Comments for June 16

17 v. 6 - This is something that is emphasised in the time of the Judges (18:1, 19:1, 21:25). It is obvious that left without a leader, man goes his own (evil) way. Let us take this to heart - there is a 'King in Israel' now - he is in heaven and we await the establishment of his kingdom. In the meantime, let us judge in love, hastening that time

17 v.6 Another refrain in the book of Judges There was no king in Israel. [Judg 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25 (see above)] But notice that it only occurs in the latter chapters. There is a powerful contrast between this time of the Judges and the references in the time of the kings listed below. [1 Kings 15:5 11 2 Kings 12:2 14:3 15:3 34 18:3 22:2 2 Chronicles 24:2 25:2 26:4 27:2 29:2 34:2]

18 v.7 There are only three references to the Sidonians (Zidonians) in Judges. [Judges 3:3 10:12 18:7] And the third reference shows something about their way of life which, sadly, Israel copied. This willingness to copy the way of the inhabitants of the land shows that Yahweh was correct in His demand that the inhabitants of the land be destroyed to protect Israel from false worship. [Deuteronomy 7:1 - 6]

ch.18 - In many ways this seems such a sad story. The children of Dan seemed to have gained nothing in terms of patience for their wait. They still have the desire to take the graven images with them and worship them - all the way to the captivity, v.30 tells us. It seems unusual that in this blatant show of idolatry, God still fights for them and gives them their part in the land.

ch 17 - This section of the book of Judges to  Chapter 19  mentions elements relating to Saul and David. The mention of Bethlehem Judah starts in this chapter. 17:7 8 9

18:30-31 We learn here of a competing system of worship which lasted until the captivity and the removal of the ark from Shiloh - two separate incidents. However there is no mention anywhere else about these activities. We should learn that there is no value in enquiring after the false God (Deuteronomy 12:30)

IDLENESS

He was the grandson of Moses. He was a leader in Israel - leading the people into idol worship and away from God. How did it happen? This young Levite had left Bethlehem in Judah in search of some other place to stay. It seems he had nothing to do, he was idle and needed a job. So when Micah offered him something to do, a job as a priest to Micah's idols, he leapt at the chance - after all, it was better than wandering around bored.

It was the priests and Levites who were supposed to be keeping Israel on track to serve and obey the LORD. They should have been busy teaching the people, serving at the tabernacle and helping with the offerings to the LORD. But this Levite had gone wandering, having nothing to do. I believe that his idleness was what turned him to idols. If he had been doing what he was supposed to be doing he would not have had the time nor inclination to commit such a great sin. It is just the same with us. When we have nothing to do and we are idle we can find ourselves turning to other gods: Television, entertainment, gossip etc. The solution? Keep busy at all times doing the work of the LORD.

Chapter 17 - The reason for the Benjamin / Judah contrast in the latter part of Judges is to highlight how that the tribe of Benjamin was not fitted for kingship whilst Judah was. The scene is set for the book of Ruth.

18:7 'Magistrate' was a 'heir of restraint' Hebrew. The problem was that there was no one to give direction to the people. So Israel had no king and the Zidonians had no 'magistrate'.

17:6 The repeated refrain 'every man did that which is right in his own eyes' is a demonstration of how Israel did exactly the opposite of what God told them Deut 12:8. So Israel have gone over Jordan as Deut 12:10 anticipates and the nation quite specifically are going against what God has told them.

18:18-21 The Levite was far more concerned with status than with truth. So he was willing to go with the Danites.

Are we ever influenced by status?

 17:5 The assumption of the priestly office by anyone out of the family of Aaron was a direct violation of the Law. Num 3:10, Num 16:17, Deut 21:5

What a crazy mixed-up kind of religion is portrayed in Judg 17. a) Micah's mother had dedicated the money "unto the Lord" for her son to make the images. b) Micah "consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest," and c) Micah said "Now know I that the Lord will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest."  Fancy using the Name of the Lord in this type of idolatry!

17:3 Since the death of Joshua and the elders, Israel had slipped into a spiritual abyss.  Israel had allowed Idolatrous practices to be incorporated into the worship of Yahweh.

The same thing happened in the first century AD and onwards when pagan practices were allowed to creep into the ecclesia (Acts 20:29,30).  Today, we have Christendom which is markedly removed from Christian truth.  Then, as now, there was a need to stand aside from error.

17       Remember the events of chapters Judg 17, 18, 19, 20 occurred early in the days of the Judges.

18:30    The man ‘Jonathan’ was the grand son of Moses. Manasseh actually is Moses. There is little difference in the Hebrew between Moses and Manasseh. It seems that the scribes could not bring themselves to record that Moses’ grand son was so idolatrous. Many modern translation actually put Moses in the place of Manasseh.

17:7 The introduction of the place Bethlehem-Judah – the home of Boaz – is one side of the equation which has Gibeah as the other side – Judg 19:12 etc: - the home of Saul. Namely that the book of Judges, highlights the home towns of Saul and David. But the inhabitants of Saul's home behave badly.

18:1 It is interesting to note the language of this verse, and of the last verse of the book. The difference being the added phrase in the last verse "every man did that which was right in his own eyes." This was the key to the violence and evil during these times in the history of Israel. God had been rejected as king. What a lesson for the 21st century! We can all be guilty of the same thing. Rejecting the God of Israel.   

17:3    The mother of Micah was a strange mix. On the one hand she claimed that she had dedicated the 11,000 shekels of silver to God but then took part of it and made an idol! It is as if she rationalised her wrong behaviour on the basis that she had committed something to God. Are we ever like this? Attempting to justify some action on the basis that we want to think that God is involved.

Part of the evil that exists in human nature is the ability to rationalise. Humans possess the quality that makes an action or process possible by inventing a logical explanation for doing them. Unfortunately, truth takes a beating in these operations. The subtlety of rationalisation is that the plausibility of the new proposition is accepted as the new reality, which then becomes the new truth. And so, the thing that was not o.k. before has now become o.k.

The events of Judges 17,18 show how rationalisation had persuaded some to accept a new deceptive reality by including idolatry under the guise of worshipping Yahweh.

17:12-13 The consecration of the Levite is detailed in the Law of Moses. Micah did not have the relevant qualifications to perform the task. It was all a sham despite Micah’s expectations.

17:5 The phrase house of gods (KJV) in Hebrew is beit elohim which is the house of God (elohim).  Micah and his mother probably set up a home shrine (ESV) to worship Yahweh.  They might have been sincere, but they erred by disobeying the Law and by adding pagan elements to their worship.

Micah ordained a son to become priest.  This was contrary to the Law as only Aaron and his sons were eligible to become priests (Num 3:10). Then they added a molten image and a graven image to their worship (17:4).  Perhaps they tried to replicate things pertaining to the tabernacle.

Sincerity in worship is not acceptable to Yahweh if His laws are not obeyed and His truth is perverted.  Many worshippers in the apostasy today are sincere, but they are astray from biblical truth.

17:6 This statement sums up the attitude of the post-Joshua period.

17:13 Micah figured he had all the bases covered, now that he had a Levite for a personal priest.  His conscience was appeased.  But, delusion and ignorance still ruled his worship.

18:1 See Josh 19:47.   

Judg 17:3 - 1100 shekels of silver are the same as received to betray Samson (Judg 16:5); the number "11" is thought by some to suggest disorder, disorganisation, disintegration, turmoil, imperfection, the flesh and betrayal; we have the concepts of betrayal, and of idol worship be it money or an image.  Judg 17:4 - 200 shekels of silver is the same as taken by Achan in his trespass (Josh 7:21); the number "2" is thought by some to suggest difference, division, opposition, and that there is another, examples being light versus darkness, God's way versus man's idolatrous way, etc.  Judg 17:6 - when Christ (the king) returns people will not be doing as they see fit, rather, they will be doing as God sees fit, there will be true understanding and worship (1Cor 13:10-12;Isa 2:3).

18:5-6 The charade of the Levite being a true priest is continued and even the men of Daniel believed that he had priestly capabilities. However there is no indication in the record that he actually sought advice from God.

18:1   The inheritance of Dan had not ‘fallen unto them’ because they had not sought to drive the inhabitants of the land out of their possession –Judg 1:34

17:10-12      Such was the lack of spirituality of the Levite that he was willing to allow a non Levite to consecrate him. Further he was willing to be treated as son of a man of Ephraim even though he was a son of a Levite. Thus he despised his calling and responsibility .

18:14-21         Initially, one might have thought, that the Danites were concerned to remove idolatry from the land. Their careful planning might lead one to think that was so. However their objective was very different!

Judg 17.

17:3-5 Mothers can be a big influence in the lives of their sons. On this occasion it appears that Micah’s mother was a big influence for evil.  Whether he had the house of God before his mother dedicated money to make an idol we know not. However Micah had not been instructed in the ways of right worship by his mother. 

18:12   Zorah and Eshtaol reminds us of Samson as these two towns mark the boundary of his area of operation –Judg 13:25

17:7Bethlehem Judah produced both Boaz and the man who became Micah’s priest – JJudg 17:12. One’s birthplace is no guarantee of the sort of person one might become. We cannot rely on birth when thinking of our future. Rather we should be instructed in the things of God.

18:7      Laish is called Leshem in Josh 19:47 which adds the events that are spoken of here.

17:6   The way men behaved which was right to them was, in fact, wrong in God’s eyes. The wise man was inspired to write – Prov 14:12 – that man’s ways might seem right but clearly are not. Quite a warning to us as to how we decide what is right and wrong.

17:2-3 Maybe Micah feared the “curse” of his mother. Whatever the reason he confessed. However it is clear that his mother was not godly. It would appear that her intention all the time was to make an idol.

17:8 the seeming aimless wandering of the Levite is an indication that there was no need for the office of a Levite in the godless nation at this time. No one saw any need to worship God.

18:31   Notice what we are being told. Micah‘s images were worshipped all the time the tabernacle was in Shiloh. We are being told that the nation tried to both worship God and a false God. Jesus’ words are appropriate here – Matt 6:24.

17:5 Micah’s mother was an idol worshipper – her son followed in her steps. But not with one idol but with a “house of gods”. Micah’s mother was involved in idol worship but said she was dedicating the silver to Yahweh (:3). Micah, likewise, was an idol worshipper with a mixed understanding. So he hires a Levite (:10). That the Levite agreed reflects badly on him.

We learn parental example affects siblings. We learn also that once we are compromised we can involve others in that compromise. The bad examples we might have learnt are passed on to others.

WAITING FOR BLESSING

"And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance among the tribes of Israel that had fallen to them." (Judg 18:1).

It seems to me that people of Dan had received an inheritance. In fact, Joshua listed their inheritance with its boundaries and towns. But whether the Canaanites and Philistines were too strong for them, or whether the people of Dan were too  faithless and lazy to do anything about it, the chapter ended with them losing the inheritance they had been given.

The book of Joshua gives us an interesting contrast when it tells us "When the territory of the people of Dan was lost to them, the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem..." (Josh 19:47). After losing their inheritance, it seems they just waited for a new inheritance to "fall to them."

Someone once said that good luck seems to happen more often to those who work hard. So it should have been for the people of Dan. Had they worked hard and faithfully at their inheritance, they could have taken possession of the land God had given them and history would have been very different.

Let's not expect blessing to drop from the sky without us lifting a finger. If we do, like the people of Dan, we might find that we even lose what we once had. Instead, let's be faithful and work hard to enjoy the blessing God has given us.
 

18:1 the events in this chapter took place early on in the days of the Judges – so the tribe of Dan were very eager to look outside of the area that God had promised them. It seems that they were more interested in an easy life rather than taking their allocated inheritance.

18:2 We have already seen that the events in this chapter occurred early on in the time of the Judges. But the exploits of Samson read as if they were at the end of the time of the Judges. But Samson’s activities were between Zorah and Eshtaol so we have to conclude that some of the tribe of Daniel remained in the area of the inheritance that Joshua had given them.

17:4 We might ask “Who was the founder” that made the idol? Of course we cannot know, nor it who it was in particular particularly relevant. But it does teach us that the making of idols for worship was a prevalent activity in Israel at least at this time in the days of the Judges. This indicates that the founder was able to make a good living from false worship. Clearly he had no religious scruples either!

v.5 - The power of this verse is outstanding on its own, but placed in the context of the next 3 verses, it is mind-blowing. Look at the greatness and eternity of God alongside the transience and weakness of man, who, for all his pride, withers and dies when his allotted span is completed.

v.2 - ‘comfortable words to Jerusalem’ is shown to have had a fulfilment at the time of the return from Babylon when Zechariah quotes this phrase [Zechariah 1:13]

v.9-11 - such strong words of Jesus. We see the whole purpose of God revealed here - the victory on the cross - the removal of sin for those who want it - the power of God to save and the caring nature of His grace and mercy, and that of His Son.

Whilst there are many places where the language of this chapter are found elsewhere in Scripture here are just a few. Notice the links with Ruth - the gentile girl who associated herself with the hope of Israel. Also see how Zechariah uses the language of this chapter to encourage Israel at the time of the return from Babylon.

:18-19 Isaiah speaks of Yahweh being incomparable to any of the idols that are made. Maybe that is why Paul (Acts 17:29) picks on some of the language from these verses.

 40:4 The word 'crooked' 6121 only occurs three times in Scripture. One of them is  Jer 17:9  where it is translated 'deceitful' which helps us to understand that Isaiah is not simply speaking of landscaping land - he is talking about changing hearts.

V.5 "the glory of the LORD shall be revealed" It was revealed to them that "God was in Christ", and as they looked at Jesus they saw "the Father" John 14:9 revealed to them in grace and truth; in word and in deed. "so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" Heb 9:28

The greatest thing that Yahweh hates is idolatry because it opposes the first and greatest commandment (Deut 6:4,5; Matt 22:37,38).  Yahweh demands exclusivity of worship (Exo 20:3).

V.17 The nations are nothing to Yahweh because they are idolatrous. 

V.18 They fashion gods after their own imagination. 

Vs.19,20 Those who are rich make ornate gods out of expensive materials; those who are poor make gods out of inexpensive material. 

And so, idolatry is an equal opportunity pursuit.  True believers in Christ are exhorted to shun idolatry (1Cor 10:14) being part of fleshly works (Gal 5:19-21).  However, it must be remembered that idolatry is not only worshipping a physical image, but also greed (Col 3:5). 

V.1 "Comfort ye" Twice repeated to provide double assurance. Having announced the coming captivity in Babylon, God now desires His servants, the prophets to comfort them (Isa 52:7). "my people" It is God's covenant relation with His people, and his "word" of promise (Isa 40:8) to their forefathers, which is the ground of His protective ways on their behalf. 

Comfort was going to be theirs when God was to consume the huge forces of Assyria who had encircled Jerusalem and the glory of the Lord was to be revealed in redeeming his people. The mountains of flesh seen in that force were to be cut down like grass, but for those who trusted in the Lord there was to be salvation. It is very easy to misplace our trust. We need to develop a faith in the word of God as this is life eternal. 1Pet 1:22-25. That word of God has to be in us producing fruit to the glory of God. If it is not there then we will not attain to the kingdom of God.

There’s a lovely verse in Isa 40:11.  The shepherd, one imagines, is a weather-beaten tough man. But as gentle as a mother, he gathers the lambs with his arm.  The little lamb who has lost its mother, is so small and fragile. But the shepherd doesn't squash it, or deal roughly with it.  He picks it up with love and care, and cuddles it to his chest, keeping it warm, and comforting it.  That’s like God with us.

40:9  In saying ‘behold your God’ whilst speaking of Jesus’ we see Jesus who is given the status and authority of his God as he was ‘God with us’ – Isa 7:14 / , Matt 1:23.

V.3 - a reference to John the Baptist preparing the way for Christ Mal 3:1;Matt 3:1-3;Mark 1:3;John 1:23.

40:10 "his reward is with him" is speaking of the return of Jesus and is quoted in Rev 22:12

40:9 The ‘good tidings’ is the promise of the birth of Jesus – Luke 1:19

Vs.18-20 Idolatry does not only take the form of graven images.  Today, worshipping your car, house, job, bank account, or anything that takes precedence over worshipping Yahweh, is idolatry.  The same human nature that persuaded people to stray in the time of the Judges exists today (see my note on today's Judges reading).

Isa 40:22 "the circle of the earth", Job 26:7 "he suspends the earth over nothing" - these two verses describe exactly how earth appears from space - unless inspired by God how would the writers know in circa BC 750 (Isaiah) and circa BC 1500 (Job) that the earth appears as a circle suspended over nothing? Similarly, how is it the writer of Job 28:5 would be in step with the modern scientific theory that below or inside the earth is like fire?

WHAT SHALL I SAY?

Every day we all have words we need to use up. God has created us with a need to communicate. So whether we talk about sport, the weather, the latest gossip, work, or the best ways of using cottage cheese, we have a need to communicate with other people. God has planted this need to communicate in us so that we can bring him glory. In our use of speech we can praise him, pray to him, sing to him and tell others about him. Isaiah has a lot to say about how we can use our words to glorify God.

He says, "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for." (Isa 40:1) We need to be able to offer comfort to sinners, explaining that their sins can be forgiven through Jesus Christ.

"A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the LORD.'" (v.3) We need to call out even in remote places for people to prepare their lives to meet their God.

"A voice says, 'Cry out.' And I said, 'What shall I cry?' 'All men are like grass and their glory is like the flower of the field." (Isa 40:6) We need to be honest as we communicate and tell people that life is temporary. Prominence comes with knowing God.

"You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain, you who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, 'Here is your God.'" (v.9) May our lips call out to everyone the way to God.

40:2 The ‘comfortable’ words that were spoken is like the way that Hezekiah spoke comfortable words to the Levites at the time of the passover he kept -2Chron 30:22. Then it was a time of joy because the law was being kept. Now it was because God had delivered Israel from the Assyrian. On both occasions Hezekiah’s focus was upon keeping God’s word rather than establishing military might in Jerusalem.

The arm of God is His son Jesus - Isa 40:10-11;Isa 53:1;John 12:35-38.

Vs.3-5 These verses are quoted by John the Baptist in Luke 3:4-6.

Vs.6-8 These verses are echoed in Psa 37:2; 1Pet 1:24.  James likens the rich man to fading grass (James 1:10,11).   

Vs.9-11 When Jesus returns to rule from Jerusalem, divine order and peace will ensue.

V.16 Burning all the wood from the forests of Lebanon ,or sacrificing all the beasts that exist, cannot give justice to the glory of Yahweh.

V.31 Followers of Jesus wait patiently in faith for the kingdom to come. At that time Yahweh will bountifully bless Jesus’ disciples; bless natural Israel; and heal the earth (See Isa 35:6; Rev 21:4).

Isa 40:13-14;Rom 11:34;1Cor 2:14-16.

40:6 That ‘all flesh is grass’ would be something that Hezekiah would really appreciate given that he would have been dead unless God had heard his prayer.

40:3  The ‘way’ that was to be prepared was not a physical road. Rather it is a ‘way’ that relates to behaviour.  It is a ‘way;’ that will be sought by faithful Israel. Jer 50:5

Isa 40:26

“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.”

For ages people have stood in awe and wonder at the sight of the starry heavens. Napoleon once overheard his generals discuss, “Does God exist?” Some answered, “No.” Emperor Napoleon with a sweep of the hand towards the starlit sky enquired: “That’s all very well, gentlemen, but who made these?” In the very first book of the Bible, in the very first line we read: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen 1:1).

Let us briefly consider the following: Astronomers through the aid of very advanced telescopes tell us that the things in the heavens are in perfect precision. The Sun is 93 million miles, or 149,668,620 km from the earth and without it earth could not support life. It is the largest mass in our Solar System being 695,000 km, or 432,852.9 miles in diameter at its equator. The sun rotates at its equator once every 27 days and is our nearest star. The Moon travels around the earth every 27 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes 11 ½ seconds every month without the slightest variation! It reflects the light that comes from the sun. The moon revolves around the earth at a distance of about 240,000 miles, or 386,000 km causing harmless tides on the earth. If the moon were located 1/5 of this distance away, the continents would be completely submerged twice a day! The Universe consists of numerous Stars that form the Galaxies. The prophet Jeremiah tells us the stars are beyond numbering (Jer 33:22). A star has many different characteristics such as their position, motion, size, mass, chemical ingredients and temperature. No two stars are exactly alike! Astronomers believe their number exceeds one billion. The Earth travels around the sun every 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 46 seconds; rotates on its axis every 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds year after year without variations! The earth’s axis is tilted from perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic by 23.45degrees giving us the four seasons. It is just slightly bigger than Venus, being 12,756km, or 7,926.2 miles in diameter at the equator, and orbits the sun from a distance of around 93 million miles, or 149.6 million km. It is positioned just at the right distance from the sun so that we receive exactly the proper amount of light and heat to support life. If the earth’s diameter were 10% smaller or larger, then life would either be burned up or frozen! Without the exact ratio of 78% nitrogen and 20% oxygen in the air, life on earth would not be possible. It is the only planet that has water necessary to sustain life.

The prophet Isaiah told us the shape of the earth is circular (Isa 40:22) while most of the world thought it was flat. Job spoke of the earth hanging on nothing in space (Job 26:7), while the Egyptians thought huge pillars supported it, and the Greeks said it was carried on the back of their god, Atlas. It was Sir Isaac Newton who mathematically formulated the laws of gravity by which we have come to learn how all the heavenly bodies hold each other in space.

Surely, the honest and objective observer has no other recourse than to conclude that our Universe has been carefully and intelligently designed by God for man, as it is written: “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s (Yahweh’s): but the earth hath he given to the children of men” (Psa 115:16).

40:2   We have seen in a previous comment that the “comfortable words /...” is quoted by the prophet after the exile – Zech 1:13. Additionally because Zech 1:13 also quotes Jer 29:10 we can conclude that both Isaiah 40 and Jeremiah 29  are speaking of the same event. A later prophet’s inspired use of Scripture gives us a key to develop our understanding.

40:2    In talking about words being spoken “comfortably” to Israel – Hebrew “to the heart” we see the sentiments of Joseph – Gen 50:21 – where the same word is translated “kindly”.

40:5   The making straight the crooked is not something that man can do as we see Ecc 1:15 where man cannot straighten the crooked. 

40:6    The likening of ‘flesh’ to ‘grass’ echoes the Psalmists observation – Psa 92:7

1. sometimes in Isaiah chapters 40-66 Israel is used not only as the name of the nation, but also with reference to Israel's Messiah, as the intimate representative of the nation.

2. Isa 40:1-2 - millennial Jerusalem (sins pardoned Lev 26:43-45;Luke 13:35;Zech 12:8-10); V1 "Comfort<5162>" can also

mean repent; V2 Jerusalem received double punishment for her sins (Isa 61:7;Zech 9:12;Rev 18:6), but unlike Babylon/Rome, Jerusalem will abide forever.

3. Isa 40:3-5;Luke 3:4-6 - refers to John the Baptist preparing the way for Christ, and a future John the Baptist preparing the way for a millennial second coming of Christ whose glory all mankind will see.

4. Isa 40:6-8;1Pet 1:24-25 - Isa 40:6 "The voice" was John; all earthly things including people will die like grass and flowers but God's Word will stand forever.

5. Isa 40:9-11 - (Isa 2:1-4;Psa 2:8-11;Rev 2:25-29;Rev 12:5;Rev 19:9-17); Vs 9-11 good tidings to Zion; V9 "Behold your 'God<430>'" refers to the coming of the Messiah; V10 "the Lord<136> God<3069>"; V10 Christ is the right arm of God and his reward will come with him; V11 Christ is the good shepherd.

6. Isa 40:12-17 - the mighty one of Israel: Vs 13-14 nobody can compare to the God of Israel; Vs 15-17 compared to God the nations are a drop in the bucket.

7. Isa 40:18-26 - no idol or person can compare to God; V26 God created the heavens (Psa 19:1-6), the stars in the sky are connected to some of the promises to Abraham (Gen 13:14-17).

8. What more could God, the creator, have done for Israel (Isa 40:21,27,28;Isa 5:4)?

9. Isa 40:27-31: V31 who is "they that wait upon the Lord" (is it Hezekiah? is it the nation? is it the saints/messianic Israel? Is it Jesus? Is it a mix of the previous?); V31 the saints may have a connection to the Cherubim as they are the glory of God (Num 14:21); "'renew<2498>' their strength" can also mean change their strength which will happen when fleshly mortal bodies are changed to spiritual immortal bodies.

Isa 40 In Acts 17:29 Paul is inspired to quote Isa 40:18-19. Actually in Acts what Paul says draws on the context of Isaiah 40. Of course one would expect that.

Acts 17:24     God that made the world            Isa 40:22        stretcheth out heaven

                                                                     Isa 40:26       created these things

                                                                     Isa 40:28       creator of the end of the earth

Acts 17:25     life and breath                           Isa 40:29      Power to the faint

Acts 17:29    Godhead like gold silver graven   IIsa 40:18-19  liken God graven silver gold

Acts 17:30 ignorance                                      Isa 40:21      not known

Isa 40:22

“It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth…”

The Hebrew word for circle is chuwg, # <2329>, and means just that - a “circle.” At one time the prevailing view was that the earth was flat. Centuries before Greek philosophers theorized the earth is spherical, Aristotle actually providing observational evidence for the spherical Earth around 330 BC, thousands of years before we saw earth hanging in space, this Hebrew prophet knew that the earth is circular.

In ancient times, humans were perplexed about what the earth, sun, moon, and stars rested on. They had no idea how the heavenly bodies were suspended in empty space upon nothing (cf. Job 26:7). Thus, their explanations often suggested that tangible objects like huge animals, large pillars, or a giant “Mr. Atlas” supported them.

It wasn’t until Isaac Newton published Principia Mathematica, in 1687, that it was understood how gravitational force holds the heavenly bodies together and prevents them from flying around through space.

40:4 We know that these verses are speaking of the work of  John the Baptist because the New Testament applies them to his work Mark 1:3, However an earlier appeal to these words is to be found in Zech 4:7.

40:31  The way in which the prophet speaks of a renewing of strength is rather like we read in Psa 103:5

RENEW YOUR STRENGTH

Even the strongest people get tired at times, but God's power and strength never diminish. He is never too tired or too busy to help and listen. His strength is our strength, if we but tap into it. When you feel all of life crushing down upon you and you cannot go another step, remember that you can call upon the Lord to renew your strength.

 

40:11    The one who will feed his flock like a shepherd is Jesus. Similar language is sued in the contemporary prophet – Mic 5:4

40:5 One way in which God’s glory was seen by “all flesh” was in the showing of Jesus to Israel – Luke 3:6.

40:2 As Bro. Peter Forbes (2013, below) pointed out, the saying, “Speak ye comfortably”, is more accurately rendered, “Speak ye to the heart” (AV mg.). The same Hebrew is found in Hosea: “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak to the heart unto her” (Hos. 2:14, AV mg.). That is, the wilderness, away from the things of the world, is the place where God can truly speak to Israel’s heart. This links with Isaiah 40:3 where, as Bro. Nigel Morgan (2/01/2020, Mt. 3-4) pointed out, the sense is: “The voice of him that crieth: ‘In the wilderness …” i.e. “in the wilderness” is part of the message which is cried. For God to ‘speak to the heart’ and “Prepare” His people they must come to the wilderness. 

40:2 the end of the warfare that Isaiah speaks of could easily when he spoke, have been taken as speaking of the removal of the Assyrian army. However the phrase “that her iniquity is pardoned” shows that Isaiah is speaking of a time distant to the days of Hezekiah. He is talking of the end of the “warfare” within that will come about through faith in the resurrection of Jesus.

40:6-8 The grace of God cannot truly be appreciated until the transient nature of this life is fully understood. So the stark contrast between “grass” which withers and the abiding word of God should help us to focus on what really matters,

40:6-8 The world powers in all their pomp see themselves as mighty. But they will all die. No matter how much pomp and ceremony is then associated with their death they are placed in the grave.

Do we see through the ceremony the world adorns it great one with when they die and see the stark reality that without a biblical hope death is the final end?

40:8  Against the contrast presented here we might ask how trustworthy is God’s written word? We might say that we believe that it is unerring and can be relied on totally. However when we say that we do well to reflect on how much confidence we place in the text of scripture when it seems to be at variance with “modern” scientific thought,

40:2  “comfortably” – see margin – is “to the heart”. The beauty of the coming kingdom is not simply a matter of fact, a doctrine to be accepted. The certainty of God’s promise should impact on our feelings also. The certainty of these things should encourage us in the dark world of gentile dominion.

ch.1 v.1,2 - Here we have an introduction very similar to that of the gospel, but with important differences that show how things have moved on since then. John recounts his personal experience of having seen and handled the risen Christ. Whilst back in his gospel, before the crucifixion, he was able to show the work that Jesus would accomplish in great depth, here in the letters, after his resurrection, they were witnesses of eternal life, and John recounts the implications of that for our life - manifest as light (v.5-7).

1 v.3 The 'witness' of the disciples is seen in the way in which they had 'seen and heard' about Jesus. [Luke 7:22 John 3:32 Acts 4:20 22:15] and is the basis for the Apostle John's reminder.

Ch. 2 - The threefold phrase 'he that saith' [1 John 2:4,6,9] shows that there is a direct relationship between what we claim what we actually do and what we are. It is what we do, not what we say, which actually speaks of how we are.

John, quoting Isaiah 50 switches the emphasis. Isaiah has those walking in light as those who walk in the light of their own making. John is showing the contrast that is consequent of putting on Christ.

2:11 The one who hateth his brother is like Cain who killed Abel and then 'dwelt in the land of Nod - wandering' (Genesis 4:16)

1:1 That John had 'handled' Jesus is seen by implication (Luke 24:39). Clearly John, who had spent three and a half years with Jesus during 'the days of his flesh' is speaking of the resurrected Jesus.

1John 1:4. By “these things” the Apostle signifies all the things he has disclosed to them, both in his Gospel message as well as in this Epistle. The reason he has done so is “that your joy may be full”.

1John 1:5. God is not only light, but is the source of light.
       Light is the source of life.
       Light it reveals all.
       Light destroys darkness.
       Light is warmth.
       Light is health.
       Light provides hope and joy.

1John 2:13. It appears that John is writing to three different age groups, which when we look at the original meanings of the Greek words used we see that these different categories would cover the whole ecclesia, as it does today. We are all included in John’s exhortation regardless of our spiritual development.
      FATHERS: pater (3962) a parent, a nourisher, a provider.
      YOUNG MEN: neaniskos (3495) the younger, immature members.
      LITTLE CHILDREN: paidion (3813) those under spiritual instruction. Not one who was child of John’s by natural birth, but of spiritual birth.

1:2 In saying 'the word was manifest' John echoes his words (John 1:14) 'The word was made flesh'

2:5    abideth <3306> is a recurring word in this chapter
2:5    abideth
2:5    abideth
2:10  abideth
2:14  abideth
2:17  abideth
2:19  continued
2:24  remain continue
2:27  abideth
2:28  abideth

It is a word which is also found extensively in John 14 and 15 and conveys more than just being together. The way that John uses it here and in his gospel is speaking of fellowship.

1:5 In saying 'God is light' John develops a theme which he has in his gospel (John 1:4,9, 8:12, 9:5, 12:35,36) The light of God was manifest in the 'face of Jesus Christ' (2Cor 4:6)

2:19 Continuing last year's comment on 'went out' Cain 'went out' from the presence of the Lord (Gen 4:16) showing that sin separates from God which is one of the themes of this letter.

2:2  This verse does not suggest that Christ's atoning sacrifice automatically covers all humankind by way of substitution.  It is saying that the covering of sin by Christ's atoning sacrifice is available to all humankind.  However, it demands an individual response by way of belief (John 3:36); baptism (Mark 16:16); and walk (John 15:14; 2:3,4).

1John 1:10 "if we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us".  This is exactly what Job had said (Job 31), and what Elihu later rebukes him for (Job 34:5-6).  Job, by his words of self justification had called God a liar.  Just as in Job's case God provided an advocate in his friend Elihu, so in the next verse in John we read of our advocate, Jesus. (1John 2:1)

1:1  Notice the repeated use of ‘seen’ or similar words throughout the letter – 1John 1:2, 3:2,6, 4:12,14,20. John was an eyewitness of the resurrections but there is more to seeing than using one’s eyes. One who has ‘seen’ Jesus does his works. Anyone who does not do his works has not ‘seen’ hi even if he claims he has.

2:2 It may seem superfluous to say ‘and not for our’s only’ but it acts as an antidote against the self righteous attitude of, for example, of the Pharisee Luke 18:11.

1:5 It is not unusual, as we drive around to see stickers on car bumpers reading " GOD IS LOVE", but, we can not remember seeing one "GOD IS LIGHT". Before John wrote that God was love (1John 4:16) he let all his children know that God was light. Light comes before love. Sins, like darkness, have no place in God's light. They both must be removed.  

2:1 Christ is a comforter to His brethren (advocate means comforter).  Advocate in the modern sense means one who pleads your cause to someone else.  A lawyer, for example in a legal setting, pleads your case before a judge or jury.  But that is not the role of Christ.  He is not sitting at the right hand of His Father pleading our case to Him.  True believers have direct access to Yahweh if we approach Him in the Name of Christ.

1:6-7 The contrast between walking in light and walking in darkness is not simply a nice contrast. It marks the only two options. We might like to think that walking in light is just going to the meeting but it must extend to the whole of our lives.

1:10   Whilst we might think that we would never speak or think like this maybe there are times when our actions or thoughts demonstrate that we do. Such thinking is manifest when we are unwilling to repent of a sin – such an attitude is equivalent to denying that the sin has been committed.

1:1 This verse is talking about Jesus.  However, those who believe that Jesus is God and that He existed from the beginning, might point to this verse as proof of that.  Jesus was not God but the Son of God (1:3). 

In the beginning, God spoke (His Word), and things were done (Gen 1:3).  Then later, (in about 4 BC), God spoke again, and And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John 1:14). 

Jesus, the promised Messiah, was born by the power of God, and He began his mission.

1:6,8,10 It is so easy to ‘say’ we are believers. John repeatedly emphasises that the evidence is not in the words but in the actions.

The word “advocate” in 1John 2:1 is the same word translated “Comforter” (given a capital C in the AV) in John 14:16,26 and John 15:26 and John 16:7. Vine comments that this word is one called to one’s side, therefore one capable of giving aid. “It was used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, counsel for the defence, an advocate” (W.E.Vine p208). What a wonderful hope we have therefore! If we sin we can pray to God through Jesus, Jesus Christ will plead for us. We must thank God for Jesus.

1John 2:25 First Principles>Immortality
1. Something to hope for 1John 2:25
2. Resurrection of the body is necessary
    1. of Jesus 1Cor 15:17,22
    2. of ourselves 1Cor 15:52-54
3. Resurrection will be in the future - at Jesus' coming 1Cor 15:23
4. Immortality to be enjoyed in the body Phil 3:20
5. Immortality to be enjoyed on the earth Matt 5:5
6. Conditions of immortality
    1. Immortality is conditional Matt 7:13-14
    2. on belief John 3:15-16
    3. on obedience Mark 16:16
7. Criterion for resurrection Dan 12:2
8. Immortality is not inherent in man, but is the gift of God John 10:28
9. Concerning those who are not responsible Jer 51:57
10. What the righteous among the responsible will receive from Christ Phil 3:21
11. What will become of those whom Jesus rejects Luke 13:28
First Principles> For more first principle topics, go to Acts 8:12

2:2 The word propitiation means the act that brings favour or makes peace.  The word atonement, meaning the act that reconciles God with man, would be a better translation.   God can only be reconciled to man if man's sins are forgiven.   And, Jesus is the means by which sins can be forgiven.  Thus, Jesus is a mediator who brings God to man (1Tim 2:5).

2:15,16 To be in the world but not of the world is a constant challenge.  This is particularly true in today’s permissive and subtlety persuasive humanistic society.  Let’s beware of the traps that prevent us from truly worshipping Yahweh.

A Believer's Relationship with the World

"Love not the world..." (1 John 2:15) vs "God so loved the world..." (John 3:16)

Some verses emphasize we should not love the world and that it will lead us astray: Rom 12:2;2Tim 4:19;Matt 13:22;John 15:19;17:9;Gal 1:4;James 1:27;4:4;Gen 19:12-17,26. But other verses emphasize God loved the world, Jesus gave his life for the world, we are to reflect Christ and should live in the world with love in our hearts: John 3:17;6:51;1Tim 1:15;1John 4:14;2Cor 5:19;Phil 2:15;1Tim 4:10;Gal 6:10.

In balancing the above we realize this world is passing (2Pet 3:13) and that in a sense we are not to be of this world (John 17:14), we are to be separate from the evil that is in this world, but rather than be isolated and avoid people in the world we should follow Christ's example of service and reach out to the world (John 17:18) out of love (Rom 5:8;1John 4:11,19;Matt 22:39;Luke 10:29-36). 

Much of the above was gleaned from Balancing The Book: A Study of Biblical Paradoxes by Len Richardson, pps 29-34.

Sinning and Sinfulness

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves" (1 John 1:8) vs "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin" (1 John 3:9).

Here is a fuller context of each - 1John 1:6-10;1John 2:1-2 vs 1John 3:6-9. The first idea is easier to accept. We know we all sin and are dependant on grace (Rom 3:20-24;1Tim 1:15-16;Rom 5:8). It is not difficult to confess we are "sinners" in the general sense. But sometimes it is difficult to acknowledge the specifics of our own personal sins. And what are we to make of the second idea? This second set of verses "children of God do not sin" seems much more demanding and less comfortable. It has been suggested that John was countering the growing influence of the Gnostic philosophy in the early church, that appeared to be saying "knowledge" is all that matters and actual conduct is not so important. This is always the danger of a purely "cerebral" religion. 1John 3:9 is in the Greek continuous present tense and stresses a habitual attitude which could be paraphrased as "does not keep on sinning", or to quote the Amplified Bible, "...habitually practices sin". Thus sin is to be foreign to the new spiritual nature of a sincere believer. That said, sin remains an on going battle as Paul describes in Rom 7:18-25.

We all sin, because the "old man" is still there. To deny this, as John has said, is to make God a liar. But we have to fight against giving in to sin, we should not be "sinners", that is, habitual and self willed sinners. Sin is not characteristic of God's children but of the Devil's (1John 3:8). The life in Christ is sinless. It is the life of perfect love.

Much of the above was gleaned from Balancing The Book: A Study of Biblical Paradoxes by Len Richardson, pps 47-51.

2:16 The words of John to ‘love not the world’ slip easily from the tongue. But following John’s advice is far harder! AS realisation that all of these things are to vanish – having that realisation in our minds all the time – might help us to follow John’s advice.

1:5     Here is another example of the ‘light / dark’ motif that runs right through Scripture from the details of the creation.

1John 1:1-2 - What did John mean by his use of the phrase - "from the beginning?" Is he referring to Gen 1:1, or is there another "beginning" that he means by this wording?

2:1      “that ye sin not” is not a contradiction 1John 1:8. Rather John is writing under inspiration that his readers might develop that mind of Christ whereby they will be counted sinless.

1:1      In introducing himself as the “elder” we must realise that John is referring to his status in the church, not his age. Thus the contents of his letter have the authority of such an one, even if the letter was not inspired. Of course it is thus giving it unquestionable authority. This might seems strange that the authority of the letter is so important as it seems to be a personal letter but this just stresses the importance of realising that whatever we say or write must be reliable.

1:9    The words “confess” and “cleanse”  remind us of the day of atonement –Lev 16:19,21 in particular.

GETTING TO KNOW JESUS

"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did."(1John 2:3-6)

A serious study of the Bible will reveal to us the truth about God, Jesus and ourselves. It will reveal to us that we are sinners, that God is all powerful and that he sent Jesus to save us from our sins. We can also learn a lot of other details that help us to know the truth. But knowing the truth is nothing if it is not accompanied by action and a changed way of life. We can know it all, but if we don't obey then "the truth is not in us."

To know Jesus is to live the way he lived, to please him and obey him. Even if it doesn't feel natural, living the way Jesus lived will rub off on us and will change us into the person we should be.

There are two parts to knowing Jesus and we need both. We need to have the knowledge, and we need to put that knowledge into action. We will know him best if our life's aims and actions are the same as his.

So let's make the effort to really come to know him as we walk as Jesus did.

2:21   Isn’t it a wonderful thing that because we ‘know the truth’ that the Bible is written for us? Do we see this as a great privilege or is something that we take for granted? 

2:6    The call to  walk as Jesus draws on John 1:36. But it is more than just a convenient phrase to quote. For in John 1:37 we see that those who saw Jesus “followed” him. In the gospel a simple physical act is given spiritual significance which is echoed here in the letter.

FILL ME UP

Fill up my joy. Make me joyful. Grow my joy. As John began his letter to us, he explained the purpose of his writing. "We write this to make our joy complete." (1John 1:4). The message in John's letter is all about loving God and one another, keeping the truth, persevering to the end, and living a life of purity and truth. In other words, John's letter is a letter of life changing proportions. If we are not different after reading it, then John has failed in what he set out to do, or we have failed in our comprehension of what he is telling us.

You see, John's ultimate desire, his greatest joy was to see lives changed for Jesus.

In his next letter, he said, "It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us." (2John v.4). And again, in his third letter he expresses it this way: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." (3John v.4).

The letter John wrote was designed to help us walk in the truth, in the light of God, in love, and in faithfulness; and if it helps us in that way, he will rejoice. The more people that positively respond to his message, the greater his joy will be. Imagine John's joy on the resurrection morning!

Let us all fill up the joy in each others lives by living in the light of the Lord.

REASON NUMBER TWO

John had two reasons for writing his letter. The first was to fulfil joy. (1John 1:4). And the second he explained like this:"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin." (1John 2:1). What an amazing objective John had in writing to us! And it works! Speaking for myself, and others I know, it is the one book of the Bible that motivates me more than any other to live a sinless life. John makes it achievable, and at the same time offers forgiveness for if we do fall short.

As we read through this short letter from John, we should be able to tell if we are listening properly if we find ourselves more determined to live good lives for God and to get rid of sin for good. Our Christian lives should be all about growing towards perfection. It's not just a learning game, it's about how we live life. Living in Christ is about changing our way of life to follow the example of Jesus, who was perfect.

So John gives us practical pointers for living sinlessly. Obey his commands. Walk as Jesus did. Love one another. Continue in him. Pray. Keep yourselves from idols.

Let's be motivated by John to live a new life in Christ from today and onwards.

1:1      John was an eyewitness of the resurrection. So his witness is credible. Does the fact that someone has seen Jesus and told us that he has given more credibility to our belief? Actually Peter – 2Pet 2:17-19 – says that the testimony of scripture is more credible than eyewitness evidence!

1:7     Notice. Our fellowship with each other is a consequence of our relationship with God and Jesus. If that is marred then our fellowship with each other is marred also. True fellowship between believers can only exist when each of those individuals has fellowship with God.

1:3 John, because of having seen and heard Jesus is confident that he has fellowship with Jesus. He is now concerned that his readers might share the same fellowship even though they had not seen or heard Jesus.

2:20   Whereas the phrase “Holy one” occurs a number of times in the Old Testament all occurrences in the New Testament refer to JesusMark 1:4, Luke 4:34, Acts 2:37, 13:35, 1John 2:20

1John 2:9,10

“He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”