Dennis Bratcher
Introduction
Chapters 60-62 are the heart of the third section of Isaiah (56-66). The community of returned exiles struggled to believe that God was still working in their midst (see Where is God? Isaiah 59:1-21). The promises recorded in the second section of Isaiah during the exile (40-55) pointed to a great future for God’s people (see The Turn Toward Hope: Isaiah 40:1-15). They had regained possession of the land as promised. But they were barely existing. The community of God’s people was in no condition to be a light to the nations (42:5-7).
Throughout these chapters, prophetic interpretations of actual historical events are interwoven with visionary descriptions of the working out of God’s purpose in history. The language in this chapter is highly poetic, painting a glorious word picture of the restoration of Jerusalem (note Micah 4, Ezekiel 40). The exact setting of the chapter is not certain. Historical events unfolding in Israel during the fifth century BC likely provide the background for the passage (see The Unity and Authorship of Isaiah).
Historical Context
After a long struggle and severe opposition from surrounding peoples, the returned exiles finally won support from the Persian king Artaxerxes (it is not clear whether this was Artaxerxes I, 464-423 BC, or Artaxerxes II, 404-358; the books of Ezra and Nehemiah that record these events are not in chronological sequence). He commissioned Ezra the scribe to return to Jerusalem to secure the welfare of the city (note vv. 10-11). Artaxerxes funded Ezra’s mission and ordered the provincial treasurers to provide Ezra whatever he needed. (Ezra 7; Isaiah 60:5-7). Specifically mentioned is the intention to "beautify the house of the Lord in Jerusalem" (Ezra 7:27; note Isaiah 60:13).
The returned exiles faced severe problems. Part of the reason was that the people had allowed sin to pervert their mission as God’s people (Isa 59). Inchapter 60, the prophet renews the promises of a new day for the community of faith. He assures the people that God has not forgotten them and that their mission as a light to the world has not changed. The new events transpiring mark the beginning of God’s new day for His people.
The Text
1. (Isaiah 60:1-3)
1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn."
1. Arise, shine, your, you These are feminine forms in Hebrew, as they are throughout the chapter. We find out later in the chapter that the message is to the city of Jerusalem (v.14). The poetic imagery personifies Jerusalem as a beautiful woman (51:17-52:2). The historical background of this passage concerns the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Biblical writers often use "Jerusalem" and "Zion" as poetic symbols for the entire people of God (Matthew 23:37).
Not until verse 16 is the speaker directly identified as God. Throughout the chapter we find God speaking in the first person alongside third person references to God (vv. 1, 2, etc.). This mixture of forms is typical of prophetic writing where it is actually the prophet speaking for God.
In Hebrew, shine and light are two forms of the same word. We could translate this "give light for your light has come."
your light has come Since the beginning of the second section of Isaiah (40:10), there has been the anticipation of God’s "coming" to deliver His people and restore justice to the land. The form of the verb refers to action that has already been completed (has come). Prophets often used this form to refer to God’s future activity as well.
As in chapter 59, light is a symbol of God’s presence, which brings deliverance and blessing. The language is similar to Isaiah 9 ("The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." v.1, RSV). But the imagery is used differently here. In chapter 9, the subject is the coming ideal Davidic king whom God will establish to bring peace and justice among his people. Here, there is no mention of the Davidic king; it is God who is at work in historical events to change the present conditions.
The imagery is of the dawning of a new day (v.3) with God himself the sun (vv. 19-20) that dispels the fears and gloominess of the night. God’s presence is the light that illuminates a new future for God’s people.
The contrast of light and darkness is a common metaphor throughout Isaiah (5:30; 13:10; 50:10). John’s gospel uses the light-darkness contrast in relation to the coming of the Christ (John 1:4-9; 8:12).
glory of the Lord As noted in previous lessons, this is a frequent Old Testament way of portraying the active presence of God among His people (see The Turn Toward Hope, comments on 40:5). The Old Testament writers used a variety of other traditional symbols to affirm the presence and activity of God in human affairs. Fire in various forms (light, brightness, burning) and smoke (cloud, wind, spirit) are among the most common (Ex 19:18; Psa 18:6-15; Acts 2:1-4). Often glory occurs with one or both (Isa 4:5; 1 Kings 8:10; Luke 2:32).
2. darkness The idea that God brings light to His people while the rest of the world remains in darkness first appears in the exodus tradition (Ex 10:22-23).
3. your light . . .your dawn The imagery here must be kept in mind. The people have no light of their own. God is the light who rises like the sun over them (v.19). Their light is the reflected light of God’s presence. This picks up a central theme of these latter two sections of Isaiah. The people of God are to reflect the light of God’s presence to the surrounding nations (note 1 Peter 2:9-10; see The Servant of the Lord, comments on 53:3). This light will bring the world justice, peace and deliverance from oppression (Isa 49:6; 58:6-12; Acts 13:47).
Nations will come to your light would mark the achievement of their mission as the people of God (recall 40:5).
The following verses (4-14) continue to depict the elevated status of restored Jerusalem. While the language is exaggerated, some details may depict the new prestige of Jerusalem under the favor of the Persian kings (Ezra 7; Nehemiah 1-2).
2. (Isaiah 60:15-18)
15 "Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations. 16 You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. 17 Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler. 18 No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise."
15. forsaken and hated The imagery continues to personify Jerusalem as a woman, but from a slightly different perspective. Both words are used to describe a spouse who has been abandoned or rejected (Proverbs 2:17; Judges 14:16). In several places in the second section of Isaiah, the prophet portrays Israel as a wife deserted by her husband (49:20-21; 54:6-8). To keep the imagery, the NEB translates this "a wife hated and unvisited." This verse graphically contrasts the situation of the people during the exile with their new status (pride, joy) in the restored community. The same marriage language continues in following chapters (62:3-5).
everlasting . . .all generations As in other places in the book, this does not imply our idea of "eternity" (as RSV: "for ever" or NEB: "eternal"). Both terms simply mean a long, indefinite time into the future.
16. nursed at royal breasts smoothes over a discordant image in the Hebrew. It reads "nurse at the breast of kings" (as RSV). However unlikely the metaphor, it is intended to portray Jerusalem siphoning wealth from other nations, represented by their kings (v.11; note 49:23).
Then you will know The word translated know has far more meaning in Hebrew than in English. In can mean simply knowledge or command of information. More often, it refers to a deeper level of understanding and insight. "Know" refers to intimate relationship between persons, usually based on shared experience. To know someone is to understand who they are on the most personal level. This is the biblical term for sexual intimacy between husband and wife (NIV usually translates the word "lay with" as Gen 4:1).
A basic idea that underlies the entire Old Testament is that God may be known by His actions in the world. This view arises primarily from the exodus experience. During the exodus, the Hebrews came into relationship with God, they knew God, because He had acted in history to deliver them from slavery in Egypt (Exod 6:6-7; Deut 4:32-35). His actions revealed who He was. In the same way, the new activity of God to restore Jerusalem will become the basis for renewed relationship between God and His people (49:26).
I, the Lord This is essential to the message of this chapter. In fact, this simple statement summarizes the heart of the message of the whole book. During the entire period in which the book of Isaiah was written and compiled, Israel faced one crisis after another. World events moved at a dizzying pace. The tiny nation of Israel seemed lost in the clashes of superpowers, powerless in a world spinning out of control.
Yet the unwavering message of the prophets throughout this era was that God is still Lord of His creation. While sinful, and just plain foolish, human decisions may bring disaster to the world, God can work in the darkest events of human history to accomplish his purposes.
The confession here is clear. Although the Israelites’ new glimmer of hope for restoration comes by means of generous Persian kings, it is I, the Lord who is using these events to bring deliverance to His people.
Savior, Redeemer, Mighty One These three descriptions of God occur together only here and in Isaiah 49:26. In both, the context is God acting so that "all humanity" may know Him.
Savior can be translated "deliverer." Salvation (v.18) also can be translated "Deliverance." In the Old Testament the word "save" does not mean "saving from sin" as we understand the term from a New Testament perspective (see Where is God?, comments on Isa 59:1). It means deliverance from people (enemies) or circumstances that impair proper response to God (Psa 106:21). The term could be applied to men like Othniel who brought deliverance from oppression (Judges 3:9-10). Redeemer and Mighty One also emphasize God’s activity to bring deliverance.
17. peace and righteousness along with "justice" were the hope and mission of God’s people throughout the Old Testament, although they had trouble achieving it. Paul adds "joy" to these two in Romans 14:17.
18. The lack of violence and threatening conditions in the land define peace and righteousness of the previous verse.
Salvation, Praise We have to be careful with both terms here not to spiritualize them excessively. The context here is the restoration of the city of Jerusalem, which included the rebuilding of the city walls to provide protection (Neh 1-4, 12). With the walls in place, there would again be security for the people (Salvation) for which they would be grateful to God (Praise).
3. (Isaiah 60:19-22)
19 "The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 20 Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. 21 Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. 22 The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly."
19. These verses return to the imagery of light and glory with which the chapter began. But the tone shifts dramatically. While the previous verses were in highly poetic language, the historical background of the post-exilic restoration of Jerusalem was evident. Here, the historical background is no longer apparent. Although the language is still poetic, it no longer describes changed historical conditions but a future reign of God on a cosmic scale.
Some scholars have identified these verses as similar to a particular variety of poetic description called apocalyptic. Apocalyptic literature is a style of writing which portrays God’s activity in the world in terms of two ages, this present evil age and a new ideal age to come. One feature of apocalyptic is its vivid and imaginative descriptions of the coming age of God’s reign. The style of apocalyptic was most popular after the Old Testament era into the period of the early church (200 BC-AD 100). Still, both Testaments contain apocalyptic books (Daniel and Revelation) as well as shorter sections which resemble apocalyptic writings.
the LORD will be your everlasting light A similar idea occurs in Zechariah (14:7), which comes from about the same period as this passage of Isaiah. Zechariah 9-14 uses similar language to describe the restoration of God’s people (especially ch.14). John also picks up the same imagery in Revelation (Rev. 21:22-26; 22:5).
21. Then will all your people be righteous Again, we must be careful not to read too many later ideas into this statement. The term righteous has a range of meaning. It can mean "right" in a cause (Deut 25:1, "innocent"). Or it can mean "just" or "ethical" in character and conduct (2 Sam 23:3, "justly" in RSV; Psa 11:1-7). It also can have the sense of "justified" or "vindicated," especially by God (Isa 53:11). It is possible that the writer is envisioning the ideal coming age when all the people individually will be morally upright and sinless. More likely, the writer is seeing the entire community of God’s people, and so God himself, vindicated by the restoration of Jerusalem.
the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands This underlines the point made above that God is using the events of history to work out his purposes for his people. In referring to the future restoration of Israel after the exile, Jeremiah frequently used the image of planting (Jer 24:6; 31:28). There may be a deliberate contrast to the blighted "shoot" of 53:2.
22. I am the Lord . . .I will do this Again, the events promised and unfolding are not just accidents of history. While there is no hint of God predestining events here, there is a clear affirmation that God is active in the arena of human history.
-Dennis Bratcher, Copyright © 2018, Dennis Bratcher, All Rights Reserved
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FAQs
What lesson can we learn from Isaiah 60? ›
There is only one source of light in the midst of darkness. We should not be surprised that the world wanders in darkness; we see it all around us, even “thick darkness.” Only in Jesus do we find light. We need to consider how special that is! Every day we should give thanks to God for not leaving us in darkness.
What it means to arise and shine? ›When the Lord tells you to arise and shine, He is simply telling you to get up, shake off the spirit of poverty, lack or infirmity that had been dogging your steps and turn it into prosperity, blessings and goodness.
What is the commentary on Isaiah Chapter 60 verse 22? ›Isaiah 60:22 Encourages Us to Trust in God during All Times
In light of the devastation of sin, our hope is that the Lord will bring about His salvation.
Bible Gateway Isaiah 60 :: NIV. "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
What does the miracle of the Paralysed man teach us? ›This miracle shows the beginning of the on-going conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities. Jesus was in Capernaum teaching a large crowd when he was interrupted by four determined men who were bringing their friend to be healed.
What is the key message of Isaiah? ›Isaiah is one of the most well-known prophets in the Bible for his prediction of the coming of the Messiah, who would redeem His people from their sins. A book of stark contrasts, Isaiah juxtaposes terrifying warnings of judgement and destruction with uplifting promises of hope and prosperity.
What does shine mean spiritually? ›So, what does it mean to shine? It means: Being counter-cultural. We live in a dark world, full of lies, hate and confusion. But God's Word tells us to “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12).
What are the three forms of arise? ›The three forms of arise are arise, arose, arisen. It is used in formal contexts: An opportunity arose and he decided to take the job in Brussels.
What is the biblical meaning of shine? ›In a direct and literal sense the word "shine" is used of the heavenly bodies, or of candles, and fire (Job 18:5; 25:5 the King James Version; Job 29:3; 31:26; 2Ki 3:22). In a figurative sense it is used of reflected light or brightness, in any sense (Ex 34:29 f,Ex 35:1-35; Isa 60:1; Eze 43:2; Da 12:3).
What does it mean to enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise? ›In Psalm 100:4, we are told to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” When we come to God, we have so many reasons to thank Him. Jesus is the greatest of all these reasons. Bringing thankfulness and praise to God is a way to worship Him.
What does it mean that as for me and my house we will serve the Lord? ›
There is no middle ground. Choose! What's more, the next generation formed a crucial element of that choice, as Joshua said he “and his house” would serve the Lord. He chose to know and love God and to pass down his faith to his children. Unfortunately, after Joshua died, the people did not listen to him or Moses.
What does it mean you Cannot serve God and wealth? ›Jesus teaches that people cannot love both God and wealth. They must choose one or the other. We can do what God commands, which is to serve and love other people; or we can love wealth and obey what its lusts require. It is one or the other, it can't be both.
What are the benefits of arise and shine? ›“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” You might have come across this at some point of your life. This proverb indicates that waking up early is certainly better than having a bad routine.
What does the Bible mean by heaping burning coals? ›heap coals of fire on someone's head in American English
to cause someone to feel remorse by returning good for evil: Prov. 25:22.
Isaiah 60:1-3 KJV
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Jesus wanted him to please God and be a blessing to others. So Jesus commanded him: “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” God created us to get up and walk, not to lie down in disappointment. Spiritually speaking, many people are lying down, paralyzed by their sins. God sent Jesus to save us from our sins.
What is the point of the paralytic lowered through the roof? ›They couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
What does paralyzed mean in the Bible? ›Spiritually Paralyzed
They do not trust themselves—nor even God to help them—to follow the Lord in a righteous manner. They believe if they do not confess the truth or commit by proclaiming their faith, they will not be held accountable and can continue just blabbering along in life.
As students studied about Isaiah's call to prophesy to the people, they learned that as we are cleansed from our sins, we become willing and anxious to do what God asks of us.
What is the most important chapter in Isaiah? ›One of the best-known passages in the Book of Isaiah is recorded in Chapter 2 and deals with the subject of the coming of a warless world.
Why did God reveal himself to Isaiah? ›
Yet the Lord did not reveal Himself to us to bring about such destruction, as we can see from verses 6-8. The Lord did not intend to destroy Isaiah; rather, He intended to redeem Isaiah, to establish relationship with him, and to use him greatly to serve others.
How can you let Jesus shine in your life? ›- Stop Living in Routine. Stop doing the same thing every single day. ...
- Spend More Time with Others. ...
- Spend More Time with God. ...
- He Wants You to Be Happy. ...
- Live Life Like God Intended.
- praying and seeking God's will.
- participating in the life and worship of the Church.
- reading and reflecting on the Scriptures.
- receiving Communion.
- opening our lives to the Holy Spirit.
- Don't forget to smile. ...
- Be there for a friend. ...
- Give genuine compliments. ...
- Be friendly. ...
- Use your passion. ...
- Share your optimism and gratitude. ...
- Give to charity. ...
- Give what you can.
In the Bible, we have about 23 Bible verses talking about God Arising. To arise, means “to be stirred up, to be awake and to prepare for action”. It is against this background that the Psalmist found himself in a critical situation, he had to say to God to arise for him and His people based on His eternal love.
What is the purpose of arise? ›Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) is a new ARC initiative that aims to drive large-scale, regional economic transformation through multistate, collaborative projects across Appalachia.
What is the difference between rise and raise and arise? ›Note that raise is a regular verb, whereas rise is irregular. Note also that raise is a transitive verb, in other words, it must always be used with a direct object. You always raise something. Rise, on the other hand, is an intransitive verb: it does not involve anything or anyone other than the subject.
What is the root word for shine? ›Etymology 1
From Middle English shinen, schinen (preterite schon, past participle schinen), from Old English scīnan (“to shine, flash; be resplendent”; preterite scān, past participle scinen), from Proto-West Germanic *skīnan (“to shine”), from Proto-Germanic *skīnaną (“to shine”).
They are a reminder of the heart's capacity to overcome darkness and an assurance of brighter days to come. Even in darkness, love can triumph and we can always find light, life and hope.
What is a person's shine? ›“When someone shines, they have a certain confidence to them – they are happy in what they are doing and with their life – and it's contagious.”
What do gates symbolize? ›
The gate is an entryway into an unknown place, or a place of great significance; it is a threshold, and may connect the living and the dead. They are normally guarded by symbolic animals: the LION, DRAGON, BULL, and DOG are often depicted in conjunction with the gate.
What is the spiritual meaning of thanksgiving? ›For Christians, Thanksgiving Day is a chance to ask God for forgiveness for our sins, repent for our disobedience, and express gratitude for all He has given us.
What does it mean to make a joyful noise to the Lord? ›Make a joyful noise to the Lord” says the Psalm writer. The Hebrew word for “noise” is ruwa, meaning to shout in applause, to cry out in triumph. It is an energetic word that comes straight from the heart. Verses 1-3 of Psalm 100 were probably sung by worshipers approaching the temple for worship.
How do you serve the Lord from home? ›- Serve God Through Your Family. ...
- Give Tithes and Offerings. ...
- Volunteer in Your Community. ...
- Home Visiting. ...
- Donate Clothing and Other Goods. ...
- Be a Friend. ...
- Serve God by Serving Children. ...
- Mourn with Those that Mourn.
We must serve others to gain eternal life. God has said that those who live with Him must love and serve His children (see Matthew 25:34–40). When we consider the lives of people who serve unselfishly, we can see that they gain more than they give.
Why is it important to serve in the House of God? ›Serving provides us the opportunity to know more about how we are created: our likes and dislikes, what we can do well and what we cannot. God fills in the picture for us. We discover more about ourselves and how He is growing us while He uses us to meet the needs of others. We learn best by doing.
What is the secret of wealth in the Bible? ›God's blessing of wealth is usually obtained by great wisdom and responsibility and through discipline, hard work, saving, investing, and seeking God's will. Occasional, Biblical wealth is obtained suddenly by a great blessing such as an inheritance, oil and gas discovery or great invention.
What Scripture says God gives us the power to get wealth? ›Deuteronomy 8:18 New King James Version (NKJV)
“And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops."- Proverbs 3:9, NIV. We are to give God the best and first of everything that we give Him, but specifically with our finances and all that we earn. We can honor God by paying the first ten percent of our income to Him through our local church.
What does Isaiah 60 teach us? ›Those who rebel against God's King and refuse his mercy, will perish. Remember, this is an offer of mercy through the Messiah. The whole world deserves the wrath of God, but when God offers mercy through the Suffering Servant and that mercy is rejected, the wrath of God still stands.
What is the meaning of arise in Isaiah 60 1? ›
In Isaiah 60:1, the Lord instructed us “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” WHEN the Lord tells us to arise, He wants us to get up from the lowly position the enemy has placed us, which is causing us to be depressed and lose hope.
What is the devotion on Isaiah 60 1? ›“Arise, and shine” the prophet Isaiah calls out to the people of Israel, “for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). This is a wake-up call with an equal amount of optimism and pep, spoken to the people of God who might have wanted to pull the covers back over their head.
What does coal symbolize? ›A lump of coal in a stocking is the universal sign for a child being punished. It is well known that Santa brings presents to children who have been good throughout the year, and to the bad ones, he only gives a black rock.
What is the symbolism of the charcoal fire? ›For Peter, the fire causes the past to come rushing back and the scene becomes a story of memory, restoration, and pain. "Confronting the risen Jesus is not easy for someone who has denied Him," said Hays. "In this recognition of himself as betrayer, Simon Peter stands before the charcoal fire as a symbol of us all.
What does refiner's fire mean in the Bible? ›God uses trials to test the reality of our faith in a similar way to the process of purifying precious metals. • Sep 18, 2020. God ordains trials to test the reality of our faith in a way that's similar to the process of purifying precious metals.
What is the explanation of Isaiah 60 3? ›Isaiah 60:1–3 Prays for God's Help to Reflect Light in the World. When you come to know Jesus, the light of the world, you are designed by God to be a light to others.
What is the meaning of Isaiah 60 2? ›More specifically in Isaiah 60:2, God warns us about thick darkness covering the people. The Hebrew meaning of “thick darkness” is: gloom, dark cloud. Seeing this definition causes me to recall a personal struggle with finances, which I wrote about in the Bible Commentary of Psalm 23:1.
What does it mean to have clean hands and a pure heart? ›Let me suggest that hands are made clean through the process of putting off the natural man and by overcoming sin and the evil influences in our lives through the Savior's Atonement. Hearts are purified as we receive His strengthening power to do good and become better.
What can we learn from the wise and foolish builders? ›When a person builds his life on Jesus' words he is building a strong foundation. He will be strong inside. The foolish man in the parable was like someone who listened to Jesus' instructions but then did not follow them. A person that does not build his life on Jesus' words will not have a strong foundation.
What can we learn from the life of Gideon? ›Gideon Bible Study
From a state of fear, weakness, and insecurity, Gideon emerged as Israel's hero, filled with God's presence and His passion for deliverance. This study will encourage you to recognize your weakness as the key that the Lord gives you to unlock the full experience of His strength in your life.
What can we learn from Elijah and the widow? ›
The faith of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath helps us to realize that God wants to trust Him each day. He wants us to lean on him and depend on him daily. It takes faith to deal with this. Not in a way that is driven by anxiety.
What does it mean the wise woman builds her house but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down? ›She does not honor the Lord nor seek to live out His calling on her life. Rather than build up her family, her actions damage her family.
What does it mean to build your house on the rock? ›This means grounding ourselves in Christ every day and making wise choices through the guidance of his Spirit before the storms of life come. Only in him can we be assured that our foundation is rock-solid. Lord Jesus, we rely on you completely to survive the storms of life.
What is the memory verse of the wise and foolish builders? ›The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn't do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.
What is the spiritual meaning of arise? ›In the Bible, we have about 23 Bible verses talking about God Arising. To arise, means “to be stirred up, to be awake and to prepare for action”. It is against this background that the Psalmist found himself in a critical situation, he had to say to God to arise for him and His people based on His eternal love.
What was Gideon's weakness? ›As the story goes, Gideon, just like us, missed what God said in that moment. He heard God's words, but insecurity led him to depersonalize God's statement.
What is the main point of the story of Gideon? ›He destroyed an altar to the pagan god Baal, earning him the name Jerub-Baal, meaning contender with Baal. Gideon united the Israelites against their common enemies and through God's power, defeated them. Gideon is listed in the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11.
How was God patient with Gideon? ›We see this clearly in how God interacts with Gideon. God is patient with him, because he knows what he is. Ideally, Gideon should have had the faith not to need signs. But still, God eventually uses his own sign to strengthen and uplift this weak man.
What is the moral of the story of Elijah? ›The stories we read about Elijah in 1 and 2 Kings actually show us Elijah's humanity. We can identify with the doubts and struggles Elijah experienced in our own faith journey. And from Elijah's story we can receive assurance about who God is and what we can expect from him.
Why did God give Elijah a widow? ›Elijah's stay in the house of the widow was meant to bring him closer to the suffering prevalent in the world, and to acquaint him with the hunger and want from which the women and children suffered. Elijah is commanded to go to Sidon, where he will be fed by a widow (17:9). The Rabbis applied to this the verse (Ps.
What does the parable of the persistent widow teach us? ›
Jesus uses this parable to teach his disciples never to give up. He shows them the importance of persistence and resilience. He knows that life involves disappointment, loss, injustice, and persecution—all very good reasons to give up and lose hope!