2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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HOW SHALL THE PEOPLE BELIEVE THE PROPHET?
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Isaiah 59:21
Psalm 36
"How excellent is thy
lovingkindness, O God!"
HOW SHALL THE PEOPLE BELIEVE THE PROPHET?
As Isaiah told the people to look to the day when "the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob" (Isa 59:20), how did he know his hearers would believe? Had he not been warned at the beginning of his ministry that the Jews would not take him at his word (Isa 6:9-10)? They would be so dull of hearing and blinded and their hearts so weighed down with fat that God would give them up. Of course this refers to the unconverted and doubly hardhearted, to the lost and the reprobate. "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," said our Lord in John 3:3. For the Jews to see, they need to be converted and illuminated by the Holy Spirit. The prophecies of Isaiah, and for that matter the whole Word of God, cannot be believed until the Holy Spirit has worked a work of grace in the hearers (or readers).
Calvin said therefore that the same Spirit who spoke by the mouths of the prophets should penetrate our hearts, to convince us that they had faithfully delivered the oracles which were divinely entrusted to them. And this connection is very suitably expressed in Isaiah 59:21, as He has covenanted with them. As the Holy Spirit had moved the prophet to speak and remained with the prophet, so He will cause His spiritual descendants to communicate in the same spiritual language. As Isaiah has told us by his prophecy under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so will we read it with illumination by the Holy Spirit.
It is an undeniable truth, concluded Calvin, that they who have been inwardly taught by the Spirit feel an entire acquiescence in the Scripture. Only those illuminated by Him can believe in the Scripture’s divine origin. How shall the hearers believe? By the same Spirit who caused the prophet to speak and caused the people to hear. If you are led by the same Spirit you will believe Isaiah’s words.
THOUGHT: (Memorise 2 Peter 1:21.)
PRAYER: Grant me, Lord, the illumination of Thy Spirit that I may fathom the deep truths in Thy Word.
Posted in Adult RPG
Isaiah 59:21
Psalm 36
"How excellent is thy
lovingkindness, O God!"
HOW SHALL THE PEOPLE BELIEVE THE PROPHET?
As Isaiah told the people to look to the day when "the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob" (Isa 59:20), how did he know his hearers would believe? Had he not been warned at the beginning of his ministry that the Jews would not take him at his word (Isa 6:9-10)? They would be so dull of hearing and blinded and their hearts so weighed down with fat that God would give them up. Of course this refers to the unconverted and doubly hardhearted, to the lost and the reprobate. "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," said our Lord in John 3:3. For the Jews to see, they need to be converted and illuminated by the Holy Spirit. The prophecies of Isaiah, and for that matter the whole Word of God, cannot be believed until the Holy Spirit has worked a work of grace in the hearers (or readers).
Calvin said therefore that the same Spirit who spoke by the mouths of the prophets should penetrate our hearts, to convince us that they had faithfully delivered the oracles which were divinely entrusted to them. And this connection is very suitably expressed in Isaiah 59:21, as He has covenanted with them. As the Holy Spirit had moved the prophet to speak and remained with the prophet, so He will cause His spiritual descendants to communicate in the same spiritual language. As Isaiah has told us by his prophecy under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so will we read it with illumination by the Holy Spirit.
It is an undeniable truth, concluded Calvin, that they who have been inwardly taught by the Spirit feel an entire acquiescence in the Scripture. Only those illuminated by Him can believe in the Scripture’s divine origin. How shall the hearers believe? By the same Spirit who caused the prophet to speak and caused the people to hear. If you are led by the same Spirit you will believe Isaiah’s words.
THOUGHT: (Memorise 2 Peter 1:21.)
PRAYER: Grant me, Lord, the illumination of Thy Spirit that I may fathom the deep truths in Thy Word.
Posted in Adult RPG