Author: Erin Newton

Links for today’s readings:

Jul 8  Read: Isaiah 37 Listen: (6:47) Read: Acts 24 Listen: (4:11)

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 37:1

When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord.

Reflection: Leadership and the Can’t-Do Attitude

By Erin Newton

Not long ago, my day started like any other. I prepared breakfast for our four kids but heard a shriek from the bathroom. The toilet (freshly used) was overflowing! The biohazardous, soupy mess was flooding the room. At this point, I was in my late 30s. I had multiple degrees. I had renovated two houses on my own. This wasn’t my first rodeo, but I lost it. My first instinct was to call my dad. Because let’s be honest, sometimes you need parental help.

Hezekiah, king of Judah, has ruled a nation since childhood. He’s reformed the temple. He is, by all means, capable and experienced. So what shakes him up in Isaiah 37?

The previous chapter reveals how Sennacherib’s army began to taunt Judah. The messengers tear their robes and relay the threats to Hezekiah.

Hezekiah responds by tearing his clothes as well. Robe-tearing was a frequent practice in the Old Testament. The practice often signals lament or a distressed emotional state. The king assumes this posture and then runs to the Lord.

I appreciate this show of weakness, humility, and emotional vulnerability from Judah’s highest citizen. Not only does he seek the Lord but he asks for the wisdom of God’s prophet, Isaiah.

The message from God (and Isaiah) is that Hezekiah has no need to fear Sennacherib’s threats. Salvation will come; it’s all going according to plan.

When strong and powerful people are met with threats, our modern culture expects resilience, confidence, unflinching and unwavering strength, and often, an “I can do it on my own” attitude. It’s quite the opposite of what we see in Isaiah 37.

Hezekiah could have trusted his own power, military, authority, strength, or status. But he chooses to openly and publicly admit he’s scared and that he doesn’t have all the answers.

How different would it be if our leaders showed such vulnerability? How much better would it be for us to openly reveal when we are overwhelmed?

Contemporary culture likes to promote independence and self-made confidence. We overlook how the positive examples of faith were often examples of public humility and vulnerability.

We know that we should seek God for help. We herald,  “Rend your heart and not your garments” (Joel 2.13) as if that’s an excuse to never show our own hurt. Let us rend our clothes and our hearts, run to the Lord, and seek his people for wisdom. That is how we lead.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

O Lord my God, I cried out to you, and you restored me to health.

You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead; you restored my life as I was going down to the grave. — Psalm 30.2-3

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Winning People > Winning Arguments

Paul’s trial was a platform for him to find common ground with all people and to explain the gospel publicly.

Winning People > Winning Arguments

Read more: The Way of the Remnant

If we suffer, let it be for doing good, not evil. Let us suffer for generosity not selfishness. Let us suffer for kindness not violence.

The Way of the Remnant

Links for today’s readings:

Jul 1  Read: Isaiah 30 Listen: (5:52) Read: Acts 17 Listen: (5:28)

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 30.20-21

20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Reflection: Worm Theology (a.k.a. Scrupulosity)

Erin Newton

I have a theory called “worm theology.” It is the way of thinking, living, believing, or preaching that needs me to always think, “I am a worm.” I use the phrase negatively when I want to emphasize my frustration about how God’s grace is often exchanged for scrupulosity. (Scrupulosity is defined as a psychological disorder primarily characterized by pathological guilt or obsession associated with moral or religious issues.) 

What if we are more than worms? 

Prophetic texts are used as warnings and correctives. The harsh statements and forecasts of destruction are meant to stir the heart toward change and are often needed. 

But I wonder if we place an odometer on our sanctification as a means of always tracking our gaining speed. More repentance. More correction. More introspection. More self-hate. The focus somehow shifts from learning to be Christ-like to trying to outpace other Christians or even our own spiritual state from the day before. 

The result can be that we forget God’s love and grace. 

Isaiah calls his community an obstinate people. God chides them for seeking help from Egypt and trusting in others. They need the wake-up call. But what is also needed, what interrupts Isaiah’s admonishment in chapter 30, is the reminder that God eagerly listens, responds, and loves. Verse 19 ends with “As soon as he hears, he will answer you.” Not as soon as you get your act together. Not even as soon as you perform some ritual. As soon as the cry of help passes your lips. I dare to say that as we pray so often in our hearts, without 

speech, the cry is heard when the innermost part of our souls groan. 

God loves you; let us remember that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. 

Isaiah acknowledges that adversity and hardship come—even at the hand of God as a just consequence from our actions. Stopping here would be to adopt the “worm theology.” So Isaiah reminds everyone: You’re not alone. God has heard you. He’s sending rain to nurture your body. He’s sending helpers to guide you. 

We are not alone. Jesus reminded his disciples before his crucifixion: “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy” (John 16.22). 

Listen to the Helper—the Spirit who guides us toward Christlikeness—in fullness of joy.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, for in his holy Name we put our trust. Let your loving-kindness, O LORD, be upon us, as we have put our trust in you. — Psalm 33.20-22

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Prophets in Our Path

They sought convenient confirmations of what they already believed. But prophecy often holds inconvenient truths.

Prophets in Our Path

Read more: Gods in Our Image

When people say humans create gods in our own image, I agree with them. Human-created gods are easy to spot. They are like humans.

Gods in Our Image

Links for today’s readings:

Jun 24  Read: Isaiah 23 Listen: (2:50) Read: Acts 10 Listen: (5:49)

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 23:12–13

12 He said, “No more of your reveling,
    Virgin Daughter Sidon, now crushed!

“Up, cross over to Cyprus;
    even there you will find no rest.”
13 Look at the land of the Babylonians,
    this people that is now of no account!
The Assyrians have made it
    a place for desert creatures;
they raised up their siege towers,
    they stripped its fortresses bare
    and turned it into a ruin.

Reflection: Abandoned at Sea

By Erin Newton

Much like the world today, political alliances were the means of survival for nations in the ancient world. Breaches in agreements resulted in war. When vassal nations wanted to shake off the yoke of submission, they often allied together against the ruling kingdom. Today we have international peace treaties, and there are alliances like the United Nations, NATO, and OSEAN. The understanding is that these nations will help one another through military aid, trade, or simple peace.

But what happens when all your allies are destroyed?

This is the situation that is prophesied against Tyre. Isaiah’s proclamation shows Tyre (Sidon) standing alone. No matter where they look, no one is there to help. Cyprus provides no rest. Babylon is powerless.

The message is bleak. Tyre was the kingdom of the sea, known for its naval power and ability to navigate along the coast and excel in trade. In the ancient world, “the sea” is also a mythic force of chaos. To control the chaos was a token of power. Now they are disowned by the sea, according to Isaiah—“For the sea has spoken: ‘I have neither been in labor nor given birth; I have neither reared sons nor brought up daughters’” (v. 4).

When we read this prophecy, we are invited to see ourselves in the place of Tyre. Our power might seem unshakeable, but Isaiah reminds us that all power will fall before the Lord. Even those we view as allies are not a match against God. So it challenges us to ensure our trust is planted in God alone. It cannot be weapons plus God. 

We also read this prophecy resting in the hope that the powers that oppress others will be torn down before the Lord. We persevere with the hope in the future—a future of God’s kingdom on earth.

We finally read this prophecy as a detached community thousands of years after its relevant audience. We read this as a study of God’s faithfulness to his people. Knowing that God does not change, the prophet’s trust in the future can also be our trust in the future.

No matter how dire things look now, how powerful nations may attempt to portray themselves, we trust in a God who controls the seas. We must lay down all that gives us a sense of power, lest we become like the ruined nations in Isaiah.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Protect my life and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I have trusted in you. — Psalm 25.19

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Kingmakers Unmade

Theoretically, wealth is a neutral tool…But…as we shape our world with this tool, it is exceedingly rare that it does not also shape us.

Kingmakers Unmade

Read more: Knocking on Heaven’s Door

During his regular practice of prayer, God’s message came to Cornelius.
Cornelius knocked and Heaven’s door opened.

Knocking on Heaven’s Door

Links for today’s readings:

Jun 17  Read: Isaiah 14 Listen: (5:04) Read: Acts 3 Listen: (3:33)

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 14:9-11

9 The realm of the dead below is all astir
    to meet you at your coming;
it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you—
    all those who were leaders in the world;
it makes them rise from their thrones—
    all those who were kings over the nations.
10 They will all respond,
    they will say to you,
“You also have become weak, as we are;
    you have become like us.”
11 All your pomp has been brought down to the grave,
    along with the noise of your harps;
maggots are spread out beneath you
    and worms cover you.

Reflection: Death, the Final Equalizer

By Erin Newton

“There are dead things, dead faces in the water,” he whispered with horror. “Dead faces!”

Gollum laughed. “The Dead Marshes, yes, yes: that is their names…”

“Can’t we get on and get away?”

“Yes, yes,” said Gollum. “But slowly, very slowly. Very carefully! Or hobbits go down to join the Dead ones and light little candles of their own.” 

This scene from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers describes the perilous journey of Frodo and Sam to Mordor. In the movie, Frodo is entranced by the faces and falls into the water, being pulled further and further down. Like the refrain in Isaiah 14, “The realm of the dead is astir to meet you.”

The imagery is potent. The dead are ravenous for their newcomer. 

When people die, as we often hear from well-meaning friends, “They’ve gone to a better place.” And for those we disdain, we proclaim they are “worm food” or we wish them to “rot in Hell.”

The first sentiment speaks of the loved person’s everlasting soul. The second sentiment sounds closer to the prophet’s description of an eager underworld. 

The ancient Near East focused primarily on this earthly life. The taunt in Isaiah strikes at that focus specifically.

The prophet declares to this soon-to-be-fallen king: You’re on borrowed time. You’re definitely going to die.

And the prophet adds: Death has come for your fellow royals already. You are weak, just like them, swallowed up by death.

Instead of cheers of fans or a parade, harps and drums sound a processional to the underworld.

The fallen king’s abode is simply a means of becoming compost—a bed of worms, a blanket of maggots.

Tolkien envisioned the dead as ghostly faces drifting in a dreary marsh. Isaiah describes the dead as lying in beds of decomposition.

All of this morbid description is a reality check for Israel’s enemy king. Gone will be the days of their superiority and subsequent oppression of others. Like all humanity, even kings return to dust.

In the end (quite literally), we are all equals. There is some comfort in knowing even trillionaires become worm food. But more importantly, we remember that our bodies are not the final word. We are more than our frail cells. We are not bound to be dust for eternity. Perhaps our bodies will become part of God’s good creation once more, but that is not our true end. Hallelujah!

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. — Psalm 31.1

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Waiting at the Beautiful Gate

Jesus didn’t give us the Holy Spirit for warm, fuzzy feelings in our sanctuaries. The Holy Spirit is given to us to heal

Waiting at the Beautiful Gate — Readers’ Choice

Read more: Taunting Ourselves

Babylon honors the brutal and brutalizes the gentle.
Babylon protects the powerful rather than the weak.

Taunting Ourselves