Let the Prophets Speak

God declares that the lessons of the fate of Babylon should be learned by all the nations of the world. Isaiah them turns his attention to the second nation that he will address in this series, the Philistines. When the people of Judah are led by a just and righteous King, and they treat their poor people with dignity, God will finally allow them to defeat the Philistines.

The Kings of Babylon descend to Hell. The hell of humiliation in front of his former victims. People point to them and recognize the justice of the former tyrants and evil leaders suffering the fate of defeat and ignominy.

The people return from Babylon, the ruled become the rulers, and the servants become the masters. The peoples of the world join the Jewish people and support their return to the land. The suffering nations of the world find respite and rejoice.

The Babylonian kingdom will meet a fiery and terrible end, and God explains why. I value human life, says God, but you value Gold and possessions. A society that degrades human beings and does not heed my warnings, will meet its end.

A fulfillment of the dreams and songs of redemption brings along with it a difficult responsibility. We cannot sit back and watch the world around us destroy itself. We must bring the message of God to all nations, even our worst oppressors.

Isaiah describes the ecstasy that will be expressed at the time of ultimate redemption. The new song of redemption replaces the old one that was sung at the splitting of the Red Sea. In this song, the entire world rejoices in God with His nation Israel.

Isaiah describes to us the ingathering of the exiles to rebuild the nation of Judah and Israel. There will be peace among the Jews, and peace between them and the surrounding nations. The entire world will learn and absorb the values of God, peace and justice.

Isaiah prophecies about the days of the Messiah, when knowledge of God fills the land, and justice and righteousness finally eliminates evil and violence. The wolf shall lie with the lamb, and selfishness is gone.

After Isaiah proclaims the destruction of Assyria. he reassures the nation of Judah that the survivors will return to God, and they will reestablish the kingdom of Judah.

The King of Assyria boasts of his strength and his wisdom, but it is truly only arrogance. Can a stick strike without a man swinging it? So too a nation cannot have strength if not for God. Once you take credit for yourself, your fate is sealed in the eyes of God.

Isaiah turns towards the Assyrians, and towards aggressors and conquerors of history. They don't recognize that everyone and every nation is special, all they see are people that they can crush and destroy. If we understand and appreciate the uniqueness of every person and nation and culture, and understand that they all have a place in God's world, we would never set out to destroy others.

Yeshayahu tells us the ultimate test for which societies will forever, and which will fall into the dustbin of history. If there is justice for most vulnerable, that will last forever. If the poor are voiceless and the leadership enriches themselves on the poverty of others, this society is marked for destruction.

The arrogance of the northern Kingdom has reached a point of no return. Total destruction is predicted by Isaiah.

Isaiah predicts the ultimate redemption of Judah from the Assyrians. There is a new king, Hezekiah, who will be faithful to God and lead us to independence from Assyria. He will establish a kingdom of justice and righteousness.

Isaiah is frustrated with the people who just refuse to listen, no matter how obvious it should be. Instead they choose to live and search in the darkness, and rely on sorcery and falsehood instead of God.

God instructs Isaiah not to join in the conspiracies of the crowds. Stay with the truth. Only God holds the truth, safety and refuge are with Him alone.

Isaiah tells the people, there will be much destruction, as God is angry with you for your lack of faith in Him. However, the core of the Jewish people will never be destroyed, as they recognize that Imannu -el. God is with us.

The destruction of Judah will come about during to the arrogance and capitulation of King Ahaz to the Assyrian King. However, God will save the remnant of Judah, and they will enjoy the wonderful bounty that God will bring after he cuts down the King of Assyria and sends his armies back in retreat.

A new approach to Isaiah's prophecy, "a son will be born". Isaiah chastises Ahaz for giving up faith in God and having faith in human power instead. Here Isaiah teaches us that the simple young mother and her baby know more about the strength of the Jewish people that the powerful kings.

In this unusual passage, Isaiah gives King Ahaz a sign, a son will be born, and his name will be Immanuel, "God is with us". A strange prophecy leaves more questions than answers.

Isaiah warns King Ahaz to remember the unique mission of the Jewish nation when considering his foreign policy. Do not form alliances with the enemy, and do not ne afraid of your attackers. They are just human beings that will ultimately fail.

Isaiah has a vision and a call to a mission. Through a strange process, Isaiah is cleansed by a burning coal, and suddenly volunteers before God to be His messenger. Lots of questions ...

Isaiah calls out the lies of the powerful, who try to make usbelieve that what is evil is good, and what is light is dark.

God directs his wrath against the wealthy and powerful for building their wealth by oppressing the poor. To make it worse, they use there wealth to seek personal pleasure instead of learning more about God's wonderful creations.

Isaiah tells the story of the disappointed lovers, God and the Jewish people. God tended His vineyard with care, and instead of wonderful fruit, He got thorns. What more could I have done? God laments. In place of justice, injustice is what I got, in place of equity, iniquity.