Monday – October 30, 2023, Cheshvan 15, 5784
THE GODS OF BABYLON
Greetings dear and precious saints of God and welcome back to our study of the Bible Book of Isaiah. We will be diving into the 46th Chapter today, only 20 chapters to go to finish the Book of Isaiah. Before we proceed, please take a moment and share this teaching as widely as possible by every means available to you. We have a responsibility to bring the Truth to as many as possible in our assignment. The featured picture today of seven columns or pillars is to remind us to pray for the seven pillars (gates, spheres of influence, mountains) of society. By the way these pillars exist and have their origin in Heaven. When I remind us to pray and when Scripture tells us to pray it does not mean to cry out to the Lord to do something about it. It is a time when we go to the Lord and to Scripture and determine what our part is, what our decree is and then initiate thanksgiving for His doing His part, the part we cannot do.
Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text and continue reading out loud, yes, out loud. It is not a complete waste to read silently but you will not build or increase faith (Romans 10:17) and it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). Now, to our text.
Isaiah 46:1-4 (NLT)
1 Bel and Nebo, the gods of Babylon, bow as they are lowered to the ground. They are being hauled away on ox carts. The poor beasts stagger under the weight.
2 Both the idols and their owners are bowed down. The gods cannot protect the people, and the people cannot protect the gods. They go off into captivity together.
3 “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born.
4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.
The Lord is still cajoling (coaxing, persuading) His people to turn to Him and not these useless idols or the arm of flesh they foolishly turned too. He is not compelling (antonym of cajoling) them for they are freewill creatures. He will not force you or me to do anything at any time for any reason, period. It is our responsibility to study, practice sensitivity to the Spirit and do immediately what we learn in study or hear in the Spirit. Dear ones this is life and death.
In the first two verses of our text, we see God mocking the gods of Babylon. At that time these gods were physical structures large and small. Sometimes very elaborate and housed in so called temples. Babylon is a type of the world system. So, what are the idols, false gods, of our day? They are all around us and some of us have many. Many of you may protest and become angry, still go before the Lord. Sometimes these idols, false gods, are a place, a false idea (lies of the devil), even traditions of men. Go before the Lord and ask Him to reveal them to you and then fix it. This is vital for all of us.
As we return to our Bible text in the NLT, the Lord is saying, look at you, you and your gods are being hauled off into captivity. Is He talking to you or me? Can we serve two gods?
Luke 16:13 (KJV)
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Do we believe this? Don’t get hung up on money (mammon), that is serving as a common example/reality, we can substitute any other god there. Are we polytheistic and are completely unaware of that fact. Look, our spiritual enemies are very deceptive. The one who does not think they can be deceived is deceived already.
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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