Stop whatever you are doing right now.
Open your Bible to Isaiah 52:13 and just start to read... continue through Isaiah 53.
Over 700 years before Jesus was born, God inspired the prophet Isaiah to write these words about what would come. If these words don't convince us that Jesus is truly the Son of God and our savior then what else would?
We also learn from Isaiah 52:13-14 what it truly means to prosper. "Behold, my servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man and His form more than the sons of men. Thus He will sprinkle many nations, Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him ..."
According to the passages of Isaiah 53,
Did Jesus prosper in the material sense?
Did Jesus prosper in the good looks category?
Did Jesus prosper in the abundance of his possessions?
Did Jesus prosper in the popularity and the praise of men?
Jesus prospered in being a vessel of God, one whose life displayed God's glory.
1.29.2016
1.28.2016
Objects of Compassion
"Nevertheless He looked upon their distress when He heard their cry;
And He remembered His covenant for their sake,
And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness.
He also made them objects of compassion
In the presence of all their captors." - Psalm 106:23
The story of Gideon is fascinating. His people were being oppressed and their land plundered by the neighboring Midianites. Gideon was an Israelite. The Israelites' land was being burned by neighboring nations who would war against them together. Israelites were driven into the caves. Gideon was the youngest son of the smallest family in an insignificant tribe - Manasseh was referred to as the "half-tribe" because of their failure to complete God's commands to them previously.
The angel of the LORD appears to Gideon and tells him "The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior." God then proceeds to tell Gideon to tear down his father's altar, which had been set up to a foreign god who was being worshipped by all the men in his town, and replace it with an altar to Yahweh.
God looks with compassion on His people despite their sin. The story of Psalm 106 refers repeatedly to their rebellion and lack of trust in Him. The story of Gideon is a part of that. While the people were worshipping other gods they were being oppressed by their enemies, on the brink of disappearing amongst the tide of the nations. But God showed up with compassion, and with Him anything is possible.
And He remembered His covenant for their sake,
And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness.
He also made them objects of compassion
In the presence of all their captors." - Psalm 106:23
The story of Gideon is fascinating. His people were being oppressed and their land plundered by the neighboring Midianites. Gideon was an Israelite. The Israelites' land was being burned by neighboring nations who would war against them together. Israelites were driven into the caves. Gideon was the youngest son of the smallest family in an insignificant tribe - Manasseh was referred to as the "half-tribe" because of their failure to complete God's commands to them previously.
The angel of the LORD appears to Gideon and tells him "The LORD is with you, O valiant warrior." God then proceeds to tell Gideon to tear down his father's altar, which had been set up to a foreign god who was being worshipped by all the men in his town, and replace it with an altar to Yahweh.
God looks with compassion on His people despite their sin. The story of Psalm 106 refers repeatedly to their rebellion and lack of trust in Him. The story of Gideon is a part of that. While the people were worshipping other gods they were being oppressed by their enemies, on the brink of disappearing amongst the tide of the nations. But God showed up with compassion, and with Him anything is possible.
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