Considering their heritage

ISAIAH       CHAPTER 51

Isaiah gives a message from God to the People of Israel  in which God asks them to consider from where they were "mined". He asked them to remember Abraham and Sarah, from whom they came. The Lord promises to make Israel a desert full of blossoms with wilderness as beautiful as Eden and joy and gladness there.  He tells them that soon his law will be proclaimed and justice will light up the sky. He tells them soon their salvation will come and he notes that salvation lasts forever and his righteous rule will never end.

Isaiah tells the people to not be afraid and to know right from wrong. That God's salvation will continue from generation to generation. Rise up and remember the old days when Israel slew the dragon of the Nile, says the Lord. He reminds them that they are the same people and shall be returned to Jerusalem and all sorrow and mourning will disappear and be replaced with joy and gladness.

The Lord reminds the Israelites that they have drunk enough from the cup of the Lord's fury. Their children have fainted and lie in the streets, helpless. So, says the Lord, he is taking the terrible cup from the hands of the people and it will be gone. But he will put that cup into the hands of those who tormented the Israelites.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The faithful remnant may have felt alone because they were so few. But God reminded them of their ancestors, the source of their spiritual heritage.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY?  When someone insults our faith, we must remember that it is because of our faith that the truth will prevail. We need not fear those who reproach us. God is with us and he will deal with them. This is just another example of showing us who is in charge- GOD!

The people of Judah experienced ruin because of their sins and this caused them to suffer. But God can do anything, and he restored the city. We need to remember who is in control of our lives and who can restore us. Our Bible Study this morning talked about saving sinners and when is a sinner saved? Deathbed conversions in particular. We agreed that only God knows what is in the human heart. Only God can determine what we are thinking and what we will do next. The word "repentance"  reminds us that we must truly and honestly repent. Mouthing the words or going through the motions just won't cut it with the Lord. He knows and sees all. I hope when he looks into your heart, he sees a believer!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:



HEALTH: Pray for Gabe.


Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.


Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.


Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with a form of MS.


Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.


Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.


Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.


Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.


Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.


Update on my missionary friend Carolyn: She appeared lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years, but now has returned to Kansas and has her own apartment and an uplifted heart and spirit.


SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary


RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John


LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian


SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.