I wondered the other day - are people tired of the #lampandlight posts? Is this getting redundant? Then I realized, I'm not doing this for anyone else! God moved me to start this blog. God moved me to participate in the #lampandlight challenge. God moved me to use my blog as my bible reading journal. When God calls you to do something, the opinions of people suddenly become less valuable to you. After all, what man can claim to know better than omnipotent, sovereign God?
Maybe one day I'll write something you needed to hear. We could have a similar joy or share the same pain. On Sunday our preacher did the last in a series called "Renovate" where he discusses why there are trials in the Christian life. The overwhelming reaction after that sermon was "He was preaching me to me!" I laughed and commented on one Facebook post this way... "Nope, he opened his mouth and a whole lotta God fell out! :)" THAT my friends is what I hope for this blog more than anything. That I'll write and a whole lot of God falls out!
Here's that sermon if you are interested:
In my difficulty processing what I was reading I sought out bible study notes and commentary to help me put things in perspective. Our preacher loves history so he will often put things into context and give seemingly trivial details far more importance! I needed someone to do that for me here, this is what I found. I'm going to post this word for word because it was so striking to me! All credit for the notes below go to Wayne D. Turner, Pastor of Fayette Bible Church in Fayetteville, Georgia.
Egypt will fall also (Isaiah 19:1-15)
Isaiah prophesied that Egypt too would fall to the Assyrians. This happened in 681 B.C. Is it not fascinating that all the nations and cities around Jerusalem fell to the Assyrians, but not Jerusalem? God is good. The siege on Jerusalem in 701 B.C. failed during King Hezekiah's day. He went before the Lord, and God delivered Jerusalem. The whole story of that miraculous deliverance is found in II Kings 18:13-19:37; II Chronicles 32:9-22; Isaiah 36-37 (see notes).
There's coming a day! (Isaiah 19:16-25)
Isaiah prophesies of a day yet future (the millennium) when Egypt will look to Judah for leadership. Israel will be the center of worship for the Egyptians and the Assyrians. Notice verse 20, "...for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them." We see in verse 21, "...the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day." And verse 22 goes on to say of Egypt, "...they shall return even to the LORD." We know that when the Davidic Kingdom (per the Davidic Covenant, see notes) is established according to God's promise to Israel, the whole world will experience peace at the hand of the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord...and that includes Egypt. The highway between Egypt and Assyria presents a far-fetched scenario to the Jews of Isaiah's day. Isaiah prophesies friendly relations between Israel and Egypt and Assyria. Whoa! Who saw that coming? However, this will take place during the millennium - not during Isaiah's day nor the years immediately following.
The prophecy reinforced against Cush and Egypt (Isaiah 20)
As indicated in chapter 18 (see above), the Hebrew word translated "Ethiopia" here is "Cush." As a matter of fact, it is sometimes simply transliterated "Cush" into English. These were not Semites as were the Jews and the nations in every other direction from Israel. These were descendants of Cush in Genesis 10 (see notes), the son of Ham and grandson of Noah. Ethiopia (Cush) probably included modern-day southern Egypt, Sudan and perhaps northern Ethiopia. Isaiah then prophesies regarding the complete defeat that will be suffered by Cush and Egypt. The Philistine city, Ashdod, fell in 711 B.C. "Tartan" (verse 1) was the title of the highest official next to the King of Assyria (Sargon, 721-705), which in a military empire like Assyria would be the commander-in-chief. This title is also used of the messenger sent by Sennacherib (704-681), King of Assyria, to intimidate King Hezekiah at Jerusalem in II Kings 18:17 (see notes).
The fall of the city of Babylon (Isaiah 21:1-10)
Meanwhile, back in modern-day Iraq, a man named Marduk-apal-iddina (King of Babylon, 703-702) decides to lead a revolt against Assyria. The attempt failed. Before all of this takes place, Isaiah prophesies here that this revolt will not only be unsuccessful, but will also lead to the fall and devastation of the city of Babylon. This took place in 702 B.C.
Edom and Arabia will also meet the Assyrian army (Isaiah 21:11-17)
It is not possible to say with certainty, but since "Dumah" means silence or stillness, a word play in Hebrew indicates to us that Edom is in view here. We assume so because Seir is a mountain range which runs along the eastern side of the Arabah, occupied by the descendants of Esau. We know this to be Edom of the Old Testament. So, this oracle involves Edom and Arabia who also met their demise at the hand of the Assyrian army. Everyone fell to the Assyrians in the area...except the inhabitants of Jerusalem under faithful King Hezekiah - remarkable protection - don't you agree? Edom was ravaged by the Assyrian army, but not destroyed; that came later. By the way, Obadiah's prophecy (see notes) exclusively addresses the fall of Edom to the Babylonians after the fall of Jerusalem. They have not existed as a country since.
Maybe one day I'll write something you needed to hear. We could have a similar joy or share the same pain. On Sunday our preacher did the last in a series called "Renovate" where he discusses why there are trials in the Christian life. The overwhelming reaction after that sermon was "He was preaching me to me!" I laughed and commented on one Facebook post this way... "Nope, he opened his mouth and a whole lotta God fell out! :)" THAT my friends is what I hope for this blog more than anything. That I'll write and a whole lot of God falls out!
Here's that sermon if you are interested:
Day 7 | Isaiah 19-21
It can be hard to make sense out of these chapters of the Bible sometimes. I mean, what can you really gain from reading prophecies for countries/cities that haven't existed for 1,000's of years. Consider that statement for a moment - they no longer exist. Isiah is prophesying about the destruction of these places and many of them have been wiped off the map. Egypt and Israel, of course, are notable exceptions because they still exist today. What I find interesting in my reading today is that God speaks clearly about the punishment and then healing of Egypt. Edom - wiped off the map.In my difficulty processing what I was reading I sought out bible study notes and commentary to help me put things in perspective. Our preacher loves history so he will often put things into context and give seemingly trivial details far more importance! I needed someone to do that for me here, this is what I found. I'm going to post this word for word because it was so striking to me! All credit for the notes below go to Wayne D. Turner, Pastor of Fayette Bible Church in Fayetteville, Georgia.
Egypt will fall also (Isaiah 19:1-15)
Isaiah prophesied that Egypt too would fall to the Assyrians. This happened in 681 B.C. Is it not fascinating that all the nations and cities around Jerusalem fell to the Assyrians, but not Jerusalem? God is good. The siege on Jerusalem in 701 B.C. failed during King Hezekiah's day. He went before the Lord, and God delivered Jerusalem. The whole story of that miraculous deliverance is found in II Kings 18:13-19:37; II Chronicles 32:9-22; Isaiah 36-37 (see notes).
There's coming a day! (Isaiah 19:16-25)
Isaiah prophesies of a day yet future (the millennium) when Egypt will look to Judah for leadership. Israel will be the center of worship for the Egyptians and the Assyrians. Notice verse 20, "...for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them." We see in verse 21, "...the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day." And verse 22 goes on to say of Egypt, "...they shall return even to the LORD." We know that when the Davidic Kingdom (per the Davidic Covenant, see notes) is established according to God's promise to Israel, the whole world will experience peace at the hand of the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord...and that includes Egypt. The highway between Egypt and Assyria presents a far-fetched scenario to the Jews of Isaiah's day. Isaiah prophesies friendly relations between Israel and Egypt and Assyria. Whoa! Who saw that coming? However, this will take place during the millennium - not during Isaiah's day nor the years immediately following.
The prophecy reinforced against Cush and Egypt (Isaiah 20)
As indicated in chapter 18 (see above), the Hebrew word translated "Ethiopia" here is "Cush." As a matter of fact, it is sometimes simply transliterated "Cush" into English. These were not Semites as were the Jews and the nations in every other direction from Israel. These were descendants of Cush in Genesis 10 (see notes), the son of Ham and grandson of Noah. Ethiopia (Cush) probably included modern-day southern Egypt, Sudan and perhaps northern Ethiopia. Isaiah then prophesies regarding the complete defeat that will be suffered by Cush and Egypt. The Philistine city, Ashdod, fell in 711 B.C. "Tartan" (verse 1) was the title of the highest official next to the King of Assyria (Sargon, 721-705), which in a military empire like Assyria would be the commander-in-chief. This title is also used of the messenger sent by Sennacherib (704-681), King of Assyria, to intimidate King Hezekiah at Jerusalem in II Kings 18:17 (see notes).
The fall of the city of Babylon (Isaiah 21:1-10)
Meanwhile, back in modern-day Iraq, a man named Marduk-apal-iddina (King of Babylon, 703-702) decides to lead a revolt against Assyria. The attempt failed. Before all of this takes place, Isaiah prophesies here that this revolt will not only be unsuccessful, but will also lead to the fall and devastation of the city of Babylon. This took place in 702 B.C.
Edom and Arabia will also meet the Assyrian army (Isaiah 21:11-17)
It is not possible to say with certainty, but since "Dumah" means silence or stillness, a word play in Hebrew indicates to us that Edom is in view here. We assume so because Seir is a mountain range which runs along the eastern side of the Arabah, occupied by the descendants of Esau. We know this to be Edom of the Old Testament. So, this oracle involves Edom and Arabia who also met their demise at the hand of the Assyrian army. Everyone fell to the Assyrians in the area...except the inhabitants of Jerusalem under faithful King Hezekiah - remarkable protection - don't you agree? Edom was ravaged by the Assyrian army, but not destroyed; that came later. By the way, Obadiah's prophecy (see notes) exclusively addresses the fall of Edom to the Babylonians after the fall of Jerusalem. They have not existed as a country since.
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Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests to made known to God. — Philippians 4:6