Day 181: Isaiah, one of my favorite prophets.
So much so that I have a quote tatooed on my back,
Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon fashioned against you shall prosper.” with my business logo of my Tri-fish (for the Trinity) right in the middle of it. The finishing of the verse is: “…and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.”
Isaiah, as with many prophets, can seem to see into the future. He has been able to not only appear to witness Christ’s birth, but his life, and crucifixion, as well. He seems to be the most quoted prophet in the Bible by writers.
ok, it’s backwards to you…
Isaiah gets to deliver horrible news to the Jewish people. He lived about 700+ years before Christ came. His job was to let the Jewish people know that they would always be blessed for their obedience, but punished for their continued sins. Both, Israel and Judah would be basically wiped off from the map. Those that survived the massacre of the invaders, will turn to God (again) and get a fresh start.
But, God has tired of their false ways. Following ritual without heart, making offerings to just make offerings, but without heart, praying for show…. God is sickened by their hypocrisy. Who doesn’t tire of that? Seems there is a lot of that, these days. And, He is upset that they follow Pharaoh, instead of listening to Him.
It seems that with all the history that the Jewish people have with God since they were formed, that when they listen to His ways, they are blessed with abundance and happiness. When they turn from Him and follow the worldly ways — whether for pleasure or what they believe is protection — they always lose. Always. God let’s them go do their thing for a while, but when they refuse to change, even with warnings, He puts His very great foot down. And so that the same way of thinking doesn’t continue, He must wait until a generation, or two, have deceased. Then He can start over.
That is true today, and I believe that is why we are suffering all the chaos that we are — we turned away, thought we knew more, and now we are paying the consequences. Then, true to human nature, we scream “where is God” and He doesn’t care because He is letting all these bad things happen to us! Or, even worse, “there is no God or He would stop this!” Hardly ever are those complaining turning their full heart to Him. I am not going to say that I have not wondered why the chaos, but when I sit quietly, I know why. Even in my own personal way.
Isaiah 6: 11–12 states how long… “Then said I (Isaiah asking), Lord, how long? (Meaning how long does he have to keep on the Jewish people, because he is tired, also.) And He answered, Until the cities be wasted without habitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate.” “And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.”
But, it is not forever, and the coming of the Messiah is spoken of. Chapter 9 verses 6–7 states,
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, the Prince of peace.”
“Of the increase of His government and peace, there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
During Isaiah’s life, there is some cataclysmic happening, but it is not sure what. It could have been an earthquake, meteor, drought, or any number of things. One thing is clear, it destroys and consumes earth. People hide in their homes from intruders. But, He isn’t reserving all this just for the Jewish people, the invaders will get their due, also. Many cities are left to God’s wrath for all they have done to other people.
All is not in pain, as even though God’s anger is harsh, He is fully able to restore through his Grace. Jerusalem is rebuilt.
