Fire and Glory

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Fire and Glory

Date: Mar. 27, 2022

Passage

Isaiah 1:24-2:4 (ESV)

24   Therefore the Lord declares,
    the LORD of hosts,
    the Mighty One of Israel:
  “Ah, I will get relief from my enemies
    and avenge myself on my foes.
25   I will turn my hand against you
    and will smelt away your dross as with lye
    and remove all your alloy.
26   And I will restore your judges as at the first,
    and your counselors as at the beginning.
  Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness,
    the faithful city.”
27   Zion shall be redeemed by justice,
    and those in her who repent, by righteousness.
28   But rebels and sinners shall be broken together,
    and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
29   For they shall be ashamed of the oaks
    that you desired;
  and you shall blush for the gardens
    that you have chosen.
30   For you shall be like an oak
    whose leaf withers,
    and like a garden without water.
31   And the strong shall become tinder,
    and his work a spark,
  and both of them shall burn together,
    with none to quench them.

1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2   It shall come to pass in the latter days
    that the mountain of the house of the LORD
  shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
    and shall be lifted up above the hills;
  and all the nations shall flow to it,
3     and many peoples shall come, and say:
  “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
    to the house of the God of Jacob,
  that he may teach us his ways
    and that we may walk in his paths.”
  For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4   He shall judge between the nations,
    and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
  and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
    and their spears into pruning hooks;
  nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
    neither shall they learn war anymore.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1:1:27

1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

God’s wrath is often described as a consuming fire. We also think of hell as a fiery pit of endless torment for the wicked. This may make us fear that God will destroy us for any and every mistake. But the fire of God is a refining, purifying fire. It is a saving fire that restores and saves the oppressed and contrite in heart. It leads to justice and righteousness. God wants to heal and restore, not traumatize his people. We should examine our hearts if it has a right view of God.

The vision of God’s reign in the last days is of the mountain of the LORD’s temple as the highest of mountains. All nations will flock to the LORD’s temple, where, “The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Weapons of war and conflict will be turned into tools for cultivation. There will be justice and peace. What comes from the mountain is beyond words and rituals. It is truth, grace, and awe in God’s majesty.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, purify our hearts and our lands, and renew us to see the majesty of your kingdom on high. Give us a heart of justice, righteousness, and peace.

One Word: One Word: Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord

Isaac Obeys God and Stays in the Land

Genesis 26:1-35

Key Verse: 26:6

Isaac and Abimelech

So Isaac settled in Gerar.

Today's Question

How is Christ a king?

See answer and references