I'm really liking these massive verse dumps. Less typing for me. Seemingly longer posts. A+ in time efficiency :)
I've been reading through Isaiah for the last several months. I try to pick a couple of verses from each chapter that best summarize the main thought. Here's my reflections from Isaiah 24-35.
24:5-6 Universal Judgement
5 The earth is defiled by its people;
they have disobeyed the laws,
violated the statutes
and broken the everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore a curse consumes the earth;
its people must bear their guilt.
Therefore earth's inhabitants are burned up,
and very few are left.
25:8-9 Praise for the Future Kingdom
8 he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove the disgrace of his people
from all the earth.
The LORD has spoken.
9 In that day they will say,
"Surely this is our God;
we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the LORD, we trusted in him;
let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."
26:1-2 Salvation comes from the Lord
1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
We have a strong city;
God makes salvation
its walls and ramparts.
2 Open the gates
that the righteous nation may enter,
the nation that keeps faith.
27:6,9 Israel Delivered from Idols
6 In days to come Jacob will take root,
Israel will bud and blossom
and fill all the world with fruit.
9 By this, then, will Jacob's guilt be atoned for,
and this will be the full fruitage of the removal of his sin:
When he makes all the altar stones
to be like chalk stones crushed to pieces,
no Asherah poles [b] or incense altars
will be left standing.
28:13 Consequence of the Egyptian Temptation
13 So then, the word of the LORD to them will become:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule;
a little here, a little there—
so that they will go and fall backward,
be injured and snared and captured.
29:16 A Rebellious People
16 You turn things upside down,
as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to him who formed it,
"He did not make me"?
Can the pot say of the potter,
"He knows nothing"?
30:15 Israel Refuses to Trust in God
15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.
31:3 Consequences of Trusting in Egypt
3 But the Egyptians are men and not God;
their horses are flesh and not spirit.
When the LORD stretches out his hand,
he who helps will stumble,
he who is helped will fall;
both will perish together.
32:17 Effects of Righteousness
17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace;
the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
33:5-6 The Fear of the Lord
5 The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high;
he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.
6 He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. [a]
34:? Lost more destruction
35:3-4 Redeemed Mankind
3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts,
"Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you."
I spent about a month on these 12 chapters. Aside from a lot of vengeance I was consistently struck with how Israel was determined to place faith in everything other than the Lord. Things like Egypt, themselves, their plans, idols, their military, treaties, you name it. God beckons them again and again to place trust in Him, and only through that are they assured what they truly longed for: quietness, peace, comfort, rest, repentance, trust, and security. I love that God won't allow us to settle for a counterfeit source of security and rest.
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