Category: Devotionals

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Isaiah 66: The Final Chapter

Isaiah 66:3-4 RSV — “He who slaughters an ox is like him who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like him who breaks a dog’s neck; he who presents a cereal offering, like him who offers swine’s blood; he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like him who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations; I also will choose affliction for them, and bring their fears upon them; because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I did not delight.”

We create our own hell. Or rather, God afflicts us with our own delusions.

It’s a powerful observation of the way in which God’s Creation operates.

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Isaiah 65: New Heavens and New Earth

Isaiah 65:17-25 RSV — “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their children with them. Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, says the LORD.”

The commentary is all over the place with these verses.

I don’t know how to think about the new heavens and new earth. I love the idea of a physical restoration of Eden, but many seem to see these lines as a symbolic time that we are already approaching (or living?).

However one decides to see the particulars, I do see God’s promise of a new life in Him. I believe this promise is physical, spiritual, and mental…a complete, and eternal life. Jesus has already defeated Death. Everlasting Life is found in Him.

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Isaiah 64: No Other God

Isaiah 64:4 RSV — From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides thee, who works for those who wait for him.

It’s not the focus of this chapter, but this verse speaks to an intuition I have carried for a long time. There is one God. We all have different names and faces and ideas of what He is, but that doesn’t change His nature.

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Isaiah 63: He was Afflicted

Isaiah 63:9-10 RSV — In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and grieved his holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.

I appreciate David Guzik’s commentary on these verses.

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Isaiah 62: For Zion’s Sake

Isaiah 62:1 RSV — For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.

Zephaniah 3:17: The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

Ephesians 3:18-19 RSV — may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God.

God’s promise is everlasting love.

I am thoroughly confused by the difference between Zion and Jerusalem. I have read that one represents a spiritual city and the other a material one, but sources disagree on which is which. I have also read that they were separate cities and Jerusalem expanded to include Zion.

Whatever that truth turns out to be, God plans on joining His believers as a bridegroom joins his bride.

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Isaiah 61: The Bridegroom

Isaiah 61:1-2 RSV — The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

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.”

As I prepare to get married, this next passage speaks to me:

Since getting engaged, I have felt a closer relationship with God. I didn’t expect this. I suppose part of my purpose in this life is to be a father AND a husband. I haven’t been sure about that for the last seven years, but this chapter of single-fatherhood is set to close.

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Sunday Strength

Psalm 59:16-17 KJV — But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

Isaiah 41:13-14 KJV — For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Philippians 4:13 KJV — I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Isaiah 40:28-29 KJV — Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

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Isaiah 60: No More Day and Night

Isaiah 59:20 RSV — “And he will come to Zion as Redeemer, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, says the LORD.

Isaiah 60:12 RSV — For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste.

Isaiah 60:18-20 RSV — Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.

I dream of a time when we are all gathered on a new Earth, in a glorified Zion. There is no more darkness, the sky is filled with the light of the moon and stars and sun.

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Isaiah 59: Poetry for the Damned

Isaiah 59:5-6 RSV — They hatch adders’ eggs, they weave the spider’s web; he who eats their eggs dies, and from one which is crushed a viper is hatched. Their webs will not serve as clothing; men will not cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands.

When we sin, the fruit of our labor is rotten. No one can eat it. When there is enough sin, no one eats, no one is clothed, and we are not safe from the dangers of nature.

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Isaiah 58: The Spirit at Work in the World

Matthew 23:23 KJV — Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Isaiah 58:9-10 RSV — Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. “If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

We are the instruments for the Holy Spirit’s work in the world. We must be open to serving our fellow man and lifting their burdens.

As I find my path more clearly, the opportunities to help others multiply. Yet, it never seems like enough.