Isaiah 9
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (1080 :”walked” [halak] means to use one’s feet to advance, to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away. to die, live, manner of life (fig.) or advance by steps.)
DEVOTION: The LORD wants us to grow in our knowledge of HIS work on a daily basis. However, there were people in Israel that would rather walk in the darkness of this world instead of listening to the prophet or worshiping the LORD.
There are many people today that play at church. They go to church but then leave to do their own thing without praying and asking the LORD what HE wants them to do after they leave a worship service.
If we are going to church or reading the Bible without an intention of changing our behavior or listening to the still small voice of the regarding what we should do each day than we are not following the directions of the LORD regarding leading a life that is pleasing to HIM.
The children of Israel had a bad habit of doing their own thing except when someone was coming to fight with them and then they wanted the LORD’S help/ We have the same tendencies as we wait until things are bad and then we want the LORD to get us out of trouble.
Too often the LORD makes us wait for a while to see if we really want HIS help. Sometimes HE answers quickly but if we continue see HIM answer quickly we tend to not live a life that is pleasing to HIM.
HE wanted the children of Israel to obey HIM but they were good at backsliding and we tend to be the same as them.
CHALLENGE: If we really want to follow the LORD we will be reading HIS word and praying for direction every day and when HE answers we will praise HIM for HIS help.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (4951 “government” [misrah] means rule, dominion, position of high ruler or king, or empire.)
DEVOTION: Here is a verse that is used at Christmas time regarding the birth of Jesus to Mary. It is also used to show that Jesus is returning again after the Tribulation time period to set up HIS kingdom on earth for a thousand years.
We have the promise that the Messiah is going to come to this earth to reign over the earth for a thousand years in the future. It is supposed to be understood by every believer that we have a future hope of reigning with HIM during this time period.
Our government today is run by individuals who are only human and because of that it is run by sinners. Every human being is a sinner. There was only one person in history who was virgin born and who was promised to come again to reign over this world.
Here we find HIM compared to mighty God, everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. These three descriptions of the Messiah show that HE was equal with God the Father. HE has all the attributes of the other two persons of the Trinity or Godhead. All three are equal but have different responsibilities.
Our understanding of the Trinity or Godhead is so limited because of our limited brain power. Yet we find that many people try to understand it by explaining it away instead of just believing it by faith.
One day we will meet Jesus. Those who are believers will stand before HIM at the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive our rewards because of our service to HIM while we were alive. The rest of humanity will meet HIM at the Great White Throne Judgment to learn that they will spend eternity in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels because they chose to not become followers of Jesus Christ.
CHALLENGE: When we read this verse do we understand just who the Messiah is and our responsibility to serve HIM daily? HE promises so much to those who are genuine believers.
: 16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. (1961 “leaders” [hayah] means guide, blessed one, lead straight, live an upright life, or make progress.)
DEVOTION: The children of Israel were a rebellious group of people. The LORD gave them directions and they didn’t want to follow them. They are said to be sitting in darkness but there is a LIGHT coming. This LIGHT is the Messiah who will come later in history. We know HIM as Jesus Christ.
In the mean time there was a problem that the LORD pointed out to Isaiah. The problem was the leadership. They were teaching the children of Israel to err from the truth of the Word of God. They were not guiding them in the right way.
Those who are to lead an upright life were falling into sin and disobedience to the LORD. The people were following their example. This really displeased the LORD. Remember that those who are given more responsibility are given a greater judgment.
Today we have those who are giving direction to the church called pastors and denominational directors. These individuals are supposed to know the Word of God because of their educational background. They have been given courses in Bible Colleges and Seminaries on how to give direction to the local church.
However, many in seminaries and Bible colleges that teach have never been pastors of local churches. They think what needs to be done and what really needs to be done are two different things. They have ideas but they don’t cause the local church to be faithful to the Word of God. They seem to be teaching that pastors are to build their own kingdom instead of the LORD’S church.
This causes confusion. The LORD gave instructions to the disciples as to what it will take to build HIS church. HE sent them out on visitation. HE showed them how to do it and then sent them out on their way to learn from practice. They came back with reports and the LORD met them and gave them further instructions. They were to be good example. They did everything HE wanted the people to do.
It seems that some of the guides to the church today are informing the people regarding what they think they should do without setting the example. They are setting the church up to fail.
Faithful guides are what the LORD wanted for Israel and what HE wants today in the church. There should be no confusion.
CHALLENGE: Guide by example. Watch what you teach but don’t practice. Faithfulness is necessary for proper guidance
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for everyone is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. (2611 “hypocrite” [chaneph] means soiled, godless, irreligious, or profane.)
DEVOTION: The LORD promised the children of Israel a redeemer. The redeemer was coming in the future. HE was telling the tribe of Judah or the southern kingdom that judgment was coming. They were not listening to HIM. Their prophets were telling them lies. The lie was that the judgment was short lived. It would be over soon. It was a lie.
God wanted them to repent but they were not going to do it. A phrase is mentioned three times in this chapter and once in the next. It is the end of this verse.
HE was angry with his people because of their lack of trust in HIM. HE was stretching out HIS hand in judgment to get their attention.
Sometimes we deceive ourselves into thinking that the LORD is going to put up with our sin without judgment. We are also deceiving ourselves into thinking that the judgment on our nation will be short lived. Both are a lie. If our nation is not honoring the LORD, it is not a Christian nation. With all that is happening in the streets of our cities, how can we say we are honoring the LORD?
With all that is happening in the churches of our nation, how can we say we are honoring the LORD? The need of a Redeemer is needed now!!! Those who are followers of Christ need a revival. Revival can only happen in individuals who have a proper relationship with the LORD. Those who don’t have this relationship need repentance which leads to forgiveness and a proper relationship with the LORD. Most of those in our churches and on the streets will never have a proper relationship to the LORD because they are depending on their good works to get them into heaven and not the LORD.
The revival needs to start with ME!!! Too many individuals are going to church and not honoring the LORD. The world calls them SOILED!
CHALLENGE: The LORD doesn’t want individuals who act like they are saved, HE wants those who are saved to obey the Word of God like they love the LORD.
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