Comfort

O. T. #1626  "Comfort"
Feb. 11, 2020
Isaiah 40

LET IT GLOW

Let's consider our time table so we can get a perspective as to when things occur according to the Rose Book of Bible and Christian History Time Lines:

*760-673 B.C. Isaiah prophesied (during that time, the kings of Judah included Uzziah, Jotham,
                        Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh)
*612 B.C. Babylon conquers Nineveh (capital of Assyrian Empire)
*586 B.C. Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and Temple (70 years of captivity of Jews in foreign land)
*539 B.C. Babylon falls to Persia
*538 B.C. First group of Jews return to Jerusalem to rebuild (Cyrus the Great is king)

III. God's Deliverance of His People or Comfort to the Babylonian Exiles

This third section of this book has three divisions: (1) chapters 40-48 (2)chapters 49-57 (3) chapters 58-66. In the first part, we look at the hope and comfort of a blessed future for Judah after God's judgment of the Babylonian captivity. Living seventy years in captivity of another county that is foreign to them, results in generations dying and being born there. The Jews are God's covenant people and they will never be permanently cast away (Romans 11:2). Judah's forced labor there would end after they experienced the full measure of discipline for their many sins. Over 63,000 Jews returned to the place where Jerusalem once stood, as well as rebuilding the Temple.

As Isaiah sees a day of salvation, what is God saying to Judah?

• He is calling for comfort (repent, console) for His people. (verse 1)
• Speak to the heart because Jerusalem's warfare days are gone, her iniquity is pardoned, and she was punished twice by the Lord. (verse 2)
• Clear the way through the wilderness; prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (verse 3)
• Fill in the valleys and level the mountains and hills; straighten the curves; smooth out the rough places. (verse 4)

John the Baptist had this role in preparing the people for the coming Messiah as he called for repentance of sin. We find this in the Gospels. "Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world," was John's declaration and introduction of Jesus.

Today, there are still some major highways from the Sea of Galilee along the Jordan River, down to Jericho and Jerusalem. Also, on the other side through Nazareth, the Valley of Jezerel, to Jerusalem, on which we traveled during our tour of Israel.

In addition, we are to prepare people spiritually for the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ. The Lord is coming back, a second trip for Him. He will reign with peace for 1,000 years. He will make Jerusalem, His Beloved city, the place where all come from the ends of the earth.


LET IT GROW

And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (verse 5)

The Jewish remnants' hearts were stirred up by the Lord, as well as King Cyrus, with courage to make it through the hills, valleys, and rough places on their way back to Jerusalem.

The divine glory was a light to lighten the Gentiles, as Jesus offered salvation to them and to us. He offers hope and deliverance from sin for us.
Remove the obstacles and roll out the red carpet for the coming of the Lord. As the wilderness pictures the trials and sufferings in life, we are not immune to them as believers. Our faith is not to be hindered by them either. So when our life seems to fall apart, we can find comfort, God's comfort through it all. In His Word we can find strength and encouragement, and His Holy Spirit's presence.
Let us comfort each other with these word.


LET IT GO
You are forever mine, Jesus.
Glory to You.
I wait for Your soon coming.

A Foolish Mistake

O. T. #1625 "A Foolish Mistake"
Feb. 10, 2020
Isaiah 39

LET IT GLOW

Have you ever made a decision or action and later realized it was foolish? King Hezekiah did. Want to find out what it was? Read on, friend.

We left King Hezekiah being healed of his deadly boil and his life extended 15 more years, which were given by God. He passed the faith test when Hezekiah wept and prayed to God. Apparently word traveled rather swiftly during this time, without internet and phone lines, too. Word spread of his sickness and recovery and the moving back of the sun (as proof from God that Assyria would not attack Jerusalem and that Hezekiah would be healed). (One commentary said that the Babylonians worshiped a sun god.) Could it have been curiosity about the day the sun stood still that resulted in their king sending messengers to Hezekiah?

According to Tony Evans, Babylon was going to be the next great world power in years to come. During Isaiah's day, it was another vassal state under Assyria.

What happened in this chapter?

• The king of Babylon sent letters and a present to Hezekiah by way of messengers.
• This pleased King Hezekiah of Judah. Was it pride and flattery that swelled up the king? After all, he name was great in distant countries.
• He made a foolish mistake in striving to impress his foreign visitors. The king showed them his precious things, treasures, and armory in his palace and kingdom. Nothing valuable remained unseen. (verse 2) He lived to regret it, though.
• The Lord sent His Prophet Isaiah to King Hezekiah with a message. Notice, the king did not seek his advice when these foreign visitors came. (verse 3,5)

Did the Babylonian king think his sun god (a false god) was the source of this miracle and he was rejoicing in it? Or was the Babylonian king seeing the power of Judah's God Almighty, the One and Only God, who worked miracles and he wanted to honor Hezekiah's God? Was Hezekiah trying to impress his visitors by giving a guided tour through his precious things? Just my curiosity.

Anyway, we know it was our God's love and mercy shown to King Hezekiah, after he prayed, that healed and extended the king's life.

LET IT GROW

What was wrong with showing these Babylonians around? Was the Babylonian king planning a revolt against Assyria and was forming an alliance. Did he hope to convince Hezekiah to join this alliance against Assyria. And maybe Hezekiah felt honored by this attention and some sympathy for their proposal. Or was Hezekiah hoping to have Babylon join his alliance against Assyria. (Remember, God told Hezekiah that Assyria would not attack Jerusalem.) Either way, Judah's king did a foolish thing.

The Lord sent Isaiah to Hezekiah. What occurred in that meeting?

• Basically, Isaiah asked the king 3 questions-What did those men want? Where were they from? What did thy see in your palace? (verse 3-4a)
• Hezekiah's answers were: They came from the distant land of Babylon and they saw everything I own, all my royal treasuries. (verse 4)
• The LORD's message to Hezekiah was the captivity of Hezekiah's descendants, sons serving as eunuchs) and all their treasures stored up.(verses 6-7)
• Hezekiah's reply was, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. There shall be peace and security in my days. (verse 8, NLT)

What was Hezekiah saying? He recognized that God was merciful by not killing him. God's Word is good (precious; gracious; king; loving; pleasant; good in the wildest sense). Did it sound like Hezekiah was convicted of his sins and repented of his pride? Some say so. After all, he had stamped out idol worship and God had granted his faith 15 more years, and he knew Almighty God was LORD.

Was the king being short sighted in that Babylon's captivity would not occur during his reign? That he was blessed with peace with the remainder of his life?
In 5 more generations after Hezekiah, King Jehoiakim of Judah was attacked by King Neb in Babylon; in 6 generations, the second attack was made when King Jehoiachin rebelled against Babylon; in 7 generations King Zedekiah was the third attack and conquered by Babylon.

Are we careful that our treasures do not puff up pride within us? Do we seek the Lord as we make decisions?

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus warns, Don't collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don't break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus made it clear that having the wrong treasures leads to our hearts being in the wrong place. What we treasure the most controls us, whether we admit it or not. (Life Application Study Bible)

Are we living contently with whatever we have because we have chosen eternal values over temporary, earthly treasures?

LET IT GO
Open my spiritual eyes to see the path for me according to Your will, God.
Thank You for all that You have provided for me.
Use me and my things for Your glory and purpose.
And help me to recognize pride in my life.

A Changed Mind

O. T. #1624 "A Changed Mind"
Feb. 7, 2020
Isaiah 38-Part 2
Lord, your discipline is good, for it leads to life and health. You restore my health and allow me to live! Yes, this anguish was good for me, for You have rescued me from death and forgiven all my sins.  (verse 16-17, NLT)

LET IT GLOW

Beginning with verse 9, we read a hymn of thanksgiving, a poetic song of praise by King Hezekiah. What happened in his life previously, Hezekiah was deathly sick due to a boil. Even Isaiah told him, by word from the Lord, to set his house in order. When Hezekiah prayed and wept, changed his mind and extended his life 15 years.

How did this experience change Hezekiah?

• He was in the land of the living. (verse 11,16)
• He gave credit to God-He spoke it and did it.(verse 15)
• He was humbled before the Lord, no longer prideful. (verse 15)
• He would sing God's praises with instruments every day of his life in the Temple. (verse 20)

How wonderful it is when your are about to die and God rescues you, extends your life. Many of you have read my testimony of this happening to me after surgery when I stopped breathing. Every day I try to remember to thank my merciful God for breath of life He has given me. Causes us to have a new perspective on life.

LET IT GROW

The Lord's favorable response illustrates His willingness to alter His stated intentions when His people pray. (David Jeremiah)

We have read examples of God showing mercy as He changed His mind:

• Exodus 32:9-14: Most of the Hebrews would not believe the report of Joshua and Caleb in that they could conquer the Promised Land and wanted to stone them. As a result, God was going to wipe them out and raise up another nation of believers. Mosses interceded for his people, saying the Egyptians would hear of it and declare God was not able to bring them there.
• Genesis 19-God was going to destroy Sodom because of their sin of homosexuality. Abram's nephew Lot and family lived there, so Abram interceded for his family. Lot and his two daughters were the only survivors of the city.

Is there someone we need to pray for, intercede to God for today? God may show them mercy because of your prayer.

Did you notice that after Hezekiah praised the Lord, then God gave the treatment for his boil?

LET IT GO
Thank You, my God, for being so good to me.
You are so merciful and loving.

When Time Stood Still

O.T. #1623 "When Time Stood Still"
Feb. 6, 2020
Isaiah 38
I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
(verse 5b)


LET IT GLOW

If time stood still for an hour, what we could accomplish! Well, it did stop for Hezekiah, just not an hour. What happened to him during that time? God changed the course of his life.

The events in chapters 38 and 39 occurred before chapters 36 and 37. It happened before Assyria came to surround Jerusalem and their king threatened God's city. What was the "it?" Read on to read about a miracle God did.

King Hezekiah of Judah was deathly ill from a boil (inflammation; an ulcer). (I wonder if it was infected and spread into his blood. Just a thought.) It is interesting to note that this same Hebrew word for boil is the same word for the boils which came as a plague upon the Egyptians. We know they died from their boils.
Well, Hezekiah's sickness was very serious. Isaiah went to visit the king and spoke some startling news from God, "Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness."
Now this may have been a test of Hezekiah's faith. "Prepare to die" can be some shocking words to hear.
Perhaps you heard the doctor say the word cancer is in your body or an incurable disease. It can be eye opening news. What do we do? Where do we turn when our life is spinning around?

2 Chronicles 32 tells us that Hezekiah had become a prideful man, for he was very wealthy and highly honored. He showed all the treasures in Judah to ambassadors from Babylon. This angered the Lord against the king, Judah, and Jerusalem. god withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart. Hezekiah humbled himself and repented of his pride, as did the people of Jerusalem. So the Lord's anger did not fall on them during Hezekiah's lifetime.

How did Hezekiah react to the terminal news? (Being a man, he may have waited until he was alone.) He turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD.
What did Hezekiah pray?

• Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to you.
• I have served You single-mindedly.
• I always do what pleases You.

Then Hezekiah broke down and wept bitterly. (Doesn't your heart go out to the guy?) Commentators say that Hezekiah didn't have an heir to leave his throne nor all his goods to as an inheritance. God knew ahead of time that He was going to heal Hezekiah and give him a miraculous sign to boot.


LET IT GROW

God sent Isaiah back to Hezekiah with an encouraging message: God heard his prayers and saw his tears; He would add 15 years to Hezekiah's life; He would rescue him and Jerusalem from the king of Assyria.

As proof that God would do as He promised, (healing and he would go to the Temple in 3 days), God offered Hezekiah a choice of either moving the shadow on the steps as a sundial 10 degrees forward or backward.
Which did he choose? Hezekiah chose for the sun to be moved backwards, for the shadow on the steps to go backwards. He knew soon the sun would go down with nighttime coming. So God moved the sun for a miraculous sign to the king. It was the day time stopped, which was about 20 minutes (add 20 more minutes to catch up with time). God supernaturally did it.  So the 20 minutes back and 20 minutes up to the original time, equals 40 minutes.

Did you know that NASA's computer discovered time elapsed a whole day previously. A man who learned this in Sunday School shared that in Joshua's day for 23 hours and 20 minutes, the sun stopped moving so Israel could defeat their enemy in the light. Then if you add the 40 minutes in Hezekiah's day, that explains the day the sun stood still, or time stood still. It calculated. Imagine that!

God can do whatever He wants. He can prove that His promises are true and He is faithful to keep them. But do we trust Him to keep His Word?

LET IT GO

God, You can change the course of my life.
Lead me to Your path for me.
Help me to be a good follower.

An Immediately Answered Prayer

O. T. #1622 "An Immediately Answered Prayer"
Feb. 5, 2020
Isaiah 37-Part 3
But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against Me. (verse 28)

LET IT GLOW

How would we react if we received a letter threatening to destroy us? I would slide on my face all the way to my prayer room and cry out to God, like Hezekiah. Continue reading to find out how it turned out for him.

With all those threats toward Jerusalem and its king, God was still in charge. He was going to give a sign (evidence) that all was well and going to turn out all right. There would be good harvest of crops and fruit. A remnant of Judah would take root downward and bear fruit upward. Judah would be blessed with a divine reprieve to continue its prosperity as a nation.

How did God rescue Jerusalem? He sent an angel of the LORD, who was Christ Himself, to kill 185,000 men in the Assyrian army. It happened that night that Isaiah delivered the message of deliverance (2 Kings 19:35). God didn't waste any time answering Hezekiah's prayer.

What happened to Sennacherib, king of Assyria? Twenty years later, his own sons killed him while he was worshiping his false god.

Sometimes God answers our prayer immediately. We should praise and thank Him for it hearing our prayer. If His answer is no or wait, we have to trust in God's will and praise Him and thank Him anyway. Some of my prayers took 20 and even 40 years to be answered. So keep on believing, friend. God is at work.

LET IT GROW

The king of Assyria thought he was in control of his fate, but boy was he ever wrong. His army was strong, his empire was great, and he had conquered many nations. Although he had overpowered many cities in Judah, he was not going to do so to Jerusalem.

King Hezekiah of Judah had gone to the Temple and laid the threatening letter from the king of Assyria. God gave an answer to Hezekiah's prayer through the Prophet Isaiah-as God had planned long ago, it would come to pass. According to our  key verse, God knew the activity of the king of Assyria, Sennacherib's going out and coming in, and had always an eye upon him. God even knew the rage (to quiver, with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear) that the guy had toward God.

 That ruthless king would return home by the same road he came on and would not attack Jerusalem because God would put a hook in his nose and a bridle in his lips and turn him back. (verses 28-29)
His army would not even shoot an arrow, nor march around Jerusalem's gates with shields, nor try to tear down the walls.

When things look hopeless for us, we should pray to our God. After all,  He knows all that is going on in our little world, sees all that is happening to us, and our comings and goings. He even knows how we have been mistreated. He can mend broken hearts. God can change our attitudes, too. Dear child of God, He can turn things around for us. So, take comfort in His will being done as we yield to it.

Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great. (2 Samuel 24:14)

LET IT GO

Jesus, how good You are!
Thank You for hearing my prayers and answering according to the right way.
Glory to Your name.

Help!

O. T. #1621  "Help!"
Feb. 4, 2020
Isaiah 37-Part 2
Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that Thou are the LORD, even Thou only. (verse 20)

LET IT GLOW

In the last chapter, we read where the king of the Empire Assyria sent his cupbearer to deliver a nasty threatening message to King Hezekiah of Judah. Now Hezekiah had sent three of his trustworthy men to receive it. When the king heard it this first message, he went sorrowfully to the Temple to pray. Also, he sent two of those men and priests to Isaiah the prophet so he would pray. God's reassuring message to Hezekiah was that He would take care it Assyria.

Before the king of Assyria left the area, he sent a letter to Hezekiah by way of his messengers so Judah would know he had not abandoned his plan to conquer Judah. This time, Hezekiah sorrowfully went to the Temple to pray a tremendous prayer. Laying out the letter before the Lord, how did the king pray?

• He recognized the God of Heaven was the God of Israel, who God is and their utter dependence upon Him (verse  16);
• He requested God to see and hear the reproach (to defame, defy, blaspheme) of their enemy (verse 17);
• He realized the success of Assyria to conquer other nations and cities, but recognized their gods were only the work of men's hands and had not power (verse 19);
• He humbly and genuinely prayed for God to rescued Jerusalem and save them from their enemy; and that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that God is the only God (verse 20);

What a prayer! It is a good example for us as we pray.

God was glorified as the only Creator and Sovereign of the world. The king did not presume upon God's grace, but asked God to judge the Assyrians for the right reason-everyone would know He alone was God. (Tony Evans)

LET IT GROW

What was God's response through Isaiah to Hezekiah's prayer concerning Assyria's king?

• Even though God allowed Assyria to conquer the northern kingdom of Israel, because of their rebellion against Him, He would not allow them to conquer Judah. (The virgin daughter of  Zion was Jerusalem.) (verse 22)
• Assyria had ultimately mocked God when they defied, ridiculed, and mocked Judah. (verse 23)
• God was going to cut down Assyria like a tree and stop up the rivers. (verse 24)
• Long ago God decided a plan and now He was making it happen. (verse 26)
• God knew Assyria well, their comings and goings, their rage against the Lord, and their arrogance. (verse 28)

In other words, don't mess with God's children and don't reproach and blaspheme God. Those are some things He will not stand for, put up with, allow to continue.

The word reproach is used 4 times in this chapter-verses 4,7,23, 24.
The word blasphemed means a revilement (verbal abuse), and is used twice-verses 6 and 23.

Woe be unto the king of Assyria. He done it, as our slang would say it. God has had it with those people. We will read more about them next time and how God judges those heathens.

"For I know the plans I have for you;" declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

Hezekiah persisted in prayer and faith even though he could not see the answer coming. When we pray, we must have faith that God has already prepared the best answer. Our task is to ask in faith and wait in humility. (Life Application Study Bible)

Do we acknowledge God's holiness, power, and sovereignty when we pray?
Do we lay out our problems before the Lord as the king did here?
Do we declare God's wisdom and He knows best how to handle this?
Are we leaving it with Him?

LET IT GO
God, You are my Savior, Redeemer, Sustainer, Healer, Protector, Provider.
Everything I have ever needed, You have always been.
God is the Great I AM.

When The Threats Come

O. T. #1618  "When The Threats Come"
Feb. 3, 2020
Isaiah 37

LET IT GLOW

What do we do when threats come? Are we like Judah, compared to a woman who is trying to give birth to a child  but is too weak to deliver? How did King Hezekiah handle the threats? He didn't give up.

Previously, we heard the words of the cupbearer, Rabshakeh, of the king of Assyrian and their threats so Jerusalem would surrender to them. He made the mistake of mocking the ability of Jerusalem's God.
[Keep in mind that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) as we apply these verses to us.]

What happened on the day of trouble, insults, and disgrace?

• When King Hezekiah heard the report of Assyria's threat, what did he do? He did the right thing-tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went to the house of the LORD. Hezekiah sent the same messengers to Prophet Isaiah.
• The message was: There was no strength after hearing the threats; the Assyrian king defied the Living God; perhaps He will punish him; pray for the remnant let.
• Isaiah's response was: Don't be disturbed by this blasphemous speech. God will move against them; the king will receive a message that he is needed at home, so he will return to his land; God will kill the king with His sword. (This is what the Lord said.)
• Before King Sennacherib left, he sent a letter to Hezekiah: Don't let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you with promises that Jerusalem will not be captured by the king of Assyria. You know perfectly well that we have completely destroyed everyone who stood in our way.

Well, well, well, the Lord heard the mocking message and threat to God and Jerusalem, God's beloved city. God would defend His people and vindicate His great name. Hezekiah knew this.

Friends, do we recognize that our God fights for His children? Do we have that strong faith in our times of threats and troubles from our enemies?

LET IT GROW

When King Hezekiah received that letter from the king of Assyria, what did he do? He spread it out before the LORD while in the Temple.

What can we learn from this story? If you missed the first seven points Kay Arthur taught about the blessings that can come when the enemy threatens us, read our previous lesson. Now, let's continue with it:
8. The enemy drives us to the house of God, praying, and rallying the troops, Christian prayer
     warriors. (verse 4)
9. The enemy causes us to see the divine sovereignty of God over the hearts of men.
10. The enemy causes us to remember who God is. He alone is our deliverer.
11. The enemy provides us with stories of God's deliverance.

Rest assured, God will protect His name and reputation. When we are a child of God, make sure we do not become a slave to fear. Then, make our goal to give glory to God when He delivers us from the evil one.

When threats and problems come into our life, we should take it to the Lord our God, and ask others to pray for us. Then watch God move as only He can.

LET IT GO
                              ... and let God handle my situation.
                              ... and say, "I am a child of God."
                              ... and do not fear, for God has this.