I’ve really been enjoying our Thursday afternoon Bible Study. We have been going through the book of Isaiah, a book which we read often enough in Church, but often outside of its original context. Isaiah was written over time between about 700-530 BC. There was great conflict going on in the Middle East and the Jewish people were right in the middle of it. The regional superpower kept changing and each new power brought with it new fears for the Kingdom of Judah and the city of Jerusalem in particular. First The Assyrian empire conquered the cities around Jerusalem and laid siege to it. There was fear of conquest and the Assyrians stripped the monetary wealth from the city. Eventually they were delivered from the threat of the Assyrians and they maintained their independence. Roughly 100 years later the superpower was the Babylonians who did succeed in taking over Jerusalem they installed a puppet government and the nation was only nominally independent. About 20 years later that all changed, the people of Jerusalem revolted but their revolt failed. Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, leveled the temple of Solomon, and forcibly relocated tens of thousands of Jewish people. Then in the 530’s the Persians became the new superpower and they helped to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem and let the Jewish people return home, they were free to go home and worship God as they saw fit. Quite a turbulent time without a doubt and throughout it all the book of Isaiah was being written. Offering warnings, hope, comfort and Guidance about how to live as Gods people during all this fear, uncertainty and upheaval. The Book starts with a warning that the nation had lost it’s way, a warning that losing it way could result in destruction at the hands of ther Assrians, and that the nation needed to return to God.
Isaiah 1
1 The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth, for the Lord has spoken: I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know; my people do not understand. 4 Woe, sinful nation, people laden with iniquity, offspring who do evil, children who corruptly, who have forsaken the Lord, who have despised the Holy One of Israel, who are utterly estranged!
It feels as pertinent now as it did then. The Middle East continues to be a land of turmoil and war. Currently Israel and Palestine are in the midst of a heated conflict and the civilian population of Palestine is suffering and dying. I feel as if Isaiah would have a word or two to share with Israel. A call to return to the LORD to end their iniquity, to not deal corruptly with others. To me Israel seems to be a nation that has lost it’s way and many Palestinian civilians are dying as a result. The conflict is boiling over across the globe and in our nation too. Supporters of Israel are clashing with supporters of Palestine and its ugly all around. This is why I’m drawn to Isaiah, because it was written in a time like this and can be of particular guidance in such times. Listen to the Lord, deal Justly with others, show them mercy, do not conform to the ways of the world returning evil for evil but seek out God’s way.
When the Assyrians were approaching King Hezekiah returned the people to worshiping God and they were not destroyed. I pray for such leadership today, not to avoid conquest because today it is Israel who stands as conqueror but rather so they do not lose themselves morally. May God’s Justice prevail may we all return to the LORD
Peace,
Pastor Jamie
Isaiah 1
1 The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth, for the Lord has spoken: I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know; my people do not understand. 4 Woe, sinful nation, people laden with iniquity, offspring who do evil, children who corruptly, who have forsaken the Lord, who have despised the Holy One of Israel, who are utterly estranged!
It feels as pertinent now as it did then. The Middle East continues to be a land of turmoil and war. Currently Israel and Palestine are in the midst of a heated conflict and the civilian population of Palestine is suffering and dying. I feel as if Isaiah would have a word or two to share with Israel. A call to return to the LORD to end their iniquity, to not deal corruptly with others. To me Israel seems to be a nation that has lost it’s way and many Palestinian civilians are dying as a result. The conflict is boiling over across the globe and in our nation too. Supporters of Israel are clashing with supporters of Palestine and its ugly all around. This is why I’m drawn to Isaiah, because it was written in a time like this and can be of particular guidance in such times. Listen to the Lord, deal Justly with others, show them mercy, do not conform to the ways of the world returning evil for evil but seek out God’s way.
When the Assyrians were approaching King Hezekiah returned the people to worshiping God and they were not destroyed. I pray for such leadership today, not to avoid conquest because today it is Israel who stands as conqueror but rather so they do not lose themselves morally. May God’s Justice prevail may we all return to the LORD
Peace,
Pastor Jamie
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