Skip to main content

April 23 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 113

There's a lot of politics involved in today's readings.  Consequently, it can be hard to understand everything that's happening or make all the connections to the nations that are mentioned.  Just remember that we're hearing a prophetic voice in the midst of those circumstances.

Image result for Isaiah preached naked

DAILY READINGS

Isaiah 18-22 & Psalm 113



DAILY NOTES

Isaiah 18



  • Ethiopia is going to bless Israel with gifts.
Isaiah 19
  • God has judgement for Egypt.  
  • Later, Egypt, Assyria and Israel will be a 3-fold blessing.
Isaiah 20
  • Don't worry!  You'll never have to worry about this happening at our church.
Isaiah 21
  • God denounces 3 foreign nations.
Isaiah 22
  • Instead of mourning their sins as God told them to do, the people of Israel celebrated victory.  So, God gives them a warning of destruction.
Psalm 113
  • A psalm about God's willingness to help those who are in need.


OTHER OBSERVATIONS

We're all mature adults.  So, let's not freak out too much about the naked prophet.



Ok.  I'll admit; it's a little funny.  And some commentators suggest that he wasn't completely naked; he only wore extremely torn and wore out garments.  You decide.



What would drive him to that?  Of course, God told him to.  We also understand that Isaiah strongly opposed a potential multi-national revolt against Assyria.  This was Isaiah's best (most dramatic?) way to indicate what he thought would be the result of such an action.



Sure, it's extreme.  But is there anything you feel passionately about that you would do/say something as dramatic in order to communicate the kind of danger Isaiah saw?



If so, then you probably understand where Isaiah is coming from.  If not, then you probably need to get more passionate about things that matter.



Stay blessed...john

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March 24 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 83 The relationship between Saul and David worsens.  David is now Saul's enemy.   DAILY READINGS 1 Samuel 18-20 & Psalm 83 DAILY NOTES 1 Samuel 18 Saul's delight for David quickly turns.  Saul is jealous of David's success and the fact that everyone else seems to like David more than him. Of course, we have to think about what this evil spirit from the Lord might mean. Saul tries to kill David.  He even devises a plan to have him married into the royal family so that he can create a snare for him. What does it say about David that, even after Saul has tried to kill him, he still finds it an honor to be married to the family? David escapes Saul's traps.  So, from here on out, the text says that Saul considered David an enemy.  Think he knows what it means to love your enemies? 1 Samuel 19 Verse 5 reminds us of David's fight with Goliath.  At this point, David has fought other times.  What makes that ...
Post a Comment
Read more

May 23 + Daily readings & notes

DAY 143 DAILY READINGS Job 12-15 & Psalm 138 DAILY NOTES Job 12 Surely, Job says, his friends don't think they're the only ones with wisdom?  Plus, they are telling him anything that isn't known by all.   Maybe they aren't as smart as they think they are? God holds true wisdom.  "With God are wisdom and strength" (vs. 13). Job 13 Job's friends have taken it upon themselves to speak on behalf of God.  Job considers their representation to be false because they have not considered Job's condition. Job 14 Job's prayer to God continues. We see a bit of the book's larger vision in these verses.  Job recognizes, and wants God to remember, that all humanity shares the same days of life.   Job 15 Eliphaz considers that Job's questioning hinders God and would keep others from knowing God. Psalm 138 The praise of the psalmist is a communal act.   God has been faithful and the psalmist wants to thank God...
Post a Comment
Read more

March 2 + Daily readings & notes

DAY 61 I didn't include any daily notes today.  While they may seem strange, most of the laws we're reading about today are pretty straightforward.   Today's Bible Project video gives a final look at what the book of Deuteronomy is about.   DAILY READINGS Deuteronomy 24-27 & Psalm 61 OTHER OBSERVATIONS Within many of the commands of God given to the Israelites is the notion to remember.  Remember you were slaves to Egypt.  Remember what happened to Miriam.  Remember. The point is to remember what God has done and that the Israelites are now God's own people.  You can almost hear someone ask, "Why do we have to do [fill in the blank]?"  Because we are God's!  Remember it was the Lord who delivered us.  So, this is his way to be holy. Even the psalmist (in Psalm 61) picks up on this.  In speaking of God's protection, he says that God has given him the "heritage of those who fear your name."  ...
Post a Comment
Read more