Tuesday – December 19, 2023, Tevet 7, 5784
Good morning or good day dear saints of God and welcome back to this engaging study of the Bible Book of Isaiah. As we prepare to plunge into our study, please take a moment and share this teaching as widely as possible. This year is nearly spent, did we spend it well?
Ephesians 5:15-17 (KJV)
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
The term “redeeming the time” means to use the time wisely. Does this passage describe you and me?
Also, don’t forget that I have published several books which would make wonderful Christmas presents, order through Amazon (3 formats available). This late you may need to consider the audiobook and the e-book. The link is available at the end of the teaching. The featured picture was taken a couple of years ago not far from our home in Maine. I thought, if you guys in Maine don’t have snow yet this would help you to start adjusting your thinking to the reality just ahead. We are so thankful that snow is rare here in San Antonio, Texas.
Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text continuing to read out loud. Yes, out loud, you know why.
Isaiah 48:12-16 (GW)
12 Listen to me, Jacob, Israel, whom I have called. I am the one. I am the first and the last.
13 My hand laid the foundation of the earth. My right hand stretched out the heavens. When I call for them, they both stand.
14 Gather together, all of you, and listen. What idol has revealed such things? The LORD loves Cyrus. He will carry out the LORD’S plan against Babylon. He will use his strength against the Babylonians.
15 I alone have spoken. I have called him. I will bring him here, and he will succeed.
16 Come here. Listen to this: From the beginning I have spoken nothing in private. From the time it took place, I was there. Now the Almighty LORD has sent me and his Spirit.
As we move into verse fourteen of the foregoing primary text, we again find the Lord taunting his people to compare Him to their useless idols. What about our idols? It is not just the world that have other gods, idols, so do many in the Church. An idol or false god is anything, any activity, any person that comes before God. Again, we see King Cyrus mentioned who will not be on the scene for at least 150 – 200 years in the future. Did you notice the phrase “The LORD loves Cyrus”? It is phrased like it has already happened but lies in the future of human history.
This is Old Testament and people are incapable due to the dead spirit man of expressing the God level of love but of course God can and did/does. The text tells us that God loves Cyrus. Not only does God love Cyrus but Cyrus will carry out the will of God. This speaks of a level of love on the part of Cyrus not possible at the time, except perhaps by faith he reached into our time and obtained the capacity. This is much like the healing the Syrophenician woman, a Greek obtained when she besought Jesus to cast a devil out of her daughter (Mark 7:26). Wow, consider the following verse in this context.
John 14:21 (KJV)
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here tomorrow.
Authored by: Dr. David R. Wood, 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.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (KJV)
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
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