Dave Ramsey often says, "We will be the same person 5 years from now, except for the books that we have read." If that is true, and I hope it is, then I hope that the book The Harbinger has changed me. It is a narrative filled with Scripture and history that has already begun to change the way I am looking at what is going on in the world around us.
Definition of Harbinger-noun 1.a person who goes ahead and makes known the approach of another; herald. 2. anything that foreshadows a future event; omen; sign: Frost is a harbinger of winter. 3. a person sent in advance of troops, a royal train, etc., to provide or secure lodgings and other accommodations.
Verb (used with object) 4. to act as harbinger to; herald the coming of.
If I can paraphrase- A warning.
The book focuses on the verse Isaiah 9:10, but for the purpose of studying and confirming claims written in the book, I have looked up and studied verses that come before and after, and have read commentaries to better understand and not take a couple verses out of context. I encourage you to do the same. Don't take what I or anyone else says to be true without praying, investigating and thinking for yourself.
Isaiah 9:10 "The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with cut stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars." (The Holman Study Bible)
Isaiah 9:10 “The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars. (NIV)
Isaiah 9:10 The bricks are fallen, but we will build with hewn stone; the sycomores are cut down, but we will put cedars in their place. (ASV)
Isaiah 9:10 "The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars." (KJV)
Previous to this verse....If you study the book of Isaiah you will learn that Isaiah was a prophet of God. His ministry spanned 40 years. A generation. He prophesies are of warnings, and judgements that would fall on God's people if they do not heed the warnings. He also prophesied of redemption and comfort through Christs birth. What he has prophesied did come true for the Israelites and I believe has manifested here in the US, as well.
The prophesies in Isaiah took place from 740-700 BC. During this time frame Israel's biggest threat was from the Assyrians. Their capital was Ninevah. If you remember this is where Jonah was sent, much to his disapproval. Ultimately, he did end up fulfilling his mission. It might be interesting to note that the Assyrian empire, is what we call Iraq today.
The book of Isaiah begins with a vision that the Lord had given to Isaiah. Judah had fallen away from the Lords way. Although they still prayed and followed the rituals and customs, their hearts had grown cold, and they basically were just going through the motions. Today we believers, would call it "Doing Church" They had also allowed themselves to compromise their lives with the customs and lifestyles of those who did not honor God. Because of this God wouldn't even listen to their prayers or accept their offerings.
Isaiah 1:15. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood.
(I ask now if we have blood on our hands, because of the abortion industry that we have allowed in our country?)
When reading this scripture I think of the NT passage in Revelation 3:16 "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
Today in our country, tolerance and sensitivity has been so indoctrinated into our psyche's, we don't speak the truth outside of our church for fear of recrimination and being called judgmental. We have forgotten that when we were given the Great commission, our own nation, although not yet formed, was also included in the directive we were given.
Tomorrow I will talk about whether Old Testament Law concerns Christians today.
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