Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Scripture:  Isaiah 2:6 (NIV):  "You have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob.  They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans."

Thought:  To me, our nation is guilty of the same failures of Israel:  leaders abandoning the masses to their own devices which are totally against God.

Question:  Do I prefer to "join hands" with unbelievers, or remain faithful to God?

God grieves over the deterioration of His people.  Here He charges the capitol city and province of Judah, (look at the context beginning in Isaiah 2:1), with the responsibility of failed leadership.  All the people have sunk down low and become ike their pagan neighbors by following Jerusalem's lead.  Divination and superstition are common replacements for God's truth and God's Word.  The abandonment of the masses of people by irresponsible leadership dismays God.  Abandonment is a kind of rejection.  The people deserve better leaders!  The human heart needs some kind of compass.  How ridiculous to abandon The Creator and trust intead in guessology and random chance.  But that is what Jerusalem and Israel have done.  We have done it, too!

The "Philistines" were Israel's arch enemy, yet here Israel has embraced the enemy's false "religion."  The "superstitions from the East" are competing with Jehovah's truth in Judah, the Promised Land.  Outside influences are encroaching and taking over.  Are we seeing this happen today?

Prayer:  Father, open my eyes to see exactly where my loyalties lie.  Please help me always to shun the false and cling to Your Truth--as revealed in Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 2:5 (NIV):  "Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD."

Thought:  To me, the world is largely blind to God's great invitations to "come" to His light.   How sad!

Question:  Am I walking in God's light?

What a wonderful invitation!  The nation of Israel finally called to enjoy the blanket of security God had wanted for them all along.  Why can't we live this way now?  God has so much He has wanted to give us all along.  What a happy experience to bask in God's light! 

This "light" dispels all traces of darkness.  Some of the "darknesses" I will be happy to see eliminated are:  1)  Politicians:  as sincere as they may want to be, they are helpless to achieve their idealistic goals.  Christ's promises ae guaranteed--man's are not.  2)  Economic greed:  capitalism or communism?  Neither are a good solution, nor anything in between, as long as man's sinful nature is involved.  Christ will bring real prosperity to all who trust in Him and are cleansed by Him.  3)  Religious argumentation:  can we count the number of differing religions, denominations, sects, groups and belief systems?  As long as man prefers the upper hand of control there will be ongoing conflict and disagreement.  But Christ transforms us from the inside out achieving a different kind of agreement--agreement and unity through the Holy Spirit while still enjoying the diversities within man that God created.  4)  Oppression, inequity, poverty:  history is full of accounts of "man's inhumanity to man."  Christ is the only One Who has the power to solve these issues.  He brings godly justice.  Vengeance properly administered belongs to Him.  

This "Millenial" picture leaves me all in goose bumps!  God is so good to bring us the ultimate "happy ending."  His "light" is indeed most beautiful!

Prayer:  God Almighty, thank You for Your wonderful light.  Thank You for inviting us into it.  Thank You that one day, under Christ's rule, we will live in it and then on, into eternity.  Thank You that Your light dispels every kind of darkness.  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 2:4 (NIV):  "He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.  They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore."

Thought:  To me, this famous verse has been desired by many for a very long time.  It is set with certainty; yet it is not taking place today.

Question:  Do I recognize that God is my supreme Judge?

This is so foreign to us today.  We simply do not function this way.  Though many of us may be passive and non-combatant, whole nations living with absolutely no need or sense of military agression is inconceivable.  God Himself will arbitrate between differences.  How?  I don't know, but it will be something to see!!

This millenial picture comprises part of the Christian's future hope.  Do I believe this peaceful day will come?  It seems quite logical to me that before this peaceful mind-set can occur in every nation of the world, God must first reaffirm His authority.  God will be a Judge "between the nations" when He is once again held in high regard.  Respect for God will be the result of global, cataclysmic upheaval first, then God Himself, through the rule of His Son, Christ, establishing His long-awaited peace.  This peace, God's peace, is a totally pervasive and transforming peace that results in a complete conversion from military power to Christ's "iron rule" power.  The conversion is so all-encompassing that instruments of war will become obsolete and will be replaced with tools of agriculture.  Christ as Judge will "settle disputes for many peoples"--what a comfort!  What a long-awaited justice Christ will bring!

The "program" for all this is recorded in certain books of the Bible, including Revelation, where Christ is clearly The One Who has received authority to rule.  Read about it!

Prayer:  Wise Father, thank You for delegating the responsibility of judgment to Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Thank You for Your peace--different entirely from a man-made kind.  Thank You for the anticipation of the Millenium and elimination of the ways of war.  Amen.

Scripture:  Isaiah 2:3 (NIV):  "Many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob.  He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.' "

Thought:  To me, there is today much resistance to God's ways.  God will have to do something drastic to re-awaken mankind.

Question:  Spiritually, am I teachable today?

It's hard to imagine such openess to the LORD.  This is what we lack today:  the desire to know God in order to live His way.

To me, God will have to do a great deal with mankind to revolutionize human thoughts and inner desires in order to fulfill this scripture.  Reading the book of Revelation opens up all that God must and will do to bring people to their knees in worship.  Then after God's wrath is poured out upon the wicked He will establish the Millenial Age, the Thousand Years of peace of which this verse speaks.  God is in control!  This verse seems to display renewed respect for God.  God is worth listening to now--worth hearing. 

After idolatry comes judgment.  During judgment the heart and will is re-shaped.  Peoples of all race and every nation will gather to worship.  Mankind as a whole, as it were, is purged, purified and re-established.  This is, in my opinion, why we can say that God's judgments are actually a merciful gift, a pure kindness to us.  God "will establish His Holy place."  Go for it, LORD!  Have Your way with us.

Prayer:  Lord, we can desire Your teachings today if we but come to You and seek You out.  Help me always to remain open to Your instruction.  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 2:2 (NIV):  "In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it."

Thought:  To me, a discussion of the promised Millenial Age does a great deal to bring hope and re-establish God's authority.

Question:  Do I "stream" to God's "temple" today?

Thank goodness God does what He wants in spite of us!  Though we are idolatrous, God will establish His holy place, and He will elevate it up above every other "high place" (idol hill).  I'm so happy that the last part is true--"all the nations will stream to it."  God deserves that recognition and worship.  What a wonderful day that will be when He gets it--finally!  

Are we in or near "the last days"?  Obviously we are not "in the last days" as described here because the LORD's temple has not been elevated higher than all others, neither are all the nations "streaming" to the God and Father, Jehovah.  To me, this is a forecast of the Millenial Age, that is, the era of peaceful rule by Christ over all the world, after His second coming.  

Prayer:  King of Kings, how I long to see You established as the One, True Ruler and worshipped by all the nations of the world!  I am glad this will happen with absolute certainty, as prophesied here in Isaiah.  Our true Father God will have the last word and the last worship.  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 2:1 (NIV):  "This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:"

Thought:  To me, all that happened to Israel is a recorded warning for us all.

Question:  Do I take God's Word to heart?

Isaiah could see and hear on a spiritual level because he loved God and longed to serve Him by listening to His voice and then recording those truths.  He was open to receive the leadings of the Holy Spirit in all he wrote.  He is credited as being the most beloved of the major prophets of Old Testament scripture. 

His writing here is directed at "Judah and Jerusalem", God's chosen people, yet these words, in their depth and spiritual inspiration, have transcended that era and have become applicable to every age.  To me, Isaiah's words are most appropriate for 21st century America.  We would do well to read, listen, learn and obey what we uncover in this incomparable book!

Prayer:  Father, thank You for inspiring Your scriptures through men like Isaiah.  Thank You for Your Holy Spirit's work upon men like him and upon our listening hearts today.  Help us to obey You!  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:31 (NIV):  "The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire."

Thought:  To me, mankind needs to determine that what it may value is actually worthless.

Question:  Do I idolize my work, my relationships, my money?

Considering the context, it appears that the idol-worshipper's choice becomes fuel for the judgmental fires of hell.  Matthew Henry, famous conservative Bible Commentator of the 1800's, stated that an unconfessed sinner becomes "combustible material" for the fires of Hell.  Just as we "chase rainbows" and pursue lusts with never a satisfying end, so hell is a place where lies are madly pursued, have been pursued since ancient history and for a very long time, yet bring no happy resolution.  The "fire" of this burns without quenching, forever consuming the inhabitants.  Pain forever, evil forever, disease forever, crying and sorrow forever, with no resolutions--no ending, just an everlasting "eating away" of the soul.  That is part of what hell is all about.  The fire of hell burns "with no one to quench the fire."  And how did the fire start?  The idolater was dry tinder and his "work", his choice to worship wrongly, the spark.  The two together ignited the fire.  At what point does fire ignite?  Apparently only when the idolater and his idol COME TOGETHER.  Separation is the key to "fire prevention."

The idol-maker may be "mighty" on earth and among others who encourage his wrong pursuits, but he will be brought to a swift end.  The conscience is correct to feel something is wrong when a person "stares" too long at an "idol."  Fire may have ignited.  Though an idol may seem to "call" to us, this call can immediately be extinguished by the blood of Jesus in prayer.  Why would anyone "play with matches" at all?!  Stop playing with fire....!

Prayer:  Lord God, encourage me to confess my idols.  Help me to subject them to the cleansing blood of Christ.  Thank You for commanding that we keep You in "first place" and help me to do so, Father.  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:30 (NIV):  "You will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without water."

Thought:  To me, we become just like the idols we may worship in the place of God; that is, just as inanimate as they are!

Question:  Do I possess the life of Christ and worship Christ's Father?

To choose an idol leads to death.  Oak trees are not immortal--gardens can die without water.  They look lovely for awhile, but their end is death.  Oaks may appear strong and gardens beautiful, but they fail in the end.  Our idols are just the same.

Psalm 115:4-8 describes the process of idolatry:  idols are 1)  made by man  2)  they are mute  3)  they are blind  4)  they are deaf  5)  they cannot smell or touch or move or speak, and, most importantly,  6)  those who make them and trust them become like them!  Notice here in Isaiah 1:30 how the word "like" is used twice.  

I, for one, want to make a better choice.  My prayer is that I will not tempt God by seeing how much I can listen to the attractiveness of the temptations of idolatry.  How long am I gazing at the "beautiful garden?"  How long am I admiring the "strong oak trees?"  Help me, oh God, to avert my eyes immediately!

If the "eye" of my soul is seeking to trust to something "strong" or like a "garden" and chooses to look only toward the things of this created world, there is a danger my soul may fall into idolatry.  Webster defines idolatry as:  "the worship of a physical object as a god."  Webster defines a "god" as "the supreme reality."  How ludicrous to hold in highest regard a created object as our "supreme" Being!  God is much higher than anything He has made.  He alone deserves all our "wonder."

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, You are Supreme!  You are above every created thing.  You are not of this world.  Help me to worship You appropriately, bowing in awesome amazement at Your Matchless Essence.  May no other compete for my worship of You.  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:29 (NIV):  "You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen."

Thought:  To me, the choices of western culture are less and less for God and more and more for self-pleasure and physical delight.

Question:  Have I ever been ashamed of my idolatry?

The "sacred oaks", to me, may refer to the groves of trees where idol worship began in these cultures.  Apparently they were drawn irresistably to this.  There, a fleshly, sexual activity began to take place in hiding out among the trees where they had gathered to honor gods of fertility.  The beauty of nature, as found in garden-like surroundings, began to also compete with worship of God in His Holy sanctuary.

Redemption out of such sin is not without hurt (chastisement) or shame.  In fact, the elements of shame and disgrace are very necessary to the process.  If we delight in sexual sin or enjoy the "lie" it promotes, we will, somewhere down the line, have to have an "adjustment."  That "adjustment" includes a phase of shame, as we finally see truth alongside this lie.  We blush with shameful realization at what we had accepted.  Who on earth would prefer oak trees and created gardens over the One True Living God Who made them?  But we do from time to time.  Who on earth would prefer a garden life and sexual exploits over and above life with God Almighty?  Lots of people!  Perhaps everyone at one time or other.  We are ever idol-prone.

God snaps us back to reality with His judgments.  This is not cruel--it is actually merciful.  Shame and disgrace in God's presence is totally logical given our gross misbehavior.

Prayer:  Lord of my heart, help me to be true to You.  If I am ever ashamed and/or disgraced by my choices, please show me the way to repent of it all.  Guide me back to You.  You are life and truth.  Amen. 

Scripture:  Isaiah 1:28 (NIV):  "But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the LORD will perish."

Thought:  To me, God is quite straightforward.  He does not mince words.  I for one am grateful for that, even though this kind of language is unpopular.

Question:  Have I forsaken the LORD?

There are always those who resist even the finest love from God.  Here God explains that they will "be broken" and "will perish".  God owns the power to break and destroy any of His creatures that turn against Him.

If the Great God of Love, Who created us and our world, is our only Source, we are indeed foolish to rebell against Him.  What could we possibly gain?  And in rebellion, what will we lose?  This verse clearly states that life itself will be lost.  To resist and cross God is to be broken and to perish.  To forsake God is to put your soul to death.

Prayer:  Father, I do not want to be on record as a rebel or unconfessing, unrepentant sinner!  I know You will forgive any sin, great or small, if I but let it go.  Help me always to do that.  Amen. 

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