July 20 - Isaiah 8-12
Oops, I missed a chapter when I told you what I was going to read today. I am sure you figured that out. It made for a long passage, but a good one. I pray that the Lord used these chapters to speak to your heart. Even though chapters 8-12 contain a lot of special verses and a lot of information, I want to share two things that stuck out to me.
When some scholars teach the Old Testament, they say that the laws of God do not apply to the USA, because Israel was a theocracy based on God's rule, and America is just a democratic republic. The problem with that assessment is that God's laws apply to everyone in the world, because His laws are truth, and truth is true for everyone everywhere every time. Isaiah makes this point in this passage by speaking about Assyria. God chose the pagan power, Assyria, to punish Israel and Judah. They were arrogant, and they thought it was their gods who gave them the victory over the God of Israel. God allowed this for a time, but then, He brought them down as punishment for their sins, too. They did not believe in God's laws, but they did apply to them. Basically, we could say that God is a totally just God. His laws reflect His character. He always acts in line with His character. He does not want anyone to think sin is right, so He punishes sin. He uses that punishment to draw people to Himself. They begin to see that His way is the only way.
The second thing in this passage is the restoration of God for those who sin. He punished Israel, but He told them a remnant of the people would be saved from destruction, they would return to the Promised Land, and He would bless them. In fact, in the future He would send the Son to sit on David's throne and reign over a time of peace and righteousness like the world has never seen before. This should have given great hope to the people. They should have longed for God to send the Light, after they wandered in the darkness for so long. This is such a great truth for us today. What is God's will for a person who sins? Does God simply destroy them? No, if they will repent of their sins, God will restore them. In fact, He will make their lives better than they have ever been. That is God's will for every person. He wants us to have a full and meaningful life. When we fall into sin, He does not cast us off. He is standing with His hands out still to restore us, if we return to Him with all of our hearts.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 13-16.
When some scholars teach the Old Testament, they say that the laws of God do not apply to the USA, because Israel was a theocracy based on God's rule, and America is just a democratic republic. The problem with that assessment is that God's laws apply to everyone in the world, because His laws are truth, and truth is true for everyone everywhere every time. Isaiah makes this point in this passage by speaking about Assyria. God chose the pagan power, Assyria, to punish Israel and Judah. They were arrogant, and they thought it was their gods who gave them the victory over the God of Israel. God allowed this for a time, but then, He brought them down as punishment for their sins, too. They did not believe in God's laws, but they did apply to them. Basically, we could say that God is a totally just God. His laws reflect His character. He always acts in line with His character. He does not want anyone to think sin is right, so He punishes sin. He uses that punishment to draw people to Himself. They begin to see that His way is the only way.
The second thing in this passage is the restoration of God for those who sin. He punished Israel, but He told them a remnant of the people would be saved from destruction, they would return to the Promised Land, and He would bless them. In fact, in the future He would send the Son to sit on David's throne and reign over a time of peace and righteousness like the world has never seen before. This should have given great hope to the people. They should have longed for God to send the Light, after they wandered in the darkness for so long. This is such a great truth for us today. What is God's will for a person who sins? Does God simply destroy them? No, if they will repent of their sins, God will restore them. In fact, He will make their lives better than they have ever been. That is God's will for every person. He wants us to have a full and meaningful life. When we fall into sin, He does not cast us off. He is standing with His hands out still to restore us, if we return to Him with all of our hearts.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 13-16.