September 13, 2015
The rebellious heart of Lucifer declared: “I will.” The obedient heart of Jesus prayed: “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Satan was cast down from heaven because of his rebellious heart. He tempted Eve with the same attitude, saying that if she would eat of the forbidden fruit, she would be “like God” (Gen. 3:5). The heart of sin is an attitude that says, “I will” rather than saying “Thy will be done.” It desires to take God’s place, rather than submitting to Him.
September 11, 2015
I can’t read this verse without singing it as Handel imagined in his oratorio, Messiah. He put Isaiah’s words to music in 1741 AD, 17 centuries after Christ’s coming. Isaiah wrote the words of this prophecy around 740 BC, nearly 8 centuries before Christ’s coming. Not many song-writing duos have lived so far apart, in time that is. Yet time has little meaning to the “Everlasting” one. Isaiah prophesied a Son to be born to the house of David whose names would be “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.” Which of these names means most to you today?
September 8, 2015
The Lord gave Isaiah a vision of the latter days when all nations will come to Jerusalem to worship, a day when the Lord Himself will judge and bring peace. In that day there will be no need for weapons of war. The wealth and works of the nations will no longer be wasted on mutual destruction, but on worship of God and mutual welfare. Even the study of war will be lost, so that mankind forgets the art. Such a day Isaiah saw and we still await its arrival.
September 25, 2014
God gave Isaiah a prophecy against Babylon and its idol worship. It is almost sarcastic in its imagery, predicting that Babylon’s idols will “bow” down as they are lowered onto ox carts and carried away by the very people who used to “bow” down before them. Even the oxen are “bowed-down” under the weight of pulling these massive, manmade gods. This illustrates the ridiculous nature of those who would make gods of their wealth and possessions. In the end, their wealth cannot protect them and they cannot preserve it. They both “go off into captivity together,” as if in a funeral procession with heads bowed down. Yet, those who trust in the Lord are not weighed down, but lifted up by the Redeemer who can save to the uttermost!
September 22, 2014
Through the centuries the Bible has been burned and banned by dictators seeking to stamp it out. It has been accused of being corrupted by copyists and filled with inconsistencies by unbelieving skeptics. Yet, while the dictators and skeptics pass away, the Word still stands. God has preserved His Word, so that we might receive the revelation of His Son. We can trust the everlasting Word of God. It stands forever.
September 21, 2014
When King Sennacherib sent a letter threatening Jerusalem, King Hezekiah put on burlap, went up to the Temple, and spread the letter out on the floor for the Lord to consider. And God heard his prayer and defended him. What threat do you fear today? Have you brought it to the Lord? Spread your trouble out before God. Let Him handle it.
September 19, 2014
From Abraham’s time until that of Isaiah’s, the people of Israel had often looked to Egypt when they should have been looking to God. Trusting Egypt for help is a metaphor for trusting the world and human strength. Who are you trusting? Egypt or the Lord? Isaiah counsels us to look to the Lord!
September 17, 2014
Isaiah sought the Lord. As he lay his head down at night, he searched for God’s presence. When he awoke in the morning, he listened for God’s voice. Do you have this habit? Are your last words and thoughts at the end of the day for the Lord? Do you open your eyes looking for Him and listening for His voice? If you seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him (Jer. 29:13).
September 12, 2014
Isaiah prophesied God’s judgment of Israel and Judah. Yet, he also prophesied that though the tree would be chopped down, leaving only a stump, there would be a shoot that would grow from the old root. This shoot would grow into a “new Branch,” which is Christ, the Son of David, the Son of God. This “Branch” would become the “Banner of Salvation” to all the world (Isa. 11:10). He is the Branch that bears fruit. We are grafted into this tree by adoption. Believing into His Name we receive God’s salvation and receive the right to become God’s children.
September 11, 2014
Isaiah is filled with many words of judgment and destruction, yet it also overflows with future hope. Isaiah prophesies the overthrow of the Northern Kingdom, “the “land of Zebulun and Naphtali,” by the Assyrians. This prophesy concerning Israel came true during Isaiah’s lifetime. But the prophecy of the future “glory” that would fill the land of Galilee wouldn’t be fulfilled until 700 years later when Jesus of Nazareth walked the earth (Matt. 4:16). More Messianic prophecies are found in Isaiah than any other Old Testament book.