Isaiah 25

7 1 On this mountain he will destroy
    the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
8     he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
    from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace
    from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.


Sometimes when thinking about the prophecies of the bible, my skeptical side thinks....we'll they knew what was foretold, so they could have made things happen that way.  Or, it's a little vague so I guess it fits.

But, this is so cut and dry.  It has been translated through multiple languages and multiple translations.....and yet its so perfect.

Earlier in the chapter it says, "Lord, you are my God;
    I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
    you have done wonderful things,
    things planned long ago."

I don't know why its so hard to sit in the belief that its all playing out according to his plan.  A plan that was hatched "long ago."  He is in ultimate control.

So, things like the Voluntary Separation decision....don't feel so heavy, do they?  It's all going like he wants.  He laid it all out a LONG time ago.

I'll probably be a little spotty from here to the end of the year.  But, I'll try to stay up with it.

tp

Isaiah 23-24

24:21 In that day the Lord will punish
    the powers in the heavens above
    and the kings on the earth below.

More of a wondering today than a take since I wasn't getting much.  This one caught my eye, who is it that God will be punishing in the end times?   Matthew Henry's commentary says it includes or is angels who went beyond their powers are are being held in chains until the end times.  So to me that would mean there are angels getting in trouble all the time and getting locked up, I don't see any reason it would only have occurred before the end of the Bible times.

not sure I buy it, this seems like an example of our little human minds trying to make sense of something we can't comprehend.  sometimes I just have to leave it to faith rather than torture my brain.  I will say Matthew Henry cited some other scripture to support his analysis--so not trying to throw him under the bus.

knut

Isaiah 22

11 You built a reservoir between the two walls
    for the water of the Old Pool,
but you did not look to the One who made it,
    or have regard for the One who planned it long ago.

I feel like I am this verse today.  I received a voluntary separation offer the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  I quickly did some math, engaged my investment guy to analyze and have thought about if we can financially make it if I retire now.  But honestly not once have I asked God what he has planned for me now.  I'm looking at the pool of money we have saved and making our own plans without asking the help of the one who gave it all to us.

So now I have a few days left to make a decision.  I am asking God, show me how you want to use me whether its where I'm at in Deere or maybe in some other way?  I really want to do what we wants me to do.

knut

Isaiah 20-21

21:9 Look, here comes a man in a chariot
    with a team of horses.
And he gives back the answer:
    ‘Babylon has fallen, has fallen!
All the images of its gods
    lie shattered on the ground!’”

Struggling to find anything in these last two chapters.  I always wonder why God put some things in the bible--limited words and he chose this to tell us there must be something to learn from it.

I imagine the lookout was quite surprised to report the fall of Babylon, even though its fall had been predicted. 

knut

Isaiah 19

22 The Lord will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the Lord, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.

I picked this verse, because it is a microcosm of the entire bible.  And really you could say, it describes our complete human existence with God.  We are happy with him, then we start to rely on ourselves and turn away.  He gets angry.  We cry out to him to save us....and he does.  Over and over and over.

It has to be exhausting to him.  And horribly frustrating. 
I'm probably not strong enough to break that chain, but just realizing that how we are and being humble about it....is probably a great first step.

tp

Isaiah 18

7 At that time gifts will be brought to the Lord Almighty

from a people tall and smooth-skinned,
    from a people feared far and wide,
an aggressive nation of strange speech,
    whose land is divided by rivers—

the gifts will be brought to Mount Zion, the place of the Name of the Lord Almighty.

Might this nation be the US?  tall people, feared around the world, divided by the Mississippi and others?  hmmm

I found others that wondered the same thing, but I also sense they are wantingly (if thats a word) reading into the bible for a prophecy that includes the US.  So i think i'd need to do a lot more research before I came to this as a conclusion.  But it is an interesting thought that the US might be a part of what was written in the bible.

knut

Isaiah 17

17 A prophecy against Damascus:

“See, Damascus will no longer be a city
    but will become a heap of ruins.

Nothing real specific today, I've read it a few times.  I guess we as a human race can keep an eye on Damascus, when it takes a fall Jesus return must be near behind.  It is amazing after all of these years to see how that region of the world is still at the center of much of the world news--with all the violence and tensions its not hard to see a day when a place like Damascus could be wiped out.

knut

Isaiah 15-16

16:4-5 “When this is all over,” Judah answers,
    “the tyrant toppled,
The killing at an end,
    all signs of these cruelties long gone,
A new government of love will be established
    in the venerable David tradition.
A Ruler you can depend upon
    will head this government,
A Ruler passionate for justice,
    a Ruler quick to set things right.”


I didn't take much away but again just soaking in the prophecy of Jesus coming and the accuracy of statements made so far ahead of the events occurring.  I like the Message version today.

Edit:---on further research maybe this is not a reference to Jesus??? I really am not sure.  The capitalization of Ruler made me think it was but in doing a little more research after making my post I'm less certain? 

knut

Isaiah 14

23 “I will turn her into a place for owls
    and into swampland;
I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,”
    declares the Lord Almighty.

Babylon would be reduced to swampland
Bible prophecy: Isaiah 14:23
Prophecy written: Between 701-681 BC
Prophecy fulfilled: 539 BC

In Isaiah 14:23, the prophet said that Babylon, which had been a world power at two different times in history, would be brought to a humble and final end. It would be reduced to swampland. After Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC, the kingdom never again rose to power. The buildings of Babylon fell into a gradual state of ruin during the next several centuries. Archaeologists excavated Babylon during the 1800s. Some parts of the city could not be dug up because they were under a water table that had risen over the years.

No specific takeaway, but again I continue to be amazed a prophecy.  I wonder back in 539BC as word spread about Babylon was it clear to people what had just happened?  Did they recognize the prophecy being realized and did it make any believers out of doubters?  Does it today?  It should.

knut

Isaiah 12-13

Well 12 was short and I didn't get any take aways so I went onto 13, kinda of the same reaction.  But what a stark contrast between the two chapters--rejoicing and praising God to hearing the prophecy of complete destruction of Babylon.


19 Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms,
    the pride and glory of the Babylonians,[b]
will be overthrown by God
    like Sodom and Gomorrah.

from what i researched this was fulfilled 150 years after it was written--probably seemed pretty unlikely when he wrote it.  again i'd love to spend more time digging into these as they fascinate me.

knut

Isaiah 11

1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

I'd need to research more but this is a huge prophecy in this single line.  Its pointing out decimation that is coming then from that low point of nothing significant being left 1 sprout will turn out to be a tree with fruit. 

I believe this tree is first David and ultimately Jesus, so coming from a place of nothing in the society of the time to being the Messiah of all time.

--side note I just found Christianity, Islam and Mormonism all rely on Isaiah as a key prophet.  Mormonism actually uses Chapter 11 as a foundation for their entire beliefs saying that John Smith is fulfillment of this prophecy.  i didn't research beyond that so i don't know why they believe that

prophecy as well as how Islam and Christianity intersect always fascinates me, when i retire maybe i'll dig in more
knut

Isaiah 10

3 What will you do on the day of reckoning,
    when disaster comes from afar?
To whom will you run for help?
    Where will you leave your riches?

I was struggling today to get a message or take away.  I read what I wrote back in 2013 and it is still a good reflection to consider.  Am I ready today if this is The Day?  I say yes!  But I also think do I really live in a way that shows I am ready for Jesus return at any single moment?  Everyday?? 

hmm
knut

Isaiah 9

So God hacked off Israel’s head and tail,
    palm branch and reed, both on the same day.
The big-head elders were the head,    the lying prophets were the tail. 

quick take today.  It seems the people that anger God the most, are always the religious leaders.  Jesus faced the same thing with the Pharisees and the only time he got outwardly angry was in the temple.  Isn't that a strange thing to think about?  The people that sometimes are the farthest from God's heart are those that are supposed to be the closest.....weird.

tp

Isaiah 8

When people tell you, “Try out the fortunetellers.
    Consult the spiritualists.
Why not tap into the spirit-world,
    get in touch with the dead?”
Tell them, “No, we’re going to study the Scriptures.”
    People who try the other ways get nowhere—a dead end!
Frustrated and famished,
    they try one thing after another.
When nothing works out they get angry,
    cursing first this god and then that one,
Looking this way and that,
    up, down, and sideways—and seeing nothing,
A blank wall, an empty hole.
    They end up in the dark with nothing.

This is one that sometimes, I feel alone in.  I frequently hear of people throwing parties where they invite a psychic or medium to read peoples futures.....and I think "what are you doing?"  Kim has even been to some of them.  She says, "its just for entertainment."  But, I think the bible is clear that we should stay away from that stuff, and stay focused on the word and on God.  Anything else takes you just slightly off course.  Over time, that "slight" misplaced direction can take you REALLY far off the right path.  
Wow!  That sounded preachy today!

tp

Isaiah 7

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[c] a sign: The virgin[d] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[e] will call him Immanuel.[f] 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,

No great take-away this morning.  Just love this verse and the prediction of a savior.  It all fits together, like pieces of a puzzle put together over thousands of years.  
Pretty amazing!

tp

Isaiah 6

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

I would love to say that is me.  I would love to be burning with desire to serve God that I shout 'Send Me!'  into whatever situation he needs me to serve.  I think reality is I have a much more cautious approach---let me analyze the situation for a moment.   Yes ok, this seems ok not too much risk or overly difficult and within my comfort zone--yes I'll do it. 

Too be candid I don't see myself changing clear to Here am I. Send Me!, but maybe I can move on the spectrum closer to that end.

knut

Isaiah 5

8-10 Doom to you who buy up all the houses
    and grab all the land for yourselves—
Evicting the old owners,
    posting no trespassing signs,
Taking over the country,
    leaving everyone homeless and landless.
I overheard God-of-the-Angel-Armies say:
“Those mighty houses will end up empty.
    Those extravagant estates will be deserted.
A ten-acre vineyard will produce a pint of wine,
    a fifty-pound sack of seed, a quart of grain.”

For me I see a reminder not to get caught up in treasures of this world.  For me its not so grand as this verse, I'm not creating a kingdom.  But at the same time I'm not out helping the homeless and the landless.  So if I'm not with them am I against them?  Am I using God's gifts to me to help others?  Maybe not the point of this chapter but it came to my mind.

knut

Isaiah 4

2 In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel.

Just makes me think about how God can give a fresh start to anyone who turns their life over to him.  

knut  

Isaiah 3

12 12  Skinny kids terrorize my people.

uh-oh!  I'm in trouble.

The Master will fix it so those Zion women
    will all turn bald

I'm feeling a little persecuted today!

All this bad stuff happening.....just because the people are not living in accordance with God.  Pretty simple lesson, I think.

tp

Isaiah 2

God, you’ve walked out on your family Jacob
    because their world is full of hokey religion,
Philistine witchcraft, and pagan hocus-pocus,
    a world rolling in wealth,
Stuffed with things,
    no end to its machines and gadgets,
And gods—gods of all sorts and sizes.
    These people make their own gods and worship what they make.
A degenerate race, facedown in the gutter.
    Don’t bother with them! They’re not worth forgiving!

Holy bananas!  Was this written a couple of thousand years ago.....or was it written yesterday?!  Are we really still dealing with EXACTLY the same things?  All the wealth, all the gadgets.....that is us!  
I completely agree that we are "worth forgiving."  Fortunately, my forgiveness isn't based on my performance.  Its based on my acknowledgment that I need it!

tp out

Isaiah 1

13-17 “Quit your worship charades.
    I can’t stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
    meetings, meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
    You’ve worn me out!
I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion,
    while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
    I’ll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
    I’ll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing
    people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
Go home and wash up.
    Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
    so I don’t have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
    Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
    Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
    Go to bat for the defenseless.

I know this a LOT to copy/paste, but I really like it.  It speaks to me in a way that I've been feeling lately.  I think people, in general, are sick of religion.  We need to get back to relationship with God.  Maybe I'm talking to myself here!  Sometimes that's hard and it doesn't come easy.  It requires a lot more work.  But, if you stay in the "religion" camp too long, it becomes hollow.

peace, out

Song of Solomon 8

The Woman

14 Run to me, dear lover.
    Come like a gazelle.
Leap like a wild stag
    on the spice mountains.

I got nothing today.  I must have read through it 5 times.  In several translations...

My only take is in the understanding of why Kim says the above line to me sometimes.  Now I know where it comes from....hahahaha!  NOT!

tp