Let the Prophets Speak

Isaiah teaches us that redemption and true knowledge requires humility, that God does not desire deeds without meaning, and that to understand wisdom, one needs to use his heart.

The scoffers laugh as Isaiah teaches them about Justice and Righteousness. Look at is now! Who are the "leaders" of Jerusalem. Isaiah warns them to listen carefully. What you see now is not what will always be. God will build a tower based of justice and righteousness. But His ways are strange, difficult and impossible for us humans to understand. Isaiah explains with a parable about a farmer.

Isaiah laments how the people just don't listen. They continue walking on the path of destruction and refuse to listen to the words of God. What is left for the prophet to do? He can only try a little lesson here and a little lesson there, and maybe someone will learn.

The evil nations and people are destroyed, the righteous come to Jerusalem and build a new world. On that day, we will see justice.

The Jewish people have suffered so much in exile, but they still turn to God. We are tired, we have suffered, but it is as if nothing changes, just peace is all we ask. God reassures us, just wait in your homes, justice will come.

Isaiah describes the song of rejoicing that will be sung as the gates of Jerusalem will be opened for all the righteous nations to enter. All who have been humbled and ready to learn God's message, all will be welcome in Jerusalem for God's feast.

One day, God will host all of the nations of the world. Sadness and death will be a thing of the past. Pure joy will reign, but the haughty and arrogant will not be invited.

What an amazing feat has God accomplished! Isaiah teaches that only God can destroy evil but still be a shelter for the humble. Only God can bring the haughty to fear Him, and only God can be both awesomely powerful and just as well.

Isaiah describes the justice of the end of times, and cries over the suffering of the wicked. If only they had come back to God instead of rebelling! They shall not be forgotten, so that for all time the lessons will be learned. Justice is what God desires from humanity, and true honor is only for those who are with God.

The world is depressed and desolate as suffering takes over the world, but the far off nations of the sea teach us to sing again. They teach us to sing the songs of God, that our suffering was due to our own transgressions, and that through humility and coming together to worship God we can celebrate together once again.

This is Isaiah's vision of the apocalypse. We introduce the primary ideas of this apocalyptic vision. The first verse of the chapter describe how injustice and arrogance leads to neglect of the Earth itself. When we reject our environment through pride and exploitation, natural disaster will be the result.

Isaiah addresses the people of Tyre. The merchants who achieve their wealth without putting in the hard labor themselves, become arrogant and prideful and amass fortunes on other people's backs. God punishes them until they learn to sing songs of true love, until they learn the true purpose of wealth, to help the needy.

Isaiah turns from criticizing the people and their ignorance of God, and he attacks the arrogance of one of the King's highest officials. There is no place for arrogance in the House of Judah,no place for selfishness. Such officials will suffer ignominy and shame, and be replaced by the righteous and honest leaders who deserve the honor.

Isaiah describes how the people of Judah are supposed to fight and be victorious. Believe in your cause, remember that you are fighting for the Creator. Don't run like cowards, prepare for battle and be strong, and never forget what you represent.

Isaiah turns towards the Arabian desert, where he hears the ultimate question of faith. Where is God during the darkest of times? Isaiah responds that it is OK to ask questions, even questions that have no answers, but what God really wants is our actions. He wants us to be compassionate and treat the needy with respect.

Isaiah continues to turn his attention to the faraway nations of the world. This time he looks to faraway desert sea, the vast stretches of land in the far East, beyond the known civilizations of Elam and Media. Teach the message of God to these people as well, says Isaiah. Set up watchmen and lookouts to confront the wild tribes. and teach them about the God of whom you speak.

In the face of another Assyrian onslaught, the people of Judah once again are making the mistake of reliance upon foreign powers instead of God. God asks Isaiah to perform an unusual and degrading sign in order to teach them the folly of reliance upon human beings.

Isaiah describes how the knowledge of God will spread forth from Judah to the land of Egypt. Egypt finds comfort and strength in God, and the nation of Assyria does the same. All the nations will join together in an alliance together to worship the one God.

The economy of Egypt collapses, the philosophers and old ideas of Egypt fail and the people are in despair. They finally turn to the truth of God, to find out that the truth is comforting, but comes with great responsibility as well.

Isaiah turns his attention to Egypt, the ultimate result of too many gods, is too much strife. The result of too much strife, is cruel leadership. However, it all melts and everything trembles before the one true God.

The burden of bringing God's message must go beyond the known boundaries and known kingdoms. We must sail our ships great distances to the lands hidden in the distance. One day, ALL of the nations of the world will bring tribute to Zion. The message of God will no longer be confined to one small nation.

Isaiah turns his attention to Damascus, the capital of Aram, who made peace with Israel but only for nefarious purposes. Isaiah criticizes them for making an alliance and depending on their strength and power rather than looking to God. The sin of Aram and Israel was to forget the special message of the God of Israel. Pride in yourself is nothing special, so many nations roar like the sea, but Isr...

The people of Mo'av had so many chances to be humble, to give shelter to refugees fleeing violence and oppression. But they chose to neglect their mission and arrogance and pride motivated them instead. So the one's who didn't provide shelter were to become refugees themselves. How sad and how tragic it is, Isaiah laments when those that had the chance to improve refused to learn.

Isaiah brings the message of justice and righteousness to the people of Mo'ab. Embrace your special role and give protection and shelter to those that are fleeing persecution. Then you can avoid the terrible fate that awaits you. But alas, pride and arrogance will once again prevent you from coming under God's wings.

Isaiah describes the terrible suffering of the people of Moab. Cities destroyed The land ruined, their pride torn down. We feel responsible for their suffering and cry with them. Even for our enemies, we do not rejoice in their downfall, we feel for them and try to bring them back to God as well.