June 21 / Isaiah 22:15-25; Isaiah 30-32

Isaiah 22:15-25; Isaiah 30-32 Let’s recall the historical situation into which Isaiah speaks. Isaiah is in the Southern Kingdom of Judah, where Hezekiah is king, a good king who follows the LORD. The Northern Kingdom of Israel is no more, having been destroyed by the exceedingly strong — and brutal — Assyrian empire. Now Assyria …

June 20 / Isaiah 18-20; 15-16

Isaiah 18-20; 15-16 The other day, I mentioned that in reading through Isaiah and the other prophets we should not miss the message of hope in Christ. Today we see that message clearly extended beyond Israel and Judah to foreign nations, specifically Cush, Egypt, Assyria, and Moab. (See Isaiah 18:7; 19:18-25; 16:3-5.) That is good …

June 17 / II Kings 18:1-12; Isaiah 10:5-12:6

II Kings 18:1-12; Isaiah 10:5-12:6 Several themes run through Isaiah that we would do well to recognize, but which I cannot possibly cover with any adequacy. We see a few of these today (as we have already in prior readings): Of course, this is just a sampling. Isaiah has much more to say than what …

June 16 / Isaiah 28-29; II Kings 17:5-41

Isaiah 28-29; II Kings 17:5-41 Exile for the Northern Kingdom of Israel! Having walked through Israel’s sordid history, surely we could see this coming! After two centuries of persistent idolatry, despite warnings from numerous prophets, Israel must face the music. II Kings 17 provides all the explanation, so I need not repeat it here. The …

June 15 / II Chronicles 27-28; II Kings 17:1-4

II Chronicles 27-28; II Kings 17:1-4 As mentioned yesterday, Micah alludes to child sacrifice: Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? Micah 6:7 With King Ahaz we see that Micah’s question is not just hypothetical. Micah is not expressing some abstract notion using a …

June 13 / Isaiah 14:24-32; II Kings 16:10-20; Micah 1-3

Isaiah 14:24-32; II Kings 16:10-20; Micah 1-3 The LORD of hosts has sworn:“As I have planned,so shall it be,and as I have purposed,so shall it stand…” Isaiah 14:24 For the LORD of hosts has purposed,and who will annul it?His hand is stretched out,and who will turn it back? Isaiah 14:27 The context of these verses …

June 12 / II Kings 16:5-9; Isaiah 7-10:4; Isaiah 17

II Kings 16:5-9; Isaiah 7-10:4; Isaiah 17 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 Sound familiar? Even if you have never read Isaiah before, it would be hard to have missed this one. We hear it …