Vistas, quietness and birds...

I live in a retirement community; its a nice one, with activities of all sorts and a very nice pool.  As often as I can, I like to use it, especially in the early evening, when it is not so crowded.  Its quite relaxing and quiet before sundown and often the birds come for a drink and flocks of them fly overhead.  When they do, I often wonder what it must be like to be a bird; to be able to soar over the landscape, free of the constraints of gravity.  The closest I have ever came to such an experience is during airplane flights back to New Jersey and I must say that the view above the clouds is truly awesome.  So, being a bird involves vistas and freedom that give a new perspective to existence, but I wonder what God thinks about them?  I found a couple of verses that seem to tie in nicely...

WEB: Matthew Chapter 6

[25] Therefore, I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26] See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?

WEB: Psalms Chapter 50

[10] For every animal of the forest is mine,
and the livestock on a thousand hills.


[11] I know all the birds of the mountains.
The wild animals of the field are mine.

Birds are cared for by God and they belong to HIM.  God's care and ownership of these animals gives us an example for ourselves.  WE are God's possession and HE cares for us as well.  We are different, though, and have a different purpose in life. Its nice to ponder what might be, or what could be, but, reality dictates returning to what is and what will be.  We will eventually dwell far beyond realms that the birds of the sky could never, ever dream of and the thought of that is more calming than any dip in the pool or vista we could ever see from an airplane portal.  Nice thought; reassuring, relaxing.... and its only morning.  I can't wait to see what the rest of the day will be like....

Apr. 3 Leviticus 23, 24

Apr. 3

Leviticus 23, 24

Lev 23:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 23:2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, 'The set feasts of Yahweh, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts.

Lev 23:3 " 'Six days shall work be done: but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no manner of work. It is a Sabbath to Yahweh in all your dwellings.

Lev 23:4 " 'These are the set feasts of Yahweh, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their appointed season.

Lev 23:5 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, is Yahweh's Passover.

Lev 23:6 On the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to Yahweh. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.

Lev 23:7 In the first day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work.

Lev 23:8 But you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh seven days. In the seventh day is a holy convocation: you shall do no regular work.' "

Lev 23:9 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 23:10 "Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, 'When you have come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap its the harvest, then you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest:

Lev 23:11 and he shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh, to be accepted for you. On the next day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.

Lev 23:12 On the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb without blemish a year old for a burnt offering to Yahweh.

Lev 23:13 The meal offering with it shall be two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire to Yahweh for a pleasant aroma; and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin.

Lev 23:14 You shall eat neither bread, nor roasted grain, nor fresh grain, until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God. This is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Lev 23:15 " 'You shall count from the next day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be completed:

Lev 23:16 even to the next day after the seventh Sabbath you shall number fifty days; and you shall offer a new meal offering to Yahweh.

Lev 23:17 You shall bring out of your habitations two loaves of bread for a wave offering made of two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour. They shall be baked with yeast, for first fruits to Yahweh.

Lev 23:18 You shall present with the bread seven lambs without blemish a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to Yahweh, with their meal offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of a sweet aroma to Yahweh.

Lev 23:19 You shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old for a sacrifice of peace offerings.

Lev 23:20 The priest shall wave them with the bread of the first fruits for a wave offering before Yahweh, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to Yahweh for the priest.

Lev 23:21 You shall make proclamation on the same day: there shall be a holy convocation to you; you shall do no regular work. This is a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.

Lev 23:22 " 'When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap into the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest: you shall leave them for the poor, and for the foreigner. I am Yahweh your God.' "

Lev 23:23 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 23:24 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest to you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.

Lev 23:25 You shall do no regular work; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh.' "

Lev 23:26 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 23:27 "However on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

Lev 23:28 You shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before Yahweh your God.

Lev 23:29 For whoever it is who shall not deny himself in that same day; shall be cut off from his people.

Lev 23:30 Whoever it is who does any manner of work in that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people.

Lev 23:31 You shall do no manner of work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Lev 23:32 It shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall deny yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall keep your Sabbath."

Lev 23:33 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 23:34 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say, 'On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tents for seven days to Yahweh.

Lev 23:35 On the first day shall be a holy convocation: you shall do no regular work.

Lev 23:36 Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. On the eighth day shall be a holy convocation to you; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. It is a solemn assembly; you shall do no regular work.

Lev 23:37 " 'These are the appointed feasts of Yahweh, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh, a burnt offering, and a meal offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, each on its own day;

Lev 23:38 besides the Sabbaths of Yahweh, and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to Yahweh.

Lev 23:39 " 'So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall keep the feast of Yahweh seven days: on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest.

Lev 23:40 You shall take on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God seven days.

Lev 23:41 You shall keep it a feast to Yahweh seven days in the year: it is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall keep it in the seventh month.

Lev 23:42 You shall dwell in booths seven days. All who are native-born in Israel shall dwell in booths,

Lev 23:43 that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.' "

Lev 23:44 Moses declared to the children of Israel the appointed feasts of Yahweh.

Lev 24:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 24:2 "Command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.

Lev 24:3 Outside of the veil of the Testimony, in the Tent of Meeting, shall Aaron keep it in order from evening to morning before Yahweh continually: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

Lev 24:4 He shall keep in order the lamps on the pure gold lampstand before Yahweh continually.

Lev 24:5 "You shall take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes of it: two tenth parts of an ephah shall be in one cake.

Lev 24:6 You shall set them in two rows, six on a row, on the pure gold table before Yahweh.

Lev 24:7 You shall put pure frankincense on each row, that it may be to the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

Lev 24:8 Every Sabbath day he shall set it in order before Yahweh continually. It is on the behalf of the children of Israel an everlasting covenant.

Lev 24:9 It shall be for Aaron and his sons; and they shall eat it in a holy place: for it is most holy to him of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire by a perpetual statute."

Lev 24:10 The son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and the son of the Israelite woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp.

Lev 24:11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name, and cursed; and they brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.

Lev 24:12 They put him in custody, until the will of Yahweh should be declared to them.

Lev 24:13 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev 24:14 "Bring out of the camp him who cursed; and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him.

Lev 24:15 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin.

Lev 24:16 He who blasphemes the name of Yahweh, he shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him: the foreigner as well as the native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.

Lev 24:17 " 'He who strikes any man mortally shall surely be put to death.

Lev 24:18 He who strikes an animal mortally shall make it good, life for life.

Lev 24:19 If anyone injures his neighbor; as he has done, so shall it be done to him:

Lev 24:20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has injured someone, so shall it be done to him.

Lev 24:21 He who kills an animal shall make it good; and he who kills a man shall be put to death.

Lev 24:22 You shall have one kind of law, for the foreigner as well as the native-born: for I am Yahweh your God.' "

Lev 24:23 Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and they brought forth him who had cursed out of the camp, and stoned him with stones. The children of Israel did as Yahweh commanded Moses.

"THE BOOK OF ISAIAH" Salvation Through The Suffering Servant (49-53) by Mark Copeland

"THE BOOK OF ISAIAH"

            Salvation Through The Suffering Servant (49-53)

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION

1) To consider the role of the Servant in providing comfort and
   salvation for Israel

2) To observe that light and salvation would also be extended to the
   Gentiles

3) To note the remarkable prophecy concerning the Suffering Servant, who
   would bear the sin of many and make intercession for the transgressors

SUMMARY

In this section God continues to extend words of comfort for those who
would experience exile in Babylon.  While there is some reference to
their deliverance from captivity (52:1-12), the focus is on the
Suffering Servant to come, who would bring ultimate redemption.

In chapter 49, the Servant Himself speaks of His commission to bring
salvation to Israel and to be a light to the Gentiles.  The Lord will
offer the Servant as a covenant to the people, providing restoration and
comfort to the afflicted.  Zion, who fears that the Lord has forsaken
her, is reassured that she is remembered.  She will overflow with new
children, and those who would oppress her will have to contend with the
Lord.

In chapters 50-52, the Servant is offered as Israel's true hope.
Rebuked for thinking that their sufferings were due to the Lord's
inability, the exiles are admonished to trust in the Lord to save them
in response to their plea.  Zion (Jerusalem, the holy city) is called to
awake, for those who have experienced His righteous judgment will find
that He offers redemption and comfort.

The last of chapter 52 and all of chapter 53 contain a description of
the Suffering Servant.  Despised and rejected by men, smitten and
afflicted by God, the Servant would bear the sin of many and make
intercession for the transgressors.  Of course, this prophecy was
fulfilled when God sent His Son Jesus Christ to be crucified for our
sins.  Thus God would provide salvation for Israel, and for all mankind.

OUTLINE

I. THE SERVANT IS COMMISSIONED (49:1-26)

   A. HE WILL BRING SALVATION...
      1. He has been called to be the Lord's Servant - 49:1-3
      2. His work has been difficult - 49:4
      3. He will bring salvation to both Israel and Gentiles - 49:5-6
      4. Kings and princes will arise and worship Him - 49:7

   B. HE WILL COMFORT GOD'S PEOPLE...
      1. He will become a covenant to the people - 49:8a
      2. He will provide restoration and comfort for the afflicted
         - 49:8b-13

   C. GOD WILL REMEMBER ZION...
      1. He has not forgotten her, her destroyers will go away
         - 49:14-17
      2. She will overflow with new children who come to her - 49:18-21
      3. The nations shall bring her children, kings and queens will
         foster them - 49:22-23
      4. The Lord will contend those who oppress Zion and her children
         - 49:24-26

II. THE SERVANT WILL BE ISRAEL'S HOPE (50:1-52:12)

   A. ISRAEL ADMONISHED TO TRUST IN THE LORD...
      1. The exiles rebuked for thinking their sufferings were due to
         the Lord's inability - 50:1-3
      2. The Lord will help His Servant - 50:4-9
      3. Therefore those who fear the Lord should rely on God, not
         themselves - 50:10-11

   B. THE RIGHTEOUS ENCOURAGED TO LOOK TO THE LORD...
      1. God's righteous people called to listen to the Lord who will
         save them - 51:1-8
      2. A plea to the Lord, and His response promising comfort
         - 51:9-16

   C. JERUSALEM CALLED TO AWAKE...
      1. God will deliver her who has suffered from His righteous
         judgment - 51:17-23
      2. God will redeem and comfort the holy city - 52:1-12

III. THE SERVANT WILL SAVE THROUGH SUFFERING (52:13-53:12)

   A. HIS DESTINY...
      1. To be exalted and extolled - 52:13
      2. Though subjected to great humiliation - 52:14
      3. He will startle and amaze even kings by what they will see
         - 52:15

   B. HIS LIFE...
      1. Some would not believe - 53:1
      2. His humble beginnings and ignoble appearance - 53:2
      3. Despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows not highly
         esteemed - 53:3

   C. HIS SUFFERING...
      1. Bearing our grief and sorrow, He is esteemed smitten and
         afflicted by God - 53:4
      2. His wounds and stripes were for our sins and healing - 53:5
      3. The Lord laid on Him our sins because we like sheep have gone
         astray - 53:6

   D. HIS SUBMISSION...
      1. Though oppressed and afflicted, like a lamb He did not open His
         mouth - 53:7
      2. With an unjust death He was stricken for our transgressions
         - 53:8
      3. His grave was with the wicked and the rich, though innocent of
         violence and deceit - 53:9

   E. HIS REWARD...
      1. The Lord would be pleased by His offering for sin - 53:10
      2. The Lord would be satisfied by the Righteous Servant justifying
         many - 53:11
      3. The Lord would reward Him for bearing the sin of many, making
         intercession - 53:12

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THIS SECTION

1) What is suggested in this study as the theme of Isaiah chapters
   49-53?
   - Salvation Through The Suffering Servant

2) What are the three main divisions of this section as outlined above?
   - The Servant Is Commissioned (49)
   - The Servant Will Be Israel's Hope (50:1-52:12)
   - The Servant Will Save Through Suffering (52:13-53:12)

3) Who is the Servant in this section? (49:1-3)
   - Some believe it has reference to the people of Israel because of
     verse 3; yet the overall context clearly points to the Messiah
     (Jesus)

4) To whom will the Servant bring salvation?  Who will worship Him? (49:
   5-7)
   - Both Israel and Gentiles
   - Kings and princes

5) How will the Servant comfort God's people? (49:8-13)
   - By providing restoration and deliverance for the afflicted

6) Who has God not forgotten? (49:14-17)
   - Zion

7) What is promised to Zion?  Where will they come from? (49:18-23)
   - She will overflow with new children who come to her
   - The nations shall bring her children

8) How will all flesh know that the Lord is Zion's Savior and Redeemer?
   (49:24-26)
   - By saving her children from those who would contend with her

9) Why were the exiles rebuked? (50:1-3)
   - For thinking that their sufferings were due to the Lord's
     inability, when it because of their sins

10) When the Servant suffers abuse, who helps Him? (50:4-9)
   - The Lord God

11) Upon whom should one rely in times of darkness? What of those who do
    not? (50:10-11)
   - The name of the Lord and the voice of His Servant
   - They shall lie down in torment

12) Where are the righteous encouraged to look? (51:1-2)
   - To the example of Abraham and Sarah

13) What does God promise for Zion? (51:3)
   - Comfort, joy, gladness, thanksgiving and the voice of melody

14) What does God promise to do with His salvation and righteousness?
    (51:4-8)
   - To extend it to the Gentiles and make it last forever

15) What does Isaiah offer at this point in his prophecy? (51:9-11)
   - A plea to the Lord to show His strength to those He will ransom

16) How does the Lord respond? (51:12-16)
   - With a promise of comfort in the middle of a mild rebuke for being
     afraid

17) Why is Jerusalem called to awake? (51:17-23)
   - Though she has suffered from His righteous judgment, God will plead
     the cause for His people

18) Why is Zion (Jerusalem, the holy city) called to awake? (52:1-3)
   - To put on her strength and beautiful garments, for God will redeem
     her

19) Though Israel has suffered both in Egypt and Assyria, what is she
    promised? (52:4-6)
   - Clear evidence that is the Lord God who speaks to them

20) What does Isaiah see happening one day in Israel? (52:7-9)
   - A messenger with glad tidings, watchmen rejoicing over the
     redemption of Jerusalem

21) What will all the ends of the earth see? (52:10)
   - The salvation of God

22) In view of such things, what are the people of Israel told? (52:
    11-12)
   - To depart (from Babylon captivity), with the Lord going before and
     after them

23) What will be the destiny of the Servant? (52:13-14)
   - To be exalted, though subjected to great humiliation

24) What impact will He have among the nations? (52:15)
   - He will startle and amaze even kings by what they see

25) What is first revealed about the Suffering Servant? (53:1-3)
   - Some would not believe
   - He would have humble beginnings and an ignoble appearance
   - He would be despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows not
     highly esteemed

26) Why would He suffer, and who afflicted Him? (53:4-6)
   - Because of our sins and for our healing
   - Smitten by God, who has laid on Him the iniquity of us all

27) How would the Suffering Servant submit to such oppression and
    affliction? (53:7)
   - He would not open His mouth, but be led as a lamb to the slaughter

28) Why would He be taken from prison and cut off from the land of the
    living? (53:8)
   - For the transgressions of God's people

29) With whom would He make His grave? (53:9)
   - With the wicked; but also with the rich, because He done no
     violence nor spoken deceit

30) What would the Suffering Servant receive from all this? (53:10-12)
   - The Lord would be pleased by His offering for sin
   - The Lord would be satisfied by the Righteous Servant justifying
     many, bearing their iniquities
   - The Lord would reward Him for bearing the sin of many, and
     interceding for the transgressors