Isaiah - The Park Forum

June 16, 2026June 13, 2026

A Little Babylon In Every Empire

Links for today’s readings:

Jun 16 Read: Isaiah 13 Listen: (3:11) Read: Acts 2 Listen: (6:35)

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 13.1, 10-13

1 A prophecy against Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw:

10 The stars of heaven and their constellations

will not show their light.

The rising sun will be darkened

and the moon will not give its light.

11 I will punish the world for its evil,

the wicked for their sins.

I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty

and will humble the pride of the ruthless.

12 I will make people scarcer than pure gold,

more rare than the gold of Ophir.

13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble;

and the earth will shake from its place

at the wrath of the Lord Almighty,

in the day of his burning anger.

Reflection: A Little Babylon In Every Empire

By John Tillman

When Isaiah saw his vision of judgment against Babylon, it was not yet a mighty empire of evil. At that time, Babylon was an upstart city-state under Assyrian oppression, just like other nations. Isaiah’s prophecy against Babylon would be as if someone in France in the early 1700s wrote a prophecy against the imperialism of the United States, before the colonies had rebelled or even declared independence from the British Empire.

Eventually, Babylon rebelled against, and overthrew, Assyria. But the victors were not freedom fighters or liberators. They were just a new oppressive and brutal empire.

When Allied forces swept through Europe following the D-Day invasion, the Nazi empire was destroyed, but America and Britain didn’t enslave and oppress France or the other conquered countries. They set them free. The Soviets, however, harshly ruled Eastern Europe through puppet governments for decades. (Russia today seems to want to reestablish this control, beginning in Ukraine.)

It’s easy to notice “Babylon-like” behavior in enemies. It’s uncomfortable to think about ourselves as Babylon. Americans, especially, like to pat ourselves on the back. “We liberated Europe! We won the Cold War! We are the good guys!” I feel that way. Yet, the Bible continually warns about Babylon. Why? Doesn’t God know where I live? Doesn’t he know my country is the greatest country of all time? Hmm…sounds a bit “Babylon-ish” when I put it that way, doesn’t it?

Peter sent greetings from the church, describing that church as “in Babylon” (1 Peter 5:8) even though Babylon fell centuries before. When we imagine Babylon as a specific nation at a specific time, we miss the point. When we imagine Babylon as a symbol for our enemies, we are in danger of blindness.

The Bible repeatedly cautions God’s people that there’s a little Babylon in every empire. Yes, even the one you live in. This is because there is a little Babylon in every heart, even yours and mine. And that bit of Babylon has imperialist intentions. It wants to grow. To conquer.

We live in Babylon and Babylon will be judged. That will be painful for many (Rev 18.9-10). Our connection to, or complicity with, Babylon will affect how that judgment touches us. Read the judgments against Babylon, remembering that Babylon wants you. It wants to influence you, recruit you, or conquer you.

Resist Babylon, starting in your own heart. Don’t be conquered or complicit. Be faithful.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. — Psalm 92.12

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

Be a Transformed Tree

Links for today’s readings:

Jun 15 Read: Isaiah 11-12 Listen: (4:39) Read: Acts 1 Listen: (3:58)

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 11.1-4, 10

1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—

the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of might,

the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,

or decide by what he hears with his ears;

4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,

with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;

with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

Reflection: Be a Transformed Tree

By John Tillman

A tree in my yard died.

I didn’t and don’t know what killed it. I struggle to keep our yard mowed, much less be a competent landscaper, gardener, or arborist. I cut the tree down, leaving the stump at ground level. I added the wood to the firewood pile and thought that was the end.

The tree came back.

First, a tiny green sprout popped up. Then it kept growing. Today, it’s as tall as it was before. Birds shelter in it and sing to me, or yell at me (sometimes it’s hard to tell which), every day.

The bad news is that this tree isn’t a very desirable tree. It’s a Bradford Pear. Arborists and many other people hate it. But because it’s cheap, fast-growing, and has pretty flowers for part of the year, builders and real estate folks keep planting them everywhere. And apparently, at least under certain conditions, it can come back from the dead.

God compares his people to trees often. The difference is they are supposed to be valuable trees, like fig or olive trees, that provide good fruit of justice, righteousness, and wisdom for the nations. Instead, they are worthless, fruitless, and often smelly, like my Bradford Pear. So God lays the ax “at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Luke 3.9)

I had no intention of resurrecting my tree and no power (or budget or green thumb) to change it to a better one. But God’s judgments are never without mercy, hope, and purpose. Isaiah prophesied that even though God cut down Jerusalem’s tree, ground the stump down, and burned it, he intended for it to live again. Not only that, God promised to transform his tree into the tree it was intended to be. He wants the same for us.

Something in you may need to die. To be cut down. Burned. But God is not done with you.

In Jesus, the root of Jesse, there is power to not just resurrect us but transform us. We will go from bad trees to good, from fruitless to bountiful, from worthless to invaluable. We will be like Jesus, the tree of life, providing shelter, sustenance, and healing to all nations and people.

May it be so. Cut us down, Lord. And spring up in us, Root of Jesse

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and make melody. — Psalm 57.7

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

Proof-Texting Prophets

Links for today’s readings:

Jun 11 Read: Isaiah 7 Listen: (3:51) Read: Psalm 103 Listen: (2:07)

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 7.10-13

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?

Reflection: Proof-Texting Prophets

By John Tillman

Trouble was brewing. Enemies were rising. The nation of Judah, Jerusalem, and David’s throne were under threat. While Ahaz was sending out feelers to earthly allies, Isaiah came to the wicked king with a word from the Lord. The first part was encouraging. “…don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart.” (Isaiah 7.4) The second part was a warning. “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” (Isaiah 7.9)

Even bad kings, like Ahaz, get a chance to turn to God.

The prophet asked the king to select a sign to prove his words true. Ahaz refused. To excuse himself, Ahaz used a “proof text,” quoting Deuteronomy 6.16, “I will not put God to the test.” Isaiah was not impressed with Ahaz’s “proof-texting.” He considered it insulting to him and to God.

Instead of “O King” or using Ahaz’s name, Isaiah calls him the “house of David,” prophesying that his political machinations would fail. A plague of flies would come from Egypt to Judah. (Isaiah 7.18) The plagues that humbled Pharaoh would humble Ahaz. Pharaoh refused to repent and the plagues escalated to destruction. Ahaz refused to repent, moving David’s house one step closer to exile.

God’s Word may be misquoted, taken out of context, or twisted. Many, like Ahaz, twist it to excuse themselves from doing as God commands. Proof-texting is a bad way to build a faith. It’s also a bad way to deconstruct one. It is still true for us today that if we do not stand firm in our faith, we will not stand at all. Understanding the Bible holistically, within the community of believers, can help us avoid most errors but we still need to be humble and teachable, receptive to human critique and the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

The Bible is true whether we believe it or not and whether we obey it or not. Human errors do not mean God’s Word is in error. Sin is still sin, regardless of whether we use scripture to justify it. God is God regardless of how prideful or arrogant we become.

We all have moments of grace and opportunities for repentance. So consider soberly…

Have you adopted Ahaz’s habits? Are you marshaling earthly resources for spiritual battles? Are you using scriptures as excuses for not obeying God’s clear commands? Are you proof-texting prophets? Are you trying the patience of humans or God? Or both?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be disgraced because of me. — Psalm 69.7

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

Calling Darkness Light

Links for today’s readings:

Jun 9 Read: Isaiah 5 Listen: (4:48) Read: Psalms 99-101 Listen: (2:42)

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 5.7, 20-23

7 The vineyard of the Lord Almighty

is the nation of Israel,

and the people of Judah

are the vines he delighted in.

And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;

for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.

20 Woe to those who call evil good

and good evil,

who put darkness for light

and light for darkness,

who put bitter for sweet

and sweet for bitter.

21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes

and clever in their own sight.

22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine

and champions at mixing drinks,

23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe,

but deny justice to the innocent.

Reflection: Calling Darkness Light

By John Tillman

God compared his people to flocks of sheep and vineyards. Leaders were compared to shepherds over flocks and servants in charge of vineyards.

We are less familiar with agricultural metaphors than Isaiah’s readers. Have you harvested a vineyard or overseen a flock? Can you tell which grapes are good or bad for wine or which sheep are healthy or unhealthy? Can you prune vines or shear sheep? Most of us can’t.

We don’t have to understand agriculture to know what God is saying. When God looked at the vines, he didn’t see subtle hints that the juice was bitter, he saw injustice and bloodshed. When God looked at the sheep, he didn’t notice telltale signs on hoofs or teeth that indicated a bad diet, he saw abuse and neglect.

We should be able to tell justice from bloodshed, sweetness from bitterness, good from evil, and light from dark. But do we?

Failing to notice wicked things that anger God is bad. A greater danger is seeing what God calls wicked and calling it good. We might look at bloodshed and call it justified. We might look at abuse and call it “tough love” or “strong leadership.” We might look at neglect and call it a matter of “personal responsibility.”

In a famous Star Trek episode, the Cardassians capture Captain Picard and repeatedly show him four lights, asking how many there were. When he answered, “four,” they tortured him and insisted there were five. When finally released, Picard turned defiantly and yelled one final time, “There are four lights!” Later, he told Counselor Troi that the torture had caused his mind to actually think he saw five.

Sinful forces push us to hallucinate and justify violence, abuse, and sin. Those “wise in their own eyes” encourage bitterness toward enemies. They say cruelty shows strength and kindness is weak and dark means are justified by noble ends. They say bloodshed is the only way to deal with those labeled “dangerous.”

Don’t give in. For us, there is one light—Jesus. Don’t let selfishness and fear define good and bad. Let Jesus define it. He is both the true vine and the vinedresser. He is both the lamb of God and the good shepherd. It is good to answer the distressed, help the weak, and oppose the proud. The example of Jesus leads to light. Every other path leads to darkness.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

May God be merciful to us and bless us, show us the light of his countenance and come to us. — Psalm 67.1

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

Wholeness for the Holidays — Readers’ Choice

Readers’ Choice is here: Over two-thirds of our devotionals get emailed responses from readers like you. Hearing that what we have written is meaningful to you is meaningful to us. That’s why we love sharing some of your comments and messages. Thank you, readers. We do what we do to serve you. There’s still time to tell us about your favorite, most meaningful posts of the year. If you shared it with someone, or it helped you, let us know via email, direct message, or by filling out the linked form.

Links for today’s readings:

Oct 30 Read: 2 Kings 11-12 Listen: (7:38) Read: Psalms 60-61 Listen: (2:27)

Readers’ Choice posts are selected by our readers:

Brian, DC — Thanks for this reflection. I learned about kintsugi from Mako Fujimura when he gave me a tour of his studio years ago. I love the theology of this practice. I agree that looking at something that was broken but is being used again is beautiful. But the practice of kintsugi showcases the brokenness and then renders each crack as a new work of beauty. Such grace, joy, creativity, and redemption.

Like last year, we will repost all Christmas-themed Readers’ Choice posts together in one week. We pray our hearts are prepared to make room for Christ this coming Advent season. This post was originally published on December 9, 2024, based on readings from Isaiah 9.2, 6.

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 9.2, 6

2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.

6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Reflection: Wholeness for the Holidays — Readers’ Choice

By Erin Newton

The thing about Advent is that it is just a waiting game. We know to wait with hope for Jesus’s birth. We know that we will receive love through him. We know that joy will follow this grand event. But what does the peace of Advent offer us?

What are we hoping to find in peace? The feeling of hopelessness, that’s familiar. The heartache of being unloved, we know what that’s like. The weight of sadness and lack of joy is a regular routine. What is life without peace? It is chaotic, broken, raging, tumultuous, scary, fear-driven, uncertain.

Peace is a noun and, within the original Hebrew context, it came from a verb meaning “wholeness” or “complete.” Peace also carries other connotations such as calmness or freedom from conflict. But in the most basic essence of the term—peace is that which fills all voids.

So when Isaiah proclaims the coming child who is a counselor, deity, and father—he is also a prince of wholeness.

The gift of the season is Someone who makes things whole. He mends tears. He binds wounds. He fills chasms. He makes all that is insufficient sufficient.

There is a Japanese technique for mending broken pottery—kintsugi. Many have seen the beautiful pieces that were formerly broken shards of bowls or plates, delicately repaired using golden lacquer. The gold seams not only repair that which was broken but reinvent the beauty of the vessel. The bowl, albeit beautiful as it was before it was broken, becomes an exquisite piece of artistry in kintsugi.

The peace of Advent is like these mended pots. The peace of God is a promise of mending, repairing, and completing all that was broken or lacking. But it is more than just taking the pieces of our lives and putting them back into working order. The peace of God is reinventing our lives, binding the pieces that make us who we are and then shining the golden rays of Himself amongst the pieces.

Isaiah speaks of the people walking in the darkness, living in deep darkness. But the light breaks through. The radiance of Christ, an infant born in a lowly place, illuminates all that they could not see. It is the wholeness of life and light that overcomes the darkness here.

With the Holy Spirit, we no longer lack anything. The pieces have been spiritually mended. The golden seams are already there.

The Lord’s Prayer:

We will take a break from The Divine Hours prayers for the month of October and instead pray Dallas Willard’s paraphrase of The Lord’s Prayer:

Dear Father, always near us, may your name be treasured and loved, may your rule be completed in us—may your will be done here on earth in just the way it is done in heaven.

Give us today the things we need today, and forgive us our sins and impositions on you as we are forgiving all who in any way offend us.

Please don’t put us through trials, but deliver us from everything bad. Because you are the one in charge, and you have all the power, and the glory too is all yours-forever-which is just the way we want it!

Tag: Isaiah

A Little Babylon In Every Empire

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 13.1, 10-13

Reflection: A Little Babylon In Every Empire

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Read more: The Fall of a Superpower

Read more: Falling In Love With Babylon

Be a Transformed Tree

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 11.1-4, 10

Reflection: Be a Transformed Tree

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Read more: Praise from a Stump

Read more: A King Unlike Any Other

Proof-Texting Prophets

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 7.10-13

Reflection: Proof-Texting Prophets

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Read more: God Loves Mere Mortals

Read more: More Important Matters

Calling Darkness Light

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 5.7, 20-23

Reflection: Calling Darkness Light

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Read more: Bad Crop

Read more: Christ, the True Hero

Wholeness for the Holidays — Readers’ Choice

Links for today’s readings:

Readers’ Choice posts are selected by our readers:

Scripture Focus: Isaiah 9.2, 6

Reflection: Wholeness for the Holidays — Readers’ Choice

The Lord’s Prayer:

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Read more about Truth and Love — Love of Advent