Day By Day - Isaiah 41
By John Horsburgh
Opening Thoughts:
Remembering that the Bible was not written in chapters and verses, it is hard not to want to include the last few verses of Chapter 40 to give context to Chapter 41. There is so much promise in this chapter but it follows on from a verse that tells us that, “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” This is not a casual nod to the possibility of a god but a dedication to being fully committed to the King of Kings and to being sold out to the one true God.
Key Points:
1. ‘Keep silence before me… let the people renew their strength.’
The language used may have had a reality to the Israelites but the truth of this word is very much for the church. We need to appreciate the awesome nature of God and that if we were to come face to face with Him we would not be inclined to be frivolous, but that any sound that came from us would be only worship for His majesty. At the same time, there would be an exchange made in His presence. The word “renew” carries the concept of God exchanging our weakness for His strength; and as I look back at the New Testament heroes of the faith, those men and women exhibited a strength that, as yet, I can only imagine. Let us grow in our worship of the Living God and allow His strength to build us into a body, a family that will see our Heavenly Father loved and worshipped across our community.
2. ‘Fear not for I am with you… ‘
So many times when the heavenly realm is opened to humanity the first words spoken are, “fear not”. We have been called by God. Vs 9 says, “you whom I have taken from the ends of the earth… you are my servant I have chosen you and not cast you away” - then follows the “fear not”. We have a task to do and we have all been given talents, abilities and gifts that we need to use for His kingdom. Not only has He promised to be with us but He has provided us with the family of faith that we might work together, to support one another and that our gifts would complement each other. We don’t have to take on the world by ourselves, that task would be too hard, but together, as a family using the combined strengths God has given us, we will see His name lifted high because He is with us.
3. ‘Behold I will make you a new sharp threshing instrument…’
Christ has sent us out into the harvest and in that we often overlook the natural harvest events. We mostly think of harvest as bringing in the grain but there is more to it than that. In Isaiah’s time, the harvest was a team effort where men and women laboured in the fields cutting off small handfuls of stalks. No one person had to bring in the whole harvest on their own. Moreover, the reaper did not have to prepare the grain for its intended purpose. The grain was threshed to separate it from the husks and the chaff; and this gives a beautiful image of the manner in which the ministry gifts ought to be operating in the church. The harvest is brought in under the guidance of the evangelist and the grain is then given to the prophet, teacher and pastor to assist the new believer as they begin their new life in the family of Christ.
Closing Thoughts:
As with much of Isaiah, this chapter has both uplifting words and the contrasting words of judgment against those who oppose God. We need to use both aspects of these writings to encourage us to love and obey God but also to spur us to greater efforts to win the lost away from the grasp of the enemy and into the heart of the church, the Bride of Christ.
Opening Thoughts:
Remembering that the Bible was not written in chapters and verses, it is hard not to want to include the last few verses of Chapter 40 to give context to Chapter 41. There is so much promise in this chapter but it follows on from a verse that tells us that, “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” This is not a casual nod to the possibility of a god but a dedication to being fully committed to the King of Kings and to being sold out to the one true God.
Key Points:
1. ‘Keep silence before me… let the people renew their strength.’
The language used may have had a reality to the Israelites but the truth of this word is very much for the church. We need to appreciate the awesome nature of God and that if we were to come face to face with Him we would not be inclined to be frivolous, but that any sound that came from us would be only worship for His majesty. At the same time, there would be an exchange made in His presence. The word “renew” carries the concept of God exchanging our weakness for His strength; and as I look back at the New Testament heroes of the faith, those men and women exhibited a strength that, as yet, I can only imagine. Let us grow in our worship of the Living God and allow His strength to build us into a body, a family that will see our Heavenly Father loved and worshipped across our community.
2. ‘Fear not for I am with you… ‘
So many times when the heavenly realm is opened to humanity the first words spoken are, “fear not”. We have been called by God. Vs 9 says, “you whom I have taken from the ends of the earth… you are my servant I have chosen you and not cast you away” - then follows the “fear not”. We have a task to do and we have all been given talents, abilities and gifts that we need to use for His kingdom. Not only has He promised to be with us but He has provided us with the family of faith that we might work together, to support one another and that our gifts would complement each other. We don’t have to take on the world by ourselves, that task would be too hard, but together, as a family using the combined strengths God has given us, we will see His name lifted high because He is with us.
3. ‘Behold I will make you a new sharp threshing instrument…’
Christ has sent us out into the harvest and in that we often overlook the natural harvest events. We mostly think of harvest as bringing in the grain but there is more to it than that. In Isaiah’s time, the harvest was a team effort where men and women laboured in the fields cutting off small handfuls of stalks. No one person had to bring in the whole harvest on their own. Moreover, the reaper did not have to prepare the grain for its intended purpose. The grain was threshed to separate it from the husks and the chaff; and this gives a beautiful image of the manner in which the ministry gifts ought to be operating in the church. The harvest is brought in under the guidance of the evangelist and the grain is then given to the prophet, teacher and pastor to assist the new believer as they begin their new life in the family of Christ.
Closing Thoughts:
As with much of Isaiah, this chapter has both uplifting words and the contrasting words of judgment against those who oppose God. We need to use both aspects of these writings to encourage us to love and obey God but also to spur us to greater efforts to win the lost away from the grasp of the enemy and into the heart of the church, the Bride of Christ.
Posted in Isaiah