Chronological Bible

Just found a great online resource that will guide you in a one-year reading of the Bible in chronological order.  Awesome.  I'm going to do this...it will help put all the books in their proper sequence by time.

Check it out:  Bible.com

A New Name

Came across an interesting verse this morning in Isaiah. The 15th verse of Chapter 65. 

And you will leave your name to My chosen (to those who will use it) for a curse;and the Lord God will slay you, but He will call His servants by another name (as much greater than the former name as the name Israel was greater than the name Jacob).

I pondered that verse for a while wondering what it could mean.  What name would be greater than that of Israel or Jew for they are the chosen ones.  I went on to read verse 16 as well, which proved to be interesting as well...speaking to "blessing oneself."  

Decided to hit the commentaries online on the online site Bible Study Tools.com and I looked at two commentaries, one by Matthew Henry and the other by John Gill.  Here's what Henry says, which is marvelous (Italics Henry's emphasis, underline mine).

The name of God’s chosen shall become a blessing: He shall call his servants by another name. The children of the covenant shall no longer be called Jews, but Christians; and to them, under that name, all the promises and privileges of the new covenant shall be secured. This other name shall be an honorable name; it shall not be confined to one nation, but with it men shall bless themselves in the earth, all the world over. God shall have servants out of all nations who shall all be dignified with this new name. They shall bless themselves in the God of truth. First, They shall give honor to God both in their prayers and in their solemn oaths, in their addresses for his favor as their felicity and their appeals to his justice as their Judge. This is a part of the homage we owe to God; we must bless ourselves in him, that is, we must reckon that we have enough to make us happy, that we need no more, and can desire no more, if we have him for our God. It is of great consequence what we bless ourselves in, what we most please ourselves with and value ourselves by our interest in. Worldly people bless themselves in the abundance they have of this world’s goods; but God’s servants bless themselves in him, as a God all-sufficient for them. He is their crown of glory and diadem of beauty, their strength and portion. 

Amen.