Why Pray for Israel? Part 1 - Which Israel?

Christians and Jews around the world are called upon to “pray for Israel.”  But who is “Israel,” and who is included under this designation?  Politically, “Israel” can mean the “State of Israel.” But "Israel" can also mean "ethnic Jews," the descendants of Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, whom God named “Israel.”  Finally, the New Testament Scriptures use the name, “Israel of God,” a special designation that only includes those who are members of the community of faith in Jesus Christ.  Obviously, if we are called to “pray for Israel,” some clarification is needed.

Who and What is “Israel?”
Since 1948, when Israel became a nation with boundaries, “Israel” refers to the “State of Israel,” a political entity located in the general area of the original “Promised Land” that God promised to Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 12: 1).  Naturally, this act of creating a nation for ethnic Jews sparked a decades-long conflict with the Arab and Palestinian population of the area.

But “Israel” is more than the name of the Jewish nation.  “Israel” is a Hebrew name, meaning “he wrestles with God", or "God strives and prevails."  God gave this name to the patriarch Jacob after he wrestled with a man believed to be the preincarnate Christ (see Genesis 32:22-32).  This name change from Jacob (meaning “heel grabber” or “supplanter”) to “Israel” accompanied God's affirmation of the Abrahamic Covenant with Jacob, now “Israel” (Genesis 28: 1-4).  God had already affirmed this covenant with Israel’s father, Isaac (Genesis 22: 16-18).  It was through Israel’s twelve (12) sons that God created the Jewish nation, first during their bondage in Egypt (Exodus 1-13) and eventually, through their miraculous exodus to the “Promised Land.”

The twelve tribes of Israel have been called “God’s chosen people.”  However, many theologians consider the “Israel of God” to be more strictly defined as “spiritual Israel;” namely, all members of the community of faith in Christ, both Jew and Gentile.  The “Israel of God” has been a central focus in God’s redemptive plan that has progressed forward into our day.

In summary, the name “Israel" is used in three different groupings of people; namely,
(a) citizens of the State of Israel
(b) people of Jewish ethnicity worldwide
(c) Jewish members of the community of faith in Christ;
Therefore, the content and focus of prayers for “Israel” should be informed by an understanding of what we understand "Israel" to be.  This understanding requires a study of the Scriptures from a systematic theological approach. 

Because we are not experts in biblical theology, those who choose to read on will discover that we don’t have all the answers. Our approach will be to raise what we believe are revealing questions and then, provide relevant Scripture passages to address each question.  Then, after a brief commentary, we will invite readers to reason toward a correct answer.  But first, we share a bit of background on the biblical command to "pray for Jerusalem."

God’s Covenant with “Israel”
Psalm 122 is often used to provide a Scriptural basis for praying for Israel.  Historically, during their ascent to worship in Jerusalem, the Jews would sing Psalm 122 which includes King David’s prayer and a command to pray for Jerusalem for peace and prosperity.  The scope of this lovely prayer likely extended to the whole nation of Israel (v. 6-7):

    Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    May they prosper who love you.
    May peace be within your walls,
    And prosperity within your palaces.

King David’s prayer for the peace and prosperity of Jerusalem is consistent with the scope of God’s covenant with Abraham, established over 1,000 years earlier.  The Abrahamic Covenant as outlined in Genesis 12: 1-3 included the “Promised Land” on which God would establish a great nation. God had commanded Abraham:

Notice that the Abrahamic Covenant contains God’s promise of blessing to those who bless Israel and curse upon those who curse her.  Reverence toward God and toward His covenant with Abraham and his descendants has placed “God’s people,” the Jews, in the global spotlight for many centuries. 

The covenant and additional blessings from God for His “chosen people” has also led to a sense of pride within the ethnic Jewish community that, justified or not, has created animosity among non-Jewish people toward the Jews.  Anti-Semitism has a long history written with the shed blood of millions of ethnic Jews.  No other ethnic group rivals the Jews in terms of the length of the historical span of persecutions and deaths, and the number of people whose lives were disrupted or terminated.  The magnitude of the animosity and persecutions of the Jews throughout history is difficult to explain apart from the notion of a devilish spiritual warfare against “the Israel of God.”

Today, Israel and ethnic Jews exert a powerful influence upon American culture, global politics, and foreign policy of the United States in relation to western allies and the Middle East.  Here in the United States, we hear of increasing expressions of anti-Semitism both verbally and by acts of violence.  For these reasons, it seems obvious that Christian’s ought to pray for those in authority as well as for all people regardless of ethnicity who are caught in the turmoil of these conflicts.  As we seek to know how and for whom we should pray in regards to “Israel,” we must look more closely at the significance of God’s covenant with Abraham and his offspring, and what God means by making Abraham “a great nation…[through which] all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Why Pray for “Israel?”
Following his miraculous conversion from Judaism to Christianity, a Jewish Pharisee named Saul who became the Apostle Paul, wrote extensively on the subject of the “Israel of God.”  We will begin with the book of Romans, the first of Paul’s writings which compose about half of the 27 books of the New Testament of the Bible.  Romans was addressed to the Christian church in Rome following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  As promised, we will proceed with our first revealing question that points to scriptural clues about God’s definition and plan for “Israel.”

What should be our attitude toward “Israel” and “Jews?” 

1) Does the Gospel apply to Israel?  - Romans 1: 16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (or Gentile).  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” - Romans 1: 17
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6: 23
Consider:  Paul understood God’s intended scope of His Gospel and its power to bring salvation to both Jew and Gentile.  The free gift of Life in God's righteousness through faith in Christ's atoning death spares the believer from eternal damnation and frees the believer from trying to please God by law-keeping. Paul's own rebirth made him passionate and bold to proclaim the Gospel to all people.

2) Do both Jews and Gentiles face judgment without Christ?
                                                                     - Romans 2: 4, 9-11
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?  There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For there is no partiality with God.
Consider:   Both Jews and Gentiles are subjects of God's kindness which ought to lead to repentance (turning from our sin) and pursuit of God's righteousness. Otherwise, neither Jew nor Gentile can be saved from eternal damnation.  This truth is reason for us to pray for all people (1 Timothy 2: 1).

3)  What lesson is there in the Apostle Paul's attitude toward
      his Jewish brethren? - Romans 9: 1-5
I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.  
Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.  For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. - Romans 10: 1-2

Consider:  Paul expresses deep sorrow for his brethren because they did not comprehend "God’s righteousness."  Instead, by ...seeking to establish their own [righteousness], they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.  The Jews did not realize that ...Christ is the end of the law for [all human-based] righteousness to everyone who believes.  It is clear that the Apostle Paul's love for Christ and his love for both Jew and Gentile had compelled him (2 Corinthians 5: 14) to pray and witness Christ to all regardless of religious affiliation (See Romans 10: 1-4).

 

APPLICATION:  Are we "ashamed of the Gospel?" Do we underestimate its power to save both Jew and Gentile? Is God's love for Jews any less than for Gentiles?  If we have been saved from damnation and are being transformed by the Gospel, what ought to be our attitude toward unsaved Jews and Gentiles? Finally, do we believe the Scriptures support praying for Israel?

HOW Should We Pray for "Israel?"

The Scriptures we have cited above and the Apostle Paul's testimony of love for his Jewish brethren ought to convince us of our duty to pray for Israel.  But now, we face a new question: "HOW should we pray for Israel?"  The obvious answer is that we ought to pray for the salvation of our Jewish friends just as we would also pray for our Gentile friends. 

But, like our Gentile friends, our Jewish friends are a diverse group whose love for God ranges widely from the Messianic Jews who acknowledge Jesus Christ as God's Messiah, to the orthodox Jews who hold a very strict view of and obedience to the Torah, and finally to Jews who live a carnal or godless lifestyle in rejection of the Jewish faith.  The latter can generally be considered Jews only by their claim to Jewish ethnicity.  Within the ethnic Jews, there is also a diversity with respect to their commitment to the Zionist movement which encourages Jewish immigration to the region of the "Promised Land" and the establishment of the Jewish state.

The subject of Zionism immediately raises the question, "HOW should we pray for Israel?"  Our focus shifts from individual justification and salvation before God to the question of God's redemptive plan for the Jews--and Gentiles.  Here, we must address how God's dealing with both Jew and Gentile relates to His sovereign plan for redeeming fallen mankind, both Jew and Gentile, that began "before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1: 4)? 

Given the religious and political diversity that exists among ethnic Jews, combined with our need to understand God's redemptive plan, it is clear that we must return to God's Word if we are to pray according to God's will and purposes for Israel.  In Part 2 of "Why Pray for Israel" (Click HERE.), we will continue our approach of asking questions pertaining to God's plan for Israel and citing Scripture that will help us find answers.

The questions we are now ready to ask include the following:
1)  Should Christians pray (if at all) for the state of Israel in its struggle against threats to eliminate its existence?
2)  When the Bible speaks of the future restoration of Israel, does this mean the state of Israel as a political entity; or, does God's plan for restoration refer to "the Israel of God" (Galatians 6: 16), all those, both Jew and Gentile who are spiritual "seed of Abraham" (Romans 9: 6-7)?
3)  Should our prayers be different for the state of Israel than for "spiritual Israel" --i.e. "the Israel of God?"

Comment:  Now it's your turn to respond.  Hopefully, we have stirred some questions in your mind and we'd love to hear from you.  Just click the "comment" link below and share your questions and insights on what we have offered in Part 1.  You can respond privately by writing to silviusj@gmail.com 

Winsome Witness 4. Overcoming Hate with Love

On September 10, the disunity within the United States of America was highlighted once again by the assassination of Charlie Kirk.  The life of this young husband, father, and founder of Turning Point, USA was taken by an assassin’s bullet while Charlie was engaging in public dialog with college students at Utah Valley University.  Since that day, many who knew Charlie have been honoring him with praise for his bold witness for Jesus Christ and his love for America, and especially for the youth on our college campuses.

When we began this series of blogs on a “Winsome Witness” in July, we discussed our calling as “the salt of the earth” [Part 1 HERE.] and in August, “Being Salt in Controversy” [Part 2 HERE.].  Little did we know that we would be remembering the life and “winsome witness” of Dwayne Frank who went home to Heaven on September 7 [Part 3 HERE.].  And then, three days later, we mourned the assassination of God’s witness for the Gospel, Charlie Kirk.  So, in Part 4, we will consider how the love of God inspires Christ-followers to be “winsome witnesses” of the love of Christ in the face of hate and death.

The Gospel: 
Harsh Truth?
Charlie Kirk was a lover of God, His Word, and everyone he tried to reach with Truth.  Still, many are criticizing Kirk’s approach as having been too harsh and disrespectful.  Granted,  Charlie repeatedly made clear that his primary intention was to present his witness for Christ and the Gospel (“good news”) of salvation in a genuine and encouraging way.  However, his application of the Gospel message to various moral and social issues was not always favorably received by everyone across the diverse political and ethnic landscape of America.   

Charlie would have been the first to admit he was not perfect.  One can find recordings in which, during the heat of the moment, his words appeared inappropriate and may have hurt some of his listeners.  Add to these the snippets of Charlies speeches, often taken out of context and propagated in social media.  Regardless, it is easy to resort to fault-finding to evade a convicting message.  We believe that most of Charlie’s critics who judged his words as “hate speech” did so, not because they have reason to reject Charlie, but because they have not found justification and peace in their relationship to God.  To them in their broken spiritual and emotional state, even loving words of moral truth can appear hurtful and hateful. 

“Good News,
“Hate Speech?”
How can we account for the fact that what Almighty God and His children intend to be a witness for “Good News” is labeled by some as “hate speech?” The history of Christianity according to the Bible account helps us answer this perplexing question.  For example, the Apostle Peter who just days earlier had denied Christ and had run away in fear, suddenly began to boldly proclaim the Gospel of the Cross to the Jews and people of different nations and ethnic groups (Book of Acts, Ch. 2).  Some considered Peter's message as "hate speech." However, about three thousand in the crowd repented of their sin and were saved! 

It is no surprise that the Gospel is considered by many as hate speech.  The Apostle Paul who was hated, persecuted, and eventually martyred for his faith wrote, For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1: 18).  And, within hours of His crucifixion, Jesus prepared His followers with these words (John 15:18-19):  If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you.

Had Charlie simply preached a more “user-friendly Gospel” that “God is love, and God wants us to be happy in what we choose to do for ourselves,” few would have heard and responded in hate and violence.  But Charlie’s message was like the message of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7).  According to Acts 7: 54, when Stephen’s audience heard him say they were disobedient to God, they were enraged and they gnashed their teeth at him. Then, they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him (v. 57).  Finally, they drove Stephen out of the city and stoned him to death. 

Like Stephen, Charlie boldly confronted his listeners and urged them to evaluate their personal beliefs in light of God’s Word.  As we noted in Part 2 of this series [Click HERE to read.], when Christ-followers take a firm stand against immoral or unethical claims or actions, they are acting as the "salt" that preserves our culture against decay.  However, they also risk being misunderstood and even under threat of violence and death.

Murder of God’s Messengers
Ultimately, like so many historic Christian martyrs, and like many more around the world today, Charlie was hated because of the Gospel message he presented.  His message was that God came in human flesh as Jesus Christ to reconcile rebellious, sinful mankind regardless of their socioeconomic status, ethnicity, religion, or political party (John 3: 14-21).  This Jesus lived a sinless life, died in our place as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners, and rose again from the dead in victory over sin and death.  All who accept Jesus’s death and resurrection by faith and reason as payment for their sin can be saved from eternal separation from God (Romans 10: 8-13).  When a person submits to God in this way and is enlightened by God’s Word through His Spirit, he or she begins to put off the old person and lifestyle.  The Bible describes this transformation in mind, body, and spirit in Galatians 5: 19-23:

Now the deeds of the flesh [the old, sinful nature] are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions,  envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the [new life in the] Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Hatred Is Rooted in Our Hearts
Charlie Kirk recognized that he was engaged in a war, …not against flesh and blood, but against… the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6: 12).”  The weapons, or “flaming darts,” of spiritual darkness include hate, lies, deception, accusation, isolation, doubt, distraction, masquerade, pleasure, unforgiveness, and fear.  If we allow these weapons of Satan to penetrate the spiritual armor God provides and commands us to put on (Ephesians 6: 10-18), our minds become confused about who we really are and who our enemy really is.  Then, we mistakenly turn against others—our brother or sister in Christ, our spouse, our neighbor, our pastor, or our president and other leaders.  Sound familiar?  Sound close to home?

Let’s be honest!  (I’ll admit, I am speaking from experience.)  The inner attitudes and thoughts that I battle are the seeds that could grow into actions that make the daily news—hateful rhetoric, riots, and murder.  James 1: 14-15 describes a progression that occurs when we are “carried away” by our passions which, when they have conceived, give birth to sin which leads to death.  In Matthew 5: 22, we read Jesus’s claim: whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.  Notice that Jesus takes the sixth commandment, “Thou shall not murder,” and goes to the source within the human heart where the underlying sins of pride, hate, and envy are rooted.  Sin within the heart if unchecked leads to hateful speech and even murder.  To this we should cry, “God help us!”  And He will.

Choosing Better Weapons
But God through Christ and His Gospel pleads with us:
“Please don’t think that way.
Turn from your selfish, sinful ways.
They will destroy you. 
I have something better and
I want you to have it because I love you.”

In our culture where hateful hearts, violent rhetoric, guns, knives, and bombs are subjects of our daily news, true Christ-followers have access to three more powerful “weapons”—thankfulness, repentance, and forgiveness.  Each of these “weapons” are necessary if we are to gain victory against our fleshly passions and the flaming darts of spiritual wickedness hurled at us.

Thankfulness is our weapon or prescription against our tendency toward discontent, envy, boasting, and covetousness.  Thankfulness for what God has already provided frees our minds to realize the blessings of freedom and material provisions we have in Christ and in our country; and, for those both living and dead who have made these blessings possible.

Repentance is our second weapon.  When a disposition of fear, envy, or covetousness threatens our outlook, we need to be quick to repent—i.e. to confess (say what God says about) our lack of faith and any sin, and turn from it toward faith in our loving God.  Not easy, but in every circumstance, by prayer …[we are to let our requests] be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4: 7).

Forgiveness and a forgiving spirit may be the most powerful weapon of all.  It is the pure expression of God’s love, spoken through His Son while nailed to a Roman cross when He said, Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing (Luke 23: 34).  Charlie’s wife, Erika, chose to forgive Tyler Robinson who shot and killed her beloved husband.  Her statement of forgiveness is a powerful testimony and “winsome witness” of God’s love.

Charlie Kirk’s assassination on September 10 escorted him into the presence of an estimated 70 million Christians believed to have been martyred for their faith since the death of Stephen.

Charlie is quoted as saying, “What God wants from me is a life fighting for truth.  I want to be remembered for courage for my faith.”  He certainly fought hard for truth, and we fondly remember him for his outstanding courage and “winsome witness” right up to the moment God took him home to Heaven.

Further Encouragement:
The month of September has seen many challenging events, both encouraging and disheartening.  Thankfully, when our souls become frustrated and fearful, God stands ready with a three-part prescription from His Word.  During a similar time of turmoil in 2019, I shared my basic “three R’s” as an encouragement—not “Readin’, ‘Ritin’, and ‘Rithmetic;” but instead, REPENT, REJOICE, and RECONCILE.   [Read more HERE.]

Eight Devotional Meditations to Start a New Year

The New Year is still new enough for us to offer our “Happy New Year” greeting.  Who among us does not want 2024 to be a HAPPY year?  But in reality, many of us wonder if 2024 will be an extension of the “unhappy” issues of last year.  Let us hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.  

We have just published a blog entitled “Time to Wake Up!” [Click HERE.]  It is Part 2 of a series called, “Is Light Dimming and Darkness Winning?”  As a complement to that article, what follows below is a series of eight devotional meditations based on Isaiah Chapter 52.  We hope your reading, study, and prayer over each of these meditations will help to “awaken you” in mind, body, and spirit as you begin this New Year.

Day 1: “Our Lover Comes Calling: Wake Up!”
Scripture:  Isaiah 52: 1
Background:  Isaiah 52 contains the prophet’s warning to Judah that if they continue in rebellion against God they will be taken into exile.  But because of God’s enduring, covenant love for His people, He couldn’t wait to tell them ahead of time that He would eventually set them free from His judgment.  God’s warning of judgment and promise of release after 70 years of captivity came through the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29: 10-14).  What is more amazing, again before they were to be exiled, God consoles Judah through Isaiah exactly how they would be assisted in their migration from exile back to the Holy Land.  God would raise up the Persian King Cyrus who would conquer Babylon and set the Jewish exiles free (Isaiah 44: 28-45: 1; 2 Chronicles 36: 21-23).
Consider: Our Scripture verse for today finds Isaiah conveying what would be God’s “wake-up call” to the Jewish exiles in Babylon (yet future).  God comes like a lover beneath the window of the prison in which His beloved is still a sleeping captive above.  He calls out, “Awake, Awake, my beloved!  Put on thy strength!”  Isaiah had already proclaimed, Those who trust in the LORD will gain new strength (Isaiah 40: 31).  God also wants to free us from the slave master of sin. But, we must “wake up” and use the strength He gives us.  God also calls His beloved to clothe herself in royal and pure robes befitting of her position as His redeemed. 
Response:   God still calls out today to awaken people under sin’s captivity.  Maybe you have never been spiritually reborn or experienced freedom in Christ (John 3).  Or, perhaps you are born again but have neglected to yield to Christ’s call to be His disciple (a disciplined Christ-follower; see Luke 9: 23-25; John 8: 31-32) and to dress in His armor to walk as a new person in purity of heart and mind (Ephesians 6: 10ff; Colossians 3: 5-11).  How will you respond?

Day 2:
Loose Yourself from the Chains
[Listen to Hymn? Go HERE.]
Scripture:  Isaiah 52: 2
Consider:  The Holy Spirit of God, our divine Lover calls out again, “Shake off the dust!”  Arise from the low position of dishonor.  Your time of captivity in sin, fear, and grief are over.  Rise up to a position of freedom and dignity in Christ.  Then, Isaiah continues:  Loose yourself from the chains around your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.  But you say, I have no key!  How can I unlock the chains around my neck?  In the Gospel of John, we read of a man who had been ill for 38 years and had no one to help him into the supposedly healing waters of the Bethesda pool.  Jesus asked him, “Do you wish to get well?”  When the man said “Yes,” Jesus said, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.”   Read the story in John 5: 1-9.
Response:   Maybe God is calling you, His beloved:  Get up, shake off every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles [you], and [then] run with endurance the race that is set before [you], fixing [your] eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12: 1-2a).  Are there unnecessary encumbrances and sins that you need to “shake off,” or shackles from which you need to “loose yourself” so you can be free?  Learn how in 1 John 1: 9 and John 8: 31-34.

Day 3:  The Priceless Gift We Couldn’t Afford
Scripture:  Isaiah 52: 3
Consider:  In yesterday’s meditation, we read of God’s call to the captives--“shake off the dust” and “loose yourself.”  God calls us to take responsibility to lay aside the encumbrances and sins that beset us.  Today’s Scripture, continues with God’s answer to those who may accuse Him of “selling out His people” for a ransom.   God’s reply:  You were sold for nothing and you will be redeemed, but not with money.  In other words, “I did not sell you for a monetary gain or a ransom.  Instead, because you chose to abandon My commands, you sold yourselves into bondage for nothing.  But, because you are precious to Me, I will set you free, but not with money.”  This idea of “buying back without money” foreshadows our redemption through Christ as 1 Peter 1: 18-19 explains, For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.…  The psalmist expresses a similar theme:
No man can by any means redeem his brother
    Or give to God a ransom for him—
For the redemption of his soul is costly,
    And he should cease trying forever— Psalm 49: 7-8
Response:   Devote time to meditate on these Scriptures with the Cross of Christ in your mind’s eye.  Our Savior-Redeemer ransomed us at a cost far beyond what money.  Instead of money, He gave His own life on a Roman cross to offer us Liberty and Everlasting Life.  How will this truth affect you today?

Day 4:  
A Holy God in Dark Places

Scripture:  Isaiah 52: 4-6
Consider:  Throughout the Bible, God the Holy Sovereign of the universe is repeatedly misjudged and His Name blasphemed.  In contrast, our history is one of continual rebellion against God.  Yet God is blamed and considered cruel and uncaring when people and nations suffer tragic losses, sometimes the consequences of their sin.  In today’s Scripture, we read how God’s Name was blasphemed when His Chosen people suffered under the exile of Assyria and Babylon because they trusted in their own power and not God’s.  Their captors “howled” while they asked, “Where is your God while you suffer here in bondage under our power?”  Today, some people prefer the God of the New Testament because He is much less violent and murderous than the “Old Testament God.”  But the New Testament reveals how Jesus as God in human flesh also faced scornful and blasphemous accusations: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them (Luke 15: 2)!”  But God does not remain silent in defense of His Name.  Speaking through Isaiah God declares,
Therefore My people shall know my name (52: 6)
… to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.
They will say of Me, ‘Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.’
Men will come to Him,
And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame (45: 23b-24).
Response:   Have you ever risked your name and reputation to help someone else while onlookers accused you of selfish motives or something worse?  Many of us know this experience.  We hope it comforts you (“brings you strength from God’s truth and love”) as you read throughout the Bible the story of God repeatedly going into dark places to rescue and redeem His beloved people.  And remember the dark day of the Cross where Jesus died and where God …made Him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.  Your sin, mine, and the sins of the world were laid upon the crucified Christ.  Pray for those who labor in "dark places" and often suffer greatly as a result.

Day 5:  God Our Deliverer and Comforter
Scripture:  Isaiah 52: 9-10; Isaiah 52:13 to 53:1
Consider:  In Day 4, we honored the God who went into “dark places,” welcomed sinners, ate with them, and ultimately died for sinners.  God in Christ bore all of our sin on His Cross giving His life for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works (Titus 2: 14).  Written 700 years earlier, Isaiah’s words in verses 9-10 also praise God, exclaiming,
Break forth, shout joyfully together,
       You waste places of Jerusalem;
For the LORD has comforted His people,
       He has redeemed Jerusalem.
F.B. Meyer, referring to verse 10, writes, “Their Almighty Deliverer, throwing back the loose sleeve of His robe to leave His arm free, bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations,
that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God.
Response:  Pause in the quietness of your time in God’s presence and meditate on these Scriptures, including Isaiah 52: 13 to 53: 1, telling of your Deliverer and what He suffered in order to reach with his strong, holy arm to rescue you.  Then, “break forth” in praise to Him, our Deliverer and Comforter.

Day 6:  Go Forth in His Righteousness
Scripture:  Isaiah 52: 1-2 and 52: 11
Consider:  Thank you for continuing in this series of devotional meditations.  In Day 1, our Scriptures from Isaiah 52: 1-2, shouted out, “Awake!  Awake!” This was a call through Isaiah to the (future) Israelite exiles in Babylon to awaken, rise up, shake off the dust, and unshackle themselves so they can enjoy and follow God in freedom.  Isaiah 52: 11 continues this challenge to the captives:
Depart, depart, go out from there,
    Touch nothing unclean;
 Go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves,
    You who carry the vessels of the LORD.
These Scriptures remind us that; whereas, God is our Mighty Deliverer who paid the price that we could never pay to redeem us from the exile of sin, still we have the daily responsibility to walk in purity and integrity. 
Response:  Yesterday’s reference to Titus 2: 14 reminded us of the price and purpose of Christ’s Cross and deliverance.  Quietly meditate on the wider context of this passage  quoted below (Titus 2: 11-14).  Then, allow God’s Spirit to convict you in areas in which your life is not pure and pleasing to God and to strengthen you in the “blessed hope” of Christ’s return as you move forward in this New Year:
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.  

Day 7:  Look Ahead, Look Behind, Without Fear!
Scripture:  Isaiah 52: 10-12
Consider:  Yesterday, Isaiah’s prophesy foretold the coming Israelite exile and eventual release from captivity.  He challenged them, and all of us today, to awaken, arise, shake off hindrances, unshackle ourselves from sin, and go forward in purity of heart and mind.  But Isaiah has another message for the future exiles; namely, they will not go forth from captivity in haste or in fear like fugitives as their ancestors had fled from Egypt centuries before (Exodus 12: 39).  Instead, declares Isaiah (v. 12): 

For the LORD will go before you,
And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
Here Isaiah calls to mind how the Israelites had departed from captivity in Egypt centuries earlier.  They had followed God who went before them in a pillar of cloud during the daytime.  At night, it turned into a glowing pillar of fire (Exodus 13: 21).  And, when the escaping Israelites thought they were trapped between the sea and the pursuing Egyptians, the pillar moved around behind them and God became their “read guard” against their enemies.
Response:  As you begin this New Year, may this reminder that the LORD will go before you and also be your rear guard be fixed in your mind.  With the psalmist (Psalm 16: 8 ), may we each declare: 
I have set the LORD continually before me;
Realizing that 2024 will bring many challenges, but
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken…
Because the God of Israel will be [my] rear guard,”
I will not remain a captive of the sin and regrets of the past.
I will wake up, “deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously,” and joyously in the New Year!

Day 8:  You Can’t Keep Quiet?  Good!
Scripture:  Isaiah 52: 7-12
Consider:  We had intended to write seven (7) daily devotional meditations to complete one week.  But because we believe God’s Spirit directed our thoughts and writing to add one more, we are adding one more.  We awakened this morning with the reminder that verses 7-12 of Isaiah 52 provide a fitting ending to the weeks-worth we had written.  Please read and re-read these verses which offer glorious praise to God who came and will come again to set the captives free.  The Pulpit Commentary interprets this passage as “A Vision of the Day of Deliverance:”
The prophet sees the messenger come bounding over the mountains of Judaea, to bring the news to Jerusalem that her deliverance is come (v. 7). The angelic watchers sing with joy (v. 8). The prophet calls upon the waste places of Jerusalem to do the same, and dwells on the greatness of the mercy wrought (vv. 9-10). Finally, he exhorts the exiles to avail themselves of the permission to [leave] Babylon… in peace, without hurry, under the guidance and protection of God (vv. 11-12).  
The commentary concludes that Jerusalem's deliverance is a foreshadowing of the future redemption of the world by Christ.  What a blessed hope for Christ’s redeemed followers to anticipate!
Response:  God’s proclamation in verses 5b and 6 describes the cruel mocking that God still receives, but then predicts the future day when all mocking will stop (emphasis added):  And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.  Therefore, my people will know my name; therefore, in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it.  Yes, it is I.
For all of us who have been awakened when we heard the Good News (Gospel) of Christ, have shaken off the shackles of our “works salvation,” and followed Christ out of our prison of sin, this should indeed be Good News we can’t keep to ourselves. 

How beautiful on the mountains

are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.
Yes, it is I.”

We hope the joyous exclamation of praise in verses 7-8 will resonate with your heart and motivate you to proclaim His salvation from day to day in 2024.  The eternal destiny of multitudes will depend upon it!  See also Isaiah 62: 6-7.   Click HERE to hear “For Zion’s Sake” by Marty Goetz.

Care to Comment?
If you have questions or comments, we’d love to hear from you.  Maybe you would like to share a spiritual insight or recommend a devotional source.  Just post a “Comment” below or e-mail to silviusj@gmail.com

Maybe you are left with a sense of confusion, uncertainty, and even fear.  If you have never encountered the “Good News” or Gospel, let us help.   The “Good News” is summarized in an outline called “Steps to Peace with God” (Click HERE.).  It explains God’s love, our predicament (sin and separation from God), what Jesus has done to address our predicament, and what you can do by faith to receive God’s righteousness (right standing with a Holy God).  Let's commit to "wake up" and serve Him in this New Year!