July 31 - Evening

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

- Isaiah 40:28-31

Renew Yourself In The Lord

The Lord has questioned the people in Isaiah 40:12-26. The Lord tells them they have been told the answer from the beginning (Isaiah 40:25-26). He has declared his power and demonstrated his control of history. Their problem is they are full of false philosophies and can only understand the Lord through the eyes of idol worshippers.

In Isaiah 40:27 he challenges them by questioning their understanding of himself and his ways:

Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my cause is disregarded by my God”? – Isaiah 40:27

The people of Judah have a very low view of God. They think their way is hidden from him and the Lord has no interest in them. Beginning in Isaiah 40:28 the Lord prompts the people to answer some questions and think about their poor logic.

40:28 Maybe they think God grew tired or weary or does not understand their problem? Why doesn’t God move now! Isaiah says, “Do you not know? Or heard?”

God is everlasting. . . . he is not on our time table
Creator of the ends of the earth . . . . . he has plans from the beginning for everything created including the final moments of time.
God is not tired or weary. . . . he has not given up
His understanding. . . . . . . .We cannot understand his plan, but only trust him

40:29 It is not God that is tired and God has not lost focus. No, it is not God that has failed! Instead, it is men who grow tired and weary and do not understand.
So, God gives:

Strength to the weary
Power to the weak
An understanding to hope in him

When we hope in him and look away from ourselves we gain an understanding of his glory. This causes hope to rise up in us and we find strength and power.

When we look to ourselves we become weary and confused.

40:30 Those who trust in themselves and reject hope in God.

They grow tired
They grow weary
They stumble and fall

40:31 Those who trust in God will renew their strength. They will not grow weary. They will not faint like mere men!

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:31

Dunamis (Gr) – power (Eng) – the Greek word dunamis refers to ability such as “power” and “might.” Dunamis can be translated as “miracle” or “mighty work.” Another word for “power” is the Greek word exousia, but this word refers to "freedom to act” and the “right to act.” Exousia is used in Luke 12:5 and Acts 1:7. Dunamis is used in Mark 6:5 and Acts 2:22.

I will continually renew my strength by learning about the Lord and being trained in his ways.
I will place my hope in his Word and focus on the Lord, instead of my own thoughts and my ways

Bible Reading Descriptions Here

Narrative

(morning only)

Complete Text

Isaiah 62-63

General Text

Lamentations 3

Personal

Best friend

Church

Conviction

Nation

daily update

National debt

World

daily update

Kazakhstan

Shops along the west wall of the Temple Mount at the SW corner. The crushed street and its curb can be seen in front of these shops from the New Testament times. (Details)

Details of the west wall of the Old City Jerusalem south of the Joppa Gate. (Details of the walls that are seen today.)

Someone to Quote

"Five minutes after you die you'll know how you should have lived."
- Leonard Ravenhill

Something to Ponder

King Zimri had the shortest reign for any king in Israel or in Judah. Zimri reigned for seven days (1 Kings 16:15) Zimri was defeated when Omri (Ahab's father) set Zimri's palace in Tirzah on fire. (1 KIngs 16:12-22)

Here’s a Fact

Critic of Intelligent Design: Reconciling your faith should never be an easy exercise and we don’t need to give people another excuse not to think.

Response: True. What greater excuse is there to not think deeply about something than to believe it came about by an infinitesimally small, accidental, random event. In my experience human beings don’t spend a lot of time trying to understand random, rare events (might I get struck by lightning on a sunny day?), but take very seriously purposefully designed events (could I get electrocuted if I touch this live wire?). Evolutionists are the ones that don’t want to have to think. They prefer to make straw-man arguments, make false assumptions, and throw around condescending statements rather than wrestling with the faith they have placed in a dying theory.

Proverb

Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control."
- Proverb 25:28

Coach’s Corner

The greatest miracle is salvation. The godliest spiritual manifestation is the transformed soul.

Lamentations 3New International Version (NIV)
3
[a]I am the man who has seen affliction     by the rod of the Lord’s wrath.
2
He has driven me away and made me walk     in darkness rather than light;
3
indeed, he has turned his hand against me     again and again, all day long.
4
He has made my skin and my flesh grow old     and has broken my bones.
5
He has besieged me and surrounded me     with bitterness and hardship.
6
He has made me dwell in darkness     like those long dead.
7
He has walled me in so I cannot escape;     he has weighed me down with chains.
8
Even when I call out or cry for help,     he shuts out my prayer.
9
He has barred my way with blocks of stone;     he has made my paths crooked.
10
Like a bear lying in wait,     like a lion in hiding,
11
he dragged me from the path and mangled me     and left me without help.
12
He drew his bow     and made me the target for his arrows.
13
He pierced my heart     with arrows from his quiver.
14
I became the laughingstock of all my people;     they mock me in song all day long.
15
He has filled me with bitter herbs     and given me gall to drink.
16
He has broken my teeth with gravel;     he has trampled me in the dust.
17
I have been deprived of peace;     I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18
So I say, “My splendor is gone     and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”
19
I remember my affliction and my wandering,     the bitterness and the gall.
20
I well remember them,     and my soul is downcast within me.
21
Yet this I call to mind     and therefore I have hope:
22
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,     for his compassions never fail.
23
They are new every morning;     great is your faithfulness.
24
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;     therefore I will wait for him.”
25
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,     to the one who seeks him;
26
it is good to wait quietly     for the salvation of the Lord.
27
It is good for a man to bear the yoke     while he is young.
28
Let him sit alone in silence,     for the Lord has laid it on him.
29
Let him bury his face in the dust—     there may yet be hope.
30
Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,     and let him be filled with disgrace.
31
For no one is cast off     by the Lord forever.
32
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,     so great is his unfailing love.
33
For he does not willingly bring affliction     or grief to anyone.
34
To crush underfoot     all prisoners in the land,
35
to deny people their rights     before the Most High,
36
to deprive them of justice—     would not the Lord see such things?
37
Who can speak and have it happen     if the Lord has not decreed it?
38
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High     that both calamities and good things come?
39
Why should the living complain     when punished for their sins?
40
Let us examine our ways and test them,     and let us return to the Lord.
41
Let us lift up our hearts and our hands     to God in heaven, and say:
42
“We have sinned and rebelled     and you have not forgiven.
43
“You have covered yourself with anger and pursued us;     you have slain without pity.
44
You have covered yourself with a cloud     so that no prayer can get through.
45
You have made us scum and refuse     among the nations.
46
“All our enemies have opened their mouths     wide against us.
47
We have suffered terror and pitfalls,     ruin and destruction.”
48
Streams of tears flow from my eyes     because my people are destroyed.
49
My eyes will flow unceasingly,     without relief,
50
until the Lord looks down     from heaven and sees.
51
What I see brings grief to my soul     because of all the women of my city.
52
Those who were my enemies without cause     hunted me like a bird.
53
They tried to end my life in a pit     and threw stones at me;
54
the waters closed over my head,     and I thought I was about to perish.
55
I called on your name, Lord,     from the depths of the pit.
56
You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears     to my cry for relief.”
57
You came near when I called you,     and you said, “Do not fear.”
58
You, Lord, took up my case;     you redeemed my life.
59
Lord, you have seen the wrong done to me.     Uphold my cause!
60
You have seen the depth of their vengeance,     all their plots against me.
61
Lord, you have heard their insults,     all their plots against me—
62
what my enemies whisper and mutter     against me all day long.
63
Look at them! Sitting or standing,     they mock me in their songs.
64
Pay them back what they deserve, Lord,     for what their hands have done.
65
Put a veil over their hearts,     and may your curse be on them!
66
Pursue them in anger and destroy them     from under the heavens of the Lord.
Footnotes:

Lamentations 3:1 This chapter is an acrostic poem; the verses of each stanza begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and the verses within each stanza begin with the same letter.

Isaiah 62-63New International Version (NIV)
Zion’s New Name
62
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,     for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn,     her salvation like a blazing torch.
2
The nations will see your vindication,     and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name     that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
3
You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand,     a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4
No longer will they call you Deserted,     or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah,[a]     and your land Beulah[b]; for the Lord will take delight in you,     and your land will be married.
5
As a young man marries a young woman,     so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,     so will your God rejoice over you.
6
I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem;     they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord,     give yourselves no rest,
7
and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem     and makes her the praise of the earth.
8
The Lord has sworn by his right hand     and by his mighty arm: “Never again will I give your grain     as food for your enemies, and never again will foreigners drink the new wine     for which you have toiled;
9
but those who harvest it will eat it     and praise the Lord, and those who gather the grapes will drink it     in the courts of my sanctuary.”
10
Pass through, pass through the gates!     Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway!     Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations.
11
The Lord has made proclamation     to the ends of the earth: “Say to Daughter Zion,     ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him,     and his recompense accompanies him.’”
12
They will be called the Holy People,     the Redeemed of the Lord; and you will be called Sought After,     the City No Longer Deserted.
God’s Day of Vengeance and Redemption
63
Who is this coming from Edom,     from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor,     striding forward in the greatness of his strength?
“It is I, proclaiming victory,     mighty to save.”
2
Why are your garments red,     like those of one treading the winepress?
3
“I have trodden the winepress alone;     from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger     and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments,     and I stained all my clothing.
4
It was for me the day of vengeance;     the year for me to redeem had come.
5
I looked, but there was no one to help,     I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm achieved salvation for me,     and my own wrath sustained me.
6
I trampled the nations in my anger;     in my wrath I made them drunk     and poured their blood on the ground.”
Praise and Prayer
7
I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord,     the deeds for which he is to be praised,     according to all the Lord has done for us— yes, the many good things     he has done for Israel,     according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
8
He said, “Surely they are my people,     children who will be true to me”;     and so he became their Savior.
9
In all their distress he too was distressed,     and the angel of his presence saved them.[c] In his love and mercy he redeemed them;     he lifted them up and carried them     all the days of old.
10
Yet they rebelled     and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy     and he himself fought against them.
11
Then his people recalled[d] the days of old,     the days of Moses and his people— where is he who brought them through the sea,     with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set     his Holy Spirit among them,
12
who sent his glorious arm of power     to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them,     to gain for himself everlasting renown,
13
who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country,     they did not stumble;
14
like cattle that go down to the plain,     they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord. This is how you guided your people     to make for yourself a glorious name.
15
Look down from heaven and see,     from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal and your might?     Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us.
16
But you are our Father,     though Abraham does not know us     or Israel acknowledge us; you, Lord, are our Father,     our Redeemer from of old is your name.
17
Why, Lord, do you make us wander from your ways     and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants,     the tribes that are your inheritance.
18
For a little while your people possessed your holy place,     but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary.
19
We are yours from of old;     but you have not ruled over them,     they have not been called[e] by your name.
Footnotes:

Isaiah 62:4 Hephzibah means my delight is in her.
Isaiah 62:4 Beulah means married.
Isaiah 63:9 Or Savior 9 in their distress. / It was no envoy or angel / but his own presence that saved them
Isaiah 63:11 Or But may he recall
Isaiah 63:19 Or We are like those you have never ruled, / like those never called