RPG Adults
THREE ARGUMENTS AGAINST DESPONDENCY
FRIDAY, AUGUST 19
Isaiah 49:13-50:3
Psalm 25:1-6
"Unto thee, O LORD,
do I lift up my soul."
THREE ARGUMENTS AGAINST DESPONDENCY
Despite the wonderful promises to Israel in Isaiah 49:1-12 followed by the doxology in Isaiah 49:13, Israel mourned in despair (Isa 49:14). This is characteristic of humanity. God answered Zion’s despondency with three arguments:
1. "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? …" (Isa 49:15). Ans: God’s love for His people is greater.
2. "Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?" (Isa 49:24). Ans: God who is greater will overcome.
3. "Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away?" (Isa 50:1). Ans: God has not forsaken Israel. Though He punishes her for her transgressions, His relationship with her, which is compared to that of a husband to a wife, will never be broken.
In addition to these answers, the Lord gave a beautiful glimpse of blessings to Israel in the more distant future (Isa 49:17-23). The children of Zion will be far more numerous than ever before. They are not necessarily natural children. These are new branches grafted into the olive tree (Rom 11:24). This looks to the extension of the knowledge of the true God throughout the world (MacRae).
As to God’s superior power to man’s (Isa 49:25), this verse should give great comfort to Christians living in Communist-dominated lands, where meetings for prayer and worship are brutally disrupted, further observes MacRae. He observed also that chapter and verse divisions are not in the original. Isaiah 49 should conclude at Isaiah 50:3 whereby the three arguments are grouped together.
THOUGHT: (Read Psalm 103:8-9.)
PRAYER: Lift me up when I am down, O Lord my God.
Posted in Adult RPG
Isaiah 49:13-50:3
Psalm 25:1-6
"Unto thee, O LORD,
do I lift up my soul."
THREE ARGUMENTS AGAINST DESPONDENCY
Despite the wonderful promises to Israel in Isaiah 49:1-12 followed by the doxology in Isaiah 49:13, Israel mourned in despair (Isa 49:14). This is characteristic of humanity. God answered Zion’s despondency with three arguments:
1. "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? …" (Isa 49:15). Ans: God’s love for His people is greater.
2. "Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?" (Isa 49:24). Ans: God who is greater will overcome.
3. "Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away?" (Isa 50:1). Ans: God has not forsaken Israel. Though He punishes her for her transgressions, His relationship with her, which is compared to that of a husband to a wife, will never be broken.
In addition to these answers, the Lord gave a beautiful glimpse of blessings to Israel in the more distant future (Isa 49:17-23). The children of Zion will be far more numerous than ever before. They are not necessarily natural children. These are new branches grafted into the olive tree (Rom 11:24). This looks to the extension of the knowledge of the true God throughout the world (MacRae).
As to God’s superior power to man’s (Isa 49:25), this verse should give great comfort to Christians living in Communist-dominated lands, where meetings for prayer and worship are brutally disrupted, further observes MacRae. He observed also that chapter and verse divisions are not in the original. Isaiah 49 should conclude at Isaiah 50:3 whereby the three arguments are grouped together.
THOUGHT: (Read Psalm 103:8-9.)
PRAYER: Lift me up when I am down, O Lord my God.
Posted in Adult RPG