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The Tale of Two Lives

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The Tale of Two Lives Isaiah 26-30 “Indeed, while following the way of Your judgments, O Lord, We have waited for You eagerly; your name, even Your memory, is the desire of our souls” (26:8-9).                   In Isaiah 26-30, the prophet sets forth the indictment of Israel and Judah for their rebellion against God. In a series of pronouncements, God warns the nations that if they continue to reject him, they will face the certainty and severity of judgment. In 30:9-11, we see the reason for their judgment. In their rebellion, they refuse to listen to the instruction of the Lord. Yet the words of warning that God gives to Israel could easily be applied to our world today. They did not want prophets who confronted their sin and pointed them towards repentance. Instead, they wanted teachers and prophets who would only give promises of blessing. They wanted prophets who speak “pleasant words,” who p...
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The Justice and Mercy of God

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The Justice and Mercy of God. Isaiah 21-25 “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; for You have worked wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.”                   Chapters 13-24 recorded a series of devastating judgments of God against the sins of the nations surrounding Israel. The message was clear:  If a nation abandons God and embraces sin, it will face the consequence of God’s judgment. However, in chapters 24-25, we see the movement's climax in the prophecies. Instead of the judgment of God leading to anger towards God, it is to lead to the praise of God. We often praise God for his love, grace, and mercy, but how many times do we sing the praise of his judgment and his justice? We embrace a God of grace but deny God’s justice and holiness that brings severe judgment upon sin. Yet the anthem of praise recorded in chapter 24 begin...
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Certainty in a World of Uncertainty

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Certainty in a World of Uncertainty Isaiah 16-20 “In that day man will have regard for his Maker and his eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel.”                   Where do we find purpose, meaning, and security in a geopolitical world that is in the throes of confusion? When we look at the world, it seems as though chaos is ruling the day, and the world’s geopolitical world continues to be in turmoil. When the world was torn apart in WWI, it was touted as the war to end all wars, as world leaders believed that the devastation would lead to a new geopolitical environment where international cooperation would bring an end to such a devastating global conflict. However, before the ink was dry on the peace treaty to end the war, the seeds of international tension were already being sown that would lead to the outbreak of World War II. The idealism of global peace was destroyed by the creation o...
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The Fear of the Lord

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The Messiah who Delights in the Fear of God Isaiah 11-15 “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge, and the fear of the Lord. And he will delight in the Fear of the Lord…”                   When we read the prophets, we often see their message as one of doom and judgment. Indeed, a key part of the prophets' message is the reality of God’s judgment upon sin. We observe the seriousness and inevitability of judgment in Isaiah 13-15, where God declares the coming Day of the Lord. This will be a time when God will bring judgment upon sin and those who have rejected His grace. In verses 13:9-11, Isaiah provides a vivid depiction of God’s certainty judgment.                   However, as we read through the prophets an...
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Fear and Hope

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Tragedy and Hope  Isaiah 6-10 “The People who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.”                   The circumstances that surrounded Isaiah as he started his public ministry were a time of turbulence. The Assyrians were beginning to put military pressure in the region as they sought to exert and expand their power. The Northern tribes of Israel and their capital, Samaria, were under threat. As they sought to obtain security and protection from the threat, they revealed their true rebellion against God. Instead of turning to God, they turned to spiritual charlatans who said what they wanted to hear but did not call them back to God (8:19-20). Even though God sent Isaiah to call the people back to obedience, the people would continue in their rebellion and refuse to listen (6:9-13). Instead of finding peace, they became gripped ...
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What in the World is Going On!

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What is the World is Going On! Read Isaiah 1-5 “The expression of their Faces bears witness against them, and they display their sin like Sodom; they do not even conceal it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.” (3:9).                   We look at our nation and the world, and it is rapidly disintegrating in front of our eyes. We see our country being torn apart by the political division that is paralyzing our government and bringing us to the brink of disaster. The left condemns and blames the right, and the right condemns and blames the left. Both cry that if our country is to be saved, we need to get the right political leaders in place. However, both are mistaken. The problems confronting our nation are not political and cannot be solved by politicians or political parties. The problem is not with the politician or the political party in power. The problem is much deeper; it's...
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Keep the Flame Burning

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Keeping the Flame Burning Song of Solomon 7-8 “Many water cannot quench love, nor will rivers overflow it; if a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly despised.”                   Too many marriages end up as roommates sharing the same house rather than as friends and lovers sharing the same life. In chapters 7-8, we see both their passionate love for each other and their dedication to keeping the marriage exciting, wonderful, and joyful. Chapter 7 describes the physical joys of marriage in such vivid detail that it would cause the prudish to blush and try to make the description of the bride's physical virtues figurative rather than literal. But in doing so, we miss the point that the writer is making. God has created the physical relationship between husband and wife to be the expression of something far deeper. The joining of husband and wife in sexual intimac...
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