Devotions

Yahweh (the Lord) has Spoken

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As we finish reading John’s letters, we find him dealing with a mature church in a fallen world. Even in the church there are those that operate as the world does, seeking position and trying to control others. John encourages them to support missionary outreach saying “we ought to support such people” in 3 John 8 and this is why we are here in our generation, to declare Jesus Christ as the way. We begin in Isaiah and find God has spoken judgement against His nation, those that were to be His representatives of justice and righteousness in the earth but they are not what they ought to have been. Even as judgement is spoken, restoration and a future is also given because it is God’s heart that we “walk in the light”. 

Prosper Concerning Everything and Be Healthy

3 John 1–4
This is always God’s will for us that we “may prosper concerning everything and be healthy, just as your soul prospers” in 3 John 2. These are not idle words just spoken to be a kind greeting between friends. These are active words full of faith and Gods power. If we look at the ministry of Jesus we find that he said in

Luke 4:18–19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because of which he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to send out in freedom those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

and it was recorded by those that witnessed in

Acts 10:38 Jesus of Nazareth—how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.

It is this same Holy Spirit and power that John invokes with his words of faith in his prayer and every thought for them. 

They Have Gone Out on Behalf of the Name

3 John 5–8
John encourages missionary work saying “we ought to support such people, so that we become fellow workers with the truth” in 3 John 8. And it is true, whether we walk with them in the labor or provide financial or other support to make their work possible, we are sharing in the fruit for God’s Kingdom. So, for these that “have gone out on behalf of the name, accepting nothing from the pagans” in 3 John 7 their support could make a huge difference for the Kingdom because there were likely many that would pass their way.

It isn’t immediately obvious that this is the church in Corinth, but this letter is written to “Gaius” and “In Rom 16:23, Gaius sends greetings from his residence in Corinth to the church in Rome, implying that he may have known personally some of the Roman Christians. His Latin name and his financial position suggest that he belonged to the class of Roman freedmen who had come to Corinth and had apparently prospered economically. He was at least a person of sufficient wealth to host the whole Corinthian church, which must have been quite large judging from Acts 18:10”.1

So, this letter had potential impact on one of the larger Churches of the day, but even more than that, fact that the city of Corinth had “Control of these two harbors, and its position virtually astride the 6-km-wide isthmus linking the Peloponnese to mainland Greece, made Corinth the great crossroads of the ancient world (Strabo 8.6.20)”.2 It was a place that was on the way for missionaries whether going out or coming home and in either direction encouraging support was helpful.

The One Who Does Good is of God

3 John 9–15
Sadly, not everyone who seeks place in the church is godly. John writes about one who in 3 John 9-10 “who wants to be first among them, does not acknowledge us … disparaging us with evil words … he does not receive the brothers himself, and he hinders those wanting to do so and throws them out of the church”. How is the love of God in this? The provision of God flows freely to us, and we also are to be a free flowing conduit of that blessing to others.

When Jesus sent the twelve, he expected the children of Israel to receive them and provide for them, how much more should this be in the church today.

Matthew 10:7–10 And as you are going, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near!’ 8 Heal those who are sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, expel demons. Freely you have received; freely give. 9 Do not procure gold or silver or copper for your belts. 10 Do not take a traveler’s bag for the road, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff, for the worker is deserving of his provisions.

Isaiah Introduction

Introduction to Isaiah
Isaiah points clearly at Jesus Christ as messiah “The New Testament quotations cover all sections of the Isaianic literature, ascribing all alike to the same prophet. The authority of the New Testament with, at its centre, the authority of Jesus, is decisive”.3

The book begins by recognizing the failure of Israel to enter in to God’s blessing, “As the book of Isaiah has come to us, chapters 1–5 form a distinct section—like a ‘preface’ to Isaiah’s collected prophecies … effectively a declaration that ‘You are not what you ought to have been’”.4

Because of this, “Isaiah foretold the destruction of Jerusalem (JUSTIN MARTYR, HIPPOLYTUS, CHRYSOSTOM, CYRIL OF JERUSALEM). Because the Jews had forsaken God, his salvation was transferred from them to the Gentiles (ORIGEN). Although we are naturally the offspring of God, we are separated from him because of our sins (JEROME). Although the Jews had the prophets’ message concerning Christ, only a remnant of them recognized him when he came (JUSTIN MARTYR). Salvation is not attained by human efforts, which produce pride, but by grace through faith (CHRYSOSTOM, AUGUSTINE). The remnant refers to those Jews who believed in Jesus Christ and were saved (JEROME)”.5 

Yahweh (the Lord) has Spoken

Isaiah 1:1–9
When God speaks, all of heaven listens. God’s word goes out to the earth and His judgments will be carried out. Isaiah’s introductory words are very much like the description John gives in Revelation 5:1-14. “As this commentator suggests, Isaiah doesn’t say why, but I believe his reference puts this in the right perspective, “Isaiah does not explain why the heavens and earth are summoned to hear … creation is called to court as the perpetual witness of what happens on earth (Ps. 50:4–6) and is therefore able to affirm the truth of the divine accusations”.6

But here, God is not commending them for their goodness or offering an answer to their prayer, instead He is pronouncing judgement on them for their evil behavior. And here we also find the great grace and goodness of God because He does not leave them desolate. Over the next few chapters Isaiah also offers them a future hope. 

An Outline of God’s Plan

Isaiah 1:1-2:11

  • Yahweh (the Lord) has Spoken – Isaiah 1:1–9
  • Hear the Word of Yahweh (the Lord) – Isaiah 1:10–20
  • The Declaration of the Lord Yahweh of Hosts – Isaiah 1:21–31
  • The Mountain of the House of Yahweh Shall be Established – Isaiah 2:1–4
    “Isaiah 2:2–4:6 opens with a thrilling vision of what Zion was meant to be: a rallying-point for the whole world, the city of universal truth and peace. But of course, to the prophet’s eye, it simply was not so. Far from conforming the world to itself, the Lord’s people had conformed to the nations (2:6–7) and would, with the world, come under ultimate divine judgment (2:12–21)”7 but this is not the end, God will restore.
  • Walk in the Light of Yahweh (the Lord) – Isaiah 2:5–11

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • 3 John 1-15
  • Isaiah 1:1-31
  • Isaiah 2:1-11

References

  • 1. Gillman, J. (1992). Gaius (Person). In D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. 2, p. 869). New York: Doubleday.
  • 2. Murphy-O’Connor, J. (1992). Corinth (Place). In D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. 1, p. 1135). New York: Doubleday.
  • 3. Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, p. 39). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 4. Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, p. 47-48). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 5. McKinion, S. A. (Ed.). (2004). Isaiah 1-39 (p. 2). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 6. Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, p. 50). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 7. Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, p. 48). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.