His hand.
Do you ever feel this way?
Isaiah 49:4
I replied, "But my work seems useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord's hand; I will trust God for my reward."
These verses hurt my heart....reading what was done to our precious Jesus....and knowing that He did it for even me....
Isaiah 52:14
But many were amazed when they saw him - his face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.
Isaiah 53:3 -8
He was despised and rejected - a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins, He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away.
The words to the song, O What a Savior come to mind as I read these verses from Isaiah 53....check back tomorrow, as I believe that will have to be my Sunday morning song!!!
Saturday Blessings to each of you!!!
In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!
These verses hurt my heart....reading what was done to our precious Jesus....and knowing that He did it for even me....
Isaiah 52:14
But many were amazed when they saw him - his face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.
Isaiah 53:3 -8
He was despised and rejected - a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins, He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away.
The words to the song, O What a Savior come to mind as I read these verses from Isaiah 53....check back tomorrow, as I believe that will have to be my Sunday morning song!!!
Saturday Blessings to each of you!!!
In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!
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Kind words are like honey—
sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Proverbs 16:24