Isaiah has been called the fifth Gospel. Themes of divine grace subverting human rebellion, of heaven’s glorious light breaking into earth’s thickest darkness, of God’s wild hope overturning our utmost despair – of dead things coming to life and flourishing by the breath of God – soak Isaiah’s 66 chapters.
It all builds toward a crescendo of promise and warning.
Read More hope, banquet, invitation, life
Isaiah knows cows. He knows the habits of oxen and donkeys too. The ox, the emasculated version of an adult cow, knows its master and its stall.
From personal experience I know the truth of Isaiah’s words. I grew up on a farm and every one of our twenty milk cows knew exactly where their stall was. When the barn door opened, they all filed in and walked directly to their stall – their particular place – their assigned place.
Read More animal intelligence, cows, Isaiah, waywardnessIn today’s reading Isaiah continues with the LORD’s prophetic accusation of Jerusalem. The city has become unfaithful and turned away from God. But rather than rail against idolatry which was prevalent, Isaiah points to the injustice found within the city. Instead of administering justice the rulers chase after bribes and enrich only themselves. Widows and orphans never get a fair trial (Isaiah 1:23).
Read More repentance, selfishness, injustice, fairnessIf metaphorically the Book of Isaiah was a geographic landscape, it would be filled with peaks and valleys. In a single bound the prophet takes us from the valley of desolate gloom and severe judgment to the peak of God’s blessing and his loving embrace.
Today’s reading calls us to the mountain peak of God’s will – his vision for our future – for the future of the world.
Read More peace, Future, prophet, Mount ZionWhen was the last time you thought about idols or idolatry? Frankly it’s not something I think about often. Idols and idolatry are relics from another time and place, or are they?
In today’s reading, Isaiah rails against the idolatry of his people.
Read More Ten Commandments, idolatry, worship, idolsThere’s nothing pretty about war, defeat and captivity. And that is precisely what is being described in today’s reading. Isaiah is prophesying the LORD’s judgment on the southern Kingdom of Judah.
With stunning accuracy Isaiah’s words were fulfilled.
Read More judgment, compassion, attitude, the poorAfter walking us through the deep valley of God’s judgment in the form of the destruction of Jerusalem and the ensuing captivity, in today’s reading, Isaiah returns us to the mountaintop of God’s grace and favour.
The survivors of the LORD’s fiery judgment will experience the fullness of his presence and blessing.
Read More cloud, shelter, security, protectionI don’t know about you, but I love gardening. I enjoy all aspects of it, working the soil, planting, weeding, watering and harvesting. I especially enjoy seeing and tasting the fruit of my labour, whether it’s viewing a beautiful flowerbed, or tasting a fresh garden carrot.
Today I had a delicious and nutritious vegetable soup for lunch.
Read More Eden, gardener, fruit, honestyThere’s an old saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” That saying quite accurately reflects my assessment of today’s scripture reading.
Isaiah looks at his world – his city Jerusalem – and points out its faults. He sees a society of great disparity with wealth flowing to those in grand houses, while others are left without.
Read More society, selfishness, change, troubleSometimes the Bible seems too relevant – almost frighteningly so.
Last evening on our local news channel I learned that an Ottawa-based business had been awarded financing on CBC’s Dragon’s Den for their flavored drink mix. This morning the opening line of our scripture reading warns, “And you are great at drinking and mixing drinks. But you are in for trouble” (Isaiah 5:22).
Read More entertainment, calamity, consequences, First Nations