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.
When I read this passage I think of the modern state of Israel. I am in no way saying that this passage points to the modern state of Israel, but I would also hesitate to say strongly that it does not. However, this verse seems apt: “But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed.”
The next section is full of important words. The Lord will provide for those in need, all they need to do is come to Him and listen to His words. However, we need to seek the Lord while we can find Him, while He is near to us. If we reject the Lord when we know that He is calling us, we may not have the choice to answer later. When we are troubled by the way things are going on this earth we need to remember this:
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
We cannot fully understand God’s ways and He does not do things the way we would. He sends His word out and it bears fruit. It accomplishes what He desires and prospers where He sends it. If we are faithful and listen to His voice, He will bring joy and peace to us and all of the world around us will sing joyful praises to Him. Up until here one could interpret this passage as only applying to the descendants of Israel. But now Isaiah tells us that God says that those who commit themselves to Him from every nation will be brought into His promises. He will bless those who love and serve His name.
This passage wraps up with a condemnation of leaders who use their position merely to enrich themselves rather than to serve the people they lead. He condemns those who worship things other than God. They may proclaim that they have done good deeds in the name of these false gods, but God will reveal the truth of the matter.
As is usual with good relationship advice, Paul here addresses both sides. Children should honor and obey their parents. Good things will come from such a course of action. On the other hand parents should not provoke their children to anger. If it always seems like your parents can push your buttons, as someone once told me, there is a reason for that; they put those buttons there. This means that parents know what makes their children angry and they should not do things which make their children angry just for the sake of making them angry. Then he gives advice to slaves and to masters. While we do not have slaves and slave owners in our society today, I believe that the advice Paul gives here is equally applicable in the modern workplace. If you are an employee, work with enthusiasm as if you were working for the Lord (because you are). On the other side, if you are an employer, treat your employees as your brothers and sisters in the Lord (for such they are, or at least, you should wish for them to be so).
Then Paul tells us to arm ourselves for spiritual warfare. There are people who spend a lot of time working up how Christians should prepare for spiritual warfare, but Paul lays it all out right here. We need the belt of truth. That means that we need to rely on being honest. There is no room in spiritual warfare for lies or deceptive behavior. No “spinning” to make red seem like green. There is no room for anything but the unvarnished truth. If you are tempted to say something that is truthful, but that you know your listeners will hear as something other than what is really true, don’t say it. Do your best to make sure that your listeners know what you think the truth about the situation at hand is. Put on the breastplate of righteousness, which is Jesus Christ. Recognize openly and honestly that our only claim to righteousness comes from our faith in Jesus. Stand grounded in the gospel of peace. Take up the shield of faith. Know that you don’t have to know the answer to every attack. Have faith that God has an answer that He will reveal to you in His own good time. Wear the helmet of your knowledge that you are saved through faith in Jesus. Then finally take up your offensive weapons. Use the sword of God’s word to go on the attack against our true enemies. Not the people who attack our faith, or otherwise make our lives difficult. No, our true enemies are the spirits to which those people are enslaved. Paul himself is evidence that, if we remember who our real enemies are in spiritual warfare, the most devastating attackers against God can be turned into even more effective promoters of His kingdom. People are not our enemies. Spiritual powers are our enemies and Christ has already defeated them. We need merely stand strong in our faith and they will flee from God’s Spirit which lives within us.
As for me, I am poor and needy, without the aid of God I can do nothing. This is a good reminder for me. I was struggling with a project for work, where I had bitten off more than I could chew. For the last week, I have been praying for God to guide me through this project. I was struggling and not finding my way through. I prayed to God that He work it out according to His plans form me. Yesterday, I threw out the part of the problem that had stumped me to several of my friends. I was just looking for someone to point out where I had dotted an i or crossed a t wrong, but one of my good friends took what I had put together and reworked it in a fashion much more elegant than I could manage on my own. Everything else just fell into place after that. I have thanked my friend for his aid in my time of need. Now I am praising God for coming through for me what I was needy.
Magrat on her rock[/caption]
This proverb needs little explanation. People quickly learn who lays the plans that bring trouble for all around them.