Thursday, January 2, 2020

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A SURE FOUNDATION

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 28-29

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

A couple of tourists enjoy the ruins that Josephus called a “most magnificent Palace.” Herod the Great built it on a promontory jutting out into the waters of Caesarea. The pool in the centre was nearly Olympic in size and was filled with fresh water. A statue once stood in the centre. Paul would have been imprisoned on the grounds of this Palace (Acts 23:35). Caesarea Maritima is a national park on the Israeli coastline, near modern Caesarea. In today’s reading God says, “Behold I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation!” (Isaiah 28:16a). Herod’s buildings have crumbled, but God is constructing a forever building!!!

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Isaiah 29:18

In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.

There’s bad news on the way to the good news of our key verse. Six times Isaiah declares that “intoxicating drink” and drunkenness are bad news! Like this blog, hopefully, “precept upon precept [repeated], line upon line [repeated], here a little, there a little” (28:10) will cause us to understand the message! God will then use the people who speak other languages, the Assyrians and the Babylonians, to speak to His people, because they don’t listen well! It’s almost as if they had a pastor with a serious stammer trying his best to communicate. In 28:13 the people responded to Isaiah’s words with mockery, considering them unworthy of a hearing, repetitive, and boring. This resulted in backsliding, brokenness, and being caught in the snare of their own making. They brought it on themselves! Isaiah 28:16 tells us of the foundation upon which we should build our lives. A helpful New Testament reading is 1 Peter 2:4-8.

Isaiah 29 mentions “Ariel” several times. “Ariel” means in Hebrew, “Hearth of God,” and probably refers to the altar of burning coals in the Temple at Jerusalem. The people who offered their sacrifices were going through the motions of their religion but were not repenting for their sins! Therefore, they were bringing more judgment upon themselves. But God does not give up on His people. It turns around and our key verses kick in! Hallelujah!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray that I will have Your grace to continue building my life on Your “sure foundation,” the measuring line (horizontal) and the plummet (vertical) being 100% governed by the position of Jesus Christ in my life, the “Precious Cornerstone!” I ask this in His Name! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve been impressed by the repetition of “black cummin” and “cumin” in today’s reading. My daughter, Ellen Shaheen, has become an expert cook in middle-eastern foods. She tells me that “black cummin” is caraway seed, and cummin is the spice that makes much of her food so delicious. In preparation for use, the seeds are “beaten out with a stick” (28:27) in order to remove the casings and to bring out the flavour of the spices. The “beating” Judah had by the Babylonians served to bring out the best in the people of God! Never again did the Jews turn to wholesale idolatry.

Yours for building in an excellent way the “temple” in which God desires to live and in which we live! (1 Corinthians 6:19-20),

David

P.S. I asked our daughter, Ellen, for samples of “cummin” and “black cumin” which are mentioned in today’s reading. She told me that the “cumin” has been ground into a fine powder and the “black cumin” or “caraway” is beaten to remove a shell. Isaiah gives us a word picture of what the Assyrians and Babylonians will do to Israel and Judah! I know from personal experience that the end result makes certain foods taste very good! (Isaiah 28:25-27)

16 thoughts on “Thursday, January 2, 2020”

  1. Thank you all for your prayers for Cindy who had surgery on Dec.16. ( see Dec. 7 prayer request)
    The surgery was successful and she is doing well! Will not need any further treatment. Praise be to Our Awesome God!

    Please continue to share your prayer needs here and may we all be faithful in praying daily for one another. Let us believe for miracles and breakthroughs in 2020!
    Blessed be the Name of OUR God, forever!!!

    Reply ↓

  2. That is such great news, Luisa. Let’s continue to pray for one another. Norma Jean’s sister-in-law is having hip surgery today (Evelyn), and continued prays for Ann. Bless all bloggers today. God is so good.

    Reply ↓

  3. Good news about the surgery.Praise God and give thanks….always.Happy New Year everyone and keep praying for Ann.
    It took 70 years for Israel to learn their lesson in Babylon,and only freed when Persia under Cyrus invaded and not only freed them but aided them in returning to Judah.Here’s a movie I have watched enjoyed several times.Thankfully (I almost said “luckily”.) God does not easily give up on us.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyK1alfv6Ro “The Prophet Daniel”
    Adoniram Judson, who became the first
    Protestant missionary sent out from
    North America. once said,
    “In spite of sorrow, loss, and pain,
    our course by onward still;
    we sow on Burma’s barren plain,
    we reap on Zion’s hill.”

    Society today does not know the idols they worship.
    Idols

    Woe to they who can’t foresee
    Their path without the Almighty
    When they choose to fall mightly,
    Forsaking the gift of eternity,
    For if only they could see
    What their idols truly be,
    Then repentance would be their decree,
    For blind are the eyes ne’er free
    Until they have called out to Thee.
    GW(Bill) Marshall (2015)

    Reply ↓

  4. Good news about Cindy Luisa. Prayers for Evelyn and her hip surgery today. Thanks William for your link on Daniel. Yes, we need to keep praying for each other.

    Reply ↓

    • AMEN Ger! God bless; may God grant you a happy and blessed 2020! Yes Lord we Praise and Thank you for this prayer site;for all the bloggers;bless us all Lord; TY Lord in Jesus Name amen amen amen PTL FOR CINDY! amen amen amen

      Reply ↓

  6. PRAISE THE LORD; PRAISE THE LORD; PRAISE THE LORD
    Blessings to all on this blog; may God grant each person a safe healthy life in 2020; may we be blessed to share the Gospel of Salvation with the whole world; we plead the Blood of the Lamb over all missionaries as they share the the News of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour over all, thank you Lord, thank you, In Jesus Name we Pray amen

    Reply ↓

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