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.

Today’s passage begins with a prophecy against both Damascus and Israel (the Northern Kingdom), but which focuses mostly on Israel.  To a large degree this prophecy can be applied to many times in history.  Isaiah prophesies that the land will be devastated and only a few people will remain.  Only then will those who remain recognize their sin and turn to God.  Then they will give up their idol worship and seek to follow God’s commands.  To me this is especially relevant to this year.  People ask, “Why is 2020 so bad?” and the answer Isaiah gives here certainly applies.  The answer is because we have turned from God who can save us, we have forgotten the Rock who can hide us.  Things seemed to be going so well and then disaster struck.  That is what happens when people turn from God.  The scary part to me is that people do not yet seem to be turning to God.  They appear to still be relying on their idols (in this case, the government) to save them.