You Can Read the Bible Guided Podcast

Our reading today picks up after yesterday’s warning to “stop regarding man, in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?”  For in the Day of the LORD, “mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold… to enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of cliffs, from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of His majesty.” 

In chapters 3 and 4 the LORD promises “…to enter into judgment with the elders and princes of His people…” Listen for the accusations He levels, and later, when again promising a day when the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, there will appear over Mount Zion a familiar sight: “a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of flaming fire by night.”

In the middle of chapter 5, Isaiah draws a critical distinction: “Man is humbled, and each one is brought low…But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows Himself holy in righteousness.”  Multiple times throughout these opening chapters, the LORD is not satisfied to refer to Himself simply by name, but insists that His right to judge is based upon a holiness and righteousness that man does not possess. 

This is crucial to the indictment against Israel.  The LORD Himself is the horizon against which Isaiah can declare, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil… who are wise in their own eyes.”   The LORD planted a vineyard and gave it everything it needed; what more was there to do for it?  Why did it not produce good grapes? 

The commissioning of Isaiah in chapter 6 occurs “In the year that King Uzziah died,” approximately 740 B.C.  It’s as majestic and terrifying as anything we witnessed with Moses and Aaron.  Seraphim calling to each other above the throne “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of Hosts!” …Isaiah’s terror at the vision, “Woe is me! For I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips!  …and his response to the LORD’s query, “Whom shall I send, and who shall go for us? …Here I am!  Send me!”

Our verse for this week is Romans 8:38-39: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah 3 through 6.  Now let’s read it!

The opening verse of Isaiah tells us immediately where we are in history:

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Brilliant.  First, we know where we are: Jerusalem, capital of Judah.  Occasional mention is made of the kings and kingdom of Israel, but politically Isaiah is working with the kings of Judah.  This is an important distinction.  While the LORD still treats all twelve tribes as His people, and Isaiah’s prophesies will often be directed toward all the descendants of Jacob, Isaiah is only able to interact directly with one throne. 

Second, we know when we are: the second half of the 8th century B.C.  To overlap all four of these kings, Isaiah would have begun his work near the end of Uzziah’s reign and completed it somewhere around 700 B.C., during the reign of Hezekiah. 

Likewise, in his opening oracle Isaiah lays out the LORD’s charges against Judah, answering why their land is being devoured. “What to Me is the multitude of your sacrifices… I have had enough of your burnt offerings… even though you make prayers, I will not listen… cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression, bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.

Way back in Deuteronomy we noted “a curious mixture of laws about economic justice intermixed with laws about idolatry…as though there might be some connection between the two.”  Interestingly, today’s two chapters deal with the same issues.  In chapter 1, God addresses injustice; in chapter 2, He confronts pride and idolatry.  Over five centuries later, Isaiah provides further confirmation that the LORD demands total worship.  

Between these, there is renewed hope: “In the latter days… the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of mountains… Out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”  But as always, this is not about Judah or Jerusalem or Israel being lifted up, for “the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.” 

Our verse for this week is Romans 8:38-39: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah 1 and 2.  Now let’s read it!

“Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened here in these days? …Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.  Moreover, some women of our company amazed us.  They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find His body, they came back saying that they had seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive…”

On the road to Emmaus, two of Jesus’ followers are incredulous that their new companion has no idea about Jesus…the trial…and the cross.  Luke’s gospel has been filled with mystery and intrigue, and he holds the veil tightly shut – as shut as the minds of the disciples – until the very end. 

The trial that Luke paints for us is a portrait of such confusion that it can lead to only one conclusion – the conclusion that Jesus’ followers had already determined – that Jesus was unjustly convicted.  Multiple parties – the chief priests, the Roman Governor, and even Herod, the ruler of Galilee – refuse to make a decision about Jesus.  Yet none of them are willing to defend Him either.  They all do just enough to distance themselves from any real responsibility, while allowing Jesus’ fate to be sealed. 

From the chief priest’s house, to the governor’s, to Herod’s Jerusalem residence, and back again, and finally, to execution.  The parties that have done combat over Jesus’ position and authority do so even now, at the foot of the cross.  Only the centurion has clarity. 

Yet we, like Jesus’ disciples, should have seen it all along.  “O foolish ones,” Jesus declares, “and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into glory?”

In the final chapter, all of Luke’s themes come rushing together.  The Holy Spirit.  Angels.  Power and mystery.  Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms.  Even the Sabbath.  “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” the angel asks.  “He is not here, but has risen.”

Our verse for this week is Romans 8:38-39: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Luke 23 and 24.  Now let’s read it! 

If you’ve been with us on this journey at You Can Read The Bible, you have just watched the nation that the LORD had created get swept away into exile, to Babylon.  The kingdom dismantled; Jerusalem in ruins; the Temple burned.  Yet at the end of 2 Kings, there was a glimmer of hope, as Judah’s king – David’s heir – is at least alive, and even elevated to some prominence in exile. 

Today we’ll take another break from the Old Testament and begin reading two Gospels: Matthew and Luke.  While many of the accounts that these authors present will overlap, they each have distinct purposes and a unique story to tell.  

Matthew’s gospel begins with Jesus’ genealogy, and for him the story of Jesus begins with Abraham.  If you’ve been reading along from the beginning, there are a lot of names you’ll recognize in the first two-thirds of this genealogy.  Except for those born in Egypt, you can almost trace the line from Genesis through 2 Kings.  There are shepherds, there are kings, and later, there are exiles. 

There are also women – four of them in fact – and none who had an easy life.  Tamar, who posed as a prostitute, and Rahab, who really was a prostitute.  Ruth, who clung to Naomi, and Bathsheba, who is identified not by name, but by her story. 

Keep these four names in the background as Matthew introduces Mary, though betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.  The author has already let us know that hers will not be an easy life either. 

The majority of real estate in these chapters, however, is devoted to Joseph.  Try to put aside what you already know about Jesus’ birth story and focus on what holds Matthew’s attention.  Today Joseph’s name is mentioned twice as often as Mary’s.  The genealogy flows through him.  In Matthew’s account, the angel appeared to him in a dream three times; never to Mary.  And Joseph’s fears drive the plot: fears about Mary’s pregnancy, of Herod, and of Herod’s son. 

Pay attention as always to how repetition reveals themes and as dialogue both pushes the story along and reveals character.  Notice that there are at least four direct references to prophecy in these two chapters.  And consider the purpose Matthew has in citing these prophecies: is it just his curiosity, or is he making a point? 

Our verse for this week is Isaiah 40:31: “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Matthew chapters 1 and 2.  Now let’s read it!