This chapter is a mixture of the glories to come, when God brings in an era of justice and peace, and the judgement of God on the evil's of that time. Evil's that we see around us still today.
Judah's apostasy is denounced just before the Assyrians are about to invade and at the same time a vision of the promised chosen king who will come and bring healing to society is interwoven among the denouncements.
As we read some of the denouncements on the people of those days, we can feel the same denunciation of our own society and it's way of life. Perhaps even feel God's denunciation on some aspects of our own lives and so realise that we too need to repent and change our ways. When God's kingdom comes, and it is already in the process of coming, we see the dignity of those who belong to him being raised up. Rulers are just, men are like rocks that provide shelter and refuge and sustenance. People will see and hear the truth and a right perspective will be brought back (Fools will no longer be called noble.). From our perspective we can say - people become more Christlike and this leads to restoration.
We live in Isaiah's promised age of the Spirit, who is bringing in God's kingdom. We who belong to Christ should be showing the fruit of righteousness and peace; quietness and confidence.
Lord Jesus, rule in us, may our allegiance to you show in our lifestyle and in our commitments. Use us to bring justice where there is injustice and peace where there is strife. Help us not to be complacent when we look around and see the wrong in our world today. Help us stand for you and so see your kingdom come on and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
John Grisham's book, The Testament tells the story of Rachel Lane who, unknown to her, was the illegitimate child of a billionaire. She became a missionary to tribes in the remote jungle of Brazil. Her father died and she was left the whole estate. A lawyer eventually finds her and tells her the news and is surprised that she does not just pack her bags and go and enjoy her new found wealth.
She was an excellent example ofserving God and not money. Okay it is fiction, but there are people like that. We all know what it is like to be influenced by the lure of wealth and what it can buy. As I write this the news has the story of a man that arranged the murder of his wife so that he could gain from the insurance and go and live with his new girlfriend. Now I know that most of us would not even dream of something like that, but money can still rule our lives.
In 1 Timothy 6:6, Paul redefines true gain by saying that "godliness with contentment is great gain." May that be true in my life.
Heavenly Father, you have destined me to inherit something far more valuable than anything I can obtain in this world, you have made me a co-heir with Christ! Thank you. Help me not to be drawn by the lure of worldly wealth; in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Read Psalm 108:1-5. How do these verses encourage you about the faithful nature of God’s love?
Father, thank you that you loved me enough to send Jesus to die for me. Thank you Jesus that you never leave me nor forsake me. I don't ever want to leave You, keep me close to you and never let me wander away. Amen.
This last "Woe"section goes over similar themes that have been looked at in the previous chapters. (1-3) Egypt cannot help them, (8) Assyria will not triumph in the end and if Israel returns to God and gets rid of her idols, then God will save His people. This time Isaiah uses the metaphor of animals to proclaim his prophecy.
Horses don't just represent the military might of Egypt, they also represent the human power availble to Israel if she allies with Egypt against Assyria. They speak of all the things we try to do in our own strength, either to make ourselves more comfortable or to overcome difficulties and problems.
Isaiah's point of view is that this shows a lack of confidence in God. Human resources can never triumph over the plans and purposes of God. If God so wishes he will use even cruel nations like Assyria to bring about his will.
The Lion roaring before it ponces upon its prey is a picture used to shoe the pending judgement of God. Shepherds will not be able to turn it away, and it cannot be ignored.
Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem. Divine protection is far better than any human aid.
God not only upholds the universe, He also works in and through our circumstances to bring about His will. God is our just provider and protector, he knows all and is all powerful. So why do we often not trust his judgement and start to use oir own?
Lord God, help me every day to remember that you are at work in all things fgor my good, even in times of misfortune and suffering. Amen.
At last a much mor eupbeat note coming from Isaiah as he reveals what God has shared with him to speak. For those who wait upon the Lord there is the promise of justice, mercy and blessing. God will hear the cries for forgiveness from the people of Jerusalem and bring deliverance. The teachers who give them true teaching will no longer be hidden from them and God will guide them.
Verse 21 is a verse that is a guide for me often. It is tells us that we should walk in faith in the direction that seems right, and as we do so, trusting in God, he will show us if we should move left or right. We move forward in the light that we already have and as we do so God will continue to guide us. If it is wrong he will turn our footstwps into the right path because he is our teacher and guide.
From verse 23 to 26 we see a picture in colourful apocalyptic language of both God's deliverance of Israel and his devastation on Assyria. Assyria is symbolic of any nation that challenges the authority of God.
How can we apply this to ourselves? We can see ourselves in a situation where God has begun to reign, Jesus ressurrection marks the beginning of the new age, we are a new creation, but He has not yet brought forth His reign in fullness, i.e. when Jesus comes back, judgement is given out and he brings in the new heaven and earth. The cross of Christ shows us both God's judgement and mercy, and opens up the way for us to walk in the paths of blessing and justice. At present God's enemies are still active in the world opposing hIm and His people. We need to cry out to the Lord and ask him to bring full deliverance. Come Lord Jesus, come.
Thank you Lord, that You promise to guide us as we step out in faith for You. Keep us close to you and come soon so that we might be able to enjoy your presence in its full glory. Amen.
The psalmist here is looking back in order to help understand how to live in the present and future. It is one of four psalms that does this, describing it as teaching (1), parable (2), and lessons from the past (2).
Kierkegaard said that life is lived forwards but learned backwards. I guess that is why the psalmist here remids them of the past. Looking back at what God has done for others and for me personally is also something that helps me keep going in my Christian walk, especially when things are tough.
So even if you have a history of failure, like Israel, there is hope for the future, because of the God that we have and because He is fatihful and on our side. Our past failures can be redeemed because God is a loving and merciful God. Verse 38 might refere to the incident about the golden calf, which brought forth His wrath, but also showed that He was compassionate and slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6). The overall focus is on how God's righteous judgement was restrained in order to pour out his grace and forgiveness on His people.
That is how I often look at my life. I see that far too often I have not lived it as I should. And yet at the same time I see that God is gracious to me. He has brought blessing to me and through me. WHat a wonderful God we have, and that is why I continue to follow Him, despite all setbacks.
Compassionate Father and God, thank you that you are slow to anger, and abounding in love and fatihfulness. You have done so much for me in the past and cared for me in spite of my waywardness. Help me to remember your love for me each day as I get up and then in gratitude and love for you, to go out and live my life for you. Amen.
Israel's leaders are considering two choices, the first of choosing to pay a tribute to Assyria to ward off invasion, or the second to oppose them with aid of Egypt. I sometimes wonder what would have been the outcome if they had turned in repentance and trusted God for their salvation. But they didn't so we will never know, but verse 15 suggests that some way or other God would have brought their salvation. Isaiah realises that of the two choices, neither option is good.
God's plans are for Israel's benefit, as we see in the last verse. But Israel chooses to scheme to protect herself, relying on human strength and understanding. So they will be like the children of Israel wandering in the desert for years before finally claiming the Promised Land.
Israel should have remembered God's relationship to them and His covenant with them, but she loses sight of the fact that He is the 'Holy One of Israel' and 'Sovereign LORD' (15). The One who is pure will not keep on tolerating our sin.
Lord God, whenever I am in a difficult situation, help me to realise that my salvation is in repenance and rest, and my strength is in quietness and trust. Help me simply to look to You and not trust in my own plans and ideas. In Jesus'Name, Amen.
Galatians 5:19-21 gives us a list of the things that would count as being a friend of the world. It talks of "sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like." If you find yourself in that list, you are making a clear statement about whose side you are on.
What God is looking for from us is what is in the following verses of Galatians 5, the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus made it clear in John 15:14, "You are my friends if you do what I command."
Lord God, help me to be very clear in my actions and my words, just whose side I am on. Amen.
In Jeremiah's vision of the potter and the clay, things seem to be back to front. The clay is challenging its maker's authority and will! This impudence deserves the punishment that is coming on Ariel an ironic name for Jerusalem's temple as the "altar of God."
Verses 1-8 are probably describing the siege by Sennacherib in 701 BC, when amazingly judgment is postponed and the enemies are suddenly removed. God has miraculously saved his people by getting the Assyrians to abandon their siege. But the chapter continues by challenging the sincerity of God's people as they seem to be deaf to God's word through the prophets (10,11).
The laws of cause and effect apply to all of life. When we fail to respond appropriately with wisdom and compassion, we will reap the effects. All Isaiah was looking for was repentance and a desire to live righteously, not just on the outside, but on the inside too. This new heart in the people was not really seen until 700 years later when Christ came.
Help us Lord, not to grow tired of bringing your truth to the people around us, even if they do not want to hear. Gives us tact to know when to be quiet and when to speak, so that your word will go out in appropriate ways. In the meantime, help us your people, to live righteous lives. May our outward actions show our inwardly faith in You. Amen.
Another chapter of woe, and three more chapters to come; all beginning with the word "Woe". Jesus used the word 'woe'many times too when challenging and rebuking the complacent and religious leaders.
Isaiah's contemporaries were all saying that everthing was all right, but Isaiah saw theings differently. Ephraim is the Northern Kingdom, and Isaiah predicts its downfall (v 1-4). In verses 7-13 we see that the priests could not give sober judgment on things - they are staggering after too much wine.
Next comes Jerusalem, probably representing the Southern Kingdom and the condemnation of it relying on other powers. The covenant with death is likely the doomed alliance with Egypt against Assyria. Finally we come to the picture of ploughing and harvesting. It is inevitable that we will reap what we sow.
So the people need to wake up and see the danger. The lies of their leaders will be exposed. (v16)God will lay the foundation stone of justice which will be the standard by which all our words and actions are to be judged. Just as the Philistines and Amorites were judged and defeated, God will set himself against his own people until they see the truth and turn back to him.
We too can become complacent inour Christian walk. We can become self-righteous, assuming God's protection even wehn our lives are not walking in line with His word. Thw world is already under the judgment of God for our own abuse of the environment, lack of concern for the underprivileged, complacency in the light of injustice, etc.
Lord God, help us not to become complacent in our Christian lives. Help us to live according to Your word and Your standards and help us not to get tired of doing good, in Jesus'name. Amen
Think of how Timothy’s mother and grandmother must have felt to see him blossom as a leader in the work of Jesus! We mums and dads need to be a positive spiritual influence on our children. Who knows, like Timothy, one day they will be a great influence for Christ in this world.
Lord God, thank you for godly mums and grandmums. Help us to be good parents and good examples to our children, for your kingdom's sake. Amen.
In verse 1, we read about Leviathan, which was a monster of the sea, that could be some kind of reptile, a crocodile or something like a hippopotamus, no-one reaaly knows. But it represents many dangers found at sea. Isaiah uses Leviathan as a picture of the Assyrian Empire something that is not to be played around with.
Israel is pictured as a vineyard that once again will be fruitful. Once the weeds and thorns are cleared away, it will produce a rich harvest that will be a blessing to all the world. This will be when the exiles return and the land knows peace once again. It will be peace for the individuals and peace for the country politically too. The word used is shalom which is absence of conflict and enemies and war but also includes justice and ethical standards.
As with many prophecies, the picture is for their day and for the future. For us it is the future reality of God's complete reign over earth.
Isaiah was truly a visionary, who saw what God had prepared for his people and he expressed it in terms the people understood. This is not easy to do in any time.
Lord God, help me in this present world to be able to convey Your truths to this pluralistic world full of political conflict and rivalry in a way that is appropriate and will draw people to you. Show me what YOu are doing, and going to do so that I can bring that vision to the people around me - be they believers or not. Amen
There is praise, worship and prayer in these verses. There is a call for faith, trust, a hope for the future, righteousness and judgment.
The promise that God gives protection to those who are weak, but judgement to those who are doing things in their own strength and pride. The promise that God keeps those whose mind is steadfast and trust God in perfect peace is a great comfort.
In verse 10 and 11, though the wicked are treated with grace, they still do not learn and turn to God for forgiveness.
Verse 19 seems to point to the resurrection of the dead, which is a theme we do not hear much about in the Old Testament. What often comes out is the point that there must be more to life than the present injustice we see all around us. Why does evil often seem to triumph over good is a question that occurs frequently. Isaiah hints that there is a better life to come in the future.
This better future began when Christ came to earth and will be brought to fulfillment when he comes back again.
Thank you Lord, that though things may not be so rosy at the moment, and there is injustice and greed and violence all around us, that one day you will bring all things to right. Come Lord Jesus, come. Amen.
