Passage: Isaiah 41:1-4
Fear Not, For I Am with You.
1 Listen to me in silence,
O coastlands;
let the peoples renew their strength;
let them approach, then let them speak;
let us together draw near for judgment.
2 Who stirred up one from the east
whom victory meets at every step?
He gives up nations before him,
so that he tramples kings underfoot;
he makes them like dust with his sword,
like driven stubble with his bow.
3 He pursues them and passes on safely,
by paths his feet have not trod.
4 Who has performed and done this,
calling the generations from the beginning?
I, the LORD, the first,
and with the last; I am he.
Journal: The previous chapter ended with God encouraging His people to patiently wait and to rely upon Him in faith, for He is their hope, their strength and their endurance. This chapter has a similar exhortation, but for a very different purpose. [v. 1 -- "Listen to me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment."] The pagan nations now being addressed are referred to as "islands," no doubt surrounded by a sea of rebellion. God is suggesting that they muster their strength, for their judgment is at hand. A Judge before whom I regularly appear is often reminding those before him [both attorneys and parties] that when he speaks that they are to be quiet. It boils down to respect for authority. It centers upon listening to the one in authority. It is the same here as God, the ultimate Judge, draws the nations together for His judgment. The strength He suggests that they muster will be no match for His power and glory, and they will do well to listen and to repent. [v.2b -- "He gives up nations before him, so that he tramples kings underfoot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow."] Yet, history has proven that this necessary repentance is hard to muster, for the peoples of the world are too busy brandishing their own self worth and pious advancement. Rebellion tends to be quite loud.
John Dee Spicer
Arkivi i blogut
About Me
I started the Daily Journal in 2000. I sent it as an email to a few friends (it was a round number, either 10 or 20, I can't remember exactly). It has grown over the years, primarily due to those original few forwarding it to others. During this time, I have journaled through Genesis, selected Psalms, the Gospel of John, Acts, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, and Peter's letters. (These are the books I can remember for sure this morning, anyway.) I don't have seminary training and don't claim to have special wisdom. Rather, I simply desire that others develop a love for God's word. There is only one interpretation for any Bible passage, and I will rely on the wisdom of scholars through the ages (at least those at my disposal) to help with that one interpretation. I will also attempt some practical application. Somewhere along the way I started sharing some funny things my kids would say, and this became known as "Heard 'Round the House." I will continue to share these priceless nuggets as my kids provide material. The "Daily" Journal is a bit of a misnomer, since I only do it Monday through Thursday. I don't do it on Friday because I attend a 6 am Bible Study. I don't do it on the weekends because so many received it at work (I may revise this approach since I have gone to the "Blog" format). I do read my Bible on a daily basis, and strongly recommend a chronilogical daily Bible - you will read the Bible completely each year, and the events unfold in a historical fashion.
