Isaiah condemns those who claim to follow God but do not. Rather than act according to God’s desires they follow man-made rules by rote. Every time I read this I think of those people who follow the letter of law on rules, knowing full will that what they are doing goes against the intention of the rule. Some of them goes so far as to enforce the rule to the letter knowing that by doing so they are doing the opposite of the intent. Even though they know they are acting against God’s intentions they think He will not notice because they are following the letter, as they understand it, of the rules. Isaiah reminds us that God is not stupid and He knows what is in our hearts and minds.
When Assyria invaded Judah, some of the political leaders sought aid from Egypt. Rather than seeking guidance from God, they reached out to Egypt for assistance. Were these the same people Isaiah had condemned for following the letter of the rules rather than the intent? Perhaps. I want to focus on the fact that those who failed to seek God’s guidance on how to deal with the Assyrians also told the prophets to stop telling them what is right. Instead they wanted the prophets to tell them nice things. We see the same thing today, people tell us to stop telling them about what God says; to stop telling them what God says will happen if they continue in their sins. They want us to tell them lies, to tell them that nothing bad will happen as a result of their sins.
Despite the kindness which God showers on all mankind, the wicked do not learn to do good. They claim they do not understand God’s commands and at the same time complain because He spells it out line by line, a little at a time. So, God indeed does spell it out for them line by line, a little at a time. Instead of listening and modifying their behavior, the wicked stumble over His instructions and fall. God has placed a foundation in Jesus and measures us against Him. He has given us the measuring line of justice to show us how far we are from Him, and the plumb-line of righteousness to show us how far we are from straight. God offers us the walls of His salvation for those who put their trust in Him.
I am not sure how the prophecy about Jerusalem fits into the prophecies which precede it. However, Isaiah expands on his theme warning against trusting in material protection instead of trusting in God. He condemns the people of Jerusalem for building up their physical defenses without asking for God’s help. When disaster loomed over them and they anticipated dying, instead of praying and fasting they feasted and drank. Isaiah 22:13 is one of the most misused passages in Scripture. People quote it, “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die,” as if it was the prophet’s advice. In fact he was condemning people for taking that attitude. When disaster looms and it looks as if we will die on the morrow, Isaiah tells us that we should fast, pray, and confess our sins, turning to God for salvation.
I am not quite sure what Isaiah is prophesying in chapters 24 and 25. Is it a prophecy regarding the end times? Is it a prophecy regarding what happens when mankind’s sins reach epic proportions and God brings judgement on the entire world? Or does it refer to a specific time in history? I am going to look at the second option. Perhaps, Isaiah is referring to times like World War I, which was followed up by the flu pandemic, and when the Black Plague swept through the world. I am sure there are a few other times throughout history when the population of the world was decimated. In any case, Isaiah refers to a time of great devastation, when it seems like everyone has been killed, but a few survive. While the devastation is happening, all joy is lost and celebrations are cancelled. But those who survive praise the Lord when it is over and sing with joy that the troubles are behind them.
When the destruction is over it will be clear that God had planned it. Those who survive will be those who turned to God. They will see how He sheltered them and provides for their needs. While I believe that Chapter 25 refers to the time after the end times (I am unsure about Chapter 24), it contains elements which remind me of Europe after the Black Death. There was a renewal in faith in God and the powerful were less able to oppress the weak. Economic opportunities opened up for those who previously would have been relegated to servitude. However, I also want to highlight the parts which refer to a time which has not yet happened. God will put an end to death and wipe away all tears. The time will come when those who fear and worship God will never again experience sorrow or death. What a great hope we have!
I realized this morning that Isaiah prophesied in this section (which includes yesterday’s and tomorrow’s passage) about all of the nations which were significant in that part of the world in his lifetime. This partly explains why he prophesied about Babylon before it rose to great power: it was already significant in world politics. Isaiah’s message to all of these powers, and to us, was that God has a plan for each and every part of the world and nations only have the power which serves God’s purpose.
Several times Isaiah speaks of how the coming destruction will lead people to worship the Lord. The prophecy regarding Israel (which appears to refer to the Northern Kingdom, but I believe is deliberately worded to be possible to be interpreted as all of Israel) says that the people of Israel will give up their idols. The prophecy concerning Ethiopia says that the people of Ethiopia will bring gifts to God. While the prophecy concerning Egypt speaks of multiple cities in Egypt where God will be worshiped. Also in this passage Isaiah tells us that Philistia will fall because they relied on Egypt and Ethiopia. Left unsaid was that things would have been different had they turned instead to God.
I want to touch an a verse here which we should always remember when trouble seems about to overwhelm us, when it seems that even if God intervenes right now we will still be devastated. “In the evening sudden terror! Before the morning they are gone.” We may think that all hope is gone. But God can make all of our problems go away in an instant. Put your trust in God, have faith that He will care for you. I have seen it in my own life. When I prepared for bed, the world was collapsing around me. Before sleep claimed me, God had provided the solution.
Isaiah prophesied about the fall of Babylon before Babylon had truly risen to power. Now I want to note that Babylon had been a world power previously, but this prophecy concerned the Babylonian Empire which had just started to rise when Hezekiah was king of Judah. But I believe this prophecy contains more than just a prophecy against Babylon. It is a warning to every powerful person or nation which rises throughout history. God will punish the wicked for their sin. It matters not how powerful they are, and even powerful nations will fall to God’s judgement if its leaders seek to usurp God’s place.
I never quite understood why the prophecy about the fall of Babylon precedes the prophecy about the fall of Assyria and then other countries. The prophecies against Philistia and Moab teach us not to rejoice at the downfall of others, no matter how much they opposed us. Rather, we should feel sorrow for the sufferings of others, even those who imposed suffering. We should feel suffer, and seek to mitigate that suffering, even when that suffering results from their own actions.
Today, I am reading and commenting on Isaiah 9-12.
Today’s passage contains a few Messianic prophecies. The Messiah will be wonderful, a counselor, the Mighty God, our everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. These all apply to Jesus. The day will come when the Messiah will rule. He will not judge by appearances, nor make decisions based on hearsay. The day will come when the earth will be filled with people who fear the Lord. On that day the earth will live in peace. I believe that day will come soon. Isaiah tells us that the descendants of Jacob will be gathered from the nations to which they were scattered and specifically lists many of those nations. Interestingly, if we look we will see that almost all of the Jews have left the lands which Isaiah specifically lists. The day of the Lord’s return will soon come.
The passage also contains a warning for powerful nations and people. God has given you power in order to serve His purposes. You will not prevail over Him. Yet we see here that those with power do not think that way. They come to believe that their success is a result of their own ability, that they defeat every foe solely because of their own effort. They believe that they will continue to defeat every foe, no matter what. Through Isaiah God sends the reminder that the powerful have power because they are the tool which God chooses to use. Each of us is a tool which God will use to serve His purposes. If we come to believe that our successes, however limited they may be, belong to us and begin to defy God, He will bring us down in ways which we cannot even imagine. Those who choose to see will see God’s hand. Those who refuse to see will see just chance at work.
Isaiah’s prophecy concerning God planting a nation the way one might plant a vineyard applies to many nations throughout history., certainly not all, but many. I am most familiar with the ways in which the United States was blessed and showed signs of being a blessing to others, but other nations also show signs of being established by God to bring blessing to the world. God looks for a crop of justice and righteousness from these nations, but time and again He gets oppression and violence. Isaiah describes people who gather wealth unto themselves and then use it to isolate themselves from others. Isaiah describes how such actions lead to reduced productivity. When too great of a portion of a nation’s wealth is concentrated in too small a portion of its population, that wealth becomes worth less. Lack of justice and violence against the innocent will summon invaders much the same way that scattering sugar on a counter top will summon ants.
Isaiah’s account of his calling is quite powerful. First Isaiah tells us that when he found himself in the presence of God he recognized that he was unworthy and deserving of death, but God cleansed him of his sin. God does not call us because we are more righteous or more worthy than others. Then God asks “Whom shall I send? Who deliver my message to the people?” To which Isaiah responds, “Here I am. Send me.” I imagine this two ways:
Isaiah is standing there, kind of in a corner. He looks around and sees no one else. So, in a quiet, somewhat timid voice, he says, “I’m here. I guess I could go.”
Or
Isaiah is standing there off to the side. He steps out waves his arms, and goes, “Me, me, pick me.”
Both of those sometimes represent how I feel. Sometimes I feel like I am jumping up and down and asking God, “What do you want me to do? Just tell me and I’m on it.” Other times, I feel like I’m off to the side and I hear God asking for someone to do something that I don’t want to do. I reluctantly speak up and say, “I guess I could do that.” And sometimes I feel like I react to God calling by saying, “Um, did you say something? I’m not sure I heard you. Can you repeat yourself?” In any case, God’s calling was not unique to Isaiah. He calls to every person and wants to know if we will go where He sends us.
Finally, when God gives Isaiah His message He tells him that his audience will hear but not understand, and see without learning. They will refuse to see what God is showing them or hear what He is saying and thus will not understand and seek His healing. So, Isaiah was called to deliver a message to people who would not listen and respond. He knew that most, if not all, of his audience were not going to turn to God for healing, but he spoke God’s message nonetheless. Yet Isaiah is one of the most important prophets of the Old Testament. So, God does not measure our success by how many people respond to the message we deliver, or any of the other measures we may use to measure success. He measures our success by whether or not we do His will. Do not think like everyone else. Preserve the teachings of God and put your hope in Him. There will be those who choose to follow Him to whom you can entrust His instructions.
I never before noticed that three of the four kings during whose reigns Isaiah prophesied were good kings. Which tells us that while having leaders who serve God is important, it is not enough. If we the people do not faithfully serve God, He will give stop giving us leaders who do. That is what happened to the people of Judah. Despite having kings who faithfully served God and the warnings of prophets such as Isaiah, they chose to worship idols and pursue sinful pleasures.
Isaiah condemned the people of Judah for putting on a show of righteousness without actually doing the work of righteousness. They took part in religious ceremonies. They offered sacrifices. They even fasted and prayed. They talked the talk and performed all of the public rituals of worshiping God. But they did not do good by defending the cause of orphans or fighting for the rights of widows. They did not seek justice. Our sins stain us completely. We cannot do anything to remove that stain. However, God will completely wash it away if we allow Him to transform us. If we stop trying to look righteous and instead allow God to direct our actions, He will cleanse us.
The day is coming when only God will be exalted. Everyone and everything which holds itself up as worthy of honor will be cut down. Human pride will be humiliated. Institutions and governments will be brought low. Only those who bow before the Lord and allow Him to teach them His ways will be spared. This passage contains such powerful warnings, and promises, that I want to write more, but I will stop here and let you read it for yourself.
I never quite understand how the “story” in the beginning of the Song of Solomon fits in with the “story” of the rest of the Book. I understand that the entire thing is a love song between a young man and a young woman, but I do not quite understand how the young woman’s inability to care for herself at the beginning connects with her beauty as described later. I know that at least part of that is a result of cultural differences between myself and the author. That being said the Song does a great job of conveying the progression of loving relationship between a man and a woman.
One theme which runs throughout much of the Song is the repeated warning not to awaken love before its time. Since I first noticed this in the Song I have taken it to be warning to keep the sexual aspect of the relationship in check until the relationship truly blooms. The Song tells us that sexuality between a man and a woman is beautiful and good, but this phrase, repeated multiple times, reminds us that sex must be kept to its appropriate place in marriage between a man and a woman. The Song also reminds us that sexual love should be a private thing between a husband and wife, something not shared with others.
Today’s passage consists of many separate thoughts on life and wisdom which make it hard to write about a single theme. However, I am going to try to link them together in a kind of theme. We will see if I can pull it off. The writer tells us that everything is meaningless, yet advises certain courses of action. Since no one always does good and never sins, we should not destroy ourselves trying to always be good and always be wise. Of course, that does not mean that it is OK to be wicked and foolish. Seek to do what is good and wise, but do not belittle yourself when you fail in this.
From there the writer turns his focus slightly. As we look at the world around us we will see wicked people who succeed by our standards, and good people who suffer. Nevertheless, those who fear God are better off for doing so and those who are wicked will not truly prosper. Even though he knows this is true, we will see good people treated as if they are wicked and wicked people treated as if they are good. So, we should have fun, eat, drink, and enjoy ourselves.
The writer concludes by telling us to remember to fear and obey God. He reminds us to remember our Creator while we have the strength to serve Him. We should seek to do God’s will, but enjoy ourselves while doing so. Seek God’s will, but do not allow yourself to believe that you do no wrong. And as said by others, moderation in all things, including moderation. In the end God will judge us for everything we have done, even the things which we thought were secret.
