October 18, 2006 - Isaiah 53-55 and II Thessalonians 1
It is amazing to see how God revealed to Isaiah not only the events surrounding Jesus’ death, but the reasons why those things were done, too. All of this was revealed to him over 500 years before it happened. I praise God for His revelation of Himself and His ways to us both here in this passage and in all of His Word. I pray that all of us will be overwhelmed by His grace and mercy today.
Isaiah 53 is the ultimate prophecy about Jesus in the Old Testament. It tells us that He was not particularly handsome in the human sense of the word. (v.2) It reminds us of the pain and sorrow of His earthly life. (v.3) Then, God makes sure we know that He placed all of our sins on Jesus as He died. (v.6) He was dying in our place, so we do not have to die for our own sins. (v.5,8,11,12) He was the offering for our sins. (v.10) That is the grace and mercy of God in action.
Isaiah 54 and 55 assure us of God’s mercy even more. He may punish us temporarily because of our rebellion, but He is always ready to bring us back into a close relationship with Him when we repent. (54:9) When He is for us, no one can be against us. (54:17) He is so far above us in His thoughts and ways, we must accept His Word and follow Him. (55:8,9,11) He is a wonderful, loving Lord, who is ready to help us if we will turn to Him.
The believers in Thessalonica had found all of this out. They had gone through a lot of pain and persecution, but they found God to be faithful. Therefore, they trusted Him more and more. They became known for their faith and their hope in the Lord. I pray that we would all have that kind of testimony to those around us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 56-58 and II Thessalonians 2.
Isaiah 53 is the ultimate prophecy about Jesus in the Old Testament. It tells us that He was not particularly handsome in the human sense of the word. (v.2) It reminds us of the pain and sorrow of His earthly life. (v.3) Then, God makes sure we know that He placed all of our sins on Jesus as He died. (v.6) He was dying in our place, so we do not have to die for our own sins. (v.5,8,11,12) He was the offering for our sins. (v.10) That is the grace and mercy of God in action.
Isaiah 54 and 55 assure us of God’s mercy even more. He may punish us temporarily because of our rebellion, but He is always ready to bring us back into a close relationship with Him when we repent. (54:9) When He is for us, no one can be against us. (54:17) He is so far above us in His thoughts and ways, we must accept His Word and follow Him. (55:8,9,11) He is a wonderful, loving Lord, who is ready to help us if we will turn to Him.
The believers in Thessalonica had found all of this out. They had gone through a lot of pain and persecution, but they found God to be faithful. Therefore, they trusted Him more and more. They became known for their faith and their hope in the Lord. I pray that we would all have that kind of testimony to those around us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 56-58 and II Thessalonians 2.