Tag: honor

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God is Honored- Isaiah- Week 4- Day 5

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth. And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.

Isaiah 23:17-18

Explanation:
Isaiah continues the prostitute metaphor in these verses. At the end of this time of desolation Tyre will be recognized again by the nations. She will begin again to make a profit, and do business with “all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.” God is going to use her newly accumulated wealth for His honor and for His purposes. Instead of being used to oppress God’s people, it will be used to supply God’s people.

This serves as a reminder to the people of Judah that they need not prostitute themselves with the practices of the pagan nations around them. Jehovah God will provide for them. He will take care of them. They need to not envy the nations of the world that obtain wealth in ways that dishonors God. God is honored by obedience, and He honors those who are obedient to him.

Application:
These principles apply to us. We can begin to think that there is some disadvantage to living righteously when we see evil people prospering. We must remember that God will ultimately honor Christ’s obedience who offered His life for us. When we trust in Christ alone for salvation, God justifies us. There are blessings that come with obedience. We must trust God by being obedient even when it costs us in the short term. There will be blessings in eternity for those who put their trust in the omnipotent, sovereign God of the universe.

Response:
• Is there a pattern in your life of living like those who do not trust God?
• In what ways does your life show that you trust God and want to honor Him?

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God is Honored- Isaiah- Week 4- Day 4

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.

Isaiah 23:15-16

Explanation:
Isaiah describes the time after the end of downfall and judgement of Tyre. He says “that Tyre would be forgotten 70 years.” For 70 years, Tyre will be a shadow of its former self. The picture offered for this is a vivid one. Tyre will be like a harlot who has been aged and used up by the consequences of her profession. She returns by finding a way to get a hearing and provide a service for her former clientele that they will want.

She is commended to “Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten.” Instead of offering her body she is now offering her voice and song. Why? The purpose is “that thou mayest be remembered.”

We are seeing here God setting up Tyre to be used to bring Him honor. We’ll see that in the coming verses. He can do this because He is sovereign.

Application:
During this time people thought of deities as being tied to peoples and nations. The further you got from the peoples and nations the less powerful the deities would be. In this text we see Jehovah God being different than those other “gods.” Of course we know that He is different because He is the One and True God. But He is also contrasted here because He is equally omnipotent everywhere. He is both omnipresent and omnipotent. He is orchestrating history to bring about His purposes and His plans, and all the nations of the earth are accountable to Him, not just Israel. Tyre, like all cities and nations, is accountable to Jehovah God. The same is true of our country. We must pray for our nation to Honor God.

Response:
• Are you honoring God individually and in your family? If our families do not honor God then our nation will not honor him.
• Take some time today to pray that our country would honor God and that those far from Him would return to Him.