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Isaiah 44:6-48:11<\/strong><\/span> Isaiah\u2019s words in chapter 44 verses 18 & 19 today are classic Old Testament very direct words!\u00a0 \u201cSuch stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, \u201cWhy, it\u2019s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a chunk of wood?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I wonder about us in our lives today \u2013 do we create idols of our own today?\u00a0 Maybe our idols are not made out of chunks of wood these days.\u00a0 But do we create idols perhaps out of other people?\u00a0 Do we create idols out of material goods?\u00a0 Do we create idols out of our careers?\u00a0 Do we create idols out of how we spend our time?\u00a0 Are you bowing down and worshiping any \u201cchunks of wood\u201d in your life today?\u00a0 Please turn any idols you might have over to Jesus and allow him to heal you from worshiping those idols in your life!<\/span><\/p>\n In Isaiah chapter 45 readings we read about King Cyrus of Persia!\u00a0 Verse 13 says this about Cyrus in today\u2019s readings: \u201cI will raise up Cyrus to fulfill my righteous purpose, and I will guide all his actions. He will restore my city and free my captive people\u2013and not for a reward! I, the LORD Almighty, have spoken!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 The interesting thing to note here is that Cyrus was not Jewish \u2013 he was a Gentile ruler who was raised up for the purpose of freeing the Israelite captives from exile in Babylon and allowing them to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.\u00a0 In yesterday\u2019s readings in chapter 45 verse 1 Cyrus was even referred to as \u201cGod\u2019s anointed.\u201d\u00a0 This is the only place in the Bible where a Gentile ruler is said to be anointed.\u00a0 It\u2019s also very interesting to note that Isaiah is calling Cyrus by name some 150 years before Cyrus ruled!\u00a0 Isaiah prophesied from 740 to 681 B.C. and Cyrus ruled from 559 to 530 B.C.\u00a0 Some Bible commentaries suggest that Cyrus read these prophesies of Isaiah during his reign and was so moved by them that he decided to indeed fulfill them.\u00a0 In any case, Cyrus played a pivotal role in our spiritual history \u2013 allowing the promise of Abraham\u2019s many descendants to continue to the fulfillment of the coming Messiah in Jesus!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Isaiah chapter 45 verses 22 & 23 are powerful and foreshadow Jesus\u2019 ministry here on earth: \u201cLet all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other. I have sworn by my own name, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will confess allegiance to my name.\u201d <\/em>These verses are also foreshadowing of the book of Revelation that we will read later this year.\u00a0 We read Paul quoting these verses to describe Jesus in <\/span>Romans 14:11<\/span> and <\/span>Philippians 2:10-11<\/span>.\u00a0 Do you believe that all the world should look to God for salvation?\u00a0 Is there another god?\u00a0 Is Jesus God?\u00a0 Do you believe that one day every tongue will confess allegiance to the name of Jesus and every knee will bow to Jesus?<\/span> <\/p>\n Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992. Revelation Illustrated<\/span><\/p>\n \u201d site.<\/span><\/p>\n Below is an image from Isaiah 46:4 from today\u2019s readings:<\/span> Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Isaiah titled \u201cDead Idols or the Living God\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and \u201cThe Knowledge of the Lord\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and \u201cThe Lord\u2019s Superiority to the gods of Babylon\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/p>\n Worship Video:\u00a0 <\/strong>Isaiah chapter 45 verse 23 reminded me of the fantastic Brian Doerksen song \u201cCome, Now is the Time to Worship\u201d which includes the lyrics: \u201cOne day every tongue will confess you are God.\u00a0 One day every knee will bow.\u00a0 Still the greatest treasure remains for those who choose you now!\u201d\u00a0 Here\u2019s a great live version of this song, sung by Phillips, Craig and Dean:<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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