Year 2, Week 1, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 1, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Chronicles 26; Isaiah 1

Today’s reading reports on the reign of Uzziah (aka Azariah), King of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. 2 Chronicles 26 notes not only the long reign of Uzziah: "Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 26:3a); but also the summary assessment of his tenure as King: “And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done” (2 Chronicles 26:4). However, an ominous qualifier is provided as to the success of Uzziah’s reign: “He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper” (2 Chronicles 26:5). As long as Uzziah sought the LORD, he would prosper in his rule. After much success as a king, there was a tragic turning point to Uzziah’s rule: “But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense” (2 Chronicles 26:16). Uzziah spent his remaining years in isolation as a leper. The parallel historical record of 2 Chronicles 26 is found in the previous day’s reading of 2 Kings 15. Today’s reading also introduces us to the ministry of the prophet: “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 1:1). Isaiah was a prophet for forty years as he ministered during the reigns of four kings in Judah. Isaiah spoke words of judgment and comfort as he confronted sin and promised salvation.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading are the strong words of condemnation and judgment that begin the Book of Isaiah: “Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged” (Isaiah 1:4). These strong words of confrontation are the normative pattern throughout the first half of the Book of Isaiah. The sixty-six chapters that comprise the Book of Isaiah comprise two major sections: chapters 1-39 and chapters 40-66. The first section of Isaiah is primarily condemnation and judgment with a few notes along the way of comfort and deliverance. The second section of Isaiah is primarily comfort and deliverance with some reminders along the way of condemnation and judgment. The emphasis is so distinct in the two sections that some are not sure that the same person could have written both sections. But there is really no reason to question Isaiah as the author of the entire book. The distinct emphases in the two sections are simply explained by the desire of the LORD to first break down the devastating hopelessness of sin and then lift up with the definitive hopefulness of salvation. Sin yields devastation and death, while salvation yields deliverance and life.

So, as Isaiah begins, he confronts Judah with the reality that everything is not ok. The words were sharp and cut: “Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!” (Isaiah 1:10). The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by the LORD. Addressing the leaders and the people of Judah as Sodom and Gomorrah was shocking as it depicted Judah as fast approaching their destruction. But the people of Judah  presumed that they were ok as they went through the motions of worship. However, the manner in which they engaged in worship practices left the LORD sickened: “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough…“When you come to appear before me, who has required of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings…Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates…I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen” (Isaiah 1:11-15). As Judah practiced the very rituals that the LORD had prescribed, something very vital was missing—true devotion giving rise to the pursuit of righteousness. Their religious practices were offensive and provocative to the LORD.

Therefore, the LORD had Judah in His sights to purify them: “Therefore the Lord declares, the LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: “Ah, I will get relief from my enemies and avenge myself on my foes. I will turn my hand against you and will smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your alloy” (Isaiah 1:24-25). The immediate remedy was repentance: “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1:16-17). Through repentance they would have hope: “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land” (Isaiah 1:18-19). But without repentance, they would have no hope: “but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken” (Isaiah 1:20).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe