fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,154
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Post by fearnot on Aug 9, 2024 10:40:14 GMT -5
It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to live in. Isaiah 40:22
This verse speaks to the earth’s being a sphere ( not flat).
Someone might try to say, that Isaiah could not have known that the earth was a globe, a sphere, in His day and age.
However, these are not Isaiah's words and knowledge, but rather, this is from God, to the prophet...
From the Creator, who is all knowing, and all powerful, Infinite and eternal.
Therefore, the fact that the universe is expanding, is also knowledge God has.
This is going to be a super short day... I just keep falling asleep! Done for Today
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Post by Cindy on Aug 11, 2024 9:45:46 GMT -5
I love what you wrote in this last one Barbara! God is awesome and so is His Word!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,154
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Post by fearnot on Aug 14, 2024 9:07:34 GMT -5
Thank you Cindy!!!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,154
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Post by fearnot on Aug 14, 2024 9:37:00 GMT -5
It is He who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. Isaiah 40:23
God can raise up rulers and bring them down,, in human terms.
We see this truth in Job
He pours contempt on nobles And loosens the belt of the strong. Job 12:21
Also
He pours contempt upon nobles And makes them wander in a pathless void. Psalms 107:40
God is so much more powerful, than any human!
And the next verse expounds upon this:
Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And the storm carries them away like stubble. Isaiah 40:24
People are often compared to great majestic trees etc. of the earth... and yet, they have hardly been 'planted' as great ( often evil) rulers etc. then they die, and even their family becomes 'extinct'. (Think for example of Pharaoh). It's as if they never existed.
This can be a warning to us, that we should not lean on mankind as our Saviors, but on God.
Those who may dazzle us, can be blown away as so much fluff by God.
Done for Today
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Post by oliverwithatwist on Aug 14, 2024 12:23:01 GMT -5
The book of Isaiah is one of my favorites. Many/most theologians refer to it as the "fifth gospel". I agree.
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Post by Cindy on Aug 15, 2024 11:02:26 GMT -5
Amen Barbara! It reminds me of those in our day who get all worked up over some candidate for president as though that candidate can save us and the country, but not even the very best candidate can do anything unless it's God's Will. Many seem to forget that during presidential elections. They also forget that God tells us that we should not speak evil of anyone, and that we are to love fellow believers. But you sure don't see much of that at times! I don't know about now as I'm not online hardly at all, including Facebook. What little time I do spend on there, is very safe and doesn't include any political stuff from anyone as I've blocked it all years ago. In fact, the main reason I blocked it all was because of the horrid behavior I was seeing from fellow believers. So now I just love everyone!
I've heard that too John and love that! I've also heard this about Isaiah: Isaiah, the “Mount Everest of Hebrew prophecy,” resembles the Bible in miniature. Its first 39 chapters correspond to the 39 books of the OT & stress the righteousness, holiness, & justice of God. ... But the last 27 chapters correspond to the 27 books of the NT & portray God’s glory, compassion, & undeserved favor. Messiah will come as a Savior to bear a cross & as a Sovereign to wear a crown. Talk thru the Bible About Isaiah himself this book says: Isaiah, the “Saint Paul of the OT,” was evidently from a distinguished Jewish family & his wife was a prophetess.
And MacArthur says: Also known as the “evangelical Prophet,” Isaiah spoke much about the grace of God toward Israel, particularly in his last 27 chapters. He also mentions that it was during the time of Isaiah that false teeth were first invented in Italy!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,154
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Post by fearnot on Aug 15, 2024 13:09:09 GMT -5
I had not heard that...so thank you both!!! :)
And the false teeth was an added bonus LOL But cool!!!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,154
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Post by fearnot on Aug 21, 2024 9:33:08 GMT -5
"To whom then will you compare Me That I would be his equal?" says the Holy One. Isaiah 40:25
It is the extreme foolishness, to compare the Creator, to anything or anybody.
Wood and stone 'idols' are just that... wood and stone! Neither wood or stone, can hear, see, think, feel, or know anything.
Human idols are no comparison either!
Raise your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who brings out their multitude by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26
Astrophysicists continually recalculate mathematically, the number of stars in the universe, but as technology and telescopes etc. become more advanced, they have to change their estimates. (always to a higher number!!).
But even as it stands today, it is one thing to come up with a mathematical number, and another thing, to ever actually have any grasp at all, just how vast, boundless, massive etc. that number is.
It is too great a measure, for our minds to actually be able to comprehend...
And yet, God the Creator, calls each one by name!
But not only that! God also, by forces He has created, holds the universe together! Which can only point to, the absurdity of comparing the Creator God, to pieces of wood or stone!
Therefore, in light of all that, how could Israel... even think, for a moment, that God was ignorant, or blind to, or in the dark, concerning their situation?
Why do you say, Jacob, and you assert, Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God"? Isaiah 40:27
This is a lesson for me, to be sure! There are times when, I feel the same way. However, these verses are a wake-up call to me... not to be so naive, as to think, God is not aware of my personal situation!
Done for today
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Post by oliverwithatwist on Aug 21, 2024 12:01:30 GMT -5
It always stuns me into contemplative thought that God knows the name of all the stars and that He knows the number of hairs on my head!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,154
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Post by fearnot on Aug 21, 2024 19:15:58 GMT -5
Oliver: I so agree with you!!!
But...even more than that....
he knows every quantum piece in the universe ( not just molecules, or atoms...
but THE absolute tiniest piece of matter!!!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,154
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Post by fearnot on Aug 26, 2024 10:45:36 GMT -5
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unsearchable. Isaiah 40:28 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To the Jews of those days thinking God did not care, or maybe even did not have enough strength, wisdom or power to help them, they needed to consider ( and remember) the truth about God. ( As we do today).
The Jews had many amazing, wonderful and miraculous, events in their history, that they surely should have known, That God was not too weak, nor was He forgetful, or powerless to help them.
Not even the universe, which God Created, could even begin to compare, to God. God is infinite and eternal, all powerful, His knowledge is endless.
And thus, God can also do this:
He gives strength to the weary, And to the one who lacks might He increases power. Isaiah 40:29
God is more than able to console and give strength, to the afflicted, down-trodden, weary and exhausted. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.
Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
This also applies to us in our day. Even the strongest, young people of any age, get tired.
Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly,.... Isaiah 40:30
In comparison God is never tired or exhausted, His strength never gives out, it never fails!
The next verse, which I hope to look at tomorrow, is a very famous, and often quoted one! Done for today.
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Post by Cindy on Aug 27, 2024 11:11:16 GMT -5
I really enjoyed reading what you wrote Barbara! You not only explain it, what you write is also very uplifting!
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anna
Trials
Posts: 1,994
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Post by anna on Aug 27, 2024 22:20:02 GMT -5
Yes, how lovely and encouraging to read the hope and the confidence we can have in a loving God.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,154
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Post by fearnot on Sept 3, 2024 12:16:59 GMT -5
Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:31
I think that most believers, sooner or later will come across this encouraging verse.
Notice though, it has to do first, with waiting... 'patiently'.
Those who trust in their own strength, will soon find their 'strength', very limited...
but trusting in God and His power, is always encouraging and comforting.
This could refer to spiritual faith, and/or also, as well as physical strength.
It is neither a type of lazy waiting, and being completely inactive, nor personal strenuous exertion..
the point is that: we keep our eyes, our hope, our faith, on Jesus, in what God will do.
Hope in Yahweh; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Hope in Yahweh. Psalm 27:14
I think the priority is in: increased, strong faith, and in a sense, we fly high above such trials and tribulations because our Lord is with us:
In every way afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing 2 Corinthians 4:8
Done for today
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anna
Trials
Posts: 1,994
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Post by anna on Sept 3, 2024 12:44:36 GMT -5
Amen !
This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice . I open a door for you that no man can close.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,154
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Post by fearnot on Sept 12, 2024 17:25:24 GMT -5
"Listen to Me in silence, you coastlands, And let the peoples gain new strength; Let them come forward, then let them speak; Let's come together for judgment. Isaiah 41:1
The coast lands are distant nations, they are being summoned to God's court. The encounter will be formidable, so they can try and gain strength.
This is an investigation of is He able to protect His people. They are to be silent when God speaks...He shall be heard. We would all do well to listen to God!
"Who has stirred one from the east Whom He calls in righteousness to His feet? He turns nations over to him And subdues kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, Like the wind-driven chaff with his bow. Isaiah 41:2
The one from the east was Cyrus of Persia, ( at least many Bible scholars have chosen him)...
Cyrus had been expanding his empire, and conquered Babylon.
who stirred up Cyrus to carry out this conquest? The answer is God did. God can do whatever He chooses.
And though some commentators put up other kings etc. (such as Abraham) the same principle applies,no matter which king: God reigns!
That being said, the prophet does mention Cyrus
It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd! And all My good pleasure he will complete.’ And saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’ And of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’” Isaiah 44:28
Done for Today
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