June 23, Reading 2 – Isaiah 1

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Isaiah’s prophesies were written about 750BC to 700BC in the southern kingdom of Judah. In Chapter 1, Isaiah sets forth the evils of human rebellion against God and of hypocrisy in religion. Compare verse 11 with Hebrews 10:4. There are many wonderful verses in this chapter.

SJA Notes

* God of mercy, You are Creator, we are created. Please show us Your wisdom today.

“The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.”

Isaiah was a prophet who preached for a good long time – His ministry crossed the span of four kings of Judah.

Who were these kings?

Uzziah followed the Lord until he became powerful; his downfall was his PRIDE (2 Chronicles 26). In his pride God struck him down with leprosy.

Jotham was Uzziah’s son and was a king who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord (2 Chronicles 27). The people were still following corrupt practices.

Ahaz, son of Jotham, was a downward turn. He even burned his own son as a sacrifice (2 Kings 16). Ahaz pushed idolatry as the national ideology, the practice.

Lastly there is Hezekiah.

“He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. For he held fast to the LORD.”

Hezekiah HELD FAST to the Lord – What a commendation!

Regardless of his folly later in life (see 2 Kings 20), Hezekiah loved God and led the people of God to do the same.

These are the leaders, the politicians, that Isaiah is preaching to as the Lord’s prophet.

What is Isaiah’s word?

It is the message of God’s word from start to finish,

“Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness. But rebels and sinners shall be broken together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.”

* Father God,

We are reminded that of our own state and intent we are counted as rebels against You, our sin marking us as lost.

Thank You that because of Your salvation our stubborn wills are shattered, our hard hearts broken before You.

Thank You that because of Jesus we are no longer rebels (called Your people, once not)!

Hallelujah, what a Saviour You are!

Amen.