Daniel Sees Jesus"I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed." – Daniel 7:13-14

In his vision, Daniel apparently sees One who looks human but is a perfect representation of humanity--and that would have to be Jesus. Jesus Himself also uses the name “Son of Man” to refer to Himself on multiple occasions. Of course, this passage in Daniel was written some 550 years before Jesus’ birth, but this is just one of many times when Jesus shows up in the Old Testament even before anyone really knew of His existence! To me, this gives us even more evidence that Jesus really is who He claimed to be, and that He has been around since the beginning of time.

Various Thoughts About Prophecies"Thus he said: The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High... " – Daniel 7:23-25a

Prophecy is very difficult to fully understand. This is certainly by design; if we knew for sure when Jesus would return, can you imagine how that knowledge would drastically impact the choices that we make? Some people believe that this prophecy refers back to Rome, while others think it refers to a future kingdom. The part about “pompous words” definitely fits the present time, as atheist groups and many others continue to speak out against God and against Christians. A passage in Revelation 17 (verses 12-14) also refers to these horns and kings, which leads me to believe that this passage is referring to the End Times.

Possible Description of the Antichrist"And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means. And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future." – Daniel 8:23-26

According to the angel Gabriel in Daniel 8:17 and 8:19, this vision does refer to the End Times. What does that mean to us? If the End Times are near, then we should be on the lookout for someone who fits this description. Just be careful not to let someone’s words fool you, because I feel like the antichrist will be a slick type of person who manipulates people with his words.

Daniel’s Physical ReactionAnd I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king's business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it. – Daniel 8:27

Daniel added this short closing after the description and interpretation of his second vision. Clearly it was a very powerful, intense, and disturbing time for him if it caused him to become so sick and weak afterwards. To me, that just gives us another piece of evidence that it did in fact come from God; otherwise, it could not have had such a powerful impact on Daniel. An intense physical reaction can make a person’s witness and testimony much more powerful, just like what happened to Saul’s (Paul’s) eyesight when he was walking along the road and Jesus spoke to him. The prophecies in Daniel are difficult to fully understand and to even attempt to analyze a portion of them would require much more space than I have here. I encourage you to read them for yourself and take the time to research and analyze these words to develop a better understanding of what is to come as we approach the End Times.

Daniel Refers to Jeremiah’s ProphecyIn the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans--in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. – Daniel 9:1-2Do not go after other gods to serve them and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands; and I will not harm you. Yet you have not listened to Me," says the Lord. ... And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. – Jeremiah 25:6-7a, 11

Daniel had read and knew the early writings that now make up the Bible and he refers back to some of those writings in his own book. Here, he refers to Jeremiah’s prophecy of Israel’s captivity, which is now nearing its end during Daniel’s time. Daniel goes on to pray for the people of Israel, and we will look at some portions of that prayer in the coming weeks.

Daniel’s Prayer for Israel, Part 1 of 4And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day--to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You." – Daniel 9:4-7

Daniel begins his prayer by praising God and confessing, openly and honestly, the sins of himself and all of Israel. Read and consider the words in this prayer carefully, taking time to ask yourself if your prayer attitude may need to change.

Daniel’s Prayer for Israel, Part 2 of 4"O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem." – Daniel 9:8-12

For seven straight verses, Daniel does nothing but confess the sins of Israel in his prayer. He is about as open and honest with God as anyone can be, which is something we should all strive for. God sees our sins anyway--don’t be afraid to confess them so that you no longer have to feel like you’re hiding something!

Daniel’s Prayer for Israel, Part 3 of 4"As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. Therefore the Lord has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day--we have sinned, we have done wickedly!" – Daniel 9:13-15

Once again Daniel shows how well he knows the Word of God, at least the parts that had been written prior to his lifetime. He is referring to a passage in Deuteronomy (28:15-68) during which God, through the hand of Moses, thoroughly details the punishment that will come upon Israel if they do not follow His commandments. Although that warning may have been directed more at Israel, I believe it is a warning we should still heed today. God can destroy us at anytime, and if our country continues trying to move away from God, He has every reason to do just that.

Daniel’s Prayer for Israel, Part 4 of 4"O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name." – Daniel 9:16-19

After praising God, confessing the sins of all Israel, and admitting that he understands why God had to punish His chosen people, Daniel just now makes his request. Everything else came before the request. Also notice the enthusiasm with which he prays toward the end. We can all learn a great deal from Daniel’s prayer!Question to Ponder: What have you learned from Daniel’s prayer that you can apply to your own prayer life?

Daniel Sees Jesus AgainNow on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. – Daniel 10:4-8

In Daniel 7:13-14, Daniel saw someone who was most likely the preincarnate Jesus Christ. Here, he seems to see Jesus again, based on the description. It is similar to the description given by the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 1:4. This vision was for Daniel alone, and it was so powerful that it caused him to lose his strength. We’ll discuss more about this vision in the coming weeks.Question to Ponder: Have you ever had an encounter with God that was very intense or powerful?

Attributes of DanielSuddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words." – Daniel 10:10-12

It seems most likely that an angel of God is now speaking to Daniel in his vision. Why was Daniel chosen for this gift and responsibility? God saw that Daniel had a heart to understand and that Daniel humbled himself before Him. The angel also tells Daniel that God has heard his prayers for Israel and that is why he (the angel) has come. Daniel had such great fear and respect for God that he trembled, and that makes me wonder--do we have that same fear and respect today? If (hypothetically) Jesus Himself walked toward you on the street, would you run to Him in awe and reverence or would you be too busy to even stop?Question to Ponder: Do you fear and respect God as much as Daniel did?

Good vs. Evil"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come." – Daniel 10:13-14

This is an interesting little passage, and I did some extra research to try to better understand what is going on here. It wouldn’t make sense for an angel to be held back by a mere human for 21 days, so most people seem to agree that this passage refers to a battle between good and evil. The “prince of the kingdom of Persia” seems to be someone who is working for Satan, trying to lead and influence the people of Persia. This is one passage that reminds us that the battle between good and evil is very real. It isn’t something many of us talk about very often, but we find multiple references to it in the Bible and it is a real battle. This is one reason why we need to be very careful about the kinds of evil things we allow to come into our hearts and minds.Question to Ponder: What sorts of things do you watch (TV, movies) or listen to (music) that would not be pleasing to God?

Weakening Us to Strengthen UsWhen he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, "My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me." Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me." – Daniel 10:15-19

God strengthened Daniel after Daniel was weakened by the intensity of the visions and the presence of God. God does the same thing for all of us. Sometimes He has to weaken us temporarily to get our attention, but He is still taking care of us and He will give us the strength we need to overcome anything in this life (see John 16:33)!Question to Ponder: If you have ever had an experience like this, how did your weak period ultimately strengthen you?

God’s Will or Man’s Will?"Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. ... Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all." – Daniel 11:3, 36-37

The eleventh chapter of Daniel gives another prophecy, but rather than discuss the details of that prophecy, I am going to look at some other ideas that are presented within this text. In these verses, we hear about a king who will “do according to his will.” Regardless of whether this prophecy is referring to a time in the past or a time in the future, this can be a warning to us to be alert to any ruler who acts like that. Anyone who does according to his or her own will is clearly not living in God’s will, and that is not the type of person that we need in a leadership position. We should always be alert for that when choosing any leader.Question to Ponder: When deciding who to vote for, do you take into account each candidate’s regard for God’s will?

Captivating With Intrigue"And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue." – Daniel 11:21

Whoever this prophecy is talking about seized this kingdom by intrigue. Similar to last Wednesday’s devotional which took a look at a king who follows his own will, we should also be very wary of anyone who suddenly and rapidly rises to power, captivating people with intrigue. Such a person is probably going to be a smooth talker but is not equipped to do the job effectively, and at worst, such a person may have a hidden agenda that he or she is trying to accomplish. If you are instantly captivated by the words that come out of someone’s mouth, you should always question that person and never blindly follow. Switching gears for a moment, a similar idea holds true in the area of romance and relationships, as far too many people get involved with someone who is a smooth talker but secretly has another agenda.Question to Ponder: What can you do to prevent yourself or others around you from being captivated by someone like this?

Redistributing the Wealth"He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time." – Daniel 11:24

Redistributing the wealth is well-known as something many of our more liberal people are in favor of. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work well in reality, and that is even indicated by this verse. While the Bible doesn’t say that it’s wrong, it does imply that it was tried in this kingdom and the kingdom didn’t last very long as a result. I’ll be honest: When I was younger, there was a period of time when I thought this was a good idea. I’m all about being fair, and everybody having the same amount of stuff certainly sounds fair! However, as I grew older, I eventually realized that, in reality, it doesn’t work that way. The end result of this type of government can never be good. It encourages lazy people to remain lazy because they know the government will take care of them anyway, and it doesn’t encourage hard work because those who do work hard just get more taken away.Question to Ponder: How do the ideas presented in this verse fit with your own political views about this matter?

Wickedness Against God; Strength in God"[The king of the South shall] return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits." – Daniel 11:30b-32

As Christians, we should never stand for anyone who treats anything holy in a manner like what is described in these verses. As I read this, I was appalled at the complete and total disrespect that this king was going to have for something that belongs to God! Many people in our world today don’t respect churches, Christian traditions, or anything else related to Christianity. Just as Jesus turned over the tables in the temple (John 2:15-17), we should also take a stand for respecting God’s house out of our love for Jesus. And as the last verse says, we who know our God will be strong, for our strength comes from Him!Question to Ponder: Would you take a bold stand for God’s House, or would you allow other people to disrespect it?

False Gods"But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain." – Daniel 11:38-39

As Daniel’s prophecy continues, he writes about this king who will honor himself along with the false gods that he creates. As Christians, we should all be disgusted at the idea of creating and worshipping false gods in such a way. But take a moment to stop and ask yourself this question: Have you ever created any false gods yourself? Have you ever made something more important than God in your life? Money, possessions, fame, power, a spouse, or a child are just some of the things that could fall into this category. Think about what is most important to you and be honest with yourself. Is your relationship with Jesus at the top of that list? If not, what things rank higher, and what can you do to change that?Question to Ponder: Have you ever created and/or worshipped any false gods, putting anything ahead of the one true God?

More of Daniel’s Prophecy"At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him." – Daniel 11:40-45

There are no additional devotional thoughts today. I am not sure whether this passage refers to a time in the past, present, or future, but I found it to be quite intriguing given the political unrest in Egypt and Libya.

The Book of Life"At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book." – Daniel 12:1

Is your name written in God’s Book of Life? Are you uncertain? There is a way to be sure. In John 14:6, Jesus tells us that He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus is the way to God the Father. If you’re not sure where you will spend eternity, you need to invite Jesus into your heart. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and accept Him as your Savior, placing your faith and trust in Him. That’s the way to be sure of where you will spend eternity. Yes, the process seems simple, but for some people, the change of heart can be very difficult. But God wanted to make it as simple as He possibly could for us so that we could spend eternity with Him, because He dearly loves each and every one of us.Question to Ponder: Are you sure that your name is written in God’s book?

When Will These Prophecies Be Fulfilled?"But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." – Daniel 12:4

This is arguably the most significant verse in the book of Daniel if you are considering when the events that are prophesied may take place. One thing is certain: This verse could not have described a time in the past. Thanks to cars, airplanes, and other forms of transportation, people can “run to and fro” like never before (and many people are running to and fro all the time without stopping to truly enjoy life). It has also been said that, with the advent of computers and the internet, knowledge is increasing at incredible rates which have never been seen before. I’m not sure if these prophecies will come true in the near future, or if we still have a ways to go. Anyone who claims to know the answer to that question contradicts the Scripture which says that no one knows the hour when Jesus will return. But this verse certainly could describe our present-day world.Question to Ponder: If Jesus does come back soon, are you ready?

Asking Too Many QuestionsAlthough I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, "My lord, what shall be the end of these things?" And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." – Daniel 12:8-9

Daniel had more questions about the prophecies he had seen, and he wanted more answers. However, God had told Daniel everything He wanted him to know. Sometimes we have a similar problem, wanting answers that God is not willing to give. We are imperfect humans living imperfect lives. We aren’t going to understand everything while we’re down here. That’s just reality. Take the Bible as an example. It doesn’t contain all the knowledge that exists, but it does contain everything we need to know in order to form a relationship with Jesus, and that’s the most important thing we need to know anyway. God never promised to give us all the answers. In fact, we don’t need to have all the answers. If we knew everything, we wouldn’t need to trust Him. But He does promise to care for us and give us everything that we need, if we do trust in Him and His plan.Question to Ponder: Are you able to easily trust God, even when you have unanswered questions?

The Wise Shall Understand"Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand." – Daniel 12:10

The first part of this verse seems to point toward the coming Savior, who came to save the whole world and who has purified and refined those of us who choose to believe in Him. But the wicked (unsaved) do not understand any of this. I find it interesting (and saddening) that many of those who appear to be the most intelligent by worldly standards really don’t understand the most important thing that there is--the saving grace of Jesus Christ. They get so caught up in worldly pursuits of knowledge that they miss out on the bigger picture. They believe they are wise, but that “wisdom” is only worldly. However, a person who is truly wise is able to understand what Jesus did for us and chooses to follow Him. True wisdom comes straight from God. No type of worldly wisdom can ever come close to the wisdom we can receive from above.Question to Ponder: Do you have worldly wisdom or true, Godly wisdom?

The United States Should Learn From Israel’s MistakesHear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth!For the Lord has spoken:"I have nourished and brought up children,And they have rebelled against Me;The ox knows its ownerAnd the donkey its master's crib;But Israel does not know,My people do not consider."Alas, sinful nation,A people laden with iniquity,A brood of evildoers,Children who are corrupters!They have forsaken the Lord,They have provoked to angerThe Holy One of Israel,They have turned away backward.– Isaiah 1:2-4

The Lord Seeks Pure Motives"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?"Says the Lord."I have had enough of burnt offerings of ramsAnd the fat of fed cattle.I do not delight in the blood of bulls,Or of lambs or goats.Bring no more futile sacrifices;Incense is an abomination to Me.The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies--I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting."– Isaiah 1:11, 13

Back in this time, before the coming of Jesus, people had to make sacrifices to atone for their sins. God isn’t saying that He doesn’t want them to do that. Instead, He is tired of people doing that just for the sake of doing it or to try to impress other people. He wanted them to follow His commands with a pure motive, and the same is true for us today. He doesn’t want us to pray or go to church or do anything if we’re only doing it out of habit or to put on a show to impress other people. His desire is that we do those things because we want to serve Him, please Him, and follow His commands.Question to Ponder: Do you do things for the Lord out of a genuine desire to serve Him?

Make Yourselves CleanWhen you spread out your hands,I will hide My eyes from you;Even though you make many prayers,I will not hear.Your hands are full of blood."Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.Cease to do evil,Learn to do good;Seek justice,Rebuke the oppressor;Defend the fatherless,Plead for the widow.– Isaiah 1:15-17

God doesn’t want us to just pray when we need something, then forget about Him the rest of the time and go on living sinful lifestyles. If we do that, we completely miss out on everything God wants us to have in this life. We should instead follow the advice given in the second half of this passage to put away evil and learn to do good, looking after those in need and following the example that Jesus has set for us.Question to Ponder: Do you only pray when you are going through a tough time, forgetting God when things are going well?

Obey or Rebel?"Come now, and let us reason together,"Says the Lord,"Though your sins are like scarlet,They shall be as white as snow;Though they are red like crimson,They shall be as wool.If you are willing and obedient,You shall eat the good of the land;But if you refuse and rebel,You shall be devoured by the sword";For the mouth of the Lord has spoken– Isaiah 1:18-20

Are you willing and obedient to do what the Lord wants you to do? Or do you refuse to listen to Him, rebelling and choosing your own path? The words contained within these verses make it clear how God responds to both groups of people. God’s way is always best, and if we follow His path instead of trying to make our own way, He will bless us for that.Question to Ponder: Which do you do more often--obey God or rebel against Him?

Straying From God, Part 1 of 3How the faithful city has become a harlot!It was full of justice;Righteousness lodged in it,But now murderers.Your silver has become dross,Your wine mixed with water.Your princes are rebellious,And companions of thieves;Everyone loves bribes,And follows after rewards.They do not defend the fatherless,Nor does the cause of the widow come before them.– Isaiah 1:21-23

Once again Isaiah is writing a prophecy concerning Israel’s wickedness, and once again we can apply it to our country today. This nation used to be faithful to God and was founded on Christian principles (despite what some “scholars” try to claim), but we have strayed far from that. Even the line about bribes can be used to describe so many of our politicians and other leaders. Next Wednesday we will see what punishment God has in store.Question to Ponder: Is the United States still a Christian nation? Why or why not?

Straying From God, Part 2 of 3Therefore the Lord says,The Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel,"Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries,And take vengeance on My enemies.I will turn My hand against you,And thoroughly purge away your dross,And take away all your alloy.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."Zion shall be redeemed with justice,And her penitents with righteousness.– Isaiah 1:24-27

This is the punishment that God was planning for Israel after they strayed from Him. I believe that we can use this as a warning to ourselves as well. God doesn’t take the matter lightly when a nation drifts away from Him and falls into moral decay. If we don’t straighten up and start standing up for what’s right, we very well may face a similar punishment in the not-too-distant future.Question to Ponder: Does the United States deserve a similar punishment from God? Why or why not?

Straying From God, Part 3 of 3The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together,And those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.For they shall be ashamed of the terebinth treesWhich you have desired;And you shall be embarrassed because of the gardensWhich you have chosen.For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades,And as a garden that has no water.The strong shall be as tinder,And the work of it as a spark;Both will burn together,And no one shall quench them.– Isaiah 1:28-31

We, too, as a nation, should be ashamed of our attitude toward God. We are becoming immersed in sin and most people really don’t seem to care. Again, the warning in these verses was given to Israel, but I believe that we should heed it as well. God takes sin seriously, and if we don’t as a nation, our fair and just God could very easily serve justice on this country.Question to Ponder: Should the United States be ashamed of its moral condition? Why or why not?

Another Warning the United States Should HeedFor You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob,Because they are filled with eastern ways;They are soothsayers like the Philistines,And they are pleased with the children of foreigners.Their land is also full of silver and gold,And there is no end to their treasures;Their land is also full of horses,And there is no end to their chariots.Their land is also full of idols;They worship the work of their own hands,That which their own fingers have made.The loftiness of man shall be bowed down,And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low;The Lord alone will be exalted in that day,But the idols He shall utterly abolish.They shall go into the holes of the rocks,And into the caves of the earth,From the terror of the LordAnd the glory of His majesty,When He arises to shake the earth mightily.– Isaiah 2:6-8, 17-19

Woes From the Lord, Part 1 of 2Woe to those who join house to house;They add field to field,Till there is no placeWhere they may dwell alone in the midst of the land!In my hearing the Lord of hosts said,"Truly, many houses shall be desolate,Great and beautiful ones, without inhabitant.For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath,And a homer of seed shall yield one ephah."Woe to those who rise early in the morning,That they may follow intoxicating drink;Who continue until night, till wine inflames them!The harp and the strings,The tambourine and flute,And wine are in their feasts;But they do not regard the work of the Lord,Nor consider the operation of His hands.– Isaiah 5:8-12

Woes From the Lord, Part 2 of 2Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,And prudent in their own sight!Woe to men mighty at drinking wine,Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink,Who justify the wicked for a bribe,And take away justice from the righteous man!Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble,And the flame consumes the chaff,So their root will be as rottenness,And their blossom will ascend like dust;Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts,And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.– Isaiah 5:20-24

Isaiah’s Willingness to ServeAlso I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:"Whom shall I send,And who will go for Us?"Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."And He said, "Go, and tell this people:Keep on hearing, but do not understand;Keep on seeing, but do not perceive."Make the heart of this people dull,And their ears heavy,And shut their eyes;Lest they see with their eyes,And hear with their ears,And understand with their heart,And return and be healed."Then I said, "Lord, how long?"– Isaiah 6:8-11

This passage gives an account of Isaiah’s call to be a prophet of God. When reading this, I noticed how eager Isaiah is to serve, to do what the Lord commanded of him, and to serve for as long as God desired. Isaiah truly has a servant’s heart!Question to Ponder: Are you this willing and eager to serve the Lord?

The Coming ImmanuelThen [the Lord] said [to King Ahaz], "Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings. The Lord will bring the king of Assyria upon you and your people and your father's house-days that have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah." – Isaiah 7:13-17

As is the case with many Biblical prophecies, this one likely had an immediate fulfillment (for King Ahaz, related to events that happened with his wife and family), and an ultimate fulfillment later on (with the birth of Jesus, called Immanuel--God with us). Primarily, though, I believe this serves as a prophecy of the coming Savior, written some 700 years before His birth!Question to Ponder: How much faith do you have in Biblical prophecies?

For the Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying:"Do not say, A conspiracy,Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy,Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow;Let Him be your fear,And let Him be your dread.He will be as a sanctuary,But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offenseTo both the houses of Israel,As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.And many among them shall stumble;They shall fall and be broken,Be snared and taken."Bind up the testimony,Seal the law among my disciples.And I will wait on the Lord,Who hides His face from the house of Jacob;And I will hope in Him.– Isaiah 8:11-17

A Prophecy of Jesus, Part 1 of 2Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,As when at first He lightly esteemedThe land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,And afterward more heavily oppressed her,By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,In Galilee of the Gentiles.The people who walked in darknessHave seen a great light;Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,Upon them a light has shined.You have multiplied the nationAnd increased its joy;They rejoice before YouAccording to the joy of harvest,As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.For You have broken the yoke of his burdenAnd the staff of his shoulder,The rod of his oppressor,As in the day of Midian.– Isaiah 9:1-4

The first part of this Messianic prophecy makes it clear that the coming Savior will come for everyone, including Gentiles (non-Jews). The light of the Savior will shine on everyone!

A Prophecy of Jesus, Part 1 of 2For every warrior's sandal from the noisy battle,And garments rolled in blood,Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.For unto us a Child is born,Unto us a Son is given;And the government will be upon His shoulder.And His name will be calledWonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Of the increase of His government and peaceThere will be no end,Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,To order it and establish it with judgment and justiceFrom that time forward, even forever.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.– Isaiah 9:5-7

As this prophecy concludes, we learn more about how this Savior will come to us. Isaiah writes that He will be born unto us and He will be our just judge. Isaiah also lists some of the names by which He will be known, including Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Best of all, His kingdom will never come to an end!

Idols and ArroganceAs my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols,Whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria,As I have done to Samaria and her idols,Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?"Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks."For he says:"By the strength of my hand I have done it,And by my wisdom, for I am prudent;Also I have removed the boundaries of the people,And have robbed their treasuries;So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man."Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it?Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it?As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up,Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!– Isaiah 10:10-13, 15

A Prophecy of JesusThere shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,The Spirit of counsel and might,The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.His delight is in the fear of the Lord,And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;But with righteousness He shall judge the poor,And decide with equity for the meek of the earth;He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,And faithfulness the belt of His waist."And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,Who shall stand as a banner to the people;For the Gentiles shall seek Him,And His resting place shall be glorious."– Isaiah 11:1-5, 10

Satan’s Arrogance and His Fall"How you are fallen from heaven,O Lucifer, son of the morning!How you are cut down to the ground,You who weakened the nations!For you have said in your heart:I will ascend into heaven,I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;I will also sit on the mount of the congregationOn the farthest sides of the north;I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,I will be like the Most High.Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,To the lowest depths of the Pit."– Isaiah 14:12-15

Must We Be Destroyed Before We Respect God?The burden against Damascus."Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city,And it will be a ruinous heap.In that day a man will look to his Maker,And his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel.He will not look to the altars,The work of his hands;He will not respect what his fingers have made,Nor the wooden images nor the incense altars.In that day his strong cities will be as a forsaken boughAnd an uppermost branch,Which they left because of the children of Israel;And there will be desolation.Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation,And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold,– Isaiah 17:1, 7-10a

An Ungodly Nation Can Be Destroyed From WithinThe burden against Egypt.Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud,And will come into Egypt;The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence,And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst."I will set Egyptians against Egyptians;Everyone will fight against his brother,And everyone against his neighbor,City against city, kingdom against kingdom.The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst;I will destroy their counsel,And they will consult the idols and the charmers,The mediums and the sorcerers.And the Egyptians I will giveInto the hand of a cruel master,And a fierce king will rule over them,"Says the Lord, the Lord of hosts.– Isaiah 19:1-4

Take Comfort in the LordFor You have been a strength to the poor,A strength to the needy in his distress,A refuge from the storm,A shade from the heat;For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.You will reduce the noise of aliens,As heat in a dry place;As heat in the shadow of a cloud,The song of the terrible ones will be diminished.And it will be said in that day:"Behold, this is our God;We have waited for Him, and He will save us.This is the Lord;We have waited for Him;We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."– Isaiah 25:4-5, 9

Seeking Contentment in the Wrong PlacesBut they also have erred through wine,And through intoxicating drink are out of the way;The priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink,They are swallowed up by wine,They are out of the way through intoxicating drink;They err in vision, they stumble in judgment.For all tables are full of vomit and filth;No place is clean."Whom will he teach knowledge?And whom will he make to understand the message?"Because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death,And with Sheol we are in agreement.When the overflowing scourge passes through,It will not come to us,For we have made lies our refuge,And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves."– Isaiah 28:7-9a, 15

Where Is Your Heart?Therefore the Lord said:"Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouthsAnd honor Me with their lips,But have removed their hearts far from Me,And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous workAmong this people,A marvelous work and a wonder;For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden."Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord,And their works are in the dark;They say, "Who sees us?" and, "Who knows us?"– Isaiah 29:13-15

Searching For What You Want to Hear"Woe to the rebellious children," says the Lord,"Who take counsel, but not of Me,And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit,That they may add sin to sin;Who walk to go down to Egypt,And have not asked My advice,To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh,And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!That this is a rebellious people,Lying children,Children who will not hear the law of the Lord;Who say to the seers, "Do not see,"And to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us right things;Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.Get out of the way,Turn aside from the path,Cause the Holy One of IsraelTo cease from before us."– Isaiah 30:1-2, 9-11

Boasting Against the LordThus says the king: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you; nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, "The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria." ... Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, "The Lord will deliver us." Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria?" ... Then Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying: ... "Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands--wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone." ... Then the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses--all dead. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh [where he was killed]. – Isaiah 36:14-15, 18; 37:15, 18-20, 36-37

Finding Strength in the LordHave you not known?Have you not heard?The everlasting God, the Lord,The Creator of the ends of the earth,Neither faints nor is weary.His understanding is unsearchable.He gives power to the weak,And to those who have no might He increases strength.Even the youths shall faint and be weary,And the young men shall utterly fall,But those who wait on the LordShall renew their strength;They shall mount up with wings like eagles,They shall run and not be weary,They shall walk and not faint.– Isaiah 40:28-31

A Prophecy of Jesus"Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,My Elect One in whom My soul delights!I have put My Spirit upon Him;He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.A bruised reed He will not break,And smoking flax He will not quench;He will bring forth justice for truth.He will not fail nor be discouraged,Till He has established justice in the earth;And the coastlands shall wait for His law.""I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness,And will hold Your hand;I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,As a light to the Gentiles,To open blind eyes."– Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7a

Our Mighty Lord"I am the Lord, and there is no other;There is no God besides Me.I will gird you, though you have not known Me,That they may know from the rising of the sun to its settingThat there is none besides Me.I am the Lord, and there is no other;I form the light and create darkness,I make peace and create calamity;I, the Lord, do all these things.Rain down, you heavens, from above,And let the skies pour down righteousness;Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation,And let righteousness spring up together.I, the Lord, have created it.Woe to him who strives with his Maker!"– Isaiah 45:5-9a

Another Prophecy of Jesus"Listen, O coastlands, to Me,And take heed, you peoples from afar!The Lord has called Me from the womb;From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword;In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me,And made Me a polished shaft;In His quiver He has hidden Me.""I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth."Thus says the Lord,The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One,To Him whom man despises,To Him whom the nation abhors,To the Servant of rulers:"Kings shall see and arise,Princes also shall worship,Because of the Lord who is faithful,The Holy One of Israel;And He has chosen You."– Isaiah 49:1-2, 6b-7

(through Isaiah 49)