O House Of Jacob

OCTOBER 5, 2023
Daily Reading – Isa. 1-4 / Eph. 2

 

GOD’S WORD:

Isaiah 2:5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        The book of Isaiah is a book that has many levels to it. Some of the book is written to Israel as a warning. Some of this book is prophetic in nature about things that were to come. Such as the birth and life of Christ, that have now been fulfilled. There are other segments from the Prophet Isaiah that have yet to come to pass. One thing that is constant, God never changes. In the very beginning of this book Isaiah says, “O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.” The verses that follow tells of a why it was that God had removed His blessings off these people. Vs 6 says they are like the superstitious people of the east who invoke divining spirits and are involved in pagan practices. Also, they have accumulated untold wealth which they now believe will be their security. Their armies now have horses and chariots they are trusting in for protection. If that were not enough, they have included idols in their religious practices. Putting faith in an item made by their own hand. Isaiah says, “O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.” Is there any question why it is that God has removed His blessings in light of what we see?

 

        Could we not just as easily say; “O House Of God, come and let us walk in the light of God’s word.” Many of the churches today have judged God’s Word as obsolete for modern society. Is it any wonder why God may not bless us today?
 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        O child of God, though the world may not trust our God for protection, or sustaining of life, we must never forget. Though they may turn to witchcraft, and accept sinfulness as ok, let us hold to the truth of God’s Word. His blessings are still available. 

 

Where do you place your trust?

 

Only Me

OCTOBER 4, 2023
Daily Reading – Song of So. 7-8 / Eph. 1

 

GOD’S WORD:

Song of Solomon 8:6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        The Shulamite wife has persuaded her husband to go back to the field where they met. This is his field, and the harvest of this field would be his harvest. He agrees to go, but as they approach, his mind imagines other handsome shepherds who may have at another time caught her eye. Solomon shares his heart’s desire to be her one and only. As Song of Solomon 8:6 says, “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.” It was customary for a mark, known as a seal, to be placed on the arm or the breast, symbolizing all I do, (arm) and all my thoughts, (heart) are to be for you. It was often a small puncture filled with a blue powder that would leave a permanent mark. Solomon says to his bride, I want you to be only faithful to me. Only me.

 

        When we see Solomon as a picture of Christ, we can hear Paul say to the church in 2 Corinthians 11:2 “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” God Himself said in the ten commandments in Exodus 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” He has sealed us until the day of redemption with His Holy Spirit and says, Me, Only Me. No one else.  

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        The Shulamite assures Solomon in vs 7 that her heart is knit only to him. She says, if a man gave all he had for love, it would not change her heart. Jesus said in Matt. 22:37 “…love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” .

 

DO WE?

 

Open My Eyes

OCTOBER 3, 2023
Daily Reading – Song of So. 4-6 / Gal. 6

 

GOD’S WORD:

Song of Solomon 5:9 What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        In marriage counseling, many times you will find if you call into question the goodness of the spouse, well often the argument is almost over. For example, let’s say a couple comes in arguing over, “who cares” what. After some initial get acquainted conversation, the counselor may say to one of the two something like, “well I can see that your partner is absolutely worthless and probably the worst person on the planet, right?” To which, a good share of the time the answer will be in the line of, “well I would not go that far.” Continuing with the antagonizing, the counselor responds, “well you just told me how rotten they were, why in the world did you two get together in the first place?” This is intended to lead them down memory lane and out flows a list of good qualities about their spouse. Soon after you have two people who have just said in the presence of the other why they fell love to begin with. Now, when you go back to the original conflict, it can seem so insignificant and manageable.

 

        In today’s passage, the Shulamite bride finds herself disheartened in the new marriage. In Song or Sol. 5:6-8 she is complaining about the fact that he has left her, and she feels alone. Then in verse 9 the women of the city ask, “What is thy beloved more than another beloved,” or, why is he so great anyway? Suddenly her eyes are open, and it calls to memory the many reasons why she loves him. 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        I know it may seem like a long while since Christ went back to heaven, but let me ask you, why did you fall in love with Him in the first place? Sometimes a simple question can open our eyes and refresh our love for the one we miss.

 

So why did you fall in love with Jesus?

 

Oath Of Love

OCTOBER 2, 2023
Daily Reading – Song of So. 1-3 / Gal. 5

 

GOD’S WORD:

Song of Solomon 2:3-4 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        There are thousands of self-help relationship books available today. Some talk only of his needs, while others speak only of hers. Yet, the best advice of all time is found in the best-selling book of all time. The Bible. In its pages we find a simple three-point outline that will help any marriage if applied early and repeated often.

 

        In today’s verses the woman says, “I sat down under his shadow.” She felt safe by his protection of her. Next, she exclaims “his fruit was sweet to my taste.” The word taste refers to knowledge gained by a close intimate relationship. As the Psalmist says in Ps. 34:8 “O taste and see that the LORD is good.” She knew his heart because they had spent time with one another. Then she declares “his banner over me was love.” Troops in that day carried a banner announcing who they were. She knew of his love for her because he is not ashamed of her as he brings her into the king’s banquet hall and lets others see his affection for her. Three things both partners should find in marriage. Protection, physically and emotionally. Neither party should ever slander the other, nor stand for others to do so. Next, intimacy. Not only physically, but really knowing each other from time spent together. Finally obvious displays of affection for one another. Hold hands, open a door, and speak kindly of them. Your partner and others will see your oath of love and find joy in your relationship.

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        So, what do you do with all those other books? Read them first, there is good advice in many of them. Then, maybe start a fire and cuddle up next to one another. Remember, the love you display shows the world an example of God’s love for us.

 

What example of God’s love do you display?

 

Navigating Life

 SEPTEMBER 30 & OCTOBER 1, 2023
 SEPTEMBER 30 – Daily Reading – Ecc. 11-12 / Gal. 4
 OCTOBER 1 – NO READING

 

 GOD’S WORD:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Growing up in the twentieth century, there was a radio program everyone seemed to enjoy. The now syndicated program was called “The Rest Of The Story,” with Paul Harvey. This short segment began as part of his newscast during the Second World War and continued as a popular program on ABC Radio. The stories would begin with a common, often simple story, told in his own special fashion. However, they would end with some relatively unknown details that few knew of, and then he would close with the tag line, “And now you know the Rest Of the Story.” When I read Ecclesiastes, it is not hard for me to imagine hearing Paul Harvey read the last two verses and say, “And now you know The Rest Of The Story.”

        In Solomon’s search for what will bring true satisfaction to a person’s life, he comes to the final conclusion that only knowing God and following His Word will do. Navigating through all the stormy seas of human ideas and failed promises ultimately leads to an empty life. A life filled with sorrow and regret when you face the Lord on Judgment Day. Only anchoring our life in the safe harbor of God’s Word will bring certainty and the real lasting peace we all desire. In Hebrews 6:19 it says, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;” Why reinvent the wheel? Solomon has tried it all. Navigating life takes Jesus..

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Vanity of vanities, the writer said. Meaning life is empty without Christ. By the end of the book, we find that death is also empty without Him. To navigate the waters of life, we must let Jesus Captain our ship. He will lead us safely home.

 

Who are you allowing to navigate your life?

 

THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

        Today, as I write this devotion, it is thundering and lightning outside. Even so, I am safe and comfy in my office. So often it is in life as we saw in:

 

  ● Nothing New
  ● Never Alone
  ● Net Gain
  ● Not Looking Back
  ● No Second Chance
  ● Navigating Life

 

      As believers we too can feel safe and comfy during life’s storms when we are Nestled in His Love.

 

       Enjoy today with your church and hear what God has prepared in the heart of His man for you this week.

   See you tomorrow.  

 SUNDAYS:

       Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastors heart. Whatever scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs.

 

October 2, 2023	Song of So. 1-3	Gal. 5
October 3, 2023	Song of So. 4-6	Gal. 6
October 4, 2023	Song of So. 7-8	Eph. 1
October 5, 2023	Isa. 1-4	Eph. 2
October 6, 2023	Isa. 5-7	Eph. 3
October 7, 2023	Isa. 8-10	Eph. 4
October 8, 2023	No Passages Assigned

 

Nestled In His Love