Tag: Isaiah

Links for today’s readings:

Jul 16  Read: Isaiah 45 Listen: (4:39) Read: Psalms 112-113 Listen: (1:49)

Reflection: Ready, Willing, and Able to Save

By John Tillman

A “well-meant offer” is more than just good intentions. It means being ready, willing, and able to deliver what is offered.

A politician may offer something to all citizens without intending to deliver it, or intending to deliver it only to his political donors. This is deception. A politician may also offer something to all citizens when they don’t have the votes or legal authority to deliver it. This is also deception.

If you say to people in your workplace, “Who wants donuts in the morning? I’ll bring them,” you shouldn’t secretly hope Gary doesn’t want donuts because you hate Gary and don’t want to buy him donuts. You also shouldn’t offer everyone donuts when you only have cash to buy donuts for half of the people.

God is not a lying politician, making deceptive promises to seem like a nice guy. God is not an over-promising and under-delivering politician who doesn’t have the power to enact his promises. God doesn’t offer donuts when he doesn’t want to give them, and he’s never short of cash.

In Isaiah 45, and in many other places, God offers salvation. He offers it to Israel: “I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the Lord, speak the truth.” (Is 45.19) He also offers salvation to the entire world, “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth…my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked.” (Is 45.22-23)

When God makes an offer, he means it. He’s not hedging. God has the power, resources, and willingness to deliver everything he promises.

Salvation is not God’s only well-meant offer.

God offers, and fully intends, to complete in us the work he began to conform us to the image of Jesus. He offers, and fully intends, to bring us through trials and suffering that we could not bear without him, displaying his power in our weakness. He offers, and fully intends, to use our feeble resources, skills, and efforts as means to complete his work in this world.

A totaled car in a ravine needs more than being pulled back up to the road. It needs restoration. Jesus offers and intends to complete that work in us and anyone who accepts his offer.

When you accept his offer, Jesus will make you ready, willing, and able to share it with “all you ends of the earth.”

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Lore God of hosts, hear my prayer; hearken, O God of Jacob. — Psalm 84.7

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

Read more: Public, Prayerful, Persistent Protest

People often say to protesters, “Not here. Not now. Not like this.” But Daniel did not allow anyone to dictate the timing and method of his prayerful protest.

Read more: He Stoops to Raise

Links for today’s readings:

Jul 14  Read: Isaiah 43 Listen: (4:06) Read: Psalms 108-109 Listen: (4:28)

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 43.1-2, 16-19

Reflection: Providential Patterns

By John Tillman

Why should we remember what God has done?

One reason is that noticing new things God does now is easier when we remember God’s deeds from the past.

In Isaiah 43, God points to past miracles as evidence of his identity, faithfulness, and loving purpose. He references the Exodus story, including the burning bush, crossing the sea, the drowning of Pharoah’s army, and providing food and water for his people in the wilderness.

He says that he will do similar things for his people in the future but he warns against dwelling on the past. He says, “I’m doing something new. Don’t you notice?” God is doing something that is “the same but different.”

God’s deeds for Israel in Isaiah’s day would be the same but different than his deeds in Moses’ day. And God’s deeds today will be the same but different than the deeds we might look back on.

Israel would never again cross the Red Sea or the Jordan on dry land. Neither will you. However, when God is with you, rivers of troubles may rise but they won’t wash you away. Isaiah would never see God in a burning bush like Moses did. Daniel would never stand in a burning furnace like his friends did. However, when God is with you, you may be caught (or thrown) in a fiery trial, but the flames won’t burn you up and God will be with you.

Don’t dwell on the past or look for God to do the same thing again. Don’t put your hope in nostalgia. Put your hope in God bringing newness, not the same old thing. Put your hope in new wine for new wineskins. Put your hope in the small, unexpected things that are springing up. Do you perceive them? Pray that you will.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the whole earth. — Psalm 96.1

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

Read more: Steadfast Hope

When your steadfast heart wavers, return to Jesus’ promises. In him, we have and will have victory.

Read more: Revenge to Redemption

In him alone all harm will be healed and all evil destroyed. All evil and lies will be cut down. Jesus alone can turn revenge into redemption.

Links for today’s readings:

Jul 13  Read: Isaiah 42 Listen: (4:11) Read: Psalm 107 Listen: (4:12)

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 42.1-4

Reflection: Being God’s Servant

By John Tillman

Who is God’s servant? 

In Isaiah, God’s “servant” is not a bowing, scraping, subservient, underling. The servant Isaiah sings about is the type of servant who stands as a representative of his master, speaking in his name, acting in accordance with his will, and representing his presence and person. This was common in Isaiah’s time. Isaiah described a human example of this in Sennacherib’s commander who spoke in his king’s name during the siege of Jerusalem (Is 36). Joseph, speaking for Pharaoh (Gen 41.41-44), is another example.

God’s servant in Isaiah is an image of God, representing God’s will, presence, and person.

God’s servant in Isaiah is a leader, but also a laborer. Isaiah emphasizes the effort, strain, and passion of the servant. He stirs up his zeal to face his enemies and cries out like a woman in childbirth, gasping and panting with exertion. This is not just an Old Testament idea. Paul described the “incomparably great power” and “mighty strength” God “exerted” when raising Jesus from the dead (Eph 1.19-20). And many writers describe the extreme anguish, both physical and spiritual, of Jesus, beginning in Gethsemane and continuing to his last cries on the cross.

God’s servant works with effort, exerting God’s power, granted for God’s purposes.

God’s servant in Isaiah is tough and tender, but these aren’t opposites or contradictions. His tenderness motivates his toughness. Because he will not break a bruised reed, he levels mountains to rescue the injured. Because he will not snuff out a smoldering wick, he dispels darkness, igniting a blazing torch of justice.

God’s servant is driven by mercy, love, and compassion, not vengeance, hatred, or violence.

Isaiah’s servant songs looked forward to multiple realities. One was the post-exile restoration of Israel when, one by one, God would overcome all obstacles, political and spiritual, to his people returning to live again with him in Jerusalem. Another was a cosmic picture of God’s work of salvation for all humanity, when God, through Jesus, destroys obstacles or enemies keeping his children from living with him in eternity.

Ultimately, Isaiah’s servant is Jesus. But in your world, through the Holy Spirit, you represent Jesus’ presence and person. Be more and more conformed into a better image of him (Rom 8.29; 12.2). Work in his name, with his mighty power, toward his merciful purpose. Gasp and pant to birth the gospel into your world.

Be God’s servant. In Jesus’ name.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. — Psalm 19.14

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

Read more: Dependent Hope

Extraordinarily committed and fortunate individuals…might shake off a human tyrant…But from the tyrants that really matter, sin and death, we cannot break free.

Read more: Stories of the Redeemed

Why should we care for stories of the vagrants, the vagabonds, and the vanquished? We are listening for the turnaround point.

Links for today’s readings:

Jul 10  Read: Isaiah 39 Listen: (1:35) Read: Acts 26 Listen: (5:17)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Jul 11  Read: Isaiah 40 Listen: (5:09) Read: Acts 27 Listen: (6:09)
Jul 12  Read: Isaiah 41 Listen: (5:00) Read: Acts 28 Listen: (4:56)

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 39

1 At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. 2 Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. 3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did those men say, and where did they come from?” “From a distant land,” Hezekiah replied. “They came to me from Babylon.” 4 The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?” “They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.” 5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: 6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. 7 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” 8 “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.”

Reflection: You’re No Hezekiah

By John Tillman

There was no king like Hezekiah (2 Kings 18.5). Hezekiah’s faith held firm in crises that would have crumbled other kings.

He eliminated idolatry that had plagued Judah for generations (2 Kings 18.4). He faced down the undefeatable invading army of the world’s first empire, Assyria (2 Chron 32.6-8, 22-23). He faced terminal illness, appealing to God, who healed him (2 Kings 20.1-6). This miraculous healing, however, came with a test. And Hezekiah failed it.

Babylon heard of Hezekiah’s healing and sent envoys with gifts, inquiring about the miracle. Even though the text says Hezekiah showed them “everything,” Hezekiah somehow never introduced them to Isaiah, the prophet who healed him and nothing from the Temple is listed in what was shown to the visitors. Hezekiah’s tour seems to have focused on signs of his wealth, power, and strength.

Chronicles’ account clarifies that God tested Hezekiah to expose what was in his heart (2 Chron 32.31). Hezekiah looked great on the outside. If there was a “Mount Rushmore” of good kings of Judah, Hezekiah would be on it (2 Kings 18.5). But in his heart, the cracks of pride and greed widened, destroying everything.

In literature, film, and television, we love tragic heroes that have one flaw or one tragic mistake that dooms everything. It makes a good story, but also plays into how we see ourselves. We think we are “mostly good,” maybe even heroic at times. However, if we think being faithful will mean avoiding one tragic error, we are badly mistaken.

It is good to learn from Hezekiah’s failure. We need to keep our focus on God, not our wealth, power, or strength. Most of us won’t be tested like Hezekiah was. Hezekiah passed tests we might fail and failed ones we might pass. We don’t need to learn how to avoid the specific sins of Hezekiah or any other biblical character. We need to learn to discern the sins we are tempted with today. 

If we say we are without sin, we deceive ourselves (1 John 1.8). But if anyone does sin, Jesus is our advocate and the atoning sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the whole world (1 John 2.1-2). Instead of hiding sins or hiding from them, drag them out into the light through confession and Jesus will purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1.9).

You’re no Hezekiah and neither am I. Our culture, strengths, and weaknesses differ. We will be tested in different ways. When, not if, we fail, be quick to confess and faithful to repent.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

For your name’s sake, O Lord, forgive my sin, for it is great. — Psalm 25.10

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

Read more: Victory In Loss

Christ and his first followers in Scripture steadfastly refuse to fulfill the types of hero-journeys that we are accustomed to.

Read more: Ozymandias & Hezekiah

Isaiah rebuked the king and foretold of destruction. Like the statue in the desert, everything he 

boasted in would be gone.