July 23 - Morning
"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.'
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
'Woe to me!' I cried.
'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.'
Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, 'See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.'
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?'
And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'
He said, 'Go and tell this people: "Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving." ' "
- Isaiah 6:1-9
'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.'
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
'Woe to me!' I cried.
'I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.'
Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, 'See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.'
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?'
And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'
He said, 'Go and tell this people: "Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving." ' "
- Isaiah 6:1-9
Listen, but You Won't Hear; Look, but You Can't See
In chapter six Isaiah gives us an event to date his ministry and his document. The year King Uzziah died was 740 BC. Chapter six of Isaiah may record Isaiah’s call into the prophetic office before Uzziah died in 740 BC.
Isaiah 1:1 says that Isaiah’s ministry began during the reign of Uzziah (792-740, 52 years) and continued into the reign of Manasseh (697-642, 55 years). This means the Isaiah’s ministry at minimum lasted 43 years if it began the year Uzziah died, 740 BC, and continued until Manasseh’s first year, 697 BC. But, it is likely Isaiah lived and prophesied well into Manasseh’s reign. Jewish documents record that Manasseh executed Isaiah. (Isaiah’s death may be referred to in 2 Kings 21:16 and Hebrews 11:37. See “The Martyrdom of Isaiah” ). Isaiah may have prophesied for as long as 60 or more years.
In Isaiah’s vision he is taken into the very presence of the Lord in the temple in Jerusalem (or, possibly, into heaven before the heavenly throne.) “High” and “exalted” are the same words used to describe God in Isaiah 57:15 and to refer to the glorified servant (Messiah) in Isaiah 52:13.
The seraphim are only mentioned here in scripture, but seem to be the same as cherubim (Ezekiel 1:1-28; 10:1-22; Revelation 4:6-9). The Hebrew word seraph means “burning” and “glowing” and is similar to the Hebrew root word tsarap which means “purge” and is used in Isaiah 1:25.
Any time a word is repeated two times in the Hebrew language it should be understood to indicate a total condition or as a superlative. But, in the Hebrew language the three-fold use of a single word never appears accept for here when the Lord is described as “Holy, holy, holy.” The point is clear. If a two-fold use of a single word, such as “Holy, holy”, indicates totality, then a three-fold use is beyond natural totality, beyond human expression and understanding.
Isaiah responds to this supernatural appearance appropriately as the earthly Temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem is shaken to its very foundation. This event may be the cause of the earthquake mentioned in Amos 1:1 and Zechariah 14:5 and documented HERE )
The young Isaiah is terrified and feels ruined and unclean because of the presence of the Lord. One of the seraphim takes a hot burning coal from the altar of burning incense setting in front of the Most Holy Place and touches Isaiah’s lips. Thus, purging his sin.
With this the Lord asks for a prophet to go and speak to the people who are now under his judgment. Isaiah volunteers for the mission. But, Isaiah is commissioned for a mission that is not a very promising. Isaiah is told that he will be speaking to a people who cannot understand or perceive his message. In fact, God will prevent them from understanding the clear message he will put on Isaiah’s lips.
The Lord says, “Go and tell THIS people,” instead of “Go and tell MY people.” Tell them that they have been rejected.
The Lord’s words to the people are four imperatives, or commands, voiced as continuous actions:
- “Be ever hearing” or literally, “Listen carefully”
- “Never Understanding” or literally, “Do not understand”
- “Be ever seeing” or literally, “watch closely”
- “Never Perceiving” or literally, “learn nothing”
Isaiah’s ministry is going to be the proclamation of a message that mockingly toys with “this people” who have refused to listen to the Lord. Through Isaiah the Lord is going to plainly proclaim his message to “this people”, but they will never understand the book of Isaiah. Isaiah's message will ever be in front of the eyes of “this people”, but they will learn nothing from it. They can see it, but they cannot perceive it. They are going to continuously hear it, but will never be able to unravel the meaning.
Kashal (Hb) – to stumble (Eng) - The Hebrew word kashal means “to stumble,” “to stagger,”
“to totter,” and “to be thrown down.”
Kashal can refer to literal stumbling as in Leviticus 26:37.
Kashal can also refer to stumbling in the figurative sense as in Jeremiah 6:21 and Jeremiah 50:32.
I will seek to hear and understand the Lord's message.
I will proclaim and explain the Lord's message to those who will listen.
I will proclaim and explain the Lord's message to those who will listen.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Finances
Church
Avoid distractions and interference
Nation
Scientists and Theologians
World
Italy
Someone to Quote
"Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason-I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other-my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen."
-Martin Luther
-Martin Luther
Something to Ponder
Here’s a Fact
The Acts of Pilate were referred to by Justin Martyr about 150 AD when he wrote to Roman Emperor Antonius Pius. Justin Martyr refers the Emperor to the documents of Roman's Governor of Judah which would be recorded and on file in Rome in 150 AD. Justin Martyr says:
"'And after he was crucified they cast lots upon his vesture, and they that crucified Him parted it among them. And that these things did happen you can ascertain from the Acts of Pontius Pilate."
and,
"That he performed these miracles you may easily satisfy yourself from the Acts of Pontius Pilate."
It would seem like these documents existed since Justin's entire argument would fall apart if Governor's didn't submit reports, if Rome didn't keep the documented reports in an archive and if Pilate's account of the crucifixion of Jesus was NOT on record in Rome for the Emperor to look up and research in 150 AD.
(Details)
"'And after he was crucified they cast lots upon his vesture, and they that crucified Him parted it among them. And that these things did happen you can ascertain from the Acts of Pontius Pilate."
and,
"That he performed these miracles you may easily satisfy yourself from the Acts of Pontius Pilate."
It would seem like these documents existed since Justin's entire argument would fall apart if Governor's didn't submit reports, if Rome didn't keep the documented reports in an archive and if Pilate's account of the crucifixion of Jesus was NOT on record in Rome for the Emperor to look up and research in 150 AD.
(Details)
Proverb
"Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:
Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,
for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags."
- Proverbs 23:19-21
Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,
for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags."
- Proverbs 23:19-21
Coach’s Corner
Personal growth increases your personal potential. The failure to learn and the refusal to change is the rejection of increasing your opportunity for success.
Genesis 2
New International Version (NIV)
2 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Adam and Eve
4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
New International Version (NIV)
2 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Adam and Eve
4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Genesis 3
New International Version (NIV)
The Fall
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
16 To the woman he said,
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.
18
It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
19
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
New International Version (NIV)
The Fall
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
16 To the woman he said,
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.
18
It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
19
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.