READING FOR MARCH 25, 2026: ISAIAH 41, ROMANS 10, PSALM 24:1-6 ISAIAH 41 This may be a call by the prophet to people from other nations, such as those of the Mediterranean world, to listen to a word from God (vs.1). Remember that all the world has received a measure of knowledge from God: “The heavens tell of the glory of God; and their expanse
declares the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge” (Psalm 19:1-2). This particular message asks to bring forward all other gods and philosophies to see if any are true and how they compare with the God of the Bible. Christians need not fear learn- ing about other religious or worldviews. An important prerequisite, though, is to really under- stand what biblical truth is. The prophet emphasizes aspects of the biblical God: His sovereign control over history and nations, His righteousness, His omnipotence (power), and His eternali- ty (vs.2-4). Hopefully, we can squeeze in time to seek this God in our busy daily schedule.
Isaiah states that the world’s peoples are aware of this God (vs. 5), just as Paul writes: “That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:19-20). Unfortunately, these distant people have constructed their own gods in opposition (vs. 6-7). That increasingly seems to be the condition of post-Christian America today.
God’s response amazingly has been to choose the descendants of Abraham to be both His ser- vants and friends (vs.8-9). And such we are if we place our faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord: “if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise” (Gal. 3:29). As a result of our faith, we are then able to claim all the promises of God’s presence and future given to God’s people found in verses 10-20.
In verses 21-24 God asks the world’s other gods once more to bring forth evidence of their credibility. What did they do in the past? What will happen in the future? But they have noth- ing to say in response because there is really only one God, as Paul stated: “We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one” (1 Cor. 8:4). By contrast God states that He will raise up an unexpected power from the North to defeat the nations (vs. 25). Since Isaiah is speaking during the world supremacy of Assyria to be followed by that of Babylon, it is likely God is referring to yet the third wave, which is the Persian Empire, whose territory will be both to the north and east of Judah and Israel. The fulfillment of this prophecy will prove God’s ulti- mate superiority above all other gods and rulers (vs. 26-29). Today we also have the resurrec- tion of Jesus Christ to prove His greatness above all other powers: “We also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself” (2 Cor. 4:13-14).
READING FOR MARCH 25, 2026 CONTINUED: ROMANS 10, PSALM 24:1-6 ROMANS 10 Paul begins this chapter in much the same way as he began chapter 9. It is another expression of his deep desire for his fellow Jews to come to faith in Jesus. This counters two extreme views about the Jews, both of which this chapter seems to refute. One view, known as Replacement Theology, is that the Jews have no special significance in the New Testament, that anytime Israel is mentioned it means the church. The other is that the Jews really don’t need to be evangelized because they are already chosen by God: “It does not in any way follow that the Jews are excluded from God’s salvation because they do not believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah of Israel and the Son of God” (Vatican 2015). Not according to Paul.
Paul mentioned an interesting problem that Israel had that also really describes his own condition prior to Damascus. Israel was enthusiastically religious but did not understand correct doctrine. Could this describe some of us? Do we all know the basics of the Gospel? According to Paul, we are not saved if we don’t? Paul also suggests we are not saved by doing good deeds in the community, singing in the choir, giving money, or serving on a church committee. How are we saved? If we only could choose one verse to memorize, understand, and obey, we could not do better than Romans 10:9: “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Are we all aware that we are all lost in sin and separated from God until we believe in the saving work of Jesus on the Cross? Do we all trust Him as Lord by constantly looking to His Word and obeying His commands as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit? Verse 12 says both Jew and Greek need to do this. Even Hoosiers need to do this. But Paul is concerned that some may not believe because they have not heard. Do we have friends or loved ones who have not really heard this message, at least from someone they trust. Who will tell them?
Paul concludes this chapter giving a tease or preview of chapter 11. As he frequently does, he uses Old Testament texts to explain how Israel’s rejection of Jesus was expected and how non-Jews will first come to faith in greater number, eventually making the Jews more jealous to know Jesus. The final verse emphasizes that the door is still open for the Jews. We learn about this in greater and glorious detail in chapter 11.
PSALM 24:1-6 The Psalm opens contemplating God’s earth and everything in it. On February 5, 2024 our study began with God creating a world that was perfectly fit for humanity (Psalm 24:1-2) and a garden where Adam and Eve related harmoniously with God. Since the fall, creation is marred but still reveals the Glory of God (Psalm 19). Since the fall, God still interacted with humans, if not face to face. He originally focused on His chosen people Israel (children of Jacob), pointing to a time when fuller reconciliation could occur (2 Cor.5:17-21).
We know from Romans 3: 23 that all humankind has sinned, so who among us is worthy to stand in His holy place (Psalm 24:3)? Who among us has clean hands, a pure heart and has not lifted his soul to deceit (Psalm 24:4)? A similar question is posed in Revelation 5:2: “Who is worthy to open the book and to break the seals?” At first, no one in heaven, on earth, nor under the earth was found worthy. But then a song rang out: ‘Worthy are You (Jesus) to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You have made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth’” (Rev. 5:9-10).
When we place our faith in Jesus, who alone is worthy, we receive His righteousness (Rom. 10:3-6), along with fellow believers from all over the world. We will serve with them as priests who in some sense will reign on the earth. Maybe we have had a position of responsibility in our professional lives, but our biggest and most exciting assignment is yet to come.
