I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
Isaiah prophesied that the land of Moab would go from being a fertile land to being a desolate land. The people of Moab would cry out to their gods, but no one would save them. He then gave a similar prophecy about Aram (Syria) and Israel (I believe this is a reference to the Northern Kingdom here, but in context it may be the entire people of Israel). This is to happen because they have turned from the God who can save them.
Today’s passage contains references to what will happen to peoples who turn from God to worship idols. As they descend further into evil God stores up judgment against them. But hidden in among the judgment coming upon the people for doing evil is cause for hope. Isaiah writes that only a few will remain who will turn to Him. The destruction will come and in the evening the remainder will wait in terror, but in the morning their enemies will be dead. Those who turn to God will be saved from the destruction which God is bringing.
Paul began his letter to the Galatians with a them he had written of to the Corinthians as well. He wrote that he has heard reports that they have been receptive to teachings contrary to the gospel which he taught them. Apparently, they have been misled by some speakers who are twisting the gospel message into something it is not. Paul wrote that there is only one gospel. Anyone who teaches anything contrary to what he originally taught them will fall under God’s curse, even if that someone is Paul himself, or even an angel from heaven. Paul said that if his goal was pleasing people he would not now be a servant of Christ.
Paul reminds the Galatian believers that his message is not a man-made one, but rather one he received from God. He reminded them of how he persecuted the Church in his attempt to destroy it before his conversion. He brought up his zeal for following Jewish traditions as a motivating factor in that effort. He then pointed out that he had been chosen by God out of God’s grace. God revealed Jesus, His son, to Paul so that Paul would proclaim God’s Good News to the Gentiles. Paul wrote that when he received the revelation from God, he did not seek out human teachers. Rather he spent several years communing with God and studying the Scripture on his own. The only teaching about the Gospel that Paul received from men before he began his ministry was 15 days he spent with Peter and James, the brother of Jesus. After this short visit in Jerusalem, Paul went on his first missionary journey, preaching the Gospel.
Paul is emphasizing here that the message he preached was based on direct revelation and studying the scripture. Yet, it agreed with the message preached by those apostles, and others, who had studied at Jesus’ side during His earthly ministry.
This psalm reminds us that there is a God who will judge those who do evil. The judges on this earth may make unjust rulings, but God will call them to account. God will avenge injustice. There will be times when injustice seems to reign, but God will pass judgment on the evildoer.
I will seek knowledge and commit myself to being instructed in wisdom and knowledge.