Isaiah 10:5-34 (DB of 27/1/2018)

Key verse: 21

A REMNANT WILL RETURN

Through Isaiah, the Eternal God says that the Assyrian was his instrument in punishing the people. The central idea in Isaiah's book is the common sharing among the people. Even at this time, it was unclear who would be saved, but there would be a remnant. God's work always focuses on a remnant.

1. Misery for the Assyrian (5-15)

The Assyrian was God's rod of judgement over the people. It was his instrument of wrath. God used a foreign people and its powerful army to punish the impious Israel. However, the Assyrian didn't understand things that way. He said in his proud heart that all things had happened because of his own strength. All kings, including those of Syria and Samaria bowed before him. Now, he is going to invade Jerusalem, but when he said, "It is because of my strength and wisdom. . .", God suddenly attacked Assyria in order to humble it. Notice the use of the past tense. Isaiah already sees deliverance as something accomplished. Assyria had to learn that it was only an instrument of God. Alas! The proud never easily return to reason. 

2. A remnant will return (16-34)

There will be a radical change in the political situation. Zion had been levelled by Assyria; now it will rise again and become a powerful, consuming flame. Not all of the people will be saved, only those who repent will stay. Up to that moment, the people of Israel relied on falseness, they relied on what dazzled their eyes, idols and the works of their hands were worshipped. Now, through their repentance, they will seek God and rely on Him. Though only a remnant will be saved, the people will seem numerous as the sand. In light of this future, the people must at present rejoice instead of moaning. The day of deliverance is at hand, for the Lord of armies spoke of it. God is He who humbles the proud and lifts men up (33).

Isaiah 4 :2-6 (Daily Bread of 19/1/2018)

THE LORD'S SPROUT

Key verse 4:2

Isaiah's eyes turn once more towards the distant future wherein all the people of the Earth willcome to Zion (2:2). During the restauration of Israel the country will regain all of its honour and the people will rejoice and give thanks to God.

1. The Lord's sprout (2-3)  

In that day the Lord's sprout will rise up. This sprout is actually a prophetic symbol of Jesus Christ. He will come to restore humanity from its fall. God's mercy and love made Him send the Christ to us. In similar fashion God will restore His people because of He is merciful. However like a recurrent theme we can see that there is a line drawn amongst the people. It does not separate the Jew from the Gentile but rather those who will be obedient and those who will be rebellious. Those who remain faithful to God will receive His blessing as they will return to Him. God will be their objet of affection and to them He will be glorious and magnificent. They will bear many fruit.

2.God provides a shelter  (4-6)

During the period of captivity God's wind will blow. This breath of wind is the Holy Spirit aand He will create a new people. However, He will also destroy the wicked (4b). God will train His people so that they will be purified from their wicked ways. They once proud and vain girls will become pure virgins. It's by God's grace that this idolatrous people will become His holy people. The Chr C’est la grâce de Dieu que le peuple idolâtre devienne de nouveau le peuple saint. The Christ changes man into a new creature. In like fashion, the Lord will make a cloud of smoke for the night and one of fire for the day in order to lead His people back to their country. On their way back from their captivity they were afraid but they need not fear as God is He who guides us by these clouds of smoke and fire respectively. This reminds id of when God led the Israelites to the promise land in the desert. God, the one who is so glorious and once hidden, revealed Himself to be their guide and protection. He guides us night and day and He protects us from all evil like the broiling sun, storms or rainfall. Come and repent before Him. God will make you a glorious people.

Isaiah 6: 1-13 (Daily Bread of 23/1/2018)

ISAIAH'S CALLING

Key verse 6:1

After having urgently called his people to repent, Isaiah takes the time now to explain how he was called. In this vision the prophet's confession manifests itself (v.6) and he decrees the hardening of the Lord's heart towards His rebellious people. Through this vision we get to learn about God's unescapable holiness ; before His divine glory all knees bow down. He who repents is purified of his sin and new life will spring forth out of the beaten down tree trunk.

1. Holy, holy, holy is the LordIn the year that Ozias died, Isaiah had a vision. The Lord was sitting down on a throne held up high and His presence filled the temple. There were some Seraphins (this name means he who is made of fire) above His throne. His presence fully expressed His divine holiness. The angels shouted : Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God. Through the booming loud refrain, Isaiah learnt about the name and the power of God as well as the expanse and character of His dominion. The entire Earth was, not just Israel, was created by Him. The fact that the temple shook so violenty accompanied with the prophet's fear and the darkness that he felt reminds us of the episode on the Mount Sinai (Ex 19: 16-18). There was a feeling of imminent judgement in the air. The messanger with the fire and the coal represented everything but salvation. However, he was coming from the place where the sacrifices are offered and he was speaking about atonement. The coal signifies that a sacrifice was offered up to pay for the sinner's crimes and to save him from judgement. When it was put on Isaiah's life, this gave him a strong conviction of his own salvation and forgiveness.

2. Here I am, send me (8-13)

Isaiah's response was "here I am..."and this shows two things. First of all his response is far different from his preceeding hopelessness and the lukewarm responses of other prophets like Moses or Jeremiah for instance. His voice was then accepted by the celestial court (1R 22:19s). Verses 11-13 show us how the fear of judgement can make us grow. God shares Isaiah's ministry and understands its difficulty. Isaiah took assumed the mission of bombarding the people with the truth. However, Israel refused to accept this truth and chose to remain a sinner and thus the object of God's judgement. 

Isaiah 5:8-30 (daily bread of 22/01/18)

Key verse: 13

THAT'S WHY

In this text the wickedness of the people is written. It's because of this of that that God came to judge the nation. The judgment isn't without cause. God's judgment has obvious reasons. We must be humble to repent and receive his blessings.

God's punishment to Israel had several reasons. First, it was because of selfishness and materialism. Those things make lose awareness. The knowledge of God faded. Seing that, God gave a sentence: the land will not product enough fruits. The productivity of land will widely decrease. Indeed, even if the people accumulated housing wealth, finally God will judge the country and God will deport the people and the land will be devastated. God says that is above all because of their lack of knowledge (13).

The people seemed very intelligent. But they liked parties and strong drink, and from the morning. The obvious result is that their awareness was numb, and they lost the spiritual discernment because they didn't see God's hand in their life. Lack or lose knowledge is the bigger tragedy to mankind.

Then, Israel became arrogant and blasphemous tempting God through the oath: "go to judge us so that we see God". They were iniquitous completely loosing their former dignity as an elected people of God.

And then, they confused evil and good. Not only they confused it, but also they negatively influenced others with this reversed value system. They confused light and darkness and acted according to it. They were filled with owner righteousness (21). They were alcoholics and searched gain. That's why they will be consumed by fire. God's wrath will cause an exceptional invasion of enemies. The fundamental reason is written in verse 24b. They rejected the Eternal God's law and scorned the word of the Holy of Israel. The country is completely devastated and there were only darkness. Anguish gripped the inhabitants of the country (30).

Isaiah 3:1-4:1 (DB of 18/1/2018)

THE LORD ENTERS INTO JUDGEMENT WITH THE PEOPLE

key verse: 14a

This morning's word describes the anarchy in the kingdom of Judah, as well as the sentencing of Jerusalem's women. 

1. Do not make me leader (1-15)

The Eternal God judges the evil nation. He takes away the powerful men and the entire nation falls into anarchy. There will be material scarcity (1,7). The leaders, experts and war heros will be erased from the earth, causing severe lack in administration. Moreover, the mentality of the inhabitants will be so corrupted that no one will want to manage the country. People will turn to the youngest and least experienced to ask them to govern the country. But no one will accept. Respect will disappear such that youths will attack elders and the despised will attack the honorable. The inhabitants will be arrogant and impious (8). Their deeds will turn against them, but evil will not last long, for the Eternal God will enter into judgement with His people, especially the elders and leaders who abuse power in crushing the poor. 

2. The Lord will take away the finery (16-4:1)

In a land under anarchy, women and children will rule over the people (12). Women will lose their role as mothers of prayer for the country and will seek their own gain in a life brazenly luxurious. In spite of the nation's poverty, the daughters of Zion will become proud, without thinking of how to positively influence men. God will take away their finery in which the walked the streets of Jerusalem. Twenty-one items of finery will occupy the mind without defense. God will judge them and take away even the hair on their heads, making them bald. They will desperately seek a partner. Though this worldliness seems striking, each generation has known its own grave absurdities that fill all minds. The human glory represented by this finery contrasts greatly with the glory to come.

Isaiah 1:19-31(Daily Bread of 16/1/2018)

ZION WILL BE REDEEMED 

Key verse 1:27 

Isaiah continues talking about curses and blessings that will fall upon the people. We can see here hat God will judge His people but His motive is love. 

1. The town of decadence  (19-23)  

Like Moses had told the people before they entered into Canaan (the country from which milk and honey came), Isaiah said that there is a line that God draws between those who are obedient and those who are rebellious. Those who are obedient will get the best reward whereas those who rebellious will be punished. Be rebellious is the same as refusing to obey so it is a deliberate action. Thus one cannot avoid the consequence of this action under the pretext of a variation in situation.  . thTherefore Jerusalem which was once faithful city, will be transformed into a prostitute. There were once lived many just, will become a place wherein assassins roam. Practise injustice by oppressing the defenceless will become like eating bread. This people that was once like silver before God, will become no more than a desolate land without value. God will judge them and He will send fire upon them. Isaiah speaks about this at the beginning of his book in order to underline the reason behind God's judgement. 

2) Zion will be redeemed (24-31)

The fire is approaching and burning up. God uses the metaphor that He used in verse 22 to reflect the fervent love and mercy that accompanied His judgement. It is this love, the opposite of indifference, that will the people's infection amongst His people and His enemies. Thus the line of judgement that will distinguish those who live and those who die will pass through Zion. This line will not be drawn between Jews and Pagans but between those who will believe in God and be converted and those who will remain rebellious. For the rebellious, eternal fire is their reward and for the obedient, justice. They will be completely restored. The labyrinths and the gardens refer to man's strength and his organisational strategies which all appear to be very pretty and in which he places his trust. He trusts in the strength of mankind and in his marvellous work but this is very risky. There is a modern concept to be taken out of this warning and it is that man's capacities can contribute to his ruin. What really matters in a man's life is God's forgiveness which comes from His Son, Jesus.

Isaiah 2:1-22 (daily bread of 17/01/18)

THE PEOPLE CONVERGE IN ZION

What a stricking observation ! In the future Jerusalem will be renowned, whereas for now Jerusalem is violated. In front of this vision of future the people had to repent, that's why we read this words; "come back" (5).

1. The future Jérusalem (1-4)

Even if the nation was fundamentally guilty in this time, Isaiah wasn't fully desperate. He had God's vision that one day all the sitation will be changed. The city who was formerly named "holy city" will recover its name and the nations will not be longer mocking but it will fully respect the nation of Israel and its capital Jerusalem. God says that his mountain of Zion will be the uppermost among all the hills to light the nations. So the nations will say "let's go up to Jerusalem to be instruct". It will use by God as source of world peace. It's a wonderful mercy that in spite of the present ignominy of the people God restore it as the helm of the nations. It's only by God's mercy. We were sinners worthy of condemnation but God had high we as his holy people. Glory to God !

2. The present Jérusalem (5-22)

In front of this vision, the people had to repent. But the photo of the country was very terrible. The country was full of idols. The economy of the country was in the full opulence. However this opulence led the people to a incorrigible pride. But God isn't innocuous. God will not indefinitely tolerate evil of mankind. God will lower pride of manking and will bend their arrogance. All that is high and that make mankind pride will be lowered and destroyed. In this time, only the Eternal God will be high. Mankind has a lot things to boast. He must live with fear and trembling and see his works as nothing before God. The text repeats twice the fact to hide in the rocks and in dust, because God's judgment will be formidable (10, 19, 21). In this time, idolatry will be disappeared. It's all the human works in which we trust. This idolatry will be stopped because there is only a breath in the nostrils of a man.