Category: Devotionals

Isaiah 56:3 RSV — Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely separate me from his people”; and let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”

Isaiah 56:7 RSV — these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

This chapter continues the theme of inclusion from 55. It is amazing to see this message hundreds of years before Jesus stretches his ministry out to the wide world.

Here is also a damning condemnation of what Israel has become:

The door is opened to all believers and the earthly hierarchy is smashed.

Isaiah 9:2 RSV — The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.

Delaware got cold today. In many ways, it is a land of deep darkness.

Today I feel the hope and anticipation of Christ’s birth and victory over death.

Luke 4:18-21 RSV — “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Isaiah 54:13-14 RSV — All your sons shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the prosperity of your sons. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.

Immediately following the suffering of the Messiah, God tells his people how they will be healed.

Isaiah 52:14 RSV — As many were astonished at him–his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men–

Isaiah 53:2 RSV — For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.

Revelation 5:6 RSV — And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth;

Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12 remarkably predicts the coming and suffering of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 52:13 RSV — Behold, my servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.

Crucifixion didn’t exist at the writing. This phrase must have been a mystery to Isaiah. Jewish texts will ponder these verses for 700 years before Christ is born.

Depictions of Jesus always show us a healthy, strong man. But we are meant to worship the Jesus who was beaten into a horrid state before being hung on a cross and stabbed through with a spear.

That’s a dark vision of the Messiah.

I think that vision has kept me ready for the tragedies of life. Maybe not “ready,” but unsurprised at how dark reality can become.

1 Peter 1:10-13 RSV — The prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired about this salvation; they inquired what person or time was indicated by the Spirit of Christ within them when predicting the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things which have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. Therefore gird up your minds, be sober, set your hope fully upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

It’s comforting to know that the prophets couldn’t see the full consequences of their predictions.

I try to hold that humility while I study Scripture.