Category: Isaiah

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Assyria was located roughly in what is now Kurdistan – which covers an area at the intersection of Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria. 8:19 is a telling condemnation of the stupidity and uselessness of occultist practices. Why look to shadows when we have the Light! To us a Son has been given!

SJA Notes

* Sovereign God, thank You for Your word today. Please show us what You want for us to know.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”

Throughout this passage that is chock full of big weighty truths we see Jesus writ plain and clear!

Jesus is the light of the world, the child born, the son given.

He is God, and He is God with us!

Importantly too, Jesus is the stone of offense and a rock of stumbling.

He is the cornerstone and the capstone too, all the kingdom of God rests on His shoulders.

Jesus is great King David’s GREATER Son.

This is our King, our Lord, our Saviour – Hallelujah!

* Father God,

Thank You for shining on us – Bringing us from deep darkness into a great light.

Thank You for bringing our dead hearts into new life.

Thank You for unstopping our deaf ears and bringing sight to our blind eyes.

Thank You Lord!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The sign of Immanuel is truly wonderful. Judah was delivered within the period a child grew from birth to an age of understanding right from wrong from her enemies. This fulfilment of the prophecy was the shadow of the greater deliverance that arrived with the birth of Jesus – our Immanuel (means: God with us) in a very unique way.

SJA Notes

* God who is with us, please show us Your word today.

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Immanuel – GOD WITH US!

It is interesting that this statement from God comes directly after the weakness and faith-less-ness of Ahaz.

God tells Ahaz to ask for a sign of the coming salvation and Ahaz says he would not want to put the Lord to the test.

This seems like an okay response, right? God’s word is clear (Matthew 12, Deuteronomy 6, Matthew 4) that signs and putting God to the test are things God’s people should not seek after or do.

How do we know this is a faith-less response from Ahaz? How do we know that he is like something quoting scripture for their own selfish ends?

God’s words that come immediately after show us,

“Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?”

God has clearly given us, pointed to from Genesis through to Revelation, the most important sign (that  of Jonah as Jesus tells us) – Jesus on the cross, dead in the grace, and then on the third day risen!

Death conquered, the grave defeated!

We need no other signs, no other works.

* Dear God,

Thank You for Jesus, You in the Person of the Son – His birth heralded here in Isaiah.

Thank You that You are with us, Immanuel.

Thank You for the most important sign, Your grace and mercy, Your love for us – That at the cross Jesus bore our shame, the curse of our sin, so that we could be free.

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Isaiah’s vision of the Lord reveals Him as Moses’ God (His smoke filled the Temple just like the Tabernacle). The only hope for God’s people is the holy seed (of David). He is the stump that will provide the future tree of God’s Kingdom.

SJA Notes

* God of steadfast love, please help us see You a little better today.

“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.”

How striking this passage is!

Isaiah had a vision of THE LORD – This is startling to think through. In his mind, his brain, his earthly limited existence, this prophet was shown THE LORD.

What a vision this must have been!

A voice that shook the foundations of the thresholds. The house/temple filled with smoke.

We see a picture of the Lord God (this is God who spoke to Moses, who requisitioned the Ark, the Tabernacle, the earthly shadow artifacts) – We see here a glimpse of the heavenly reality!

And too, very importantly, we see the only response for us mortal folk.

“Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;”

It is good to be reminded of this, how important it is that we are utterly and completely humbled before the HOLY and PURE God Almighty.

Our God sits on a throne. His voice shakes foundations. The seraphim sing praises to Him.

* Father God,

Thank You for Your love for us – That even though You are a HOLY God, high and lifted up – That even though we are a people of unclean lips; despite these truths, You loved us. You called us, and You saved us.

Thank You Lord, Hallelujah!

Amen.