Wow, it's been long enough for me to think that I had finished Isaiah 4 already... Again, I don't know why this seems to be so hard for me...
1: Seven women approaching one man, offering to provide their own living if they could be called by his name. Does this further indicate the lack of men as God carries out his plan? Again, has this happened, or is this more indication of events still to come? How does a woman taking a man's name remove disgrace? Perhaps it has something to do with society at the time - single women were looked down upon, right? Even if they were wealthy. Oh, didn't I hear somewhere that the wealth of single women could be taken away? If so, then this would mean that many women were looking to ensure their homes and families - but again, what does this have to do with disgrace?
Especially when we look at the rest of the chapter - "All who are left in Jerusalem will be called holy" So these women, seeking a man in groups, would be considered holy - so why are they running to have disgrace removed? Maybe there's a hinting that captors will be coming and stealing and raping women, so they're looking for protection? I feel like that may be quite a stretch, but this idea of running from disgrace is really difficult for me.
Maybe there is an indication of order in this chapter and the last chapter. Maybe God will chose to deal with the men first, punishing them for being poor leaders. Isaiah talks about God coming and cleansinig the women of Israel with a spirit of judgement and fire. Hmm, could this be an answer for my constant question? Ok, if God has dealt with the men, and there are still some that exist (God indicates that there will still be faithful ones in Jerusalem in verse 3), women could be running to the remaining few men looking for leadership to take them away from their sinful past, thus trying to remove their disgrace. Now, Isaiah seems to indicate that the women would then be judged next - in other places in scripture we see them being judged for their vanity, and that could extend here.
God then promises to rest with His people again, giving them the cloud of smoke during the day and the fire during the night, as it was when the Jews were leaving Egypt. It seems, though, that God is promising even more - a canopy over all of the glory (I can only guess that the reference is to the cloud and fire, but I could very easily be wrong) that would protect from storm and heat. Meaning that the world would still be experiencing these natural events, but jerusalem would be exempt; giving those living there the perfect experience. I wonder if this is an attempt at describing heaven, and if the storm and rain include the emotional and interpersonal problems we experience here on earth, with the heat including the fierce anger experienced between people.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Isaiah 3
Wow, I couldn't even do 3 consecutive days. Praise God for His forgiveness, mercy and grace that it's not my works (or reading) that allow me access to Him!
In any case, it seems as though Chapter 3 is a tough one to read individually. It seems as though it is completely talking about what God is going to do to his people. The first half seems to be His response to the first two chapters, where Isaiah describes some of Israel's sins agains him. What an incredible description of things to come - removing all food and water, warriors, judegs; all of the things a nation physically needs to survive. Perhaps as an attempt to show the nation that what they really need is God - once again, trying to remove Israel's dependance on themselves.
The description of everyone turning on everyone else seems mismatched to me with the next verse; if everyone's turning on each other, why are we asking our neighbor to be our leader? The only thing I can think of is that groups would form - young and old, those with honor and those without - and each group would be looking for leaders in their own ranks, though God had removed all possessions from everyone.
It seems as though God starts out by judging everyone for their sins in this chapter, but becomes more specific as the chapter goes on. First, an extra sentance is put out against the elders and leaders for leading the people astray. It should serve as a reminder to me as I become more involved in leading that I will still be accountable to someone, and ultimately to God, both at work and at home.
Next, the women of Israel are blamed and judged. It would seem that they were trying to be flirtatious and proud with too much vanity. God says he'll remove their signs of beauty - hair, jewelry, trinkets - in order to bring focus back to him. It makes me wonder who the ultimate punishment here is for. I can understand the shame of once being beautiful and having it all stripped away; now you've lost your point of pride. However, I know that men like to look at beautiful things. If God strips away the beauty of women, it seems as though he'd be punishing men as well - in essence punishing all of Israel in different ways. Again, maybe this is a reminder that beauty is not always what we see with our eyes, but that God should be our focus. Maybe these things aren't bad in and of themselves (beauty, leadership, etc), but God is reminding us that we need to be looking and praising in the right direction.
In any case, it seems as though Chapter 3 is a tough one to read individually. It seems as though it is completely talking about what God is going to do to his people. The first half seems to be His response to the first two chapters, where Isaiah describes some of Israel's sins agains him. What an incredible description of things to come - removing all food and water, warriors, judegs; all of the things a nation physically needs to survive. Perhaps as an attempt to show the nation that what they really need is God - once again, trying to remove Israel's dependance on themselves.
The description of everyone turning on everyone else seems mismatched to me with the next verse; if everyone's turning on each other, why are we asking our neighbor to be our leader? The only thing I can think of is that groups would form - young and old, those with honor and those without - and each group would be looking for leaders in their own ranks, though God had removed all possessions from everyone.
It seems as though God starts out by judging everyone for their sins in this chapter, but becomes more specific as the chapter goes on. First, an extra sentance is put out against the elders and leaders for leading the people astray. It should serve as a reminder to me as I become more involved in leading that I will still be accountable to someone, and ultimately to God, both at work and at home.
Next, the women of Israel are blamed and judged. It would seem that they were trying to be flirtatious and proud with too much vanity. God says he'll remove their signs of beauty - hair, jewelry, trinkets - in order to bring focus back to him. It makes me wonder who the ultimate punishment here is for. I can understand the shame of once being beautiful and having it all stripped away; now you've lost your point of pride. However, I know that men like to look at beautiful things. If God strips away the beauty of women, it seems as though he'd be punishing men as well - in essence punishing all of Israel in different ways. Again, maybe this is a reminder that beauty is not always what we see with our eyes, but that God should be our focus. Maybe these things aren't bad in and of themselves (beauty, leadership, etc), but God is reminding us that we need to be looking and praising in the right direction.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Isaiah 2
What is being referenced here? In the first half of the chapter, I can see references to the coming Messiah. Many people did come to Jerusalem and the mountain of the Lord's temple to hear, see, and exprience Jesus' ministry. He taught his ways, and many people followed and continue to follow in His path. He taught about peace and the ever-famous "turning of the other cheek". Isaiah references the end of wars and training of wars, which implies to me that there will be a time of existance after the time comes to pass that he's talking about. But if Isaiah is describing the messiah, and Christ claims to be the messiah, why do we still have nations fighting, people training for wars, and generally not have peace? Ok, so Isaiah starts this pasage by saying "In the last days", so maybe he's not talking about when Christ came 2000 years ago, but the second coming of Christ? But if that's the case, why would he talk about the law going out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem? My understanding of the Second Coming is that it marks the end of times - Christ will reign, Satan will be defeated and the Judgement will occur, separating faithful from faithless. Granted, in these times there will be no more war, only peace. But then why would the law have to go out any more? It would be fulfilled...right?
Verses 6-9 seem to kick off a section of pointing out some areas of sin - seemingly idolotry, to be exact. Even today these words hold true. At least Americans seem to have endless treasures; we're infused with superstitions and spirituality from the East; all of us have many horses (I mean, our cars are measured in horsepower....); people are focused on success in business and their accomplishments ("they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made"). But the warning is very clear: "Man will be brought low and mankind humbled - do not forgive them". I'm struggling with that last line - do not forgive them. Who shouldn't be forgiving who? Is this a request being given to God? As in, Isaiah's asking God not to forgive the idolotrous "house of Jacob"? Is Isaiah telling those faithful to God not to forgive those that have fallen away? In either case, it seems as though Jesus gives us opposite direction, as he asks God to forgive us, and tells us to forgive not only our friends, but our enemies as well.
One thing I notice in the last half of chapter 2 is the phrase "...from the dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty" since Isaiah uses this phrase 3 times, the last two of which also have another line at the end "when he rises to shake the earth." Now, I don't really know what this repetition means, but I have been told a few times to pay attention to repetition, since it usually holds significance. Any thoughts?
Otherwise, the last half of the chapter is continuing in the explanation of idols in the day of the Lord. Again, is this referencing the "end times", for which we are still waiting, or the time of Jesus, which has happened and we are now seeing a return to the idolotry and pride of men return?
I find it humbling to think that the Lord will cut everything down to size - the tall cedars of Lebanon, towering mountains, lofty towers and fortified walls. It also makes me realize that human pride is also incredibly huge - our pride is also compared to these incredible natural structures and large, heavy buildings that we have created.
How amazing will it be when everyone throws their idols - money, pride, you name it! - to the "rodents and the bats"? My concern is where we're running. Isaiah tells us that we're running to the caverns and crags from the dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.
Verses 6-9 seem to kick off a section of pointing out some areas of sin - seemingly idolotry, to be exact. Even today these words hold true. At least Americans seem to have endless treasures; we're infused with superstitions and spirituality from the East; all of us have many horses (I mean, our cars are measured in horsepower....); people are focused on success in business and their accomplishments ("they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made"). But the warning is very clear: "Man will be brought low and mankind humbled - do not forgive them". I'm struggling with that last line - do not forgive them. Who shouldn't be forgiving who? Is this a request being given to God? As in, Isaiah's asking God not to forgive the idolotrous "house of Jacob"? Is Isaiah telling those faithful to God not to forgive those that have fallen away? In either case, it seems as though Jesus gives us opposite direction, as he asks God to forgive us, and tells us to forgive not only our friends, but our enemies as well.
One thing I notice in the last half of chapter 2 is the phrase "...from the dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty" since Isaiah uses this phrase 3 times, the last two of which also have another line at the end "when he rises to shake the earth." Now, I don't really know what this repetition means, but I have been told a few times to pay attention to repetition, since it usually holds significance. Any thoughts?
Otherwise, the last half of the chapter is continuing in the explanation of idols in the day of the Lord. Again, is this referencing the "end times", for which we are still waiting, or the time of Jesus, which has happened and we are now seeing a return to the idolotry and pride of men return?
I find it humbling to think that the Lord will cut everything down to size - the tall cedars of Lebanon, towering mountains, lofty towers and fortified walls. It also makes me realize that human pride is also incredibly huge - our pride is also compared to these incredible natural structures and large, heavy buildings that we have created.
How amazing will it be when everyone throws their idols - money, pride, you name it! - to the "rodents and the bats"? My concern is where we're running. Isaiah tells us that we're running to the caverns and crags from the dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Isaiah 1
God's promises to Israel are reiterated in this chapter, though sometimes in focusing on the negative situation; in verses 5-6, he talks about the current state of the people being beaten and bruised, not cleansed and bandaged and soothed in oil.
Earlier, God comments on our stubbornness: "The ox knows his master, the donky his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand." I see this even now; my cats know that we feed them and take care of them, they even know when I feed them. But I rely on myself, not on God, to provide everything. I'll take credit for the paycheck, the job, everything; not realizing or wanting to believe that God is responsible for giving these things to me.
I like Isaiah's comments in v. 9: "Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah." Without God's mercy, all of Israel would have been wiped out. Sure, Sodom and Gomorrah were evil cities, that's clear. But Israel could not be held much higher as time passed, for as Isaiah says, "They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him." In doing so, they were well on their way to becoming like S&G. Even now, after Christ has come so that we can be forgiven, I will still turn my back often and have a hard time returning. Praise God that I'm able to return and be forgiven!
Though, it leads me to ponder something I've been struggling with for a few years now. How perminent is Christ's forgiveness? I've heard people comment that once you've turned to Christ and asked for forgiveness, you're forgiven and nothing can take that away. Ok, but what if you give it away? If you've confessed your sins to Christ and asked for forgiveness, and then continue to choose to sin (because after coming to Christ, we're not slaves to sin any longer), but do not ask for forgiveness before dying, are we still "saved" from our sin?
Anyway, back to the passage...
Earlier in time God had provided the Israelites a way of repentance - the sacrificial system. However, Isaiah makes it clear that the people were using the system rotely: "The multitude of your sacrifices -- what are they to me? I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and theh fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats." Does this mean the people should have stopped sacrificing? I don't think so. I think, however, that God is calling for people to start recognizing their sin before committing it, as well as offering sacrifices with meaning and purpose - if you make the sacrifice, remember it going forward and don't commit the sin again. Again, in v. 13: "Stop bringing meaningless offerings!" I hope that I remember this throughout the days and weeks; that I don't default to sin, ask for forgiveness, and then go right back into the sin.
"Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." (vv. 16b-17). Let this be a reminder to me to be on the lookout for doing right, not wrong. The Bible often talks about widows and orphans - I think I need to look into this and see an assumption that my wife should already be taken care of...by noone other than myself!
Praise God, though, for v. 18! (Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as whte as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.) The promise repeated through Christ that we can be restored and pure.
God's restoring nature is displayed throughout the rest of the chapter; comments about "purging the dross" and "removing the impurities" indicate that there will still be something left after God's wrath has subsided, something better and holier. "Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness. But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish." May I be genuinely hurt and remorseful for my sins, since I really don't want to perish!
Earlier, God comments on our stubbornness: "The ox knows his master, the donky his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand." I see this even now; my cats know that we feed them and take care of them, they even know when I feed them. But I rely on myself, not on God, to provide everything. I'll take credit for the paycheck, the job, everything; not realizing or wanting to believe that God is responsible for giving these things to me.
I like Isaiah's comments in v. 9: "Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah." Without God's mercy, all of Israel would have been wiped out. Sure, Sodom and Gomorrah were evil cities, that's clear. But Israel could not be held much higher as time passed, for as Isaiah says, "They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him." In doing so, they were well on their way to becoming like S&G. Even now, after Christ has come so that we can be forgiven, I will still turn my back often and have a hard time returning. Praise God that I'm able to return and be forgiven!
Though, it leads me to ponder something I've been struggling with for a few years now. How perminent is Christ's forgiveness? I've heard people comment that once you've turned to Christ and asked for forgiveness, you're forgiven and nothing can take that away. Ok, but what if you give it away? If you've confessed your sins to Christ and asked for forgiveness, and then continue to choose to sin (because after coming to Christ, we're not slaves to sin any longer), but do not ask for forgiveness before dying, are we still "saved" from our sin?
Anyway, back to the passage...
Earlier in time God had provided the Israelites a way of repentance - the sacrificial system. However, Isaiah makes it clear that the people were using the system rotely: "The multitude of your sacrifices -- what are they to me? I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and theh fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats." Does this mean the people should have stopped sacrificing? I don't think so. I think, however, that God is calling for people to start recognizing their sin before committing it, as well as offering sacrifices with meaning and purpose - if you make the sacrifice, remember it going forward and don't commit the sin again. Again, in v. 13: "Stop bringing meaningless offerings!" I hope that I remember this throughout the days and weeks; that I don't default to sin, ask for forgiveness, and then go right back into the sin.
"Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." (vv. 16b-17). Let this be a reminder to me to be on the lookout for doing right, not wrong. The Bible often talks about widows and orphans - I think I need to look into this and see an assumption that my wife should already be taken care of...by noone other than myself!
Praise God, though, for v. 18! (Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as whte as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.) The promise repeated through Christ that we can be restored and pure.
God's restoring nature is displayed throughout the rest of the chapter; comments about "purging the dross" and "removing the impurities" indicate that there will still be something left after God's wrath has subsided, something better and holier. "Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness. But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the Lord will perish." May I be genuinely hurt and remorseful for my sins, since I really don't want to perish!
Welcomes and Aplogoies
So, first of all, welcome. I don't plan on this being much, just my thoughts and reactions to reading the Bible. Since I've struggled in being consistant in reading, I figure I can make the whole world (or at least a person or two) hold me accountable - If you don't see a post, I didn't read. It's that simple.
Jess, I'm sorry; I know you don't like me using my computer in the morning; I just hope that the content contained here will help ease any fears...
Oh yeah. I'll leave comments on for posts - If you think I'm blatently wrong or have different insights, please feel free to post a comment. Let this be a discussion forum.
So, let's begin!
Jess, I'm sorry; I know you don't like me using my computer in the morning; I just hope that the content contained here will help ease any fears...
Oh yeah. I'll leave comments on for posts - If you think I'm blatently wrong or have different insights, please feel free to post a comment. Let this be a discussion forum.
So, let's begin!
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