Old Sandals

You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.  You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

It is only a sinful heart that would turn from such lavish love.  God would save everybody, if they would only let Him.

For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Surely this prohecy, like all the prophecies of the Old Testament, are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the God-man.  These ancient prophetic words were inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, the same Holy Spirit who was there hovering over the void at the dawn of creation, the same Holy Spirit who, as a a member of the Godhead, devised a plan to save the human race through the incarnation of the son of God.

I will exchange your bronze for gold, your iron for silver, your wood for bronze, and your stones for iron.

I will exchange your wood for bronze, and your bronze for gold.
I will exchange your stones for iron, and your iron for silver.
I will exchange for death for life, and your life for My life.
I will exchange your anxiety for peace, and your peace for that which passes all understanding.
I will exchange your sin for righteousness, and your righteousness with Myself.

 

As for Me, says the Lord, this  is  My covenant with them: My Spirit who  is  upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants descendants, says the Lord, from this time and forevermore.

His truth is marching on. Christian, keep marching! Listen for His drumbeat in your spirit. Consider yourself a soldier in the army of the Lord.

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

The people failed to do works of righteousness; they failed to love their neighbor, and yet they thought they could impress the Almighty by fasting. Fasting is important, and should not be neglected. But the greatest of these…

For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.  Come in today.  Come in to stay.  Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.

“Come,” one says, “I will bring wine, and we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink. Tomorrow will be as today, and much more abundant.”

There is this illusion that our life is our own, that it will never end, that the good times will always roll.  But it is only that—an illusion.

Death is the central fact of life.  And the only life there really is, is in God.

For My thoughts  are  not your thoughts, nor  are  your ways My ways, says the Lord.

We are to have a childlike faith.  This doesn’t mean we should be unthinking, but rather realize that, think as hard as we might, we are never going to plumb the depths nor scale the heights of God’s thoughts, God’s ways. But we know He is merciful and gracious, and, like a child, we can trust Him completely.

With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer.

The wayward people of Israel were at last, because of their rebellion, objects of his wrath, but only for a little while—a moment.  In what way is God’s dealings with Israel to be considered unique, and not representative of how he deals (or will deal) with the whole human race?

But He  was  wounded for our transgressions,  He was  bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace  was  upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

The chastisement for our peace. Our peace with God was secured through His chastisement. How is chastisement different from punishment?