365 Reflections

It's one thing to talk about the judgment of God coming upon His people. Its an entirely different manner when that judgment comes in the form of the worst kingdom imaginable.  Isaiah 13 opens with shocking language from God concerning the tool in His hand of judgment against Israel, the pagan idolatrous nation of Babylon. Isaiah 13:1–3 (ESV) The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. 2 On a bare hill raise a signal; cry aloud to them; wave the hand for them to enter the gates of the nobles. 3 I myself have commanded my consecrated ones, and have summoned my mighty men to execute my anger, my proudly exulting ones. Notice the word, "consecrated". The word is "qadash" in Hebrew which refers to set apart or "holy." It's used in Genesis 2:3 to refer to the Sabbath day as "holy." It refers to the firstborn of Israel in Exodus 13:2. All throughout the Law it refers to objects and people set apart for God's purposes. A

This is an important question. One that reveals a lot about who we are. Can we thank God for his anger? Many cannot. They see God's anger as an inconvenienct to the life they want to lead. They want a God who is only nice and kind and never places a demand upon them of faithful obedience. This sort of "god" is one of their own making - a nice thought, like a guardian angel or spiritual advisor. But this is NOT the God of heaven. He will not let His people act unrighteously without warning and punishment. The reason God's people can be thankful for His anger is that His anger is perfectly measured, just and most important - soul-saving! Finishing off the Isaiah 6-12 section, the prophet closes with a song of praise for God's judgment executed swiftly on the nation that disobeyed.  Isaiah 12:1 (ESV) You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. You CAN give God than

Isaiah swings back and forth from judgment and woe to hope and comfort in the coming Messiah. The end of Isaiah 10 is very dark.  God brings judgment through Assyria and demolishes the size of His chosen nation.  Isaiah 10:22–23 (ESV) For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. 23 For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in the midst of all the earth. God will bring a whip of discipline such as He formerly brought on their enemies.  Isaiah 10:26 (ESV) And the LORD of hosts will wield against them a whip, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. And his staff will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt. God brings judgment against the leaders who misled the people into idolatry and sin. Isaiah 10:33–34 (ESV) Behold, the Lord GOD of hosts will lop the boughs with terrifying power; the great in height will be hewn down, and the lofty will be

The sovereignty of God is one of the most profound mysteries we will ever encounter in the life of faith. That God reigns over all things, even the evil and deadly things, troubles every armchair theologian, as well as many serious scholars. You've wrestled with it as well. If you've ever wondered why evil exists if God is all good, you're actually asking about His sovereignty. If you wonder why bad things happen to good people, you've wrestled with His sovereignty. If you wonder how God can elect some to salvation and demand people respond in repentance for their sins, you've wrestled with His sovereignty.  And yet Biblical writers have absolutely no problem talking about God's sovereignty over the affairs of the world - even the affairs that trouble us. Consider the agent of God's judgment against Israel, the nation of Assyria. They decimated Syria and stood poised to bring trouble upon the Northern kingdom of Israel. Here's how Isaiah describes that n

Isaiah 9:1-2 (ESV) But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. The important thing to consider here in Isaiah 9 is that God makes a promise that the northern territories in Israel will be restored the light of God. This will happen when Christ arrives as the true light giving life to all men, establishes His ministry in Galilee, and spreads the good news throughout the region. In fact, Matthew will quote this line to refer to Jesus' inaugural mission: Matthew 4:15–16 (ESV) “The land

Isaiah 8 is a dark chapter of judgment. It comes between the glimmer of hope in chapter 7 and a reminder of that hope in chapter 9. This has already been found to be a pattern in this book. God comforts, warns, and comforts again. He will discipline His people strongly. But He will comfort them in the end.  Isaiah 8:5–8 (ESV) The LORD spoke to me again: 6 “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, 7 therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, 8 and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.” In a small group recently someone said very simply, "There is no such thing as bad news from God for even the seemingly bad things He says to us a

Having recalled Isaiah's calling in the Temple vision in chapter 6 we move back to the narrative of his mission. Now he has been commissioned by God to speak to a people who will not hear. Yet there are a few moments when they will feign religious observance. Isaiah 7 is one of those moments.  Isaiah 7:1–2 (ESV)  In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. 2 When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. What brings them to hear? They are surrounded by their enemies. Ahaz's heart is shaking and the people's heart is shaking and the nation looks defeated. Ahaz, we might remember is a wicked king. Notice what 2 Kings records about him.  2 Kings 16:2–4 (ESV) Ahaz was t