In our last blog, we mentioned that Isaiah 42:1-9 is the first of four Servant Songs that appear in Isaiah 40-55 (Is. 42:1-9; 49:1-7; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12). They are songs that prophesy a coming individual who will accomplish Yahweh God’s purpose for the redemption of the world. Israel as a nation was called by God to […]
Living the Kingdom on Earth
In our reading this morning, we have the beginning of the second major section in this great Book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 1-39, we have read glimpses of hope for the people of God. There will be a future day when people from all the nations of the world will worship Israel’s God (Isaiah 2:1-4). […]
There are 2 major sections in the Book of Isaiah: Isaiah 1-39 and Isaiah 40-66. Our reading today concludes the first major section. In Isaiah 36-37, we have the account of Judah’s miraculous deliverance from the superpower Assyria. It is very significant that the army commander of Assyria issues his threat to the leaders of […]
In Isaiah 34 & 35 we have a stark contrast between two ways of life. In Isaiah 34, we see what happens when human beings try to make life work without dependence on their Creator God. Eventually a godless life falls under God’s judgment (Is. 34:1-4). “I Did It My Way”: Not The Best Song […]
In the early part of Isaiah’s ministry, Judah’s King Ahaz was under great threat from the northern kingdom of Israel and its ally Aram. In Isaiah 7:2, we read that Ahaz and the Judahites were shaken in their hearts by this threat, like the trees of a forest are shaken by the wind. Isaiah exhorts […]
Our reading today begins with the Lord addressing the city of Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel (Isaiah 28:1-4). Samaria had been made the capital of Israel when Omri had become king of Israel (1 Kings 16:21-24). He was the father of Ahab, who’s wife was Jezebel. Who Or What Is Our […]
Our reading today is part of a new subsection (Isaiah 24-27) in the Book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 13-23, we have the Lord primarily addressing the Gentile nations around Israel in Isaiah’s time, with the exception of Isaiah 22, where the Lord addresses the unfaithful Jerusalemites. In Isaiah 13-23, we read that all nations are […]
In today’s reading, we have the conclusion of a major subsection in the Book of Isaiah (chapters 13-23) that has primarily contained a series of oracles of God’s judgment against various Gentile nations. In Isaiah 22, however, we have an oracle pronounced against Jerusalem. Why does this oracle to God’s people appear in the midst […]
In Isaiah 19-20, the God of Israel reveals that the He has the nation of Egypt in the palm of His hand. One day, Egypt, along with Assyria and Israel, will be reconciled to the Lord and to each other (Is. 19:19-25). In these chapters, the Lord is building the case for why His people […]
In our reading today, we have the LORD addressing the nations of Moab, Aram (whose capital is Damascus), the apostate northern kingdom of Israel, and Cush. How can we find a word for us today from these prophetic oracles to peoples of long ago? Trusting The Gifts More Than The Giver I think we can […]