Isaiah 2:1-11

Readings Leviticus 8, Romans 4

Memory Verses: Isaiah 40:31

Good Afternoon Brothers and Sisters,

There is so much in the verses today, that I hardly know where to begin. This chapter mainly covers prophecies concerning the future, which seem to read like a newspaper in some respects. 

2:1  This was written as was "seen" by Isaiah "concerning Judah and Jerusalem" 1 Samuel 9:9.  Imagine the risk that Isaiah had taken by announcing this prophecy.  He certainly saw this as the Lord had shown him, but it is pretty fantastic.  If you knew that one of the requirements of a prophet was that your words would come true, would you have shared these revelations? 

2:2  As a way of understanding this, when a mountain is referred to, sometimes it is in reference to a national power, as in kingdom.  The house of the Lord, Israel, will be established as the ultimate power.  Also refer to Micah 4:1-3.  Although the time is not stated here, many believe that this is referring to the 1000 year reign of Christ.   

2:3  An interesting thing here, the nations, or gentiles will stream to the mountain to be taught by God.  Everyone will want to learn to follow the God of Jacob.  Nations of all sorts will come to Israel to receive instruction.  Did you get that?  The Jews will be restored as the favorite people. 

2:4  Jesus Himself will judge between nations, He will reign from the throne over the earth.  During this time, there will be no war, all the implements of war will be retooled to be used for agriculture Joel 3:10.  Obviously, we haven't reached this point yet, Jesus Christ is not literally reigning over the earth, and we have abundant wars going on all the time.

2:5  Jacob is encouraged to return to the Lord, and to walk in His instruction.  The Jews have abandoned the Lord their God, and He is waiting patiently for them to return to Him.

2:6  Jacob, the Jews are focused on in this set of verses, as one who has strayed from the righteous path of the Lord.  By straying from the Lord, they have effectively abandoned the house of Jacob, abandoning the Lord with their people.  The How is interesting, they have been influenced by the people from the east, by the gentiles that have trampled their nation.  Picture this the people that have polluted them are very good at making bargains.

2:7-8  Does this sound familiar?  At any given time I can flip on the TV and verify that today this is a reality in our society.  I have been to Germany, where I visited my brother, the TV over there also promotes this very same thing.  We live in a society that is loaded with treasure, and there is no end to our chariots, or our cars.  As far as riches go, in our nation, the poorest among us is rich by comparison to the rest of the world.  I am only focusing upon the US, but this is not an occurrence which is unique to us, in most of the free world, it is easily verified to be true. 

Along with the riches, many claim that we don't have any idols, and many claim that we don't have false gods.  But look at verse 8, our land is filled with idols, they are the work of our hands, and the work of our fingers.  We worship what we have made, and have set it up before God, making it a false god.  Look at this interesting note:  

"Judah’s sins ( 2:6–9 ). This is a total reversal of what God intended. Isa. 1:1–5 shows God intended knowledge of the Lord to flow out from Judah. Instead paganism—with its corrupt values and its idolatry—has flowed into Judah from foreign nations!

What a danger this is for us today. The Christian is to shed light on a dark world, not adopt the world’s values and its ways."

2:9-11  Although the gentile portrays a mighty, untouchable entity, he is soon to discover that he will be humbled.  He thinks that he is important, and soon he will find out who the Lord God really is.  Imagine, the idea of trying to hide in a rock, and to shrink into the dust to Hide from the wrath of the Lord and from the majesty of the Lord.  When Jesus comes back to reign on the earth, all the bravado will melt away.  "Abased" means to lower in rank, or to lower physically, the pride of man will be put in proper perspective, The Lord will be exalted!  There are many today who think that God is a figment of the imagination, or only a crutch for the weak to lean upon, are they in for a surprise!

In order to be fair, there are a lot of people who see these verses as justification that the Gentile Christians have come to Jesus to be saved, and have become spiritual Jews.  The temple curtain has been torn down, and now we are able to enter the holy of holies to make our own requests known to God.  Some feel that the economy set up will be an economy run by Christians, with Christian influence.  There are tons of scriptures that support this view, but time is a problem.  I'll report it as I see it, and leave it up to you all to write in with your views.

Leviticus 8  In this chapter, the instructions seem to be over, and the practical is going to start.  Moses did the honors of officiating the ordination ceremony for Aaron and his sons.  As you read through this, it is obvious that it was a very sincere and a very solemn ceremony, but it was a feast,  it was an occasion to be celebrated.  They were to remain in the temple for seven days and seven nights following what the Lord had commanded, and they were glad to do it.

Lord, as we study about the Reign that You will have on the earth, show each one of us what we have before you, what we have focused our eyes on instead of Your grace and Your Love in our lives.

In Him,

Joe Turner.

Isaiah 2:12-22

Readings Leviticus 9, Romans 5

Memory Verses: Isaiah 40:31

Good Afternoon Brothers and Sisters,

A little change in menu, as of today, I am going to drop the running commentary on Leviticus, the Old Testament reading.  I feel that it may be confusing the issue, and may be better if it is left simply as a reading.  On implementing the New Testament reading a few days ago, I would like to leave you with a little time just to enjoy reading the scriptures, without feeling it is necessary to comment on them.  From now on, when I post I will only post the current study, as in today's Isaiah 2:12-22.  The prayer list will still come and the Bible study will still be emailed, I am just going to drop the comments on the Bible readings.

I am leaving for camping tonight, so the commentary will be very short.  Today we were preparing for camping, going to the Chiropractor, and time simply went away. Rather than try to catch up, I am going to call today's study short, and start fresh tomorrow.  Sorry.

Isaiah 2:12-22  Remember that the Lord is reigning over the earth.  Therefore all that is of man has to go.  It is a time where holiness is demanded, and the Lord will take into account all the deeds of men.  It is interesting that every thing that man prides himself in will be torn down.  The proud man will be humbled, and all the idols will be done away with.  Men who consider their idols to be of value will cast them off as rubbish, and seek to hide in the holes in the ground from the judgment of the Lord.  Today, as we look at our idols, it is the work of our hands, the products of our efforts as is indicated in v. 8.  The key verse here is in verse 22, man will only live until the breath stops going in and out of his nostrils, why is he so important?  What is important is the Lord, What is important is following the Lord as Lord.  Anyone who chooses to follow his own ways, and not the Lord will be humbled, and shown how wrong that he is.  In a nutshell, Lordship means that Jesus Christ is Boss, He is in complete control over our daily lives.  What are we to do with that?  Are we to ignore His Lordship, and follow our own ways?  Something to think about.

Lord, as we study Your word today, call each one of us into a personal reckoning of how we are living our lives according to Your will.  Show each one of us how that we can make You complete Lord over each of our lives.

In Him,

Joe Turner.