AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Thursday – June 8, 2023, Sivan 19, 5783
HIS OWN PEOPLE
Greetings dear and precious saints of God and welcome back to the wonderful Bible Study of the Book of Isaiah. What a wonderful Book teaching us of the astonishing benefits of taking God’s hand and the awful destruction we invite into our lives by disobedience. Dear ones there are two kingdoms choose the Kingdom of light. This wonderful Book of Isaiah also speaks of (at that time) the coming Messiah and beyond. Please take a moment and share this teaching as widely as possible by every means available to you. Thank you for sharing. The featured picture today is of Donna and me on May 25, 2019 a most beautiful and wonderful day. Now let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text presented in the New Living Translation continuing to read out loud.
Isaiah 42:21-25 (NLT)
21 Because he is righteous, the LORD has exalted his glorious law.
22 But his own people have been robbed and plundered,
enslaved, imprisoned, and trapped. They are fair game for anyone and have no one to protect them, no one to take them back home.
23 Who will hear these lessons from the past and see the ruin that awaits you in the future?
24 Who allowed Israel to be robbed and hurt? It was the LORD, against whom we sinned, for the people would not walk in his path, nor would they obey his law.
25 Therefore, he poured out his fury on them and destroyed them in battle. They were enveloped in flames, but they still refused to understand. They were consumed by fire, but they did not learn their lesson.
As I start today, I want to focus for a moment on the word ‘righteous’ in the 21st verse. I suppose we all know or have a definition but let’s look anyway. This English word is transliterated from the Hebrew as ṣedeq meaning the right (natural, moral or legal), equity (impartial, justice, parity), prosperity, that which is altogether just, altogether right, and to be made right according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. Commonly this word righteousness is translated as right standing with God and being right doing things God’s way and that is certainly correct but is much more. Did you notice that being righteous encompasses (includes) justice? Perhaps that reminds you of this verse.
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Once unrighteousness is removed, what remains? Only righteousness. These verses are not written to the devils’ crowd but to those in the Kingdom of God. We should not sin but if we do, we don’t suffer the law of sin and death like Adam, we are redeemed from that law. The Scripture says that when we confess our sin (to God) He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us. Our sins with the exception of rejecting Christ are all paid (Jesus has already born the consequences) for so when we confess which is part of the repentance process He cleanses us. We have to own it; it is not someone else’s fault. His cleansing makes it like it never happened in His eyes. An interesting thing about this verse is the word ‘cleanse’. The Greek word was transliterated to English as katharizō meaning to clean, purge, or purify according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. I think we can all see that we got our English word ‘catharses from this word.
Because the Lord is just and wants us in right standing at all times He has given us His word to make the way clear showing His glorious way. As I end for today and this week let’s consider the 22nd verse from our primary text.
Isaiah 42:22 (KJV)
22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.
That word ‘spoiled’ means to be plundered. All of God’s people at that time snared, in prison, and prey for whomever will. Why? Sin! What about you and me? Notice the very last word of this verse ‘Restore’. This is the Hebrew word to English as shûb meaning to turn back with the idea of a return to the starting point according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. Repentance was not on the mind of His people in spite of the clarity of the Word and the obviously free hand their spiritual enemies were inflicting for they were outside of Gods’ protection and Blessing. What about you and me? Before answering carefully read verse 22 again.
By: Dr. David R. Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Receive the blessing in Jesus’ name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (MSG)
24 GOD bless you and keep you,
25 GOD smile on you and gift you,
26 GOD look you full in the face and make you prosper.
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