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

Isaiah prophesies the coming Messiah in a prophecy which can be seen as applying to Jesus, who started His ministry in Galilee.  Now there is nothing noteworthy in me taking note of that, Matthew makes that connection for us.  What I find interesting is that Isaiah continues from that Messianic prophecy to warning those who do not turn to God when things go wrong.  Isaiah warns those who suffer setbacks because of their sin who think they will just recover and go on to bigger and better things without turning to God.  As I read this today, I am struck that Isaiah’s prophecy here seems directed at those who see the changes going on right now as evidence that they have been vindicated and do not need to change their ways.  Isaiah warns that those who do not call people to return to God, or, perhaps turn to him in the first place, are misleading them, while those who follow such leaders are willfully being led astray.  If you are not following a leader who is calling you to change, to follow God more faithfully, you have chosen to be misled.  Each of us needs to examine ourselves and decide if we are turning to God to listen to what He wants of us.

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

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

I was debating about what to write out of today’s passage.  I really like writing about Isaiah’s commission where God says, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”  It really calls me to respond as Isaiah did, and to call others to do likewise, to say, “Here I am. Send me!” Then later there is Isaiah’s prophecy to Ahaz which also became a prophecy about Jesus.  However, today I kept feeling myself drawn to earlier in the passage where Isaiah writes:
“Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit,
    and wickedness as with cart ropes,
 to those who say, ‘Let God hurry;
    let him hasten his work
    so we may see it.
The plan of the Holy One of Israel—
    let it approach, let it come into view,
    so we may know it.’
 Woe to those who call evil good
    and good evil,
who put darkness for light
    and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
    and sweet for bitter.
 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.”
I always wonder about the correct interpretation of the inclusion of “to those who say, ‘Let God hurry…”  Is Isaiah talking about those who say this to mock those who trust in God?  Or, is he comparing those who long for the return of Christ to those who call evil good and call good evil?  I have read and heard people make the case for the former, but I can’t shake the feeling that perhaps Isaiah meant the latter.  So, what could be wrong about hoping for the Day of the Lord to come sooner rather than later?  I think that perhaps that last piece of my above quote gives us a hint, “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.”  Along with that is those who are righteous in their own eyes.  Those who think that they are righteous and so have nothing to fear when the Day of Judgement comes.  But what about those of us who know that we are not righteous, who know that it is only through God’s grace that our sins are forgiven, why shouldn’t we seek for the Lord to return sooner rather than later?  The answer is because of the suffering which will accompany His return.  We should pray that those who have not yet turned to God and accepted Christ’s forgiveness for their sin turn to Him before His return.  Instead of praying that we might sooner experience living with Christ in eternity, we should pray for more time to serve Him here on earth.

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

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

The first thing I want to note is that Isaiah began prophesying during the reign of Uzziah, about whom the writer of Chronicles said “he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”  In fact, similar things could be said about 3 of the four kings who reigned during Isaiah’s time of prophesy.  Yet from the very beginning f Isaiah’s prophecies he calls out the people of Israel for their rebellion against God.  Isaiah tells them that the sacrifices which they offer are meaningless and their assemblies are worthless.  Isaiah told the people of Israel that they must stop doing wrong and learn to do right.  God was condemning their worship because it was empty.  Their worship rituals were not intended as an end in themselves.  They were intended as an expression of God’s command, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”  But the first of the expressions of following that command was that they were to ,”love your neighbor as yourself.”  We make the mistake of not paying attention to Isaiah’s prophecy today.  Have our worship services become meaningless and worthless?  If we do not want God to refuse to listen to our prayers, the same as He did to the people of Israel in Isaiah’s day, then we need to wash away our sins and learn to be willing and obedient.

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

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Isaiah 64-66.

Isaiah wraps up his prophecies by revisiting a few of the themes which were throughout his book.  Today’s passage begins with a reminder that no one has ever seen any God aside from the true God.  While other things, and beings, and creatures have been worshiped by people, none of them acts on behalf of those who trust them in the way and with the power which God acts on behalf of those who trust Him and remember His ways.  Yet, despite that truth we still sin against Him and provoke His anger, and what can save us from His anger?  Only God’s love can, and fortunately will, save us from His justified anger at us.  For we are the work of His hand, and He will mold us and make us into vessels that bring glory to His name.  God will reveal Himself to those who do not look for Him and He will be found by those not searching for Him.   Which brings us to the second theme Isaiah prophesied about repeatedly: those who proclaim themselves servants of God while committing wicked acts in secret.  God will bring judgement upon them and show all their dirty secrets.  Those who truly serve God will experience joy, but those who only do so with their mouths while their acts bring harm to others will experience suffering beyond measure.

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

Today, I am reading and commenting on Isaiah 60-63.

Isaiah prophesied that the year of the Lord’s favor would come, but that would also be the day of God’s vengeance on the wicked.  When God acts it will be good news for the poor and the brokenhearted.  But God loves justice and hates wrongdoing, so on that day those who wallow in wickedness will experience His vengeance.  In that day, God will make righteousness sprout up among the nations.  That day is every day since Jesus died on the cross.  God will guide those called by His name.

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

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

Isaiah prophesies God’s salvation for His people.  It is time for God’s people to awake and give glory to God.  He foretold what is to come and all people will see His power.  God gave Isaiah a prophecy about the fall of Babylon before Babylon had even risen to be a world power.  What Isaiah did would be comparable to someone today predicting that China would be overthrown as the world power by India.  But more important than Isaiah’s prophecy concerning Babylon is his prophecy concerning God’s Chosen One, concerning the Gospel of Christ.  Isaiah prophesied that He would be cut off from life, yet after He had suffered He would see the light of life.  Further, Isaiah writes that by knowledge of Him (the translation note for Isaiah 53:11 offers this as an alternate translation…I think they chose to translate it the way they did because it is better poetry) many will be justified.  Jesus poured out His life unto death, but after He suffered He was raised from the dead to see the light of life once more.  Isaiah promises us that no weapon forged against God’s people will prevail, and those who listen to the words of God will refute every one that accuses them.  Isaiah tells us that God is calling to those who hunger and thirst to come to Him and listen to His words.  If they listen and act upon what they hear, their hunger and thirst will be satisfied.  Certainly, we are to understand that to refer to spiritual food and drink for those who hunger and thirst for what is right, but I believe that God is also offering food and drink for those with physical hunger and thirst.  If they will but listen to God, they will be filled.  God will provide for our needs.

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

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Isaiah 48-51.

There is a lot in today’s passage, but the thing which came together was God’s demand that those who take oaths in His name and claim to honor Him listen to what He has to say.  Specifically, He is calling out those who use the appearance of righteousness for their own ends rather than seeking righteousness for its own sake.  God warns that He has delayed His wrath for the sake of His name, not because they are not doing wrong.  He seeks to refine us and cause us to recognize our hypocrisy.  He teaches us what is best for us.  While He delays His wrath for His own sake, His commands are for ours.  If we would only pay attention to His words and His laws we would have peace.  God’s commands are not arbitrary.  He created this world and He created us.  Therefore He knows how we can best live our lives.  Listen to Him for our own sakes.

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

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Isaiah 43-47.

Today’s passage continues Isaiah’s prophecy that God’s ability to reveal what will happen in the future offers proof that He alone is worthy of our worship.  Not because He reveals the future, but because no other “god” can.  God’s ability to tell us about the future reveals that He alone has power over what will happen, and what has happened.  And, because God has powers, we need not fear for He is with us.  He calls to Him everyone willing to be called by His name.  He has foretold what will happen and stands by those who will be His witnesses that He is God.  As the psalmist wrote in Psalm 107 verse 2, “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.”  Let us remember that we are witnesses to God’s power and glory and our job is to tell others about it.  God has forgiven our sins and will heal us of the damage we did to ourselves by sinning.  He does this because it reveals His power even more than everything else He has done.  God’s goal is that from where the sun rises to where it sets, people will know that there is no other god, no thing which can stand against Him.  Isaiah goes on to warn those who choose to oppose God, doing so is like clay arguing against the potter.  They trust in their wickedness, rather than placing their trust in God’s righteousness.  They set themselves up as the arbiters of what is right and good, putting their trust in themselves, their knowledge and their wisdom.  They fail to recognize that they are leading themselves to disaster.  In time, every knee will bow to God, and every tongue will acknowledge His power.  Whether we do so when there is time to follow His guidance to avoid disaster, or after we have suffered complete destruction of all we hold dear is the only choice we have in the matter.

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

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Isaiah 39-42.

Today’s passage starts with the account of envoys from Babylon visiting King Hezekiah and the prophecy Isaiah made concerning them.  I have never quite understood Isaiah’s response to Hezekiah showing all of his treasures to the Babylonian envoys.  It reads a little bit like a reprimand, but does not make clear what Isaiah was saying Hezekiah had done wrong.  Perhaps it is merely here as a reminder that God had revealed the rise of Babylon long before Babylon was more than just a vassal state of Assyria.  It may serve as an introduction to Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the uselessness of idols, which are made by human hands.  God has foretold what will happen and no other god has done so.  God is unique among gods, among the things which mankind worships.  So, this passage starts with Isaiah prophesying the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon when Babylon was just a vassal state of Assyria, then he prophesies about how only God can tell us about what has not yet happened.  But that is not the only way in which God tells us about what has not yet happened.  God goes on and gives Isaiah a prophesy concerning the coming of His Chosen One, Jesus.  Isaiah talks about how God will give sight to those who are blind who turn to Him, and cause those who turn instead to idols to be unable to see the way even though they are not blind.  It seems to me that through Isaiah, God is telling us that those who think they do not God will fail to recognize how they should behave, while those who recognize their inability to know what is right without God will be shown how to act.

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

Today, I am reading and commenting on  Isaiah 36-38.

I love the various accounts of Sennacherib’s aborted invasion of the Kingdom of Judah.  Today I want to look at how Sennacherib’s field commander pretended at first to have some respect for God, while demonstrating a complete lack of understanding about what God commanded His people.  Often today the enemies of those who serve God use similar tactics.  First, he refers to the Pharaoh of Egypt “splintered reed of a staff,” echoing the warnings prophets repeatedly gave against relying on Egypt.  Then he questions Hezekiah’s claim that God would defend Jerusalem based on the fact that Hezekiah had dismantled the shrines throughout the land in order to insist that people worship God in Jerusalem.  This shows that the field commander is not aware of God’s command to the Israelites that they worship Him at a central location.  However, when Hezekiah’s advisors asked him to speak in Aramaic rather than Hebrew, he reacts by calling to the people on the wall that no other god was able to save their people, therefore God will be unable to save His people.  By doing this, the field commander reveals that his original argument questioning Hezekiah’s faith was disingenuous.  He did not believe that God would hold Hezekiah’s actions against Hezekiah because he did not believe God had any power.  In the same way, many people today make arguments against how Christians practice their faith based on a misunderstanding of what Christians believe, and then reveal they don’t actually think the argument matters anyway because they do not believe that God exists.  Sennacherib followed up his field commander’s blasphemy with a letter supporting it.  God responded to the arrogance of the Assyrians by reminding His people that He had planned, and had His prophets declare, their actions long before they had arisen as a power.

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