A court of law is where witnesses give evidence. Before it is possible to reach a decision, the facts of the matter must be clear. Each person whom the decision may affect has an opportunity to speak without interruption. • In ancient times, the ‘court’ was not a building. The common place to decid... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS GOD PROMISES COMFORT TO HIS PEOPLE ISAIAH CHAPTER S 40 TO 48 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 41 KNOW WHO REALLY CONTROLS EVENTS V1 God speaks: ‘You people in distant nations, be silent! Listen to me. Collect your evidence. Then prepare what you want to say, as if in... [ Continue Reading ]
The crisis is about a foreign army commander who is winning battle after battle. The officer’s name does not appear until the last verse of chapter 44. His army is overcoming every country in the area.... [ Continue Reading ]
The *Lord declares that he is responsible for that foreigner’s appearance at such a time. The *Lord is using him to carry out a task for him. It is merely one event in the *Lord’s great plan that controls all of history. • The use of the words ‘beginning’ and ‘end’ often appear in passages about th... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah mentions the reaction of other nations to the crisis. The *idols that the nations had were clearly without any power whatever. The nations’ only solution was to make new *idols! • Isaiah wants to show his people that human effort will never be sufficient. Not even if people encourage each ot... [ Continue Reading ]
God calls Abraham his ‘friend’ (see 2 Chronicles 20:7 and James 2:23). • In the original language, ‘friend’ is ‘one who loves me’. Anyone who loves God is a member of God’s family. And God himself considers that person to be his friend.... [ Continue Reading ]
Friends help friends. God’s people help God when they answer his call to do something for him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Similarly, God is ready to give his friends the strength that they need at any time. GOD WILL HELP YOU V14 So do not be afraid, Israel, small and weak as you are. I, the *Lord, will help you. I am the Holy God of Israel. It is I who saves you. V15 I will make you like a new *threshing-sledge that... [ Continue Reading ]
God’s immense power is available for his people. They do not need to be afraid of anything.... [ Continue Reading ]
The picture in words repeats the promise of Isaiah 28:27-29. GOD WILL PROVIDE V17 Days may come when my poor people have no water to drink. Their tongues are dry. But I am their *Lord. I will provide for them. The God of Israel will never fail to satisfy them. V18 I will cause rivers to appear on... [ Continue Reading ]
The *Lord turns desert into garden (Psalms 84:5-7). In Isaiah 42:15, the *Lord turns garden into desert. • The *Lord will cause extraordinary changes in the world. Only the *Lord, Israel’s God, can do such things. The people in Israel know that God created everything. So all things and all people a... [ Continue Reading ]
No *idols can announce what is going to happen. That is something that only the *Lord God can do. • See my note on Isaiah 44:9-20. LORD ~ God’s personal name in the Bible. In the original language, God’s name ‘Lord’ means ‘head over all’ and ‘God always’. IDOL ~ home-made image of a god. ANVIL ~ he... [ Continue Reading ]