Isaiah 20-22; 1 Corinthians 2
Isaiah 20-22
Isaiah continues his prophecies concerning the nations surrounding Israel but turns his attention back to Jerusalem. He foresees its eventual destruction due to the people's sinfulness and misplaced trust. Instead of relying on God, the people of Judah looked to their resources and strength: "You looked in that day to the weapons in the Palace of the Forest" (Isaiah 22:8). Rather than depending on the Lord, who orchestrates everything, they trusted in their preparations: "You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the Old Pool, but you did not look to the One who made it or have regard for the One who planned it long ago" (Isaiah 22:11). Their focus on material defenses instead of spiritual reliance on God was their fundamental problem.
1 Corinthians 2
In this chapter, Paul speaks about the power of the gospel and its practical implications for his ministry. He emphasizes that his preaching was not rooted in persuasive human wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and God's power: "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power" (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).
Salvation, Paul points out, is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who reveals God's wisdom and plans to those who believe: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love Him—these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
Paul explains that the "natural person" (1 Corinthians 2:14) refers to someone not born again or spiritually dead. Such a person cannot accept the things of the Spirit because these truths are spiritually discerned. Only through the work of the Holy Spirit can someone understand and embrace the truths of the gospel.
Isaiah continues his prophecies concerning the nations surrounding Israel but turns his attention back to Jerusalem. He foresees its eventual destruction due to the people's sinfulness and misplaced trust. Instead of relying on God, the people of Judah looked to their resources and strength: "You looked in that day to the weapons in the Palace of the Forest" (Isaiah 22:8). Rather than depending on the Lord, who orchestrates everything, they trusted in their preparations: "You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the Old Pool, but you did not look to the One who made it or have regard for the One who planned it long ago" (Isaiah 22:11). Their focus on material defenses instead of spiritual reliance on God was their fundamental problem.
1 Corinthians 2
In this chapter, Paul speaks about the power of the gospel and its practical implications for his ministry. He emphasizes that his preaching was not rooted in persuasive human wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and God's power: "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power" (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).
Salvation, Paul points out, is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who reveals God's wisdom and plans to those who believe: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love Him—these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).
Paul explains that the "natural person" (1 Corinthians 2:14) refers to someone not born again or spiritually dead. Such a person cannot accept the things of the Spirit because these truths are spiritually discerned. Only through the work of the Holy Spirit can someone understand and embrace the truths of the gospel.
Posted in Reading Bible Together