July 9, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

Today you get the opportunity to begin reading the great prophecy of Isaiah.  You will find this is one of those books that you can spend days, weeks, and even months in rich meditation on its prophecies and words of comfort and warning, too.  May your heart be blessed as you read.

Isaiah 1 - God is never pleased with mere religion, especially if it is practiced by people who have no real desire to know Him or obey him.  Such is the case with Israel as God speaks through Isaiah.  God has had enough of their mere rituals and religious rites.  He really wants His people to "reason with Him" verse 18, and get their hearts right with Him.

Isaiah 2 - Very quickly Isaiah writes of a day in the future when Israel will have the joy of God's presence with them and then no more wars or conflicts will be fought!  Glorious day to come, and we're still anticipating it!  Isaiah changes his theme within a short few verses and calls for Israel to humble themselves before God that He alone would be exalted, verse 17.

Isaiah 3 - Israel had sunk to deplorable conditions.  No longer do righteous people rule, or judges call for justice.  Children not only disobey their parents, they have completely lost respect for their elders.  Women, verses 16-26, are noted for their flaunting their beauty but despising their God.  A judgment of disgrace is pronounced against them.

Isaiah 4 - But, praise God, the Branch (another name referring to Christ) will be manifested in Zion.  People will rejoice and Isaiah especially notes that God will wash away the filth of the daughters of Jerusalem verse 4, especially since He revealed their wickedness in the previous chapter.