Good morning People of God in Christ Jesus.We give glory to God for the gift of another new day in a brand new month, we thank God for the privilege of life and for His unending mercy and grace upon us always. Praise God!
STUDYING AND UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE – PART 432
Isaiah Chapter 46
It’s funny to see Prophet Isaiah opens this chapter with name calling in relation to the helpless gods. I hope he’s not taking it personal? Laughs…
On a more serious note, if those gods were really gods and that powerful, they should have saved themselves if at all they didn’t want to save the Babylonians.
Unfortunately, all of them were defeated and taken into captivity during the invasion of Babylon by the Gentile King – Cyrus.
Let’s read some verses…
Isaiah 46:1-2 TPTThe gods of Babylon, Bel, and Nebo are bowed down and lowered to the ground. They haul away on ox carts their wobbling idols.
[2] They both stoop and bow down, and they are powerless to rescue their own images. There they go-carried off into captivity!
Bel and Nebo were two major gods (idols) that they worshipped then in Babylon.
That’s why you will notice they usually named their children after the name of these gods.
For example, they did the same thing to Daniel when he was carried off to Babylon alongside other Jews.
Daniel 1:6-7 [6]Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:[7]Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
Notice Bel-teshazzarIt means “lord of the straitened’s treasure”
We will also notice the same thing in Nebu-chadnezzar’s name (prefix nebu = nebo).
The Jews were also fond of doing this naming their children after God.
For example: Samu-ElMeaning “heard of God “I.e God heard Hannah’s prayer by giving her a child.
We have long been doing this also in Africa as seen in names like Olorunfemi (God loves me); Ogunbiyi (god of Iron gave birth to this) etc…
With what happened in verses 1 and 2 above, every reader of these prophecies would have known and believed that there’s only one true God and those small gods are just make-believes. They are not real.
Bel and Nebo were just fake gods in Babylon.
According to The Passion Translation commentary, Bel was a title that was associated with the god Enlil, known in Babylon as the chief of the gods.
The Greek called him Zeus, while the Romans called him Jupiter. Eventually, that title was transferred to Marduk according to Jer 50:2
Nebo, which was also known as Nabu on the other hand was called the Celestial Scribe, meaning he was the god of intellectualism (literacy and wisdom).
The Greek called him Hermes, the Romans called him Mercury, while the Egyptians called him Anubis.
To them, these were powerful gods but unfortunately, all of them were carried off into captivity as written by Isaiah.
Now, this is where it gets more interesting…
Isaiah continues in verse three to let God’s people know another major reason we can’t compare the true God with those small gods which was:
Those small gods could be carried by either hands or carts or wagons but the true God cannot be carried in that manner.
On the contrary, He was the one carrying His people. Let’s read for ourselves…
Isaiah 46:3-5 TPT”Listen to me, O Jacob’s tribes, all the remnant of Israel. You never had to carry me, but I have carried you from birth. I supported you from the moment you left the womb.
[4] Even as you grow old and your hair turns gray, I’ll keep carrying you! I am your Maker and your Caregiver. I will carry you and be your Savior.
[5] To whom can you compare me, the incomparable God? Have you found someone else like me?
These are powerful statements that reveals God’s capacity to save us even till eternity in Christ Jesus.
This is why it will be impossible to do without God. He is our origin, our source of life and existence. He rescued us from satanic invasion and He will continue to rescue and preserve us.
Let’s read what Paul has to say…
2 Corinthians 1:10[10]Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
Philippians 1:6[6]Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
The above verses are proving to us God’s assurance of eternal Salvation for us that believe. Amen.
I want you to watch this music video to bless your soul. Amen.
To be continued…Praise God.
Our prayers for everyone on this platform:
By the authority in the name of Jesus Christ,God will continue to protect everyone on this platform from all forms of evil. No one will fall into any satanic trap and manipulations, in Jesus name.
God will sustain you with everything you need for your existence on earth, in Jesus name.
Receive the capacity to dwell in and experience God’s extravagant Joy, which no mouth can describe, in Jesus name.
Welcome to June and happy new month to you all. Bible readings for today: 2 Samuel Chapters 11, 12, & 13 with Psalm 73
I call you blessed now and always.
Tuesday June 2, 2020 (DDMI)