CHAPTER 46
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 46, VS 1-2
Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.
2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 46, VS 1-2
People put their pleasures in material things. They become as idols. It speaks of loading beasts of burden with idols. We load and clutter our lives with possessions, entertainment, activities to impress others, etc., and our lives begin to stoop, slow down, slip, as the beast under the weight of the load, and we are lost, as the beasts who are taken into captivity because they couldn’t make any speed with such a burden. We can’t gain in our relationship with Jesus Christ when we take our time and energy on such things, and we fall into the captivity of satan drawing us farther and farther from God.
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 46, VS 3-4
Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 46, VS 3-4
The Lord is reminding us that He cares for us before we’re born, and watches us every minute of our lives in tremendous love, all the way until our gray years, and death. A beautiful promise to cling to!!! THANK YOU, LORD!
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 46, VS 5-8
To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 46, VS 5-8
Our possessions, money, power, fame, will not help us in this life, or the next. They are lifeless, and cannot move in our lives. Materialism limits us to this world, so we become blind to the eternal world of our Lord. We then begin to see worldly leaders as our “saviors”, as we listen to them, obey then, and put our True Savior and Lord in the background. This creates a crack in our armor. We must look ONLY to Jesus!
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 46, VS 9-10
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 46, VS 9-10
Remember all the things the Lord has done for Mankind, and for each of us individually. There is no way we can come near to thanking Him enough. All He asks is that our eyes be continually on Him.
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 46, VS 11-13
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:
I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 46, VS 11-13
We have our righteousness through Jesus. In verse 12 He says we are far from righteousness, and in verse 13 He says He will bring HIS righteousness near. He comes to us. We keep wandering off, and He keeps following us. That is God’s tremendous and powerful Love!
END OF CHAPTER 46