Friday, January 29, 2010

Deuteronomy 29 & Isaiah 49

Deuteronomy 29
- This section tells God’s covenant with the people while they were in Moab in addition to the covenant He made with them at Horeb.
- Moses gathered the people and reminded them of all that the Lord did for them in Egypt
- But until now God hadn’t given them eyes and ears to see or hear.
- Moses simply led them 40 years in the wilderness.
- For 40 years their sandals hadn’t worn out, the hadn’t ate bread or drunk wine so that they’d know He is God.
- Moses reminds them how they defeated Sihon and Og in Heshbon and Bashan.
- They gave that land to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manassites.
- Moses tells them to keep their work they made then so they will prosper.
- Moses reminds them why EVERYONE is gathered (husbands, wives, kids, sojourners, elders, servants, etc…)
- They are there to make a sworn covenant with God that they might be His people as God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
- God is making a covenant with everyone there today and with whomever is not there as well.
- Moses reminds them how the left Egypt and passed through many nations
- He reminds them of the detestable things and idols they saw
- God warns them to beware lest there be a root a poison and bitter fruit spring up.
- God warns the man who hears the words of the covenant and says he will be safe even though He walks in the “stubbornness” of His own heart.
- What does God mean when He says “this will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike?”
- God will not forgive that man but God’s anger will burn against him and the curses of Deuteronomy will settle against him.
- God will also blot out that man’s name.
- Moses refers to Deuteronomy as “The Book of the Law”
- Foreigners and that man’s children will see the sickness and affliction of that man’s land, like Sodom and Gomorrah, and wonder why God had done that.
- They will wonder what caused God’s anger to heat up so much.
- That man’s neighbors will tell people that it is like that because that man abandoned God’s covenant and served other gods.
- Serving other gods brought the curses of Deuteronomy upon the land.
- They kindled God’s wrath, fury, anger (3 words for the same thing in one sentence)
- “The secret things” belong to God, but things revealed in Deuteronomy belong to us and our children forever.



Isaiah 49
- It starts by says Ah Ariel, Ariel where David encamped
- Where is Ariel?
- God will distress her and make her an Ariel (which can also mean altar hearth, lion of God, or hero)
- God will lay siege to Ariel.
- They will be bowed down and speak from the dust
- The multitude of their foreign foes will be like small dust
- Is this a good or a bad thing?
- God will visit them quickly bringing earthquakes, whirlwinds, and fire
- Those fighting against Ariel will be like a dream like a hungry man dreaming of food and waking up hungry.
- Again is this a blessing or a curse?
- Ariel will be drunk and stagger but not with strong drink
- The Lord has poured a spirit of deep sleep upon them and closed their eyes (prophets) and their heads (the seers).
- It will be for them like giving a sealed book to a man who can read or an unsealed book to a man who cannot read.
- That is because the people draw near to God with words and their lips but keep their hearts far from God.
- Their fear of God is from a commandment taught by men.
- Therefore God will again do great wonders and the wisdom of the wise and discerning will perish.
- God speaks to people who think their “dark deeds” are hidden and no one sees them, but God does.
- They turn things upside down which is like the clay telling the potter he didn’t make them or have any understanding.
- Soon Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field (It was a great forest at this time)
- The fruitful field shall be like a forest
- The blind will see and the deaf hear
- The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord and the poor shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
- God will cut off all who do evil and the ruthless.
- The scoffer has been making wrong accusations against him who is right.
- God speaks directly to the house of Jacob and tells them that they shall no longer be ashamed
- They will again sanctify God’s name when they see their children working.
- They will again stand in awe of God.
- Those who go astray in spirit will again come to understanding and those who murmur will accept instruction

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Deuteronomy 28 & Isaiah 48

Deuteronomy 28


- If the are faithful to obey God's commandments, God will rise them above all nations.



- They shall be blessed for listening to God's voice in many ways:




1) Your cities and fields.




2) Fruits of womb, fields, and cattle.




3) Your basket and kneading bowl.




4) When they come in and go out.




5) Enemies who rise against them will be defeated (come one way, flee 7 ways).




6) In your barns and undertakings




7) established as a people holy to God.




8) All other people will see they are God's people.



- God will make others fear them and will abound them in prosperity.




- God will open "His good treasury" the heavens and give their land water




- Israel shall lend to other nations but NOT borrow




- God will make Israel the head not the tail.




- It says similar phrases about "if you obey God's commandments, then..." 5 times in this section.




- The last "if, then" phrase throws if you obey God and don't serve other gods




- The next section starts off with more curses if they don't obey God's commands




- List of Curses:




1) Cursed be cities and fields




2) Cursed be basket and kneading bowl




3) Cursed be fruit of wombs, ground, and herds




4) Cursed coming in and going out.




- Confusion and frustration in all undertakings - they will be destroyed and perish for forsaking God.




- pestilence will stick to them




- God will strike them with wasting disease, fever, fiery heat, drought, blight, and mildew




- The sun shall bake the earth so it's hard as iron.




- Their will be no rain




- Their enemies will defeat them.




- They shall come in one way and flee their enemies 7 ways.




- They shall be a horror to all nations.




- God will strike them with boils, tumors, scabs and unhealable itch.




- God will strike them with blindness, confusion, and madness.




- They shall be opressed and robbed continually with no help.




- They will have a wife who will be ravished by another.




- They will build a house but not live in it.




- Their cattle, donkeys, sheep, and children will be taken away by others.




- An unknown nation will rise against them and crush and oppress them continually.




- Under a new king they will serve gods of wood and Israel will become a horror, a byword, and a proverb to other people and they will be led away.



- They will plant much seed only to be eaten by locusts.



- They will plant vineyard but only worms shall drink of the grapes.



- Their olives will drop off and the crickets will eat their fruit.



- The sojourner will be raised up and they will be brought low.



- The sojourner will lend to them and become the head. They will be the tail.



- Moses repeats that these curses will overtake them because they did not serve the Lord.



- The curses will be a sign to them and their children forever.



- They will serve their enemies because they didn't serve God with "joyfulness and gladness of heart".



- God will destroy them by putting a yoke of iron on them.



- God will send an unknown nation to attack them like an eagle.



- This new nation will take everything they have and kill their children as well.



- They will even tear down the high walls that the Israelites trust in.


- - During the siege the most tender man will not share the flesh of his children with his wife.
- His tender wife will not share the afterbirth she eats during the distress of the siege.
- These things will happen if Israel does not fear “the glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God.
- If they don’t, their children will be plagued by disease and severe affliction, all the diseases of Egypt that they feared.
- God will even bring every unknown disease against them.
- They are numerous like the stars but will then be few in number.
- He takes delight in doing good to Israel but He will delight in destroying them and seeing them come to ruin.
- God will scatter them across the earth, where they will serve other gods which they have never known.
- There they will find no resting place and their hearts will tremble and have a “languishing soul”.
- They will dread every day with no assurance of life.
- Because of the dread and what their eyes see they will say, in the morning “if only it were evening” and in the evening “if only it were morning.”
- They will be shipped back to Egypt which God promised they shall never do.
- There they will sell themselves as slaves, but no one will buy them.

Isaiah 48


- God is calling out to Judah and Israel who confess God but not in truth or right

- The call themselves after God's holy city

- God reminds them of the former things He announced to them that happened as He said they would.

- He told them what would happen before it took place because He knew they were an obstinate people.

- God told things to them in advance so they couldn't say their iodls did those things.

- God tells them to listen up because He is declaring new things that will take place.

- God has created things now before today that they have never heard of so they couldn't say they knew this or that.

- What things was God referring to that He had recent;y made but not long ago?

- God says even long ago their ears were not opened.

- God said that He knew they would deal treacherously and were rebels from birth.

- God deferred His anger for His name's sake and for the sake of His praise.

- That is why He didn't cut them off.

- God has refined and tried them in the "furnace of affliction"

- God says "For my own sake" (twice) and that He won't give His glory to another.

- God tells Israel to listen to Him because he is the first and the last and Hid hands laid the foundations of the earth and the heavens.

- When he calls them heaven and earth stand together.

- The Lord loves them (Israel) and will be against Babylon and the Chaldeans

- God has called him and he will prosper

- God reminds them that He is not speaking in secret and has been there from the beginning.

- God has sent me (Isaiah?) and his Spirit

- God is their God and teaches them how to profit and the way they should go.

- If only they had listened to God and obeyed His commandments there would have been peace like a river and righteousness like the waves of the sea.

- Their offerings and descendents would have been like grains of sand and their name would never have been cut off.

- They should shout for joy because God has proclaimed that He will redeem His people.

- He reminds them that God provided them water from a rock in the desert

- This section closes with this statement, "Thereis no peace," says the Lord, "for the wicked."

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Deuteronomy 27 & Isaiah 47

Deuteronomy 27

- God commanded them to set up lager stones when they cross the Jordan River and plaster them.

- They should write all the words of "this" law on the plastered stones.

- The land will be flowing with milk and honey as God promised.

- They shall also set up stones on Mount Ebal and plaster them with plaster as well.

- On Mount Ebal they shall make an altar, but shouldn't use any iron tool to build it.

- The altar shall be built of uncut stones.

- They will offer burnt and peace offerings there and eat there and rejoice there before God.

- They shall also write the words of the law on those stones.

- Moses and Levitical priests to Israelites to be quiet and listen because they have now become a people of God, so they need to obey God's commandments and statutes.

- Weren't they already God's people before this day being discussed?

- Moses charged the people to stand on Mount Gerizim and bless people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

- These shall go to Mount Ebal and curse people: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

- Why do the Levites lift up and curse when they are in the "to bless group"?

- Curses listed:

1) Anyone who dishonors their parents
2) Anyone who moves his neighbors markers
3) Anyone who misleads the blind
4) Anyone who perverts justice due sojourner, fatherless, or widow.
5) Anyone who lies with his father's wife.
6) Anyone who lies with an animal.
7) Anyone who lies with his sister (either his mother or father's daughter)
8) Anyone who lies with his mother-in-law
9) Anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret
10) Anyone who doesn't confirm all words of the law.

Isaiah 47
- Starts off by calling virgin daughter of Babylon to sit in the dust.
- They shall no longer be called delicate and tender but will be stripped naked.
- Everyone will see their disgrace and God will spare no one.
- God is Our Redeemer and the Holy One of Israel.
- The Chaldeans shall no longer be the "mistress of kingdoms".
- God was angry with His inheritance (Israel) and gave them into Babylon's hands.
- God tells them to listen, because they are calling themselves "I am, and there is no other besides me" (basically claiming they are God)
- God says two things will come to Babylon in a moment
1) the loss of children
2) widowhood
- both things will come despite the attempts from sorcery and great powers to stop it.
- They felt secure in their wickedness and again thought they were God.
- Evil will come upon them and ruin will come upon them suddenly.
- God tells them to keep trying their enchantments and sorceries (Mocking them?)
- They are weary with my counsels and God tells them to let their star gazers save them.
- They are like stubble burned with fire and cannot deliver themselves.
- God ends this chapter by saying their is no one who can save them.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Deuteronomy 26 & Isaiah 46

Deuteronomy 26
- During first harvest in the new land, they shall some some of the first fruits in a basket to a place God will choose to make His name dwell there.
- They should go to the priest in office and say they have come into the land the Lord swore to their fathers.
- The priest will place the basket before the altar.
- Moses gives them the following to recite to remember where they came from, "A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. Then Egypt treated us harshly and humiliated them with hard labor."
- That's when the Israelites cried out to God and God heard them and brought them out of Egypt.
- God reminds them He brought them out of Egypt with "great deeds of terror", signs, and wonders.
- God gave them this "milk and honey flowing" land.
- That's why they are giving God their first fruits.
- They should set it down and worship the Lord and rejoice in all the good God has given to you and your house.
- In the 3rd year they should give their tithe of produce to the Levite, sojourner, fatherless, and widow so they can eat within their towns.
- Then they shall say before God that they have removed the "sacred portion" and given it to the needy according to God's commands.
- They should say they have not transgressed or forgotten any of God's commands or eaten the tithe while mourning or being unclean.
- It says they have kept all commandments a second time.
- They should ask God to look down from His "holy habitation" in heaven and bless Israel and the ground He has given them.
- Moses reminds them that they should be careful to do God's commandments with all their heart and soul. (echoed by Jesus in greatest commandment speech)
- They have declared God is their God and they will walk in His ways, follow His commands, and listen to His voice
- God declares this day that they are His treasured people and He will set them in fame high above all other nations in honor.
- They shall be His holy people and He had promised.

Isaiah 46
- Bel and Nebo will bow down.
- Their idols will weary their beasts.
- Their idols cannot save the burden and they go into captivity.
- God calls out to the house of Jacob to listen to Him.
- He carried them in the womb, and will carry them to old age.
- He will carry and save them.
- God asks them who His equal is.
- The wealthy people hire a goldsmith to make an idol that they can worship.
- They carry the idol home and put it in its place, but it can't move.
- It cannot answer them or save them from trouble
- God tells them to remember the things of old.
- There is no one like God.
- He knows the end from the beginning and ancient times from things not yet done (the future)
- God's counsel will stand and He will accomplish His purpose.
- God can call a bird or a man of counsel from far places.
- If God says it, it will happen.
- God tells those "stubborn of heart" and "far from righteousness" to listen to Him
- God's salvation will not delay.
- Salvation is in Zion and His glory in Israel.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Deuteronomy 25 & Isaiah 45

Deuteronomy 25
- @ men come into court before the judge, the innocent is acquitted and the guilty will lie down and be beaten with a number of stripes proportionate to his offense.
- 40 stripes is the number, any more would degrade your brother
- If 2 brother live together and one dies, the second shall take his wife and be a husband's brother to her.
- The first son born will receive the dead husband's name, so his name is not blotted out.
- If the second brother doesn't want to take the wife, she shall go to the elders and say that the brother refuses to perform the duty of the husband's brother.
- The elders will call the second brother and if he still refuses the wife shall remove his sandal and spit in his face.
- She will also say, " So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother's house"
- The second brother's house shall be known as "the house of him who had his sandal pulled off" in Israel.
- If a women is protecting her husband in a fight and grabs the attackers private parts, her hand shall be cut off.
- What does it mean about not have a large and small weight in their bags?
- They should only have a fair weight and fair measure.
- This will ensure their days are long in the land God is giving them.
- All who act dishonestly are an abomination to God.
- Moses reminds them of King Amalek, who attacked them when they were tired.
- He cut off their "tail" those lagging behind"
- So when God gives Israel rest from its enemies they shall blot out the memory of Amalek and not forget.

Isaiah 45
- Cyrus is labeled as "God's instrument"
- The Lord has grasped Cyrus' hand and is using it to subdue nations, overthrow kings, and level exalted places (mountains)
- God will give them treasures of darkness that they might know it is the Lord.
- He calls them for the sake of Jacob, Israel
- He knows them even though they don't know Him.
- God says there is no God besides Him and He will equip them even though they don't know Him.
- people will know Him from the east (rising of the sun) and from the west
- God does all things; creates light and darkness, well being and calamity
- He tells the clouds to rain down righteousness.
- The earth will open to bear salvation and fruit of righteousness.
- Woe to those who strive against God who made them.
- The clay doesn't question the one forming it.
- Woe also to those who ask a father what he's begetting or a women what their in labor with.
- So it is with those who question God about His children or the work of His hands.
- God created the earth, man, and the heavens.
- God stirred up righteousness in the man and will level his ways so they can build cities.
- He will set the exiles free.
- Men of stature, Egypt, Cush, Sabea, will come and bow down to them in chains.
- Then even they will see God is in His people and there is no other god.
- God is a god who hides Himself but is the Savior
- The makers of idols go into confusion and will be put to shame for all eternity.
- The Lord created the heavens (he is God!) who formed the earth (he established life on it and didn't leave it empty)
- God did not speak in darkness or in vain.
- God speaks in truth and declares what is right.
- The survivors should draw near together.
- They have no knowledge, those who carry around wooden idols that cannot save.
- They should present their case (about God?)
- God is righteous and a Savior.
- God tells "the ends of the earth" to turn to Him (not just Israel.)
- God has sworn by Himself, that His word has gone out and "every knee shall bow every tongue swear allegiance"
- Shame will come to those against Him.
- All offspring of Israel shall be justified and glory in the Lord.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Deuteronomy 24 & Isaiah 44

Deuteronomy 24
- This law addresses divorce
- if a man finds some indecency with a wife he may write her a certificate of divorce and send her out.
- if she remarries and the second husband divorces her or dies, the first husband may NOT take her back because she has been defiled.
- Isn't the woman allowed to remarry if her husband dies?
- The Israelites were not to bring any sin into the new land of inheritance.
- A man shall be free to be happy with his wife for one year and can't be in the army or public duty.
- No one shall take a millstone or upper millstone in a pledge (it's like taking a life).
- If anyone steals his brothers and sells him into slavery he shall die (like Joseph's brothers).
- Be careful to listen to the priests when someone has leprosy (Miriam is given as a reminder).
- You shall not go into a house to collect a pledge but wait outside.
- If the pledger is poor you shouldn't sleep in his pledge but restore it to him before the sun sets so he might sleep and it be counted as righteousness to you.
- Don't oppress a hired worker who is poor, but pay him on the same day because he needs it and so he won't cry out to God against you.
- Fathers shall not be put to death because of kids or vis versa, but each for his own sin
- What about the "you shall be punished to the fifth generation" etc...?
- Do not pervert justice for the fatherless, widow, or sojourner but remember you were a slave in Egypt and God redeemed you.
- Also in remembrance of being a slave in Egypt they shouldn't return to fields for a sheaf, or check over olive trees twice, or strip the grape vines, but should leave them for the fatherless, widow, and sojourner.

Isaiah 44
- God reminds them He formed them in the womb and will help them.
- Who is Jeshurun?
- God will pour water on dry land.
- He will pour His spirit on Israel's offspring and blessing on their descendants.
- Their children will write God's name on their hands and call themselves "the Lord's"
- God's names; King of Israel, Redeemer, Lord of hosts, first and the last.
- There is NO god besides God.
- God asks if there is anyone besides Him who can declare what will happen.
- God tells them not to fear because they were His from of old and He doesn't know of any other "Rock."
- All idol makers and idols are nothing.
- God will put them to shame and they will be terrified.
- The ironsmith fashions it over hot coals but gets hungry and thirsty and feels faint.
- A carpenter shapes the would to look like a man and cuts down cedar trees and other strong trees.
- The rain grows the tree and the man uses some wood for a fire to make bread and the other wood to make an idol.
- Then he falls down before the idol he made and worships it.
- It repeats the previous 2 statements.
- He cannot discern or understand the absurdity of using the same wood to cook a meal on that he uses to make an idol to worship.
- God will not forget Israel His people.
- He has blotted out their sins like a cloud or a mist.
- God tells them to return to Him because He has redeemed them.
- The heavens, earth, mountain, and trees sing out because God has redeemed Jacob and glorified in Israel.
- It again mentions God formed them in the womb.
- He reminds them He made all things;heaven and earth by Himself.
- He makes fools of diviners, liars, and makes their knowledge foolishness.
- God confirms words of His servants and messengers
- God will raise up ruins in Jerusalem and dry up rivers and will say to Cyrus that Jerusalem shall be rebuilt and her foundation be laid.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Deuteronomy 23 & Isaiah 43

Deuteronomy 23
- A List of people not allowed to enter the assembly of the Lord
1) Man with crushed testicles or "male organ" cut off
2) No one born of forbidden union (even to the 10th generation decedents)
3) No Ammonite or Moabite (even to the 10th generation)
- they are excluded because they didn't meet Israel with bread and water when they left Egypt.
- they also hired Balaam against Israel.
- reminds them how God turned Balaam's curse into a blessing
- Israel shall not seek peace or prosperity for either group
4) Edomite first and second generation
- Israel should NOT abhor them because Edomites are their brother and they were sojourners in Egypt
- A List of things that make you Unclean
1) Nocturnal emission
- this man should go outside the camp.
- at evening he shall bathe himself with water and come back at sunset
2) Excrement
- go outside the camp, sit down, dig a hole, and bury it.
- The camp shall be kept clean and holy, so nothing "indecent" should be there that might make God turn away
- Miscellaneous laws
1) You may not return an escaped slave but should keep him with you.
2) Daughters shouldn't become cult prostitutes.
- they shouldn't bring money made from these into house of the Lord.
- both the prostitution and money made from it are an abomination
3) No interest shall be charged to your brother
- you may charge a foreigner interest
-charging brothers interest takes away God's blessing in what they undertake and land they want to possess.
4) Do not delay any vow made to God
- God will require your vow be fulfilled
- If not it is sin
- Not vowing ensures you won't be guilty of sin
- caution - be careful what to do what has passed from your lips because you have vowed voluntarily
5) Eating Neighbors grapes from his vineyard & fields
- you may eat your fill but not take any with you.
- grain - you may pluck ears but not take the sickle to the standing grain

Isaiah 43
- God tells them not to fear because He has redeemed them and they are His.
- He will protect them when they cross rivers and walk through fire.
- Because He is God and their Savior
- Egypt is their ransom
- God loves them and gives men in return for Israel.
- God will gather them up from the east and west, north and south.
- He will bring His "sons and daughters" from the ends of the earth.
- He will call everyone He has called by name for His glory
- God tells people to come and declare what has taken place in the past.
- God says they are his servant whom He has chosen that they might know and understand Him.
- No "god" was made before Him and there will be none after Him either.
- There is no savior besides the Lord.
- No one can be delivered from God's hand.
- God is the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel
- God brings them all down from Babylon; even the Chaldeans.
- God is the Creator your King (God is constantly reminding them of His "labels")
- God quenches chariots and might warriors like a wick.
- Why does God tell them NOT to remember the old things? (v.18)
- He says He is making a new way and asks why they don't see it
- The wild beasts honor God even jackals and ostriches (which are "lower" animals)
- He gives water in the dry wilderness
- His people should declare Him praise
- All these truths and Israel and Jacob still did not call out to God.
- They have not brought offerings or sacrifices before God
- Why would frankincense weary them?
- They also didn't bring God sweet cane or fat from sacrifices.
- Instead the people have burdened God with their sin and iniquities.
- He blots out transgression for His own sake and will not remember their sins. (v.25) Why?
- God tells them to remember Him, set forth a case that they may be proved right. What does He mean by this?
- Your first father (Adam?) sinned and mediators (everyone else) transgressed against God.
- Therefore God will profane their princes, let Jacob be destroyed, and revile Israel.