Isiaih 30

The thirtieth through thirty-second chapters refer probably to the summer of 714 B.C. Here are some significant events from this period.

722 BC: Israel is conquered by Assyrian king Sargon II.

720 BC: End of the Assyrian siege of Tyre.

717 BC: Assyrian king Sargon conquers the Hittites stronghold of Carchemish.

717 BC: Sargon II founds a new capital for Assyria at Khorsabad.

716 BC: Roman legend marks this as the date that Romulus ended his rule.

715 BC: Start of the reign of Roman King Numa Pompilius.

713 BC: Numa Pompilius reforms the Roman calendar.

706 BC: Spartan immigrants found Taras (Tarentum, in southern Italy.

705 BC: Sennacherib succeeds Sargon II as king of Assyria.

704 BC: Sennacherib moves the capital of Assyria to Nineveh.

701 BC: King Hezekiah of Judah, backed by Egypt, revolts against king Sennacherib of Assyria.

701 BC: Sennacherib sacks many cities, but fails in his attempt to take Jerusalem.

“Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the Lord, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine,    forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge. But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame, Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace.

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After what had happened to Israel, Tyre and the Hittites, Judah's ambassadors were now on their way to Egypt to seek aid against Assyria. Isaiah denounces this reliance on Egypt. God had prohibited such alliances with heathen nations, and it was a leading part of Jewish polity that they should be a separate people.

Men have always been prone to lean to their own understandings and Christians are no exception.  It is often the fault and folly of people of God that when troubled by their neighbours on one side, they seek support from those on the other side...instead of looking to God.

But, alternative salvation will only bring us shame and disgrace...

Look at our nation today. Why are we in such financial debt? Why are we so morally corrupt? Why have we lost our ethical compass? Is it because "we" have failed to maintain a heart for God? It's easy to blame "the government" but, the government is "us". This nation is comprised of you and me...times about 300 million.

Collectively, we're looking in all the wrong places...Wall Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, and Madison Avenue. This is what God says...“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it."

Yet, God is gracious and compassionate. How gracious He will be when [we] cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer [us]. But, you know, it has to begin with us. We can't wait for somebody else to start things rolling.

Live boldly out there today...

Isaiah 29

This chapter opens the series of prophecies as to the invasion of Judah under Sennacherib, and its deliverance.

“These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”

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I worked with a chaplain who was good at building programs. He was creative and energetic. He built an impressive marriage workshop program but...once the framework was built he moved on to something else. He wasn't interested in the actual hard work of running the program. The workshop looked great on paper but it was empty.

It died from lack of attention...

The chapter opens with a complaint against Ariel. Ariel means "Lion of God," that is, city rendered by God invincible. we understand Ariel to be the city of Jerusalem.
God complains that the people of Jerusalem go "year after year" cycling through their religious festivals...as thought it meant something. Yet, God says "I will besiege Ariel; she will mourn and lament, she will be to me like an altar hearth.  I will encamp against you on all sides; I will encircle you with towers and set up my siege works against you".
Why would God be so hard on people who love their religious traditions? Because it was all a hollow act. They recited the liturgies with their lips but their hearts weren't in it. They constructed an impressive system of feast, festivals and sacrifices...as though the motions meant something. In the end, it was a hollow shell.

The rituals had become nothing more that "it's what we do". Remember, the people were supposed to place their hands on the sacrifice and identify with the death...acknowledging they deserved to die but God...in His grace would accept a lamb instead. How many time do you suppose the people laid their hand on the head of that lamb and made no connection?

Reminds me of many 21st Century churches. How many people receive communion...take the Body and Blood...and  make no connection with the sacrifice, of Christ, for their sins?

But, God never disciplines without a purpose. In this case, He says "I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.” In other words..."you think you're so smart? I'll show you smart!" God will show himself in such amazing ways that Judah will bow in humility and acknowledge the Holy One of Jacob.

You know, they could have done that without the punishment...

Live boldly out there today...

Isaiah 28

The twenty-eighth through thirty-third chapters form almost one continuous prophecy concerning the destruction of Ephraim, the impiety and folly of Judah, the danger of their league with Egypt, the straits they would be reduced to by Assyria, from which Jehovah would deliver them on their turning to Him.

The twenty-eighth chapter refers to the time just before the sixth year of Hezekia's reign, the rest not very long before his fourteenth year. (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown)

“Watch closely. I’m laying a foundation in Zion, a solid granite foundation, squared and true. And this is the meaning of the stone: a trusting life won’t topple. I’ll make justice the measuring stick and righteousness the plumb line for the building."

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The Message reveals an embarrassing portrait of Ephraim: Pretentious drunks, shabby and washed out and seedy—Tipsy, sloppy-fat, beer-bellied parodies of a proud and handsome past.

Not really a resume builder...

More important, not something that God can tolerate. Isaiah say God has already picked out somebody to cut them down to size. Imagine this...being so bad that God intentionally goes out and finds a judge.

Think "American Sniper"...whose sole task was to kill Islamic terrorists.

And the results will be just as lethal. God's chosen judge will flatten them like a flash flood,
one-handed he’ll throw them to the ground. Samaria will disappear quicker than a piece of meat tossed to a dog!

Judah is next...and it's not much better. Though God's people should be filled with energy and wisdom to lead and guide others they aer described as "the priest and prophet stagger from drink,   weaving, falling-down drunks, Besotted with wine and whiskey, can’t see straight, can’t talk sense.
Every table is covered with vomit. They live in vomit."

So, I wonder...if we can't get to the truth from outside the church or (often) inside the church...how do we manage to build a life that honors God? Isaiah answers: A life of justice and righteousness can only be built upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. Education won't get us there. family ties will come up short. Money will never have enough value. Church affiliation, itself, is not sufficient. Rules and regulations are futile. Reputation can never measure up.

Think about this question: What is the foundation of my life? If it is anything other that Jesus Christ, God has already picked out my judge. I suspect, however, God could call him off if  necessary.

Live boldly out there today...

Isaiah 27

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.

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We fear the dark. We fear the Bogeyman. We fear the ghosts in the closet. Even when we're lying comfortably in our warm beds we fear. We're told none of them exist but we know better. We've seen them. We've battled them. We've been injured.

And...they're lurking around to battle us again...

The ghost may be divorce, or cancer, or sin. It doesn't matter...it scares us. The battles in our past cast an ominous shadow over our future. But the future is even worse. We know the outcome of past struggles but future battles might kill us.

In the day of God's eternal city he will kill the ghosts forever. Everything we fear will by wiped away. Can we hang in there until then? I think so...

Live boldly out there today...