Weekly Guide：Week 74
June 23, 2019
Forward
We continue to read the Book of Isaiah this week. From Isaiah’s prophecy about Israel, on one hand, we can see the grace of the Lord, on the other, we can see His righteousness. There’s no need for the believers who are on the solid foundation with the precious cornerstone to rush because mercy is the basis for which we stand. For those who refuse the Lord will be washed away by His righteousness and there’s a grim news for them: there will be judgment at the end when God’s glory is shown through His disciples. The flood of righteousness will inundate their hiding places, under the roses of grace there are the thorns of righteousness. The loving embrace God extends to all will strike back on His enemies. Fairness is shown through lively love. So, refuse blessing results only in curse. Under the great privilege comes the great responsibility. Refuse to respond to the Good News is the greatest tragedy.
May you all be renewed in God’s word each day!
Question
What is the consequence of Assyria king’s arrogance?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.
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The king of Assyria sent his field commander with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. The field commander slandered against Judah.
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When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord. He sent his men to the prophet Isaiah.
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Isaiah comforted Hezekiah’s men.
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Hezekiah prayed to the Lord.
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Isaiah prophesied woe would come to the king of Assyria for his pride. The angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp.
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The king of Assyria was killed by his sons.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - The Lord reminded us that: “Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it.” Have I learned what the Lord has done through Bible and know how he loves me through my own experiences? Contemplate on this and give thanks to the Lord.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What cured Hezekiah’s illness?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord.
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The word of the Lord came to Isaiah: “Go and tell Hezekiah, I will add fifteen years to your life and I will defend this city.”
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Hezekiah recovered and wrote song in giving thanks to the Lord.
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Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery.
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Isaiah prophesized the house of Hezekiah would be carried off to Babylon.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - In Hezekiah’s song of thanks, people’s lives are in the hand of the Lord. How do I see my own life? Where is God’s authority in my heart?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did the Lord comfort the people of Jerusalem?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord comforted His people, spoke tenderly to Jerusalem.
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In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
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The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.
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The Sovereign Lord comes with power, He tends his flock like a shepherd:
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. How may I establish my priority and identity from God word?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What has the Lord done?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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With whom will you compare God? To what image will you liken Him?
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God brings out the starry host one by one.
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God will lead all Israel. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
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God said to Israel: “You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.” So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
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Idols, you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless; whoever chooses you is detestable.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Where do I seek strength? How may I be strengthened by God?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What should the Lord’s chosen servant do?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Lord has already chosen His servant. He will bring justice to the nations.
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The Lord have called him in righteousness, to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.
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Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in the islands.
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You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen.
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Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.
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Foretold the downfall of Babylon.
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The Lord is doing a new thing.
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I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - The Lord had said: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” I shall remember this fact and let it strengthen me in difficult times.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How may we praise the Lord for what He is doing?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The God of Israel is the first and the last; apart from Him there is no God.
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Do not tremble, do not be afraid. You are my witnesses.
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All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless.
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Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, He displays His glory in Israel.
Meditation: My Story
- Identity - No idol worshiper has the knowledge or understanding that a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?” What idols am I still worshiping?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Why did the prophet praise in the Lord's name?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth.
+ They shout for joy to acclaim the Lord's majesty. From the ends of the earth we hear singing: "Glory to the Righteous One."
+ The Lord Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders-with great glory.
+ The prophet praise in the name of the Lord for His righteousness, grace, and salvation.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The prophet praised in the name of the Lord because people await Him and He will rescue them. The people will shout for joy. Do I often shout for joy in God's salvation?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How does God gather the remnant of Israel?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ They will sing in the land of Judah: "Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal."
+ People will enter their rooms and shut the doors behind them; hide themselves for a little while until His wrath has passed by.
+ The Lord will watch over the vineyard, water it continually, guard it day and night so that no one may harm it.
+ In that day, the Lord will gather up Israel, one by one.
+ In that day, the trumpet will sound. Those who were in exile will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The Lord will establish peace for us, so we must lean on His name. Where does my peace come from? If I have fear, where does that come from?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was the temple in Hezekiah's eyes?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Hezekiah reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.
+ Hezekiah brought in the priests and the Levites, asked them to consecrate themselves and the temple of the Lord to remove all defilement from the sanctuary.
+ Early the next morning King Hezekiah sacrificed offerings for the sanctuary and for Judah. The king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped. They sang praises with gladness and bowed down and worshiped.
+ Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. The whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month.
+ There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Community** - Hezekiah called on the priests and Levites not to be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen them to stand before Him and serve Him. How am I encouraging my fellow Christians to serve the Lord today?
+ **Integrity** - Hezekiah sent word to Israel to invite them to turn back to God and worship the Lord in the temple. How should I help those who are weak in faith and those who have sinned to turn back to the Lord?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
Why did Hosea marry a promiscuous woman named Gomer?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Hosea married a promiscuous woman named Gomer, and she conceived and bore him a son called Jezreel.
+ Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter named Lo-Ruhamah, for the Lord will no longer show love to Israel, that He should at all forgive them.
+ Gomer had another son named Lo-Ammi, for Israelites are not God's people, and He is not their God.
+ Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, they will be called children of the living God.
+ Israelites are punished for their worship of adultery.
+ After the punishment, God would allure, comfort, and betroth her to Himself forever.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - God would betroth Israel to Himself forever, in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. She would acknowledge the Lord. His righteousness, justice, love, and compassion form the foundation of our knowledge in the Lord. Do I know Him?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did Israel commit sin?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Hosea showed his love to his wife again.
+ Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God.
+ There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. Therefore, the land dries up and all who live in it waste away.
+ People are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
+ Prostitution, old wine and new wine take away their understanding. They are led astray and unfaithful to their God.
+ Though you, Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty.
+ Judgment will come to Israel.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. However, the Lord would pasture them like lambs in a meadow. The Lord is our shepherd, only He can give us our true identity and true relationship with Him. Am I in the meadow like His lambs?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What happened to the Ephraim?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning. For God will be like a lion to tear Ephraim to pieces and go away.
+ Then God will return to His lair until they have borne their guilt and seek His face.
+ Urge Israelites to return to the Lord so that they may live in His presence.
+ The Lord said Ephraim's love is like the morning mist.
+ The sins of Ephraim are exposed and the crimes of Samaria revealed.
+ Ephraim mixes with the nations and Israel's arrogance testifies against him.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The Lord awakes me and lifts me up. We must endeavor to know the Lord. How may I know Him deeper?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How was Jesus resurrected and what were His commands afterward?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ The Gospel of Matthew reaches the climax. The rise of Christ from resurrection is central to the Christian belief.
+ Jesus' salvation is fully displayed in the reversal of His death on the cross.
+ Jesus' great commission to His disciples and His promise that He would be with us until the end of the age.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jesus' resurrection helps us to believe that those who take faith in Him will have eternal life. Is my life reflecting that belief or am I living only for my earthly life?
+ **Fidelity** - The great commission to the disciples is to make disciples of all people. What in my service is taking part of that great commission? Am I living out the calling of the great commission?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How does the Gospel of Mark start?
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### Meditation: God’s Story
+ The Gospel of Mark starts with Jesus’ identity and the events while He preached.
+ John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus’ mission which was already written in the Book of Isaiah.
+ God’s voice from heaven proclaimed Jesus as His son. Jesus withstood the temptations from Satan.
+ In Capernaum, Jesus drove out the impure spirit, healed the sick, and cleansed the leper.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** – The leper said to Jesus: “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus cleansed him. Do I have faith in God where if He is willing He shall accomplish? Is there anything I need to pray to God with this kind of faith? Let me pray and thank God for His grace and ask for His mercy.
+ **Fidelity** – They left their nets and followed Jesus right away when He called Peter and Andrew. Do I often follow Jesus’ calling and will? Is there anything I still have a firm grip on and unable to let Jesus take control?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What power did Jesus display and what were the Pharisees’ hostilities against Jesus?
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### Meditation: God’s Story
+ Five incidents and the hostilities from Pharisees and teachers of the law are depicted in this section.
+ The events are not in chronological order and each contains an important message from Jesus.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** – As the Pharisees were hostile against Jesus, I might encounter in my service those who are hostile and have to take a stance for my belief. What can I learn from Jesus’ attitude and His way of treating those who were against Him?
+ **Fidelity** – Jesus said He did not come to call the righteous but the sinners. What does this reveal to me? How am I treating the sinners around me? Am I capable of loving them as Jesus does? Why?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What were people's reactions to Jesus?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus appointed the twelve to be with Him and to be sent out to preach.
+ Whoever does God's will is His brother and sister.
+ The parable of sower is to teach all to listen and to act.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jesus said those who do God's will are His brothers, sisters, and mother. We are a member of Jesus' family for our faith in Him. Am I living a life as God's children? What is impeding my being identified as such?
+ **Integrity** - Are the troubling thoughts of worldly worries, deception of money, or personal desires blocking the way of God to make my life unfruitful? Pray and ask God to help me remove the thoughts of these troubling matters.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What are Jesus' true identity and capability?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus is the Lord of Heaven and Earth.
+ He calms storm and sea and controls the demons of the spiritual world.
+ He healed woman who bled for twelve years and brought back to life Jairus's daughter.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Are we scared like the disciples in the storms of life? Pray and ask God to strengthen my faith to face the challenge and ride the tempest of the day.
+ **Integrity** - When she realized what was done on her, the woman who suffered bleeding came fell in front of Jesus trembled with fear, told Him the truth. Do I fear God and being humble in front of Him? Is there anything I shall give thanks to Him today?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did the disciples not understand about Jesus?
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### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus sent out the twelve to preach. Jesus had compassion on the crowd as sheep without shepherd.
+ The disciples still did not understand and had doubt about Jesus' identity and the miracles He performed.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - The disciples cried out and thought He was a ghost when they saw Jesus walking on the lake. Do I know my savior Lord Jesus Christ? Do I still doubt His ability?
+ **Integrity** - Jesus said, "It is what comes out of a person that defiles them." Do I have any evil thoughts that need to be extinguished by God? Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to light up every nooks and crannies of my heart.
Prayer
Notes and Responses
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Prayer
Notes and Responses