Isaiah 33
Scripture
Isaiah 33:5
The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high;
he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness.
Observation – What does it say?
In light of the darkness around them, people destroying and betraying one another, Isaiah calls upon God. And, he knew God would be faithful to answer. He is God, there is no other above him, and where he chooses to carry out his will he will do so completely. There is no force in the universe, human or spiritual, that can oppose him or frustrate his plan.
Understanding – What does it mean?
God is not content with a little influence, a little justice or a little righteousness. He FILLS. And if a place or heart is FULL of his justice and righteousness, there is no room for anything else!
Life Application
Ask God to fill the earth with everything he is.
Isaiah 32
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Scripture
Isaiah 32:1-2
1See, a king will reign in righteousness
and rulers will rule with justice.
2 Each one will be like a shelter from the wind
and a refuge from the storm,
like streams of water in the desert
and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.
Observation – What does it say?
Isaiah prophesies of a good king, ultimately referring to the coming Christ, and others in places of leadership who will bring about incredible transformation in the lives of the people. Because they will seek to do what is right before God and to bring justice, they will be like streams of water in the desert causing life to come to people and things to be set right.
Understanding – What does it mean?
Although this is about a good king and just rulers, the principle carries over to the church today. The invitation to step up and lead and to make a difference is extended to everyone who chooses to follow Jesus. As a matter of fact, that desire to be used by God to change the world gets written into the spiritual DNA of each person who chooses to follow him. Those who choose to say yes to that invitation, those who choose to lay their lives down to serve others, those who seek to love others with the love of Christ, those who seek to do right before God and others, will be like streams of water in the desert that bring life and refreshing to people wherever they go.
Wherever we ‘flow’ throughout the week – work, home, running errands, etc – we are called to bring life and refreshing to everyone we come into contact with. Rather than complaining that the desert is dry, that the culture is ungodly and gossiping about people’s imperfections, we need to remember that is the very reason God has placed us in those situations and in those people’s lives! We are there to bring the opposite spirit; to usher in the presence of God and to bring change!
Life Application
God, thank you for placing us each around people that need refreshing and to taste of your goodness and love. Help us to live on purpose today, to recognize the dry situations you’ve placed us in and what it looks like for us to bring your refreshing and life there. Amen.
Isaiah 31
Scripture
Isaiah 31:4-5
4 This is what the Lord says to me:
“As a lion growls,
a great lion over its prey—
and though a whole band of shepherds
is called together against it,
it is not frightened by their shouts
or disturbed by their clamor—
so the Lord Almighty will come down
to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights.
5 Like birds hovering overhead,
the Lord Almighty will shield Jerusalem;
he will shield it and deliver it,
he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.”
Observation – What does it say?
God is frustrated with Israel because they looked to the people of Egypt for help against their enemy, Assyria. Rather than looking to God, who has infinite power and strength and commands the armies of angels, they looked to mere mortals who cannot even protect themselves… not very wise.
Yet, because of his great love for his people, God
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Isaiah 30
Scripture
Isaiah 30:22
Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!”
Observation – What does it say?
In the midst of God punishing his rebellious children, he longed to be gracious to them and show them compassion (verse 18). And so, after the time of experiencing the wrath of God the prophet speaks of a time when God’s people would experience his tenderness and grace. In this time God will be there when they cry out to him, he will answer them immediately, he will open their eyes to see him and will direct every one of their steps.
In response to experiencing the incredible love and grace of God, verse 22 says the people will toss the idols and things they treasured like the most repulsive garbage.
Understanding – What does it mean?
When you experience the love and grace of God, everything else you valued pales in comparison and He becomes the sole object of your pursuit, desire and worship.
We’ve all had those friends we were close to until they found a boyfriend or girlfriend. Suddenly they disappeared. They became so obsessed with their new relationship that they didn’t seem to care at all about anything they used to value, even their relationship with us.
It sounds a bit like Paul describing his priority shift after experiencing God:
Philippians 3:7-8
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ…
Life Application
Take a moment to honestly reflect. Looking at how I spend my time and money, what are the things I’ve been valuing that need to be discarded? What needs to take a back seat so I can go after God?
Abstain from the acceptable to gain the unattainable.
Trash the useless idols so you can make room for the one true, living God!
God, thank you for your incredible love and mercy that you have lavished on me! Nothing compares to knowing you. I choose to go after you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength! Forgive me for wasting time watching tv or on my phone when I could be enjoying your presence and relationship with you! I choose to say no to those things and to choose you instead today. Amen.
Isaiah 29
Scripture
Isaiah 29:13
The Lord says:
“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Observation – What does it say?
Isaiah, prophesying about Israel’s future, tells of a time that the Lord will make a declaration about the prophets, the learned and the teachers of his people. He will say that they are essentially hypocrites, play actors.
Understanding – What does it mean?
Hundreds of years after Isaiah penned it, Jesus
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Isaiah 28
Scripture
Isaiah 28:11b-13a
God will speak to this people,
12 to whom he said,
“This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;
and, “This is the place of repose”—
but they would not listen.
13 So then, the word of the Lord to them will become:
Do this, do that…
Observation – What does it say?
God offers the same rest to people today, rest that only comes through
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Isaiah 27
Scripture
Isaiah 27:2b-3a
2 “Sing about a fruitful vineyard:
3 I, the Lord, watch over it;
I water it continually.
Observation – What does it say?
The vineyard represents all those who believe in the Lord, including the people of Israel and the church today. Speaking about his vineyard, God declares that he personally looks after it and waters it without ceasing.
Understanding – What does it mean?
What struck me in reading this today was the
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Isaiah 26
Scripture
Isaiah 26:3
You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Observation – What does it say?
Isaiah is prophesying about a declaration the people who live in the land of Judah will make. From experience they will say that it is possible to experience perfect peace. It comes from God, to those whose thoughts are fixed on him, because they trust him.
Understanding – What does it mean?
According to the YouVersion Bible app (used by millions of people all around the world), the most highlighted verse in all of the Bible is
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Isaiah 25
Scripture
Isaiah 25:9
In that day they will say,
“Surely this is our God;
we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the Lord, we trusted in him;
let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
Observation – What does it say?
When Jesus comes again, all those who trusted in him will see him and rejoice in their salvation. The world will see that their trusting was not in vain and that God is indeed faithful and did come to save them as he promised he would.
Understanding – What does it mean?
Some versions translate that word trusted as waited. The picture I imagine is of meeting
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Isaiah 24
Scripture
Isaiah 24:23
The moon will be dismayed,
the sun ashamed;
for the Lord Almighty will reign
on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
and before its elders—with great glory.
Observation – What does it say?
Isaiah prophesied about the Lord’s second coming, a time when anything previously exalted will be humbled and God will take center stage for all the earth to behold his glory. I love The Voice Translation of this verse:
A shadow of shame will settle over the full moon and bright sun,
and their brilliance will begin to fade;
for the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies,
Will rule from His chosen place on earth—Mount Zion in Jerusalem,
and His glory will shine out with brilliance for the elders to see.
Understanding – What does it mean?
We know that Jesus is coming back to judge the earth, that the wicked will be condemned and those who have believed in Jesus will be rewarded. On that day we will literally see
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