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Bible in a Year Club, Roseburg, OR (2026)

09/11/2026

Today’s word of encouragement comes to you from Allison Priestly

Today Isaiah continues the message he gave to Judah yesterday speaking comfort in prophesy to the Israelites over events that will transpire many centuries in the future (Is 41-44)! These four chapters are packed full of highly specific FULFILLED prophesy of astounding magnitude including God’s toppling of the Babylonian Empire by Cyrus the Great, gathering of the Jews back into their own land, restoration of the land of Judah, and most importantly the imminent coming of Christ Jesus the Messiah.

Isaiah speaks for God about Israel as the promised “Servant” sent by the LORD to complete His purpose of redemption. Yet because they have continually failed so miserably through sin and idolatry, he convicts them as the ‘blind and deaf servant’ (42:14-17; 43: 22-28). And all the while, weaves in with astoundingly prophetic foreshadowing, the fulfillment of their redemption in Jesus Christ as Messiah—the perfect and obedient servant (41:10-14), in whom God delights and upon whom He will put His Spirit (42:1). And Jesus, this ‘Promised Servant’ will not even be born as a man for another 700 or so years! Isaiah refers to Jesus as the ultimate Servant citing five reasons: Presence - “I am with you”; Relationship - “I am your God”; Power - “I am your strength”; Support - “I am your help”; Foundation - “I am your Redeemer” (41:10-14). In chapter 42:1-9, Isaiah specifically states that this ultimate Servant will be a descendant of Judah, gentle yet a force for justice, that He would open the eyes of the blind, release prisoners bound in darkness, and deliver a new law or covenant. Keep in mind that Jesus Himself quotes this prophecy in Matthew’s gospel (Mt 12:18-21). And this is not even considered to be among the more specific prophecies of Isaiah! Just astounding. Again and again we see that God indeed, ‘In…His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness’ (2Pt 1:3).

Paul closes our week of reading by reminding us that, like everything else God has generously given us, our spiritual gifts (though personal and individual) are purposed for edification of the community of His believers, and for glorifying Him to promote unity in the body that is His Church. Though unique and diverse, the gifts we receive from the Lord are always distinct, conspicuous, and evident in purpose—to magnify Christ Jesus our Messiah, and to illuminate His teachings. May we abound in that blessed service!

09/10/2026

Today’s word of encouragement comes to you from Allison Priestly

Today’s reading leaves me in renewed awe of our God’s majesty while also reminding us that He remains involved in, and cares deeply about the detailed, individual, and personal matters of His people. We see this in the historical account of King Hezekiah’s final days (2Kg 20). We see it woven through the amazing prophetic words of Isaiah (Is 38-40), celebrated in song as King David proclaims ‘The Glory of God in His Goodness to Israel’ (Ps 68), and finally in the instruction by Paul as he reminds the Corinthian people that their rebellious acts and squabbles are not against rituals and religious practices but against the very order and authority of the Father given at the time of creation, and against the knowledge and instruction of the Son given under the New Covenant at the time of communion.

Although we may feel challenged by Paul’s cultural comments on the significance of head covering, his affirmation in 1 Corinthians 11 of the headship of the Father over Christ, Christ over man, and man over woman ought not to be foreign to us. For Christians, biblical submission begins with arranging our lives under the will and authority of God and a deeper dive or Bible Study on this subject is always useful.

When King Hezekiah falls ill and hears from the prophet Isaiah that his days are done, he cries out to the LORD as the master of his destiny, reminding Him that he has walked before the LORD in truth and with a loyal heart; that he has ‘done what was good in (His) sight’ submitting to His authority. Let us have such confidence in prayer and supplication because the LORD assures Hezekiah that He has heard his cries, seen his tears, and will heal him!! And don’t you just love that he not only gives the king a ‘lump of figs’ to do the job but also details a miraculous sign—just in case we might confuse the odd pharmaceutical treatment with the glory of Jehovah Rapha? Clearly, He has the power to articulate all things in the miracle of healing.

In Isaiah 38 and 39 we read more detail through the writings of Hezekiah about his state of heart and mind while ill, and about the miracle of his recovery. We also see his sin of pride before Merodach-Baladan and hear the Lord’s judgement spoken in prophecy by Isaiah as he announces the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon some 150 years prior to the actual invasion. Isaiah then speaks in truly astounding transition in chapter 40 about God’s comfort for His people, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness’ who will ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God’. This triumphant prophecy is repeated in the NT (Mt 3:3, Mk 1:2, Lk 3:4, Jn 1:23) some 700 years later to herald the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. How amazing is the word of God?

Psalm 68 is touted as one of the more complex writings in God’s word and this may well be; although it does seem to align well with our week’s reading. David sings praise to God as the one who defeats enemies, defends the weak, brings prosperity, and goes before His people in the wilderness. Although not as clear nor as precise as the prophecies of Isaiah, the Psalm alludes to Jesus as the One who ascended on high to lead captivity captive (vs 18), and as the God of our salvation (19). He wins battles for us and gives us the spoils, victory of complete forgiveness. We are so blessed to be His called!

09/09/2026

Today’s word of encouragement comes to you from Allison Priestly

Our reading in Isaiah today rings familiar. Despite minor variations in word choice and order, phrasing, or descriptive elements, these chapters repeat the same historical truths and events that we read on days one and two this week. Outside research further shows that archeological findings and secular history also validate our readings. We can be certain that God wants us to know the lessons of these chapters. They are repeated in His word and written in His creation. Isaiah’s message is a poignant reminder of God’s extraordinary ability to intervene in our most challenging and darkest times. Every one of us is invited to call out to God. And these chapters illuminate the assurance that God 1) hears our prayers, that 2) He is responsive to our personal, corporate, and even governing needs and 3) that He can supernaturally direct our faith to somehow create profound changes not only in our lives, but those around us: individuals, communities, and even nations. As Hezekiah’s story reveals, God’s response is not just about external action or physical healing. It can also ignite spiritual renewal and the opportunity for growth and deeper connection with Him.

As with King David before him, we see Hezekiah’s strengths, but also his weaknesses. Through him, we learn valuable lessons about the importance of walking in close step with God and crying out to Him in prayer and faith to fight our battles. Psalm 123 gives us a great example of how this looks. The fourth of fourteen Songs of Ascent, this Psalm was well-known to the Israelites and regularly sung in pilgrimage to the holy city. It sings the powerful impact of prayer in very few words. Reading these four short verses, we hear themes of dependence on God through submission, hope and redemption. We note a heartfelt plea for God’s mercy in the face of adversity, and we recognize the psalmist’s faith in God’s just ability to address the sting of prideful mocking and contempt.

In our NT reading Paul is also teaching us how to navigate the circumstances and temptations of everyday life while remaining in close step with God. In 1 Corinthians 8 he elevates love over knowledge as a measure of assessing one action or decision over another. In chapter 9 he suggests we forgo both knowledge and our rights of liberty for the glory that is ours when boasting in the Gospel. Today he draws upon several actions of the early Israelites to illustrate where and how they abused the liberty God gave them. Similar to the events of our OT readings, these things are written for our admonition and instruction. I like Skip Heitzig’s summary of the principles we can receive from this chapter to avoid abusing the liberty God gives us. Heitzig suggests that we consider:
1. Utility - Does this action or decision help me in my Christian Walk?
2. Authority – Do I control it, or does it control me and possibly hinder me in my walk?
3. Edification/Love – Let no one seek his own but each one the other’s well-being.

In my mind the greatest of these (and the most challenging to consistently apply) is LOVE.

09/08/2026

Today’s word of encouragement comes to you from Allison Priestly

Is it any surprise that following the revival of yesterday’s reading, today we have a roaring enemy flinging flaming darts into the freshly rekindled faith of the Israelites? In these parallel accounts of our two OT readings, we follow a detailed description of this attack, the tactics of the enemy, Hezekiah’s prayer, his obedience and actions, Isaiah’s prophecy, the Lord’s omnipotence and just judgement, and then the final events in the life of this good king of Judah. But, before closing the day’s reading with an appropriate admonishment from Paul to run as Hezekiah did, in such a way as to receive ‘the prize’ (1Co 9:24), we are treated to an eloquent, uplifting celebration of blessing and praise through the 7 short verses of Psalm 67.

Action begins as King Sennacherib, fresh from destroying the Northern Kingdom, dispatches the Rabshakeh and a ‘great army’ to Judah to tear down the people’s faith and hope, to tear down the city walls, and likely to then tear the flesh from every captive as well. He mocks God attempting to convince the Israelites to abandon all hope, their faith, their king, and their city; and he offers them a life in paradise with the Assyrians. Rabshakeh is described as a high-ranking field commander for the Assyrian king. It’s certainly no stretch for us to see him as an officer in satan’s well-organized militia wielding the familiar seven strategies of our enemy: deception, temptation, accusation, distraction, discord, fear, and pride.

Don’t you just love Hezekiah’s response to the threats of this enemy? Well, not the unsuccessful attempt to buy off king Sennacherib with wealth stripped from the House of the Lord. That one might well be worthy of a sermon on churches today who compromise the word of God to assuage liberal accusations of piety. But thereafter, God directs Hezekiah in giving us a lesson on contending with the enemy as he chooses to call for the prophet Isaiah, then to spread all the threats before the Lord, and to pray that God be glorified in showing Himself mighty to save. God removes any doubt as to who is to be glorified when he illuminates Isaiah’s prophecy and distracts Sennacherib into battle against Libnah instead of Judah. He then sends one miracle to follow the other in response to the threats of the evil Rabshakeh and dispatches an angel —only one—to destroy 185,000 soldiers in Sennacherib’s great army! Can you imagine!? Jesus once scolded Peter, assuring him that He could call down ‘more than twelve legions of angels’ if He so desired (Mt 26:53). For fun, let’s do the math: Jesus had an easy 12 x 500 (a roman legion) each able to destroy 185,000 enemy soldiers = 1.11 trillion. Indeed, can any ‘arm of flesh’ anywhere at any time stand before the power of our LORD (2Ch 32:8)? Whom shall we fear!?

Like Hezekiah, ‘we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places’ (Eph 6:12). What a fantastic reminder today that we do not battle in fear but in the completed works of our LORD’s victory, and that triumph is the Gospel. Paul details for the Corinthians and us how to ‘…fight: not as one who beats the air…’ (1Co 9:26), but with discipline to achieve the imperishable crown! And Psalm 67 offers such fitting praise for us to sing to our almighty LORD who ‘…shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations on earth’. Selah

09/07/2026

Today’s word of encouragement comes to you from Allison Priestly

When Hezekiah becomes the thirteenth king to reign over Judah he is sadly only the fourth to do ‘what was right in the sight of the LORD’. Except for the brief reign of King Jotham, he has seen a quarter decade of idolatry, debauchery, and disobedience against God in both Judah and the Northern Kingdom. He’s witnessed his own father, Ahaz, defined by wickedness, erecting pagan altars throughout Jerusalem, and systematically closing up and desecrating the nation’s holy place of worship. He has inherited a faltering throne to lead a crumbling and spiritually bereft nation. By his fourth year of reign, Hezekiah watches God’s judgement of brutal destruction come over the Northern Kingdom, ending nineteen dynasties each stained with the same sins of disobedience and idolatry. Only the tribe of Judah remained (2Kg 17:18). By his fourteenth year of reign, the enemy is coming after him.

And King Hezekiah chooses a radically different path. He ‘trusted in the LORD God of Israel … he held fast to the LORD … He did not depart from following Him …’ (2Kg 18:5-6). ‘And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered’ (2Ch 31:21). He doesn’t just speak. He takes specific practical steps. And though surrounded on all fronts by brutal enemies, intent on destroying Judah—Edomites to the East, Philistines to the west, and south, Syrians and Assyrians to the north—this courageous young king begins his reign by restoring the Holy place of God. He throws open the doors of the temple, commands the priests and Levites to consecrate the House of the LORD (and themselves!), and orders them to remove all the filth. It is noteworthy that he calls them by name, the very men set apart as guardians over the covenant and the law; whose job it is to assure that worship remains pure and undefiled. Once the House of the Lord is in order, Hezekiah inspires praise for God, restores worship, tears down the high places of idolatry, and obediently serves the LORD to kindle again the hearts of God’s people, who then erupt with music, song, gratitude, praise, and offering. A true revival.

Hezekiah demonstrates that each one of us and every generation is fully responsible for our own response to God. We are never justified in excusing our sin by deflecting to a lineage of ancestors or justifying by reason of ‘genetic weakness.’ He knows that his nation’s security and legacy depend entirely on faithfulness and obedience. This young king understands the importance of purging the religious corruption that’s eroded his nation’s faith, and he restores the holy practices of consecration, sacrifice, and worship. Hezekiah seeks ‘first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,’ showing himself to be a true and effective leader. Sadly, even the holy men of Judah are incapable of reform without a push from their king. Are we also? Do we simply watch and shake our heads as the holy places of our own nation are compromised and defiled? Or do we humble ourselves and pray, and seek His holy face, leaning into our true King Jesus for personal revival to stand immovable on the truth of His holy word. Maybe in some way, this actual event in history is also a parable for us on the cleansing of our own hearts, often spoken of as the temple of God (1Co 3:16-17). Time to throw open our doors of prayer, light afresh the lamps of our testimony, turn our eyes and ears away from filth, and plead the Father to receive our sacrifice. We’ll sing a new song in worship, filled with praise and spontaneous offering (1Jn 1:9).

09/04/2026

Today’s word of encouragement comes to you from Gloria Kruger

When we read today in both Chronicles and Kings the main difference is that Chronicles focuses on the Southern Kingdom (Judah) who is under the wicked King Ahaz. It tells us why God allows Judah to be attacked by enemies like Edom, Philistia, and Assyria.

Kings focuses on the Northern Kingdom (Israel). It explains why Assyria destroys them in 722 B.C. Both chapters talk of Israel and Judah’s severe Idolatry. The Lord has long warned Israel of judgment, going all the way back to Moses’ stern warning, ‘Whereas you were as numerous as the stars of heaven, you shall be left few in number because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God’ (Dt 28:62-65). ‘Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets”’ (2Kg 17:13). Kings then describes the many ways in which Israel sinned against the Lord (2Kg 17:15-17). Verse 18 notes, ‘Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only.’ Though a remnant remains in the north, the nation of Israel is under Assyrian rule, and tens of thousands are deported and made servants in Assyria. The king of Assyria brings people from other nations, and places them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. The descendants of these foreigners and the remnant of Israel are later simply called “Samaritans”.

In Psalm 66 the Psalmist who is not David, summons the whole earth to come and see what God has done in an act of corporate praise. The psalmist both honors God for who He is and thanks Him for specific answers to prayer. It is not enough to “come and see,” the psalmist invites all to come and hear so that God’s redemption might be proclaimed publicly. Some believe this might have been sung at Passover or at a victory celebration, where corporate praise gives way to the voice of this single worshiper who speaks personally of God by saying, I will declare what He has done for my soul. This is a beautiful psalm of thanksgiving.

As we end today’s reading, Paul answers a question posed to him in a letter by affirming that the celibate life is good, but it is not the only good. Paul’s point in verse 2 is that monogamy is God’s plan for marriage. Both the celibate life and married life are equally viable paths, and they both require fidelity. S*x in marriage is a beautiful thing, but because of the highly s*xual aspect of pagan worship in Corinth, some in the church may have thought they should abstain from s*x even within marriage. Paul reassures the Corinthians of the necessity and divine beauty of s*xual union within a godly marriage, teaching that a husband and wife have the responsibility to give to his or her mate the fulfillment of s*xual desires as a gift, and each one’s responsibility is not just to the mate but to the Lord in doing so.

God asks us to give this gift to our mates in marriage, and thus to make s*x an experience of mutual fulfillment and satisfaction. Paul is teaching us that the only way to find our own needs met and ourselves fulfilled is to fulfill another’s needs within the confines of marriage. Any expression of s*xual “fulfillment” outside of marriage is a corruption of God’s design for His image bearers. God designed marriage! It is so precious in His sight that He allows this institution to be used as a picture of His relationship with the church. ‘Say to God, “How awesome are Your works!”’ (Ps 66:3).

09/03/2026

Today’s word of encouragement comes to you from Gloria Kruger

The LORD delivers Zion in judgement and graciousness. We find the 6th and last woe in the series of woes here in Chapter 33 which speaks to the destroyer Assyria, even before the invasion. But taking it one step further, remember that Assyria’s siege of Jerusalem is a picture of the Antichrist’s siege of Jerusalem in the End Times. Isaiah promises that he will come to his fitting end at the Lord’s coming. Starting in vs.2 the nation of Israel opens with a prayer to save them in their time of distress. This is a short summary of what we also see described in Zechariah 12. But the Lord will be raised up, and their plans to destroy will come to nothing. In contrast, those who walk in righteousness, he will dwell on the heights (Is 33:15-17). To that one, his eyes will see the King. Isaiah then weaves in a picture of describing what they will see in a future Jerusalem.

In our last chapter for today Paul gives a good reason why believers should be able to handle everyday earthly matters on their own—because Christians will participate in some way in the future judgement (1Co 6:2-3). And here again we look into the future and see that we are one day going to judge the world, and even the angels. We know that we have been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God, and that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. A temple is a place sacred to God and pure from immorality. He bought us with a price and we are to therefore glorify God in the bodies we now have.

Like I mentioned at the beginning of the week’s reading, it seems a lot of Isaiah’s prophecies are what we also read in Revelation. Chapter 34 seems to mirror Revelation 19:11-21, which is the moment of Christ’s Second Coming to set up His kingdom. This scene is like the earlier one we’ve been reading about from Isaiah’s day, when Assyria attacks Jerusalem but is defeated by the angel of the Lord. Isaiah describes a destruction coming for “all nations” (Is. 34:1-4). We’ve been seeing Isaiah draw parallels between the coming destruction of Assyria and the future destruction of the Antichrist’s armies. It’s reminiscent of Revelation 14:19-20. It’s interesting to note that the idea that this chapter relates to the very End Times goes back a long time among believers (Eusebius) and many other ancients. Remember the oracle against Edom that we read about in chapter 21? Here we see Isaiah confirming again this bleak future for the land of Edom. A perpetual burning. No one ever passes through it again, but only wild desert creatures dwell there. Some of these strange creatures are even described as demon like. The chapter ends in a confirmation that these demons will be separated out and gathered into this place and remain there forever. Isaiah means that this prophecy should be understood literally. Not poetically, but literally. Isaiah clearly challenges doubters to “look it up” once the prophecy is fulfilled. Luke leaves us a message as well to ‘Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man’ (Lk 21:36).

Following this judgment, chapter 35 explains the joy that follows for those saved at Christ’s return. It describes the restoration of the land and of the people. We find the land coming to life as a result of the Lord’s return and all the geographical references seem to relate to Israel. They will see the glory of the Lord! The weak are strengthened, and the sick and diseased are healed. We find a reference to the Spirits’s opening of Israel’s spiritual senses so that they might know and receive the Lord. We find that abundance replaces lack in the land. And finally there is a roadway on which the righteous of Israel walk into the holy city with everlasting joy upon their heads. ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away’ (Rv 21:4).

09/02/2026

Today’s word of encouragement comes to you from Gloria Kruger

This starts off with our 4th woe to the rebellious children who devise a plan, but not God’s. This prophecy is given at a time when the Assyrians are attacking Israel and Judah. The Northern Kingdom, Israel will be conquered by Assyria, then Assyria will turn their sites to the Southern Kingdom, Judah. So the leaders of Judah look to take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh, and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt. They forsake the LORD, and He says, ‘the safety of Pharaoh will be your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation’ (Is 30:3). God told Judah this before it happened, but they are rebellious people and don’t want to hear the truth.

Paul likewise is dealing with immorality in the church. As bad as the sin itself is, Paul is more concerned that the Corinthian Christians seemed to take the sin lightly, and are unconcerned about their own behavior. No matter the sin, when there is compromise or flat out rebellion, it starts to blind little by little and eventually takes over. ‘Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump’ (1Co 5:6)? We too should examine our own lives and see if we are compromising in any areas.

In a final warning to Israel against seeking protection from Egypt, Isaiah begins chapter 31 with, ‘Woe to those who go down to Egypt.’ This is the 5th woe. Woe in it’s Hebrew meaning is a word that says- in it’s current condition, it is heading for disaster; that God’s judgement is on the horizon. If there is no change, no repentance in the people to turn back to God, then the outcome, the future, is going to be one of total disaster. God assures Israel that He is wise enough to bring disaster, both against their adversaries, and those in Israel who turn their back on Him. God used the Assyrians as appointed instruments of destruction, and promises to prevent the Egyptians from offering any help. God wants to fight the battle alone, to His own glory. The Assyrian Army has devastated almost the entire land of Judah, and camped on the outskirts of Jerusalem waiting to conquer the nation by defeating the capital city. But God! We read in the account of the kings how God simply sends the angel of the LORD and kills 185,000 Assyrians in one night (2Kg 19:35). What an Awesome God!

Isaiah once again weaves references of the future with references of the present day judgement. Isaiah draws a contrast in chapter 32 between the present day unfaithful leadership in Judah to a future time when it will be ruled by perfection. We know Isaiah is back to describing the Lord’s return to rule on the Earth, but we see a new detail—a king is mentioned, and princes are present in the Messianic Kingdom. Who are they? We can find more detail of this in Ezekiel 34. Although some scholars say the prophecy of Isaiah 32 and 33 could of been given before the time of the prophecy of Isaiah 30 and 31, they believe that the king who will reign in righteousness is Hezekiah. He was a righteous king, as well as his great-grandson King Josiah. Yet ultimately, they were both just a picture of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. The prophet Jeremiah proclaims, ‘“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth”’ (Jr 23:5). We know of only one who can fulfill this perfectly—Messiah Ha Mashiach! King Jesus!

09/01/2026

Today’s word of encouragement comes to you from Gloria Kruger

Isaiah prophesies during the period of the divided kingdom, directing the major thrust of his message to the Southern Kingdom of Judah. In that day: From the context of chapters 24 & 25 we find that that day is Messiah’s triumph and reign over the whole world. Chapter 26 is Judah’s ‘Kingdom of God’ song to be sung in the land of Judah, during the millennium. Verses 1-19 is a song of thanksgiving for redemption. Isaiah 26:4 says it all: ‘Trust in the LORD forever, For in God the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.’ Moving into chapter 27 again we have the theme of In that day: The Lord will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent; Some say Leviathan is ancient mythology, or the term may be applied figuratively to monstrous enemies of Israel and of God. Isaiah may be more literal than many would like to admit. If Satan could manifest himself as a serpent to Eve in the Garden of Eden, why not also manifest himself as a dreadful sea dragon? Passages in Job describe this sinister creature as one who rules over all the proud. The New Testament reveals that Satan is the reality behind the symbol (Rv 12). God’s annihilation of this enemy, who promotes chaos and evil, emphasizes the decisive nature of God’s sovereignty and victory over all His foes when King Messiah conquers all in that day. The chapter ends with the restoration of Israel. In the Kingdom of the LORD, Israel receives mercy and God will sound His trumpet to call His people together to worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem (Is 27:12-13).

Today’s Psalm could be titled The Song of the Millennium as we read phrases like, ‘Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; And to You the vow shall be performed. O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come’ (Ps 65:1-2), and ‘Blessed is the man you choose, and cause to approach you, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple’ (Ps 65:4). One can easily see that both Isaiah and David are singing of the Kingdom to come.

Isaiah 28 starts a series of woes against those who have disobeyed God. Isaiah begins with the sin of Israel (or Ephraim—the capital of the northern kingdom and crown of pride). They are a prideful people in the sinful state of drunkards. Whether literal or spiritual, they are under a wrong influence. Not the Spirit of God, but with the things of the world. They are simply seeking gratification. (Idolatry = pursuing your own desires rather than the purposes of God). God is warning them that they are a fading flower ready for destruction, overcome with wine.

Next he shifts to Judah who is no better. The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, are confused, and totter when rendering judgment (vs.7). They have the wrong objective, error in their vision, and they do not relate to the truth of God. They have forgotten God and He is going to show them His power and authority. We need to ask ourselves—Is God pleased with our results or what we’re committed to? Or are the things we’re committed to going to be the source of God’s judgement in our life? When we are pursing that which is not proper, under the influence that’s not the “Holy Spirit”, we are going to experience God’s judgement and be led astray. Then the prophet speaks of the Messiah being established in Zion, a tested and costly cornerstone, a foundation firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed (Is 28:16).

In our New Testament reading Paul says, ‘He who judges me is the Lord… who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of men’s hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God, not man (1Co 4:4-5).

We end today with Isaiah 29: A message against spiritual indifference; of being uninterested and unwilling to encounter the truth of God. Why? Because Judah doesn’t want to change. In this chapter we have two woes. First for the city of Jerusalem that is proud and resting on its spiritual heritage instead of its present reality (without concern for God).

The call is for repentance, because without it, the result is utter disaster. A spiritual stupor and blindness comes on Jerusalem. We read that, because ‘this people draw near with words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned (by man)’ therefore their wisdom will perish (Is 29:13). Then we read that the 2nd woe is to those who ‘deeply hide their plans from the LORD.’ Pride will bring us low and leads to spiritual drunkenness, spiritual sleep, spiritual illiteracy, and hypocrisy. It makes men believe that God cannot know what they think, or see what they do. It makes men deny God as creator. But when we humble ourselves, turn, and repent, spiritual blindness can be healed through the Lord’s restoration, and that’s what we find at the end of chapter 29.

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