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Isaiah 20-21: Be Naked

Isaiah 20:2-3 KJV — At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;

Isaiah protested the unwise alliances Judah was forming by walking around the royal court in (depending on the interpretation) little to no clothing for three years.

He did this at God’s behest.

One sermon (perhaps Jon Courson on the Blue Letter Bible app) recommended a metaphorical lesson in living out loud as a follower of Christ.

I see this as a call to share these posts in more places and to renew my dedication to sharing the Word.

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Isaiah 19: Egypt

Isaiah 19:20 KJV — And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

Near the end of Isaiah’s life, his prophecy of the destruction of Egypt became reality.

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Isaiah 18: In Our Ignorance

I’m moving on from Isaiah 18. I’ve read and listened to nearly half a dozen commentaries and none of them agree on what is going on in this chapter.

I haven’t seen this much variety of interpretation before and it is fascinating. However unsatisfying it is, I will have to become more comfortable in my ignorance.

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Isaiah 18: The Burden of Ethiopia

Isaiah 18:7 KJV — In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.

In a dense book, this is a particularly challenging chapter.

Commentaries disagree on most every verse in this short prophecy, even to which Ethiopia might be referenced (their was an African empire and an Arabian nation of that name).

I’m at a personal impasse and it seems I’m running into a similar problem with Scripture.

I’m going to take another day to research this chapter and pray to post more insights tomorrow.

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Isaiah 17

Isaiah 17:7 KJV — At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.

Damascus is one of the world’s oldest cities and has never been destroyed. In Chapter 17, Isaiah foretells its obliteration.

When that day comes, the people there will have nothing idol left to worship. They will have only God.

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Isaiah 15-16: The Destruction of Moab

Jeremiah 48 serves as a companion reading.

Jeremiah 48:11-12 KJV — Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.

Isaiah 16:6 KJV — We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.

The dregs that settle in wine will ruin it. This passage describes a necessary process of pouring oneself out and leaving behind what is impure.

It takes humility to recognize one’s flaws and to be spritually reborn.

This process can only occur in truth. Our lies are our dregs and we need to extract ourselves from them.

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Isaiah 13-14: Babylon

Revelation 17:13-14 KJV — These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Chuck Missler gave me a lot of homework for this reading (see the Blue Letter Bible app): Isaiah 13-14, Jeremiah 59-51, and Revelation 17-18.

Revelation 18:7 KJV — How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Revelation is a challenging book to understand, but this character of Babylon speaks deeply to me.

She denies the inherent suffering of the world, lives in pride, and portends to be a monarch free of God’s command.

These temptations are ever present in widowhood. In our suffering we find great strength in ourselves. The key is to remember that all strength comes from God.

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Isaiah 11-12

Isaiah 12:2 KJV — Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

I’ve been feeling just strong enough. That’s a precarious place to occupy. I don’t ask God for strength as often as I should, but I regularly thank Him for the power He has graced me with.