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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Sunday, 11 June 2023:
Isaiah 36:4, 10, 9, 16 — On what do you rest this trust of yours?… is it without the Lord that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The Lord said to me, “Go up against this land and destroy it.” …. How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my master’s servants? …. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern.
Are you able to discern between a false ‘prophet,’ teacher or leader and a true teacher and leader? Do you believe everyone who says, “God put it on my heart to do this”? How confident are you in God’s Word? Do you validate others’ messages from the standard of God’s Word or what is commonly referred to as ‘common sense’? Hopefully, you are like a good Berean, examining the Scriptures daily to test the ideas and messages of others — “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
In our readings today, Jerusalem was surrounded by a mighty, undefeated king who threatened to utterly, ruthlessly, and horrifically destroy the nation. Addressing the Jews in their own language through a messenger, he claimed to speak for God and promised them peace and prosperity if they would surrender to him. Imagine the men standing on the city walls listening to the king’s words thinking about the fate of their children and their wives – what would you have done in this situation?
With seemingly impossible odds, with logic seemingly against you, with others seeking to guide you in self-proclaimed godly wisdom, and with no signs or wonders as a “confirmation,” would you have the confidence to trust in God’s Word alone? This false prophet king confidently and convincingly spoke for God, but his words were blasphemy – he replaced God’s truth with a lie in God’s name. There are many convincing false teachers today. Increasingly, influential people are claiming that God loves what the Bible says He hates. Do you understand God’s word well enough to know the difference, and do you trust God’s word enough to stand against popular false teachings? Do you have the confidence in your understanding of the truth to bet your life on it and proclaim it confidently regardless the personal cost? Hezekiah had Isaiah to help strengthen his resolve. You have the Holy Spirit; how much more fortunate are you?
Additional thoughts from today’s readings:
Isaiah 36:5 — In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me?
You can’t serve two masters, and you can’t put your trust in both God and mankind. If you trust in God and make Him your LORD, you will naturally be at enmity with the world, and vice versa.
Isaiah 36:19, 20 – Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?
The world will try to convince you that your faith in the One, True God is no different than the faith of those who diligently follow false religions. The secular world considers all religions equally valid or invalid. Of course, those who faithfully practice their religion consider all other religions invalid in some way. There are really only two religions in the world, the “Do” religion and the “Done” religion – salvation through a person’s efforts, or salvation through the work of Jesus Christ alone. Your faith must convince you, beyond any doubt, that Jesus is the only Way, Truth, and Life. Hezekiah had to remain faithful to God with the fate of the whole nation in His hands. Again, what would you have done in his situation?
Isaiah 36:21 – But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”
There is no value in debating your faith with those who have vowed to war against it and have no intent to listen. You will not be able to influence someone who the Holy Spirit hasn’t convicted. Proclaim Jesus to everyone, but don’t argue with the fool. Let the Holy Spirit do the convicting and convincing.
Psalm 68:4 – Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him!
The Bible shows us that, throughout history, God has taken His servants through terribly dark times, and the Bible teaches us that, under terrible circumstances, we should turn to the LORD and not lose hope in Him. (Psalm 68) In the midst of trials and persecution, it is our knowledge of God and hope in Him that causes us to sing praises and remain joyful (though perhaps not always ‘happy’).
Psalm 68:6 — “God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.”
All have sinned, but through Jesus, Christians are not isolated prisoners of sin but rather are being led to prosperity. Little lamb, follow your Good Shepherd closely. “You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train.” (Psalm 68:18)
Psalm 68:19, 20 — Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.
Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
We still sin daily, but God “bears us up” as we are being delivered from death.
Psalm 68:35 – …he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
It is God who empowers you to do His will, so how powerful does that make you? It is only when you attempt to operate outside of His will that you need to be concerned.
Psalm 69:29-31 — But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.
God desires a heart of worship, not just acts of worship.
God wants you to have faith, joy, and confidence in your salvation through Jesus, not in your deeds, which cannot bring you salvation. “Through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you (Acts 13:38).” Our sins are fully, completely, permanently forgiven through God’s free gift of grace (giving us what we don’t deserve), a gift we cannot earn or improve upon, a gift we cannot lose. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1)….. Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (Romans 5:11)….. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:18-20).”
Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Through the blood of Christ, our sins have been covered over and Ephesians 2:13 adds: “Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Jesus desires, “that your joy may be complete (John 15:11). If you are a Christian, It is time for you to accept the freedom, joy, and peace that is yours through Jesus Christ and spread the message of reconciliation with boldness.
Psalm 69:33 — For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.
God does not despise the truly humble and repentant sinner who knows how desperately he needs mercy and grace through Jesus.
Proverbs 11:1 – A false balance is an abomination to the LORD.
God abhors unfairness.
Proverbs 11:6 – The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
Lust is a prison to those taken captive by it.
Proverbs 11:11 – By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
Wicked messages and popular opinion can destroy society. Proverbs warns against it.
Proverbs 11:12-13 – Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
A wise person knows when to be silent.
Proverbs 11:20 – Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight.
Blameless ways include blameless motivations and thinking. It is not just what you do that matters, it is why you do it too.
Proverbs 11:25-27 — Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.
God expects you to care for others. Diligently seeking good requires worshiping God by serving others in His Name. Those who bless others are blessed by God.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6 — The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Proverbs 11:28 – Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
Money cannot purchase security.
Proverbs 11:30 – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.
Bearing fruit involves guiding people to Jesus.
Wise people build positive relationships and are change agents in the lives of others by pointing them to Jesus.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 11 June 2023: Today, evaluate everything you hear and see from the context of God’s word, and respond in accordance with God’s word, regardless the apparent cost of obedience. Trust God in His word and use your fidelity to give glory to God, always prepare to proclaim Jesus Christ as the reason for your faith, hope and love.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 