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Tuesday 13 November 2018

The book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 2


The book of the Prophet Isaiah 

Chapter 

2


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

(Isaiah Chapter 2 verse 1)


Oh God although these chapters were originally intended for Judah and Jerusalem, on reflecting the messages found in this chapter are also valid for us, if we meditate on them in a spirit of prayer.


2. In days to come the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.

(Isaiah Chapter 2 verse 2)


When You were crucified on the hill You sanctified that location and therefore that place was raised above all the other hills and mountains because the holiest of holiest was offered on that hill and thus the place became holy due to Your presence in that place. Many times before the actual even took place, You are already making us aware of what was to take place later on. In life You also make us aware or give us hints about events that are to take place in the coming future. You love us so much that You start preparing us for the event that at times may not be pleasant such as the death of a loved one from years before, by  giving us the necessary coping skills.


3. 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 instruction and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

(Isaiah Chapter 2 verse 3)


Oh how much I wish that I totally submit myself to live according to Your Word oh God and not according to the ways of the world. I pray that each passing day I am transformed into a new creation that is shaped and molded according to Your Word. Amen.


4. He shall judge between nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

(Isaiah Chapter 2 verse 4)


Oh God I truly believe that the time will come when You will judge the earth for all its acts of lack of justice. You will arbitrate between the poor people of Africa who were usurped of their resources in order to enlarge the pockets of those more developed countries of the west, who had the developed skills and resources to make good of the resources of the people of Africa and instead of teaching this nation how to gain the profits from their resources the west manipulated the resources in their favour and left Africa and other nations in poverty and with a lack of important skills. To make matters worse the Africans are taxed to pay their debts from the rich countries of the west who in truth are to pay Africa for the resources that  they have taken from them.  God will have mercy on You Africa, Brazil and other usurped countries. He will be your arbitrator amen.


5. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD! 6. For you have forsaken the ways of your people, O house of Jacob. Indeed they are full of diviners from the east and soothsayers like the Philistines, and they clasp hands with foreigners.

(Isaiah Chapter 2 verses 5 and 6)


Oh Roman Catholics and Christians of all denominations let us reunite against this wave of evil and violence that is harassing our world and placing it in a state of danger. Let us unite in a spirit of prayer and fasting so that this wave of terror will come to an end amen.


7. Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. 8. Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, and to what their own fingers have made.

(Isaiah Chapter 2 verses 7 to 8)


Oh God my Father although you provide us with gifts, skills and many resources, we are not grateful. Instead of giving thanks and worship we adore the object instead of the maker and provider of the object. This is a big mistake which is very painful especially to You our true Father in heaven and on earth.


9. And so people are humbled, and everyone is brought low do not forgive them! 10. Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust from the terror of the LORD, and from the glory of his majesty.

(Isaiah Chapter 2 verses 9 to 10)


Oh God may the proud and haughty be humbled for their own good. May all who think big of themselves realise that we all have to die and that before You nobody is greater than You. On the other hand as You yourself told us, anyone who wishes to be greater than others, that person is to be the servant of all.


11. The haughty eyes of people shall be brought low, and the pride of everyone shall be humbled; and the LORD alone will be exalted on that day.

(Isaiah Chapter 2 verse 11)


Oh God You love us so much that You raise up the humble and humble the proud and haughty, so if you do not feel as confident or proud as anybody else do not despair but turn to God who is able to strengthen the weak self confidence and change it to a healthy dose of confidence.


12. For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up and high; 13. against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan; 14. against all the high mountains, and against all the lofty hills; 15. against every high tower, and against every fortified wall; 16. against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft. 17. The haughtiness of people shall be humbled, and the pride of everyone shall be brought low; and the LORD alone will be exalted on that day. 

(Isaiah Chapter 2 verses 12 to 17)


If there is one thing that You really dislike it is pride that is also manifested in the Devil, who wanted to be of the same ranking as You and could not stand being inferior to You. He wanted his own kingdom of evil and his own followers. However this evil spirit that is harming our society is already conquered, even though he is destroying many families, and societies. I pray for my family which is in great danger of being a family no longer. At this stage only the physical structure remains. Thanks for being a Father to me. IF everybody leaves me, You will never betray me oh Father. Amen


18. The idols shall utterly pass away. 19. Enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from the terror of the LORD, and from the glory of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.

(Isaiah Chapter 2 verses 18 to 19)


Indeed for fortune tellers, people involved in satanism or witchcraft will indeed be terrified during Your second visit, even those of us who make part of the Roman Catholic Church or other churches for the sake of not becoming social outcasts will be shocked when they realise that what is written in the Bible regarding heaven and hell is actually true. I pray that we will not be accounted among such group of people Amen.


20. On that day people will throw away to the moles and to the bats their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, 21. to enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts in the crags, from the terror of the LORD, and from the glory of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. 22. Turn away from mortals, who have only breath in their nostrils for of what account are they?

(Isaiah Chapter 2 verses 20 to 22)


Oh how great will be that day oh God when we abandon our idols and give our entire worship only to You and not to the ways and idols of the world.


Oh God I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-


Oh God almighty, Lion of Judah and ruler of all the earth, blessed be Your Name. It is worthy to be praised and worship above that of all worldly superstars and actors, football players and other people who we consider as being famous. Your name deserves praise and worship. May we all abandon our idols and give our praise and worship only to You. 





Thursday 10 May 2018

Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21


Book of Prophet Isaiah

 Chapter 

21



¹ The Oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.


(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 1)



Oh God my Father, many times unfinished issues or business or sins that have not been dealt with from our past come back to haunt us like a terrible whirlwind, however when it is a door that has a lock from both sides we can ask You to help us to take control of the situation Amen and if the wind pushes from one side You are able to silence it from the other Amen.





² A stern vision is told to me; the betrayer betrays and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam lay siege, O Media; all the sighting she has caused I bring to an end.



(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 2)



Oh God my Father, You are my avenger, You know if something is being planned against me, for the evil one never ceases to make plans for my destruction. However You have power and control over all situations of life and is totally in control even though I do not realize this, You permit all to happen for our own good Amen.


⁶ For thus the Lord said to me; "Go, post a lookout, let him announce what he sees.



(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 6)


 
May we be all on the lookout my God and Father, may we all be given the gift of prophecy so that we proclaim the visions and wonders and messages that You share with us, my God and Father Amen.



³ Therefore my loins are filled with anguish pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in labor; I am bowed down so that I cannot hear, I am dismayed so that I cannot see.




(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 3) 




Oh God my Father, I can only imagine how You must feel when You see the pain that many people in the world are experiencing, of which many are innocent of the situations that they have found themselves in. I pray for mercy and consolation my God and Father Amen. 




⁴ My mind reels, horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.



(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 4) 




Oh God my mind is also reeling and I also feel tired because this separation is taking so long that I am feeling exhausted both mentally and even financially. I pray for Your support my God and Father Amen.



⁵ They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Rise up, commanders, oil the shield!
 


(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 5)  




Oh Holy Spirit of God prepare for action, we are lacking in our faith, our values and decision making is degrading, laws are being passed which are not always according to Your will. I pray that You launch an attack on the forces of evil Amen. 
 


⁶ For thus the Lord said to me; "Go, post a lookout, let him announce what he sees.



(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 6)  



Oh God my Father, may we all be prophets and prophetic in our behavior, however not prophets of doom but prophets of love, peace and positive behavior. Amen.




⁷ When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently very diligently.



(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 7)  



Oh God, my Father may we be diligent and always aware of those whom we welcome in our circles and in our houses, for not all may be living according to Your ways and bad influences and lifestyles may be brought with them to our houses, and thus corrupting our way of life-based on Your will Amen.   


⁸ Then the watcher called out: "Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed throughout the night.


(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 8) 



Oh God my beloved Father, I would like to utter the same proclamation like the watcher on the watchtower, however, at times I become lax in my watch and lose my focus of You my dear Father. I pray that You make me more focused on doing Your will Amen.



⁹ Look, there they come, riders, horsemen in pairs!" Then he responded, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground."


(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 9)



Fallen oh God my Father are we if we do not place our trust in You! We are surrounded by horsemen such as the media politics fashion, current trends peer pressure and other social and psychological forces that the evil one makes use of in order to harass us throughout our daily life. I pray that as always You defend us from the forces of evil Amen.


¹⁰ O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the LORD of hosts, God of Israel, I announce to you.


(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 10)


Oh brothers and sisters, what God shares with me I share with you. I am sharing as a sinner to a sinner, however in my sinful state God has mercy on me. Amen.



¹¹ The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, "Sentinel, what of the night?Sentinel, what of the night?" ¹² The sentinel says; "Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again."


(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verses 11 to 12)



Oh God, my Father, what will my response be to Your inquiry I really wonder when the time comes! I hope it is a positive reply back by positive works and good intentions and not unbalanced by sinful acts. Amen.



¹³ The oracle concerning the desert plain. In the scrub of the desert plain you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.


(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verse 13)



Oh God my Father it is a fact that during times of our life, we feel lonely and depressed and maybe even isolated as if in a desert environment, however, these moments are times of reflection where we can listen to Your voice and experience peace and comfort of our soul Amen.


¹⁴ Bring water to the thirsty, meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema. ¹⁵ For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the stress of battle.




(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verses 14 to 15)


Oh God my Father, I thank You for the job that You have given me, for by means of the role that You have assigned me I am giving help to people who are so vulnerable that really and truly could benefit from the support that I can offer to them. I thank You for this job of a Social Worker with Asylum Seekers Amen. I offer my prayers for one of my clients who is to undergo an operation today, I pray that it will be a success Amen.


¹⁶ For thus the Lord said to me; Within a year, according to the years of a hired worker, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end; ¹⁷ and the remaining bows of Kedar's warriors will be few; for the LORD the God of Israel has spoken.


(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 21 verses 16 to 17)


Oh God my Father, as You know there are people who seek and find their glory on earth and become very popular, while others such as myself are unpopular on earth and seek popularity in the kingdom of heaven by trying to obey Your will Amen.


I would like to end this twenty-first chapter of the book of the Prophet Isaiah with the following prayer:-


Oh God my father how awesome will Your day of judgment be! You who humbles the proud and mighty and raises the poor in spirit, I pray that I may not be carried away by worldly honors but be humble and obedient to Your will Amen.












 

Thursday 15 March 2018

Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 20


Book of Prophet Isaiah

 Chapter 

20



¹ In the year that the commander-in-chief, who was sent by King Sargon of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and took it-² at that time the LORD had spoken to Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, "Go and loose the sackcloth from your loins and take your sandals off your feet." and he had done so, walking naked and barefoot.


(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 20 verses 1 to 2)


Oh God, my Father, in order to be able to have access to my daughter I am ready to do many sacrifices even if it means going to prison for some time. I am ready to even fast as a sacrificial offering in order to turn the situation to a just way. Amen, even if it takes many years for my aim to be reached Amen. Thank You, Jesus.


³ Then the LORD said, "Just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Ethiopia, ⁴ so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as captives and the Ethiopians as exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.


(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 20 verses 3 to 4)


Oh God my Father as much as nations are against migrants and refugees and as much as they are making it hard for them to seek asylum in their lands, one day they will also be migrants and in search of Asylum and only then they will realize what it is like to be an Asylum Seeker and the challenges that they experience Amen.


⁵ And they shall be dismayed and confounded because of Ethiopia their hope and of Egypt their boast. ⁶ In that day the inhabitants of this coastland will say, "See, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?"



(Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 20 verses 5 to 6)



Oh God, my blessed Father, we may ask the same question. We may have used all the available resources in order to deal with our problems and remained stuck in the same rut if not ended up worse than before. And so we ask what are we to do if the world has failed us. We are to turn to You who provides the adequate help according to Your perfect timing Amen. God's timing is perfect because He is perfect. All we need is to wait for Him to deliver us and this he will never fail to do. Amen.


I would like to end the twentieth chapter from the book of the Prophet Isaiah with the following prayer:


Oh, brothers and sisters let us give all our problems to the Lord and God my Father, and He will deliver us in His good and Godly time which is far different than our own timing. Let us be wide awake and alert to follow the signs that he gives us every day of our lives by means of prayers, people and even situations from our everyday life Amen.

Thank You, Jesus.