I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Isaiah 17-21.

    I am not sure what to write about this passage. The problem I have today is one I run into from time to time as I read through the Bible. I read a passage and it seems to have much the same message as the one I wrote about the passage from the day before. However, as I think about it I do have something to add to what I wrote yesterday. Something which could be read from yesterday’s passage, but which stands out stronger today. When God brings His judgment against the wicked nations of this world that judgment will not just pour out against the superpowers of the world. This judgment will come because people refuse to turn to God.

    God has given plenty to the people of this world and they have turned from Him. God will allow the natural results of such action to happen and when people are once more desperate they will call out to God and beg Him to save them. When they do so, God will be faithful and answer their prayers. We forget that there was a time when the people of Egypt called upon Israel’s God. They will do so once again. As will the people of many other nations.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Isaiah 13-16.

    The passage starts with a prophecy about the future, at the time of writing, fall of Babylon, but it goes on from there to speak of the fall of lesser powers as well. The passage is a warning to those who revel in doing evil and arrogantly lord it over others. Isaiah prophecies against Babylon’s king, warning that he will be overthrown because of his arrogance and pride. It is a warning against those leaders who think that they can set themselves up in place of God. There is a warning here who believe that earthly power can and will last. Babylon was the mightiest nation on earth. Its king could do as he willed and no one could gainsay him. Nevertheless, God brought down Babylon when His purpose for it was finished. Babylon’s king thought that he answered to no one and was above all others. Because of his arrogance and pride, God brought him low. In the same way today many believe they can set themselves up in place of God. When we look at the world and see those who tell churches not to preach what God has commanded, we can know that God will bring them down in the same way He overthrew Babylon’s king.

    I want to point out the significance of the prophecies against the other nations. Those nations rooted for the downfall of Babylon. What they failed to recognize was that Babylon’s suffering would be their suffering as well. There are many in the world today who root for the U.S. to be overthrown as a world power. They fail to see that such an overthrow will lead to great suffering in other nations as well. I want to stress that I am not sure that the U.S. stands in the place of Babylon in this passage, but if it does not that is because there is no “Babylon” in the world today. I fear that the U.S. does stand in the place of Babylon, certainly her rulers are setting themselves up as above God.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Isaiah 9-12.

    This passage contains some prophecies which have been, rightly in my mind, applied to Jesus. But there is more here than we usually take out of it. Yes, the government will (does) rest on Jesus’ shoulders and all of the names given apply to Him. He does rule with justice and fairness and His peace will never end. Under Jesus’ rule the predator will peacefully co-exist with the prey. Jesus brings peace to the earth. All of this is true both for the future and for now.

    But, with all of those positive thins, there is still a lot of judgment in this passage as well. I think we often overlook how God’s judgment is sandwiched in the middle of these prophecies of peace and prosperity. The prophet warns us about both political leaders and religious leaders will teach us to act against God’s will, to seek our own selfish desires ahead of what God desires for us. They are wicked hypocrites, but it is not just the leaders who are hypocrites. The people are full of hypocrisy. They claim to be concerned for those less fortunate, but all they are really looking for is what is in it for them. They speak foolishness and proclaim themselves wise. God is going to bring His judgment against them.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Isaiah 5-8.

    The prophet condemns those who buy up real estate so that those without wealth struggle to find a place to live and those who throw grand parties. He tells us that they never think about God, nor pay attention to His actions. They expend their energy on pleasure while oppressing the poor. Rather than act righteously, they stir up violence. Great sorrow is coming for those who say that evil is good and good is evil. God has given us resources to use for justice and righteousness. If we instead use them for our own pleasure while oppressing others and engaging in violence (or encouraging others to do so) we will suffer God’s judgment.

    God is calling for messengers to take His message to the sinners of this world. He is calling us to call people to repentance. Before we can answer that call we need to acknowledge to ourselves, to God, and to our fellow man that we are sinners, that we are no better than those to whom God is sending us. It is up to us to step forward and volunteer to do God’s will. When He calls for someone to go, will I, will you, step forward and say, “Here I am. Send me!”? Isaiah warns us that most of the people we are sent to call will refuse to hear our message or see the signs God gives them. They will refuse to understand. But those who do listen, who do see, who do understand will turn to God and He will heal them.

I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Isaiah 1-4.

    In today’s troubled world the only hope to stem the tide of destruction and chaos is if people turn to God. However, sacrifices, offerings and worship services are not going to do the trick. No, each and every one of us needs to learn to good, to seek justice, and to help the oppressed. Our sins are like red blood staining the whole fabric of our being. However, if we obey God He will bleach them out of us completely. If we allow God to teach us His ways, and follow them once He has so taught us, God will mediate between nations. If we want peace in this world we must bow down before God and do His will. Then, and only then, will nation no longer fight against nation.

    If we do not as a people turn from our sins and obey God, if we continue to worship the things we have made, God will bring judgment against our nation. He will bring down the proud and humiliate them. When I read this passage it paints a scary picture of what is coming. There is, however, some hope within it. Isaiah tells us on God’s behalf that all will be well for the godly. It is the wicked who are doomed and will get what they deserve. I want to be careful here because we need to be careful not to gloat in the idea that the wicked will be punished. We need to recognize that our very being is stained with sin and we need God to wash us clean, and not just on the outside, we need Him to scrub us thoroughly. As importantly, we need to call on the wicked around us to join us in this bath which God is giving us. We are not receiving this cleansing because we are better, more deserving people than they are. If we fail to forgive them and love them enough to call them to God’s redemption, we will join them in suffering their fate.