Tag: Isaiah

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.

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.

Links for today’s readings:

Jul 6  Read: Isaiah 35 Listen: (1:43) Read: Acts 22 Listen: (4:26)

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 35

Reflection: Superblooms in Death’s Valley

By John Tillman

Death Valley’s name is accurate. The heat and lack of water are deadly.

Death Valley recorded the planet’s highest temperature of 134 degrees. It is the driest place in North America, averaging around two inches of rain per year but frequently getting much less for long periods.

Yet, even Death Valley isn’t lifeless. In 2026, Death Valley had a rare “superbloom” of wildflowers. A “superbloom” is a sudden blooming of wildflowers in otherwise barren and desert environments. Superblooms are triggered by just the right amount of rain at just the right time. When this happens, seeds dormant for up to ten years can burst into life. During a superbloom, new life blankets barren and brown desert landscapes with colorful waves of quickly fading flowers. Even in Death Valley, life finds a way.

Isaiah’s prophetic poem depicts a barren desert, a valley of death. God’s judgments had passed through. Cities had been flattened to dust, covered up in thorns and inhabited by wild desert animals. Streams dried up, turning to pitch. Dust was superheated, turning to burning sulphur.

But that was not the end. Isaiah spoke tenderly to the faithful, redeemed remnant. “Your God will come.” (Isaiah 35.4) Even in deserts of desolation, God’s presence changes everything.

Isaiah declared that God’s presence would bring a superbloom of life. “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.” (Isaiah 35.1-2)

A superbloom can teach us about faithfulness and evangelism.

Faithful believers will, at times, experience drought and feel spiritually dried out, or even deserted. In dry times, you are the dormant seed, protected in a hardened husk of faith. However long the wait, God will come and you will bloom in ways you can’t now imagine.

Faithful witnesses will, at times, see nothing but barren fields, rocky ground, and wilderness thorns. The gospel seeds you spread may seem dormant and unheeded. Carry on sowing. The seed of the gospel is never hopeless. Though it lies dormant, God will bring others to water it and make it grow.

Superblooms in climes like Death Valley are ephemeral. And in this life, we may experience blooms of God’s presence that fade. But God’s ultimate superbloom is eternal and unfading. That day’s blessings will never dry up and the new life that blooms will never wilt or fade.

Photo Credit: National Park Service, Alan Van Valkenburg. View more Death Valley wildflower pictures on the National Park Service website.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Show us the light of your countenance, O God, and come to us. — Psalm 67.1

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

Read more: Two Roads Diverged in Barren Land

One path is deadly; there is nothing to sustain life. The Way turns death into life; it has everything needed to thrive…

Read more: The Ever-Patient Agriculturalist

We can participate in this process of sanctification now…enabling a rebirth of fruitfulness.

Links for today’s readings:

Jul 2  Read: Isaiah 31 Listen: (1:49) Read: Acts 18 Listen: (4:06)

Reflection: Horses of Flesh or Spirit

By John Tillman

Egypt is the longest-lasting national superpower in the Bible.

Other nations rose and fell, but Egypt was always there, even if they waxed and waned in power. Egypt was the “arms dealer” of the ancient Near East, producing the finest war horses and chariots. Wealthy nations bought from them and no wise nation wanted to face them in battle. In addition to military aid, many nations found Egypt a reliable source of shelter, food, wisdom, and political support.

When David wrote, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God,” he almost certainly referred to chariots and horses from Egypt. He had faced chariot-outfitted armies and seen that “The Lord gives victory.” (Psalm 20.6-7)

But Israel failed to live up to the lofty, poetic principle David penned. Principles are often sacrificed to practicality in times of crisis or undermined in times of comfort.

For Israel, a recurring temptation popped up in crisis after crisis. They wanted to go back to Egypt. Egypt was often an enemy, but Israel had a long history of trusting them for help. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob sought help and shelter there. The instant Moses led the Israelites out, they wanted to go back. When Solomon secured his throne, he furnished his army with Egyptian horses and chariots. Practicality won out over his father’s poetic wisdom. And multiple times, throughout the history of kings and prophets, the nation wanted to ask Egypt for help while the prophets cried out for God’s people to trust him.

Crises expose what we truly rely on. They turn up the volume on temptations and drown out trusted voices. Comfort dulls our hold on principles and the strength of our convictions. In times of plenty, it’s not that we actively choose not to trust God, we just don’t sense our need for him. Comfort weighs us down, weakens our muscles and joints, and slows our reflexes and capacities. When it comes time to stand or fight, we are slow to respond and hesitant to do so.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm — The Lord Beholds All People 

Yahweh looks down from heaven, he sees the whole human race; From where he sits he watches all who live on the earth, He who molds every heart and takes note of all that men do. A large army will not keep a king safe, nor does the hero escape by his great strength; It is delusion to rely on the horse for safety, for all its power, it cannot save. But see how the eye of Yahweh is on those who fear him, on those who rely on his love, to rescue their souls from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul awaits Yahweh, he is our help and shield; Our hearts rejoice in him, we trust in his holy name. Yahweh, let your love rest on us as our hope has rested in you. — Psalm 33:13-22

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

Read more: Portrait Shaped by Scripture

Modern people don’t know or trust the scriptures…many have negative experiences with scripture…

Read more: Default Settings for Scripture

The “default settings” of our mindsets about scripture have a big effect on our ability to make use of them in the ways Paul and Peter intend.

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.

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.

Links for today’s readings:

Jun 26  Read: Isaiah 25 Listen: (1:59) Read: Acts 12 Listen: (3:49)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Jun 27  Read: Isaiah 26 Listen: (2:58) Read: Acts 13 Listen: (7:36)
Jun 28  Read: Isaiah 27 Listen: (2:16) Read: Acts 14 Listen: (3:54)

Reflection: A Garden City

By John Tillman

In the beginning, God made a garden. After the fall and rebellion, humans made cities. But that doesn’t mean cities are always evil and gardens are always good.

Cities are intended to provide shelter, protection, justice, and community. However, not every city is a “shining city on a hill.” (Matt 5.14) Cities often become places of cruelty, violence, corruption, and oppression. Places of darkness, wickedness, and death.

Cities of darkness and death are symbols of human rebellion against God and a declaration of independence and self-reliance. When Cain is cast out into the wilderness, he builds a city (Genesis 4.17). Cain’s city and his descendants become violent leaders and their cities known for violence (Genesis 4.19-24).

When humans began to rebuild society after the flood, they sought new technology to build a city with a tower that reached to the heavens, far above the threat of any flood. (Genesis 11.2-4) This city, Babylon, is both a historical city and a symbol of human pride, sin, and rebellion. Babylon appears historically and symbolically throughout the Bible, right to the very last pages (Rev 18.2). 

In the re-beginning, when God ends evil and restores the world, we will live with God, not in a garden as we did at the beginning, but in a heavenly city (Rev 21.2-3). God scattered the nations after Babel, in the re-beginning, he will gather all nations to his city to live with him forever (Rev 21.23-26). God’s city is a garden where good things grow. God’s garden is a city where every branch provides food, healing, and shelter (Rev 22.1-3).

In the meantime, what are we to do? Plant gardens? Build cities? Should we scatter into the wilderness? Or gather in concrete and glass canyons?

Whether in the city or the country, use scripture’s descriptions of the city of God, like in Isaiah, as examples of the communities we should build. Could we describe our communities the same way Isaiah describes God’s city (Isaiah 25.4-8)?

Is there refuge from the ruthless? Provision for the poor and needy? Peace for the distressed?

Shelter from the storm? Shade from the heat? Windbreaks for the windblown? Silence to escape uproar? Quiet that drowns songs of violence?

No human city or community can be perfect. We can’t build Heaven on earth, but we must not use that to excuse inaction, apathy, or greed. We are called to establish good things in God’s world. Let us strive toward a garden city without excuses.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord; I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your loving-kindness is greater than the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. — Psalm 108.3-4

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

Read more: Of Temples and Gardens

Gardens are places where nature is maximized and brought to greater, more ordered, and more beautiful potential. Gardens…are places to meet with God.

Read more: What Kind of City on a Hill?

In Ezekiel 22, …what should be a shining city on a hill is a city of darkness, blood, and dross. What kind of “city on a hill” do we live in?