Bible Reading Guide and Commentary May 23rd – May 28th, 2002

Amber McMahonUncategorized

Monday, May 23. Isaiah 13

Vv. 9‑10 ‑‑ While God reveals coming judgment against Babylonia in this chapter, the country who conquered Judah in 605 B.C., that judgment and all other judgments God brings on nations of this world are forerunners and reminders of the final judgment of the world described in vv. 9, 10 and 11. Compare v. 10 with Matt. 24:29.

22 ‑‑ Isaiah foretold the destruction of Babylon. Through Israel, which it would eventually conquer and take many of its people into captivity, it had the opportunity for salvation. Think how fearlessly Daniel witnessed to the Babylonians.  (Read Daniel, chapters 1‑5.)  Because Babylon rejected God and plunged deeper and deeper into sin and iniquity, their terrible doom is described in vv. 17‑22.

 

Tuesday, May 24, Isaiah 14

Vv. 1‑2 ‑‑ Did these words prophesied by Isaiah come true?  After 70 years, God brought a remnant of Israelites who were faithful to Him, back home.  (Read Jer. 29:10; Ezra 1.)  From their seed some 500 years later, God brought the Savior into the world.  How faithful Israel, those in Israel who accepted Jesus as their Savior, conquered Gentiles during and after the first century, was through the Gospel.

32 ‑‑ Zion here was a picture of the New Testament Christian Church with Jesus as its head.

 

Wednesday,  May 25, Isaiah 15, 16

Chap. 16:4,5 ‑‑ Moabites were descendants of Lot (Gen. 19:36‑37).  They lived in a small country on the east side of the Dead Sea.  While God pronounced His judgment on this unrepentant nation, he also held out to them and to all mankind, hope.  It’s found in v. 5.  Verse 5 is Messianic.  The One who would someday sit on the throne from the house of David and speed the cause of righteousness (sinlessness), was Jesus.  (Luke 1:30‑33 and II Cor. 5:21) Through His redemption, we have the righteousness to stand before God free from all sin.  Through faith in Jesus, eternal life awaits us in heaven.

Thursday, May 26, Isaiah 17

1 ‑‑ Damascus was the capital of Syria. Its end came in 723 B.C. Ten years later, Samaria, the capital of Israel, fell to the same invaders, the Assyrians.  The reason for Israel’s and Syria’s destruction is in vv. 10‑11.

Vv. 4‑7 ‑ There was a remnant in Israel and Judah who repented and returned to God.  Heavy crosses in life bring some, who have turned away from God, back to their Savior.

13 ‑‑ Aren’t God’s pictures of the results of His judgments against the world dramatic and effective? While worldly nations roll like tumbleweed as God blows His breath at them, His church will never perish.

Read Hymn 538,  v. 3.

Friday, May 27, Isaiah 18

1 ‑‑ Cush was a son of Ham. Ham was a son of Noah. The Cushites were located in Arabia and Ethiopia.

7 ‑‑ The fulfillment of this prophecy began with the conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch, Acts 8:26‑40. Today, Africa is one of the fastest growing mission fields in the world.

Saturday, May 28, Isaiah 19

18 ‑‑ This passage points to the conversion of people in Egypt. The city of destruction in some manuscripts was “the city of the sun,” probably Hemopolis, city of the sun god. It was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar. (Jer. 43:8‑13)

Vv. 23‑25 ‑‑ What makes these nations who were enemies, friends, is their acceptance of the Gospel.  The highway is figurative.  What connected them was the Gospel.  Today, tragically, the Gospel has been rejected by these nations in favor of the Islam religion.