Category: Isaiah

September 9, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; with comments.

Ephesians 2:11-22). Christ is our peace and our cornerstone.

Isaiah 49. A chapter on the servant. Is it Israel or is it Jesus? Isaiah indicated it is both, and “a light to the Gentiles.” Read it and contemplate.

Isaiah 50 continues elaborating about the Servant. The two last verses has meant much in my life: “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.”

September 8, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; with comments.

Ephesians 2:1-10. This is the famous chapter explaining that we are saved by grace through faith and brought near by His blood, and, once saved, we are His ‘poem’  (ποιημα).

Isaiah 46 tells of the dead gods of Babylon and other useless idols. Compare that to the living God! “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”

Isaiah 47 prophesies the fall of Babylon.

Isaiah 48. God declared His plan for Israel, and the chapter ends with something quoted in a famous play. Which play?

September 7, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; with comments.

Ephesians 1. This letter has a wonderful explanation of the Christian Gospel. The Apostle Paul stars out with a greeting, then explains what it means to receive redemption in Christ and ends up with a prayer for spiritual wisdom.

Isaiah 44. Israel is the chosen nation, God is supreme, idols are worthless. Sing, for the LORD has done it. God is the one “That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.”

Isaiah 45. Cyrus was God’s instrument. God gave him “the treasures of darkness”, though he did not acknowledge Him. The Lord is the only savior, there is none else. God said: “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.”

September 6, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; with comments.

Galatians 6. Bear one another’s burdens and at the same time each one should carry his own burden. A man reaps what he sows, be generous and do good, especially to those of the household of faith. Glory only in the cross. After these admonitions the Apostle Paul gave his final blessings.

Isaiah 43 speaks of the redeemer and the rebirth of Israel, which took place in 1948. It happened, in spite of Israel’s unfaithfulness, only by God’s mercy, and His promise that He would do a new thing.

Psalm 78, a maskil of Asaph. “This is the longest of the historical psalms. Its lesson is that history must not repeat itself. The people must never again be unbelieving.” (James Montgomery Boice)

September 5, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; with comments.

Galatians 5: 16-25. “ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” The Apostle Paul spoke of christian liberty, love fulfills the law and is accomplished by walking in the spirit.

Isaiah 41 waxes eloquent about the helper of Israel. “How firm a foundation” it is to stand with God. Compare that to the futility of idols!

Isaiah 42 records the Servant of the LORD as a light for the Gentiles. The sons of Kedar will sing a new song, which is not the doctrine of Islam, as some Muslims claim, but as so often was the case, Israel was still blind and deaf.

Psalm 77, of Asaph. No matter how dire the circumstances the believer can still sing God’s praises and recall God’s wonders.

September 4, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; with comments.

Galatians 5: 1-15. “ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Thee Apostle Paul spoke of christian liberty, love fulfills the law. Do not be circumcised!

Isaiah 39 tells of Hezekiah’s folly, how he showed all the riches of Jerusalem to the envoys from Babylon, and he said “There will be peace for our time”, like Neville Chamberlain proclaimed before WWII.

Isaiah 40. This chapter of Isaiah is very uplifting and has helped me immensely. I will not comment any further. Read it, listen to the music, read it again and let it sink in!

September 3, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; with comments.

Galatians 4. The Apostle Paul told the Galatians they are children of God and heirs of the promise, but still, he feared for the Church since they preferred the law over the promise. He explained it through two covenants, one in bondage through the law, the other in freedom through the Spirit.

Isaiah 37. Jerusalem’s deliverance is foretold, Hezekiah’s prayer and the word of the LORD concerning Sennacherib is recorded, followed by Hezekiah’s final fall.

Isaiah 38 describes Hezekiah’s illness and how the LORD added 15 years to his life.

September 2, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; with comments.

Galatians 3. We are justified by faith, even as Abraham was justified by faith. The law brings a curse, it is impossible to keep the law.  God gave the everlasting promise to Abraham before the law. “The Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.” “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.“

Isaiah 36. Isaiah broke away from prophecy and gave a historical rendition, duplicated in second Kings. This is not plagiarism, Isaiah was the scribe during Hezekiah’s reign.

September 1, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; with comments.

Galatians 2. The Apostle Paul was vigorously defending the gospel and warned the Galatians there is no return to the Law! “ for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

Isaiah 33. It begins with a prayer in distress, for there is a coming judgment of Zion, the LORD will be lifted up, and He will deliver his people.

Isaiah 34. A vivid description of the judgment against the nations. There are nine mentions of unicorns in the King James Bible. This is the final mention.

Isaiah 35. A beautiful rendition of the joy of the redeemed.

August 31, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; with comments.

Galatians 1. The Apostle Paul started the letter with greeting and blessing. Then he tore into the Galatians: There is only one gospel, Paul gave his defense for it, and explained his call to apostleship.

Isaiah 30 emphasizes “Don’t trust in Egypt!” But they were a rebellious people; in spite of that God will be gracious to Israel but execute judgement on Assyria.

Isaiah 31 proclaims woe to the Egyptophiles. The LORD will pass over Israel, but not Assyria.

Isaiah 32 ushers in the reign of righteousness, warns against complacency, and says (in King James Bible) “The vile person shall be no more called liberal” (NIV translates liberal as noble) so a few verses down it says (in NIV) “But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand.” The promise is  that the Holy spirit is righteousness and “The fruit of that righteousness will be peace.”