READING FOR FEBRUARY 10, 2026: ISAIAH 27, MATTHEW 7, PSALM 5:7-12 ISAIAH 27 This chapter seems like it is pointing to events that are described elsewhere in the Bible regarding the end times. Remember we defined this sort of content as “eschatological.”
| Isaiah 27 Images | End Times’ Biblical Passages |
| God will kill the leviathan living in the sea (vs.1). | “I saw a beast coming up out of the sea” (Rev. 13:1). The beast was seized, and with him the false prophet...thesetwo were thrown alive into the lake of fire” (Rev.19:20). |
| God will Keep His vineyard without wrath (vs.2-4). | “Those who had not worshiped the beast or his image... came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years” (Rev. 20:4) |
| Israel will blossom and spout (vs. 6). | “All Israel will be saved; just as it is written” (Rom.11:26). |
| The fortified city will be isolated and will not receive God’s grace (vs. 10-11). | “‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come” (Rev. 18:10). |
| Assyria and Egypt will worship the true God along with Israel. (vs. 12-13). | “On that day Israel will be the third party to Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth” (Isaiah 19:24). |
Yes, we, along with the entire fallen world, will experience difficult times, but the final result will be much more than worth it. Since this writer has canceled cable TV, sometimes watching replays of IU football games online has been less stressful than watching live because the victory has already happened. As we finish this life, those of us who have received Jesus as Savior can have this same confidence. VICTORY IN JESUS has already happened at the cross.
MATTHEW 7 Many point to Matt. 7:1 for not worrying about/judging bad life choices others make. Yet, earlier in this same sermon (Matt. 5), Jesus gave higher standards of conduct than the Old Testament law for his followers. How can both be true? Jesus gives a process for dealing with our [Christian] brother’s sinful behavior that is effective and not hypocritical:
- Realize that we all will be judged by God, particularly by the standards we judge others. Rom. 2:1 makes this same point.
- Thus, before we consider approaching others, we need to seriously examine ourselves to see if we are guilty of similar behavior or something much worse.
- Then after confessing our own sin and with the motivation of helping our brothers/sisters improve, we are in a position to address another person’s issue gently and personally—not through the grapevine (Matt.18:15)!
Verse 6 portrays quite a gory image: someone throwing pearls to pigs. The pigs then trample the pearls and tear up the thrower into pieces Possibly Jesus gets at his meaning even more later in the book: “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore, I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matt.13:12-13). Those who have already rejected basic truths about Jesus, will not receive higher-level pearls of spiritual wisdom. They may become more hostile to God and to whomever is communicating with them.
READINGS FOR FEBRUARY 10, 2026 CONTINUED: MATTHEW 7, PSALM 5:7-12
God invites us to be proactive with Him: ASK, SEEK, KNOCK. He says even evil fathers give their children good gifts. Thus, our heavenly Father will even more certainly give us good gifts (from His perspective) if we ask. This begs the question: what is a good gift? At least we know for certain from the prayer Jesus taught of some great gifts: His Kingdom, meeting daily needs, deliverance from evil, forgiveness, and His will. Regarding this last one, an excellent prayer request is to pray parts of God’s Word for oneself or a friend. Consider the prayer found in Phil. 1:9: “I pray, that (fill in the blank) love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment.” Maybe we could pray this now for ourselves or someone close to us.
Matt. 7:13-23 presents a realistic view about eternal life: most people will not experience it. Also, some who present themselves as conveyers of spiritual truth are false prophets with selfish motives. Jesus tells us to beware (Matt. 7: 15). It is not what we or others say that makes a Christian, even when using religious language. Do we or others have a personal relationship with Jesus, and do we or others obey His Word (Matt.7:23)?
Jesus closes His sermon talking about two foundations: sand and rock. He suggests whether we build our house (meaning life) on the sand or rock, we will experience storms—no escape. He promises that if we wisely build on rock, our house (life) will weather the storm well. He promises that if we foolishly build on sand, our house (life) will totally collapse. What is the foundation for a successful life according to Jesus? HEARING and OBEYING HIS WORDS! Remember He said most people don’t do this. This Bible-reading plan seeks to aid that effort.
PSALM 5:7-12 David, in this time of great pain, consciously chose to seek God and His righteousness (good). He honestly expressed his feelings (good), and asked God to allow his enemies to fall (good and maybe bad). It’s good that David didn’t take vengeance himself and that his concern was their opposition to God. It might be challenging because Jesus just taught in His sermon to love and pray for our enemies.
David’s prayer for his enemies doesn’t seem what Jesus had in mind. Remember, though, that Jesus raised the standards of behavior from Old Testament Law. We, as Christians indwelt with the Holy Spirit post-Acts 2, have the obligation and the capability to live at this highest stand- ard. What would Jesus do (WWJD) is better than what would David do(WWDD). Having unburdened himself totally to God, David ends the Psalm with a joy and trust that is indeed a great model for us when we are experiencing trials. Let’s do the same!
