Readings for this week
Monday: Isaiah 25
Tuesday: Isaiah 26
Wednesday: Isaiah 27
Thursday: Isaiah 28
Friday: Isaiah 29
Saturday: Isaiah 30
Sunday: Isaiah 31
Tuesday: Isaiah 26
Wednesday: Isaiah 27
Thursday: Isaiah 28
Friday: Isaiah 29
Saturday: Isaiah 30
Sunday: Isaiah 31
Introduction to Isaiah 25-31
Chapters 25-27
Within the section of the book known as “Isaiah’s Apocalypse”, he offers praise to the LORD:
a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and the finest of wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace
from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.”
Isaiah then offers up to God another song of praise.
“Lord, they came to you in their distress;
when you disciplined them,
they could barely whisper a prayer.
As a pregnant woman about to give birth
writhes and cries out in her pain,
so were we in your presence, Lord.
We were with child, we writhed in labor,
but we gave birth to wind.
We have not brought salvation to the earth,
and the people of the world have not come to life.”
when you disciplined them,
they could barely whisper a prayer.
As a pregnant woman about to give birth
writhes and cries out in her pain,
so were we in your presence, Lord.
We were with child, we writhed in labor,
but we gave birth to wind.
We have not brought salvation to the earth,
and the people of the world have not come to life.”
“But your dead will live, Lord;
their bodies will rise—
let those who dwell in the dust
wake up and shout for joy—
your dew is like the dew of the morning;
the earth will give birth to her dead.”
their bodies will rise—
let those who dwell in the dust
wake up and shout for joy—
your dew is like the dew of the morning;
the earth will give birth to her dead.”
Isaiah then speaks about the deliverance of Israel.
“In that day, the Lord will punish with his sword—
his fierce, great and powerful sword—
Leviathan the gliding serpent,
Leviathan the coiling serpent;
he will slay the monster of the sea.”
“In days to come Jacob will take root,
Israel will bud and blossom
and fill all the world with fruit.”
Israel will bud and blossom
and fill all the world with fruit.”
Chapters 28-31
The book then contains six “woe oracles.”
First Woe Oracle: Against Ephraim
The name Ephraim here represents the northern kingdom of Israel. Isaiah denounced Ephraim’s pride and arrogance. God vowed to bring justice and righteousness to the land through his “tested cornerstone.”
Second Woe Oracle: Against Ariel
The name Ariel here represents the city of Jerusalem. “Ariel” seems to mean “hearth of God.” The people of Jerusalem spoke as if they knew God, but they had hardened their hearts from following Him.
Third Woe Oracle: Against the Obstinate Children
“They say to the seers,
‘See no more visions!’
and to the prophets,
‘Give us no more visions of what is right!
Tell us pleasant things,
prophesy illusions.
Leave this way,
get off this path,
and stop confronting us
with the Holy One of Israel!’”
‘See no more visions!’
and to the prophets,
‘Give us no more visions of what is right!
Tell us pleasant things,
prophesy illusions.
Leave this way,
get off this path,
and stop confronting us
with the Holy One of Israel!’”
Fourth Woe Oracle: Against Those Who Rely on Egypt
Isaiah condemned Judah’s attempt at foreign alliances. These foreign treaties often included formally recognizing the other nation’s gods. Also, Egypt had developed a reputation of promising its allies assistance and then failing to provide it. The LORD would one day raise up a righteous king whose coming would renew society. Other leaders would follow his example and bring blessing to all the land.
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