The Suffering Servant | CultureWatch

Readings and quotes on Isaiah 53:

The first thing to be mentioned here is that when we speak of Isaiah 53, we are using shorthand. What is actually being discussed is the complete unit as found in Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12. Chapter and verse divisions of the Bible that came along much later than when the books first appeared have been helpful, but not always fully accurate.

And the second thing to say is that Is. 53 is just one of four commonly recognised servant songs found in Isaiah: 42:1-9; 49:1-6; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12. Thirdly, identifying the servant(s) is still a matter of discussion, ranging from seeing Israel in view to Jesus the Messiah, and combinations thereof.

Here I offer a brief reading list for those who want to take this further. I then offer a few choice quotes to ponder.

Recommended reading

There are many books out there on the servant songs in general, and Is. 53 in particular. Here I offer just a dozen helpful volumes that explore biblical, theological and historical aspects of the chapter. Most are newer works, but at least one slightly older volume is included.

Bellinger Jr. William and William Farmer, eds., Jesus and the Suffering Servant: Isaiah 53 and Christian Origins. Trinity Press International, 1998.
Blocher, Henri, Songs of the Servant: Isaiah’s Good News. Regent College, 2005.
Bock, Darrell and Mitch Glaser, The Gospel According to Isaiah 53: Encountering the Suffering Servant in Jewish and Christian Theology. Kregel, 2012.
Glaser, Mitch, Isaiah 53 Explained. Chosen People Productions, 2009.
Harmon, Matthew, The Servant of the Lord and His Servant People. IVP, 2020.
Lindsey, F. Duane, The Servant Songs: A Study in Isaiah. Moody, 1985.
MacArthur, John, The Gospel According to God: Rediscovering the Most Remarkable Chapter in the Old Testament. Crossway, 2018.
MacLeod, David, The Suffering Servant of the Lord, A Prophecy of Jesus Christ, 2nd ed., Wipf & Stock, 2016, 2019.
McConville, J. Gordon, The Suffering Servant: Isaiah 53 For the Life of the Church. Baker, 2023.
Russell, Brian, Behold My Servant: The Servant Songs of Isaiah. Christian Focus, 2017.
Swanson, Kyle, Isaiah’s Great Light: The Salvation of God in the Servant Songs. Kress, 2023.
Zimmerli, W. and J. Jeremias, The Servant of God. SCM Press, 1952, 1957.

Also, good commentaries on Isaiah are worth consulting. Here is a list of some of the better ones, at least up to 2018: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2018/07/17/bible-study-helps-isaiah/

Select quotes

Glaser in Bock and Glaser

The New Testament contains numerous references and allusions to Isaiah 53 and its fulfillment in the person and work of the Messiah. It is clear that the New Testament writers understood that Jesus was both a historical person, born in lowliness (Matt. 2:1; Luke 1-2), as well as divine (e.g., Rom. 9:5; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 1:8). Just as Isaiah prophesied, the New Testament writers record that Jesus was innocent (John 8:6), despised and rejected by men, and unjustly executed as a felon (Luke 23;13-15). They emphasize that he suffered voluntarily (John 10 :11; Gal. 2:20) and in obedience, humility, and silence (Matt. 27:12, 14; Phil. 2:8; 1 Pet. 2:23).

The New Testament writers allude to Isaiah in explaining the motivations of Jesus’ suffering: out of love for others (Luke 23:24); in order to fulfill the divine plan and will (Eph. 3:1-6); and to provide a redemptive intervention leading to the justification of the evildoer from his sin (1 Cor. 1:30; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). Jesus’ suffering was vicarious (1 Pet. 2:24), and like Isaiah’s Suffering Servant, Jesus suffered to the point of death (Matt. 27:50), which gave way to his resurrection (1 Cor. 15:4) and ascension to Heaven. Now he is highly exalted, sitting at the right hand of God (Phil. 2:9-11).

It should be clear that all the difficulties associated with. alternative interpretations disappear when the passage is applied to Jesus of Nazareth, for he (and he alone) fulfils all the details of this magnificent prophetic psalm. (p. 231)

Kaiser in Bock and Glaser

There is no doubt that the Servant is addressed as “Israel” (in some texts such as Isa. 49:3) and that Israel best fits all the plural references to the “servants” in Isaiah 54-66. This has led some to conclude that the Servant as a whole group is also personified as such in the singular references alluded to already. This group-view has a number of different sub-categories such as (1) representing all the Jewish people, (2) representing the righteous remnant of Israel, (3) representing the Davidic dynasty, (4) representing the priestly order, or (5) representing an ideal Israel that im-personates the whole nation.

When this collective view is seen in light of the Old Testament phenomenon of “corporate solidarity,” in which there is an oscillation from the one (who represents the whole group) to the many (which are all part of the group), the one comes closest to the use of this term “servant” in this passage in Isaiah 53. This one Servant is the sin-bearer of not only the whole nation but the sins of the world. In my judgment, this final shaping of the collective solidarity view has the best chance of capturing what the prophet Isaiah was trying to accomplish, so long as the one and the many are also seen to be clearly distinguished as well as being represented by the one. (pp. 93-94)

MacArthur

Chapter 53 may be more familiar to Christian readers than other parts of Isaiah, but the entire book has significant implications for the Christian faith. Many doctrines essential to Christianity are illuminated by passages in Isaiah.

The book of Isaiah is sometimes called the “fifth Gospel.” It’s really more than that. It contains in microcosm the whole range of redemptive truth. It is like a miniature compendium of the Bible. In fact, there are some interesting parallels between how the book of Isaiah is laid out and the arrangement on the Bible as a whole….

The fourth and final Servant Song is the text we are most concerned with in this volume: Isaiah 52:13-53:12. This passage reveals precise details of the servant’s mission that could not have been known to anyone but God. Here it becomes clear that the servant is more than merely someone chosen by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit, learning obedience through humiliation and suffering. He is the Messiah, the one who will bring justice and salvation to the world—and he will die as a sacrifice for sin.

His full glory would not be revealed until after he suffered. That fact alone was astonishing, unexpected, and baffling to most Jewish readers. They found it impossible to imagine that the Lord’s Anointed One would be a suffering slave before he would appear as a conquering king.

Even more scandalous was the idea that the servant of the Lord would suffer not for any evil he had done, but for the sins of others. He would be a substitute, dying as a surrogate for others who (unlike him) deserved the fate he would suffer…. (pp. 16-17)

The Suffering Servant: Isaiah 53 for the Life of the Church (A Biblical Commentary & Exposition of Isaiah 53) (Touchstone Texts) by J. Gordon McConville (Author), Chapman, Stephen B. (Series Editor)

McConville

There is wonder too at the servant’s willing, silent acceptance of his affliction, to which God set no limit, not even death. All this was somehow “the will of the LORD” (53:10).

This is not to say that the servant’s anguish is somehow only instrumental, to be passed over lightly on the way to the good news at the end. On the contrary, the “man of sorrows” motif has been rightly taken up as an icon of the perennial subjection of the human to the most callous horrors imaginable. But what is special about Isaiah 53 is that the presence of God is somehow woven into the story, and that the whole tragedy is conceived as a pathway to the unlimited good of “many.” This thought carries dangers with it. It should not be taken to mean that God has created evil in order that good might come. Christian theology has always avoided this step, and we must not draw inferences from Isaiah 53 that the text does not warrant. Equally to be avoided is the idea that God was subject to some kind of necessity in order to bring about his ultimate good purposes, as if God could be constrained by anything outside himself. More modestly, the text may hint that the experience of suffering and evil can lead to deeper and richer outcomes than there might otherwise have been. But even that thought needs caution, since many situations are simply unbearable and unrelieved. Often we can say only that God is always in and with the suffering, and simultaneously declare that suffering is not the final word.

There is inevitably, therefore, an eschatological dimension to our reading of the servant-poem. Wedged into the ongoing and unfinished story unfolded by the book of Isaiah, the poem points beyond itself. Its truth concerns the deepest relations between God, humanity, and the world and is therefore a token of all that the Bible conveys to us of God’s ways. This is the message of the cross and resurrection of Christ. (pp. 184-185)

Swanson

We are venturing into Isaiah’s magnum opus. Scripture has revealed several mountain-top passages, words that tower over the rest of Scripture in their majesty and expression, And Isaiah’s fourth song is no exception. Though this song is quite a bit longer and richer in theological expression than the previous songs, all four are necessary and significant. This song, though, is the culmination of the story. The song expresses for us the conclusion to the saga of the Servant, including His rejection, His suffering, His death, and His glorious resurrection from the grave. We are left with the everlasting results of His ministry which will carry the torch of God’s glory throughout the ages of eternity future.

The song presents itself in 5 different musical strophes or poetic sections. Each strophe has a purpose and a theme, similar to the structure of our most beloved hymns. The sections contain triplets of verses, loaded with beautiful parallelism, heart-wrenching lyrics, and themes that build on one another. The song itself is structured as what is known as a chiasm, meaning that all the lines somewhat mirror each other in content and effect from beginning to end. The beginning strophe mirrors the last, the second mirrors the fourth, and all are pointing to the mountain peak of the third strophe, in which the Servant accomplishes the goal for which He was sent. (p. 99)

[1734 words]

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Source: The Suffering Servant

A Tragic End to a Promising Beginning | Daily Radio Program with Charles Stanley…

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Why did God forgive David but ultimately reject Saul as king? Dr. Stanley illuminates the key difference between the two kings. Saul’s end was tragic, but you can learn how to avoid his fate.

Source: A Tragic End to a Promising Beginning

A Living Hope | In Touch Ministries Daily Devotions

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Christ’s words are always true, and His promises are never broken.

Source: A Living Hope

Why Should We Seek to Glorify God?

Do you know that your Father delights in you already? Do you walk in the paths of His pleasure? Or are you seeking to appease a God who you mistakenly believe is otherwise distant from you?

His desires, His will, His pleasure becomes our purpose. And in our very pursuit of God’s pleasure, God rejoices. He has actually told us so! Why else would He say to us in His Word: “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love” (Ps. 147:11), and, “Whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him” (2 Cor. 5:9).

 

Our kiddos have firmly planted themselves in the “why” era. You know the season—Why are we going to church? Why are we eating dinner? Why aren’t we having pizza? Why are we having pizza? Why are you going to work? (If you think I included too many examples here, you’re getting the point.)

And inevitably, at the root of all their why questions is just one answer.

Think about it: The question, “Why are we having pizza?” will eventually lead to “Because God is a good God who loves to give good gifts.” (What other answer could there be when pizza is on the table.) And if you give a few more mice some cookies[1] (let the reader understand), eventually you end up with the answer: Because God loves you and wants you to glorify Him for His goodness.[2]

Now at this point, the parent (me in this scenario) is about to face the ultimate question of reality. Yes, the original topic was pizza—but since theology is “the study of God and all things in relation to God,” as the great and late theologian John Webster said, the possibility of pizza leading to thoughts about God is certainly not off the table.

Here’s the ultimate question: Why should I seek to glorify God?

The catechumen responds: “Because it’s our chief end!” A great response, truly. And just as any parent is technically in the right to tell their kids to obey “because I said so,” this reason is sufficient for us in relation to God as well. We should praise God because it’s why He created us—it’s what He told us to do.

But, biblically speaking, and what I find to be immensely devotional, is one additional thing that can be said. Behind the call to glorify God because it’s our purpose lies an even more relational motivation to glorify Him.

Here it is: We should seek to glorify God because we want to please Him.

Focusing our attention on the pleasures of God reframes the whole pursuit! We don’t praise God merely because He told us to. We praise Him because in Christ God has become our Father and we love to see our Father rejoicing.

As with any affectionate language about God, though, we must distinguish what we do and don’t mean by pleasing God.

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Whenever God means to use a man for big things, he breaks him into little pieces first. —C.H. Spurgeon

Recovering the Mind of Christ: Why the Church Must Prioritize Theological Maturity | Modern Reformation

Modern Reformation addresses the need for theological maturity. “If pastors continue to neglect the theological maturity of their congregations, they not only weaken their people, but they risk the distortion of the gospel. The church must recover the biblical view that theological maturity is essential to discipleship, worship, and witness.”

Introduction: The Quiet Crisis Within Our Pews

In 2022, Ligonier and Lifeway published “The State of Theology,” where Evangelicals were surveyed about various theological claims. The results were startling to say the least. For example, 55% of surveyed Evangelicals agreed that “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.” Not stopping there, though, over 50% of surveyed Evangelicals reject the Godship of Christ! It is undeniable that we live in a time where the church is confused; confused about politics, sexual ethics, and most sadly, core biblical doctrines that define our faith.

It is easy to look at these numbers and disregard them. When you look out at your church, you hope that your congregation would answer differently. But while many churchgoers are spiritually sincere, they are theologically malnourished. Our church calendars can be filled to the brim with events and outreach while the need for theological maturity is too often neglected.

If pastors continue to neglect the theological maturity of their congregations, they not only weaken their people, but they risk the distortion of the gospel. The church must recover the biblical view that theological maturity is essential to discipleship, worship, and witness.

What Is Theological Maturing?

Theological maturing, for our purposes, is the deliberate growth in the knowledge of God through his word. It’s not an academic pursuit for the few, but an essential discipline for every believer. It’s the process by which the truths of Scripture shape our hearts and minds, transforming how we think, live, and worship. Theology is not merely about memorizing facts—it’s about cultivating a deeper love for God and a clearer understanding of his will.

The purpose of theological maturity is not to accumulate knowledge for knowledge’s sake, but to allow that knowledge to fuel our worship, guide our decisions, and strengthen our faith. It equips us to engage with the world around us, standing firm in our convictions when doctrinal confusion or cultural pressure arise. Theological maturity transforms how we view God, ourselves, and our role in his mission.

A church that prioritizes theological maturity doesn’t just impart information—it nurtures a culture of deep conviction and thoughtful engagement with God’s word. This kind of maturing leads to a robust, resilient faith, rooted in truth and growing in obedience.

Biblical Foundation: Teaching Is Discipleship

The Bible is clear about the role of teaching in discipleship. We see time and time again that the method for growth is through teaching and learning from the word.

“And Jesus came and said to them,“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18–20, ESV)

The famous Great Commission. It is here that we can see the heart and drive of Christ’s call to “make disciples.” In this text, Christ frames his view of discipleship around the teaching! He calls us to make disciples indiscriminately, but how? By “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” We are not simply evangelists; we are instructors of the word of God.

“And theydevoted themselves to the apostles’ teachingand the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

For the early church, doctrine and instruction were at the very core of their lives together, as they were constantly learning more and more and instructing one another about the word of God. While it is foolish to think that the first century church had it all perfectly right (the letters of Paul prove overwhelmingly otherwise), it is absolutely undeniable that they held the doctrine and teaching from the Apostles very highly, centering their entire lives around the truths they received.

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, toequip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of theknowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves andcarried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Eph. 4:11–14, ESV)

The expressed purpose of the leadership within the church is to “equip the saints for the work of ministry… so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro.” If the church is not training up their members, they are leaving them as children, vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. The expectation clearly stands that the church would teach sound doctrine, so that believers are not swayed by the winds of false doctrine.

Theological instruction should not be seen as only for the elite, nor should it ever be seen as optional; theological instruction is an expectation in the New Testament for healthy church life.

What Are the Consequences of Neglecting Theology?

There are many churches who seem to be putting along fine without intentional theological maturity, many that are even growing, but growing in the numbers does not equate to true growth. Your roots may stretch wide, but not deep. If a church prioritizes simple growth to the neglect of theological maturity, they can often times be so focused on breadth, that they neglect depth.

Theological Drift

When churches don’t ground their congregation in sound doctrine, they can quickly become vulnerable to false teachings (Col. 2:8; 2 Tim 4:3–4). It is easy for someone who doesn’t know the glorious truth that Jesus is God, uncreated from eternity past, to assume that he was merely a good teacher created by God, when they don’t have anyone who has ever told them otherwise. Without intentional progression, the church will experience regression and fall deep into erroneous ideas that will continue if left unchecked.

Cultural Confusion

Many Christians are unaware of the secular ideas they hold (prosperity gospel, gender confusion, universalism, etc.) simply because no one has taught them otherwise. Especially in this day and age where sexual sin and promiscuity is plastered in front of our faces everywhere we go, it is a slippery slope to fall into thinking that, “well, it’s good for the world, so it must be good for me.” Perhaps someone has a loved one who is struggling with sins such as these. If they are not grounded in the rich theological truths of Scripture, it is so easy for them to reject the word of God in favor of living comfortably around their loved ones.

Loss of Distinct Witness

When a church doesn’t have theological clarity in its pews, the church will lose its saltiness to the world. Worship can turn into a venue for entertainment, or often times the church becomes a home for political tribalism. When a congregation stops having theological clarity, they stop being the bulwark of truth they were made to be.

This is not an impossibility for churches today. We have seen it happen repeatedly where churches start to reject the biblical theology they were founded upon and fade into the world. We have seen it with the Anglican Church, the United Methodist Church, and famously the downgrade controversy of the Baptist Union in the days of Spurgeon.

Yet even as we acknowledge these dangers, Scripture also assures us that God himself is not passive in the growth of his people. The same Spirit who indwells every believer also guards them from ultimate deception (1 John 2:20, 27). The Spirit confirms the truth inwardly even as it is taught outwardly. While theological immaturity leaves Christians vulnerable, God in his faithfulness will not abandon his people but will continue to correct, anchor, and mature them in the truth. This divine promise should not diminish our urgency but deepen our confidence that the work of theological maturity is carried out in dependence upon the Spirit who leads God’s people into all truth.

Theology Is for Everyone

As Nathan A. Finn has so plainly put it, “The fact is, everybody is a theologian. Everybody thinks about God on some level, which is what it means to “do” theology. The only question is whether you are a good theologian or a bad theologian.” There are many who assume that theology is only for the academic or for pastors, but that is an unfortunate misunderstanding. Not only does Scripture assume that even ordinary Christians will be doctrinally informed (Heb. 5:12–14), but every ordinary Christian is fully capable of learning deep theology. There is not a certain IQ needed to understand the things of God, simply a heart that seeks to know its Savior more.

Not only can everyone learn theology, but it is crucial that they do. A congregation that does not know God can never worship him rightly (John 4:24). Beautiful music divorced from true knowledge of God cannot rise to genuine worship. Our theology not only forms our worship, but it is the wood in the fire. As Pastor Jonny Ardavanis has said, “Theology fuels doxology.”

When members are taught to think theologically, it enriches all of their life. It deepens their prayers, strengthens their assurance, fuels their evangelism, and encourages them to persevere.

Restoring Doctrine to the Church

While the need for theological maturity might seem obvious, for churches without it, they are often lost on where to begin. We want to develop a culture of theology, not just a class.

Start with the Basics

Tread through the shallows before you dive into the deep end. Start basic, introduce things such as catechisms and confessions, maybe consider walking through your church’s confession of faith as a congregation, or offer theology-focused Sunday school classes. There are many ways to start, but it is most important that you take the first step. The classes may be lightly attended at first, but don’t lose sight of your biblical responsibility. The word of the Lord does not return in vain.

Train Leadership First

This does not need to be a “grass roots” movement. Gather your leadership, your elders, your deacons, your volunteers and teach them sound doctrine. Having followed the biblical example, your elders and deacons will already be ready and able to teach. But still encourage them not to shy away from learning more. Train them to appreciate the deep nuances in the mind of our God, and show them how to “think God’s thoughts after him.” Let them then take the word to your members.

Layered Learning

Most churches aren’t next door to world class seminaries, so offer all levels of education. Make sure it is accessible to all, offering entry level learning for those new to the faith, or perhaps just new to theology, such as a “Theology 101” class, and more advanced ones such as “Systematic Theology” for the more seasoned Christians.

Use Trusted Resources

Pastoring is one of the busiest professions, so don’t think that you need to produce seminary level content in order to teach theology. The Lord has blessed the church with many men and women who have devoted their lives to the education of the church, and I encourage you to benefit from them. Base studies off already existing content, and feel free to use resources such as systematic theologies or otherwise to train your church before you make any new curriculum.

Preach with Purpose

Preaching is the primary means of grace for the person sitting in a pew. It is from your preaching that the culture of the church is molded. If you desire a church that is more theologically adept, don’t be afraid to explain to them deep theological terms and define doctrine for them. It is part of your role to connect for them truth and life.

Conclusion: A Rooted Church Is a Resilient Church

Theological education should not be seen as a luxury—but as a lifeline. Without it, the church can wither spiritually; with it, the church thrives in depth, unity, and mission. This does not mean churches need to become seminaries, but they should become centers for the teaching of God’s word. Every elder, deacon, and member has a role in this great task.

“I would say without any hesitation that the most urgent need in the Christian Church today is true preaching; and as it is the greatest and the most urgent need in the Church, it is obviously the greatest need of the world also” (9).
– Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Let the church once again be a place where God’s people are taught to think deeply, believe rightly, and live faithfully.

https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/essays/recovering-the-mind-of-christ-why-the-church-must-prioritize-theological-maturity

Jew and Gentile, No Difference | From the MLJ Archive on Oneplace.com

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Romans 10:11-13 — People love to make distinctions between themselves and others, between their tribe and other tribes. Fallen hearts tend to make these distinctions so as to elevate themselves above others, especially in religious matters. The apostle Paul has tirelessly labored in Romans to emphasize that there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile –– all sin falls short of the glory of God. If one does not follow the apostle here, they will construct different ways of salvation that appeal to the flesh. One may think being moral, good or kind is the way of salvation. But God’s way of salvation has always been the same — those who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. There is no distinction between Jew or Gentile in any sense, whether in sin or salvation. In this sermon on Romans 10:11–13 titled “Jew or Gentle, No Difference,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds Paul’s teaching and brings contemporary application. Specifically, he applies Paul’s teaching here to dispensationalism and its teaching that makes a distinction between salvation for Jews and salvation for the church. In an amicable spirit, Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges the popular movement by rightly connecting the Old Testament teaching on salvation with the New Testament. He emphasizes that there is only one way with one gospel and no distinctions.

Source: Jew and Gentile, No Difference

A Prayer to Bear Lasting Fruit in Every Season – Your Daily Prayer – January 31

Your season may be cold and hard, but God is still working underground. Here’s a prayer for staying rooted in Christ and growing fruit that lasts.

Source: A Prayer to Bear Lasting Fruit in Every Season – Your Daily Prayer – January 31

The Narrow Path To Personal Peace | In Touch TV Broadcast featuring Dr. Charles Stanley

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Gain inner contentment and true rest through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Source: The Narrow Path To Personal Peace

The Promise and the Plan | In Touch TV Broadcast featuring Dr. Charles Stanley

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Find out seven Biblical truths to help you trust in God’s divine plan.

Source: The Promise and the Plan

More Than Enough – The Crosswalk Devotional – January 31

When you’re stuck wishing for more, don’t forget what you already have. This heartfelt reminder points you back to the joy that can’t be bought.

Source: More Than Enough – The Crosswalk Devotional – January 31

List: Pray Because God Still Answers

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Saturday Prayer Guide

Adoration

Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord, my God, You are very great;
You are clothed with splendor and majesty.
The Lord covers Himself in light as with a garment;
He stretches out the heavens like a tent curtain. (Psalm 104:1–2)

Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
Say to God, “How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies submit themselves to You.
All the earth will worship You
And sing praises to You;
They will sing praise to Your name.” (Psalm 66:1–4)

The Lord is righteous in all His ways
And gracious in all His works.
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him;
He hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord preserves all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh will bless His holy name for ever and ever. (Psalm 145:17–21)

Pause to express your thoughts of praise and worship.

Confession

Remember, O Lord, Your compassions and Your mercies,
For they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
According to Your loyal love remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He instructs sinners in His ways.
The Lord guides the humble in what is right
And teaches the humble His way.
All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth
For those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great. (Psalm 25:6–11)

O God, You know my foolishness,
And my guilt is not hidden from You.
May those who hope in You not be ashamed because of me, O Lord God of hosts;
May those who seek You not be dishonored because of me, O God of Israel. (Psalm 69:5–6)

O Lord, be gracious to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You. (Psalm 41:4)

Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed;
Save me, and I will be saved,
For You are my praise. (Jeremiah 17:14)

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

I will cleanse them from all their iniquity they have committed against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities which they have committed against Me, and by which they have transgressed against Me. (Jeremiah 33:8)

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts,
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23–24)

Renewal

Lord, renew me by Your Spirit as I offer these prayers to You:

I am the Lord’s servant; let Your will be done in me according to Your word. (Luke 1:38)

Since the day of the Lord will come like a thief, what kind of person should I be in holy conduct and godliness as I look for and hasten the coming of the day of God? But according to His promise, I am looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, since I am looking for these things, may I be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless. (2 Peter 3:10–14)

May I not love with words or tongue, but in deed and in truth. By this I will know that I am of the truth and will assure my heart before Him; for if my heart condemns me, God is greater than my heart, and knows all things. If my heart does not condemn me, I have confidence before God and receive from Him whatever I ask, because I keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. (1 John 3:18–22)

Examine me, O Lord, and try me;
Purify my mind and my heart;
For Your lovingkindness is ever before me,
And I have walked in Your truth. (Psalm 26:2–3)

Pause to add your own prayers for personal renewal.

Petition

Father, using Your word as a guide, I offer You my prayers concerning my spiritual walk.

Since I live in the Spirit, may I also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)

May God fill me with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that I may walk worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power according to His glorious might, so that I may have great endurance and patience; joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified me to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. (Colossians 1:9–12)

The Lord my God, the Lord is one. May I love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4–5)

May I have no other gods before You.
May I not make for myself an idol in any form.
May I not take the name of the Lord my God in vain, for the
Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.
May I honor my father and my mother.
May I not murder.
May I not commit adultery.
May I not steal.
May I not bear false witness against my neighbor.
May I not covet my neighbor’s house, my neighbor’s wife, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to my neighbor. (Exodus 20:3–17; Deuteronomy 5:7–21)

My struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, I will put on the full armor of God, so that I may be able to resist in the day of evil, and having done all, to stand. I will stand firm, having girded my waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod my feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace; above all, taking up the shield of faith with which I will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. I will take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition, I will pray always in the Spirit, and to this end I will be watchful with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:13–18)

May my love abound more and more in full knowledge and depth of insight, so that I may be able to approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ—having been filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9–11)

As one who has been chosen of God, holy and beloved, may I put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with others and forgiving others even as the Lord forgave me; and above all these things, may I put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Let the peace of Christ rule in my heart, to which I was called as a member of one body, and let me be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in me richly as I teach and admonish others with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in my heart to God. And whatever I do, whether in word or in deed, may I do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:12–17)

Since I have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding me, may I lay aside every impediment and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with endurance the race that is set before me, fixing my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. May I consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that I will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1–3)

May I consider all things loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. (Philippians 3:8–10)

I have not been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. I do not consider myself yet to have attained it, but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and stretching forward to what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12–14)

May the proving of my faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, even though refined by fire, be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:7)

Pause here to express any additional requests, especially these personal concerns:Spiritual warfare The world The flesh The devil Growth in character Personal disciplines Physical health and strength

My activities for this day
Special concerns

Intercession

Lord, I now prepare my heart for intercessory prayer for world affairs.

Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9–10)

The end of all things is near; therefore we should be clear minded and self-controlled for prayer. (1 Peter 4:7)

In the spirit of these passages, I pray for:The poor and hungry The oppressed and persecuted Those in authority Peace among nations Current events and concerns

Affirmation

Feed my mind and heart, O Lord, as I affirm these timeless truths from Your word:

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

Your grace is sufficient for me, for Your power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I can be content in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)

No temptation has overtaken me except what is common to man. And God is faithful, who will not let me be tempted beyond what I am able, but with the temptation will also provide a way out, so that I may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to Him must believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

If I cry for discernment
And lift up my voice for understanding,
If I seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures,
Then I will understand the fear of the Lord
And find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
Guarding the paths of justice
And protecting the way of His saints. (Proverbs 2:3–8)

Pause to reflect upon these biblical affirmations.

Thanksgiving

For who You are and for what You have done, accept my thanks, O Lord:

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever;
With my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations.
I will declare that Your lovingkindness will be built up forever,
That You will establish Your faithfulness in the heavens. (Psalm 89:1–2)

Lovingkindness and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth shall spring forth from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven. (Psalm 85:10–11)

I will watch in hope for the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
My God will hear me. (Micah 7:7)

Blessed be the Lord,
For He has heard the voice of my prayers.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.
My heart greatly rejoices,
And I will give thanks to Him in song. (Psalm 28:6–7)

Pause to offer your own expressions of thanksgiving.

Closing Prayer

May we rejoice, become complete, be of good comfort, be of one mind, and live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with us. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us. (2 Corinthians 13:11, 14)

Blessing and glory and wisdom
And thanksgiving and honor and power and strength
Be to our God for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 7:12)

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and has given us eternal consolation and good hope by grace, comfort our hearts and strengthen us in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16–17)

Boa, K. (1993). Handbook to prayer: praying scripture back to God. Atlanta: Trinity House.

Today’s Bible Breakout January 30

Why Did God Save Humanity? Britt Mooney The Father’s abundant love is the root of his salvation. God’s saving work isn’t based on our worthiness but entirely upon his love. The same love which created all things compels him to restore what was broken. Continue Reading →

What Is Shrove Tuesday? Britt Mooney As with many parts of Christian history, the modern and highly secularized Mardi Gras masks the solemn and spiritual nature of Shrove Tuesday. As believers, we should take the time to understand the true meaning and purpose behind these traditions. Shrove Tuesday is a great example. Continue Reading →

Why Did People in the Old Testament Live So Long? Britt Mooney Before the flood, people lived for hundreds of years. This seems like a fantasy or myth to us today, especially when local TV stations celebrate when someone reaches a century. Even after God covered the world with water, the Bible records other men with ages over 100. Continue Reading →

A 7-Day Study of Jesus’ Miracles Amanda Idleman Do you believe that miracles still happen today, in our modern world? Take just one week to dive deeply into the miracles found in Scripture to see how Jesus is still at work today. Let these stories encourage you to trust God to do big things, and challenge you to ask Him for whatever it is you need. Continue Reading →

5 Bible Characters Who Benefitted from Rest Sophia Bricker The Bible invites us into the stories of several key people to show us how we, too, can benefit from the rest that the Lord provides. It is a wonderful blessing and gift, but also a discipline we must practice. Continue Reading →

5 Movies That Give Us a Glimpse of the Gospel Britt Mooney Since God tells a redemptive story, he invites us into the epic, biblical arc as individuals and the church. It shouldn’t surprise us that we’re drawn to stories. God created us to live within his grand story. Continue Reading →

6 Bible Verses about Powerful Healing Sophia Bricker Scripture gives us many stories and passages that speak to our desire for healing. We find accounts of people receiving miraculous healings of both body and soul, providing us with glimpses of the ultimate restoration that God will bring in the future. Continue Reading →

Is Worrying a Sin? Shelby Turner Even when life is at its best, we can find a reason to worry. It comes to us as naturally as taking our next breath. But what does the Bible say about worry? Is it really a sin? How should Christians handle the thoughts of fear that arise in our minds? Continue Reading →

21 Grounding Verses That Can Help Us in Seasons of Change Heather Adams God has helped me see that changes are a natural part of life, and that He uses them to help me grow. In fact, He wants to walk through the process with me, and indeed with all believers, offering comfort and anointing that will help us move forward confidently into new adventures. Continue Reading →

Is Jesus Angry at the Rich in This Parable? Clarence L. Haynes Jr. There are plenty of Bible verses and stories about money, often focusing on those who are generous. But in this lesser-known parable, is Jesus angry at the rich man? As with all passages, it’s important to look at the context. Let’s see what Jesus is, and is not, saying in this story. Continue Reading →

The Rumor Of Hope — The Power of His Presence

A daily devotion for January 30th

Don’t be alarmed, he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.

Mark 16:6-7

The words of the angel to these women contain the answer to all the skepticism of over twenty centuries. For the angel said some things to them that answer most of the claims that have ever been raised in questioning the actuality of the resurrection. The first thing the angel said was, This Jesus of Nazareth, this One who was crucified, this same One whom you seek, has indeed risen from the dead. Many of the attempts to explain this away say that the women went to the wrong tomb or that they found the wrong person. That whole question is answered here by the angel. He says to the women, This very same Jesus, the One you knew from Nazareth, the Jesus who was crucified, whom you saw on the cross with the nails in His hands and the blood running down His side, that same One is risen from the dead.

Then he said to them, He is not here. That is, He is not only risen; He is not here. And in those words he makes clear that, though Jesus is risen, there is nevertheless a real tie with our humanity. He is not just a spirit. This is not a spiritual resurrection but a bodily resurrection. It was the body of Jesus that rose from the dead. There are cults today who claim that what happened was that the spirit of Jesus rose, and He now lives spiritually only. But the Bible consistently defends the proposition that it was the dead body that was put into the grave, which also rose from the dead. He is not here. He is a person yet, a human person with a human body—changed, yes—but still human. And in that human body He rose from the dead.

The third thing the angel says is put in these extraordinary words that only Mark records: But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee.’ That is a wonderful touch. What a gentle, tender word that is! The last time we saw Peter in this gospel account, he was standing in the courtyard of the high priest during the trial of Jesus. And a little maiden kept following him around, saying, I know you. You were with Him, weren’t you? Peter kept denying it. He went out into the darkness of the night, weeping bitterly. What a tender thing it is for the angel to say to these women, Go and tell the disciples and Peter that He goes before you to Galilee. It puts him right back into the apostolic band.

That says that Jesus is available to individuals—not just to the crowd at large, not just to the world in general, or the church, but to you. Put your own name in there. This accessibility to individuals has been the hallmark of Christianity ever since. Each one of us can know Him personally, intimately—not just as a figure of history nor as a coming king nor in a general sense, as we know about the president of the United States, but in that close, personal, real, conscious sense of knowing that we share in the most intimate human communion.

Lord Jesus, thank You that You are, indeed, what you promised to be—a living Lord—and that You can enter my life and begin to bring me out of despair into hope, out of death into resurrection.

Life Application

What is the profound impact of Jesus’ actual bodily resurrection on us personally? How is it affecting our intimacy with Jesus? Do we acknowledge His life in our body?

Daily Devotion © 2006, 2026 by Ray Stedman Ministries. For permission to use this content, please review RayStedman.org/permissions. Subject to permission policy, all rights reserved.

This Daily Devotion was Inspired by one of Ray’s Messages

The Rumor of Hope

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Listen to Ray

Mark 16:1-8

¹When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. ²Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

⁴But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

⁶“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ “

⁸Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

New International Version

https://www.raystedman.org/daily-devotions/mark/the-rumor-of-hope

Devotional for January 30, 2026 | Friday: We Shall See God

Job 19:25 In this week’s studies, we see how the book of Job points us to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Theme

We Shall See God

At the end of yesterday’s devotional, we said that one consequence of knowing that our Redeemer lives is that we, too, shall live. Jesus’s bodily resurrection is proof of our own future bodily resurrection.

Then, too, we shall see God. This is the second consequence. We shall live again and in that living form shall see God. I shall see God! What a wonderful thought! And how much more wonderful than anything else that might be said! Notice that Job does not say, “I shall see heaven.” That was true, but it was relatively unimportant when viewed against the fact that he would see God. Spurgeon noted this fact and wrote, “He does not say, ‘I shall see the pearly gates, I shall see the walls of jasper, I shall see the crowns of gold and the harps of harmony,’ but ‘I shall see God’; as if that were the sum and substance of heaven.”¹

Nor does he say, “I shall see the holy angels.” That would have been a magnificent sight, at least it seems so to us as we look through the eyes of John the evangelist, who wrote the book of Revelation. I find few scenes more thrilling than John’s description of heaven and the angels. But this too pales beside the gaze of the soul on God. Notice, finally, that Job did not even say, “I shall see those of this world who have gone to heaven before me,” even though this would be a great joy and his departed children would be among them. Job would see all these things: the pearly gates, the holy angels, his children. But over and above and infinitely more glorious than any of these, he would see God. 

Do not think that this is a narrow vista, wonderful but small, like looking at one of those old-fashioned pastoral scenes within a candy egg. God is infinite. In Him all things are centered. Thus, to see Him is to experience perfect contentment of the soul and to be satisfied in all one’s faculties. 

I trust that this and the other truths we have considered are real for you, or that they will become real this Easter. Can you remember them? 

1) There is a Redeemer. 

2) He is a living Redeemer. 

3) He can become your Redeemer. 

4) You can know that He is your Redeemer. 

5) You can look forward with confidence and delight to those consequences which follow from these facts: you shall live again, and you shall see God. 

Our conclusion is this: If Job, who lived at the dawn of recorded history centuries before the time of the Lord Jesus Christ—if Job knew these things, how much more should we know them, we who know of Christ’s resurrection and have witnessed His power in our lives. Job lived in a dark and misty time, before the dawning of the Lord Jesus Christ, that sun of righteousness, who has since risen with healing in His wings. Job lived in an age before Jesus had brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. If he had failed to understand about the resurrection and had failed to believe in it, who could blame him? Nobody. Yet he believed. How much more then should we? 

Do you believe in it? Can you say with Job, “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God”? 

If so, then live in that assurance. Do not fear death. During the next twelve months death will certainly come for some of us, but there will also be a resurrection. Besides, Jesus is also coming; and if that should happen soon, He will receive us all. 

May I add one more thought? We believe these truths, yes. But let us not only believe them, let us pass them on so that others may share in this great resurrection faith also. What was Job’s desire after all? It was that his words might be preserved and that his faith in the resurrection be saved for coming generations. Job wanted his testimony to be engraved in lead and chiseled in stone. I do not know whether his wish was fulfilled in a literal sense, save in the fact that his words have been cut into many millions of gravestones. But I do know this: Figuratively the faith of Job has been cut into many millions of hearts so that those who have believed as he believed have become so many millions of living memorials, living stones, in which the resurrection hope is made manifest. 

The resurrection hope has come down to us through many centuries of Church history. Let it pass to our children and to our children’s children, until the living Lord Jesus Christ returns in His glory. Jesus Christ lives! He lives! Then let us tell others, and let us shout with Job, “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth”!

¹Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth,” in Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 9 (Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1969), 214.

Study Questions

1. What is the second consequence of knowing our Redeemer lives?
2. Review the five truths we have considered. Do you believe them? Have you committed all you have and are to the service of so great and loving a Redeemer?

Application

Reflection: Who do you know who still needs to learn these things and bow before Him in worship and obedience?

For Further Study: Download for free and listen to D. A. Carson’s message, “Job and Suffering.” (Discount will be applied at checkout.)

https://www.thinkandactbiblically.org/friday-we-shall-see-god/

Acknowledge the Privilege of Drawing Near to God in Prayer

Matthew Henry’s “Method For Prayer”

Adoration 1.14 | ESV

We must acknowledge it an unspeakable favor and an inestimable privilege that we are not only admitted, but invited and encouraged, to draw near to God in prayer.

You have commanded me to pray always, with all prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, and, to that end, to keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints; Ephesians 6:18(ESV) to continue in prayer, and in everything, by prayer and supplication, to let my requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6(ESV)

You have directed me to ask and seek and knock, and have promised that I will receive, I will find, and it will be opened to me. Matthew 7:7(ESV)

You have appointed for me a great High Priest, in whose name I may draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that I may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16(ESV)

You have assured me that while the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, the prayer of the upright is acceptable; Proverbs 15:8(ESV) and that the one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies you; Psalm 50:23(ESV) and the sacrifice of thanksgiving will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. Psalm 69:30-31(ESV)

You are he who hears prayer, and therefore to you shall all flesh come. Psalm 65:2(ESV)

You say, “Seek my face,” and my heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” Psalm 27:8(ESV) For, should not a person inquire of his God? Isaiah 8:19(ESV) To whom shall I go but to you? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:68(ESV)

Acknowledge the Privilege of Drawing Near to God in Prayer

Haggai: First Things First | Today in the Word

Friday, January 30 | Haggai 1:1–15 On the Go? Listen Now!

Have you ever heard the phrase, “The Cobbler’s children have no shoes”? If you saw the children of a cobbler, a shoemaker, walking around with worn out shoes, or no shoes at all, you would wonder why! Wouldn’t caring for your children’s needs be a priority? In a similar way, the prophet Haggai warned God’s people that their priorities were out of alignment. They were neglecting what was most important.Israel was back in the land after 70 years spent in exile. While they returned in excitement, the rebuilding process had been discouraging. The Temple in Jerusalem was still not completed, and the people had turned instead to building their own homes. Through Haggai, God confronted them about the situation: “Is it time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” (v. 4). His question needs no answer. Of course, it was not time for them to be focusing on their own homes while the house of the Lord was in shambles. This was an embarrassment, an affront to all sensibility.God’s displeasure is evident as the prophet points out that they have been suffering economic distress (v. 5). Their crops have failed. What they do have, they find satisfying. When they save money, it disappears like money in a bag with holes (v. 6)! They were failing to prioritize the most important things and this affected everything else they did.The solution was to put God first. They needed to expend energy, making God’s work a priority in their lives. They needed to be less busy with themselves and more busy with the things of the Lord. Specifically, that meant redoubling their efforts to gather the building material to finish the Temple and working hard to get the work done.

Go Deeper Are your priorities rightly ordered? How do you put God first in your life? What changes do you need to make to realign your priorities? Extended Reading: Haggai, Zechariah 1

Pray with Us Dear Jesus, help us to look honestly at our lives to determine our priorities. Do we put You first? Help us to “give careful thought to [our] ways” (Haggai 1:5).