I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.  I am going to be on vacation through August 10th.  I have prepared my daily Bible Studies for each day throughout that time in advance since I will have limited access to the Internet during this time.  The timing on when I publish these blogs may be erratic during this time.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Isaiah 52-56.

I have always seen the portion of this passage about the messenger who brings good news (chapter 52 verses 7-12) separated from the portion about the suffering servant (starting with verse 13 and continuing through the next chapter).  However, as I read today I saw that the suffering servant was also the messenger who brings good news (chapter 53, verse 1).    His suffering made it possible for us to be healed.  He bore our sins so that we could be counted as righteous.

I love reading this whole passage.  It is incredibly powerful.  We separate it into parts because the prophet includes so much that we cannot possibly cover it all at once.  Chapter 54 tells us the results of the actions of God’s suffering servant, the Messiah.  Then chapter 55 explains the message which God’s servant brought and why He brought it.  Jesus has invited all to come and drink of the Water of Life.  God’s thoughts are not like our thoughts.  Stop trying to put Him in a box.  Stop trying to take God’s words and use them for our ends.  Isaiah tells us that God’s words accomplish God’s purpose, every time, all of the time.  I just wrote that we should stop trying to use God’s words for our selfish ends.  I meant that, but for our own sake, not for the sake of those who hear us.  We are the ones who suffer for misusing God’s words.  When we speak God’s words ,even if we have distorted them, they accomplish God’s purpose.

Isaiah tells us to be accepting of everyone who commits themselves to God, because God has already done so.  God calls us to be just and fair to everyone, to always do what is right and good.  If we reject any one who has committed themselves to God, we reject God.  There was so much more I wanted to say about this passage, but it just is not coming out.  Well, I wrote of how God’s words accomplish His purpose.  So, read the words He gave the prophet Isaiah and see the power they possess.