February 15, 2011

I PITY THE FOOL!!

Isaiah 32

Ian Daniels
Tuesday's Devo

February 15, 2011

Tuesday's Devo

February 15, 2011

Central Truth

The King is coming. Are you acting the fool or being a noble man?

Key Verse | Isaiah 32:5

No longer will the fool be called noble,
Or the rogue be spoken of as generous. (Isaiah 32:5)

Isaiah 32

A King Will Reign in Righteousness

Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,
    and princes will rule in justice.
Each will be like a hiding place from the wind,
    a shelter from the storm,
like streams of water in a dry place,
    like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.
Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed,
    and the ears of those who hear will give attention.
The heart of the hasty will understand and know,
    and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly.
The fool will no more be called noble,
    nor the scoundrel said to be honorable.
For the fool speaks folly,
    and his heart is busy with iniquity,
to practice ungodliness,
    to utter error concerning the LORD,
to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied,
    and to deprive the thirsty of drink.
As for the scoundrel—his devices are evil;
    he plans wicked schemes
to ruin the poor with lying words,
    even when the plea of the needy is right.
But he who is noble plans noble things,
    and on noble things he stands.

Complacent Women Warned of Disaster

Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice;
    you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech.
10  In little more than a year
    you will shudder, you complacent women;
for the grape harvest fails,
    the fruit harvest will not come.
11  Tremble, you women who are at ease,
    shudder, you complacent ones;
strip, and make yourselves bare,
    and tie sackcloth around your waist.
12  Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,
    for the fruitful vine,
13  for the soil of my people
    growing up in thorns and briers,
yes, for all the joyous houses
    in the exultant city.
14  For the palace is forsaken,
    the populous city deserted;
the hill and the watchtower
    will become dens forever,
a joy of wild donkeys,
    a pasture of flocks;
15  until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,
    and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
    and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.
16  Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
    and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
17  And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
    and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust 1 32:17 Or security forever.
18  My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,
    in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
19  And it will hail when the forest falls down,
    and the city will be utterly laid low.
20  Happy are you who sow beside all waters,
    who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.

Footnotes

[1] 32:17 Or security

Dive Deeper | Isaiah 32

Isaiah foretells what it will be like in Judah once the king is reigning righteously and princes are ruling justly. This was likely written during the reign of Ahaz and could be pointing to a time when Hezekiah would reign. Hezekiah would rule in a way that was seen as right in the eyes of the Lord (2 Kings 18:3, 5-6).

For Judah, the reign of the righteous King will be a time of refuge and shelter from the storms. It will be like water in a dry place and shade in a parched land (Isaiah 32:2). I love these analogies! I can't think of many things better than water and shade after being out in the hot Texas sun. I love it!

Isaiah paints an amazing picture in verses 3 and 4. Those who see will not be blinded and those who hear will listen. I often take a step back to see if my eyes are fixed on earthly possessions or on the King. I know where they should be, but I get wrapped up in earthly things too easily. I try to ensure I’m authentic with my community about where my heart is and to take advantage of Bible study such as Summit to continue to grow my relationship with the Lord. I encourage you to participate.

In verse 5 Isaiah writes about a fool. He is writing about the current leaders of Judah who put God to one side (see also 7:10-12). They will no longer be called noble. To be noble in this sense is to bring good to people and advance the kingdom of God. To be a fool is essentially the opposite. Wickedness, ungodliness, and working against the Lord are all characteristics.

How often do I miss chances to advance the kingdom? That conversation I didn't have time for, the time I got angry, the lack of courage to share the gospel with someone I just met . . . . Wow! I sure feel foolish. Ask yourself the question, "How do I want my life to be seen? In a noble way? Or in a foolish way?" The answer should be easy! But how are you really doing?

Discussion Questions

1. How are you blinded by the things of this world?

2. In what ways have you acted like a fool?

3. How can you change your foolishness to a path more noble?

WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY

ISAIAH 31-35 (FEB 14-18)

Read Isaiah 35.

Here, Isaiah is prophesying (telling what it will be like in the future) about what it will be like when Jesus comes back. Talk about all the things that are listed in Isaiah 35 that will change when He comes back (e.g., the deaf will hear, the desert will blossom).

Who will walk in the “Way of Holiness”? What does it mean to “walk in God’s way”? Have you trusted Jesus with your life, accepting Him as your Savior so that you can walk in God’s way?

Activity: Each person take a piece of paper and make a picture about the things that you are excited about “going away” when Jesus returns. Get creative!

(Do you have the song “You Hold Me Now” by Hillsong? Think about buying it if you use iTunes and do not already have it. This is a great song that talks about what it will be like when we get to see God and the hope that we can have because we know that Jesus is coming back.)