Week 10: GOD SPEAKS THROUGH HIS PROPHET3
July 28-August 3
This week’s memory verses:
Isaiah 53:4-6
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
This week’s Scripture Readings:
Isaiah 51:1-53:12 – The Suffering Servant
Jeremiah 1:1-3:5 – Jeremiah’s Call and Message
Daniel 6:1-28 – Daniel in the Lion’s Den
Jonah 1:1-4:11 – The Story of Jonah
Malachi 1:1-4:6 – The Day of Judgement
Day 1
The Suffering Servant – Isaiah 51:1-53:12
Isaiah was a prophet who lived in Jerusalem and spoke to three different kings in Judah during his ministry. Isaiah spoke two key messages to Israel – 1)Israel’s ongoing sinfulness, rebellion, and breaking of the covenant they had with the Lord would result in their exile at the hands of the Assyrians and Babylonians (Judgement) and 2) God would fulfill all of his promises by sending a future king from the line of David and that this king would fulfill God’s initial promise to bless the nations (Hope). In the first 39 chapters of Isaiah, we see the prophet outlining the judgement mentioned earlier. Beginning in chapter 40, and going throughout the rest of the book, Isaiah discusses the hope of this coming king. In Isaiah 51 through 53, Isaiah begins a description of the atoning suffering and eventual victory of the Messiah. In chapter 51, Isaiah begins with a continual call to his audience to wake up. This wake-up call is based on the fact that Israel is under God’s very real wrath. Yet, that isn’t all they need to wake up and see. The people of Israel also need to wake up and see the power and greatness of the Lord. Isaiah encourages the people to look back at God’s past faithfulness and realize that a future blessing is on its way. In chapter 52, Isaiah begins to describe that future blessing. That future blessing is redemption. The people of Israel will be redeemed from their captivity. But, in a greater way, all people would be redeemed by the work of the Servant of God. This Servant would be triumphant, even though he would be “marred more than any man,” this Servant would cleanse many nations from sin. Isaiah continues the description of the Servant’s victory in chapter 53. This Servant of God, who deserves to be exalted, will instead be despised, suffer, be rejected, and bear the sins of the people. For all the ways in which the people have rebelled against God, in their sin and faithlessness, the Servant will be punished for it all. Yet, it pleases the Lord to lay these things on his servant so that he can be the sacrifice for the sins of the people. It pleases the Lord so much that this faithful, suffering servant will be exalted. His sacrifice, that is shared with the transgressors, will make a way for all people to have a relationship with the Lord, through the work of this Servant. While 700 years before the Messiah came, Isaiah could only speak of a suffering servant, we know the truth. We know that servant, who suffered and died so that we could experience redemption and salvation, has a name – that servant is Jesus, the Christ.
Day 2
Jeremiah’s Call and Message – Jeremiah 1:1-3:5
Jeremiah was an Israelite priest in Jerusalem, who was called to be a prophet in the final years of the southern kingdom of Judah. Chapter 36 tells us that after 20 years of ministry, God instructed Jeremiah to collect his sermons and writings and record them all. God says that in hearing the words of God through Jeremiah, maybe the people of Judah would repent. Jeremiah gets a scribe, Baruch, to help him piece everything together (Baruch would also include stories of what Jeremiah did – this would become the book of Jeremiah). Jeremiah, like Isaiah, would convey that dual message of judgement (accusations against Israel and a prediction of God’s coming judgement at the hands of the Babylonians) and hope (after the exile, God will renew his covenant and transform the heart of the people through the coming of a Messiah). In chapters 1 through 3, we see the call of this reluctant prophet, a description of Israel’s sin, and Jeremiah’s first call to Israel to turn back to the Lord and find mercy. In chapter 1, we see Jeremiah resisting the call of God because of his youth which Jeremiah thinks will disqualify him from speaking. Yet, in the mind of the Lord, this was Jeremiah’s purpose all along, since he formed Jeremiah in his mother’s womb. The Lord touches Jeremiah’s mouth and reminds him that he only has to speak the words that the Lord gives him. The Lord also reminds Jeremiah that he will be with Jeremiah and will deliver him so there is no need to be afraid. This is important promise, because as we move through the rest of these chapters, we see that the Lord has given Jeremiah a tough message to share. In chapter 2, God outlines Judah’s sin. The Lord begins by discussing how wonderful the relationship between God and Israel once was. But now, Israel has become ungrateful and openly turns to other gods in front of the Lord. Not only do they turn to other gods, that are as useless as a broken pot, but they also look to other nations for security. Instead of being a blessing to other nations, Israel has become dependent on other nations and their gods. The Lord will not stand for this rebellion. The Lord will not let Israel stay in its sin and shame either. God will reject Israel, leave them in the hands of their false Gods, and use those surrounding nations to destroy Jerusalem. Yet, even in the face of such depravity, Jeremiah opens chapter 3 with a merciful offer from God – “return to me.” Return and be restored to the presence of God. Repent and enjoy the blessings of fellowship with the Lord. Release your idols and show true redemption has taken place. Return to me and experience my mercy and grace. Thank God he still offers that same mercy and grace to us in our sin and shame through the work of Jesus Christ.
Day 3
Daniel in the Lion’s Den – Daniel 6:1-28
Many of us are familiar with Daniel’s story, and this portion in particular. After King Nebuchadnezzar defeated Egypt and its pharaoh, he turned his sights toward Judah ( at this time Judah’s king had been enthroned by and was loyal to the Egyptian Pharaoh). Upon conquering Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar began taking the best and brightest Hebrew youths of Judah in order to groom them for civil service in Babylon. Early on, we see Daniel makes a decision to stay faithful to the Lord and resist any indoctrination attempts. Daniel’s decision would grant him favor in the eyes of the Lord, King Nebuchadnezzar, and King Darius that would ascend the Babylonian throne next. While Daniel gained favor in the eyes of the kings, there were many who resented him and his faithful character. These governors and other leaders devised a plan to trap Daniel. These governors convinced King Darius to sign a decree that stated that no god or man could be honored or praised for the next 30 days except King Darius. If anyone honored anyone other than the king, they risked the lion’s den. Of course, Daniel was still faithful to honor and praise the God of Israel, the one true God. The governors reported Daniel’s actions, knew they had tricked the king into punishing Daniel, and saw Daniel placed in the lion’s den. The king sealed Daniel in the den and waited through the night. Yet, Daniel was preserved. The lions did not bother Daniel and the king was relieved. The king was, however, furious at the other governors and their trickery. The king placed those men, and their families, into the lion’s den. These men, and their families, were destroyed. In light of these events, the king made a new edict – one that ordered the God of Daniel to be honored. Daniel stood firm in his convictions, even when it potentially would cost him his life, and those around him saw his testimony and were changed by it. It reminds us of someone else who faithfully carried out the will of God, even when it threatened his life. Like Daniel, Jesus’s enemies plotted against him and arranged for his death. Jesus, after being crucified, was also throne into a stone room and sealed up. It wasn’t the next day (like Daniel), but the third day when that stone was rolled away and Jesus came out victoriously. Death, like those lions, couldn’t harm the faithful one. God was glorified, his enemies were defeated, and many saw his faithfulness. We see Daniel’s story, pointing us forward to the perfect work of Jesus Christ.
Day 4
The Story of Jonah – Jonah 1:1-4:11
While the previous books, like Isaiah and Jeremiah, focused on the words of God through the prophets, the book of Jonah has more of a focus on the prophet. What that focus reveals is that Jonah is a prophet who hates God for the love and mercy he shows to Jonah’s enemies. Beginning in chapter 1, we see that Jonah receives a call from God to go and preach in Nineveh. Instead of going east to Nineveh, Jonah gets on a boat goes as far west as he can go (to Tarshish). While on the boat, the Lord causes a fierce storm that causes the pagan sailors to question what divine act is taking place. Eventually, the sailors realize that the problem is with Jonah. Now, Jonah professes to these sailors that he worships the God who made the land and sea. While it is true that God made the land and sea, what Jonah has done is anything but worship. So, Jonah suggests to the sailors to throw him overboard so that he might die. While this seems noble at first, this may be the most selfish thing Jonah does (he probably thinks his death will definitely get him out of going to Nineveh). So, Jonah is tossed overboard. But the Lord will not abandon Jonah. Jonah is swallowed by a big fish. It is while he is in the belly of that fish in chapter 2 that Jonah begins to pray. While he doesn’t really admit any wrongdoing, he does thank the Lord for not abandoning him and states that he will preach in Nineveh. Chapter 3 begins with Jonah spewed out of the belly of the fish on to dry land and decommissioned to go to Nineveh. Once Jonah arrives in Nineveh, he does the bare minimum. He gives a 5-word sermon (in Hebrew) that Nineveh would be overturned inn 40 days. No mention of God. No mention of Nineveh’s wrongdoing or how they should respond – just the bare minimum. Unfortunately for Jonah, that sermon is enough in the hands of an all-powerful God. The king of Nineveh and all of the people repent (even the animals!) and ask God for forgiveness. Jonah is thrilled, I’m sure. In chapter 4, we finally get some details on why Jonah has rebelled and been so resistant to the Lord’s call. In this chapter, Jonah says that he knew God was compassionate and that He would find some way to forgive the people of Nineveh. Jonah is actually angry at the Lord’s saving character. Furthermore, Jonah asks to die multiple times. Frustrated, Jonah goes outside the city and waits to see if maybe the people of Nineveh will falter and be wiped out instead of saved. While he sits in the sun, the Lord provides shade for Jonah. Then, the Lord causes a worm to come and destroy that shade. Again, Jonah is furious and the Lord asks a question – is how you feel justified? You get so angry over the loss of a plant but don’t think about the loss of human life that would happen if these people weren’t forgiven? Do you really hate your enemies that much? Ultimately, these questions aren’t just directed to Jonah but to us, as the reader. Do we really doubt people can be saved? Are we really upset when those who we think aren’t “good enough,” or those we view as “enemies,” are saved? We shouldn’t be. Because there was a time when you and I were enemies of the Lord. There was a time when the Lord sent someone to preach to us. Thankfully, the one sent to us didn’t hate God’s character but exemplified it perfectly. He didn’t resist or rebel, but in all ways was obedient. He didn’t spend 3 days in the belly of a fish but he did spend 3 days in death. And just like that whale coughed up Jonah, death did not hold on to Jesus. That faithful servant, Jesus, delivered a short message – just one word – “It is finished.” With that, he made it possible for all those who were enemies to have a relationship with the Lord God. Thank God for that faithful servant Jesus!
Day 5
The Day of Judgement– Malachi 1:1-4:6
Malachi lived about 100 years after the people of Israel had returned from exile. The temple had been rebuilt for a good while and there were people who had been living in Israel for a number of years (think about Ezra and Nehemiah). Upon the initial return, hopes were high that all of the things those other prophets had discussed – the coming Messiah, a new Jerusalem, peace and prosperity – would happen. However, the people who returned from the exile were just as corrupt, and just as sinful, as those who had been exiled. These are the people that Malachi is tasked with talking to. And the book of Malachi is laid out to show a series of disputes between God and the people of Israel. God will confront a sin in the people, the people will question or accuse God, and then God responds. This happens 6 times in the first 3 chapters. In chapters 1 and 2, God discusses his covenant love for the people, their defilement of the temple with worthless sacrifices, and their constant idolatry and divorce. Of course, at every point, the people question God instead of hearing his words. Chapter 3 begins with the 4th dispute and this time it’s the people making an accusation. The people feel as if God has neglected them. The Lord responds that he will send a messenger who will prepare the way before him. The Lord also states that when He comes, He will come as a purifying fire that will bring justice to that faithful remnant. In dispute 5, the Lord tells the people to turn back to him. Of course, yet again, the people ask “how can they turn back?” The Lord tells the people that they have neglected their tithes and offerings. The Lord stresses that He wants to bless the people, but He wants them to be faithful first. In the final dispute, at the end of chapter 3, the people state that it is pointless to serve the Lord. None of the promises they have hoped for have come true. They see wicked people succeeding. They see no evidence of justice. God responds. This time, God’s response is not another statement but, instead, a story. The Lord tells a story of a righteous remnant who has the scriptures of all the Lord’s work. Those scriptures help the people remember God’s righteousness and honor who he is. The conclusion, in chapter 4, talks about a time where that faithful remnant will see The Day of the Lord and it will be a time of joy and healing. The people will rejoice. Malachi concludes with this picture. The scriptures to this point have depicted a God who has been faithful to a people, even when they rebelled. But there is coming a new Moses, a new Elijah who will restore God’s people, heal their hearts, and renew the Lord’s covenant work among the people. This book looks expectantly to the coming of Jesus. It is that expectant hope that concludes the Old Testament.