what I remember:
This is the famous prophecy against Tyre, I think. Tyre is going to be torn down, never to be rebuilt in it's splendor. The peoples that live in Tyre will scatter. They'll have to plow along the Nile rather than making their living from the Nile (fishing, I guess). God's goal in planning this is to teach them not to be prideful -- humility. For seventy years, the lifetime of a king, Tyre will be completely forgotten. Then it will come back, as a prostitute. And everything she earns will be passed on to other.
key verse:
The LORD Almighty planned it, to bring low the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.
about God:
Wow, God takes pride really seriously. I'm just starting to realize the great extent to which this is demonstrated in His word. I should do a word study on "pride" and "boast"....
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Isaiah 22
what I remember:
An Oracle against the valley of Vision. It's against a town full of commotion (are they too busy?). They are doomed to die shamefully -- without even a fight, because they got so scared they ran away.
All their plans to protect themselves -- even tearing down houses to use the materials to strengthen the wall -- are useless, because they did not acknowledge God, the LORD Almighty. Instead they partied, and said "Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die". God will get rid of the leadership, roll him up and throw him away. Then he'll place a new leader firmly in place -- like a peg driven into wood. In the end, the peg, too, will be sheared off.
notes:
There's two repetitions of "The Lord, the LORD Almighty". I think that's the emphasis in this passage. There's a lot of fun visuals though. It makes me which I was writing a photo blog and had tons of time to take photos that corresponded to these chapters.
An Oracle against the valley of Vision. It's against a town full of commotion (are they too busy?). They are doomed to die shamefully -- without even a fight, because they got so scared they ran away.
All their plans to protect themselves -- even tearing down houses to use the materials to strengthen the wall -- are useless, because they did not acknowledge God, the LORD Almighty. Instead they partied, and said "Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die". God will get rid of the leadership, roll him up and throw him away. Then he'll place a new leader firmly in place -- like a peg driven into wood. In the end, the peg, too, will be sheared off.
notes:
There's two repetitions of "The Lord, the LORD Almighty". I think that's the emphasis in this passage. There's a lot of fun visuals though. It makes me which I was writing a photo blog and had tons of time to take photos that corresponded to these chapters.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Isaiah 21
what I remember:
The Fall of Babylon. They are betrayed and looted. They fall so hard that it brings the narrator great physical pain. A man on the watchtower watches, and a horse and chariot come, the messenger declaring that Babylon has fallen and their gods are crushed and shattered and everywhere. A second prophecy, also about a watchman, but in a different city. This one just says "morning is coming" or something similar. And a third, telling yet another city to prepare for refugees that they will need to feed and give drink too -- because there isn't going to be many survivors from Kedar.
notes: It's interesting, the repeat of the "watchman" figure and idea.
The Fall of Babylon. They are betrayed and looted. They fall so hard that it brings the narrator great physical pain. A man on the watchtower watches, and a horse and chariot come, the messenger declaring that Babylon has fallen and their gods are crushed and shattered and everywhere. A second prophecy, also about a watchman, but in a different city. This one just says "morning is coming" or something similar. And a third, telling yet another city to prepare for refugees that they will need to feed and give drink too -- because there isn't going to be many survivors from Kedar.
notes: It's interesting, the repeat of the "watchman" figure and idea.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Isaiah 20, in which Isaiah walks around Naked for 3 years
what I remember, but would rather forget:
God actually asked Isaiah to walk around naked. For three years. As a sign against Egypt and Cush. At the end, they ask "how can we escape?". They're asking that in reference to the kings of Cush and Egypt being captured, but one can only wonder if they were sick of seeing a naked Isaiah wandering about too.
what I learn:
What God asks doesn't always make human sense.
I'm so glad that God hasn't asked me to go around naked!
Isaiah's obedience went pretty far. Do I obey God even when His command (or request) doesn't make sense to me?
God actually asked Isaiah to walk around naked. For three years. As a sign against Egypt and Cush. At the end, they ask "how can we escape?". They're asking that in reference to the kings of Cush and Egypt being captured, but one can only wonder if they were sick of seeing a naked Isaiah wandering about too.
what I learn:
What God asks doesn't always make human sense.
I'm so glad that God hasn't asked me to go around naked!
Isaiah's obedience went pretty far. Do I obey God even when His command (or request) doesn't make sense to me?
Isaiah 19
what I remember:
This is a very strange prophecy. God is going to strike Egypt -- take down everything they trust in -- their gods, their grain, their families and relationships. He's going to ruin them all. And He's going to do that so that Egypt will turn to Him. After everything else has failed them, God will be there for them. They will turn to God, making sacrifices to Him and keeping vows to Him. And He will welcome them home. In the end, he calls Egypt his people, Assyria His handiwork, and Israel His inheritance.
About God:
I've been hearing so much lately that sometimes God hurts you to help you. I really don't like that concept -- that God would deliberately hurt me to put me in a position of growth. But I'm starting to think it's true. This passage certainly seems to support the idea that he hurt Egypt in order to bring her back to himself and eventually bless her.
notes: "In that day" is used a lot in this chapter.
After God takes them down, they turn to the God.
Even the "City of Destruction" turns to God.
They will worship together. Cool!
God allows Egypt and Assyria to join Israel in being a blessing to the Earth. Wow.
What a generous God we have! He lovingly tears away the things that we worship in His place, until we turn to Him even as a last resort. Then he restores us to Himself, allows us to worship Him, and to be a blessing to others!
This is a very strange prophecy. God is going to strike Egypt -- take down everything they trust in -- their gods, their grain, their families and relationships. He's going to ruin them all. And He's going to do that so that Egypt will turn to Him. After everything else has failed them, God will be there for them. They will turn to God, making sacrifices to Him and keeping vows to Him. And He will welcome them home. In the end, he calls Egypt his people, Assyria His handiwork, and Israel His inheritance.
About God:
I've been hearing so much lately that sometimes God hurts you to help you. I really don't like that concept -- that God would deliberately hurt me to put me in a position of growth. But I'm starting to think it's true. This passage certainly seems to support the idea that he hurt Egypt in order to bring her back to himself and eventually bless her.
notes: "In that day" is used a lot in this chapter.
v. 16 In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the LORD Almighty raises against them.
After God takes them down, they turn to the God.
v. 18 In that day five cities in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD Almighty. One of them will be called the City of Destruction.
Even the "City of Destruction" turns to God.
v. 19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border.
v. 21 So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD.
v. 23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.
They will worship together. Cool!
v. 24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth.
God allows Egypt and Assyria to join Israel in being a blessing to the Earth. Wow.
What a generous God we have! He lovingly tears away the things that we worship in His place, until we turn to Him even as a last resort. Then he restores us to Himself, allows us to worship Him, and to be a blessing to others!
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