Thursday, May 27, 2021

JOHN CALVIN ON ISAIAH 41 VERSE 10 AND 13

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." - Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Isaiah-41-10_Inspirational_Image/]

10. Fear not. The former doctrine having had for its aim that the people should rely on God, the Prophet concludes from the numerous blessings by which the Lord manifested his love, that the people ought not to be afraid. And we ought carefully to observe the reason which he assigns --

For I am with thee. This is a solid foundation of confidence, and if it be fixed in our minds, we shall be able to stand firm and unshaken against temptations of every kind. In like manner, when we think that God is absent, or doubt whether or not he will be willing to assist us, we are agitated by fear, and tossed about amidst many storms of distrust. But if we stand firm on this foundation, we shall not be overwhelmed by any assaults or tempests. And yet the Prophet does not mean that believers stand so boldly as to be altogether free and void of all fear; but though they are distressed in mind, and in various ways are tempted to distrust, they resist with such steadfastness as to secure the victory. By nature we are timid and full of distrust, but we must correct that vice by this reflection, "God is present with us, and takes care of our salvation."

Yet I will assist thee. 'ph zrtyk (aph gnazarticha) is rendered by some in the past tense, "Yet I have assisted thee;" but I render it in the future tense, "I will assist thee." I translate 'ph (aph) yet, as it is usually translated in many other passages. Yet it is not inappropriate to translate it even, and accordingly my readers are at liberty to make their choice. If the past tense of the verb be preferred, it will mean "moreover" or "also."

With the right hand of my righteousness. Under the word "righteousness," Scripture includes not only equity, but that fidelity which the Lord manifests in preserving his people; for he gives a display of his righteousness when he faithfully defends his people against the contrivances and various attacks of wicked men. He therefore gives the appellation of "the right hand of righteousness" to that by which he shews that he is faithful and just. Hence we ought to draw a remarkable consolation; for if God has determined to protect and defend his servants, we ought not to have any terror; because "God cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:13) or lay aside his righteousness.

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ – Isaiah 41:13 (NKJV)

[PHOTO SOURCE: http://wisdomandinstruction1.blogspot.com/2015/11/isaiah-4113-nkjv.html]

13. For I am Jehovah thy God. The Prophet had already shewn where the hope of salvation ought to be placed, so as to hold out against every attack; that is, when we are convinced that God is our God, and is on our side. He now lays down the same doctrine, but in different words; and yet the repetition is not superfluous, for we know how easily this doctrine slips out of our minds, even though it be frequently repeated; and it was impossible to bestow excessive commendation on this promise, which it is so difficult to root in our hearts. Let us therefore know that we shall have a prosperous issue of all our contests, for the Lord is present with us; and whenever we are attacked by any severe contest, let us learn to look to Him; for if we hesitate and look hither and thither, we shall never enjoy peace of mind. When he calls himself our God, he not only mentions his power, but gives proof of his goodness, which he intends to exercise towards us; for it would not be enough to be convinced of the power of God, if we were not equally certain of his love; and even when we are terrified by the mention of his power alone, his goodness is well fitted to give us peace.

Taking hold of thy right hand, and saying to thee. He now speaks about "taking hold of the hand," and about his voice; for it is of great importance to us to believe the signs which God has given us of his love, and to connect with them the doctrine which assures us of his eternal favor. The word saying is therefore highly emphatic; for we must remain in suspense till the Lord speak, whose voice alone can remove fear and bring peace. If, then, we desire to have composure of mind, and to conquer the vexations which come upon us from various quarters, we must pay close attention to his voice, so as never to withdraw our mind from it; for they who refuse to hear this voice of God, or do not hear it attentively, must be miserably tormented by continual doubt and uncertainty.

Fear Not: I Will Uphold and Hold Thee (Isaiah 41:10,13)

Dec 18, 2017

Grace PRC

Sermon preached at Grace Protestant Reformed Church by Rev. Ronald Van Overloop on December 17, 2017.

http://www.graceprc.org/sermon.cfm?ID=1008

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7NokcEiP9Y&t=611s

OTHER LINKS:

https://lutherandcalvinbrigade914.blogspot.com/2020/09/isaiah-12-hymn-of-praise.html

https://lutherandcalvinbrigade914.blogspot.com/2020/10/christ-king-prayer.html

Sunday, May 9, 2021

100TH BIRTHDAY OF SOPHIE SCHOLL

May 9, 2021 would have been the 100^th birthday of Sophie Scholl, a courageous German Christian Girl, AKA the woman who defied Hitler. She had many good Christian quotes that were biblical that it inspired me a lot.

Three things I learn from Sophie Scholl are courage with perseverance, being prayerful and facing death when persecuted.

I will post 3 quotes from Sophie Scholl, 3 bible verses, with a short sermon from Dr Joel Beeke and will close with a prayer for Persecuted Christians.

“I'm still so remote from God that I don't even sense his presence when I pray. Sometimes when I utter God's name, in fact, I feel like sinking into a void. It isn't a frightening or dizzying sensation, it's nothing at all — and that's far more terrible. But prayer is the only remedy for it, and however many devils scurry around inside me, I shall cling to the rope God has thrown me in Jesus Christ, even if my numb hands can no longer feel it.”

[As quoted in At the Heart of the White Rose: Letters and Diaries of Hans and Sophie Scholl (1987) edited by Inge Jens, translated by J. Maxwell Brownjohn; also in Voices of the Holocaust : Resistors, Liberation, Understanding (1997) by Lorie Jenkins McElroy]

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. – Romans 12 verse 12 (ESV)

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://twitter.com/CornerStoneRad1/status/1240668972963344384]

I've been thinking of a story from the Old Testament: Moses stood all day and all night with outstretched arms, praying to God for victory. And whenever he let down his arms, the enemy prevailed over the children of Israel. Are there still people today who never weary of directing all their thinking and all their energy, single-heartedly, to one cause? – Sophie Scholl

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1120614]

https://lutherandcalvinbrigade914.blogspot.com/2015/05/sophie-scholl-on-moses-quote-of.html

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12: 1 – 2 (ESV)

[PHOTO SOURCE: https://slideplayer.com/slide/13855622/]

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ – Isaiah 41:13 (NKJV)

[PHOTO SOURCE: http://wisdomandinstruction1.blogspot.com/2015/11/isaiah-4113-nkjv.html]

https://lutherandcalvinbrigade914.blogspot.com/2020/09/isaiah-12-hymn-of-praise.html

Many people think of our times as being the last before the end of the world. The evidence of horror all around us makes this seem possible. But isn't that an idea of only minor importance? Doesn't every human being, no matter which era he lives in, always have to reckon with being accountable to God at any moment? Can I know whether I'll be alive tomorrow morning? A bomb could destroy all of us tonight. And then my guilt would not be one bit less than if I perished together with the arth and the stars.

[PHOTO SOURCE: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/401410 & http://victimsfamiliesforthedeathpenalty.blogspot.com.au/2017/02/sophie-scholl-on-end-times-may-9-1921.html]

A Prayer for Persecuted Christians

(Based on Luke 21:12, written in honor of the International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians.)

God, you know
The plight of people far away
Oppressed by governments and vigilantes
In places
Where Christianity is an unpopular choice.

God, you knew
That the day would come here
When truth-telling would be despised
And siding with the oppressed
Part of the road less travelled.

Have mercy, O God,
Upon persecuted Christians there and here
Who are willing to suffer consequences
For speaking your Name
In word or in deed
In defiance or in advocacy.
Grant courage and strength
To all who would dare
To live their convictions out loud. Amen.