Oct 19, 2022
EZEKIEL 16:
This book should make modern day ‘prophets’
reconsider what they do in the Lord’s name. In this book we have
heard again and again that the Lord will punish those who prophesy
falsely. And in the part about the wood of a vine being useless in
yesterday’s reading, there is only one useful thing a grape vine
does, and this is bear grapes. And God was saying that since Israel
did not bear the proper fruit, He would judge them, and do this
without delay. The complaints become even more graphic in today’s
reading.
ISAIAH 1:
For a number of years now, Isaiah has marked
the end of my year. We will be reading Isaiah in our poetry
portions until day number 365. Since I start my readings anew every
January 1st, I always enjoy the preparation Isaiah gives for
Christmas, and also the correspondences with Revelation in the New
Testament, which we also will read at the end of our reading
calendar.
Isaiah was written between 739 and 681 BC. I am of the opinion that the break in material at chapter 40 does not signal a different author. Isaiah simply was older and the Lord gave him different messages at the end of his life. Isaiah was a man of royal blood and of high standing.
In the New Testament, Isaiah is the most frequently quoted OT book. Isaiah has 66 chapters and the Bible has 66 books. Further, Isaiah dIvides just where the testaments break, with 40 corresponding to Matthew in the NT. The first part of Isaiah deals with God’s judgment on Judah and on other nations. The senselessness of idolatry is preached against all the way through Isaiah. In Isaiah we can also see two comings for Christ, with Isaiah giving the wonderful 53rd chapter about the suffering Servant (Christ), and his coming in power is spoken about in chapter 34.
MATTHEW 27b:
Today we hear the second half of the
crucifixion events.
GNT Translation
note:
Ez. 16:23 The
Sovereign Lord [says//said], “You are doomed! Doomed! You did all
that evil, and then
====
Mat.
27:40 “You were going to tear down the Temple and build it back up
in three days! [Go on and] Save yourself if you are God's Son! Come
on down from the cross!”
56 Among them were Mary [from the village of
Magdala//Magdalene], Mary
the mother of James and Joseph ([who were Jesus’
half-brothers//0]), and the
wife of Zebedee.