Today’s Reading: Isa 50:1–51:23, Luke 20:1–40, Job 11:12–20

Today’s Theme: The Wisdom of Jesus

Today’s theme is about the remarkable wisdom of Jesus. The OT passage speaks about how Jesus would spend time with the Father every morning, to be able to teach with wisdom, which is an example for us. We see that wisdom on display in our NT passage. Let’s learn from Jesus how we too can walk in wisdom.

Isaiah 50:1–51:23

The servant as prophet, teacher and disciple

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. Isaiah 50:4 (ESV)

These passages are again about God’s faithful servant, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Where the servant says that God has given him the tongue of the learned, he is not talking about the knowledge of this world, but the experiential knowledge that comes from a life of submission and obedience to God. Experiential knowledge is what we should seek rather than disconnected head knowledge only.

The purpose for all that God’s servant knows, mentally by study and the Spirit, and experientially by intimacy and obedience to the Father, is to sustain others with his teaching. Jesus is both prophet and teacher to us.

It seems clear that Jesus had a daily devotional life with the Father and we should follow His example as His disciples. Listen to God every morning as you read your bible and pray. This will enable you to be used by God, to help others.

We will read in our NT reading about the remarkable wisdom that Jesus has.

The suffering servant

I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. Isaiah 50:6 (ESV)

Those who claim that the Messiah is only a triumphant king, run into difficulty here. The fact is, the Messiah was prophesied as a suffering servant and a ruling king.

This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus gave His back to the Romans as they beat Him and His beard to those who plucked it off, on His way to His crucifixion.

Give thanks to Jesus today that He endured the humiliation, pain and suffering of all that was included in the brutality of the cross, for our redemption.

Remember your spiritual heritage

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Isaiah 51:1 (ESV)

God begins to comfort His people, there are other verses we won’t comment on at length, like verse 6, 7, 11-13, 16 and 22, which speak of God’s eternal salvation for His people, the joy He will give them, the comfort He will provide, an encouragement to not fear man, that they have His inspired word in the scriptures and that He pleads their cause.

In this verse God reminds the children of Israel of their godly heritage, to help encourage them.

You too should remember your godly heritage in God’s family (not necessarily your own family). We share the heritage of Israel so can look back to Abraham, Moses and the Prophets, but we have heritage in the New Covenant too, so can look to Peter, Paul and John as well as faithful Christians who have gone on before us, like Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon.

Remember your spiritual heritage in Christ today and be encouraged by it.

Luke 20:1–40

The wisdom of Jesus

And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Luke 20:8 (ESV)

Jesus uses great wisdom when dealing with the trap the leaders tried to force Him into, He did not directly answer their question, instead He pointed out the stupidity of their question by diverting the same question to one who was under and endorsed Jesus, namely John.

The folly and evil intent of the leaders was exposed and the question was answered by default. Jesus will raise this question of His authority again in tomorrow’s reading.

Ask God to give you wisdom when answering questions, like Jesus.

The Rejected yet Victorious Stone

But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” Luke 20:17–18 (ESV)

Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenants and alludes to His own death, at their hands, as the Son.

Jesus’ wisdom was so often shown in the questions He asked, He always asked the right question. In this case, He turns to the listening people and asks them, in context to the story He has just told; what does the passage of scripture about the rejected stone mean?

The question is asked in a rhetorical sense, to get the people to think, and then answered to warn them of the consequence of following their wicked leaders, instead of following Him.

Jesus uses a combination of Old Testament allusions to answer the question and makes clear that the rejected stone (Himself), is in fact victorious and will judge all those who reject and come against Him.

We should rejoice in the victory of Jesus, the rejected stone, and ask God to help us exercise the same type of wisdom as Jesus, by asking the right questions.

Citizens of both Heaven and Earth

He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Luke 20:25 (ESV)

Jesus shows us His great wisdom again, this time in answering those who try to catch Him in regards to paying taxes.

Jesus takes time to ask the right question again and this time lays down a lesson for all our lives, with the type of wisdom the people had never heard before.

By stating that we should render to Caesar what is due to him and to God what is due to Him, Jesus is teaching that we are citizens of both heaven and earth.

Jesus did not revolt like Barabbas, He taught that those who benefit from the state, must pay their due to the state and live under the laws of the state, inasmuch as those laws do not oppose God’s law.

So we must be good citizens of heaven and earth, we should pay our taxes with honesty and contribute to the wider community, by obeying and helping the authorities under God’s sovereignty.

An entirely new order of life

but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, Luke 20:35 (ESV)

The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection or the afterlife, which seemed absurd to them because of their flawed logic, which assumed that the order of life on earth would continue after resurrection.

They ask Jesus a question to show the absurdity of the resurrection, according to their understanding. Jesus corrects their faulty logic and in doing so, shows the stupidity of their question and understanding of the afterlife.

It is becoming popular through some songs, books and testimonies on Christian TV, for women to speak about encounters with Jesus which are very romantic, as though they would actually be married to Jesus in the same way that we have marriage on the earth, but this is not biblical or logical.

What about the men who are saved? This type of gross romanticism is sensual and would paint a picture of Jesus as a mystic polygamist.

Jesus made three very important points in correcting these faulty understandings:

1. After the resurrection, relationships change
2. Everyone does not qualify for life at the resurrection
3. Marrying and getting married are not part of the future existence

The reason for this is that Marriage and the accompanying children and families are no longer necessary, because people will no longer die and so will not need to procreate through marriage to maintain human existence.

The main point is that life will take on an entirely new order, where the need for marriage will be no more. Our marriages are temporary and earthbound, pointing to the unique union and covenant we will share with God in eternity.

Job 11:12–20

Speaking without wisdom

But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.” Job 11:20 (ESV)

Zophar had good intentions but he did not speak with wisdom, he looked at Job’s plight and made assumptions, he has been calling Job to repent but is now warning against Job not repenting and so being left to the way of the wicked.

The fact is that Job has nothing to repent of, this, along with the sweeping generalities of good vs bad that Zophar paints the world in, is symbolic of the faulty understanding of the nature of the world, that the book of Job exists to correct.

We do not believe in karma or strict cause and effect, God is sovereign over all and shows mercy and grace to those who are undeserving, as well as allowing His elect to go through difficulty according to His own purpose and plans, despite man’s formulas for what will make for a trouble free life.

We must speak with wisdom from God, not using our own eyes and flawed logic.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 20

Today’s Reading: Isa 48:1–49:26, Luke 19:11–48, Job 11:1–12

Today’s Theme: The Hope of Israel

Today’s theme looks at the Hope of Israel found in the prophecies of God’s faithful servant, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. It is through the Hope of Israel that we find our hope and deliverance in Jesus. We serve, driven by the hope of the Kingdom’s full consummation by Jesus, with the accompanying rewards for faithful and fruitful service.

Isaiah 48:1–49:26

Confess the God of Israel, in truth

Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who came from the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right. Isaiah 48:1 (ESV)

In this passage, God calls on the entire nation of Israel to realise that many were only calling on the name of the Lord in hypocrisy and pretence. Many were born into deeply religious families while in the exile of Babylon, so it is conceivable that many have become nominal followers of Yahweh.

Our OT passages today are all quite clearly directed to Israel in particular (either historically or prophetically), but we can learn from God’s dealings with His covenant nation and apply the principles and lessons to our lives today.

In this first instance we need to be careful that we don’t become religious and lukewarm, especially if we have grown up in a Christian family. We must not become so familiar with God and the Church that our declaration of allegiance and truth, is no longer in sincerity or righteousness.

Be sure to confess the God of Israel as your God today, do so in sincerity.

The God who makes the future

“The former things I declared of old; they went out from my mouth, and I announced them; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. Isaiah 48:3 (ESV)

God does not just tell the future, He does not make predictions, He has already seen the end because He exists both inside and outside of time and so has already seen all the days of time, from the start to the end (remember that time is a physical, created property of the material universe).

However, God does not prophesy as a passive observer, He actively brings His will to pass, notice He says suddenly “I did them”.

In this case, the new things stands for God’s astounding announcement concerning Cyrus. God goes on to say He declared the future in this way, so the glory could go to no idol or man, but to Him alone and to deal with the stubborn lack of faith in the people.

We should stand in awe of the God who makes the future, we can pray to God in faith, knowing that He will go to work on His own decrees and see all His will and purpose come to pass. This should fill us with unshakable faith, as we consider God’s word and pray.

For the sake of God’s name

For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. Isaiah 48:11 (ESV)

God has called Israel by His own name and so withholds His anger and delivers them, even when they are lacking in faith, for the sake of His name.

God’s ultimate purpose is to be glorified, He will not allow His name to be profaned by those who are called by His name, and so for the sake of His own glory, will deliver His people.

We have seen this throughout the history of the nation of Israel, the fact that the nation stands today after so many thousands of years and the attempted annihilation of the people by world powers, Islamic nations or assimilation into other cultures, is testament to God’s glory.

The same can be said of the true Church, God preserves us for the sake of His own glory and we stand in the earth today as a testament to God’s glory, for the sake of His name and fame in the earth.

This is a great tool to use when we pray, we can appeal to God on the basis of His glory and for the sake of His name.

Jesus, The First and Last

“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together. Isaiah 48:12–13 (ESV)

Here is Old Testament evidence pointing to the New Testament fact that Jesus is indeed God, specifically He is the Son of God, the 2nd person of the Trinity.

Jesus declares that He is the first and the last, in Revelation 1:17 and again at the end of the bible, in Revelation 22:13, where He states “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

God, who teaches you to profit

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17 (ESV)

This goes hand in hand with the parable in our NT reading today. We can ask God to teach us to profit, and lead us by His Holy Spirit, in the direction we should go.

Jesus, the ideal Israel

And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” Isaiah 49:3 (ESV)

This chapter looks at the prophecy of the coming Messiah. God called Him from the womb, which puts to death every case for abortion.

This entire passage speaks about God’s faithful servant, the Messiah, who we know is Jesus. This verse speaks of God’s servant Israel, however this is still speaking of the Messiah.

The book of Isaiah has illustrated to us God’s purpose for Israel, which was to be His servant, as a light to the nations, to lead them to God. However, Israel failed in this mission and are themselves, in need of salvation because of their own blindness, deafness and rebellion.

God loves His covenant nation and will not wipe them out for falling short, instead He sets in motion the ultimate solution, another will fulfil the function of Israel, as God’s faithful evangelical servant, namely the Messiah, Jesus.

Today Jesus fulfils the function and mission given to the nation Israel, so that Jews and Gentiles can come to know God. Jesus is for Israel and the world, what Israel was not able to be, causing God’s salvation to reach to the ends of the earth.

Our compassionate Shepherd

they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. Isaiah 49:10 (ESV)

Jesus as the shepherd of Israel and all God’s people, takes pity on us and shows us compassion, we saw this throughout the life of Jesus.

Know that God is not indifferent to your circumstances and feelings, He has great compassion on His sheep, He is tender and can be touched by our pain.

One day this promise will come in fullness (Revelation 7:16-17).

God’s commitment to Israel

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49:16 (ESV)

God encourages Israel that He will never forget them as a people. Using the most vivid image, He declares that He has engraved them on the very palms of His hands.

Usually the servant has to bear the name of the master, God shows again His heart, which is to condescend to His people and take on the servant role. This was expressed most clearly when Jesus humbled himself through the incarnation, to show God’s love for Israel and the wider world.

Jesus engraved the elect on His hands for all eternity, when the nails were driven through His hands.

The Hope of Israel

For thus says the LORD: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children. Isaiah 49:25 (ESV)

This verse had two very literal senses, the most immediate is that Cyrus will defeat Babylon and send Israel home. The prophetic sense is that Jesus, the Messiah and servant, will defeat sin and bring Israel and the world to God.

We can also stand on verses like this when praying for the nation of Israel, or anytime we pray for God’s people around the world.

Luke 19:11–48

Serve in hope

And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ Luke 19:17 (ESV)

We are all called to be faithful stewards of the money, time and talents that God has given us, we must serve in hope of God’s rewards to be given, when the kingdom has fully come (Jesus has returned having received the kingdom).

Pastor Dennis preached powerfully on this on Sunday 24th Aug 2014. He pointed out the fact that this servant was called ‘good’ because he did better than the other two, and the 10 cities can be seen in a sense, here and now, in terms of the reach and influence God will give those who serve faithfully.

Serve God in hope of the rewards and responsibilities He will give you, for showing faithfulness as God’s servants.

Job 11:1–12

God is merciful

and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. Job 11:6 (ESV)

The context from Zophar is wrong, but the truth remains, that God does show us all mercy by not exacting from us all that our guilt deserves.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 19

Today’s Reading: Isa 45:14–47:15, Luke 18:9–19:10, Job 10:11–22

Today’s Theme: Eternal Security

Today we are reminded that God carries us and Jesus accomplished His mission to save the lost, which means our salvation is eternally secure. We also give thanks that Jesus is not vindictive.

Isaiah 45:14–47:15

Saved and carried by God

even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. (Isaiah 46:4, ESV)

Our OT passage opened with God declaring that all Israel will be saved, in Isaiah 45:17. This is prophetic in one sense, as we read in Romans 11:25-27, which speaks of the salvation that will come once the full number of Gentiles have been saved.

Later we read in Isaiah 45:22, God’s appeal to the entire world, to turn to Him from worthless idols, so that He can save them. We go on to read God’s declarations of sovereignty, victory and power, and that God will carry His chosen people even until old age.

Later in Isaiah 46:7, we read the contrast between those who trust in Yahweh for salvation and those that trust in idols. The idol worshippers have to carry the burden of their chosen god, whereas the true God carries His people.

The conclusion is this; God who created the world to be inhabited, has a great desire to save the Jewish people and people from every nation, tribe and tongue. When He saves His elect people, He carries and keeps them, giving them the assurance of eternal security because He, The God of all creation, has saved them.

We should rejoice in the sure salvation we have been given today.

Luke 18:9–19:10

The Mission of Jesus

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10, ESV)

Our NT reading begins with Jesus illustrating that it is through humility that forgiveness and salvation is received by men, with His example of the tax collector and the Pharisee. Next, Children are used as the example of the type of faith that we need to enter God’s kingdom.

Following this, Jesus tells us about the cost and reward of true discipleship and encourages us that, with God nothing is impossible, God can save even those trapped by their own riches.

Jesus goes on to remind the disciples of the reward they can expect in the age to come, which is eternal life. For the third time, He also reminds the disciples that He will die and rise again.

As He drew near to Jericho, He shows His power in healing the blind beggar and then finally gives us an insight to His entire mission, which the events of today’s reading have all pointed to, with His encounter with Zacchaeus, where Jesus declares He has come to seek and save that which was lost.

It is Jesus that seeks and saves us, He is sovereign even over our salvation, we should stand in awe of His desire, mercy, grace and power to save and keep us.

Job 10:11–22

God is not vindictive

Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose. (Job 10:13, ESV)

Our God is not vindictive, on the contrary He seeks to bestow His mercy, grace, love and salvation to all men. Job again has a great misunderstanding of the nature and purposes of God.

Do not let circumstances skew your view of who God is, know that He is the God who seeks and saves the lost.

From 17th until 23rd August the Daily Bible Reading notes will take a shorter summarised format for the summer break.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 18 and Luke 19

Today’s Reading: Isa 44:1–45:13, Luke 17:11–18:8, Job 10:1–10

Today’s Theme: Faith in the incomparable God

No one can be compared to God, no one else is in His class or on His level. No one can take the “God Test” and pass. We also learn that we should have persistent faith in God and should avoid distorted pictures of God.

Isaiah 44:1–45:13

The God Test!

Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. (Isaiah 44:7, ESV)

God lays down the challenge for all eternity, He alone is God and worthy of worship. God lays down a test to all men, the idols men create and demons who all want to make a claim on being a god or on the same level as God. The challenge is this “tell the future with accuracy”.

The only one who can see the end from the beginning and actively brings His word to pass is God. It is a unique attribute that cannot be copied, we see God declaring His uniqueness over against the false gods throughout today’s Old Testament passages in Isaiah 44:8, 24-26, 28 and Isaiah 45:1, 3-7, 9, 11.

God demonstrates this unique ability with remarkable accuracy by calling Cyrus by name and in so doing declaring His sovereignty even over pagan kings to use them for His purposes and to bring glory to His name.

Rejoice in the proof of prophecy we have in the Bible which confirms the Bible as the word of God and our God as the only God who remains in sovereign control of His creation and has saved us by His great power.

Luke 17:11–18:8

Persistent Faith in God

And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:7–8, ESV)

Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow to encourage us to have persistent faith when we pray to God. We need to know that God will answer our prayers, granting us the justice we seek because we are his elect children.

This ties in with the previous chapter where Jesus explains the signs of the arrival of the kingdom which included His incarnation on the earth and events like the helping of the lepers. He goes on to explain the signs of the coming kingdom (future).

It all ties in, in the sense that Jesus does not want us to focus on the calendar trying to predict when He will return to bring the kingdom of God in its fullness, instead we should put our trust and faith in God and be persistent in that faith because when He returns that is what He is looking for.

Jesus is not retuning for His people who must have an understanding of eschatology (the study of the last days), no, He is returning for a people who in the middle of the last days put their trust in Him. As Paul said we are already in the last days so let’s put our faith, trust and focus on our incomparable God.

Job 10:1–10

A skewed picture

Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favor the designs of the wicked? (Job 10:3, ESV)

Job has a skewed picture of God in this passage. The sheer pressure of his current situation is affecting his thoughts and causing him to accuse God of oppressing and despising him.

We need to hold onto our faith in God despite our circumstances and know that God does not change. We can appeal to Him like the widow in today’s parable and He will answer our prayers and deliver us.

From 17th until 23rd August the Daily Bible Reading notes will take a shorter summarised format for the summer break.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 17 and Luke 18

Today’s Reading: Isa 42:10–43:28, Luke 16:1–17:10, Job 9:25–35

Today’s Theme: Look to see

We need to look in order to truly see. If we do not open our eyes and look, how can we see? We need to hear the word and should give thanks to Jesus our mediator.

Isaiah 42:10–43:28

Look to See

Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see! (Isaiah 42:18, ESV)

Today’s Old Testament passage is so full of rich truth but we will only be focusing on one point.

Yesterday we looked at the prophecy of the servant of the Lord, who would bring deliverance to Israel and the world, this is Jesus. We read about Him again today in the early part of our passage but now the servant being spoken about is Israel as a nation.

God calls them to attention and it sounds like a contradictory statement, asking the deaf to hear and the blind to see.

This is the point, we may hear and see many things but miss the message God is giving us because we are not actually paying attention. We need to consciously decide to look, to linger and think about what we are looking at and have our ears open to listen to God’s message.

Look in order to really see and listen in order to really hear.

Much of the rest of today’s passage is speaking about God’s faithfulness and love towards Israel and their restoration which we are seeing in our own day. Let’s pray that they would look and see right past religion and tradition to see the God who loves them and the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Luke 16:1–17:10

Hear the word

And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ” (Luke 16:30–31, ESV)

This parable makes clear to us the reality of the afterlife and the suffering of hell. The sinful nature of the rich man in hell has not changed and reveals itself in the simple words “No”.

Abraham had told the man that his brothers had the words of Moses and the prophets and that through these words they could escape hell. The man refuses the simple submission to the word of God as the solution, he proposes the fantastical idea of someone rising from the dead with tales of woe.

The fact is one did rise from the dead, Jesus, and yet men remain unrepentant. The problem is what we noted before, they have ears but do not listen and eyes but do not see.

We pray today that sinners would not look for stories of people who have apparently seen heaven or hell but would instead listen and pay attention to the gospel found in the Bible.

There is a lot more to consider from today’s New Testament reading including being faithful in little, walking in forgiveness, having faith and being dutiful servants.

Job 9:25–35

Jesus the mediator

There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both. (Job 9:33, ESV)

Although some of Job’s context was wrong and his understanding of the character of God was skewed, seeing Him as a heartless, capricious judge when in fact the Old Testament often speaks of His mercy and loving kindness. It is however true that until Jesus came there was no mediator between man and God.

We give God thanks that we do have a mediator, God’s servant, Jesus.

From 17th until 23rd August the Daily Bible Reading notes will take a shorter summarised format for the summer break.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Luke 16 and Luke 17