Isaiah

Isaiah / chapter 66 (read the chapter)

If there was one thing my parents loved to do together, it was remodeling. When I was 10, we moved into the house my mom still lives in, and I don’t think there was one square inch of it that didn’t need remodeling. Consequently, there is now no square inch of the house that doesn’t have a remodeling “story” attached to it. No matter where I look, I will always see my mom and dad when I walk through the house and remember how, for much of my childhood, we could only watch Sunday morning cartoons if we were simultaneously using the heat gun to strip the paint off of old windows. (My mom says she doesn’t remember that part.) Continue Reading »

Isaiah / chapter 65 (read the chapter)

A few years ago, the Christian band Newsboys released a song titled, “God is Not a Secret to Be Kept.” And there’s a lot of truth to that. Those of us who know and love God shouldn’t keep Him to ourselves, and frankly, it would be quite hard to do so. When you’ve found something awesome, you want to share it with others! Continue Reading »

Isaiah / chapter 64 (read the chapter)

You can finish that sentence, right? God helps those who help themselves. But where did we ever get that idea? Certainly not from Isaiah 64. Here, he says quite the opposite: “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” (vs 4) Continue Reading »

Isaiah / chapter 63 (read the chapter)

This chapter of Isaiah begins with a question and an answer from God Himself: “Who is this Who comes from Edom, with crimson-stained garments from Bozrah? This One Who is glorious in His apparel, striding triumphantly in the greatness of His might? It is I, Who speaks in righteousness, mighty to save!” (vs 1) Continue Reading »

Isaiah / chapter 62 (read the chapter)

I’ve had a little love affair with jewelry ever since I was a girl. Nothing fancy, mind you. My eye is mostly attracted to costume jewelry—even though I don’t wear it often. I think I like the thought of wearing it more than the actual wearing of it! Continue Reading »

Isaiah / chapter 61 (read the chapter)

My ten-month-old daughter is just beginning to find her feet. For some time now, she has been pulling herself up into a standing position at the sofa, taking a tentative step to the right or left, only to come quickly crashing down on her behind. But just the other day, she started “cruising,” walking smoothly around the perimeter of the sofa while holding onto the cushions. It’s only a matter of time. Continue Reading »

Isaiah / chapter 60 (read the chapter)

I have seen many stories of late about the declining number of Christians in North America. Many denominations are faced with the problem of how to “keep” the members they have, let alone trying to find ways to attract new ones. In some places, I’m sure it seems little more than a numbers game, with pastors reporting how many baptisms or transfers of membership they’ve garnered in the previous year. Continue Reading »

Isaiah / chapter 59 (read the chapter)

This chapter touches on one of the greatest theological questions of our time: how can there be an all-loving, all-powerful God when there is so much suffering in the world? For, certainly, if we had the power to end the suffering of someone we loved, wouldn’t we do it? That’s how many people come to the conclusion that (a) God must not be all-powerful and, thus, cannot do anything about our suffering or (b) God must either not love us or not exist at all. Continue Reading »

Isaiah / chapter 58 (read the chapter)

In this chapter, God exposed the Israelites’ empty practice of two religious rituals—fasting and Sabbath-keeping: “On the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high . . . If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, (vs 3-4, 13-14) Continue Reading »

Isaiah / chapter 57 (read the chapter)

To me, one of the most wonderful things about God is that He isn’t a snob. No matter who we are, no matter where we’ve come from, no matter what we’ve done, when God looks at us, He sees one of His precious children. There is nothing in Him that is aloof or standoffish. He has no interest in maintaining a pecking order in His creation. He will stoop to relate to His creatures anywhere, anytime. Continue Reading »