LEARNING DAILY

 

Isaiah 43:4-7, “Since you are precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I love you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.  Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendents from the east, and gather you from the west; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not keep My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth – everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

 

Chapter 43 of Isaiah is about the Redeemer of Israel; Israel will be redeemed from their captivity in Babylon.  Redemption is a very personal act by God who calls the nation of Israel by name (v.1).  This prophecy tells of a time God will gather His people from captivity in Babylon.  It is His promise “to be with them that brings assurance and calms their fear in the midst of troubles and distress” (DJSB).  It tells also of the obstacles that they will face as He gathers the people from the various areas they have been scattered to. 

 

Isaiah 43:1-7, expresses God’s love for Israel who has refused to repent (read Isaiah 42).  Because of their refusal to repent He disciplined them by sending them into captivity.  Throughout their captivity, God does not abandon them.  Instead, He will show His love and grace to them by bringing them out of their captivity.  It is important to understand that God is with them as they go through their captivity; He does not abandon them because He loves them.

 

The promise of bringing the scattered people back to Jerusalem is also prophetic for a future time as the Jews are once again scattered throughout the world.  Prophecy can have meaning for the Jewish people of biblical days; it can also be meant for time in the future.  After World War Two, Jewish people began to make their way back to the area known as Palestine.  In 1948 this area became known as the nation of Israel.  This is a significant time because the Jewish people began to gain the land God had promised Abraham – the Promised Land, the land of milk and honey.  Many would believe this date is significant with the end times time schedule.

 

I try to be careful to not over think how I relate Old Testament happenings to our life today.  It seems Isaiah’s writing about God’s love for Israel to be relevant to our lives today.  Consider the blessings mentioned here to the blessings those who are children of God have today.  God has created each of us.  He has redeemed us through the cross and He knows us by name!  I am overwhelmed that the God who created all things knows my name and cares about me – even after all I have done.  He is with each of as we go through all the troubles and conditions of life.  To know that you and I are precious to Him and even honored (see v. 4) amazes me!  Knowing this is an encouragement to me to stay on the narrow way that leads to His kingdom and eternal life!

 

“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so…..”  

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.  I have added Jimmy Swaggart’s Expositor’s Study Bible to be referred to from now on as JSESB