Day 53 of Bible Food

Good morning, we'll be reading in Isaiah, and hopefully finish today. I pray God opens our understanding today and feeds us with His Word fully, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Let's begin in Isaiah chapter 53. This is a chapter that speaks about Jesus Christ so clearly, no scholars argue about this at all.

Isaiah 53

¹Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
²For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 

 Who out there believes the report all these prophets gave regarding Jesus and His ways, and who is the arm of the Lord shown to? The arm of the Lord is Jesus Christ. The reason this question was asked is because many people have a problem with Christ; Jewish people don't believe He's come yet, Arabs don't believe He was God, Christians do not follow His ways; so who believes and who has the real Christ been shown to? Not many! Thankfully we're reading today with understanding.


Jesus did not come looking like Tyson Beckford or Denzel Washington, nor Brad Pitt. He did not care for you to like His physical make up, but rather to love the Words He taught.


Jesus was despised and rejected by men, in His day, and even today. He was certainly wounded for our sins by the Father and by Him we are healed.
⁷He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.


While He was being wounded and oppressed, He did not even protest and verbally proclaim that He was innocent. It is because He knew He had a mission. They put Him in the company of sinful men and traded a murder's freedom to bind Him. However, it was pleasing to the Lord to have this done because it will save the creation and the Father will divide with Jesus His portion with Him, and Jesus will divide His portion with His saints because He poured out His soul even unto death to be able to intercede for sinners.
The most interesting thing about this chapter is that it coincides with the entire story line of the bible.

Isaiah 54

⁵For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.


This is again a chapter about the redemption of Israel as a nation and here they are being referred to as a woman who has been barren. God tells them to rejoice because they will inherit the Gentiles and live in their desolate cities. God is their Maker and their husband and He will redeem them.


God has forsaken the children of Israel for a moment but will gather them in great mercies forever, He has hid His face from her in wrath, but He will be her redeemer. God will teach her children of Him and they will live peacefully and in righteousness because they will fear the great and living God.


¹⁵Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.


Now when the Lord brings peace on Israel, nations will still attempt to gather against them, but it will not be by the Lord as it is today, and God has said it in verse 17; that no weapon formed against Israel will prosper.

Isaiah 55

All who thirst come to Jesus and He will give you the pure Word of God that you will thirst no more. You are able to get it without money. However, many people go to church and spend a lot of money on that which is not bread. It's like going to a department store and purchasing things but you leave empty handed. It's time to really listen to preachers and pastors, and really understand the bible so that you can live.


Preachers and church leaders are human and can make mistakes in life and in the Word of God. This is why it is important to read also by yourself to gain understanding, you may be able to help the pastor?


⁶Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
There will be a time when you cannot find the true God, we'll read more about this time by other prophets. This chapter tells the wicked man to leave his ways and seek repentance because the Lord will grant it to him because God has mercy, His thoughts are not like ours. His are much higher as Heaven is from earth are His thoughts from mans.


¹¹So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Positive thinkers do not have it like this yet, God's word does not come back void at all. So get this, think about all we've read and all that was prophesied. It will not return void. It will happen.

Isaiah 56

This is a very interesting chapter in which the Lord makes it clear that Israel is His people but do not think Gentiles and the children of Ham are not invited into this covenant.


If you're walking in the ways of the Lord, stay with it because the time of His redemption is near. You are blessed if you keep the sabbath day and you keep from polluting it because it is a Holy Day set apart by God that represents His 1,000 years of peace on the earth. The Lord, in verse 3, says that the stranger (non Israelite) that has seen and understood that God is God and has joined the practice of the righteous children of Israel, they should not think they are separated from the physical Israelites. They should not think they have to do things differently. There should be no Christian sabbath day and a Jewish sabbath day. There should only be the Lord's sabbath day, which is the 7th day of the week!


⁶Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
⁷Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.


This is pretty plain, you joined the covenant and keep the sabbath day, the Lord will bring you also into His house of prayer because His house is for everyone, every son and daughter of Adam. It is a mistake to think the children of Israel are the only ones. They were just commissioned to teach the other children of Adam the ways of the Lord.


⁸The Lord GOD, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
This is speaking of the Gentiles and children of Ham, and also the remainder of the children of Shem (in which Israel come out of).


¹⁰His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
¹¹Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.


The last three verse switch gears and speaks about pastors and priest, known also as watchmen. The Lord let's us know that many of them are blind and ignorant of His Word. They may be sincere about the Word; but may not have been fully taught; while others are in it for the money. I certainly am not attacking preachers, but I must read the bible and take it's warnings and share it with others.


Isaiah called these watchmen, dumb dogs that don't bark when a thief comes to the house, they lie sleeping and they love sleep. They are greedy and can never have enough, they are shepherds that cannot understand, looking only to their way and doing all things for gain. They drink wine and hard liquor and party and do it again the next day. Beware of these preachers. A watchman is suppose to watch and warn you about coming calamities and give you good knowledge.

Isaiah 57

¹The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
²He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. 

This is great for understanding, especially in times of grief. At times a loved one may die, a good person who loved the Lord, who only made people smile, who constantly did right, and they pass away into the sleep of death. Many people never think about why this is, and never consider that the righteous die, young or old, to be taken away from the evil to come.


They will enter into a peaceful sleep and rest, and wake walking in their uprightness. Although it is saddening to see them depart from us, it is better that God has done this because in our day, great evil is on the way, and perhaps in times past, evil was coming that the Lord did not want them to have to deal with. This is what He wants us to consider. Death is not always just for the evil, it is also good for the righteous.


The Lord reminds us that everything we have and everything we see, He has brought forth so we should be thankful and humble before such a God.
¹⁵For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.


Do you understand verse 15? God, the high and lofty One lives forever, dwells in the high and holy place with Him as oppose to them, who has a contrite and humble spirit who has come to revive the spirit of the humble and the hearts of the contrite ones. In other words, the Father dwells with the Son, who is contrite and humble in spirit, and the Son has come to revive man who is humble and contrite (remorseful particularly of sin). This verse sliced down the confusion concerning the trinity to me. God would have dwelt with them if it were a trinity or more, instead He dwelt with Him. We'll look more into this as we read.


²¹There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. And never will be!

Isaiah 58

If you have strong traditional beliefs in God this chapter could be a bit heavy on your mind. It begins with the crying aloud to show God's people their sin. If more ministers, especially ministers who are of the scattered and cursed children of Israel, if they would show their people their sin and the sin of their fathers, the people could begin to clean up their act and repent.


They don't and things remain the same. They come to God everyday loaded with sins up to their eyelids, praying telling God that they've fasted but God hasn't done anything for them for their fasting and afflicting their bodies. But in the same day you fasted, you go to work and you find pleasures to do. Is that a real fast? Is that fast that the Lord has chosen (verse 1-5)? Look at the fast the Lord has chosen:


⁶Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
⁷Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?


If you do it like this, then you can come before the Lord and ask for a blessing or for your needs and He will answer you.


He will restore Israel and have them build up the old waste places of many generations, if you turn away from doing your pleasures on the sabbath day, which is the Lord's Holy Day, and honor it not doing the things you want in them, but finding pleasure in the Lord, then you'll ride in the high places of the earth and be given the heritage of Jacob, this the Lord has spoken and will happen. A chapter devoted to the sabbath day.

Isaiah 59

¹Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
²But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.


People say every day, "I prayed to God for a new car and I'm still on the bus," or "I prayed for health and a better job, but I have seen nothing." These people wonder why then finally give up on God, never inquiring why their prayer has not been heard, yet alone answered.


The Lord's hand is not short that He cannot save you nor His ear heavy that He cannot hear you; but your sins are stinking and that has separated you from you and your God. God does not listen to sinners. And although we all sin, we have some who learn the law, and try to avoid sins, but when we do we pray to the Father in the name of Jesus for forgiveness. We repent; then we can ask for food today, health today, etc.


¹⁶And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
¹⁷For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.


With all the evil we do continually justice and truth have fallen down in the street; and when you know the truth and depart from evil ways, people actually begin to dislike you, friends stay away from you, and others even attack you. The Lord sees all of this and is displeased that there is no judgement in all the earth. The Lord saw that there was not a man on the earth clean enough to intercede for the people and He had to do it Himself. The Lord had to get a "Do It Yourself" kit to save this creation.

Isaiah chapter 60

When Israel as a nation begins to shed their light on the citizens of the earth, then will the Gentiles come to them and kings of earth will come at their rising. The Lord said that the law of the Lord was Israel's wisdom in the sight of the nations, so if you do not keep the law nor teach it, what wisdom do the children of Israel have? None


When the Lord restores Israel, it will clearly be by the strength of the God of Heaven and Earth; because the Gentiles are ruling the world right now; but when God restores Israel, the Gentile will be serving the children of Israel.
¹⁶Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

¹⁹The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 

 When the Lord returns to earth, there will be no need of the sun or moon, because God will be our light. Amazing!

There are plenty things the Lord is going to do when He returns, one is to really reestablish Israel as His first born and adopted people.

Isaiah 61

¹The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
²To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
³To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,...


This is what Jesus read when He was ministering on the earth in Luke chapter 4, and fulfilled prophesy in the ears of the people that day. He read the first three verses along with doing a lot of the deeds in the first three verses, then He closed the book and sat down. However, we will read the rest of this chapter to see all that He was sent to do.


First off we see the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him to preach good tidings to the meek, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, open the prisons (spiritually imprisoned as well), proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, the day of vengeance, comfort those who mourn, and appoint them that mourn in Jerusalem.


However, there is more:

⁴And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
⁹And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.


Israel will build the old wastes places. Well they certainly have to be back in the land to do that. Strangers will be working for Israel. And they will appropriately be named the Priest of the Lord, and men will call them the Ministers of our God and for this the children of Israel will eat the riches of the Gentiles. When I watch MTV Cribs or see how many buildings some of these money changers and masters make, I smile saying one day the children of Israel will be eating all of this up.


Israel will be restored and the Gentiles who saddled up with them and keep the Lord's covenant will be right there with the children of Israel.

Isaiah chapter 62

⁷And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
The Lord is going to fix Jerusalem and He is going to reorder this earth. He tells the children of Israel not to cease from praying for this until they see it done.


¹¹Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. All these years and the Lord has not given out one reward yet because He says His reward is with Him and His work still before Him. If all men who have died are in the dust that they returned and God is in Heaven, with His reward, how can man have received His reward?


¹²And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. Isaiah is really bent on making sure people know that Israel will be redeemed by the Lord and that they are not utterly cast away forever. I'm starting to get that, are you?

Isaiah 63

²Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
³I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
⁴For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
⁶And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.


This is a troubling and violent chapter on the return of the Lord. Jesus was a friendly lamb, looking to teach and recover His children, even dying for them when He first came to earth. He has done that and will have a totally different approach when He returns to this earth. This time He will be a war raging lion, who will delete His enemies as He goes to establish His throne and kingdom. Do not be confused about this.


In this chapter, He and the Father are having a conversation. Who is this that is coming from Edom with glorious clothing moving with great strength, and mighty to save? And why are your clothing red like a man who went through a wine press?


Jesus replies, His clothing is red because He has squashed His enemies like a wine press. In His anger He trampled them and their blood sprinkled on His clothing and has stained them. This is for the day of vengeance. The Lord is coming back and going on a world wide killing tour after He kills a third of men in the valley of Megiddo, which is Armageddon war.


Are we prepared for this? The chapter changes subjects:


⁹In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
¹⁰But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.


Do you remember in Job when the angels presented themselves before God and reported? These were angels of His presence, they stand in the presence of God. God sent one of those angels to be with Israel, but they rebelled against the angel of His presence and vexed His holy spirit (the angel) and that same angel was turned to fight against the children of Israel.


We pray for the Lord to help us keep His path as the children of Israel pray as well.

Isaiah 64

This starts out as a humble prayer to God, and verse four got my attention that nobody really knows the greatness of what God has prepared for those who wait on Him. We really can't explain it now even though we read some of it. Our brain is limited, we use like less than 7% of it, so imagine what we're leaving out?


Israel's prays for mercy, they are scattered and peeled and are waiting for God.

Isaiah Chapter 65

⁴Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
Here the Lord is speaking, saying He is sought by them that didn't ask for Him, and found by them that did not seek Him. He has spread His hands all day to a rebellious people who provoke God perpetually to His face. These people, His people, remain in graves, they eat swine's flesh or pork an unclean animal and other abominable things are in their bodies.


⁵Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.


You will hear these people tell you to stay away from them because they are holier than you. The phrase, "holier than thou" comes from verse five. These types of people who are holier than thou, are a smoke in the Lord's nose and a fire that burns all day.


The Lord will create a new heaven and a new earth, even a new Jerusalem to go in it that will come down from Heaven. During this time there will be no more short life, you know living till you're 50 or even 80; but try 890. A child will die at a hundred years of age. If you're considered a child at 100 years, what are we today?


²⁰There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.


It is going to be a real peaceful time when the Lord returns. We should all be looking forward to it.

Isaiah 66

¹Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
²For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.


The Lord looks to the poor and the man or woman who has a contrite spirit and trembles at the Lord's word. The Lord looks to those who fear Him, are poor, and have a remorseful spirit in their behavior and their sin. Now let's read about the return of Christ:


¹⁵For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
¹⁶For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
¹⁷They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.


When the Lord returns, it will be very harsh, with fire and chariots like a whirlwind, rendering anger, and destroying those who are still breaking His dietary law by eating the pig, who sanctify themselves and they talk to Satan, that was the tree in the garden of Eden we were not suppose to eat from. Understand what these three verses mean.


²⁰And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.
²¹And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.


When the people of earth see the carnage and the great power of the Lord, they will remember the children of Israel and bring them up to the Lord as an offering and the Lord will take them (the children of Israel) as priest and levites as it mentioned in the previous chapter, chapter 61.


²³And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
²⁴And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.


Now from feast to feast and new moon to new moon and sabbath to sabbath, all people will come up to Jerusalem to worship before the Lord, and the Lord will make them go view the bodies, dead bodies of the men who sinned against Him. There will be worms eating on them that won't consume them and fire burning them that won't burn them and it will be an hateful site to all who see it. The Lord is going to put the lake of fire right there in Jerusalem and show it to everyone for a thousand years. 

 It was spoken, and written, and we read it, so it will come to pass. The Lord's words do not come back void.


This finishes our reading today, we also finish the book of Isaiah, and will proceed to Jeremiah. Praise God in Jesus name forever. Thank you for joining me today for the Word of God.


--
Peace & Grace

*Build a recession proof business online. Visit Build a Biz Fast

Day 52 Reading the Bible in 90 Days

Here we go again getting the food that will sustain us throughout the day; and we'll be in Isaiah today.

Isaiah 42

¹Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

We are beginning this with Jesus, who will bring forth judgment to the Gentiles and He will do this through His people Israel, also known to be His elect. He will not fail nor be discouraged until He has set judgment in the earth: and the islands of th earth will wait for His law. The God that made the heavens and the earth has called the Him in righteousness and will keep Him and give Him for a covenant of the people for a light to the Gentiles. The Father is giving Jesus to be a light to Gentiles; and Jesus is giving the children of Israel to be a light to the Gentiles. These have two fold meanings and we'll see this as we read on.

⁷To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. The Lord is not going to share His glory and greatness with pagan gods. But who do we know is going to and has already, opened the eyes of the blind, let out the prisoners, bring light out of darkness? Jesus.

Jesus is going to do a lot of things to correct the paths of wickedness man has followed all these days. When you see a town or city, or even a country in bad shape, they say this town needs Jesus. It is because He is the only one who can make straight that which is crooked.

But the Lord asked the question - ¹⁹Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's servant? Jesus made the children of Israel His priest, but as we read through the chronicles, they did not listen and have been blind and deaf, because they are perfect. If you're trying to teach a perfect person there is no hope because in their eyes they are perfect.

So if you have to get the attention of a perfect people or person, the most likely attention grabber is to whack them across the head...hard!

²²But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. 

 That is what God did with Assyria, and with Babylon and today to find the children of Israel you simply have to look for a people robbed and spoiled, a people hid in prison houses by the majority, a people no one will deliver or restore because they are taking a punishment from the true and living God.


²³Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? Will anyone reading the bible hear this and take heed, will the current day children of Israel pay attention that they are cursed and being whack by their own God?


²⁴Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. When the children of Israel look up and think they are being oppressed by man, they should read verse 24; that is is the Lord who has given them up because they have sinned against Him and refuse to walk in His ways and be obedient to His law.


Now for people who are not children of Israel physically, this is a pretty good warning that we should take heed to. If God will do this to His own people, know for sure that the laws are very important to keep and be obedient to.
If the older brother received a spanking for not listening, the younger guys better take good heed and walk in a straight path.


²⁵Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart. The Lord has punished Israel, burning him, but the children of Israel have not even laid it to heart. They are not even asking why their conditions are harder than any other nations. They have accepted it as life, it's an every day struggle. It is as it is; and they keep moving.

Isaiah 43

¹But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.


The Lord is still with His people nevertheless. It was thought that because God put Israel in captivity, He has cast them away. When you punish a child you are doing so to correct them.


I remember in my basketball days my coach, Coach Burnmaster told one teammate, Marc McHowell, that he did not care what Marc did the rest of his career at our school, that he had given up on him because he missed 5 wide open three point shots.


And he rarely talked to Marc the rest of the year. He did not care if Marc touched the lines, made shots, because he'd given up on the guy. God did that with Cain. But God, as we've read, punishes or chastens those He loves. And look at the great punishment He has given Israel.


⁷Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. This is an educational verse, what nation in history and until this point is a nation that says they are God's people? The Jews or children of Israel rather. The nation is called Israel, and they are called by the Lord's name. Remember in Genesis, Jacob was adopted and his name changed from Jacob to Israel.


That is the Lord's name, not the peoples. Just as people should hold in respect the name of Jesus, they should do likewise with the name of Israel, for it is the Lord's name.


The Lord is addressing His people in the next few verses, I think they are worthy of pointing out.


¹⁰Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. God tells them that they are His witnesses and His servants whom He has chosen to know, believe, and understand that there is no God before Him, and won't be another after Him. There are a people out there that call themselves 'blank' witnesses and this is not to offend them if they ever read this blog, however, unless they are children of Israel they are not God's witnesses.


God showed up to the children of Israel on the mountain and gave ten commandments and they witnessed Him there. He also came in the flesh and they witnessed Him there. The children of Israel did. So if you are not a descendant of Israel, the nation, you technically and literally are not a witness.


¹¹I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
¹²I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
¹³Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
¹⁴Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
¹⁵I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.


The Lord, the Holy One and Creator of Israel is their King. When Jesus died on the cross, which we'll read later on, His inscription titled Him King of the Jews. But He is also Lord (Master), the Holy One, the Creator, the Savior, the One no one can deliver you out of His hand, and He is the redeemer.


Because He loved Israel He will be merciful, nevertheless, He had to punish them for their sin. ²⁷Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.
²⁸Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches. And the curses of Deuteronomy 28 had to be given because the Lord had spoken it.

Isaiah 44

¹Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
²Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. The Lord is really attempting to get this people to hear Him, let them know they were chosen to do a job, and they have to do it. You know how in sports it is "win or go home." With Israel, it is "do your job or be destroyed."


⁵One shall say, I am the LORD's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.
⁶Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.


The Lord will get to pouring His water on His people, and that is His Word, then they will regain the knowledge they had in the days of Solomon, that is when they will say in verse five and remember they are the Lord's people, and begin to change their names from the names of the people in the country they are serving and change them back to Israel. They will write books, and proclaim God's greatness.


In verse six, we've seen God repeatedly remind this people and readers today that there are no other Gods outside of Him. He is the first and the last God you will ever deal with; and this will make more sense when we read the gospels. The King of Israel and His redeemer has said this, that there are no other gods out here.


⁸Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. God let's you know that He, who knows everything, does not know about no other gods. A Being that created the world we live in now should know if there were other gods among Him.


In verse nine through sixteen, it is writing showing exactly how men go about creating a god in their image to worship a molten image, and God points out they have not even considered with knowledge or understanding that they just created something and began to worship that which they created.


That is like God, who created man, bowing down and worshiping the man. The created being worshiped by the creator; that is what it is like to worship a graven image because it was created by you.


¹⁸They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
¹⁹And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?


The Lord continually let's us know Israel will be redeemed and that He is in control over everything even of Cyrus, that God made a shepherd, making him say to Jerusalem, build a temple, that the foundation shall be laid.


Isaiah chapter 45


⁴For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.


The Lord set up Cyrus to control the world and to let Him know that He is the God of the children of Israel. Also Israel, the Lord God has surnamed them even though they have not known Him. Surname, according to dictionary.com, is the family name or the last name. If you've ever wondered why none of the children of Israel had last names, it is because they were adopted by God and given His name as their surname.


In example, Paul was Paul Israel, and Peter was Peter Israel, and Elijah was Elijah Israel. If there were two Paul's, then it would be Paul the son of Jethro to distinguish one from another, but the name of Israel is the Lord's. Once you are adopted by the Lord, you then spiritually take on the name of Israel.


⁵I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
⁶That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
⁷I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.


We are reminded agains, there is no other God besides the God of Israel. The God of Israel formed light, and created darkness, He makes peace and He created evil. Yes, He created evil; classic example is that God created the angels, including Satan. Satan is evil, and God created him.


¹⁸For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.


God did not form the earth and establish it for nothing. He made it for people to live in. So the idea of going to heaven and abandoning the earth is not credible and concrete to stand on. The earth will abide forever, and the Lord will utilize it forever with His saints.


²¹Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
²²Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
²³I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.


Constant reminder after reminder that there are no other gods but the true and living God of Israel. Look to Him and be saved, all knees will bow and all tongues confess that He is Lord. This is Jesus (when you read it with understanding).


Isaiah chapter 46


⁹Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
¹⁰Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:


Here we go again, by the end of today we will know one thing for sure; that the God of Israel is God and that there is none else beside Him. He declared the end from the beginning. Remember in Genesis chapter one, He gave a blue print of the six days and even the seventh, and he is performing it, and it will stand. The Lord will do all His pleasure.


Isaiah Chapter 47


The Lord is speaking to the Gentiles in this chapter, calling her the daughter of Babylon. The tone is of disappointment in her, and telling her to step down from her throne and sit on the floor. Her shame shall be seen by all. She will no longer be called the lady of kingdoms. The Lord was angry with His people and sent the Gentiles in there to correct them, but the Gentiles have shown no mercy to Israel.


The Gentiles wanted to rule forever and treated and treat Israel like they do not know about the latter days. Since the daughters of Babylon have been evil, they will receive evil in a moment.

Isaiah 48

¹Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness. The Lord is speaking with the house of Jacob, which call on the Lord but not in truth nor in righteousness; meaning they know His name, but they do not do what He says nor do they know the truth of what God says.


¹¹For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
¹²Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
¹³Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.


The Lord is redeeming Israel as a nation for His own sake, and not for them. How can He allow His name to be polluted? It can't, so He is going to save Israel for His own sake; so listen up Israel, He is the first, He is also the last. It was the God of Israel that laid the foundation of the earth, He spanned the heavens, and when He says to them stand up, they do it as obedient as a man who tells a dog to sit.


¹⁶Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me. The Lord does not speak in secret and never has, and the Lord God and His Spirit has sent me. This God that span the heavens, created the foundations of the earth, is the first and the last, this powerful God was sent by another.


Jesus was sent by the Father to explain it simply. He was not sent at the time of Mary, but was sent when He founded the earth and if man would have kept His commandments this world would have been at ease and at peace. But now there is no peace for the wicked.

Isaiah 49

¹Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
²And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
³And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.


This is not Isaiah talking; but it is Jesus the Christ, letting us know the Lord called Him and made mention of His name. The Father has given Jesus a mouth like a sharp sword and said to Jesus, you are my servant O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. We will see this further as we continue reading.


⁵And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
⁶And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.


The Father says to Jesus to bring Israel back and gather them in the land as they were because they are scattered as of now. The Father says to Jesus, it is an easy task for you to gather and restore all the tribes of Israel that are lost and scattered, the tough job will be to be a light to the Gentiles and that Jesus will be the Father's salvation in the entire earth.


The Lord will bring Israel back by showing the Gentiles and the entire earth His power.


²²Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
²³And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.


The kings of the earth will be like nursing fathers to the children of Israel and bring them back to the Lord, and the first ladies of the world will be nursing mothers to the children of Israel. You may be wondering how this will be done? With enough pressure from God, the people will certainly send the children of Israel back to their land pampered and manicured for fear of God. It will be then that all people will know that the LORD GOD is Saviour and Redeemer, and the mighty One of Jacob.

Isaiah 50

The Lord asks the children of Israel, where is their mother's bill of divorcement since they have put the Lord away. Why aren't people trying to serve this God who has this power:

²Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
³I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
The Lord made a sacrifice for the people of the earth and for Israel - ⁵The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
⁶I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.


He let the people hit Him, even though He created the sky, He allowed them to pull His hair and beard, even though He made the moon, and He allowed them to spit in His face, even though He created them. He made a sacrifice for this man.

Isaiah 51

The Lord tells Israel to look to Abraham and Sarah as examples on how to serve Him. This is how you will be redeemed by being like your father and mother who the Lord made a covenant with.

¹¹Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

The sons of Israel struggle because they are spiritually drunk but God will bind them up and restore, if they listen to His commandments.

Isaiah 52

¹Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. We have mention of the circumcision, that no more shall come in unclean and uncircumcised. This is not only talking about being spiritually circumcised but also to be physically circumcised and clean.


Israel has punished themselves for nothing, for no money at all have they done this but when God restores them they will say: ⁷How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
¹⁴As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: 

Just so you know who will redeem Israel, it is the God who became man to save the creation. The One who people were amazed at how he looked being so beat up and marred, more so than any man. It was Jesus that was beaten like that by the Roman soldiers.


This will wrap up today's reading. I thank you for joining me on this spiritual journey and reading of the Word of God.


--

Peace & Grace


*Build a recession proof business online. Visit Build a BIZ Fast