An era of maddening war when everything contends this world can only be cruel. The year is 734 BC. The Northern Kingdom of Israel and Syria allied together, shaped by a shared purpose, to overthrow Judah in the South. An unfathomable force—an army of soldiers with weapons blazing and banners flying—assemble for battle. These forces […]
Isaiah 35:1-10: Our Wilderness Desolation into God’s Saving Sanctuary
December 11, 2022 by
The desert, a barren and harsh environment can teach us much. Its keen stillness can supply us with moments of clarity in lives too often swirling with chaos. Unforgiving sun and relentless sands can, likewise, lead us to pause and ponder the struggles we face. So Isaiah does in his prophetic poetry while tapping into […]
The Gospel According to Isaiah: Isaiah 4o:1-11
December 8, 2017 by
The moving descriptions of a foretold Messiah earned Isaiah his nickname: “The Fifth Evangelist.” Did our Old-Testament reading for today not confirm this? Still, what a contrast to the dispatch God earlier directed Isaiah to deliver, in chapter 6. Go and tell the people: “Be ever hearing, but never comprehending; always seeing, but never perceiving.” […]
The Gospel According to Isaiah: Isaiah 64:1-9
December 8, 2017 by
The poetry in Isaiah is striking. The turns of phrase and imagery amplify and repeat. The people are like grass, soon turning into flowers wilting in the intense, Middle-Eastern sun. Next, valleys are twisting upward, reaching for the sky, while mountains flatten as they become molten. Such power resonates in those well-crafted words. A Hebrew […]
From Adam to Jesus, Lesson 7: The New Covenant Foretold in the Prophets
December 16, 2012 by
The Davidic Covenant and kingdom did not reach its peak during Old Testament times under David, but his Son, Solomon. The Temple is built Following the instructions that David had given Solomon, Solomon had the Temple built. 1 Kings 8 tells us of Solomon having the Ark of the Covenant brought into the new Temple. […]
