OKMen Network

Bible Study: Isaiah/Psalm 8-9

OK Men,

We’re getting some incredible Messianic prophecies in these chapters of Isaiah! This is why we’re reading the Old Testament: It points to Christ! It reveals God’s overarching story of the redemption of His people.

Chapter 8:

What’s New: “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy,” (v12). There were conspiracy theorists 700 years before Christ?! That’s certainly new to me! And I’ll admit, I can get caught up in conspiracy theories easily. Especially when the algorithm picks up on my interest in them. When we had our last solar eclipse (almost two years ago now), I was seeing a lot of “end times” prophecy videos and I heard possibly the greatest warning I’ve ever heard.

Clearly, people like to engage in discussion of the “end times” and conspiracy theory videos and podcasts. The warning was, “Don’t get so caught up in this that you forget to live the Christian life Jesus called you to live.” The enemy uses these kinds of things as distractions for Christians. He knows how to use them in order to pull you away from the life of serving others and making disciples. He knows how to use them to perpetuate fear, causing followers of Christ to forget where their faith truly needs to lie. So, be mindful of conspiracy theories and what the algorithm is feeding you. Is it distracting you from Jesus?

Who is God: We have another Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 8. “He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured,” (v14-15). “He will cause people to stumble”? How is that Jesus?

Think of the Jews. They were so caught up in following the Law of Moses that they missed God in the flesh right under their noses. They knew that the Messiah would come and they ignored, disagreed, and then murdered him. This is a prophecy of rejection. They rejected him because of their hearts. They rejected him because they had their own ideas about the “coming kingdom” that the Messiah would bring. They expected a physical overthrow of Rome, not an overthrow of the wickedness of the human heart. For many, that wasn’t good enough, and they stumbled and fell, and were subsequently broken and captured by the enemy.

Psalm 8: Praise! Finally, a psalm of rejoicing! “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them?” (v3-4).

I truly don’t understand how anyone can look into the night sky and think all of that happened by accident. How do you see the stars, moon, and planets and not know there’s a God? I’ll just continue to praise the Lord that he’s revealed himself to me. When you consider how vast space is, and how powerful stars and planetary storms are (and we obviously know so much more about those things now than David ever did), who are we to even be known by God? Who are we that he would love us in spite of our iniquities and shortcomings? Again, I’ll just praise him for it, as it reveals his goodness and how much he loves us, his creation.

Chapter 9:

What’s New: Chapter 9 has multiple Messianic prophecies. Some are familiar to me, but one was new. “In the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan - The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned,” (v1-2).

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, but Galilee was where his ministry started and bloomed, where the light of the world began to dawn. The sea that’s near Galilee; he walked on top of it. The Jordan river, that’s where Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit descended on him “like a dove”. I even find it interesting that the word “Way” is capitalized. Before it was called “Christianity” those who followed Jesus were referred to as followers of “The Way”. This prophecy has some great layers to it!

Who is God: The prophesies we’re seeing, in these two chapters especially, reveal God’s desire for people to know he’s here. People ask for proof of God’s existence, well, prophecy is proof! Through the life of Jesus, God gave us visible proof for 33 years! Through these prophecies, hope and joy are offered. “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end,” (v6-7). He was, and still is, all of these things.

Psalm 9: “The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands,” (v15-16). In light of the release of certain “files”, this feels timely. The wicked will ensnare themselves; they have dug their own pit. Lord, you are known by your acts of justice. May we see it in this matter.

Scripture Memorization: “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9.

An easy one this week! What truths does this verse reveal about our sin? What truths does it reveal about God’s love for us? Reflect on these questions as you memorize this short, but deeply impactful, truthful, and comforting verse.

OK Men - Some great take aways in Isaiah 8 and 9! What are you seeing? What’s new to you? How are you seeing God’s character in Isaiah and the Psalms? Leave a comment!

OK Men,

We are completely responsible for our own sin and temptations. Yes, this is arguably the toughest battle for a man to fight. Perhaps it’s intentionally difficult so that it pushes you to the Lord continually. Read this great article.

Beth Moore On Modesty And Creepy Righteous Dudes | G3 Ministries On February 11, 2022, Beth Moore posted this tweet.

Bible Study: Isaiah/Psalm 6-7

OK Men,

Some of the most well-known verses and prophesies lie in Isaiah 6 and 7. Let’s dive into these great chapters!

Chapter 6:

What’s New: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (v8). This is a verse Christians love. It’s used to promote missionary work, local outreach, and general “Christian motivation”. This verse is not new to me. What is, however, is the work Isaiah volunteers to do.

God says to Isaiah, “Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes.” (v9-10). Go tell people they’ll never understand? Help make their hearts calloused? That doesn’t sound like the work of the Lord, that appears to be fruitless! God’s hand is in everything, yes, even a perceived fruitlessness. As mentioned in our previous study of Acts, the message of the Lord will always stir hearts. It will either soften or harden them. In this case, the Lord is telling Isaiah, “Their hearts will be hardened, and I want you to continue this until nearly all have completely turned away from Me.”

Why is God doing this? Because he’s letting those who want to turn away from him, go. He will use the remnant, the small few who still love him, to fulfill his promises. And what exactly are his promises? “The holy seed will be the stump in the land,” (v13). The “holy seed” is the Messiah, Jesus. We’ll read more about that “stump” at the end of the week!

Additionally, Isaiah’s response shows incredible obedience. “Then I said, ‘For how long, Lord?’ And he answered: ‘Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant,’” (v11). How many of us want to do the work of the Lord but only if it produces results? And how do we measure those results? Through Subscribers, Followers, and Likes? Through the number of spiritual conversions? Maybe by church growth and attendance? What about the guy who faithfully preaches to a church of less than 15 people week after week? Is the Lord not working there? Is there no “fruit” because the numbers are low? No. Numbers are the worlds measure of success. A willing obedience is the Godly measure of success.

Who is God: God’s holiness is so great that it’s currently unfathomable to us. When parts of it are revealed, it can be hard to understand, or in this case, seem weird. Isaiah gets the privilege of seeing the Lord and something odd dwelling in His presence. “Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying,” (v2).

Yeah, it initially feels weird because that’s not a creature that’s common to our understanding. You won’t find “seraphim” mixed in with your child’s book on zoo animals! But if we did…

This is the lion. He says, “ROAR!!!” This is the zebra. He “neighs” like a horse. This is the seraphim. Doorposts and thresholds shake when he says, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty!”

The Lord God Almighty is holy in so many ways that surpass our ability of comprehension. That’s why fear is the most commonly recorded response in the Bible from those who see and experience holy things.

Psalm 6: David’s expressing deep sadness in this Psalm. But there’s also something that ties in with Isaiah 6. “Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath,” (v1). Why would David be on the receiving end of the Lord’s anger or wrath? He’s done an unholy thing. It feels like this may have been written after his affair with Bathsheba. David recognizes his sin and is fearful because God’s rebuke and discipline are results of His holiness.

It’s incredible how so many of these psalms pair with what we’re reading in Isaiah. It’s truly amazing to see God’s Word connect in these deep ways.

Chapter 7:

What’s New: In this chapter we read the origin of one of the greatest prophesies of all time. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel,” (v14). What’s new is the very next verse. “He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,” (v15). This means he’ll be very young when he’s able to discern right from wrong, and he’ll actually abide by the straight and narrow path that the rest of us falter on. Verse 16 even refers to him as “the boy”.

Of course, we have already assumed this because we know that Jesus was sinless, but now we can confirm that it’s also a Biblical prophecy. We don’t get much into Jesus’ life as a boy. The book of Luke gives us the account of him being left at the temple when he was twelve, but this additional prophecy from Isaiah gives us just a glimpse into his life years earlier.

Who is God: “The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah - he will bring the king of Assyria,” (v17). This too, is a prophecy. But instead of bringing hope, like the announcement of his Son in v14, this is prophetical wrath. Ephraim is the largest tribe in Israel and is often used to refer to all of Israel. Within 20 years of this prophecy, the Assyrians will attack, with their war tactic of brutality. It will be a time unlike any they’ve ever seen.

So, who is God in this? He’s the judge. His people have become routinely wicked. In his grace, he’s offered them warnings but no one’s listening. No one’s repenting. Hidden in this verse is also an answer to the age-old question, “Why does God allow evil in the world?” It’s not a very comforting answer, but one reason is because he can still use it. God is powerful enough to let evil have its day in the world in order to bring about his wrath, while also being so powerful that evil won’t hinder his redemptive plan in any way or the diminish the truth of his word.

As we’ll see in our weekly memory verse, God’s plan for us is not wrath. Yes, he can use it, but he prefers our salvation because we’re his creation, and he’s gracious and loving. The way for us to be restored to Him, has already been made. Will you follow it?

Psalm 7: Yesterday, my pastor was describing how we’re too comfortable as American Christians. And because we have so many ways to “feel better”, like phones, food, entertainment, or a thousand other things, our discomfort doesn’t push us toward God. Psalm 7 (and probably about 100 other Psalms!) show David turning to the Lord in his discomfort.

“Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me,” (v1-2). David’s facing a problem, and an evil, most of us know nothing about. This is what made him the world-famous man of faith that he was. He turned to God over and over again in problems that were gigantic.

How might your relationship with God change if you began turning to him in your discomfort? Let your discomfort drive you to him.

Scripture Memorization: “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:9.

An easy one this week! What truths does this verse reveal about our sin? What truths does it reveal about God’s love for us? Reflect on these questions as you memorize this short, but deeply impactful, truthful, and comforting verse.

OK Men - This is what I’m seeing in Isaiah/Psalm 6-7. What are you seeing? What’s new to you? What are you learning about God’s character? Leave a comment!

Week 42 Devotional - "Meekness"

OK Men,

Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” This verse describes partnerships, alliances, families, and other groups of people coming together. It can even be used to describe marriage between a man and a woman, with God being the third strand. One person, or strand, can be easily broken, but when three are woven together, relationships and enterprises become much stronger. They are not easily broken. Meekness is a word used in scripture that I imagine to be like the cord of three strands. It’s a quality that is not easily lost (or obtained) because it’s comprised of other qualities woven together.

Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount begins with “The Beatitudes”, which consist of eight blessings. One of those is “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth,” (Matthew 5:5). When we read that, we know that it has importance because these words come straight from Jesus. But in past readings, I’ve moved right along to the next verse because I didn’t really understand what meek meant. It’s not a word that’s widely used so it can be tough to understand. Many believe that meekness is weakness just because it sounds similar. But that’s inaccurate. Jesus isn’t telling us the weak are blessed, he says the meek are. There is a reason that particular word was used, therefore, we need to understand why.

Hebrew word for meek is “anav” (pronounced ah-NAHV), meaning humble, afflicted, lowly, and dependent on God. “Anav” is used to describe Moses’ humility (Numbers 12:3), but that doesn’t mean that he was weak. He confronted Pharoah and led Israel, yet was humble before God. The Greek word for meek is “praus” (pronounced prah-OOS), again meaning humble, but also gentle, considerate, and perhaps the most important one, strength under control. In the Greek culture, “praus” was used to describe a wild horse that had been trained. The horse still had great power and strength, but it was under the control of the rider. Meekness is not weakness, cowardice, or passivity. It is humility before God and power governed by love and obedience to Him.

Others have similar definitions that can help us understand the complexities of meekness. My pastor once said, “Meekness is displaying the fruits of the spirit (power, gentleness, love, and self-control) when you are provoked.” Canadian Psychologist Jordan Peterson described it as, “Having a sword but keeping it sheathed.” You can see how possessing meekness requires depth in a man. Meekness involves submissiveness and humility, while maintaining the confidence and boldness to stand for something when it’s the right time. It requires strength but without displaying it in arrogant or intimidating ways. It also appears gentle but silently holds a powerful weapon. Jesus said being meek is a blessed thing, and every one of these qualities seems to describe him. So, how exactly did Jesus embody meekness?

His gentleness and power was shown in his first moments on earth. He was born, placed in a dirty animal trough, and then received kingly gifts, was worshipped by shepherds, and made the angels rejoice! He was simultaneously at Earth’s lowest, and Heaven’s utmost exalted. He was both lowly and royalty. When Jesus began his ministry, he showed mercy and grace by sitting, eating, and conversing with sinners. He didn’t avoid or condemn them, but he also didn’t excuse their sins. He confronted sin. He told many, “Follow me,” and then started walking. He didn’t beg or chase after those who chose not to follow because he knew the ways of the Father were right. He preached repentance, crucifying your flesh, and carrying your cross as points to illustrate cutting sin out of your life, not excusing it away. He gave love and compassion to those who were rejected because of their diseases and ailments, while never hesitating to be audacious and stand up to the Pharisees and their prideful, wicked hearts. Calling them “Hypocrites”, “Snakes”, and “Blind guides” to their faces! Jesus was tough as nails against those who were leading sheep astray. He combatted sin and fought back against the twisting of scripture even harder.

The man known as the “Prince of Peace” knew how to swing the sword when he needed to. John 2:15 says, “So he made a whip out of cords, and drove them all from the temple courts.” Jesus intentionally made a whip and used it to drive out everyone who had turned the house of the Lord into a marketplace. “Bold” isn’t a strong enough word to describe this action! This is courage, power, and righteous anger driven by love and honor for the Father. This was Jesus pulling the sword from its sheath. He was unflinching. He knew what he saw was wrong, and he did something about it. He didn’t stress about potential outcomes or repercussions because he knew what he was doing revered the Father.

When he was arrested, he was calm, reserved, and docile. He never fought back because he was wise enough to know that a fight in that instance was not a part of the Father’s will. He was silent before his accusers, he turned the other cheek when he was mocked, and he never proclaimed his innocence when they sentenced him to death. He showed love for us when he took the physical and spiritual punishment for our sins so we wouldn’t have to. He was courageous for us when he willingly went to the cross to be crucified. He did all of this with “more than twelve legions of angels” at his command (Matthew 26:53). He could have stopped it all, but instead said, “How then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (Matthew 26:54). In his final hours, he had a sword, but also the wisdom to keep it sheathed.

If we’re going to emulate Jesus’ meekness, we need to know when to fight, and when not to. Not every fight needs our attention. 2 Timothy 4:5 says, “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of the evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” But you, keep your head, endure hardship. That’s not just for Timothy. That’s for all of God’s men! Ignore the distractions that pull you into a fight that doesn’t feel holy. Not every fight needs retaliation. Proverbs 20:22 says, “Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.” It’s our own prideful nature that seeks to get payback. This is sin, and not something the Lord wants us chasing, even if it was someone else’s sin that hurt us in the first place. Finally, not every fight is yours. Plain and simple, some battles just belong to the Lord. In Exodus 14:14, Moses told the Israelites, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still.” They were backed up against the Red Sea with the Egyptian army closing in. They didn’t need to fight. Realistically, what could they have even done? For the exodus to be successful, the Israelites needed to be still because this particular fight was God’s. There are some fights that we are simply not equipped for. We must brush our hands of them, relinquish our grip, and let the Lord have them.

Psalm 144:1 says, “Praise be to the Lord, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” It reminds us that when we seek God and strive to live by his ways, he will prepare us for the battles we face. However, it can also be taken out of context, and used to justify a fight that we want. A meek man doesn’t chase after the battle. He’s a soldier of the Lord, trained and prepared to fight only when God tells him to. Meekness is strength, courage, and boldness combined with patience, grace, and restraint. There is a time to stand up and be bold, but when does the Lord want us to “unsheathe the sword”? How do we know when God wants us to fight? When we read how and when Jesus stood, there looks to be two clear situations when God wants his men to flex the strength and boldness side of their meekness: First, when the wolves attack the sheep, and second, when the gospel is twisted or perverted.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Paul said something similar in Acts 20:29: “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” God wants his men to fight when the weak are victimized and the church is being poisoned. We cannot think that we’re keeping our strength under control if in actuality we’re just failing to act. We cannot mistake patience for passivity or fear for gentleness. If meekness is a combination of gentleness and strength, or “having a sword but keeping it sheathed” then you must have the sword! But this requires you to understand how to wield the sword. You must know scripture to know what is unbiblical. You’re not meek if you’re unwilling to swing the sword like Jesus did. Yes, Jesus was gentle, but he had a passion in his soul to stand for the name of the Lord God Almighty. Are you only familiar with the gentle, forgiving, and docile Jesus? Because there’s a part of Him that’s bold, convicting, and honors the Father with power. I assure you, “Gentle Jesus” isn’t the one who’s returning.

For the last five weeks these devotionals have followed the larger theme of “Fight”. The reason it’s important to add “Meekness” to this section is because meekness is restraining yourself from the fight. Not every hill is one that you are meant to die on. Proverbs 16:32 says, “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” Meekness is the posture of someone who has surrendered their strength to God, and therefore, does not need to fight for control, recognition, or revenge. For the Christian man, it’s a quality that’s not easily broken or lost because it’s one that’s cultivated through the Holy Spirit.

Bible Study: Isaiah/Psalm 2-3

OK Men,

For the sake of going through both Isaiah and Psalms at the same time, I’m adding a new section specifically for the Psalms. So far in Isaiah, a lot of warnings from the Lord, which is gracious on His part.

Chapter 2:

What’s New: A strong theme of man being humbled in The Day of the Lord emanating from Isaiah 2. “So people will be brought low and everyone humbled,” (v9). “The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low,” (v11). “The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled,” (v17). Clearly, man thinks too highly of himself.

We’re even given a warning to end the chapter: “Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?” (v22). People will always put their faith in something. We are fortunate to put our faith in the Lord, who will never fail or let us down. For those who don’t follow Christ, their faith is put in something or someone else, whether they realize it or not, and at some point, it will let them down.

Who is God: The glory of the Lord is so great that it will create fear. That’s how men will be humbled on the last day. They’ll see both His glory and their own wickedness and attempt to hide. “People will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty,” (v19). The holiness of the Lord illuminates our sin. When Peter pulled up the miraculous catch of fish, he said to Jesus, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8). Peter saw but a fraction of Christ’s holiness and was humbled. I’m not sure we can fully fathom all that men will do when the full glory of Jesus is revealed.

Psalm 2: “The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.’ The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath,” (v2-5). The Lord laughs at the wicked who fight against him. That also means that he sees what they’re doing.

It doesn’t always feel like that, especially when we can turn on the news and see evil spreading and infecting our country. Lately, we’re beginning to see how deep evil roots are growing without any semblance of adequate consequences. But the Lord sees, and there will be judgment.

Chapter 3:

What’s New: “My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path,” (v12). This is a warning from the Lord to Jerusalem and Judah. The people are misled. About 700 years later, Jesus would confront the Pharisees calling them, “Blind guides!” Today, many churches still preach a twisted gospel.

The difference is that we have the ability to check the Scriptures for ourselves. What a gift the Bible is! One that’s often under appreciated. For thousands of years humanity had no personal access to Holy Scriptures. We do. Today, there are 52 countries where the Bible is either illegal to own or extremely difficult and dangerous to obtain. Not for us. I urge you to take advantage of this privilege we have because one day we may not. And when you’re unable to read the Word yourself, how will you know when the evil one is controlling the pulpit?

Who is God: The Lord rewards and punishes. “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done,” (v10-11). Stay close to the Lord, actually do the things He says, and things will go well for you. In theory, it’s quite easy. The only problem is every man’s rebellious heart.

Psalm 3: “Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked,” (v7). Who are David’s enemies? It’s the Israelites, being led by his own son, Absalom. Why has David’s son turned against him? Because he failed to address and punish a great evil that happened within his family.

David had multiple wives, and therefore, children with several of them. One of his sons, Amnon, r***d his half-sister, Tamar. To avenge his sister, Absalom, killed Amnon when David had decided to do nothing. So, while “break the teeth of the wicked” sounds like something from a Metallica song, and feels rousing, Absalom actually confronted the wickedness that David could not.

Scripture Memorization: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2.

Notice that this verse reveals a natural progression of sin: step, stand, sit. When we walk in sin, we will eventually stand, becoming firmly planted in wickedness. Once we’re planted, it feels good to sit down, and stay a while. Use this verse to help guard every step this week!

OK Men - This is what I’m noticing in Isaiah and Psalm 2. What is standing out to you? What’s new? What are you learning about God? Leave a comment!