As You Go

Summary

God judges the nations, beginning first with the heavens - a quick way of referring to the spiritual enemies that are behind the different nations waging war on God's people. Isaiah longs to see them removed completely. Edom is a nation focused on. They are a neighbouring nation to Israel that often waged war on them, even helping Babylon when they come to destroy Jerusalem 150 years after Isaiah's time. Such contentious and constant hatred of God is not forgotten. The destruction is total, describing the judgment using language from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah - cities who were defiant against God.

God

What God does here is confronting to us as Australians. He is devoting Edom to judgment. Total removal. However, we are not talking about nice, honest individuals. We are talking about armies that are dedicated to totally wiping out other nations themselves. Isaiah is watching a gruesome enemy like the Assyrians wipe out entire nations. The Edomites are equally committed to this bloodshed. God responds, not in the way the Assyrians and their gods demand. I think of the king of Assyria who declared: "I will leave a terror behind that the world will never forget." So God responds against such evil.

God is not a torturer like the kings of Assyria. He is swift and final. Once judgment happens on the gods, his work is to destroy the destroyer. We see that God's judgment is not eternal torment, but instant and final judgment. "The judgment that will never end" is a common phrased used from Genesis to Revelation to show the final and complete, irreversible judgment.

Earlier in Isaiah, God's judgment is described as a strange and unusual deed. Why? God is not willing that any should perish. Torture doesn't even cross his mind. His goal is simply to restore balance and return the world back to its original glory.

References to God using a book also imply not a vengeful and maniacal tendency in God, but one who is measured, he investigated and surveyed the land, and now he makes his move. Only coming in judgment because evil has become too much. God in doing this is careful and like the surgeon cutting out the disease - he is removing evil for the good of all creation.

Gospel

The end is of a land that has been restored to a time before humanity was in the picture. Only animals remain in the land. Why? They are not prone to the utter destruction humanity is. God takes charge and gives back the land to the innocent creatures.

The images of Isaiah 35 take us to the point of judgment - to bring new life. From start to finish, God wants us to be free of suffering and pain. It is good news that the end of the story will be filled with joy and gladness. We are jumping ahead to the best part of any story - when the good guys win. The parched ground will become springs of water. "Be strong and do not fear. God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you." (35:4)

Summary

How do you respond to the challenges you face every day? What about when you hear of bad things happening around the world? Isaiah invites us not to take matters into our own hands or to live in a state of fear and anxiety. When problems build up, we need to pray. The king is in charge, and prayer is us going to consult with the King. Isaiah jumps back and forth between the threats of Assyria and the assurance of God's power and inevitable victory.

God

In the first line of the prayer Isaiah turns to the mercy of God. (Vs 2) His prayer is filled with the trust and patience that comes from knowing God will respond. As we pray, we are beginning to readjust our thinking in line with God’s perspective.Patience produces a new perspective of our present circumstances.

 “Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble.” (Vs 2). When you’re feeling overwhelmed remember that God is your strength to endure each challenge. When we make declarations to God, our own heart is strengthened.

What do I think when the enemy seeks to bring me down? When I pray, I can boldly in faith claim this promise: “the enemy runs at the sound of your voice.” (Vs 3) Faith commitments are not merely internal beliefs, but public proclamations of trust.

What will shake others, will make the believer stronger. When we rely on God, we stand strong and are not swayed by circumstances.

Prayer will also produce integrity. When we dwell with the One who is holy, we reflect his character. They refuse to listen to those who plan evil because they are too busy listening to God who is good. Character is a big part of confidence.

Prayer doesn’t only change your circumstance, but your character.

Gospel

Prayer also helps us see the King in all his splendour. When we are sick and helpless, it is good news that God forgives. We will only rely on prayer if we first realise that Jesus is our Saviour. As prayers ascend, assurance of salvation, and of God's forgiveness fills us. Prayer comes from knowing that he will save us and will look after us.

Summary

From a desolate wasteland to a fertile field. A large harvest from pestilence and famine. How is it possible that God can bring life from the dead?

God

God’s weakest is still stronger than humanity’s greatest. Judah continues to go to Egypt. But God invites them to lift up battle flags to Him. God calls for us to trust in him. We don’t need a thing.

Gospel

The righteous king is coming - King Jesus. A realisation of our nothing, and God’s kingdom coming from Jesus calls for transformation. It also is significant that God aligns himself with the vulnerable and calls us to stand for the weak and disenfranchised. When God is working in our life, we live God’s plan in daily life. Not giving into sin and corruption - but living a righteous life. As we individually are transformed by the Spirit, and as this is repeated in the world around us, we experience revival.

Reflection

What does it look like for you to experience Eden today?

Summary

God shakes his head at Israel’s stubbornness. They keep going after Egypt for security against Assyria. “Egypt can’t help you. She’s a toothless monster.” (30:7)

Israel’s unwillingness to recognise God’s holiness has made her decay. Isaiah describes her as a wall that is cracking; decaying and about to fall. Defenceless because they have rejected God.

Like when Moses went to the mountain to appeal on Israel’s behalf, Isaiah does the same. “The Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.” (Isaiah 30:18)

The coming of God in the final section (30:27-33) is full of hope. The Assyrians with their warrior gods were knocking on their doors. Instead, God will fight for them. The evil king that burned so many cities will meet his match (v33).

God

God is patient, he wants to show mercy. God wants the best for you. God is inviting you to come to him even if it's been a long time or you've never gone to him before. God does not look for good, God looks for willing.

Gospel

It is good news that prayers are not based on whether I am good enough. We call on the name of Jesus in prayer because we trust in his goodness instead of our own. God is gracious. Any other god we pray to will demand high results - but with Jesus, no one is measured before they are heard. No one is evaluated before they are embraced. They are listened to and accepted.

Reflection

What might it mean for you to return and rest on God today?

Summary

God made a promise. He will keep it. Isaiah reminds us of the God who redeemed Abraham and who called him to fulfil the mission of being a blessing to the nations (vs 22). The promise still stands even if corruption has filled the house of Israel and the evil king of Assyria is laying waste to the nations. God promises that the enemies surrounding them will vanish like a dream - they may shake in fear now, but God will wake them and they will realise it was nothing.

God

God is the one guiding. Lumps of clay can be reformed. God is taking the time to remould Jerusalem. He is not the type to give up so quickly. As usual, the failures of Jerusalem do not determine the willingness of God to remain faithful.

Gospel

It is good news that God remembers his promises. God promised Abraham many children. This promise meant that God's family would one day spread across the entire world. God's kingdom would be universal. In Christ Jesus, the blessing of Abraham comes to the Gentiles (Gal. 3:14).

Summary

(Isaiah 28-33) Isaiah 28 returns to the theme of distrusting human powers, rulers, or nations. Because though it seems like a good idea to build an alliance with Egypt now, things will change. They need to rely on God who won't change on them even when things change. We have fast forwarded past the time of King Ahaz who was facing conflict from local neighbouring nations. Now the big threat of Assyria, which Isaiah was talking about all along, is finally here. 

(Part 1 - vs 1-15) Posture of the heart. Once again, God's people are not cooperating and the leaders are acting like drunken fools. Ephraim, north of Jerusalem, is being offered God's rest, but they want to do it their own way. Jerusalem is worse acting cynical and acting like nothing bad will ever happen to them. 

(Part 2 - vs 16-22) To the instability of the leaders and the current world they find themselves in, Isaiah's solution is God's setting up a sure foundation where he will establish justice. Then when the storms come and everything is washed away, those who put their trust in God will be only ones remaining (a little like the ark story).  God will not be rash - but will move at his pace. Something we, and Israel, are not always comfortable with. But if God is eternal, his pace will be longer, and bigger, than ours.

(Part 3 - vs 23-29) Isaiah concludes with a parable about a farmer who has wisdom about all things horticulture. He understands the process. He has a time and plan. There is a progression in farming from cultivating, to preparing, sowing, and then planting. The farmer knows what he is doing and will grow crops. God is wise, has a plan, and knows what he is doing.

God

God has a plan. 

God is wise. 

God can be trusted. 

God offers rest. God is not rushing. 

God rules and calls people to be built on his kingdom of justice and righteousness. This shows that God is not corrupt or crooked.

Gospel

It is good news that we can build our lives on a more stable and secure foundation. God has laid the foundation for us by giving us Jesus. Instead of us needing to build our own foundation, or to make something of ourselves, God has offered us security and certainty. God built the foundations. God gave his revelation. God gave his law. God showed his plan of salvation through the temple. But God kept his promises and made it possible by giving us His Son.

Reflection

What might it mean for you to trust in Jesus today?

Summary

Since Isaiah 24, we have seen the unfolding of God's response to the evil and sin of the world. God himself comes in judgment. This is a global and universal response. God deals with evil and sin, which removes the darkness and death. His ultimate goal is to deal with the wicked angels who have swayed the world into rebellion against God. This chapter shows the reversal concluding with the serpent being punished and killed. After this, the vision concludes with a gathering of all the world to worship. The nations in conflict currently, will then be united under God. From Assyria to Egypt, no longer doing evil things, but now gathering to a new garden of Eden planted on the Mountain of Jerusalem.

God

In Isaiah 5 we saw God prune the vineyard which grew wild. Now we see a new vineyard being planted. God himself gardens it and waters it. God plans for this garden to fully fruit and cover the entire earth with life. His original plan for humanity restored. We see the destructive nature of Assyria, we see the oppressive nature of Egypt, and in comparison, we see the gathering, creative, nurturing character of God. Where nations destroy, God creates. The serpent/leviathan is described as fleeing. It is weak, grovelling on the ground. God carries the sword of judgment to stop the serpent from inflicting any more pain.

Gospel

It is good news that this is the end goal of the universe. Jesus is coming soon. When he removes evil and sin from the universe, the world will be restored to its former glory. Evil and sin, the weeds of the universe, will be uprooted and a new garden will grow. John sees in vision "The tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." (Rev 22:2) No longer will anything cursed be there because God's throne will be established there. All nations come together in worship of God. This is what Isaiah saw too.

Summary

Whenever there is celebration, singing is bound to happen. This song comes at the end of a time of difficulty and trial. When God intervenes and brings judgment - things get better. The song is a reflection on the peace that comes with relying on God. With the coming of judgment is a time of restoration and renewal.

God

So far in this section which started in chapter 24 we have seen God judging the spiritual forces which were influencing the world toward evil. He has stood against the kings which have done evil in the world. God judges. This is the great stabilising balance in the universe. Without it, evil goes on forever. Knowing this creates 3 things in the believer’s life:

1. Peace. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you” (vs 3). As we trust in God he is our rock.

2. Purpose. The world is not senseless. There is accountability and there is a God who sees. He humbles the proud. He lifts up the oppressed.

3. Presence. God is present. Where God is, there is life. The evil that is done in this world is immediately reversed with the coming of the Creator God. Death is reversed and gives way to life.

Gospel

It is good news that God judges. It is good news that God judges in history. It is not put off til later. He now sits on his throne.

It is good news that God is coming again. It brings joy to the deflated and lifts them up. It brings life to the dead and raises them up. The book of revelation says that the everlasting good news is when God’s hour of judgment begins. John believes with Jesus it has already begun. All nations hear this message (like in Isaiah) and all are called to return to God. He sits now at the right hand of the Father in heaven.

Reflection

Summary

Have you ever felt like you were sinking and spiralling into darkness? Isaiah stood on the mountain that Jerusalem is built upon and beheld conflict on every side - Isaiah was spiralling. Yet something is pulling him out - a light breaking the darkness - he saw death being devoured - deleted from the universe. He saw darkness being dispelled. He saw tears wiped away. How can he honestly respond with stubborn and persistent hope in a hopeless time? 

God

“He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,  Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:8-9) The coming of God is always one that results in gladness and rejoicing. God is the Saviour. God is a healer. God is the comforter.

Gospel

It is good news that Jesus on that very mountain defeated death. He was nailed to the cross and laid in a tomb. Apparently, death swallowed up another righteous man. However, we see Jesus rising on the third day. This event is the indicator that Isaiah's hope is now a reality. Jesus took away the depressing cloud of doom and despair. He promises to wipe away every tear from our eyes. Imagine the moment when God's new creation is complete. Sin is no more. No more Satan. No more tears. Just peace and harmony. Which is by the way how the book of Revelation ends too. John saw what Isaiah saw too. What both were waiting for was when the rightful king sat on the throne again. When Jesus rules, everyone rejoices. Then all voices in the universe will be united in cheering: “This is our God! We trusted in him, and he saved us! This is the Lord, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!” (Isaiah 25:9).

Summary