JUDGMENT MESSAGE

“Oh, my threshing and the grain of my floor! That which I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared to you!" (Isa. 21:10 NKJV).

In the context, our verse predicts judgment upon Babylon. When sin is rampant, the result is always judgment. Similarly, our world is so full of sin that it is ripe for judgment. In reference to our verse, we therefore want to note: the sorrow in the message, the source of the message, and the speaking of the message.

Sorrow in the message - “Oh, my threshing and the grain of my floor.” There are times in Scripture when judgment is described as a threshing. And the reference in our verse can apply to both Israel and Babylon. God had used Babylon to judge Israel, resulting in Israel being threshed. However, Babylon has now fallen in judgment, and they also can be said to be threshed in judgment. Threshing was a painful and sorrowful experience. Judgment always brings sorrow, and sin is to be blamed for the sorrow of judgment.

Source of the message - “That which I have heard from the LORD of hosts.” The source of Isaiah’s message was the Lord Himself. He did not invent the message. Further, not all of God’s messages are messages of comfort and consolation; oftentimes His messages are filled with judgment for our sin. Yet, we cannot blame God for the harsh judgment messages. It is our sin that is to blame.

Speaking of the message - “I have declared to you.” Delivering a message of judgment is never an easy task and it takes character to declare a message of judgment. But Isaiah was faithful to God’s Word and declared the message given him. Today, preaching against sin will not earn many preachers popularity awards. So, it takes great courage to declare the message of judgment. But it is the needed message when sin abounds.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Justice is the activity of God’s holiness!”

Anonymous Word Study

Discernment

In Phil. 1:9 we read, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment” (NKJV).

Discernment is the Greek word aisthēsis (αἴσθησις = ah'ee-sthay-sis). It refers to the capacity to understand referring not so much to an intellectual acuteness but to a moral sensitiveness. It thus speaks of moral perception, insight, and the practical application of knowledge. It describes the capacity to perceive clearly and hence to understand the real nature of something.

In classical Greek aisthēsis expresses the insight which can be acquired through the senses, in other words, through experience. In the Septuagint aisthēsis also carries the idea of insight and understanding. In the New Testament aisthēsis refers to the ability to make judgments. In context, Paul desired that his readers have a comprehensive acquaintance with things divine and a faculty to distinguishing right from wrong in the various aspects of life.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah is the only Savior (Isa. 43:11)

New Testament Fulfillment – Acts 4:12

Did You Know…

In the Bible, it states that Jesus said, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25).

Bible Quiz

According to Matthew 21, out of what did Jesus say God “perfected praise?”

**Answer to last week’s trivia: What sin did Jesus say, “will not be forgiven?” “Blasphemy against the Spirit” (Matt. 12:31)

Everyday Expressions Alluded to in the Bible

“Put out to pasture”

“And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses” (Dan. 4:32 NKJV).

“Put out to pasture” - The expression “put out to pasture” carries the idea of being put out of commission. In context, Nebuchadnezzar was probably walking on the roof of his palace, boasting about what he had accomplished. One thing is sure: he was walking in pride (v. 37), and pride is one of the sins that God hates (Prov. 6:16ff). Scripture warns in Prov. 11:2 that “When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.” Jam. 4:6 also warns that “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” God is longsuffering with sinners, but when the time comes for Him to act, there is no delay. Nebuchadnezzar was driven from the royal palace to live in the fields with the wild beasts.

Did You Know – Christian History

Royal Society (Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge) is the oldest national scientific society in the world and the leading national organization for the promotion of scientific research in Britain. The Society originated on November 28, 1660, when 12 men met after a lecture by Christopher Wren at Gresham College, London and resolved to set up “a College for the promoting of Physico-Mathematical Experimental Learning.

Not surprisingly, active Christians, with their interest in Creationism brought it into existence. In fact, its membership was overwhelmingly Puritan in makeup. It grew out of the meetings of the so-called ‘invisible college’ of natural philosophers and physicians who gathered at the home of the chemist Robert Boyle’s favorite sister, Katherine.

Theodore Haak, a professor at the largely Puritan Gresham College, initiated the meetings of the ‘invisibles. Chief architect and secretary of the Royal Society after the Restoration was John Wilkins, whose religious leanings later led him to become a bishop and to prepare arguments in defense of scripture.

John Wallis, a professor helped inaugurate the society, making him among the earliest members. Wallis funded many charities as well as financially supporting a clergyman to conduct worship services at hours when average working men could attend.

Robert Boyle’s faith is well-known, not only because of the apologetics he wrote but because he endowed a lecture series to defend Christianity. He assisted persecuted Welsh clergymen. In addition, he subsidized scripture translation and made researches into Bible languages. An innovative chemist, he gave us Boyle’s Law of Gases and wrote a book which exploded alchemy. He is often called the Father of Modern Chemistry.

Perhaps the most accomplished man of his day was Christopher Wren. He too was a founder of the Society. Best known for rebuilding St. Paul’s Cathedral, he was an anatomist, a geometer, a physicist, a meteorologist, and a surveyor. He attempted some of the first blood transfusions and made microscopic studies of insects. His faith was solid.

The motto adopted by the organization was, “Nothing by mere authority.” Almost every famous scientist of Britain has since been a member, including Sir Isaac Newton. Those who think faith must blind us to fact should look again at the history of the formation of the Royal Society.

A Little Humor

After Sunday school, the teacher released the kids to go to church and reminded them, "You all know to be very nice and quiet in the church. And why is that?" Little Johnny offers, "Miss, it's so we wouldn't wake all those people sleeping."

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Every person faces this choice - Christ or condemnation!”