CELEBRATING JULY 2018 30 Yeaɾs From the ends of the earth we hear singing: “Glory to the Righteous One.” Isaiah 24:16 THE BOOK OF ISAIAH: Seeing the Glory of God A devotional from TODAY WITH GREG THORNTON Interim President of Moody Global Ministries God’s Glory Eclipses Everything The solar eclipse last God’s glory, the tremendous weight August was the first of His majesty, is too much for a mere to be visible across mortal to observe. So when the Lord’s the entire contiguous glory passed by, Moses was picked up United States since and placed in the cleft of a rock, safely 1918. And this was covered by God’s hand. “Then I will the first solar eclipse remove my hand and you will see my in the age of social media, with viewers back; but my face must not be seen” using their smartphones to capture and (v. 23). Moses had the amazing share the spectacle. Eclipse glasses sold opportunity to view the Lord’s back, but out in some areas, so people created he was not allowed to see His face. viewers from cardboard boxes. God allows us to see glimpses of His Why the need for glasses or cardboard glory in the world around us: “Holy, holy, viewers? Because the sun is far too holy is the L Almighty; the whole bright to glance at directly. In fact, earth is full of his glory” (Isa. 6:3). And experts warned that staring at the sun— we are being transformed to reflect even for a brief moment—could result in God’s glory through our relationship permanent vision loss. with Jesus Christ: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s This warning not to stare directly at the glory, are being transformed into his sun reminds me of a passage in the Old image with ever-increasing glory, which Testament. The book of Exodus records comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” how Moses left the Israelite camp by (2 Cor. 3:18). himself and set up a tent in order to meet with the Lord. There God would One day those who have believed in speak directly to Moses “as one speaks Jesus as our Savior will be reunited with to a friend” (33:11). Him in glory. We will see God face to face, the weight of His majesty no longer Moses and God had an intriguing too much to bear. There we will see conversation. Moses demands: “Now God’s glory: “The city does not need the show me your glory” (v. 18). God sun or the moon to shine on it, for the responds: “You cannot see my face, for glory of God gives its light, and the Lamb no one may see me and live” (v. 20). is its lamp” (Rev. 21:23). How glorious that will be! n ¢800£ 356¥6639 THEOLOGY MATTERS by Dr. John Koessler Speaking for God oday we use the term prophet so that they would write only what God to describe someone who wanted them to record. His controlling T speaks bluntly and with influence preserved the Scriptures forthrightness. The Bible uses the term from error. prophet in a more specialized sense. Biblical prophets spoke for God under The Spirit empowers believers who the control of the Holy Spirit. have the gifts of preaching and teaching the Scriptures (1 Cor. 12:28; The unique role of the Spirit separates Eph. 4:11). But He does not divinely the prophets from others who speak dictate their utterances in the same for God. The Spirit’s influence was way that He did those of the prophets described in Isaiah’s assertion that the and writers of Scripture. Their words Lord’s “strong hand” was upon him were to be regarded as God’s words. when he spoke (Isa. 8:11). In the New The words we use when we preach or Testament, biblical prophets were teach have the authority of God only described as being “carried along” to the degree that what we say agrees by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). This with God’s Word. This is an important language emphasizes God’s control difference. It obligates those who over their words. While speaking speak for God to base their message under the influence of the Holy Spirit, on the Bible and to study it carefully. the prophets spoke only those things that God wanted them to say. The The church’s pastors, preachers, and control and direction of their words by teachers have a calling and charge the Holy Spirit means that the words to speak about God and proclaim the of the prophets are God’s Word. The truth of Scripture. Though they are not prophets’ words are true. divinely inspired, they still must ensure that their preaching is consistent with God’s Spirit also guarantees the God’s revelation through His inspired, truth of Scripture to all believers. The inerrant Scripture. n theological word that we use to refer to this unique act is inspiration. It comes FOR FURTHER STUDY from 2 Timothy 3:16–17, where it is To learn more, read My Servants translated “God breathed.” In the act of the Prophets by Edward J. Young inspiration, the Holy Spirit empowered (Eerdmans). the prophets and writers of Scripture TODAYINTHEWORD.COM FROM THE EDITORS by Jamie Janosz Moody Radio Hosts Share Favorite Scripture Passages “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ on my path.”—Psalm 119:105 you are serving.”—Colossians 3:23–24 Students of Scripture know that God Perhaps it was my father’s work ethic speaks to us through His Word to direct that made me want to throw myself into our lives and draw us closer to Him. We anything I did, but these verses have invited Moody Radio hosts to share a always comforted me about whatever Bible passage and why it holds special I’m doing. If I know that I’m trying to meaning for them. please Him and not just my earthly bosses or leaders, I can do everything Kurt Goff, host of Kurt Goff Live wholeheartedly and with passion. “Who is among you that fears the L This frees me to simply jump into any that obeys the voice of His servant, that assignment with tenacity and abandon. I walks in darkness and has no light? Let don’t care if you’re a bricklayer, a ditch him trust in the name of the L and digger, carpenter, or wordsmith, you are rely on his God.”—Isaiah 50:10, serving the Lord Christ! This verse has come to my rescue so Janet Parshall, host of In the Market many times. We are followers of Jesus, with Janet Parshall seeking to be obedient and investing in “I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and our relationship with Him. That’s always my fortress, My God, in whom I trust.’” the right thing to do when we’re not —Psalm 91:2, sure what to do next. Grab your Bible, hit your knees, and remember who With all the instability in the world today, Jesus is. The light will come as you wait I have been pressing in to the reality on Him. Avoid the temptation to come that God is not only sovereign but He up with your own answers, to light up is my protector. I love that the God of your own darkness. God has a plan. You all creation cares enough to protect me. may be in the dark, but He’s not! But I also gravitate to the declaration the psalmist makes that God can be trusted. Chris Fabry, host of Chris Fabry Live People will disappoint us, institutions will “Whatever you do, work at it with all your fail us, and life comes with turbulence heart, as working for the Lord, not for and tribulation. But God, who loves and human masters, since you know that protects us, can always be trusted. I hold you will receive an inheritance from the tightly to that truth-anchor in my life. n 800 3566639 VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 7 MANAGING EDITOR Heather Mott SENIOR EDITOR Elena Mafter The Book of Isaiah: CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jamie Janosz Seeing the Glory of God John Koessler WRITER Eric C. Redmond Jerusalem is in the news—again. With the plans to move ART DIRECTOR the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, thus affirming it as Lynn Gabalec Israel’s capital, controversy around the city continues. GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Larry Bohlin, Rachel Hutcheson And it’s not new! Jerusalem has been the center of MARKETING & PRODUCTION wars, disagreements, and differences for centuries. Paul B. Currie MOODY GLOBAL MINISTRIES The prophet Isaiah knew exactly what Jerusalem is and INTERIM PRESIDENT to whom the city belongs. The book of Isaiah—our study Greg Thornton with Today in the Word this month—paints a powerful INTERIM PROVOST John Jelinek picture of the coming Messiah. This Messiah—the INTERIM CHIEF OPERATING Christ—will deliver humanity from the prison of sin and OFFICER Mark Wagner will become “light for the Gentiles” (42:6). Isaiah creates CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER incredible, poetic imagery of the Lord’s kingdom where Ken Heulitt He reigns in righteousness, and all nations stream to the CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Samuel Choy holy mountain of Jerusalem (2:2–4). Jerusalem then will truly be the “City of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of VICE PRESIDENTS Tim Arens Israel” (60:14).