Isaiah 6-24
January 23, 2008
These chapters talk about the prophecies against kingdoms and empires like Babylon, Cush, Egypt etc.
Well actually, i thought they would be rather dry, but still the Lord taught me more about His justice and His wisdom. His ways are really higher than our ways. like the Lord sent the Babylonians to capture and govern the Israelites like slaves, in order to bring about punishment on His people for disobedience and wickedness. But that wasnt the end of the story. The Lord would hear their cries and bring about deliverance on His people. They would be free from their captors, and in years that followed, Jesus, the Savior.
”In that day the Root of Jesse (Jesus) will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious..” (11:10)
Chapter 9: 6-7 also talks about the Light of Israel; “For to us a child is born… and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, MIghty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace..”
This is the light that the Lord has promised to His people who were living in darkness. That is also the light and the hope to which all of us cling to. Thank God for bringing me out of darkness and into the light, because of Jesus, my righteousness.
Another point to note is that, in the later chapters, the Lord revealed His hand towards those who had brought suffering to Israel (like the Babylonians, Assyrians.. who were equally, if not, more wicked). I guess one application point is that sometimes we may feel like we are suffering some kind of injustice, or being showed unkindness by other people, but the Lord sees it all, and He will bring judgment to them, for vengeance is His. that is why, we should not repay evil or evil, but we must hope that all the injustice that we suffer will one day be brought to an end by God, who sees it all.
“For the Lord has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” 14:27
Indeed, only the Lord’s purpose will stand throughout the time and generations. and i take comfort in knowing that because the Lord is good, so are His plans and purposes, which will be fulfilled as no word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord will come back in vain. It also applies to His judgment on His people, therefore we are to fear the Lord and take His Word seriously. The destruction that was prophesied on the nations really kind of scared me, because of the amount of devastation and desolation that the Lord brought upon the wicked nations.
Far greater would be the devastation on the Day of Judgment (chap 24)!
Before the Holy God, no one stands righteous. Even Isaiah cried out, “Woe to me!.. For I am a man of unclean lips.. and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty!” (6:5) I realized that sometimes i think of myself as being “better” than others, like i think i sin less and am a “good person”, but this verse has reminded me that no one stands righteous before Him unless we have the blood of Jesus. nothing we can do can ever make us “better” or more worthy of Heaven, because all have sinned.. before the Holy Lord, all darkness is revealed, and i am truly, unclean and unworthy.
I shall close with this verse:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (6:4)
