Chapter 11 of Isaiah weaves, like a tapestry, both comings of the Messiah. These two events are one big picture: two parts of a whole. For the plan of salvation to be complete, both comings are absolutely essential.
Read MoreInstead of dismissing such thoughts as out-of-bounds, he nurtured and cherished them in his heart.
Read MoreThose who heed the perfect counsel of the divine Counselor become a part of the royal family of the Prince of Peace. Such peace is available now, and it is not dependent upon worldly circumstances.
Read MoreGod’s written word powerfully intermingles past events with later ones, using them to prefigure His saving work to come. He mixes images from one era with those of another to bring depth of meaning to both.
Read MoreWhat do faithless people do when they crave advice or knowledge of the future, but dislike the knowledge that God has made available in His word?
Read MoreAn openness to His correction and discipline has a direct connection with inextinguishable hope for the eternal future.
Read MoreTrue prophets are instruments in God’s hand to not only inform us of future events — foretelling — but, more importantly, to help us understand needed corrections to our paths — forthtelling — so that the personal decisions we make daily will guide us onto the “right side of history”.
Read MoreGod consistently testifies that He wants the best for His children. His testimony regarding Himself and His plans to guide His people is repeatedly given gently . . .
Read MoreHe simply did not want to believe, and he didn’t want to hear anything that might change his mind, fearing any influence toward altering his course from the policy he had fixed in his own mind.
Read MoreThe allegiance of Ahaz given to the Assyrian power [instead of the Lord GOD] came at a terrible cost and brought no benefit.
Read MoreEven as the world falls deeper into confusion, Jesus and His faithful ones continue the divine rescue mission. It is often frustrating not to know how long it will go on. Jesus emphasized that we can know when the time is near . . . .
Read MoreYet God continues to save people individually. The desire of His great heart is not to destroy, but to save eternally. Some people respond positively to His appeals while others become firmer in their resistance.
Read MoreIn the sanctuary, the main purpose in taking a coal from the altar was to light incense. But here, the seraph applies the coal to Isaiah rather than to incense.
Read MoreIt was by God’s design that Isaiah’s view should be broadened beyond and above the unsettling earthly events around him.
Read MoreThis shocking turn of events hinged upon the pride and presumption of Uzziah. He had deemed himself qualified to reach beyond a boundary set by God.
Read MoreJesus spoke the parable of the vineyard to religious leaders present during His earthly ministry. As in Isaiah, the parable draws the listeners into the story and calls upon them to make a judgement. The judgement they render is against themselves . . .
Read MoreAs Creator, our Lord initiated the giving of every good thing for His elect. His vision for them, that they would show to the world the amazing riches of His goodness – was for the benefit of all who are lost and searching.
Read MoreGod’s people were not being instructed to earn their salvation by their obedience, for they were already saved by the forgiveness that He had provided. The real question was this: would they choose to live as a saved people?
Read MoreIn the latter days, many will come to the Lord in earnest, ready to receive any and all instructions from the One who is able to make His people holy – fit for heavenly perfections.
Read MoreThe Creator desires to cleanse and restore His people—recreating their hearts—all the way to the state of purity and righteousness befitting of those He created in His image. Like Moses, Isaiah makes it clear that there is no “middle ground” or compromise.
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