Monday, April 28, 2008
Hosanna
[Verse 1]
I see the King of glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes
I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, the people sing
[Chorus]
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest (x2)
[Verse 2]
I see a generation
Rising up to take the place
With selfless faith, with selfless faith
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees
[Bridge]
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity
Brooke Fraser
Hillsong United - All Of The Above, 2007
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Psalm 125
Just as the mountains surround and protect Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds and protects his people, both now and forever.
The wicked will not rule the godly,
for then the godly might be forced to do wrong.
O Lord, do good to those who are good,
whose hearts are in tune with you.
But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord.
Take them away with those who do evil.
And let Israel have quietness and peace.
(verses 2-5)
What does a 'heart in tune with the Lord' look like? Are our hearts in tune with Him?
Surround and protect Your people, O Lord, both now and forever ... let not the wicked rule the godly, for then the godly might be forced to do wrong ... do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with You ... but banish those who turn to crooked ways ... take them away with those who do evil ... and let Malaysia have quietness and peace ...
so the Lord surrounds and protects his people, both now and forever.
The wicked will not rule the godly,
for then the godly might be forced to do wrong.
O Lord, do good to those who are good,
whose hearts are in tune with you.
But banish those who turn to crooked ways, O Lord.
Take them away with those who do evil.
And let Israel have quietness and peace.
(verses 2-5)
What does a 'heart in tune with the Lord' look like? Are our hearts in tune with Him?
Surround and protect Your people, O Lord, both now and forever ... let not the wicked rule the godly, for then the godly might be forced to do wrong ... do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with You ... but banish those who turn to crooked ways ... take them away with those who do evil ... and let Malaysia have quietness and peace ...
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Isaiah 57
"They, not I, are your inheritance.
This is adultery, for you are loving these idols instead of loving me.
How is it that you don't even remember me or think about me?"
(verses 6, 8, 11)
O God
... do we think about You?
... do we even remember You?
O Lord
... that we love You!
... that You are our inheritance!
The high and lofty one who lives in eternity,
the Holy One, says this:
“I live in that high and holy place
with those whose spirits are contrite and humble.
I refresh the humble
and give new courage to those with repentant hearts."
(verse 15)
Where is 'that high and holy place'?
Holy One, that our spirits are contrite and humble ... that our hearts are repentant ... live in us, refresh us, give us new courage, heal us, lead us, comfort us, let words of praise be on our lips ... and grant that we may have peace ...
This is adultery, for you are loving these idols instead of loving me.
How is it that you don't even remember me or think about me?"
(verses 6, 8, 11)
O God
... do we think about You?
... do we even remember You?
O Lord
... that we love You!
... that You are our inheritance!
The high and lofty one who lives in eternity,
the Holy One, says this:
“I live in that high and holy place
with those whose spirits are contrite and humble.
I refresh the humble
and give new courage to those with repentant hearts."
(verse 15)
Where is 'that high and holy place'?
Holy One, that our spirits are contrite and humble ... that our hearts are repentant ... live in us, refresh us, give us new courage, heal us, lead us, comfort us, let words of praise be on our lips ... and grant that we may have peace ...
Monday, April 14, 2008
Isaiah 56
“And my blessings are for Gentiles, too,
when they commit themselves to the Lord.
Do not let them think that I consider them second-class citizens.
I will also bless the Gentiles who commit themselves to the Lord
and serve him and love his name,
who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest,
and who have accepted his covenant.
I will bring them also to my holy mountain of Jerusalem
and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer.
I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices,
because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
For the Sovereign Lord, who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says:
I will bring others, too, besides my people Israel.”
(verses 3, 6-8)
The Lord's blessings are for Gentiles too
... those who commit themselves to Him
... those who serve Him
... those who love His name
... those who worship Him
... those who do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest
... those who have accepted His covenant
The Lord
... do not consider them second-class citizens!
... will bring them also to His holy mountain of Jerusalem
... will fill them with joy in His house of prayer
... will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices
because His Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations!!
O, that we be a house of prayer for all nations! Bring back the outcasts of Israel ... bring the Gentiles ... bring the nations ... for Your glory, for Your name's sake!!
when they commit themselves to the Lord.
Do not let them think that I consider them second-class citizens.
I will also bless the Gentiles who commit themselves to the Lord
and serve him and love his name,
who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest,
and who have accepted his covenant.
I will bring them also to my holy mountain of Jerusalem
and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer.
I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices,
because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
For the Sovereign Lord, who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says:
I will bring others, too, besides my people Israel.”
(verses 3, 6-8)
The Lord's blessings are for Gentiles too
... those who commit themselves to Him
... those who serve Him
... those who love His name
... those who worship Him
... those who do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest
... those who have accepted His covenant
The Lord
... do not consider them second-class citizens!
... will bring them also to His holy mountain of Jerusalem
... will fill them with joy in His house of prayer
... will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices
because His Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations!!
O, that we be a house of prayer for all nations! Bring back the outcasts of Israel ... bring the Gentiles ... bring the nations ... for Your glory, for Your name's sake!!
Isaiah 55
"He* displayed my power by being my witness
and a leader among the nations.
You also will command the nations,
and they will come running to obey,
because I, the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious."
(verses 4-5)
*David.
O, that we display Your power by being Your witness ... that we display Your power by being a leader among the nations ... that we will command the nations and they will come running to obey! Because You ... the Lord our God ... the Holy One of Israel ... have made us glorious!!
"The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it."
(verses 10-11)
Your word
... always produces fruit
... will accomplish all You want it to
... will prosper everywhere You send it
and a leader among the nations.
You also will command the nations,
and they will come running to obey,
because I, the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious."
(verses 4-5)
*David.
O, that we display Your power by being Your witness ... that we display Your power by being a leader among the nations ... that we will command the nations and they will come running to obey! Because You ... the Lord our God ... the Holy One of Israel ... have made us glorious!!
"The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it."
(verses 10-11)
Your word
... always produces fruit
... will accomplish all You want it to
... will prosper everywhere You send it
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Isaiah 54
“Fear not; you will no longer live in shame.
The shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood
will be remembered no more,
for your Creator will be your husband.
The Lord Almighty is his name!
He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
the God of all the earth.
For the Lord has called you back from your grief—
as though you were a young wife
abandoned by her husband,” says your God.
“For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with great compassion I will take you back.
In a moment of anger I turned my face away for a little while.
But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord, your Redeemer.
(verses 4-8)
Who is our Creator?
... the Lord Almighty
... our Redeemer
... the Holy One of Israel
... the God of all the earth
Fear not
... for we will no longer live in shame
... for the shame of our youth will be remembered no more
... for the sorrows of widowhood will be remembered no more
... for our Creator will be our husband
... for the Lord has called us back from our grief
... for with great compassion our God will take us back
... for with an everlasting love the Lord, our Redeemer will have compassion on us
The shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood
will be remembered no more,
for your Creator will be your husband.
The Lord Almighty is his name!
He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
the God of all the earth.
For the Lord has called you back from your grief—
as though you were a young wife
abandoned by her husband,” says your God.
“For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with great compassion I will take you back.
In a moment of anger I turned my face away for a little while.
But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord, your Redeemer.
(verses 4-8)
Who is our Creator?
... the Lord Almighty
... our Redeemer
... the Holy One of Israel
... the God of all the earth
Fear not
... for we will no longer live in shame
... for the shame of our youth will be remembered no more
... for the sorrows of widowhood will be remembered no more
... for our Creator will be our husband
... for the Lord has called us back from our grief
... for with great compassion our God will take us back
... for with an everlasting love the Lord, our Redeemer will have compassion on us
Isaiah 53
My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence
like a tender green shoot,
sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground.
There was nothing beautiful
or majestic about his appearance,
nothing to attract us to him.
He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows,
acquainted with bitterest grief.
We turned our backs on him
and looked the other way when he went by.
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 for his own sins!
But he was wounded and crushed for our sins.
He was beaten that we might have peace.
He was whipped, and we were healed!
All of us have strayed away like sheep.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.
He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
From prison and trial they led him away to his death.
He had done no wrong,
and he had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
he was put in a rich man’s grave.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
he will have a multitude of children, many heirs.
And because of what he has experienced,
my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
for he will bear all their sins.
(verses 2-11)
*Or Yet it was our sicknesses he carried; it was our diseases.
The Lord's Servant
... grew up in the Lord's presence like a tender green shoot
... nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearence
... nothing to attract us to him
... despised
... rejected
... a man of sorrows
... acquainted with bitterest grief
... we turned our backs on him
... we looked the other way when he went by
... we did not care
... carried our weaknesses/sicknesses
... our sorrows/diseases wieghed him down
... wounded and crushed for our sins
... beaten that we might have peace
... whipped and we were healed
... guilt and sins of us all laid on him
... oppressed
... treated harshly
... led as a lamb to the slaughter
... led away to his death
... done no wrong
... never deceived anyone
... buried like a criminal
... put in a rich man's grave
... life made an offering for sin
... will have many heirs
... will make it possible for many to be counted righteous
... will bear all sins
O, that we no longer stray away like sheep ... that we no longer leave God's paths to follow our own ...
like a tender green shoot,
sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground.
There was nothing beautiful
or majestic about his appearance,
nothing to attract us to him.
He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows,
acquainted with bitterest grief.
We turned our backs on him
and looked the other way when he went by.
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 for his own sins!
But he was wounded and crushed for our sins.
He was beaten that we might have peace.
He was whipped, and we were healed!
All of us have strayed away like sheep.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.
He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
From prison and trial they led him away to his death.
He had done no wrong,
and he had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
he was put in a rich man’s grave.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
he will have a multitude of children, many heirs.
And because of what he has experienced,
my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
for he will bear all their sins.
(verses 2-11)
*Or Yet it was our sicknesses he carried; it was our diseases.
The Lord's Servant
... grew up in the Lord's presence like a tender green shoot
... nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearence
... nothing to attract us to him
... despised
... rejected
... a man of sorrows
... acquainted with bitterest grief
... we turned our backs on him
... we looked the other way when he went by
... we did not care
... carried our weaknesses/sicknesses
... our sorrows/diseases wieghed him down
... wounded and crushed for our sins
... beaten that we might have peace
... whipped and we were healed
... guilt and sins of us all laid on him
... oppressed
... treated harshly
... led as a lamb to the slaughter
... led away to his death
... done no wrong
... never deceived anyone
... buried like a criminal
... put in a rich man's grave
... life made an offering for sin
... will have many heirs
... will make it possible for many to be counted righteous
... will bear all sins
O, that we no longer stray away like sheep ... that we no longer leave God's paths to follow our own ...
Friday, April 11, 2008
Psalm 123
I lift my eyes to you,
O God, enthroned in heaven.
We look to the Lord our God for his mercy,
just as servants keep their eyes on their master,
as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.
(verses 1-2)
Lift our eyes to God, enthroned in heaven ...
Look to the Lord our God for His mercy ...
Keep our eyes on our Master ...
Watch Him for the slightest signal ...
O God, enthroned in heaven.
We look to the Lord our God for his mercy,
just as servants keep their eyes on their master,
as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.
(verses 1-2)
Lift our eyes to God, enthroned in heaven ...
Look to the Lord our God for His mercy ...
Keep our eyes on our Master ...
Watch Him for the slightest signal ...
Isaiah 52
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news
of peace and salvation,
the news that the God of Israel reigns!
(verse 7)
Beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news ...
Good news = news of peace + salvation = news that God reigns!
The Lord will demonstrate his holy power
before the eyes of all the nations.
The ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.
Go now, leave your bonds and slavery.
Put Babylon behind you,
with everything it represents,
for it is unclean to you.
You are the Lord's holy people.
Purify yourselves,
you who carry home the vessels of the Lord.
You will not leave in a hurry,
running for your lives.
For the Lord will go ahead of you,
and the God of Israel will protect you from behind.
(verses 10-12)
What do 'the vessels of the Lord' represent?
All the nations will see the Lord demonstrate His holy power ...
The ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God ...
Go now, leave our bonds and slavery. Put Babylon behind us, with everything it represents, for it is unclean to us. We are the Lord's holy people. Purify ourselves, we who carry home the vessels of the Lord. The Lord will go ahead of us, and protect us from behind.
See, my servant will prosper;
he will be highly exalted.
Many were amazed when they saw him—
beaten and bloodied,
so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person.
And he will again startle* many nations.
Kings will stand speechless in his presence.
For they will see what they had not been told;
they will understand what they had not heard about.
(verses 13-15)
* Or cleanse.
Who does 'my servant' refer to?
... will prosper
... will be highly exalted
... beaten and bloodied
... so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person
... will again cleanse many nations
O, that kings will stand speechless in Your presence ... that men will see what they had not previously been told about ... and understand what they had not heard about ...
are the feet of those who bring good news
of peace and salvation,
the news that the God of Israel reigns!
(verse 7)
Beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news ...
Good news = news of peace + salvation = news that God reigns!
The Lord will demonstrate his holy power
before the eyes of all the nations.
The ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.
Go now, leave your bonds and slavery.
Put Babylon behind you,
with everything it represents,
for it is unclean to you.
You are the Lord's holy people.
Purify yourselves,
you who carry home the vessels of the Lord.
You will not leave in a hurry,
running for your lives.
For the Lord will go ahead of you,
and the God of Israel will protect you from behind.
(verses 10-12)
What do 'the vessels of the Lord' represent?
All the nations will see the Lord demonstrate His holy power ...
The ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God ...
Go now, leave our bonds and slavery. Put Babylon behind us, with everything it represents, for it is unclean to us. We are the Lord's holy people. Purify ourselves, we who carry home the vessels of the Lord. The Lord will go ahead of us, and protect us from behind.
See, my servant will prosper;
he will be highly exalted.
Many were amazed when they saw him—
beaten and bloodied,
so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person.
And he will again startle* many nations.
Kings will stand speechless in his presence.
For they will see what they had not been told;
they will understand what they had not heard about.
(verses 13-15)
* Or cleanse.
Who does 'my servant' refer to?
... will prosper
... will be highly exalted
... beaten and bloodied
... so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person
... will again cleanse many nations
O, that kings will stand speechless in Your presence ... that men will see what they had not previously been told about ... and understand what they had not heard about ...
Isaiah 51
"Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance—
all who seek the Lord!
Consider the quarry from which you were mined,
the rock from which you were cut!
Yes, think about your ancestors Abraham and Sarah,
from whom you came.
Abraham was alone when I called him.
But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.”
(verses 1-2)
All who hope for deliverance, all who seek the Lord ... consider ... think ...
Consider the quarry from which you were mined ...
Consider the rock from which you were cut ...
Think about your ancestors from whom you came ...
Abraham was alone when the Lord called him ...
Abraham became a great nation when the Lord blessed him ...
“Listen to me, my people.
Hear me, Israel,
for my law will be proclaimed,
and my justice will become a light to the nations.
My mercy and justice are coming soon.
Your salvation is on the way.
I will rule the nations.
They will wait for me
and long for my power.
... the skies will disappear like smoke,
and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing.
The people of the earth will die like flies,
but my salvation lasts forever.
My righteous rule will never end!
Listen to me, you who know right from wrong
and you who cherish my law in your hearts.
Do not be afraid of people’s scorn,
or their slanderous talk.
... my righteousness will last forever.
My salvation will continue from generation to generation.”
(verses 4-8)
His law will be proclaimed ...
His justice will be a light to the nations ...
Mercy + Justice = Salvation
He will rule the nations ...
The nations will wait for Him and long for His power ...
His salvation lasts forever, will continue from generation to generation!
His righteous rule will never end, will last forever!
O, that we know right from wrong ... and cherish Your law in our hearts!
"I, even I, am the one who comforts you.
So why are you afraid of mere humans,
who wither like the grass and disappear?
Yet you have forgotten the Lord, your Creator,
the one who put the stars in the sky
and established the earth.
Will you remain in constant dread of human oppression?
Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies
from morning till night?
For I am the Lord your God,
who stirs up the sea, causing its waves to roar.
My name is the Lord Almighty.
And I have put my words in your mouth
and hidden you safely in my hand.
I set all the stars in space
and established the earth.
I am the one who says to Israel,
‘You are mine!’”
(verses 12-13, 15-16)
What words of His has the Lord put in our mouths?
The Lord is the one who comforts us ... so why are we afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear? Have we forgotten the Lord, our Creator, the one who put the stars in the sky and established the earth? Will we remain in constant dread of human oppression? Will we continue to fear their anger from morning till night? For He is the Lord our God, who stirs up the sea, causing its waves to roar. His name is the Lord Almighty. He has put His words in our mouth and hidden us safely within His hand. We are His!
all who seek the Lord!
Consider the quarry from which you were mined,
the rock from which you were cut!
Yes, think about your ancestors Abraham and Sarah,
from whom you came.
Abraham was alone when I called him.
But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.”
(verses 1-2)
All who hope for deliverance, all who seek the Lord ... consider ... think ...
Consider the quarry from which you were mined ...
Consider the rock from which you were cut ...
Think about your ancestors from whom you came ...
Abraham was alone when the Lord called him ...
Abraham became a great nation when the Lord blessed him ...
“Listen to me, my people.
Hear me, Israel,
for my law will be proclaimed,
and my justice will become a light to the nations.
My mercy and justice are coming soon.
Your salvation is on the way.
I will rule the nations.
They will wait for me
and long for my power.
... the skies will disappear like smoke,
and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing.
The people of the earth will die like flies,
but my salvation lasts forever.
My righteous rule will never end!
Listen to me, you who know right from wrong
and you who cherish my law in your hearts.
Do not be afraid of people’s scorn,
or their slanderous talk.
... my righteousness will last forever.
My salvation will continue from generation to generation.”
(verses 4-8)
His law will be proclaimed ...
His justice will be a light to the nations ...
Mercy + Justice = Salvation
He will rule the nations ...
The nations will wait for Him and long for His power ...
His salvation lasts forever, will continue from generation to generation!
His righteous rule will never end, will last forever!
O, that we know right from wrong ... and cherish Your law in our hearts!
"I, even I, am the one who comforts you.
So why are you afraid of mere humans,
who wither like the grass and disappear?
Yet you have forgotten the Lord, your Creator,
the one who put the stars in the sky
and established the earth.
Will you remain in constant dread of human oppression?
Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies
from morning till night?
For I am the Lord your God,
who stirs up the sea, causing its waves to roar.
My name is the Lord Almighty.
And I have put my words in your mouth
and hidden you safely in my hand.
I set all the stars in space
and established the earth.
I am the one who says to Israel,
‘You are mine!’”
(verses 12-13, 15-16)
What words of His has the Lord put in our mouths?
The Lord is the one who comforts us ... so why are we afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear? Have we forgotten the Lord, our Creator, the one who put the stars in the sky and established the earth? Will we remain in constant dread of human oppression? Will we continue to fear their anger from morning till night? For He is the Lord our God, who stirs up the sea, causing its waves to roar. His name is the Lord Almighty. He has put His words in our mouth and hidden us safely within His hand. We are His!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Isaiah 50
The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom,
so that I know how to comfort the weary.
Morning by morning he wakens me
and opens my understanding to his will.
The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me,
and I have listened.
I have not rebelled or turned away.
(verses 4-5)
Give us Thy words of wisdom that we know how to comfort the weary ... awaken us each morning and open our understanding to Thy will ... speak to us and have us listen ... O, that we do not rebel nor turn away!
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore, I have set my face like a stone,
determined to do his will.
And I know that I will not be put to shame.
(verse 7)
Because the Lord helps us, we will not be disgraced ... therefore, be determined to do His will ... knowing that we will not be put to shame.
If you are walking in darkness,
without a ray of light,
trust in the Lord
and rely on your God.
But watch out, you who live in your own light
and warm yourselves by your own fires.
This is the reward you will receive from me:
You will soon fall down in great torment.
(verses 10-11)
If walking in darkness ... either trust in the Lord and rely on God ... or live in own light and warm ourselves by own fires ...
so that I know how to comfort the weary.
Morning by morning he wakens me
and opens my understanding to his will.
The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me,
and I have listened.
I have not rebelled or turned away.
(verses 4-5)
Give us Thy words of wisdom that we know how to comfort the weary ... awaken us each morning and open our understanding to Thy will ... speak to us and have us listen ... O, that we do not rebel nor turn away!
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore, I have set my face like a stone,
determined to do his will.
And I know that I will not be put to shame.
(verse 7)
Because the Lord helps us, we will not be disgraced ... therefore, be determined to do His will ... knowing that we will not be put to shame.
If you are walking in darkness,
without a ray of light,
trust in the Lord
and rely on your God.
But watch out, you who live in your own light
and warm yourselves by your own fires.
This is the reward you will receive from me:
You will soon fall down in great torment.
(verses 10-11)
If walking in darkness ... either trust in the Lord and rely on God ... or live in own light and warm ourselves by own fires ...
Isaiah 49
The Lord called me before my birth;
from within the womb he called me by name.
He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword.
He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.
I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.
He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel,
and you will bring me glory.”
I replied, “But my work seems so 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.”
And now the Lord speaks —
the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant,
who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.
The Lord has honored me,
and my God has given me strength.
He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.
I will make you a light to the Gentiles,
and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
(verses 1-6)
Who was the Lord speaking to? Who does 'me,' 'my' and 'I' refer to?
... called before my birth
... called by name
... words of judgment made sharp as a sword
... hidden in the shadow of His hand
... like a sharp arrow in His quiver
... His servant
... will bring Him glory
... formed in mother's womb to be His servant
... commissioned to bring Israel back to Him
... honoured
... given strength
... will do more than restore the people of Israel to the Lord
... made a light to the Gentiles
... will bring salvation to the ends of the earth
Can a mother forget her nursing child?
Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible,
I would not forget you!
See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins.
(verses 15-16)
It is possible for a mother to forget her nursing child ... possible for a mother to feel no love for her child ... but impossible for the Lord to forget us! He has written our names on the palms of His hands ... a picture of us always in His mind!
Those who trust in me will never be put to shame.
(verse 23)
Trust in the Lord = never be put to shame.
from within the womb he called me by name.
He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword.
He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.
I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.
He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel,
and you will bring me glory.”
I replied, “But my work seems so 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.”
And now the Lord speaks —
the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant,
who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.
The Lord has honored me,
and my God has given me strength.
He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.
I will make you a light to the Gentiles,
and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
(verses 1-6)
Who was the Lord speaking to? Who does 'me,' 'my' and 'I' refer to?
... called before my birth
... called by name
... words of judgment made sharp as a sword
... hidden in the shadow of His hand
... like a sharp arrow in His quiver
... His servant
... will bring Him glory
... formed in mother's womb to be His servant
... commissioned to bring Israel back to Him
... honoured
... given strength
... will do more than restore the people of Israel to the Lord
... made a light to the Gentiles
... will bring salvation to the ends of the earth
Can a mother forget her nursing child?
Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible,
I would not forget you!
See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins.
(verses 15-16)
It is possible for a mother to forget her nursing child ... possible for a mother to feel no love for her child ... but impossible for the Lord to forget us! He has written our names on the palms of His hands ... a picture of us always in His mind!
Those who trust in me will never be put to shame.
(verse 23)
Trust in the Lord = never be put to shame.
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