Bible Verses about Unity And Fellowship

Unity And Fellowship

The Christian community is built on unity and fellowship, which bring Christians together in love and support for each other.

We talk about what it means to be united in Christ and the many benefits of friendship with other Christians.

Unity In Christ

Believers find out who they really are and how they fit into the world through Christ, who ties us all together like a body with many parts.

Bible Verses About Unity And Fellowship

Bible Verses about Unity And Fellowship

Bible VersesKnowledge Of The HolyEvery Christian Should Know
Key Biblical Messianic PropheciesPower in the BloodPresence of GodSavior on the Cross
Pursuit of GodBible Study For BeginnersPray For Those You LoveHeart Of God

This part talks about how beautiful it is that we are all one in Christ and how important it is to love each other and accept the differences within the body of Christ.

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One Body, Many Members

1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV) – “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”

Romans 12:4-5 (NIV) – “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

Scriptures On Christian Unity

The body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it

Bearing With One Another In Love

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV) – “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”

Bearing With One Another In Love

Fellowship In Community

Fellowship in the community is not merely a social gathering but a sacred bond shared among believers, rooted in love and mutual support.

Unity In The Church Bible Verses

This section explores the importance of building community and the rich blessings found in fellowship with one another.

Building Community

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Building Community

Biblical Teachings On Fellowship

Philippians 2:1-2 (NIV) – “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”

The Importance Of Fellowship

The Importance Of Fellowship

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV) – “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

Bible Verses About Perseverance and Hope

Perseverance Builds Character Bible Verse

Hope And Perseverance

Hope and persistence are like two people who walk with you on the path of faith. They help you through the highs and lows of life’s challenges and successes.

We start a trip to learn more about the deep wells of hope that are found in God’s promises and the unwavering strength that comes from sticking with things even when they get hard.

Bible Verses On Perseverance And Hope Explained

Scriptural Encouragement For Difficult Times – Perseverance Bible Verse – Hope In God’s Promises

Bible Verses About Perseverance and Hope

Bible VersesKnowledge Of The HolyEvery Christian Should Know
Key Biblical Messianic PropheciesPower in the BloodPresence of GodSavior on the Cross
Pursuit of GodBible Study For BeginnersPray For Those You LoveHeart Of God

When life is unclear, God’s promises give those who trust Him a steady sense of security and hope. This part sheds light on the deep hope that comes from knowing that we will live forever and that our God will always be true.

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Perseverance Builds Character Bible Verse – Hope In Eternal Life

Biblical Perspective On Perseverance And Hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him

Top Scriptures About Perseverance And Hope

Scriptural Encouragement For Difficult Times – Trusting In God’s Faithfulness

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV) – “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies

Psalm 89:8 (NIV) – “Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.”

Bible Quotes About Strength And Perseverance – Persevering Through Trials

In the crucible of adversity, believers are called to persevere, drawing strength from the One who endured all things for our sake. This section explores the transformative power of enduring hardship and finding renewed strength in perseverance through trials.

Bible Study Guide On Perseverance And Hope

Enduring Hardship

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus

Finding Strength In Perseverance

James 5:11 (NIV) – “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

Revelation 3:10 (NIV) – “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”

What Does The Bible Say About Perseverance And Hope?

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer

Bible Verses About Honesty and Integrity

Integrity And Righteousness

Being honest and doing the right thing are the foundations of a life that is in line with God’s will and purpose. As we read through the chapter on Integrity and Righteousness, we learn about how important it is to live with integrity and seek righteousness, which are qualities that reflect the character of our Heavenly Father.

Bible Verses About Honesty And Integrity

Living With Integrity

Integrity is more than just acting morally right on the outside; it means that your ideas, words, and actions are all in line with God’s truth and righteousness. This part talks about how important it is to be honest and have ethics in every part of your life.

Bible Verses About Honesty and Integrity

Bible VersesKnowledge Of The HolyEvery Christian Should Know
Key Biblical Messianic PropheciesPower in the BloodPresence of GodSavior on the Cross
Pursuit of GodBible Study For BeginnersPray For Those You LoveHeart Of God

Read and Learn More Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know

Biblical Honesty And Integrity

Walking In Honesty

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity

Psalm 25:21 (NIV) – “May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.” Proverbs 28:6 (NIV) – “Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.”

Psalm 26:1 (NIV) – “Vindicate me, Lord, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.”

Scripture On Truth And Integrity

Integrity In Speech And Actions

Colossians 3:9-10 (NIV) – “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

James 5:12 (NIV) – “Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear-not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ Otherwise, you will be condemned.”

Integrity In The Bible: Key Verses

The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit

Pursuing Righteousness

Righteousness is not merely an external conformity to moral standards but a heart condition cultivated through a deep hunger for God’s ways and a relentless pursuit of His truth.

Bible Passages On Honesty And Truthfulness

This section explores the longing for righteousness and the transformative power of aligning our lives with the righteousness of God.

Hungering For Righteousness

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled

Psalm 63:1 (NIV) – “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”

The Righteousness Of God

Romans 3:22 (NIV) – “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

Christian Integrity Meaning And Verses

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,”

The righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Bible Verses Every About Evangelism And Discipleship

Evangelism And Discipleship

The two main parts of the Christian faith are evangelism and discipleship. Together, they show that we are called to preach the Gospel and make disciples of all countries.

Key Bible Verses For Christian Mission

As we move forward, we begin a journey to understand the Great Commission and the amazing honour of making followers for Christ.

Bible Verses About Evangelism And Discipleship

The Great Commission

Jesus gave His disciples a holy purpose at the end of His time on earth: to go into all the world and make disciples of everyone there.

This part talks about the most important commandment of the Great Commission and why Christians must share the Gospel with confidence and conviction.

Bible Verses Every About Evangelism And Discipleship

Bible VersesKnowledge Of The HolyEvery Christian Should Know
Key Biblical Messianic PropheciesPower in the BloodPresence of GodSavior on the Cross
Pursuit of GodBible Study For BeginnersPray For Those You LoveHeart Of God

Go And Make Disciples

Scripture On Sharing The Gospel (Evangelism)

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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Witnesses in Jerusalem

Romans 10:14 (NIV) – “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

Sharing The Gospel

Biblical Principles Of Discipleship

Sharing The Gospel

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) – “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Making Disciples

Evangelism is not merely about proclaiming the Gospel but also about nurturing and disciplining believers to grow in their faith and walk with Christ.

This section explores the vital role of teaching, mentoring, and discipleship in the life of a believer and the transformative power of discipleship in action.

Great Commission Bible Verses (Matthew 28:19–20)

Teaching And Mentoring

2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV) – “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

Evangelism vs. Discipleship In The Bible

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Discipleship In Action

Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV) – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Bible Passages On Making Disciples

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ

Bible Verses About Strength And Courage

Strength And Courage

As we go deeper into what it means to find strength in God and the courage to face fear with faith, people of faith often face times when they need to be strong and brave all the time.

Trusting in God and being determined to keep going even when things get hard are important parts of this journey.

Bible Verses About Strength And Courage

Finding Strength In God

Being aware of God as the source of all power is at the heart of our spiritual journey. Let’s talk about how finding strength when you’re weak can change your life and how having God as our refuge and fortress can give us peace.

Bible Verses About Strength And Courage

Bible VersesKnowledge Of The HolyEvery Christian Should Know
Key Biblical Messianic PropheciesPower in the BloodPresence of GodSavior on the Cross
Pursuit of GodBible Study For BeginnersPray For Those You LoveHeart Of God

Read and Learn More Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know

Scripture On Finding Courage In God (Joshua 1:9)

Strength In Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV) – “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Strength In Weakness

God is our Refuge And Strength

Biblical Strength And Courage In Times Of Fear

Psalm 62:7-8 (NIV) – “My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

He cares for those who trust in him

Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV) – “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Courage In The Face Of Fear

In the midst of life’s uncertainties and trials, courage emerges as a defining virtue of the Christian journey. This section explores the overcoming of fear through faith and draws inspiration from courageous examples found within Scripture.

Bible Passages For Encouragement And Boldness

Overcoming Fear

Joshua 1:9 (NIV) – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go

1 John 4:18 (NIV) – “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

Strength And Courage In The Bible: Key Verses

Courageous Examples In Scripture

Your Majesty's hand

This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

Bible Verses For Overcoming Fear With Courage (Isaiah 41:10)

Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV) – “Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Matthew 14:29-30 (NIV) – “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!”

Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know

Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know

The Book Of Ezekiel

Book 26 The Book Of Ezekiel

Who wrote the book of Ezekiel: Ezekiel—during the Jewish exile to Babylon?

When was it written: Between 593 and 571 B.C.

Why was it written: God’s complete sovereignty is the primary and unmistakable message of this book.

Ezekiel was a prophet during the Babylonian exile—a contemporary of Jeremiah. But what really makes Ezekiel stand out from the rest of the prophets is the way in which God used Ezekiel to get his message across.

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A Most Unusual Method

The account of Ezekiel in chapters four and five is fascinating and humbling. It is fascinating in the fact that we see just how creative God can get when it comes to getting his message across.

It is fascinating in the fact that we see God going to extreme and unusual measures; expecting Ezekiel to obey without question.

Ezekiel’s primary prophecy of judgment against Judah

Think about it: how many of us would be willing to do what Ezekiel did?

Other Highlights Of The Book Of Ezekiel

While Ezekiel’s reenactment of the siege of Jerusalem is definitely the highlight of this book, it is not the only thing we should take away from the third major prophet in the Old Testament (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel).

Ezekiel also speaks to the people about the hope of restoration to God, the proprieties of worship, judgment on the leaders of Israel for their lack of Godly leadership, the promise of restoration, the condemnation of false prophets (then and now), and prophecies against other nations who reject God and his chosen people.

The Rebuilding Of The Temple And Distribution Of The Land

The book of Ezekiel ends with the description of the rebuilt Temple, reminders of how to worship according to the Mosaic Law, and the division of land between the tribes of Israel.

It is interesting to note that while Israel was no longer a whole nation consisting of the original twelve tribes, God divided the land among all the tribes—including the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim (Joseph’s two sons). But why? Why did God allot land to the tribes of Israel and Judah—especially since the tribes of Israel were scattered?

God allotted land to each of the Israelite tribes for the same reason Jeremiah purchased land just prior to the siege of Jerusalem…hope for the future. The ten tribes of Israel under Assyrian rule had been scattered and were no longer a nation.

They were lost to men, but they were not and are still not lost from God. God is a man of his word. He cannot break a promise. His holiness doesn’t ‘allow’ that to happen. One day Israel will be gathered together once again.

One day (according to the book of Revelation) all the tribes of Israel will be recognized again by men. Israel will always hold that special place in God’s heart, but because of their refusal to embrace their inheritance, God opened up salvation and adoption into his family to the Gentiles (that’s us).

Ezekiel’s prophecies have not all come to pass yet. God has not yet gathered Israel together again. But he will. Someday he will.

The book ends with instructions on where to situate the gates of the rebuilt Jerusalem, their size, and what names they are to be given. Again, this is something that is yet to come.

But the most significant words of this final portion of the book are found in the last sentence—the name of the city from that time on. THE LORD IS HERE. The LORD is here. Yesterday, today, and forever he is here.

The Book Of Daniel

Book 27 The Book Of Daniel

Who wrote the Book of Daniel: Daniel

When was the Book of Daniel written: The book was written somewhere in the 5th century B.C. after Cyrus (Persian Empire) had toppled the Babylonian Empire.

Why was the Book of Daniel written: Daniel is a history of the early years of Babylon’s siege of Jerusalem and the exile that follows—all the way through part of the Persian Empire’s rule over Judah. The message Daniel conveys throughout the book is that there is only one God and we are to worship only him.

The Book Of Daniel

But the book of Daniel also contains miraculous and historical accounts of his life and the lives of his three fellow

Hebrews while in the service of the kings of Babylon and the Persian Empire.

Simply put, the book of Daniel is ‘famous’ for five things among Christians (and even non-Christians).

  • Daniel surviving the night in a den of lions
  • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego survive the fiery furnace
  • Daniel interpreting the handwriting on the wall
  • Prophecies of the end times
  • The “Daniel Fast”

One God And One God Only

The account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being tossed into a furnace hotter than we can imagine and that of Daniel being thrown into a den of lions, are both the result of their refusal to bow down or pray to anyone other than God.

Both times the young men were ordered by the authorities that had taken their people captive to worship the reigning king— once while in Babylonian captivity and once under the rule of the Persian Empire.

Both times they refused; saying they would pray to and worship no one but the one true God. Both times God honored their faithfulness and used their lives as a testimony of his love and protection.

Interpretations, Visions, And Dreams

Daniel receives his messages from God in the form of dreams and visions. We read throughout the book about Daniel having dreams or visions and then angels interpreting them for him; revealing the meaning of what he has seen.

One of Daniel’s visions foretold the fall of the Babylonian Empire to the Persian Empire, followed by its fall and the rise and fall of Alexander the Great the Greek Empire, and the Roman Empire.

Each of these things happened just as Daniel said they would.

Daniel’s other dreams and visions are about the end times—the second coming of Jesus and the final judgment of man. These, of course, have not occurred yet, but we can be sure they will.

The Daniel Fast

In chapters one and ten we read that Daniel fasted from rich foods (fatty, sweet, and cream/gravy-laden), wine, meat, and anything else that was not naturally produced. In chapter one his purpose was to prove that our bodies operate best when we eat according to the plan God designed for us when he created man.

In chapter ten he did so as an act of submission and complete dependency on God for clarity and sustenance while he was receiving a vision and its meaning.

Daniel is by no means the first person in the Old Testament to fast his fasting experiences are the only ones that specifically state what he did and did not eat. It is for this reason that over the past few years, the Daniel Fast has become popular among churches—almost ‘faddish’.

Many see it as the Christian’s diet. But that isn’t what Daniel’s fast was about. It wasn’t about losing weight or even getting healthy. Daniel’s periods of fasting were to recognize God’s power in his life and to submit his body, soul, and mind to God.

Daniel…A Man Who Made A Difference

You cannot read the book of Daniel without being both challenged and encouraged. In reading Daniel’s prophecies, his commitment to the LORD, and his faith that God would do what was best for him no matter when and no matter what, we see a man and his contemporaries who weren’t afraid to put their faith to the test.

They knew (and we should, too) that faith without works truly is dead.

 

 

 

Jeremiah & Lamentations and Work

Books 24 And 25 The Book of Jeremiah And Lamentations

Who wrote the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations: Jeremiah

When was it written: The book of Jeremiah was written sometime between 626 and 586 B.C. and Lamentations was written around 587 B.C. or shortly after that. Jeremiah prophesied during the reigns of the following kings: Josiah, Jehoahaz Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah—right up to the time of Judah’s captivity by the Babylonians.

The book of Jeremiah consists of prophecy or messages from God to Jeremiah (which he to share with the people) as well as Jeremiah’s own thoughts. Jeremiah writes to remind us of God’s holiness, the need for God to be number one in our lives, and the necessity of sincere repentance.

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Jeremiah’s message is also one of accountability—our accountability to God for our thoughts, words, and deeds.

Jeremiah did not preach and prophecy without risking his own life. At one point he was thrown into a cistern where he sank in the mud, but was rescued before he died.

The book of Lamentations is Jeremiah’s expression of his grief over his fellow Israelites (Judah). It was written in the first year or so after Judah was taken captive by Babylon. The book focuses on the results of Judah turning away from God and reminds us of the importance of clinging to God and of being sincerely repentant when we sin.

Jeremiah’s Prophecies And Preaching

Jeremiah’s Prophecies And The Theme Of His Preaching Focus Primarily On The Following:

  • Warning the people of the consequences of their disobedience and faithlessness
  • Prophecy of God’s rejection of his children
  • The message of salvation and the coming of a Messiah—the ultimate King of Israel
  • Prophecy of Babylon’s dominance over Judah
  • Messages that encourage obedience to Babylon
  • Prophecy of Babylon’s demise to the Persian Empire
  • Deliverance of God’s people
  • Judgment and deliverance for all who believe and obey God

Jeremiah—A Man Who Uses Object Lessons

Jeremiah ‘spoke my language’; meaning he liked to use ordinary situations and objects to teach spiritual truths. Among the things Jeremiah uses to teach the people the truth of God’s holiness, love, and expectations for us include:

Jeremiah A Man Who Uses Object Lessons

Lamentations

The Message Of Lamentations

Jeremiah’s songs and poems he shares in the book of Lamentations are what garnered him the nickname “the weeping prophet”. In this book, he pours out his heart over the plight of the Judah because of their faithless acts of evil and disobedience. He is heartbroken over the destruction of Jerusalem and The Temple.

In the book of Lamentations, we also see the severity of God’s punishment.

In chapter four Jeremiah describes the misery and suffering of the people of Jerusalem during Babylon’s siege of the city. Starvation was so severe that they resorted to cannibalism!

The Message Of Lamentations

Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children who faint from hunger at the head of every street.” Jeremiah knows that all that is necessary to put an end to their suffering is true repentance.

Jeremiah was a great preacher and evangelist. His words go straight to the heart of the matter but are also encouraging and hopeful. He doesn’t let us forget about our responsibility to be faithful and obedient to God, but he also doesn’t let us forget the bounty of blessings that come when we are.

Key Verses In Jeremiah And Lamentations

Every book of the Bible provides us with words of wisdom, instruction, comfort, encouragement, admonishment, warning, promise, and hope. Let’s look at some of what the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations have to offer.

“Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.” Jeremiah 2:19

“Discipline me, Lord, but only in due measure— not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing.” Jeremiah 10:24

Key Verses In Jeremiah And Lamentations

“Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.” Lamentations 3:32-33

“You, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.” Lamentations 5:19

The Book Of Song Of Songs And The Book Of Isaiah

Books 22 and 23 The Book Of Song Of Songs And The Book Of Isaiah

Who wrote the book of Song of Songs: Solomon When was it written: 10th century B.C.

Why was it written: This book (also called the Song of Solomon) is a love story. The book was written to give insight as to the Israelite customs and attitudes on male-female relationships.

The book of Song of Songs is one of two books of the Bible that makes no mention of God—the other being Esther. The book has no doctrinal message, but it is a book of value to Christians nonetheless.

The value to be found in the book of Song of Songs is that God created us to be sexual beings—sexual beings with a pure heart and minds. God clearly created the institute of marriage when he created the earth and mankind.

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He does, however, want us to enjoy our marital state and the joys that come from the romantic and sexual aspects of marriage. Song of Songs helps us free ourselves of a Puritan-like mindset; giving us ‘permission’ to delight in our sexual experiences as long as they are monogamous and within the bounds of marriage.

The Book of Isaiah

Who wrote the Book of Isaiah: Isaiah

When was it written: Most of the book was written around 700 B.C., but many things point to the last several chapters being written in the later part of Isaiah’s life—some thirty years after the first part of the book.

Why was it written: The overall message of the book can be summed up in the words judgment, salvation, restoration, and love.

Isaiah is the most ‘popular’ of the Old Testament prophets for a number of reasons including:

  • His years of serving as God’s prophet spanned four Judean kings (Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah).
  • A great many of his prophecies were about the coming of Jesus and their fulfillment is obviously present in the New Testament as well as in more current history.

The Book of Isaiah

Isaiah’s Prophecies Regarding Israel

In spite of the fact that Isaiah lived in Judah, many of his prophecies were about the kingdom of Israel and their fall to Assyria.

He did, however, also prophecy about Judah’s exile to Babylon as well as the fall of Babylon that would come years later. Isaiah’s heart for all God’s children (Israel and Judah) was sincere.

He had weathered the battles between the two nations that should have been one. He knew their separation from one another and from God caused God great sorrow and he (Isaiah) wanted very much for the people to listen to the messages God gave him to share with the people. But they would not.

The demise of the two nations of Israelites is tempered by his prophecies of God’s promise to restore them to the land he gave them through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The restoration, however, is only for the kingdom of Judah because they found their way back to God, whereas Israel did not. Judah’s return and the rebuilding of The Temple had to have been a tremendous source of joy to Isaiah.

Isaiah’s Prophecies Regarding Judgement And Hope

While Isaiah’s warnings are definitely literal in nature, they can also be seen in a somewhat figurative, as well. The figurative nature of Isaiah’s prophecies refers to God’s kingdom here on earth—a kingdom that is spiritual in nature rather than physical.

Isaiah’s Prophecies About Jesus

Isaiah was spot-on in his prophecies regarding Jesus—his ancestry, birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and as we will one day see, his second coming.

While secular history undeniably backs up the events of Israel, Judah, Babylon, and Assyria, the fact that a man who lived hundreds of years prior to Jesus’ birth could tell us in such detail what was going to take place, well, that could only come from the Almighty God.

Let’s take a look at what Isaiah had to say about Jesus long before he was ever born:

Isaiah 7:14-Virgin birth of Jesus

Isaiah 9:6-7-He would be the son of God (he lists some of the names given to Jesus)

Isaiah 11:1-10-The Messiah would be a descendant of Jesse (King David)

Isaiahs Prophecies About Jesus

Isaiah 50:6-Jesus would spit on and beaten

Isaiah 53:12-The Messiah would be ‘numbered with the transgressors’ (die with criminals)

Isaiah 5 3:9-Jesus would be buried in a rich man’s tomb

Isaiah 49:6-The message of salvation through Jesus would reach the far corners of the earth

Some feel the book of Isaiah is depressing and somewhat difficult to understand. In some ways, it is depressing—to think that we cause God that much sorrow should make us feel ashamed.

And while the language or terminology can be a bit old-fashioned, it isn’t impossible to understand.

It simply takes a heart and mind open to what God has to say. Besides, in reading the book of Isaiah, one cannot help but see the hope that comes from God’s love—a love that is shown so clearly through his gift of restoration and salvation through Jesus.