Isaiah as prophet speaks for God to the people but the prophets would also often speak to God for the people, this is especially true when their role aligned with that of priest as Isaiah’s did. Much of the poetic literature takes the form of poetry or song and so you’ll see close parallels with… Continue reading Destroyer
Tag: Lent
The promised king and the promised Spirit
How would God’s people know that the promises were coming true and that they no longer needed to fear judgement. Isaiah makes it clear that there were two crucial people who would come to confirm that hope had arrived. There was the promised king and the promised Holy Spirit. Read Isaiah 32 God promises that… Continue reading The promised king and the promised Spirit
You can go your own way
Our temptation is consistently to wander away from God and to look elsewhere for help. This is particularly true when we sense danger, like nervous sheep we seek to get away from the threat but this often means running away from the shepherd who can protect us and further into different danger. Read Isaiah 30-31… Continue reading You can go your own way
In that day
Throughout the theme of gloom and judgement, Isaiah weaves a different thread that brings light and hope. He speaks of a future day when there will be vindication for God’s people, when his enemies will be judged and defeated, when God will restore the land. Quite often, it seems that God has in mind more… Continue reading In that day
Cheating death
When we get difficult or bad news, we often try to negotiate with the bad news, to find a way around it. This kind of denial is a common part of the grieving process. One of the greatest human temptations is to believe that somehow, given enough knowledge, resources and time we’ll be able to… Continue reading Cheating death
Death of death
Death remains our greatest fear and the last enemy. Death is the just consequence and punishment for sin. Exile from the land was going to be a death like experience for God’s people. With that in mind, I want to suggest that what comes next is perhaps one of the most significant passages in the… Continue reading Death of death
Everyone
Perhaps as God’s people heard Isaiah prophecy against different nations and cities, they were tempted to nod along in agreement. “I’m glad that he mentioned Babylon, I knew they had it coming.” “Oh I’d never really thought about Trye and Sidon before … but he has got a point you know.” Then there’s that shocking… Continue reading Everyone
Something different
We’re in the middle of a section of Isaiah that takes the wider sweep of world politics and announces judgement on the nations and their capital cities. Notice that Jerusalem is included in with the wicked nation, God’s people had joined the world in its sinfulness. They had become like the Gentiles. There is a… Continue reading Something different
Those around
What does it mean to live in this world as part of the church. We know that we are sinful and that the church has its faults. At times it seems that the church is weak, half asleep, luke-warm. Do we really have anything to say to unbelievers? But then we can look at a… Continue reading Those around
Light in the darkness
Chapter 8 finishes with a sobering prophecy, all that the people will see if they look away from God is gloom and darkness. Without God, all there is for us is hopelessness. Read Isaiah 9 Whilst the present situation seemed pretty hopeless and Israel were about to face judgement, shame and destruction, Isaiah looks ahead… Continue reading Light in the darkness
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