Category: Isaiah

Melted Hearts

Isaiah 13-14

Psalm 111

Revelation 7

-Devotion by Daniel Smead (MN)

Grim language and violence dominate Isaiah 13 and 14. The prophecies it contains mix references to “the day of the Lord” and comments about the conquest of Babylon by the Medes – two tough times. We can see these prophecies as partly about letting suffering people know God is paying attention, and that their situation will change.

The day of the Lord has been described as about judgment for the wicked, and rescue for the oppressed. It is discussed in several Old Testament texts. One way we may easily think of this event is that it comes like a thief in the night (2 Peter 3:10). We link it with Christ’s return at the end of this age.

Babylon’s defeat is a classic example of ‘the mighty fallen,’ which involves Babylon being treated terribly by its conquerors – much like Babylon treated the peoples it conquered. I need to remind myself that Isaiah’s message for Babylon isn’t

“now this, and this, and this will happen to your people”

But

“now this, and this, and this will happen to your people.”

Or, perhaps more clearly:

“now these things you have done to others will happen to your people.”

As part of this process Babylon also loses the power to keep harming others. However, perceiving this doesn’t remove all the discomfort I get when reading these chapters.

It also is helpful to recall that God saying a thing will happen doesn’t mean God approves of the event / how it happens. In 2 Kings 8:7-15, Elisha informed Hazael that he would become king of Aram, and almost immediately Hazael betrayed and murdered the king. (Which raises the question: did Elisha’s message prompt the murder?) Aram went on to behave in ways similar to those carried out by the Babylonians and Medes. Elisha wept over what was coming; he explained his tears by saying “I know the evil that you will do to the sons of Israel” (v. 12). For God’s prophet to describe a thing doesn’t demonstrate approval.

“Wail, for the day of the Lord is near!
It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
Therefore all hands will fall limp,
And every human heart will melt. . . .

I will also put an end to the audacity of the proud
And humiliate the arrogance of the tyrants.

I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold.”

(Isaiah 13:6-7, 11-12a)

The emphasis with the “day” is on the wicked, tyrants, the proud, etc. But multiple texts also say that hardly anyone survives the “day.” (Perhaps the more people are in the world when it starts, the more survivors there can be from it and still give this impression.)

The presence of such tough issues in the chapter, both related to the “day” and to the fall of Babylon, may connect to the oracles acting as warnings. These words were not simply for the benefit of the suffering; they gave sinful people at risk an opportunity to understand their risk and repent. It would be nice to think that some saw the warnings and did repent. In a similar way Deuteronomy 28 warns the Hebrew people of the dangers in abandoning their commitment to God. And among that set of warnings we can see many of the practices Babylon later engaged in against those it conquered – had Deuteronomy been heeded the conflict with Babylon could have been avoided in the first place.

PRAYER

Lord, help us to be cleansed from all that would hold us back from you, so that we can be ready in whatever circumstances arrive, including for your day. Not knowing when that day will be, please aid us in maintaining ourselves, examining the state of our hearts, being honest with ourselves in what we find, and having compassionate openness with another. Amen   

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
  1. Paul tells us that God wants to provide a way out when we are tempted (1 Corinthians 10:13). Do you think that statement is directed only to Christians?
  2. God is compassionate, slow to anger, and loving in many other ways, but will not leave the guilty unpunished (Exodus 34:6-7). Have you ever thought God was punishing you for unrepented sin? If so, do you still think that was the case?
  3. In a situation of ongoing sin, how would we distinguish God punishing from God allowing us to experience the results of the wrong behavior? Or how would we distinguish it from the Spirit trying to prompt us to confess and be freed from what is harming us? (Recall, God always wants the best for us – and sin is always harmful.)  
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The Zeal of the Lord Almighty

Isaiah 8-9

Psalm 110

Revelation 5

-Devotion by Daniel Smead (MN)

Isaiah eight and nine are sometimes seen as part of a bigger chunk in Isaiah, between his commissioning (six), and a set of oracles against nations (from thirteen on). During this time King Ahaz ruled in Judah (2 Kings 16). In 734 B.C. Judah was attacked by King Pekah of Israel (capital, Samaria) and King Rezin of Aram (capital, Damascus), who were allied against Assyria. Judah had not joined their alliance, and they may have been trying to force Judah to do so, or to remove a potential local threat. They failed to take Jerusalem (Isaiah 7:1), and afterward Isaiah met with Ahaz. Isaiah tried to convince Ahaz that if he was calm, and stood firm in faith, all would go well. In that talk Isaiah predicted the birth of Immanuel (meaning “God is with us”), as a sign related to the fall of Samaria and Damascus. We tend to think more about the second fulfillment of that prophecy which has been revealed to us, in the birth of Jesus. Ahaz simply ignored the sign, and became Assyria’s vassal.

Chapter eight predicted the birth of a son for Isaiah whose name meant “Quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil,” referring to Assyria’s soon-coming attack. In this case Isaiah said the king of Assyria would plunder Damascus and Samaria before the child could say “my father” or “my mother.” The name of the boy’s brother, which meant “A remnant will return,” offered hope that a remnant would return to the land, but it was only hope for those who first accepted the prediction of being exiled. Isaiah knew that in all this God was using his family as illustrations, he even commented: “Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel” (8:18). Isaiah kept on giving a mix of messages about current issues, and ones for centuries down the line – even prophecies that are not yet fulfilled. The fulfillment of his short-term predictions gave added weight to his words about later issues.

Several verses in the chapters are more familiar due to being quoted in the New Testament, but I want to key in on some of the best known, in Isaiah 9:6-7: “For a Child will be born to us, . . . And His name will be called . . . ” It is hard for us to imagine how the original recipients of this prophecy would have felt about it. They were being offered a ruler who would establish justice and righteousness. Someone who would be known for bringing peace. Perhaps they knew about the promise of David’s throne, and the rule of his family, lasting forever (2 Samuel 7:16) but now they are hearing that a single descendant will be able to fill that role. Through the history of Judah, the Bible’s descriptions of its kings only show about a fourth of them coming out as basically positive. The rest get negative judgments, sometimes abysmally bad. (The northern kingdom had it worse, not one of their kings ended up with a positive description. Though while kings are influential, their influence is not complete. In Elijah’s time, with very poor leadership of Israel, God reported having seven thousand in the nation who hadn’t worshipped Baal; 1 Kings 19:18.) But here we are told of a king who would be as positive as these verses declared and then never need to surrender his role.

These are beautiful, and astonishing, promises to receive in any time. They make a huge contrast with men like Ahaz, who even looted the Temple to help him pay tribute to Assyria, and busted apart its furnishings. How would all of this come about? “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (9:7b) Actually that statement appears twice in Isaiah, here and in 37:32, where it refers to the restoring of a remnant in the land of Judah. What is this zeal? My Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon tells me this word means “ardour, zeal, jealousy,” apparently it can be somewhat negative when used about human behavior, but has a different feel when applied to God’s actions. The definition also says “from colour produced in face by deep emotion”; we are talking about someone getting worked up about things. I like that.

How is it that the world was changed, for Isaiah 9:6-7 to come true? Because God is passionate about the Messiah.

How is it that a remnant always is restored, maintaining continuity and carrying forward the work of God’s servants? God is passionate about the people of the Messiah.

How is it that you can trust in forgiveness, renewal, being given purpose, and placed in the family of God? God is passionate about you.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the passion you have shown in reaching out to us. You took the first step – and you probably took the second as well, and maybe on through the thirtieth. There were so many things that had to be set in place for us to get to where we are, and you zealously saw to it. You put in the effort, took the time, and made the plans. You even gift us with strength to help us do our parts. You are such a blessing. Help us to approach you with freedom, and confidence. Please help us to feel a proper zeal in those areas of our lives where that is appropriate, to be strengthened with your power, guided by your wisdom, and always encouraged in your love. In the glorious name of Jesus, Amen.  

REflection Questions

  1. Do you find that it adds meaning for you to consider Old Testament prophecy alongside the history it relates to? Can you imagine receiving a similar message about current situations, and how it might be treated?
  2. For hundreds of years many people, who knew Hebrew quite well, read texts like Deuteronomy 6:4 alongside Isaiah 9:6-7 and apparently were unfazed. For them not to see a conflict does not prove what meaning any text has, but we should be able to pause before rushing into (or trying to rush someone else into) a position. What possibilities do you normally consider when confused about a scripture? (I would include even looking at multiple versions of the Bible.) Are there methods you think you should consider incorporating? Others you consider less justifiable, or off limits? In what situations would you feel that you must seek someone else to think about the text alongside?
  3. Are there areas in your life where you think you need the gift of God’s zeal? Are there any changes you need to make so that you are more ready to receive it? Who are you prepared to cooperate with, zealously?
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Message of Hope

Scripture of hope from Isaiah 4:2
Isaiah 3-5

Psalm 109

Revelation 3

-Devotion by Jerry Wierwille (NY) – Jerry seeks to help believers understand the Bible better through teaching, resources, and the REV Bible, an online translation and commentary being worked on by One God believers through Spirit & Truth Fellowship International.

In the short chapter of Isaiah 4, Isaiah presents one of the most hopeful pictures in the first section of Isaiah, which has been filled with warnings, threats, and impending punishment from their rebellion against Yahweh. While chapter 3 ended with Jerusalem being pictured as a city devastated and humiliated after experiencing Yahweh’s judgment, that is not the last word Isaiah has for the city. The beautiful city of Jerusalem, once a city filled with confidence, wealth, and social prestige, has now been decimated and brought low. Yet, Isaiah now speaks about how that judgment is not Yahweh’s final word for His people. Beyond the devastation and destruction, there is purification, restoration, and renewed fellowship with Him.

The opening words of the chapter offer us a difficult imagery: “Seven women will take hold of one man in that day, saying, ‘We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothing, only let us be called by your name. Take away our reproach’” (4:1). This verse continues the judgment of Yahweh described at the end of chapter 3, where many of Jerusalem’s men had been defeated and fallen in war. What the imagery conveys is that the devastation would be so severe that the normal social order would be disrupted. Women would provide their own food and clothing and desire to bear the name of their husband just to avoid the shame and humiliation associated with their circumstances.

And so, Isaiah’s message of distress continues, bringing to a climax the weight of the consequence for Israel’s disobedience and sin. Israel’s rebellion, injustice, pride, and corrupt leadership described in chapter 3 have now left such deep wounds throughout the nation, unraveling the very fabric of their society.

But then the tone of Isaiah’s message changes dramatically. Next, he says, “In that day, the Branch of Yahweh will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be for beauty and for glory for those of Israel who have escaped” (4:2). While the phrase the “Branch of Yahweh” is likely a messianic reference, here it also introduces the imagery of new life growing out of the devastation. This begins Isaiah’s message of hope: what appeared ruined and broken is not beyond Yahweh’s ability to restore. Where there had previously been only judgment, destruction, and barrenness, there will be growth, renewal, and life.

This is one of the great themes that will continue throughout the rest of Isaiah’s prophecy. Yahweh may discipline His people, bring judgment upon them, and show them His displeasure with what they have done, but His purpose is ultimately for their repentance and restoration. Yahweh does not desire to destroy His people. He is working to redeem them, bring them back to Himself, and restore them in the land. But judgment involves removing what has been corrupt so that something new can grow in its place.

The emphasis of verse 3 is on the “remnant” of those living in Jerusalem. Part of Isaiah’s message of hope is that not everyone will be destroyed. Those who remain are described as “holy.” This does not necessarily mean that they were more righteous or better than everyone else. Rather, Yahweh is endeavoring to create a purified people who belong to Him from the ones who are left.

That becomes even clearer in the next verse: “when the Lord will have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and will have purged the blood of Jerusalem from its midst by the spirit of justice and by the spirit of burning” (4:4). In the preceding chapters, Isaiah had described Jerusalem as polluted by arrogance, injustice, violence, and bloodshed. But now, he says that Yahweh Himself will act to wash away that pollution. The imagery is quite severe because Israel’s problem was severe. Thus, Yahweh’s cleansing is described as both a “washing” and “burning.”  Both of these images communicate the act of purification. Some purifications require water, and others require fire. The basic message is that Yahweh will remove the impurity of His people so that they will be a new people. He does not cover over the corruption of His people or pretend it is not there—He takes it completely away.

But this reality will only come after Israel has responded to Yahweh’s rebuke. This is an important truth that we should understand as well. We often want Yahweh to restore us without first confronting what needs to change in us. We want peace without repentance, healing without self-examination, and renewal without surrendering. The truth is that the same God who comforts us also corrects us. And His correction is not devoid of His love. It is precisely because He loves His people that He refuses to leave them unchanged…He refuses to leave us unchanged.

The greatest blessing of restoration is therefore not simply that Jerusalem will become prosperous again, and people will dwell in peace and safety. The greatest blessing is the presence of Yahweh. But this can be easy for us to forget sometimes. We tend to count blessings according to our improved circumstances. We pray for problems to disappear, finances to improve, relationships to heal, or uncertainty to come to an end, and so on. Nonetheless, these are legitimate concerns, but Isaiah directs our attention toward something greater: the ultimate gift that Yahweh gives to His people is Himself.

Verse 5 says that “over all the glory will be a canopy,” and verse 6 continues, “There will be a pavilion for a shade in the daytime from the heat and for a refuge and for a shelter from storm and from rain.” Yahweh’s presence becomes a form of protection for His people. He is pictured as a canopy and pavilion creating shade from the burning heat of the sun and shelter from storms and rain. The people who had previously trusted in national leaders, their wealth, outward beauty, military strength, and/or social status are now being taught where true security and strength is found—in Yahweh alone.

The pattern that Isaiah is addressing here is a pattern that still speaks to us today. There may be things in our lives that Yahweh needs to remove because they have become substitutes for Him, or our attention has become more devoted to them than Him. There may be attitudes, habits, or priorities that need to be “washed away” or “burned up.” Yahweh’s work in us can sometimes feel very uncomfortable because purification requires a change to take place. And we all know how much people enjoy change.

But Isaiah 4 reminds us that Yahweh’s purpose in purification is not to take things away in order to deprive us. Rather, He is preparing His people for something better—a life of holiness, renewed passion, filled with His presence, and marked by His love and protection.

So, when Yahweh exposes something in us that needs to change, we should not resist Him and justify neglecting it. We can trust that the God who cleanses is also the God who restores. The God who removes our false securities and our false loves is also the One who becomes our shelter and strong tower.

Our greatest hope must not be that life will be easy and smooth sailing every day, but that Yahweh will be with us through it all. And when He is our refuge, even the heat of the day and the storms of life cannot take away the security and confidence that comes from dwelling in His presence.

Reflection Questions

  1. “We want peace without repentance, healing without self-examination, and renewal without surrendering.” Have you responded to Yahweh’s rebuke? Are you asking for the good stuff without giving up the bad stuff?
  2. What do you need to be purified from? What has Yahweh already purified you of? What would you be without this cleansing?
  3. Have you considered Yahweh to be the biggest gift He can give? In what ways can you accept this gift today? In what ways will this gift be fully given in the Age to Come?

Prayer

Dear Yahweh, I praise You for Your holiness and Your perfect plan including judgment and purification. I want Your love which incudes Your correction. I confess and repent. I do not want to hold on to things, ideas, behaviors, or attitudes that keep me distanced from You. I want You and the good things You have for me both now and in Your coming kingdom. Help me daily become more of what You want me to be, do, and say, while sharing this message of hope with others as well.

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Seriously Sick – but there is a Cure

Isaiah 1-2

Psalm 108

Revelation 2

-Devotion by Jerry Wierwille (NY)

The book of Isaiah begins with an uncomfortable proclamation. There is no lead up or easing into the message of the prophet as Isaiah immediately confronts the spiritual malady of Yahweh’s people. Israel was still religious; they were gathering for worship, bringing sacrifices, observing festivals, and praying. Yet, through Isaiah, Yahweh clearly sees something that is deeply wrong with it all. The outward devotion that Israel was exhibiting did not match the way they were living.

The opening verses indicate how Yahweh views Israel as children whom He had raised and cared for, but who had rebelled against Him (1:2). Using a pointed metaphor for comparison, Yahweh declares just how dull His people have become: “The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s feeding trough; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand” (1:3). Even animals recognize the one who provides for them, yet Yahweh’s people had forgotten the One who had protected and sustained them.

This can be an important warning for us as well. It is possible to seek Yahweh’s blessings while slowly losing awareness of the One who gives them. It is possible to become too complacent with worship, prayer, Scripture, and church life that our hearts gradually drift away from seeking Yahweh.

Isaiah goes on to describe the nation of Israel as being spiritually sick from head to toe (1:5-6). The picture is not of a people with one small problem that needs to be corrected. Their rebellion is a disease that has ransacked their whole body and affected everything, and their wounds have gone untreated, and the consequences of their sin are evident and visible all around them.

But even in spite of the people’s problem and continued sinfulness, they were coming before Yahweh by observing religious festivals, prayers, and offering sacrifices. Normally, we would consider these good things, but Yahweh says, “’What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?’ says Yahweh. ‘I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed animals. I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or of male goats’” (1:11) and later declares that He will hide His eyes from them when they pray (1:15).

The problem was not the worship itself. Yahweh had commanded these practices in the law of the covenant. The problem was the contradiction between their worship and their lives. They honored God in religious ceremonies while tolerating injustice, violence, and wrongdoing in everyday life. Their hands that they lifted in prayer were described as being “covered with blood” (1:15).

The issue arises from the fact that God refuses to separate our relationship with Him from the way we treat other people. And so, He tells them what genuine repentance should look like: “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean. Eliminate the evil of your doings from before my eyes.  Cease to do evil. 17Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Bring justice to the fatherless. Plead for the widow” (1:16-17).

The repentance that Yahweh requires of Israel consists both of stopping certain things, but also doing certain things. They must stop doing what is evil, but they must also learn to do what is good. Turning from sin is only half the requirement that Yahweh is looking for. He is not asking for people to simply avoid practicing certain behaviors, but rather to become the kind of people who actively pursue what He desires. And so, for Isaiah’s audience, that particularly includes protecting people who are vulnerable and seeking justice for those who cannot easily defend themselves.

Then, in the middle of such severe warnings, comes one of my favorite invitations in Isaiah: ““Come now and let’s reason together,” says Yahweh. “Though your sins are red as scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they will be as wool” (1:18). Yahweh exposes their sin not because He delights in condemning them, but because He wants them to return to Him. The colors scarlet and crimson are both vivid tones of red that communicate something unmistakably stained and impossible to hide. Yet Yahweh says that even such sin (i.e., stains) can be cleansed/cleaned.

This hope in a second chance is at the heart of the chapter. Yahweh does not ask sinful people to pretend that everything is fine, and nothing is wrong. Instead, He invites them to acknowledge what is wrong and come to Him for cleansing and healing.

The chapter ends by contrasting rebellion with redemption. Those who continually reject God will eventually experience the consequences of that decision (1:24-26), while Zion will be redeemed through justice and righteousness (1:27). Yahweh’s desire is not for Israel to improve their outwardly religious behavior. That was not the problem. At the heart of the matter is His desire to restore His people so that their hearts and lives reflect their worship.

There is an important lesson here for us as well. We should never measure our spiritual health or maturity simply by tallying up how often we attend church, sing praises, pray, read Scripture, or participate in various religious activities. Truly, those things matter greatly, but Yahweh looks on the heart and is more concerned with the kind of people we are becoming. Our worship on Sunday and our behavior on Monday should tell the same story.

So, let’s ask Yahweh our God to show us where our outward devotion may not match our everyday lives. We should not merely stop doing what is wrong but be actively seeking to “learn to do what is good.” And when Yahweh reveals sin in us, we should not run away in shame but accept responsibility and receive His grace to draw near to Him, trusting that the God who exposes our sin is also the God who can make scarlet stains become white as snow.

Reflection Questions

  1. Is your worship pleasing to God? Do your Sunday and Monday tell the same story? Does how you live your life match up well with your worship? Prayerfully ponder what issues and inconsistencies might need to be realized and addressed? (And, perhaps your worship is in need of some therapy as well.)
  2. Consider how you treat others. What does God want you to stop doing? What does God want you to start doing? Ask Him.
  3. Do you realize the serious problem of sin (a scarlet/crimson stain)? Are you willing and obedient – or do you refuse and rebel? What is the result for each? (Isaiah 1:18-20) What does it take to turn the scarlet/crimson stain white as snow? What is God’s desire?

Prayer

Dear Yahweh – You made me, You know me, You nourish me and provide for me. I am Your child. Show me, Lord God, where I am not pleasing to You, where I am sick and stained. Please give me Your wisdom, direction and energy in how to best love & worship You, while at the same time loving and caring for others well. I want to be known by You as Your willing and obedient child.

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All Things New!

Isaiah 64-66


The final chapters of Isaiah turn from sin and exile to a glorious, eternal promise: God will make all things new! These chapters are echoed through the New Testament and Revelation, pointing to the coming Kingdom of God!

Isaiah 64:1 begins with the longing: “Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down!” It’s the heart-cry of a people who’ve seen the brokenness of the world and long for God’s presence to change everything. Isaiah confesses sin, but he also appeals to God’s nature as Father and Redeemer. The coming Kingdom won’t just be a fix for the troubles of this world, but it will be a family reunion, where God will triumphantly restore His children!

In Isaiah 65, God answers the cry of his people with staggering promises. He speaks of new heavens and a new earth, a place of peace, joy, and justice. No more weeping. Long lives. Fruitful labor. Harmony between creation and Creator. This is not merely symbolic, it’s a literal vision of what God is preparing for those who love Him! Revelation 21 goes into further detail of the hope we have in the promise of His coming Kingdom.

Isaiah 66 is both sobering and glorious. God will come in fire and judgment against all pride, hypocrisy, and idolatry. He will also gather nations, comfort His people like a mother comforts her child, and establish global worship that never ends. All flesh will bow before Him, and His Kingdom will endure forever.

Isaiah 64-66 reminds us that this world is not the end of the story. The brokenness we see now will be consumed by the glory to come. God’s future Kingdom is not just about future perfection – it’s a living hope that shapes how we live today. Every word and act of faith and love is a preview of the Kingdom that will be revealed. Like Isaiah, we cry out for God to “rend the heavens”- establishing his eternal Kingdom on earth.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the promise of a new heaven and a new earth! Thank You that Your Kingdom will come and Your will be done – perfectly, eternally, and joyfully. Help me to live today with eternity in view, to be faithful, and to carry Your light as I wait for Your glory to be revealed. Come quickly, Lord Jesus – Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Do you recognize God as the potter, and yourself as the clay? How do you demonstrate this and acknowledge your dependence on Him?

• What part of God’s future Kingdom gives you the most hope right now?

• How does knowing the end of the story change how you face today’s challenges?

-Beth Osborn

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Not Vague Hopes but Guaranteed Realities – God’s Promises

Isaiah 59-63


These chapters are a crescendo of God’s redemptive plan. From the confession of sin in Isaiah 59 to the celebration of salvation in Isaiah 63, we see a God who refuses to leave His people in darkness. Though judgment is real and sin has separated people from Him, God promises to act, not because His people are worthy, but because He is faithful.

Isaiah 59 opens with a hard truth: the problem is not that God is distant, but that sin separates us from Him. Yet God does not abandon His people. In verses 15–20, He looks and sees there is no one to intercede, so He promises to send a savior who will put on righteousness like armor and salvation like a helmet. This is a clear prophetic picture of Jesus, the Redeemer, who comes to Zion and turns hearts from transgression.

Isaiah 60:1 is stated as an enthusiastic command: “Arise, shine, for your light has come!”

God promises a day when His glory will shine on His people, even though darkness covers the earth. This is not merely for dramatic effect, it is the fulfillment of God’s plan to make His people a light to the nations. In Christ, this light has come, and now we are called to shine with His glory!

Isaiah 61 contains one of the most beautiful promises in all of Scripture, the mission of the coming Messiah:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor…” (Isaiah 61:1)

Jesus quoted this very passage in Luke 4 and said, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” God promises comfort, freedom, healing, and restoration. He trades ashes for beauty, mourning for joy, and despair for praise.

God is not content to redeem, He delights to rejoice over His people. In Isaiah 62:4 He says, “You will be called Hephzibah (My delight is in her), and your land Beulah (married).” No longer forsaken, no longer desolate, God’s people will be treasured, honored, and watched over like a crown in His hand.

God shows up as a mighty warrior, executing justice and salvation in Isaiah 63. He judges evil but also remembers mercy. In verses 7-9, the prophet recalls God’s faithful love and how He personally rescued and carried His people, to magnify His name in the world. His promises are not cold declarations, they are acts of compassion, flowing from His heart.

God’s promises are not vague hopes, they are guaranteed realities. When sin separates, He comes to redeem. When darkness falls, His glory rises. When the broken cry out, He binds their wounds. And when His people forget, He remembers. He is the God who keeps His covenants forever.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You that You are the God who keeps Your promises. When I am weak, You fight for me. When I am broken, You heal. When I am in darkness, You shine. Help me trust Your Word, live in Your truth, and walk in the light of Your glory. In your son Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Where do you struggle to put your trust in God?

• How have you grieved God’s Holy Spirit & have you repented, turned from sin, and gratefully accepted restoration?

• How has God’s light shone through you, in the midst of darkness?

• Are you walking in the identity and mission God has given you? 

-Beth Osborn

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Our Faithful God’s Big Promises and Plans

Isaiah 54-58

Isaiah 54-58 paints a beautiful picture of God’s mercy, restoration, and covenant faithfulness. While written in the context of Israel’s exile and return, these words convey God’s love and faithfulness for all generations and people. They offer hope of the New Covenant, which is fulfilled in Christ and graciously extended to all who call upon His name.

In Isaiah 54, God speaks to a people who feel forgotten and barren. They have lost trust in God, and betrayed him numerous times. Yet, He invites them to sing with joy and promises to enlarge their tents! Why? Because He is about to fulfill His promise of restoration. Though they had strayed, His covenant of peace stands firm:

“With everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 54:8)

“My unfailing love for you will not be shaken.” (Isaiah 54:10)

God knows exactly what He intends his people to become. He knows exactly what circumstances, both good and bad, are necessary to produce that result in our life. Will we trust him through it all, with greater faith and obedience than the Israelites?

God himself grants an invitation to the weary and empty in Isaiah 55.

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters.” (Isaiah 55:1)

It’s important to note, that this is not a transaction but a gift. The gift of life, of forgiveness, and of purpose. Isaiah points us to a “Davidic covenant” made new: an everlasting covenant for all who will listen and obey God’s Word. His promises are not vague hopes, rather they are declarations backed by His unchanging character.

In the New Covenant, Jesus is the Living Water and the Bread of Life. The “free” offer in Isaiah 55 becomes the gospel invitation: “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God’s thoughts and ways are far above our own. This doesn’t mean He is indifferent to our suffering, rather that His plan is bigger than what we can see or understand. In our limited perspective, we often can’t fully understand what God is doing. But Isaiah assures us that God is always at work, even when we can’t fathom his ways.

In Isaiah 56, God declares that the foreigner and the eunuch (those who were once excluded), now have a place in His house. The New Covenant throws the doors wide open! No one is too far gone, too broken, or too different. In Christ, all are welcomed and made new. That is excellent news for us, as Gentiles!

Isaiah 57 declares that God dwells in two places: the high and holy place, and with the contrite and lowly in spirit. That’s the mystery of grace. He’s not looking for spiritual perfection, but for hearts that are humble and honest. The New Covenant brings God near, not because we’ve earned it, but because Christ has made the way.

The New Covenant doesn’t reward the proud or the religious elite. It finds its home in the hearts of those who know their need and bow before God in humility, repentance, and dependence.

Religion says, “I messed up, my Dad is going to kill me!”, whereas Sonship says, “I messed up, I need my Dad’s help!”

Isaiah 58 makes it clear that God isn’t impressed with hypocritical, half-hearted religion. He desires hearts that reflect His justice and compassion. Fasting, prayer, and worship are empty if they’re disconnected from love for the Father and love for others. Proper fasting humbles us, blesses others, and honors God. This echoes the heart of Jesus’ ministry. The New Covenant reshapes our worship, not just as acts of ritual and obedience, but as a life poured out for others, empowered by the Spirit of God, and rewarded with blessings of salvation and the Messiah’s kingdom!

Let us live as grateful recipients of the New Covenant. Set apart and motivated not by religious performance, but by a relationship with our loving Creator. May we display trust, obedience, and confident hope in the one true God, our loving and merciful Father, who always keeps His promises.

Prayer:

Father in heaven, let me receive Your grace freely and trust that Your Word will bear fruit in my life. Come and dwell in me, not because I am worthy, but because You are full of mercy. Father, teach me to worship You in truth, not just with words, but with action. May my life reflect the love, kindness, and action that You desire. In your son, Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Where in your life have you doubted God’s faithfulness?

• Is your faith more about ritual (religion) or relationship (sonship) ?

• Do you believe that God’s ways are better than yours, even when life hurts?

• What areas of life do you need to surrender to God, allowing Him to turn your brokenness into beauty, for his glory?

• How can you practice “true fasting” this week? 

-Beth Osborn

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Faithful Heritage

Isaiah 51-53

The first year that I attended National Berean Youth Camp (aka RYOT, aka FUEL) way back in the late 1980’s, I was overwhelmed by the number of familial relations. Everyone seemed to be related to everyone else! I was the odd man out because I didn’t have twenty cousins also in attendance at camp. As I have grown up and continued to be involved with the Church of God General Conference, I am still discovering others’ family connections. But I am excited that my family of origin now has a third generation participating in COG events! 

The rich history of the Church of God is like a beautiful family tree that has incredibly deep roots that go back for more than a century! As a Conference we are dedicated to nurturing the next generation, helping the young ones to know where they come from and what earlier generations have done on their behalf. At the same time, we continue to graft new fellow believers into this family tree giving them a secure foundation on which to build their faith and grow their own family branches.

In today’s Scripture reading, God, through the prophet Isaiah, is reminding the people of Israel, that they have a rich heritage that extends back to Abraham and Sarah. From one couple, an entire nation was born! And what’s exciting is that you and I get to be part of that heritage as well! 

Isaiah 51:1b-2a remind me of what the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:14-15: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

We can be sure in what we believe because we have had trustworthy teachers, preachers, mentors, and leaders that have remained by our side as we grow deeper in our understanding of the Word of God about who God is, what has been accomplished on our behalf, and the abundant life that we are invited to participate in. My personal experience of those within the General Conference who have invested in my life are too many to count. I am so blessed and thankful, for it is their involvement in my life that has shaped who I am today. You and I have a similar opportunity to pay it forward with the same love and generosity by investing in others.

If you are reading this on the publish date, July 19, 2025, we have over two hundred FUEL participants (students and staff) that have just returned from FUEL, a week-long event designed to bring high school and college aged students closer to God, his Son, Jesus, and each other. If you know anyone who attended, be sure to reach out to them and ask them about their experience. Nurture the relationships that make the General Conference so incredible and encourage the next generation in their faith so that we can continue to grow the Family of God family tree.  

Reflection Questions

Who are the “Abrahams and Sarahs” in your life – people whose example reminds you of God’s faithfulness?

How does remembering your spiritual roots or faith heritage strengthen your trust in God today?

-Bethany Ligon

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Made to be a Light

Isaiah 49-50; Psalm 135

Isaiah 49:6b (NIV84) – “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Some readers love poetry; they love the figurative language, the allusions, the complex ideas that are simmered down into short phrases. Poetry forces the reader to slow down and use critical thinking to comprehend what’s being communicated. Sometimes it also requires the reader to know a little bit about the author and his or her life at the time the piece was composed. 

I am not one of those readers. I prefer the author to be straightforward with me. Just tell me what you want me to know without all of the fancy language and references that I may or may not have prior knowledge of. 

Reading the book of Isaiah is similar to reading poetry for me. I have to really study it. I have to use additional resources and commentaries to get a clue what is being said. And while I don’t prefer to have to spend an hour just to understand one chapter, the mental exercise is good for me. So here is what I’ve learned about Isaiah 49, specifically verses one through six.

It is the second out of four Servant Songs in the book of Isaiah. A Servant Song is a passage of verses that refer to the Messiah, Jesus. Not only does this chapter reference Jesus well before he was born, but it also mentions Gentiles (those not of the Israelite community). It’s not the first and only time that Gentiles are mentioned, but because Jesus is also alluded to it’s interesting to have two New Testament concepts written about together in the Old Testament.

As we know, in his ministry, Jesus often suffered opposition and what looked like failure in his mission to restore all people to God in order to have an eternal relationship with Him in the coming Kingdom. Isaiah 49:4 talks about this. But as we also know, Jesus’s death was not the end of the story.  

While this knowledge is important to understand, what’s the application to our modern day lives? My answer to this question took me a while to formulate, but here’s what I’ve come up with. I’m sure that there are other applications, but we’ll not delve into those right now. 

While Jesus is the Servant, we are servants of Jesus. John 12:26 says, “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” This means that we have the same ministry and mission that Jesus did: “to bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (Is. 49:6b).

Second Corinthians 5:18-20 says it this way: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

We are the hands and feet of Jesus, continuing to share the Gospel message with those who do not know it yet. 

A missionary friend of mine works in a local community. Her mission field is the youth of this neighboring community. She recently shared in an update that during a midweek youth gathering she shared the Gospel message, something she does quite regularly, but this time the response from the teens was more than usual. Praise God! But after that, one teen girl approached her and told my friend that this was the first time that she had ever heard about Jesus. My immediate thought was, “How is this possible? In our modern society where access to anything a person could ever want to know about is first a few finger clicks away, that a young person has never heard the name of Jesus?” But it’s true, there are people in our neighborhoods that don’t know about Jesus and the gift of salvation that comes through him. 

My friends, the work is not yet done. As servants and followers of the Servant, Jesus, we have the task to continue to reconcile our friends and neighbors to God by sharing the Gospel message. We will have opposition and think that we are failing at our mission, but take heart, you have been chosen to bring the message of salvation to the end of the earth (or to your neighbor).

Reflection Questions

What does it mean to you that God knows you, calls you, and has a purpose for you even before you were born? How does that shape your identity?

When have you felt like your efforts for God were in vain? How can you learn to rest in God’s timing, even when results aren’t visible?

What might “the ends of the earth” look like in your own life right now? Who is God calling you to reach or encourage with His message of hope?

-Bethany Ligon

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Imposters

Isaiah 44-48

Each morning as I open and check my email inbox, I am compelled to clean out and delete all of the spam messages that are delivered as well. Every time, I “block sender” and yet those pesky messages still show up! Have you ever noticed how similar some of the spam messages are to a legitimate vendor or service? Most are easily identified as junk, but every once in a while, I need to look a bit more closely to see if it’s the real deal or not. According to a CBS report in April 2025 over $16.6 BILLION was lost due to fraudulent emails, text messages, and phone calls in the previous year. Imposters are very persistent and clever in disguising themselves as valid and trustworthy sources.

In Isaiah chapters 44-48, God emphasises that He alone is God, there is no other and none are like Him. In fact, there are nine times within this section that a variation of this phrase is stated. 

  • Isaiah 44:6
  • Isaiah 45:5, 6, 14, 18, 21, 22
  • Isaiah 46:9
  • Isaiah 48:12 (variation) 

As God’s people had been captured by Babylon, they were surrounded by false, fake gods. Through the prophet Isaiah, God makes it crystal clear who the REAL God is. 

The false, fake gods are man made. The one, true God made man and the entire universe.

The false, fake gods are unable to speak and fulfill promises. The one, true God not only claims things to come, but works to see those claims come to fruition.

The false, fake gods have no power, authority, or sovereignty. The one, true God orchestrates unlikely foreign leaders to rescue His people.

The false, fake gods cannot provide salvation. The one, true God is salvation for His people.

As a reader of this passage of Scripture, it’s tempting to think, “How could someone be duped by a false, fake god?”. But when you never seek and study the one, true God, it becomes a challenge to distinguish between the imposter and the authentic. When you are familiar with the characteristics, the qualities, the patterns, the motivations, and the promises of the one, true God, it becomes easier to discriminate against the attempts of the false, fake gods. 

So spend a little extra time today in the presence of the one, true God so your heart and mind can confidently claim, “There is no other; there is none like You”. 

Reflection Questions

  1. What are some “false, fake gods” or imposters in your life that compete for your attention, trust, or hope?
  1. How can you become more familiar with God so you’re not fooled by spiritual imposters?
  1. Finish this prayer: “God, there is no other; there is none like You because…”

-Bethany Ligon

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