Isaiah 48. Celebrate! Be Happy! Shout as You Go!

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Because of the importance of Israel and its people, and my personal love for The Land, I’m inviting you to join me through the key Old Testament book of Isaiah.  Each day I’m posting some simple thoughts about this complex prophet.

Isaiah 48.

This is the culmination of 400 years of Babylonian captivity. Today is a day to rejoice!

“Today I am doing something new, something you cannot say you have heard before.” (v7, CEV).

The Lord says He tested the people of Israel in the hard times of captivity, tested them to refine them as silver is refined in the fire. You’ve heard this example, I’m sure: As silver is purified there is a black dross that separates from the genuine silver. How does the silversmith know when the silver is perfectly refined? When the dross is completely burned off and he can see his reflection in the pure silver.

So, today, the refining process is complete. Israel finally, once again, is reflecting the image of God, not of other idols or gods.

So, this leads to their freedom!

“I am the holy LORD God. The One who rescues you. For your own good, I teach you and I lead you among the right path… Now leave Babylon! Celebrate as you go! Be happy and shout for everyone to hear: “The LORD has rescued, has redeemed His servant Israel!” (v17,20, CEV).

He has redeemed us, too. The people of Israel were rescued by God at the hand of King Cyrus. We are redeemed by Jesus!

Celebrate! Be happy! Shout as you go!

And as for the people of Babylon? “There is no peace, says the LORD,  for the wicked.” (v22, NIV).

I believe the flip side is also true. There IS peace in abundance for those who live in goodness and grace. In Jesus, there is freedom from the captivity of sin and an overflow of peace. His perfect Shalom. His perfect joy!

 

If you’re new to this journey through Isaiah, you can start here.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald.

Isaiah 44. The LORD is the Source of Your Life.

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Because of the importance of Israel and its people, and my personal love for The Land, I’m inviting you to join me through the key Old Testament book of Isaiah.  Each day I’m posting some simple thoughts about this complex prophet.

Isaiah 44.

We start with a promise that was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, in Acts, Chapter 2: “I will pour my Spirit into your descendants and my blessing on your children.” (v3, MSG). Can we live today without the Holy Spirit? Not at all! God has blessed us with His Spirit. That’s a direct answer to this prophecy!

Isaiah continues to speak about the greatness of God, quoting God himself. Again, as in chapter 42, there are lots of “I Am” statements, which are really big deals.

That’s why Jesus raised so many eyebrows when He used the phrase “I Am…” in the Gospel of John. Only God is the great “I Am.” And how could Jesus, a man, also be God? The Pharisees who challenged Jesus found out at the resurrection, the Son, the Messiah, is also God!

Isaiah also takes note of the eminence of God in comparison to idols made with mere human hands. There is God. Then there is the polar opposite: an idol made of wood. The same wood used to cook your dinner can be fashioned into something one might worship? “How can anyone be stupid enough to trust something that can be burned to ashes?” (v20, CEV).

And it causes me to ask, “What man-made object am I trusting in?” I might not worship money, but do I trust it to provide security for my future? Or do I truly trust only God? Are there things in our life that consume more of our energy than the Lord and serving Him?

“I am the LORD. The source of your life and I have rescued you!” (v 24).

He is worthy of our worship. He is worthy of our praise and our complete trust! Let everything in all of Creation praise the Almighty.

“Tell the heavens and the earth to start singing! Tell the mountains and every tree in the forest to join in the song! The Lord has rescued his people; now they will worship Him.” (v23, CEV).

If you’re new to this journey through Isaiah, you can start here.

(c) 2020. Rich Ronald.