Mighty C. Rasing
Bible Study for January 17, 2010
Listen Up Y’all: Isaiah 62:1-5
Opening Salvo
What do you think of the present situation of the Philippines?
Have you watched the news lately?
Do we have anything we can be proud of? Anything we should be ashamed of?
What Was That All About
Isaiah 62 talks about the nation of Jerusalem as God’s beloved and chosen city. Because of the sins and unrighteousness of the inhabitants, God loves Jerusalem and He could not just sit by and watch the beloved city fall to ruins.
Even if the situation seemed desperate and desolate, Isaiah 62 presents a promise of future glory when “world leaders will be blinded by (its) glory.” It will give be given a new name.
In the 1990s, China was referred to as a sleeping giant. The Philippines on the other hand, was referred to as the “Sick Man of Asia” while Thailand, Taiwan and Singapore were referred to as Asia’s New Tiger economies.
In our last Bible Study lesson, we looked at the importance of names and how God knows our names.
Isaiah 62 says that Jerusalem was known as “The Forsaken City” and “The Desolate Land.” It was that bad! Jerusalem was famous but not in a good way.
But because of God’s love, Jerusalem will be baptized anew. Its name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God.” Such a name-change will definitely entail transformation in the very fabric and structures of the society.
Change is never easy. And God will not magically change one country. He changes hearts. He changes the lives of people. And when enough transformed people come together, the land will slowly change for the better.
A Nation of Heroes
Towards the end of 2009, Efren Penaflorida was recognized by CNN as one of its heroes. That was one big morale booster for Filipinos who suffered a lot from Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. Efren also showed the world how a small idea from a big heart could change the lives of young people.
Read about the story of Efren Penaflorida online. Check the following links and download the video.
Efren Penaflorida’s Story
Efren Penaflorida as a hero
Download the video here.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
How can the Philippines become a stronger nation?
What concrete steps can you make to help transform the Philippines into a Jerusalem where God rules?
Roll Out!
Start keeping a journal about some ways in which you can help your community become a better place.
Ask the Bible Study participants to visit www.umcphilippines.org/youngpeople and start suggesting ways to make the Philippines a better place.
image credit: Reinvaldez.wordpress.com
kailangan talaga na magsimula sa atin ang pag babago. hindi tayo dapat umaasa sa ibang tao o sa gobyerno na baguhin ang bansang pilipinas kasi ang pag babago ay hindi mag sisimula sa kanila kundi sa atin dapat, sa bawat pilipino.
minsan kasi magaling tayo mag puna nang mga bagay bagay na nakikita natin pero hindi natin naitanong sa ating mga sarili kung ano na rin ba ang nagawa natin sa lipunan. ano na rin ba ang na contribute natin sa ating kapaligiran.
mas maganda pa rin na kung hindi tayo magiging part ng solution, e wag na rin tayong maging part pa ng problema.
Ei Bhin. Very true. Too often sigaw tayo ng sigaw pero we don’t realize that some of the simple things we can do can do a lot in helping the country.
Kelangan talaga natin maging part ng solution. Pag hindi, magiging problema lang din tayo.
its human nature n laging may kulang, laging may hinahanap, itim gs2 pumuti, vice versa, ung mahirap gs2 yumaman at sumikat, ung myman at sikat gs2 nmn ng simpleng buhay pero d n pwd, minsan hnd tlg mhnap ung solution, kc d ntn mtanggap ung 22ong problem…http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/stories.cgi?record=24
…mundo lng ang nagestablish ng status ng lyf, pero in God’s eyes, equal dn lahat…looking solutions from others, blaming, pointing fingers…”I may lack in many things, but God gave me more than enough, there’s many reason to be thankful and glad”