HIS NAME IS EXALTED

Wednesday, December 28th 2016

Isaiah 12: 1-6

Isaiah says that the baby who will be born will be named Emmanuel. Here, Isaiah remembers him and exalts him again, and demands his people to remember him. Let's remember  him in this end of the year. He is glorious and sublime.

​1. I give thanks to you (1-2)

The people remember that God was angry with them because of their malice. But now his anger turned away because God decided to comfort his people. That's why Israel must celebrate the Eternal God. We always have a few reminders of the past in us, but we must erase it because God is great and decided to save us. That's why I trust and I am not afraid. I sing that He is my strength and my salvation.

2. Sing praises to him (3-6)​

From his experience of salvation, Isaiah exhorts his people to sing praises to the Lord. He exhorts his people to come and fully drink the Lord, because he is the source of living water who completely slakes a soul's thirst. A personal experience is satisfactory but is not enough. We must found ourselves on the salvation of mercy through forgiveness, and we must come to the people to exhort them to worship God. Isaiah says: sing praises to the Lord. Because he is worthy of being adored by his people and by all the earth, because he is great and he has done gloriously. Praise, prayer and testimony (4) must be powerfull to spread the kingdom of God on the earth among the peoples and make his sublime name recognized.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for having turned away your anger against me. I fully recognize it and I come draw water in you and testify about you to the people in this country.

​Bottom line: his name is magnificient, Magnify his name, my soul. ​

I WILL PUNISH HIS PROUD HEART

Monday, December 26th 2016

Isaiah 10:1-34

Today's story tells us the principle which makes God's story progress. God is our sovereign. Mankind is only his instrument.

1. Where are you fleeing ? (1-4)

Isaiah proclaims woe to persecutors of justice. They defy it, unfairly oppressing the powerless such as the orphans and the widower. But the day will come where the notables will fall with the powerless. Then, where are they fleeing to for help ? Their malice is so enormous that God can't appease his wrath. It's the fourth time that these words are repeated yet, which proves the deep root of their evils.

2. I will judge the Assyrian's heart (5-34)

So, because of the unimaginable impiety of the elected people, God will lift his stick of punishment through a very cruel foreign people. So, Assyrians come to punish Judas and Jerusalem. But, drunk of their victory, the invader's heart became proud. They didn't understand why God gave victory to them. They think that it's because of their strengh and their intelligence that they are successful. But careful, Jerusalem isn't like the other cities. Here is God's city and the holy mountain. So they must have a humble heart because they are God's instruments, but they have a heart of destruction. God judges his nation which became impious, but without delay, God will lift his stick against the haughty and proud nation to punish it. Then, the rest of the people will come back. Their mentality will be changed until they depend on God. So, O Jerusalem, don't fear the Assyrian. See far and triumph by faith.

Prayer: Lord, you are sovereign of the history. Make me fear you, repent and keep humble as an usable instrument to you.

Bottom line: neither by strengh nor by power, but by the Spirit.

THE INEXTINGUISHABLE WRATH OF GOD

Saturday, December 24th 2016

Isaiah 9:7-20

To the wicked, God sends ennemies, overthrow, fire and famine. In spite of that, the people don't repent. God continuously rises up against them.

1. The invasion of foreigners (7-11)

First, God makes Retsin's adversaries come to judge and destroy Israel. Samaria brags because of the solidity of their constructions and their natural ressources. But ennemies will come to devour Israel. In spite of that, sin is deeply ingrained in the people, it can't be uprooted. So God keeps a grudge against theim to judge and destroy them.

2. The falseness of the leaders (12-16)

The corruption of the people propagates from the head to the tail The head is the notables and the tail is the prophets. All the people are depraved by their influence. The people are led by the leaders, so they become impious and blasphemous. God is not delighted by the people, neither by the young people nor by the destitute people, who generally are the people protected by God. The sin of the people isn't uprooted yet. So, God keeps a grudge.

3. The consuming fire (17-20)

A cataclysm of fire will burn all the forest because of the maliciousness of the people which rises up to the sky. Fire leads famine and the inhabitants become carnivorous and fraticide. They devour one another and swoop down on their brothers. In spite of this horror, God doesn't remove his wrath. His hand always is outstreched, as he waits for another opportunity to judge more severely. God's wrath  remains against them because of impiety.

Prayer: Lord, make me be aware of the seriousness of sin, make me repent, come back to you and love my fellow man.

Bottom line: don't despise his patience... (Rm 2:4)

TO US A SON IS GIVEN

Friday, December 23rd 2016

TO US A SON IS GIVEN

Isaiah 8:16-9:6

key verse: 5

The earth is like shadows. No light, yet God decided to send light. Just as colonized people see their country delivered, so freedom from oppression will come. But from whom does it truly come?

1. The people are in thick darkness (16-22)

The prophet's confidence in God is unfathomable. It does not diminish in spite of the people's rejection. His confidence serves as a sign and omen. He is proud of the message of God's judgement, which has been given to him to announce, though he is contiunually rejected by all. The prophet knows that if the people refuse God, his law and testimony, it is because they are in thick shadows and dominated by anguish. They will do strange things like calling the dead.

2. He shall be called Wonderful. . . (23-9:6)

This darkness will not last. Borderlands such as Zabulun and Nephtali are neglected, but this region will soon see light. How? The Messiah will be born there. He will give glory to the land of Galilee. The steps of Jesus will cross the land. The Messiah will throw light on the people sitting in the shadow of death. He will make the land prosperous and joyful. Sin and crime which made the people miserable will be burned away, like a garment rolled in blood is burned in the fire. Through the blood of Jesus, all our sins will be erased and we will be white as snow (1:18). The baby is frail in the cold, but he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He is the sovereign who hold the earth by his righteous right hand (6).

Prayer: Lord, you who were born in Bethelem as a baby, you are the Savior, Christ and Lord of the world.

Bottom line: A child of God was promised and born at the first Christmas. It's Jesus.

SHE SHALL BEAR A SON

Wednesday, December 21st 2016

Isaiah 7:1-17

key verse: 14

Today's word is a promise concerning Christ's birth. God predicted it amidst the calamities in Israel. 

1. Two smoldering stumps of firebrands (1-9)

The allied armies of Syria and Ephraim were attacking Jerusalem. King Ahaz and his people tremble with fear, like trees which tremble in the wind. But God considers the two enemies as smoldering stumps of firebrands. In his eyes, they are nothing. In fact, these two kingdoms want to submit the third in order to push back the newly arisen Assyria. Together, they want to establish a new king. Human beings make many plans, but God says they will not last. For Judah, this alliance is an unbearable menace. God says they must be firm in faith if they want to be victorious (9b). It is a call to faith, a message continually repeated and the center of gravity in Isaiah's prophecy.

2. His name will be Immanuel (10-17)

Isaiah tells the king to ask for a sign, which he refuses to do. Isaiah's call to faith is above all a call to the will. To refuse the offer is to squarely reject God, but Ahaz had already made a resolution. Faith has no place in his religion or his politics. He conceives a foolish plan to defeat his ennemies by siding with Assyria. In the meantime, God gives a sign. While the king is calling an army, God sees a child. This little sign will gauge the promised victory and above all, will indicate his presence, as is indicated by the name "Immanuel". However, the blindness of the king and his people prevents them from seeing the validity of this sign. 

Prayer: Lord, help me not to be political, but spiritual by putting my faith in you. Thank you for being with me this year. 

Bottom line: The baby is called Immanuel.

THE PREDICTION OF THE IMMINENT MENACE

Isaiah 8:1-15

The attack of ennemis is imminent. Emmanuel appears again. It's the cry of distress of the people in danger. The reason of the calamity is written: because you have refused...

1. They have refused... (1-10)

Isaiah takes a note of the camality which approachs. He takes two God's servants as reliable witnesses. Then he went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Maybe it's the son which appears in the previous chapter. Before that he talks, in a very short laps of time, Syria and Samaria will be pillaged and their inhabitants will be deported. Then the people is delighted of this deportation, without being aware that it's a prefuguration of their own deportation. They have refused the waters of Shiloah that are very gently, God's word and gently warning of the prophet, so God sends the mighty Assyria, compared with the waters of the River, mighty and many. These waters of the River will be overflow Jerusalem. Isaiah crys that the people be shatter but it's useless, because the force of the ennemy is fearsome.

2. God warns the prophet (11-15)

The Eternal God warns that the prophet must be aside of the people and he certainly musn't compromise with their style life. Their style life and their opinion are twisted, so nothing is credible. It musn't fear that they fear. As Jesus will talk it, it musn't fear men because, after having killed, can't do nothing else; it must fear the Eternal God who judges the soul after death. Our Lord is a sanctuary and a stone of offense at the same time (14). He is the first to these who are saved, but he is second to theses who are lost (Mc 16:16). They stumble, fall in darkness and die.

Prayer: Lord, help me to neither refuse your word nor do a compromission.

Bottom line: The contempt of oneself leads to damn

Taking a rest for DB

Dear lectureurs of French Daily Bread,
Our translation team of French Daily Bread (me, Shepherdess Sarah Loew and Emmanuelle Arcier) have some rest until December 19th for the preperation of Chrismas worship service. Thank you again.

GOD JUDGES HIS APOSTATE PEOPLE

Isaiah 5:8-30

key verse: 25

As Jesus says "Woe to you Pharisees. . ." so God says to the people. This is from a divine curse, for life without God is a curse in itself. God is not insignificant; he judges, especially according to the heart's attitude concerning his words. 

1. Six woes (8-23)

Look and you will find six times the word "woe": a) land acquisition founded on selfishness has no meaning, since everything will be destroyed, followed by nation-wide improductivity; b) the debauchery of great men in their festivities (the foolish people will follow their example and live like animals until the invasion by foreigners, v. 17); their pride will be bowed down and only the Lord will be exalted; c) mockery (they will draw a curse because of their evil); d) careless religion based on sophistry; e) pretentiousness; f) foolish drinking.

2. Executioner of divine judgement (24-30)

God's anger burns against these ignoble people. They have rejected his law and despised the words of the Holy One of Israel. This is the fundamental reason for the curse (24b). God raises up Assyria to punish his apostate people. The enemy's strength is awesome. Their soldiers know no rest; their war machine has no equal. They are like wild beasts which devour their prey. The prophet looks over the land and sees the light darkened. There is no hope, except the small consolation that this ennemy is under the control of the Eternal God (26). 

Prayer: Lord, help me to obey your law and refrain from wickedness that you hate.

Bottom line: obey his law and walk in it; then you will be happy. 

THE SONG OF THE BELOVED VINEYARD

Isaiah 5:1-7

The song of the vineyard is a love and hope song, and at the same time it's a despair song. Jesus talked about a parable of a fig tree in the vineyard which doesn't bear fruit in spite of three years of growing.

1. A promising vineyard (1-4)

The subject of the song is a close love relationship between God and his people. This relationship is impenetrable and deep. It's like a vineyard that a friend gives his beloyed as present. All is given to the good production: in a fertile hill, the master dug it and cleared it of stones and planted it with choice vines, he built a watchtower and hewed out a wine vat in it. So it's natural that the friend hopes for a good fruit. But, astonishingly, the fruit is disgusting. God gave the good country to Israel, the country flowing with milk and honey, even if he didn't invest in it. It was free. But when the people entered the country, they joinded forces with the pagan people and imitated them by idolatry.

2. The consequence of the disgusting vineyard (5-7)

God is impartial. He hasn't individual consideration. In spite of his patience, when the fruit isn't ripe and it's disgusting, the friend flares up. Finally, the disappointed friend destroys the vineyard and detroys the favorable atmosphere to culture. The vineyard will be devoured by animals and it will be trampled down. Then, God orders the nature to be extremely unfavourable. God gives the sense of this parable. The vineyard in the fertile hill is Israel's house whom God gave an abundant country and the word of commandments. But Israel disobeys God and bears inutile fruit.

Prayer: Lord, make me bear good fruit with the life that you gave me in abundance. Make me repent of my corrupted nature each day.

Bottom line: the love song of a friend betrayed

THE GLORIOUS REMNANTS

Isaiah 4:2-6

key verse: 2

Isaiah's vision goes from the present chaos to a prosperous country. What has happened? God's work is one of purification, and it is produced by the remnants.

1. For the remnants of Israel (2-4)

In those days, a man of valor will appear and lead his people. His name is the "Branch" (Zach. 3:8). Zerubbabel is a prefiguration of the Messiah. Israel will be washed of its past shame and will assume a new status in the land of promise to which it is redirected. The country will be magnificent and glorious. A beauty incomparable to that of women will cover the land of the remnants, and they will be called holy. All this will have happened after the purification of filth and bloodstains, a process accomplished through the invasion of foreign nations.

2. The Eternal God will create a cloud and fire (5-6)

When God led the Israelites through the desert, he guided them with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud of dust by day. It was the glory of God which guided them, and no nation could attack them. When the glory faded because of the people's debauchery, they became vulnerable to attack. But now that the people have been tried and purified by pagan nations, they are restored to the glory of God. He created a cloud and a column of fire to watch over the assemblies in Israel day and night. The place of God's presence is covered in glory. No nation will seize the chance to invade it. The Eternal God is the refuge for those who fear him (Luke 1:50), and asylum for those who partake in worship (Luke 1:74). 

Prayer: Lord, try me so that I am pure and holy as a survivor of God. Please create a glorious assembly among us and for us. 

Bottom line: become a remnant of God

YOU SHALL NOT MAKE ME LEADER OF THE PEOPLE

December, Monday 12th, 2016
Isaiah 3: 1 - 4:1

"Boys be ambitious" was a beginning twenty century's slogan, said by an american missionary in Japan. Few students of an agricultural high school in Hokaido kept this slogan to lead the country. The kingdom of Judas degenerates and is in paroxysms of decadence, what is revealed by a political situation which was short of leadership and a dissolute social situation of women.

1. You shall not make me leader of the people (3:1-7)

Man has a viril moral code. Either by ambition or by jealousy, men aspire to become predisent, at least it's a reliefing sign. But in the ultimate days before the deportation, the situation of Judas is catastrophic. Men are too cowardly to take care of the slightest responsability. So the people establish infans as governors. Actually God curse the country because he decided to remove all men of value. We leave in a time which was short of responsibles, either great of small.

2. The censure of dissolute women (8-26)

The reason of misfortune is that the people is extremely arrogant against the Eternal God (8,9). With infans, the womens dominate the people. God puts the people and above all the dirigeant in process, because they erase the good way, they lose the people and opress the poors. The women's style life is luxurious with their precious jewels and clothes and high hell which ruin the ankles. Their frivolous spirit corrupts the moral and men lead these women as lambs to shoot, so in front of war they fall. God will judge these women shaving off their hair, branding their beauty.

Prayer: Lord, make me be a responsible to this country. Make me be not a dissolute women but the virtuous reference on this country.

Bottom line: an ambitious man it's better than nothing

COME, LET US GO UP

December 10th, 2016

Isaiah 2:1-22

key verse: 3a

Isaiah received a vision through the word of God. It's about the future Jerusalem as well as the present Jerusalem. 

1. Come, let us go up (1-4)

At the end of time, after the time of testing in Babylon, God will lift up Israel to be a source of blessing. The city of Zion which was unfaithful will be re-established as a city of justice (1:26). The mountain of Zion will be founded firmly on the hills, such that its height will be above all other heights in the world. From a spiritual point of view, it will become a source of blessing for all nations on the earth, and they will all flow to it to be edified and educated by God's word. People will say to each other: come, let us go up. God had said, "Come, let us reason together". Because Israel has received forgiveness for its sins, this same grace will flow to other nations which go up to Zion. Then, perfect peace without war will reign.

2. Come, let us walk (5-22)

God, using the indicative voice in the second and first person plural, says, "Come, let us walk". The people are sitting in darkness. God invites and accompanies his people to the light. The Israelites had abandonned God, satisfying themselves with gold, silver and false gods. God judges them for their proud hearts. Judgement day will be so awesome, we will try to hide ourselves in rocks and in the dust, but in vain. God humbles the pride of men. Their arrogance is bent and only God is lifted up. If the people stop turning to idols and to men who simply have breath in their nostrils, the light will rise in them.

Prayer: Lord, make me come and reason concerning sin, come and go up to learn the word and come to walk in the light.

Bottom line: the mountain of Zion above all mountains

COME NOW, LET US REASON TOGETHER

Isaiah 1:18-31

Israel doen't know his God. They multiplie ceremonies without content. God is weary of such service. God look for those who worship in spirit and truth (Jn 4:23). God accepts cult of penintent.

1. Come now, lets us reason together (18)

God promises mercy of forgiveness to those who repent washing and making themselves clean. Their sin like scarlet will be erase and will become as white as snow. So God demands them to come and reason. Mankind is inclined to hide or internalize the problem of sin. But more we talk about it more we can resolve the problem of sin. That's why we sincerely write and share our sins and the mercy of forgiveness.

2. Sion will be redeem (19-31)

The people is in front of a fork: either repent and be blessed, or rebel and be cursed. If we choose the way of blessing, we will shall eat the good of the land. But if we choose the way of curse, we will be eaten by the sword (19) and we will perish (29). It's an irrevocable law of God, because the mouth of the Lord has spoken. We can't have a compromising attitude about God's word. There isn't individual consideration before God. God judges the city, although in the past it was a holy city, because now it is corrupted. Nevertheless there is a partiality in God's judgment. Contrary to pagan nations, it's a holy city where there was justice and uprightness. God has a plan, that Isaiah reveals from the first chapter: after having past the tribulation like crucible of blaze, the city will be establish again as in the beginning.

Prayer: Lord. Help me repent me and reason together. Help me decide to obey you to be blessed. Train me to be holy.

Bottom line: come and lets up reason together

THE HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER OF JESUS (C)

John 17:20-26

The third subject of the Jesus' prayers is to those who don't know God yet. What are the subjects of prayer which can be our subjects of prayer for our future holy nation ?

1. That they may all be one (20-24)

Jesus prayed that his disciples would be one and protected from the evil one. Jesus keeps this subject of being one between people who believe in him. To be one means love one another, as the same refrain which Jesus says "so that the world may know..." (23b). Unity leads us to know true love (23). In effect, there isn't greater and more excellent testimony toward the world than to be united among the Christians. Jesus gives his glory to people for that, that is to say that we are objects of God's glory and our life will be glorified by Jesus. Jesus prays to God that his people, his disciples and future disciples, would share his divine glory during his advent. What marvelous hope and privilege to eternally be seated near Jesus and reign with him !

2. I made you known to them (25-26)

Jesus confirms his mission in these two final verses. Jesus manifests the name of God among the people. The fallen world didn't know God, and Jesus came to make the world know this name. Jesus made it known to his disciples. Jesus will make it known to his future disciples. So they will have eternal life and love will be plentiful in their heart. In A, the word "glory"(5 times), in B "world" (12 times) and in C "one" (5 times) are the more frequent words, which reveals the content of Jesus' prayer.

Prayer: may the Lord be glorified, the current elected protected from the evil one, and the future people be united.

Bottom line: that France would be a kingdom of high priests and a holy nation

THE HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER OF JESUS (A)

John 17:1-5

Jesus  prays for three subjects: first he prays for him, then he prays for his disciples and finally he prays for the others in the world. Let's look at the subjects for himself.

1. Glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you (1-5)

Now Jesus prays for him. Jesus is in front of death in the cross. The only desire of Jesus at this crucial time is to glorify God. He can't stop himself having fear in front of this inhuman and cruel death. But he wants his death to doesn't be dishonourable. He wholly wanted to glorify God through this death. So he prays that God glorify the Son. This reveals the permanent desire of his life. Jesus glorified God up to now everytime on the earth, above all accomplishing the work that God have gave him to do. So Jesus has hiden his glory and dresses himself with the malodorous human body. Now, Jesus wanted to God the Father glorify him with the initial flory of heaven.

2. Eternal life... (3)

God has given to his Son power, so that he gave eternal life for all whom believe in him. That's the glory of God given to his Son. If we believe in him and receive the conviction of eternal life, that's because God has honored him. What is eternal life ? Eternal life which Jesus define is very simple. It's that someone knows God, the only true God. He is the Creator of the world. And he also must know Jesus, whom God has sent as the lamb of God. If we know God, the Creator, and Jesus the Son, our redeemer, we have eternal life.

Prayer: Lord, make us be subjects of your glory, and make us do the work that you has given to us and have eternal life knowing you and God.

Bottom line: Eternal life...

THE WORLD'S HATE PREDICTED

Thursday, December 1st, 2016

John 14:18-27

key verse: 18

The harder the rain falls, the more we long for the roof of the house. If we stay, many persecutions will rain down. Jesus told his disciples that they shouldn't be surprised at these persecutions. Why not?

1. Know this (18-21)

Jesus told his disciples to keep in mind some basic truths. First, when the disciples face persecution, they must remember that before them, Jesus had already experienced much persecution. Jesus speaks about the evidence of hate, since the disciples have gone out of the world, and this provokes inevitable hate from the world, since it detests non-conformity. Jesus also reminds them of the spiritual order: a disciple is not greater than his master, so they should expect the same treatment their master received, though they will also rejoice in the same way their master rejoiced (Luke 10:21).

2. If I hadn't come (22-27)

First, Jesus emphasized the ignorance of those who persecute. He said it's because they don't know Him who sent Jesus; thus, they persecute him. On the other hand, it's because of their wickedness that they don't accept Jesus; they continue to persecute him and those who follow him. They commit a deliberate act. Jesus, using the conditionnel tense, condemns this deliberate act, since he had sufficiently told and showed them things, yet they deliberately rejected him. Therefore, they have no excuse (Romains 1:21). The disciples will be persecuted, but they must not be worried, because the Counselor will come and teach them and testify about Jesus. The hate of the world will knock hard at their door, but Jesus knows the Holy Spirit will make them greatly triumph.

Prayer: Lord, since I've left the world, it persecutes me; I've asked myself why. Forgive me, since it's normal to be hated, for you were hated, even more than I.

Bottom line: Do not be surprised, but wait patiently.