Isaiah_42

Scripture:Isaiah 42:5-7 This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,    who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,    who gives breath to its people,    and life to those who walk on it:⁶ “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;    I will take hold of your hand.I will keep you and will make you    to be a covenant for the people    and a light for the Gentiles,⁷ to open eyes that are blind,    to free captives from prison    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. Observation:Chapters 40-55 are known as "Deutero-Isaiah" and date from the time of the Israelites' exile in Babylon. This chapter contains a poem known as the first of the "Servant songs" about the servant – which depending on what you read is Israel/Israelites, Jesus or Cyrus.  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah_42]. The chapter begins with the character of the servant (vs. 1-4) followed by God’s promise to His servant. Understanding:I escaped lockdown this weekend for some much-needed nature therapy at Ventura County beaches.  I’m often struck with awe at the understanding that the same God that created this crazy beautiful planet we live on and universe we live in – from its thousands of grains of sand, the huge expanse of the ocean and the varying decibels of the ocean waves crashing, that huge ball of gas that our planets orbits around and the stars in the sky that are too numerous to count – that God created and knows us…to the very number of hairs on our heads.  [Which based on the number I lose daily, to stay up to date on that seems a job in itself.] Yet that God knows us, loves us and considers us “perfectly and wonderfully made.” And He did all of this – from sky and earth creation to Adam and Eve to the many generations between that brought us to this specific time in the blink of an eye we call life – for the purpose of relationship, for us knowing Him and making Him known.  And, with that, comes a calling and a Holy Spirit empowerment… ^“7 to open eyes that are blind,    to free captives from prison    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” Life Application: Know Him. [Spend time with Him.]Make Him known. [Share His love with others.]Live/walk in His power.  Now [and I mean especially now] is no time to hold back or hide our flames.  We must shine and burn brighter, walk in the power that He has bestowed in us and through us – taking  every opportunity to share His love, grace, healing, kindness, justness, patience, goodness…in ways big and small.  Rei PS As I read commentaries, I also loved and was encouraged by the below in reference to verses 3 and 4. ³ A bruised reed he will not break,    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;⁴     he will not falter or be discouragedtill he establishes justice on earth.    In his teaching the islands will put their hope.” A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench: This is another reference to the gentle character of Jesus. A reed is a fairly fragile plant, yet if a reed is bruised, the Servant will handle it so gently that He will not break it. And if flax, used for tinder to start a fire, does not flame but only smokes, He will not quench it into extinguishing. Instead, the Servant will gently blow on the smoking flax, fanning it into flame again.…“We call ourselves Christians, but if you are like me, sometimes you are desperately ashamed of how dimly your light burns. There is far more smoke than fire: so little prayer, so little real testimony, so much depression and discouragement. But the Lord says He will not extinguish the smoking flax.” (Redpath)“He is not dismissive of others: however useless or beyond repair (bruised reed), however ‘past it’ and near extinction (smouldering wick) they may seem. The negative statements imply their positive equivalents: he can mend the broken reed, fan into flame the smouldering wick. The former has been internally damaged, the latter lacks the external nourishment of oil. The Servant is competent both to cure and to supply.” (Motyer) Jesus sees the value in a bruised reed, even when no one else can. He can make beautiful music come from a bruised reed, as He puts His strength in it! Though a smoking flax – used for a wick on an oil lamp – is good for nothing, Jesus knows it is valuable for what it can be when it is refreshed with oil. Many of us are like the bruised reed, and we need to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16). Others are like the smoking flax and can only burn brightly for the LORD again when we are drenched in oil, with a constant supply coming, as we are filled with the Holy Spirit.Jesus wants us to have His heart towards the lowly, broken, and hurting. It’s easy to pass them by just as quickly as the priest and the Levite passed the man on the road to Jericho. “The superficial Christian worker ignores that kind of situation. He wants a sphere to serve where it will be worthy of his talent, if you please. A task where his abilities will be recognized and used, something that is big enough to justify all the training he has undergone. In the eyes of the Lord, the test of the real servant is, does he bend with the humility of Jesus Christ over a bruised reed and smoking flax?” (Redpath)He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged: The Servant is gentle, but not weak. He will bring forth justice for truth. There aren’t two ways about it; it will happen, and failure or discouragement will not stop the Servant.…Till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law: The work of the Servant will extend to the whole earth, and all the peoples – even those in the distant coastlands – shall serve Him.[https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/isaiah-42/] No one is too far gone to be loved and used by God…and justice will come, in God’s time and in God’s way, but it will come. 

Proverbs_25

Scripture:  Proverbs 25:21-22  If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the Lord will reward you. Observation:  Proverbs 25-29 were Proverbs of Solomon, though they were transcribed during the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah.  Hezekiah was the son of Ahaz, who had not been faithful to follow God’s commands.  During Hezekiah’s reign, he directed Judah and Israel back to the practices of worship in the temple.  “Hezekiah did all he could to reinstate the pure worship of God. He organized instruction in the laws of the Torah throughout the country, and he restored the daily services of the Holy Temple in all its splendor”(chabad.org). It is apparent he was interested in the people of Judah and Israel acting in a way that would honor God.  He wanted to step away from the worship of idols that had become so commonplace during his father’s reign. Understanding:  When I was in the police academy, I was immersed into a new way of life.  I did many things, like shaving my head, which I would have never done before.  I endured vigorous training and harsh criticism all with the goal of becoming a new person, a special member of society.  It was drilled into my head that I was going to be held to a higher standard of life, and that my life would be scrutinized by others, all because of a profession I chose.  It was all done for good reason, since the social contract in which we live relies on the trust placed in the integrity of those in charge.  Therefore, I had to look and act in a way that was without reproach.  Obviously, not all people who become police officers live up to this standard.  The media lets us know this in no uncertain terms and would have you believe that all of those in authority are corrupt.    When we profess Jesus as Lord, we take on a similar transition.  Though in Christ, we are called to even more exacting standards than a police officer.  Jesus makes this clear when he told his followers to pluck out your eye if it makes you stumble (Matthew 5:29).  The Apostle Paul expounds on this saying of Solomon in Romans 12, where he discusses dedicated service to others.  In Romans, Paul discusses a similar transformation to a police academy, where we are to shun the ways of the world.  Through the renewing of our minds, we can serve others fully with humility.  And we are challenged to treat others with kindness in the face of adversity. Life Application:  Jesus, help me to have patience with others like you are patient with me.  When I find myself frustrated with the world encroaching on my “rights,” help me to remember the life you gave up to save mine.  Help me to imitate your humility and your attitude of grace to others.  And if you call me to be uncomfortable for your cause, help me to accept that with thanksgiving.  
-Tyler Galloway

Luke 2

 

Scripture

Luke 2:49-52 

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[f] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Observation 

Jesus’ family was in Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 

Understanding 

Jesus knew his calling. He was so drawn to being near his calling he left his parents, who were anxiously looking for him, to be where he needed to be. 

But his parents didn't understand. Maybe their spiritual eyes were not open yet. 

Jesus was only 12 years old. 

He went to Nazareth with his parents and was obedient to them.

I think Jesus grew in wisdom and stature because of his obedience to those who had been given spiritual authority over him, ultimately God was leading him. 

Application 

I think sometimes its like that for us too. Maybe we know there is something we are supposed to be doing. Maybe we can feel it in our bones. 

Sometimes others around you may not see it. It’s ok. 

We are all growing, some of us more mature than others but we are all still growing. 

Sometimes we need to do what God is asking us to do. We may need to “go back” to the last thing God asked of us. It may not be where you will end up but it’s where you need to be, now. 

In that place there is learning. In that place there is training. For the place you will go, later. 

Ultimately, God is leading you. Follow Him.