Category: book of life

Whoever Remains in Zion: Isaiah 4:3 (Part 3)

This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 8: Whoever Remains in Zion: Isaiah 4:3.

In two previous posts (#1; #2), we began to explore Isaiah’s revelation about the book of life: “Whoever remains in Zion and whoever is left in Jerusalem will be called holy ​— ​all in Jerusalem written in the book of life ….” (Isa. 4:3). We complete our study of this passage here.

Zion

So, to whom is this promise made? Isaiah 4:3 tells us, “Whoever remains in Zion and whoever is left in Jerusalem will be called holy ​— ​all in Jerusalem written in the book of life ….”​

The word “Zion” appears more than 150 times in Scripture. Essentially, it means “fortification” and carries the idea of being raised up as a monument. Zion is depicted both as the city of David and the city of God. We find the first mention of Zion in 2 Samuel 5: “Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David…. David took up residence in the stronghold, which he named the city of David” (vv. 7, 9).

As we move through the Old and New Testaments, the word “Zion” takes on additional, spiritual meaning. For example, Zion refers figuratively to Israel as the people of God (Isa. 60:14). And it comes to mean God’s spiritual kingdom.

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Whoever Remains in Zion: Isaiah 4:3 (Part 2)

This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 8: Whoever Remains in Zion: Isaiah 4:3.

In the previous post, we were introduced to Isaiah’s reference to the book of life in Isaiah 4:3: “Whoever remains in Zion and whoever is left in Jerusalem will be called holy ​— ​all in Jerusalem written in the book of life.” Here, we continue our exploration of this passage.

Branch

Isaiah’s reference to “the Branch of the LORD” reinforces this view (4:2). The “Branch” foreshadows the coming Messiah, who brings marvelous fertility to the land and reverses the dire situation described in previous chapters. The Lord is going to replace Judah’s proud leaders with the Branch, a “beautiful and glorious” monarch who takes away sin and restores the land’s abundance. This Branch is of David’s lineage, yet also, in an unexplained way, he bears divine ancestry.

Other Old Testament passages give us insight into the person and work of the Branch. For example:

Isaiah 11:1-5 – Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him — a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight will be in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, he will not execute justice by what he hears with his ears, but he will judge the poor righteously and execute justice for the oppressed of the land. He will strike the land with a scepter from his mouth, and he will kill the wicked  with a command from his lips. Righteousness will be a belt around his hips; faithfulness will be a belt around his waist. 

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Whoever Remains in Zion: Isaiah 4:3

This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 8: Whoever Remains in Zion: Isaiah 4:3.

Whoever remains in Zion and whoever is left in Jerusalem will be called holy ​— ​all in Jerusalem written in the book of life … (Isa. 4:3).

Isaiah prophesies in Judah during the reigns of four kings, a period of sixty to seventy years during which Samaria is captured, the northern kingdom of Israel is carried away (722-721 BC), and Judah is invaded (701 BC). 

Isaiah’s messages harken back to the eternal councils of God and gaze forward to the  creation of new heavens and a new earth (65:17; 66:22). Isaiah’s prophecies have a powerful messianic focus. He foretells Messiah’s birth (7:14; 9:6); reveals his deity (9:6-7); describes his ministry (9:1-2; 42:1-7; 61:1-2); foretells his death (52:1 – 53:12); and celebrates his future reign on earth (chaps. 2; 11; 65). 

A high point in Isaiah’s ministry comes in chapter 6 as he encounters God. The enraptured prophet catches a glimpse of Yahweh’s glory, moving Isaiah to despise his uncleanness and declare his sinfulness. He then confesses the people’s sins and responds to the divine call to take them God’s message: “Here I am. Send me” (see Isa. 6:1-8). 

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All My Days Were Written: Psalm 139:16 (Part 2)

This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 7: All My Days Were Written: Psalm 139:16.

In the previous post, we were introduced to Psalm 139:16: “Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.” Now, we turn our attention to God’s eternal attributes revealed in this verse.

God’s eternal attributes

Let’s see how David builds a case for God’s eternal attributes, in groups of six verses at a time.

You know all about me

LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, LORD. You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me. This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it (Ps. 139:1-6).

David marvels that God knows everything about him and is always with David. The psalmist brings divine omniscience and omnipresence down to a deeply personal level. The Lord has searched and known “me.” He knows when “I” sit down and stand up. He understands “my” thoughts, observes “my” travels and “my” rest, and knows the words the psalmist speaks before they roll off “my” tongue. The Lord has encircled “me,” and placed his hand on “me.” This wondrous knowledge is beyond “me,” that is, beyond David’s comprehension. 

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All My Days Were Written: Psalm 139:16

This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 7: All My Days Were Written: Psalm 139:16.

Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began (Ps. 139:16).

So far in our study, we’ve explored references to “the book you [God] have written” (Exod. 32:32), “my [God’s] book” (Exod. 32:33), and “the book of life” (Ps. 69:28). Now, in Psalm 139, David marvels at the all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere-present attributes of God. Among the psalmist’s amazements are these words: “All my days were written in your book” (v. 16, emphasis added). 

We begin this study with a few notes about Psalm 139. This is a wisdom psalm that features elements of both a hymn and a lament. The hymn-like portions exalt Yahweh’s greatness, while the lament acknowledges God’s power over all creatures, especially the psalmist.

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