Daily Bible Study

August 2, 2016 Bible Study — God’s Suffering Servants

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

DSCN0526

Today, I am reading and commenting on Isaiah 48-51.

    Today’s verses contain references to God’s suffering servant. These are Messianic prophecies which discussed the coming of Jesus. However, elements of them apply to all of those whom God has called. God called us before our birth. He planned our tasks while we were still in our mother’s womb. It may seem that our work is useless, but God will honor us for serving the purpose for which He placed us on this earth. Each and every one of us has been called to show His light to the Gentiles and bring His salvation to those we meet. At just the right time, when the enemy thinks that he has won, God will employ us to demonstrate His victory. We may face mockery and humiliation, torture and beatings, but if we stand fast in our faith the pain will soon pass and those who mock us will instead be shamed. Yes, let us remain faithful in the face of mockery and torment because God will be our comforter and He will put His words in our mouths. Are we willing to accept just a small piece of the suffering which Jesus endured?

DSCN0586

    I was going to stop, having written what I wrote above. But then I skimmed back over the passage one more time and this caught my eye:

Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys his servant?
If you are walking in darkness,
without a ray of light,
trust in the Lord
and rely on your God.
But watch out, you who live in your own light
and warm yourselves by your own fires.
This is the reward you will receive from me:
You will soon fall down in great torment.

There may be other ways to interpret this passage, but this is what it meant to me as I read it. If we fear the Lord and obey His Servant (Jesus), even as we cannot see our path or what is around us, let us trust in God and rely on Him. However, those who think they have it all figured out and are sure of their own ability to reason it out had better watch out because our minds are not up to the task of understanding God’s plan.