TODAY’S BIBLE READING CHALLENGE:
Isaiah 25:1-28:13
Galatians 3:10-22
Psalm 61:1-8
Proverbs 23:17-18
Isaiah 25:1 — Isaiah is a unique book. We move from visions of heaven to visions of destruction. Today, we have a psalm-like chapter!
Isaiah 25:4 — We see that the defensed cities are ruins (Isaiah 25:2), but the needy are defended by the omnipotent LORD. This is a running theme we’ve noticed throughout the Old Testament.
Isaiah 25:8 — We just read this verse quoted in 1 Corinthians 15:54, and we’ll see the second part of this verse quoted in Revelation 7:17 and Revelation 21:4. As we go through Isaiah, we’ll notice the connections between Old Testament and New Testament prophecy. In the Church Age, we tend to think that all of our familiar prophecies were first found in John’s Revelation, but he was given revelation by the same God that revealed His plans to Isaiah. What’s amazing is that in Israel we have a scroll where a scribe records this promise of the resurrection and eternal comfort 125 years before the birth of Jesus! For your friends who think the Old Testament God is a god of wrath and that love doesn’t come until the New Testament, this promise came in the BC/OT part of history: “… the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces …” What a day that will be!
Isaiah 26:3-4 — Mac Lynch recorded a song based on this passage.
Isaiah 26:7 — I Googled “uprightness,” and the definition and example are interesting …
Isaiah 27:1 — Who is the dragon of the sea? Cambridge Bible says Egypt:
Assuming that they are distinct the “Dragon that is in the sea” is almost certainly an emblem of Egypt (ch. Isaiah 51:9; Ezekiel 29:3; Ezekiel 32:2; Psalm 74:13).
Isaiah 28:13 — This is the verse that gives Precept Ministries (Kay Arthur) its name.
Galatians 3:10 — Paul outlines the failure of works. The curse of Deuteronomy 27:26 was part of the responsive reading of curses on Mount Ebal. One failure to obey brings a curse. But One has redeemed us from the curse (Galatians 3:13)!
Galatians 3:17 — Paul is saying, “You’re following works because that’s an old tradition, but I have one that’s even older (by 430 years)! My God doesn’t back out of any promises that He’s made.” If God made a promise to Abraham, I’m claiming that promise today!
Galatians 3:22 — What is the purpose of the Law? Not to give life (otherwise God would not have had to sacrifice His Son). It was to show that we need life from someone else! The Law came to point us back to the Promise given to Abraham! Who was that Promise? Jesus (Galatians 3:16)!
Psalm 61:4 — Under His wings, I am safely abiding.
Though the night deepens and the tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him – I know He will keep me.
He has redeemed me, and I am His child.
Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings, my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.
William Cushing
Proverbs 23:17-18 — Solomon is echoing Asaph’s Psalm of Slipping Steps (Psalm 73).
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