Isaiah 10:1-11:16, 2 Corinthians 12:11-21, Psalms 56:1-13, Proverbs 23:6-8
Today is the 12th day of September. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It’s great to be here with you today, a fine day that it is. And I trust that it’s a fine day wherever you might be, whether it’d be early in the morning or late in the evening. It’s always a good time to come around the global campfire, take the next step forward in the Scriptures. And that’s what we’ll do. We’re reading from the New International Version this week. Isaiah 10:1-11:16.
Commentary:
Okay. So, when we began the book of Isaiah, we talked about the fact that it’s one of the most quoted Old Testament books found in the New Testament. And this is because Isaiah gives the clear promise of a coming deliverer, a messiah. And the writers of the New Testament knew that. And so they reveal Jesus as the promised savior, in part, by the ways that he fulfilled those prophecies. But we might wonder, how did those connections get made? What was it that made Jesus a contender in the first century to be the fulfillment of a prophecy from the book of Isaiah much earlier? We can follow the trail historically, but the book of Isaiah today kind of lays it out for us. So, when we started chapter 10, Isaiah writes, What sorrow awaits the unjust judges and those who issue unfair laws. They deprive the poor of justice. They deny the rights of the needy and they prey upon the widows and take advantage of the orphans. Okay, so Isaiah wasn’t observing that kind of behavior for the first time in all of human history. He was simply naming a pattern that had been happening long before Isaiah and would continue happening long after. And it’s easy enough to say that it’s still happening. But the hope found in this prophecy was that one day a redeemer would come and set things right. So, there is a promise out there. Next where Isaiah goes is to foretell the Assyrian invasion of the northern kingdom that would eventually carry ten of the tribes of Israel into exile. And we’ve read that story, so we know that it happened. And then we also know that the Babylonian empire came and conquered what was left - the southern kingdom of Judah. But Isaiah foretold that all wouldn’t be lost. He said there would be a remnant left in Israel, the survivors of the house of Jacob. There would be a remnant left, and they would be able to return. We’ve also read those stories. So, now let’s zoom to the first century, which is the time of Jesus. The Jewish people were the descendants of this foretold remnant. So, Isaiah’s prophecy had become a reality. But the problem was it wasn’t completed. They were in their homeland but it wasn’t theirs. So, at the time of Jesus it was controlled by the Roman empire. It was not considered Israel, it was considered the province of Syria. They were experiencing all of the oppression and injustice that Isaiah was talking about. And so they were holding on to this promise that someday, someone, some deliverer was going to come. So, then when we read recognizable things in Isaiah like, Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot, a branch bearing fruit from the old root, and the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him. The spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord, right? And the prophecy continues on. We can see that Jesus fit the criteria. Now, whether or not he was the foretold messiah was a topic of discussion among the people all throughout his ministry. And we know that in the end, he was rejected. They had missed it. But by the time the gospels were being written, these prophecies were looked at in light of Jesus life and ministry and claims. And this became a very, very important thing to connect Jesus to prophecies that he had fulfilled. Now we could say, Well, why didn’t they just turn to the gospel of Matthew? The gospel of Matthew, you can’t practically turn in a full circle before Jesus fulfils some kind of prophecy in that book. Or why didn’t they turn to any of the other gospels? Why didn’t they turn to Paul’s letters? They could have seen all of this. It’s because those books weren’t written yet. In fact, it is books like the gospel of Matthew that extensively look into the Old Testament prophecies for ways in which Jesus fulfilled them. And so this is how we get from there to here.
Prayer:
And, Father, we thank You that You have brought us from there to here. And that You continue to lead us forward, and that You continue to guide and direct our steps and lead us into all truth. And we thank You for all that we’ve learned from the Scriptures, whether it be something that pierces us to our very hearts because You are speaking so deeply to us, or whether it be an understanding of context and history. We thank You. Because the picture of our redemption becomes clear in the Scriptures and we realize that we’re carrying the banner forward. We are carrying this story forward in human existence and to a world that needs to know. So, come Holy Spirit, we pray. In Jesus name we ask. Amen.
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And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for here is tomorrow.
Community Prayer and Praise:
Hi DAB family. I’m really nervous about this cause I never really call or reach out for help but I’d really appreciate your prayers. I’ve been having a difficult few months just in my relationship with God. And, so, quite lost. I’m really stressed to the point where I’ve signed off from work from stress and other bits and pieces. Been having some relationship…not struggles…but just disappointed…I guess growing pains…and just wondering where God is in all of that. My sister has just recently also been admitted to a mental health unit in the UK because she’s having some large hemorrhages as well. So, I’d just really appreciate your prayers for myself and my family at this time. By the way this is Uma __ relationships right. And, but yeah, I’d really just appreciate your prayers. Just really…just getting caught up in all my situations right now in all the things I’m dealing with. And I’ve got my mom’s…my mom moved out of the __ in 7th of July __ in London and we’ve got memorial and that’s being changed in London and that’s happening I know that because __ invited. And, so, I’d really appreciate your prayers in all of those areas. Thank you all and I’m praying for you all also. My name is Uma. And, yeah, thank you.
Good morning Daily Audio Bible family this is J from Nashville Tennessee. So, you know, I was bawling my eyes out yesterday, cryin’ out to do God, just pourin’ my heart out in a state of brokenness. And then I wake up this morning and I listen to Daily Audio Bible and Brian reads the Scripture…and I’m paraphrasing here because I can’t get to the exact Scripture because for some reason every time I want to use the reading portion of the app for exhortation it doesn’t work. I know that’s Satan. So, yeah, but anyway, I’m paraphrasing the Scripture and it was the reading on September the 7th, where it says the sacrifices of God in a broken spirit and a contrite heart. I believe that’s what it says, I need to go back and listen to that reading, but anyway, you know, I didn’t even think about that Scripture when I was just on my knees crying and just giving up everything to God. You know, but when we say we give up, sometimes we don’t think about giving up to God. I just gave up. I just god if you don’t do this it’s not gonna happen. If You don’t pick up the pieces they’re not going to get picked up. I give up. I’m taking my hands out of this and I give up. Because it’s just not gonna work with my grubby hands all over. So, I just wanted to say that for anybody who’s going to the same thing and I wanted to let you know that I love you and I wanted you to make today an awesome day. I love you and I will talk to you soon.
Good afternoon, today is September 7th, 2018. This is Chandra calling from Maryland. I have had one of these weeks. And I feel like a heavy load is lifted every time I call the prayer line even though I know I have people praying for me whether or not I call in. It just feels relaxing especially when Brian says that we don’t have to carry everything. Long story short, please keep me in prayer. I don’t know what the heck I have been fighting spiritually. I know that it’s not me per se but it was bad to the point where this morning I was just stood up and had it and was like, you know what God, I was close to saying, you know what God, my life insurance is paid in full. You do what You want. I’m sick and tired of this. But please keep me in prayer. And as soon as I get off the line I’m going to get caught up with my DAB broadcast. I haven’t listened a few days. I love you guys and everyone take care and just be strong the Lord. Bye.
Hello this is Bradford calling into the Daily Audio Bible in Okinawa Japan. I’m a Christian missionary teacher originally from the Toronto area and I’m calling to encourage Alan from Sydney. I know it’s been over a month since I heard his concern on Daily Audio Bible, the fact that they’ve been praying and waiting for child and it hasn’t happened for them. I wanted to share my testimony and I’m sorry it’s taken so long to call in brother. My wife and I have been married 13 years and we have a son. He is 10 now and when he was two years old we thought, let’s have another child, and we looked forward to that, we started praying for that. And five years later we were still praying because we had not yet had a second child. And over those five years we went through everything. Why is this happening? Is our prayer being answered? Are we being heard? We saw doctors and they all said there is no reason this shouldn’t be happening. But in the meantime we got signed up as foster parents here in Japan. And three years ago they placed a little girl thus. And my kids are the joy of my life. And she’s been with us and they expect that she’ll be with us until she’s 18. As soon as she was placed with us we heard the witness of the Holy Spirit saying your prayer’s been answered and this is the daughter that you were praying for. So, I don’t know what the answer is that God has in mind for you Alan but I do know there is one and God wants you and your wife to be happy and He wants to bless you. And whatever the answer is it will come. We just need to trust in Him. And know that I’ve been praying for you and I’m sure others have been as well. You have my prayers. God bless.
Sometimes I stop and reflect on the insanity of my past
and how far You’ve brought me over the chasm that’s so vast
and my soul cries of hallelujah for the die has been cast
and just like Martin Luther King Junior used to say, thank God Almighty I’m free
at last
but to whom much is given much will be asked
so I know that there’s a great responsibility that comes with my past
many who were first now find themselves last
So, strengthen me Father to be up to the task
I know I have a story that supposed to get told
about how you’ve given me so many victories over so many dangers untold
how you shielded me from a young age and allowed me now to get old
strengthen me Father make my speech bold
because all that I have is due only to the
the air that I know breathe and everything around me that I see
lengthen the future eternally with the
in life right life more abundantly
thank you my Father for all that you do
for giving me this chance to live life anew
please keep my thoughts faithful, humble and true
and may all of my thoughts be always acceptable unto You
blindtony1016@gmail.com. I like to give a shout out to Slave of Jesus. Haven’t heard from ya lately but know that your thought of and loved and in my prayers every day. Goff, haven’t heard from you in a long time. Hope you’re still there brother. And, once again Brian, thank you for this wonderful podcast for God’s Holy Spirit to flow. Keep it flowin’ y’all. All right. Bye-bye.