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Isaiah series

Isaiah & the 8th cent. BC Pandemic of Injustice

Posted: January 31, 2021

The Torah intimately connects justice and righteousness: If we don’t treat our fellow humans justly, our religion is a sham. In Isaiah’s time, God’s people are spiritually unhealthy—at an all-time… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 31

Posted: January 31, 2021

The Glory of the Lord We’ve covered a lot of territory—66 chapters of the Word of God (5.5% of the entire Bible), rich in content, metaphor, and power. As we… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 30

Posted: January 30, 2021

No Eye Has Seen, No Ear Has Heard… The people’s prayer, which began in chapter 63, continues… 64:7—The Jews request Yahweh to come in judgment / vindication. Touching the mountaintops alludes… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 29

Posted: January 29, 2021

Trampling Out the Grapes of Wrath Chapters 62-66 pick up a number of themes from the first few chapters of Isaiah. Try to listen out for them—see how many you can… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 28

Posted: January 28, 2021

Zion’s Day Dawns* In the previous reflection we saw that caring for the poor isn’t just an add-on to our Christian discipleship. (“… If you pour yourself out for the hungry… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 27

Posted: January 27, 2021

True Fasting, Wickedness, Justice & Judgment In Isaiah 56-57, there is a strong contrast between the unity of the Lord’s people (56:1-8) and division in the present community (56:9-57:21). Similarly,… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 26

Posted: January 26, 2021

A House of Prayer for All Nations 56:1-8—Justice and righteousness intimately connected. “Son of man” (v.2) is a Hebraic expression meaning mortal. No one is excluded, e.g. foreigners and eunuchs…. Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 25

Posted: January 25, 2021

Christ, New Jerusalem, Fresh Start We now come to the 4th Servant Song. But who exactly is the servant this time? It can’t be Israel. He appears to be a… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 24

Posted: January 24, 2021

Awake and Depart! We now enter a new section of Isaiah (chapters 49-55), where there is no Babylon or even mention of Cyrus. The servant figure becomes more prominent – three… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 23

Posted: January 23, 2021

Potter, Predator, Peace Context:  Cyrus has claimed to be divinely appointed by Yahweh to free the Jewish exiles, resettle Judah, rebuild the Jerusalem temple, and reign over his people. 45:9—The… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 22

Posted: January 22, 2021

The Servant of the Lord & a Pagan Messiah  42:1-8—Behold (= lo, in Middle English)—Look at this! This behold is part of a much longer series, and contrasts with my… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 21

Posted: January 21, 2021

Proclaiming the Good News Isaiah 40 leads off with the return from Babylonian captivity, as the Persians now rule. But why should an 8th-century narrative appear right before a 6th-century… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 20

Posted: January 20, 2021

Intimidation, Deliverance, Healing, Babylon Our next study covers territory also found in 2 Kings 18:13-20:21 and 2 Chronicles 32:1-33. Many names are familiar from previous chapters, like Hezekiah, Sennacherib, Shebna,… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 19

Posted: January 19, 2021

Although our Bible’s chapter numbers are more modern, the most famous Dead Sea Scroll, the great Isaiah scroll (over 7m long, or 24′), has a small break between our chapter 33… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 18

Posted: January 18, 2021

The Noble One Makes Noble Plans In Isaiah 30:11 we heard the words of God’s wayward people: “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things,… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 17

Posted: January 17, 2021

Stupor, Stone, Tongues, Hypocrites, & Easy Religion We have recently discussed many important themes, especially in the last reflection. One critical example is justice (“For you have been a stronghold to… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 16

Posted: January 16, 2021

The victory of Yahweh over foreign nations and invaders is depicted cosmically in chapter 24. Now the magnificent vision broadens, becoming even richer and deeper. 25:1-8—This is the language of… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 15

Posted: January 15, 2021

Tyre & the Cosmos In the last reflection we saw Isaiah in anguish—over Babylon and over Judah. He reminds us of the apostle Paul, and especially of Jesus—men who truly cared… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 14

Posted: January 14, 2021

Isaiah in Anguish 21:1-5—Dramatic language refers to the fall of Babylon, as Elam, Media, and Persia unite in the attack. The Negeb (Negev) is the southern desert of Israel. In… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 13

Posted: January 13, 2021

African Drama: The Naked & Barefoot Prophet 17:1-3—Damascus is the principal fortified town in Syria. Background: the Syro-Ephraimite crisis of 735-732 BC—hence the prophecy against Syria and Israel. The setting is Jerusalem—who… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 12

Posted: January 12, 2021

Moab is Undone, God Weeps Reviewing the last talk (“Babylon & Judgment Day”): The judgment on ancient Babylon, like all divine judgments, resembles the ultimate event—Judgment Day. There are connections,… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 11

Posted: January 11, 2021

Babylon & Judgment Day In our reflection “Rod, Axe, Fire, Shoot, Signal, Sing,” we saw that Assyria was to be judged. “Punishment for the Punisher” is a good title for… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 10

Posted: January 10, 2021

Rod, Axe, Fire, Shoot, Signal, Sing Background: Doom for Judah & Jerusalem, then for Israel. (Why both kingdoms? Because Isaiah preached in the final years leading up to the destruction… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 9

Posted: January 9, 2021

Unto Us a Child is Born “This is one of the best known messianic prophecies in the Old Testament and, in its present context, it stands as the impressive climax… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 8

Posted: January 8, 2021

Faith or Fear? Usual human fears include fear of heights, drowning, germs, public speaking, and death. But in Isaiah the common fear (which we see in chapters 7-8) is political fear—fear… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 7

Posted: January 7, 2021

“Here Am I, Send Me!” Chapters 1-5 = Introduction. The next section, 6-12, begins with the cleansing of a single sinner, and end with the song of a redeemed community. Isaiah… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 6

Posted: January 6, 2021

Vineyard, Woe, Invasion Chapter 5 falls into three sections: a parable, woes, and an announcement of coming judgment. PARABLE Vs. 1-7—Here we find a short “love song.” God loves his… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 5

Posted: January 5, 2021

Purified by Fire Looking back on the previous units in the series, we have seen how society destabilizes and eventually collapses in the absence of righteous leadership, and when God’s… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 4

Posted: January 4, 2021

The Crisis of Leadership & the Collapse of Society vs. 1-2—Removal of food and water (siege conditions, leading to the full of the north, with its capital city Samaria, in… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 3

Posted: January 3, 2021

The Mountain of the Lord & the Holes of the Ground On v.1—Let’s keep focused: every verse in the Bible has a context – it is written by someone for someone… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 2

Posted: January 2, 2021

Two Cities, Unquenchable Fire, Glorious Future Review (from reflection 1): Sin is serious. In particular, idolatry and social injustice two sides of a coin. God punishes his OT people through foreign invaders. But there… Read More

Isaiah: Judgment & Justice—Reflection 1

Posted: January 1, 2021

Come Now, Let Us Reason Together Images of the Messiah: Glorious King (chapters 1-37), Suffering Servant (38-55), and Coming Conqueror (56-66). Contrast with Israel’s inglorious, self-centered, and (ineffectual) monarchs. v.1—vision (see Num 12:6-8). Judah and… Read More