TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
Isaiah 15:1-18:7
Galatians 1:1-24
Psalm 58:1-11
Proverbs 23:12
Isaiah 16:6 — Pride brings judgment. If God judged Moab for their pride, how much more will He judge us for our pride?
Isaiah 17:7-8 — Judgment is to point man to his Maker. Amazing that man can make objects with his fingers, and then put his trust in those objects. We’ve seen in Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles example after example of kings (even good kings like Hezekiah) not turning to God until all else had failed. Especially what we saw in Isaiah 7 with Ahaz refusing Isaiah’s declaration of deliverance.
Isaiah 17:10 — How soon we forget the LORD! The Children of Israel who walked through the Red Sea started murmuring almost as soon as the waters returned. America itself has seen waves of revival, but then it returns to apathy soon after.
Isaiah 18:1 — What land is this? From Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers:
A new kingdom, hitherto unnamed by Isaiah, comes now within his horizon. The movements of Tirhakah, king of Cush or Ethiopia, from the upper valley of the Nile, subduing Egypt, and prepared to enter into conflict with the great Assyrian king (Isaiah 37:9), had apparently excited the hopes of such of Hezekiah’s counsellors as put their trust in an arm of flesh. To these Isaiah now turns with words of warning.
Galatians 1:1 — Paul starts out jumping right into his thesis – the gospel is not from man but from Jesus Christ, risen from the dead!
Galatians 1:6 — Paul has been declaring the attributes of Jesus:
- risen from the dead (Galatians 1:1)
- the vicarious sacrifice (Galatians 1:4)
- the deliverer (Galatians 1:4)
These people have abandoned the power of Jesus for something else.
Galatians 1:7 — Paul clarifies his statement in the previous verse. The English word “another” in vs. 6 is “heteros” (referring to something completely different, like apples and oranges); the English word “another” in vs. 7 is “allos” (referring to something that’s of a different sort, like McIntosh vs. Granny Smith).
From Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words:
Allos expresses a numerical difference and denotes “another of the same sort”; heteros expresses a qualitative difference and denotes “another of a different sort.”
Galatians 1:8-9 — “Accursed” in Greek is “anathema.” It sounds “tolerant” to say that all roads lead to heaven. It may seem “intolerant” to declare that there is only one way to God, but that’s what the Bible teaches (Acts 4:12). Even more so, it is unkind and unloving to not warn someone of the curse coming (Ezekiel 33:6).
Galatians 1:12 — Paul is declaring that the Gospel is superior to any other teaching. Greater than anything given by any other man or even an angel from heaven. The Apostle says he was the least likely convert (Galatians 1:13-14) to the message revealed by the Father through the Son (Galatians 1:16). Paul went three years before even seeing Peter once (Galatians 1:18).
Galatians 1:23 — Only God can change a heart like that! Paul’s testimony encouraged others to glorify God!
Psalm 58:6 — When the wicked are surrounding you and it seems hopeless, do not seek for personal vengeance. Give it to the LORD (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19)!
Proverbs 23:12 — The message of Proverbs. Unfortunately, too many fail to apply it.
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