# 10 2025 Dev. Isa.12:1. A Song of Praise! Read all of chapter twelve first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Isa.12:1 “In that day you will say: ‘I will praise you, Lord.’”
Isa.12 The last chapter was a prophecy of the Kingdom of God, the promise of salvation for the faithful and a time of peace. “They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lordas the waters cover the sea.” This chapter is a song of praise about that prophecy.
Vs.1-3 “In that day” the Kingdom of God comes into full view, the New Heaven and the New Earth. The song is about the grace and the forgiveness of God in Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The song is completed in this one sentence; “The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” As Christians today this one sentence is our reality. Praise the Lord!
Vs.4-6 “In that day you will say:” That day is today with the incarnation of Christ, we are in the last days. What Isaiah says here is nothing short of a great commission. “Proclaim his name…what he has done…his name is exalted… he has done glories things…let this be known to all the World. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” That is the bottom line for us today; the Holy One is among us and now lives in us by the power of the Holy Spirit, thanks be to God.
# 09 2025 Dev. Ex.25:1-2 An Offering! Read all of chapter twenty five first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Vs.25:1-2. “The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.”
Ex.25 Moses is up the mountain with God, the next six chapters is the detailed instruction concerning the Tabernacle, all the furniture and tools, also the attire of the priests. In this chapter; how to build the Ark, The Table of Show bread and the Lampstand.
Vs.1-7 is basically an inventory of what will be needed for the tabernacle, the furniture and the clothing for the priest. There are two important things; God wants to dwell with His people, foreshadowing Emanuel, God with us, in Christ Jesus. Secondly, The offering is a freewill overing, “from everyone whose heart prompts.” People give as the Holy Spirit moves and as God provides.
Vs.10-16 The Ark. Here is the detailed blue print for the ark, it will stand in the holy of holies. It will hold the tablets, the Ten Commandments.
Vs.17-22 The ark will have a cover, a cover of atonement, the mercy seat. There will be two cherubins one on each end of the cover. They “are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover.” With the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the mercy seat is in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God!
Vs,23-30 The Table. This is the show bread table, “Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.” The table is covered with gold, dishes of gold as well. The bread are twelve loves arranged in two rows, or two piles, each loaf represents a tribe in Israel. The loaves mean that God is with the Israelites, taking care of their daily needs. It also pointed to God’s presence in the daily lives of the Israelite. This table is in the Holy Place, a place reserved for the designated priests. The bread was replaced every week and only the priests could eat that bread. Bread has meaning today as well; Jesus said : “I’m the bread of life”, we pray for our daily bread and breaking bread—Communion for every believer.
Vs.31-40 The Lampstand. It was to be made out of solid gold, it had seven branches. Seven, a holy and complete number. It is the only light in the Holy Place. It was to be very ornamental, almond branches, flowers and buds. The beauty of it and the function of the light-stand, for-shadows Jesus Christ, the one and only Light of the world. The chapter ends with a warning; “See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
God’s Word is still like that today, how must we worship? In Spirit and in truth! How should we pray? In a quiet place, and not with many words, and in the name of Christ! How then must we live? Space does not allow but read the sermon on the mount. Mt. 5-6-7. Enjoy!
# 08 2025 Dev. Isa.11:1The Fruit of Peace! Read all of chapter eleven first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Isa.11:1 “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
Isa.11 is a prophecy of the Kingdom of God. It starts as a tender shoot, weak like a baby, dependent, but it grows into a powerful Branch, a King, “the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him… wisdom… council… might …and knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”
Vs.1-3 Isaiah is prophesying the coming of the Kingdom of God, that Kingdom has been there since eternity but God is going to bring the Kingdom down to earth in a way we experience it. Starting with the call of Abraham, the nation of Israel and Jesus’ statement; “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news! (Mark 1:15).
Vs.4-5 He will judge with righteousness and with justice. He will slay the wicked. He is righteousness and faithfulness, Jesus Christ, our savior.
Vs.6-9 Here Isaiah gives us a picture of the future of God’s Kingdom, one of peace and harmony. “They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
Vs.10-11 In that day Jesus will draw “the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and His resting place will be glorious.” The Kingdom of God has always been but at this time the Kingdom of God will be universally acknowledged.
12-16 God will gather the exiles of Israel and those exiled from the church, Christians from every land, from all over the earth. Israel and the church are synonymous.Thanks be to God!
# 07 2025 Dev. Ex.24:1. God’s Confirmation! Read all of chapter twenty four first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Vs.1. “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel.
Ex.24 This chapter is the culmination of the previous three chapters, confirming for us God’s covenant with His people. This covenant is for eternity and is a covenant for all Christians today, the new covenant of Jesus’ blood, also known as the Covenant of Grace.
Vs.1-8. “When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, ‘Everything the Lord has said we will do,’” confirming God’s covenant. “Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said.” Moses built an alter and offered bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. Moses poured half the blood of the offering on the alter and sprinkled the other half on the people. It reminds me of baptisms where the paster sprinkles the congregation and tells them to remember their baptisms. God’s covenant is not a contract, contracts can be broken and then cancelled. A covenant cannot be broken, it is always in effect, particularly on God’s side, but we sometimes ignore God’s grace to our detriment. That is what we see in the Isaiah passage devotional.
Vs.9-11 “Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli,(a precious stone) as bright blue as the sky.11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.” This reminds me of Rev.3:30 “ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
Vs.12-18 God calls Mosses up to the mountain in order to give him the tablets of stone containing the Ten Commandments. The mountain is covered a cloud, the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire. “And Moses stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.” reflecting Jesus’ time of temptation in the desert at the beginning of His ministry. We thank God!
# 06 2025 Dev. Isa.10:3. The Survivors! Read all of chapter ten first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Isa.10:3 “To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?”
Isa.10 Chapter 9 shines an encouraging light on Israel but the chapter ends with a condemnation of Ephraim and Samaria. Ch.10 continues with: “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, deprive the poor of their rights.” Given the soft stance on crime is this a condemnation of our society as well? What do you think?
Vs.1-4 “Woe to those who make unjust laws,” Isaiah is warning the people around him, God’s people, who have gone wrong and are not listening to God’s warnings covered in the last three chapters. As a result, “Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.”
Vs.5-11 “God’s Judgment on Assyria” God allows the Assyrians to become strong and God uses them to punish his people. But they will also be punished; “I dispatch him, (the King of Assyria) against a people who anger me…” The Israelites are asking the question , how can this be, that God sends an idol worshiping people, to punish his own? It raises serious questions for Christians as well. When illness or setbacks hit us we ask, is God allowing this? Yes, He is, God is in complete control. We look to God’s Word; Isa.55:8-9. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God has purposes that we are not able to understand.
As far as Assyria is concerned they are not aware of God intentions. As it turned out the king is arrogant, boastful and self serving, as a result, he will also be punished.
Vs.12-19 “I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes. For he says:” see vs. 13-14.
Vs. 15 asks a rhetorical question, is the instrument God uses higher than God? No! Therefore, God will decimate him and his land. “The light of Israel will become a flame”, a destroying fire.
Vs.20-34 “The Remnant of Israel”. God will revive a remnant of Israel, “they will return to the mighty God… Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord almighty, says: do not be afraid of the Assyrians…” As God saved them from Egypt and from all their enemies along the way to Canaan, He will save them again. The Lord God Almighty, He will do it. This translates to today, Christians, churches, are being persecuted. Yet what is more dangerous is the pressure of secular culture, the pressure is on to compromise on DEI, to normalize homosexual lifestyles and to agree to recognize many kinds of genders. No! In the power of the Holy Spirit we stand. Amen and Amen!
# 05 2025 Dev. Ex.23:4. Do Good! Read all of chapter twenty three first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Vs.4. ‘If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it.
”Ex.23. Chapter 21 expands on the fifth and sixth commandments. This is based on the culture of the time; parents are to be respected, people were bought and sold as slaves, murder and accidents are covered. Ch.22 expands on the eighth commandment as well as aspects of the seventh and the tenth commandments. Ch.23 expands on the ninth commandment and how to treat a neighbor. Also, there are rules pertaining specifically to Jewish life.
Vs.1-9. “Laws of Justice and Mercy- Do not spread false reports…Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” Do good to your neighbor and your enemy. “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Do not accept a bribe…Do not oppress a foreigner”. These are common sense laws, they promote goodness, righteousness and peace.
Vs.10-19. Sabbath Laws and Annual Festivals. “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed.” This is practiced by many countries, many people work five days a week, not for religious reasons but for health reasons. There is good reason to rest based theological reasons; God rested the seventh day of creation but more importantly, the sabbath reflects “God’s rest” extended to followers of Jesus in the New Heaven and the New Earth.
“The Three Annual Festivals”- Passover, The Festival of the Harvest, first fruits also called Pentecost because it is celebrated 50 days after passover and the Festival of Booths. These Festivals required a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. Today they are celebrated where ever a Jewish family lives. Christians also celebrate Pentecost, the giving of the Holy Spirit, fifty days after Easter.
Vs. 20-33. “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.’ Here God reestablishes the Covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This angel is the Spirit of Christ, preparing the way ahead of you. “Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.”This is God’s promise to his people and that promise is to us as well, the Spirit of Christ is with us and by Him Christ walks with us. Praise be to God!
# 04 2025 Dev. Isa 9:2.The Light of God! Read all of chapter nine first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Isa.9:2 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
Isa.9. Ch. 8 ends in darkness. But in this chapter – “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom…a light has downed.” That is a prophecy. But the chapter ends with a condemnation of Ephraim and Samaria. “Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west…” Why? ‘They have not “sought the Lord Almighty.” Is this a warning for Christians today?
Vs.1-7. The light of God. Today, this light, Jesus Christ, is fully revealed. Where are our excuses? Why do so many still dwell in darkness? So it was in Israel, God was with them, His word was with them but they fell away time and time again. This prophecy is for the whole world, including the gentiles, “the people walking in darkness”. It starts with the call to Abraham, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”’
‘I will bless you… and you will be a blessing… and all people of the earth will be blessed through you”’.(Gn.12:1-3) The light has been developing for approximately 4,050 years and continues today going on into the New Heaven and the New Earth. The prophecy of light does not end. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,and the government(R) will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.” Praise the Lord!
Vs.8-12 “The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel.” Because of their “pride and arrogance of heart…” there will be destruction, but there will be a rebuilding and a replanting. “Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth. Yet for all this, his anger(the Lord) is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.”
Vs.13-17 “But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.” The next five verses describe our world today. There are the elders, the leaders who guide people astray. The prophets, pastors, Christian leaders are teaching lies. We thank God that we do have some responsible leaders and we do have spiritual leaders and teachers. Yet many people are led astray. “Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.”
Vs.18-21 “Surely wickedness burns like a fire…” Wickedness is destructive, undermines society, destroys people like a fire, like the “wrath of the Lord Almighty… Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,his hand is still upraised.” In time the tribes will destroy each other. This prophecy came to pass, only Judah and Benjamin survive.
This chapter is negative but it is positive as well. The punishment is overshadowed by a powerful hope: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Let us concentrate on the hope of Christmas and the promise of salvation extended to all who put their trust is Jesus!
# 03 2025 Dev. Ex.22:1. “Practical Applications!” Read all of chapter twenty two first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Vs.1. “Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.”
Ex.22. Chapter 21 expands on the fifth and sixth commandments. This is based on the culture of the time; parents are to be respected, people were bought and sold as slaves, murder and accidents are covered. Ch.22 expands on the eighth commandment as well as aspects of the seventh and the tenth commandments.
Vs.1-15. “Protection of Property.” The eighth commandment: “You shall not steal”. In these verses several scenarios are presented that comprise of dishonesty. In that time it was a serous offense, if caught, a person must reimburse the owner four times, or be sold into servitude if he could not pay. If serious consequences were applied today it may very well reduce the crime rate.
Vs.16-31 “Social Responsibility.” “If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall behis wife.” However if she is pledged to be married, he must be killed. If the woman was married, they both will be put to death. Jesus, in the “Sermon on the Mount” expands on that command: Mt. 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”’ We praise and thank God for His mercy and grace. Amen.
Witchcraft, bestiality and sacrifices to a false God are strictly forbidden and caries capital punishment. Exploitation is forbidden, especially of the poor. If you lend to the poor do not charge interest. “Do not hold back offerings”. In those days it meant produce and the first born. But today it means the blessings God has given us. Be generous. The bottom line, God says be holy, live as holy people in an unholy world. Thanks be to God!
# 02 2025 Dev. Isa.8:18. Christ’s Children! Read all of chapter eight first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Isaiah 8:18 “Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.”
Isa.8. God speaks to Isaiah three times. Jesus and His people are prophesied, as well as the destruction of Aram, Samaria and much of Judah by the king of Assyria. Also, about light and darkness.
Vs.1-4 “The Lord said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary pen: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.” This name means: “quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil;” This is Isaiah’s son name as Isaiah and his children are signs. Before the child is able to speak, Damascus and Samaria will be plundered as the name suggests.
Vs.5-10 “The Lord spoke to me again.” Here God speaks metaphorically. “Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloh” meaning God’s love, grace and peace. “therefore the Lord is about to bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates—the king of Assyria.” The water will cover the land, a deluge “reaching up to the neck.” The neck (the head) is a metaphor for Jerusalem, that God (Immanuel) saved from Sennacherib. That is a comfort for all who continue to trust the Lord. If God is with us (Immanuel) who can stand against us?
V.11 “This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people:” This is a warning for us as well. We live in a time where many people want to lead us astray. What God commands, hereunto, is understood as prohibitive, but now the world wants to deem that as normative, and some Christians insist what was prohibitive throughout history, to be righteous in our time. It is a matter of culture after all. No! God’s precepts do not change with culture.
Vs.12-17 “Do not call conspiracyeverything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear…” The Lord is the one to fear. “He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” Vs.14 is quoted both in the New and Old Test. Lk.2:34 “Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against…”’ Isaiah: “I will put my trust in him.”
V.18 “Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.” This is Jesus (here am I) and the children the Lord has given me. (Jesus and the Old and the New Testament church) John 10:29 “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than alI; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” Praise God!
Vs.19-22 Light and Darkness. Should someone “consult mediums and spiritists… should not a people inquire of their God?… If anyone does not speak according to this (His) Word, they have no light.” Apart from the Word, both the living Word and the written Word there will only be distress, darkness, fear and confusion when push comes to shove. But for those of us walking in the light, we thank God and we trust Him for the blessings of our Savior in this New Year. Amen!
# 01 2025 Dev. Ex.21: “The Commandments Details” Read all of chapter twenty one first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Ex.21 Chapter 21 expands on the fifth and sixth commandments. This is based on the culture of the time; parents are to be respected, people were bought and sold as slaves, murder and accidents are covered. There is no slavery in our country today however, there is exploitation, sexual, economic and physical (discrimination). In fact there has been a large increase of this kind of slavery. But for working people these two rules also touch upon the relationship of employers to employees.
Vs.1-6 “if you buy a Hebrew servant…” The rules were different, they had been slaves once and had no rights whatsoever but if one had bought a Hebrew servant, after six years of service he was free to go with his wife and children. But if he choses to stay with his master, that would be for life. Servitude often was to pay a debt or demanded by a judge for some indiscretion. Before this time Moses did all the judging and often asked God to adjudicate a difficult cases.
V.7-11 “If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do.” They have intrinsic value that is in high demand and is subject to abuse. But if the owner was not happy with her she may be redeemed. If she was not redeemed, the owner must continue to care for her, even if he buys another woman. If he does not provide for her she goes free. Today’s standards would consider that misogynistic but it was for their protection. In those days women could not be independent, often, their only option would be to sell their bodies.
Vs.12-36 “Personal injuries. Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death.” But if one dies by accident if “God lets it happen…” they are to flee to a place of refuge. Once they were in the land, cities of refuge were set up. “Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death. Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death. Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.” Those who are aggressive will be held responsible and will pay restitution. Even if one beat a slave the owner responsible must compensate the slave/servant for the damage. Pregnant women are protected.
“But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.” What that means is that; “Consideration must be had of the nature, quality, and degree of the wrong done, that reparation may be made to the party injured, and others deterred from doing the like; either an eye shall go for an eye, or the forfeited eye shall be redeemed by a sum of money.” (Mathew Henry’s Commentary.) The punishment must be appropriate for the crime. Commuting the death sentence of murders violate any normal standard today and certainly God’s standard, and is a complete adulteration of justice, promoting more violence as we are experiencing right now.
Owners of livestock are responsible for any damage caused if the animal is not penned up. That goes for us as well. The issue here is accountability, we trust God and we expect accountability to be practiced in this land. May God bless you, your family, all people of this country and the free countries of the world in this New Year.
Heavenhigh 