Year 2, Week 8, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 8, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Isaiah 57-59.

Today’s reading continues Isaiah’s prophecy to Judah. Much of today’s reading consists of multiple ways in which Isaiah calls Israel to return to the LORD and practice genuine righteousness. Isaiah 57 is a call to repentance that is coupled with the promise of the LORD’s presence amidst the humble: “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite…creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal him” (Isaiah 57:15,19). Isaiah 58 offers a sharp rebuke to those whose religious practices are filled with hypocrisy, while offering blessings in the true heartfelt practice of religion: “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken” (Isaiah 58:13-14). Isaiah 59 cites the troubles that Israel’s sins brought about; but accentuates how the strong arm of the LORD will cause His Spirit to stir in His people: “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD. “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore” (Isaiah 59:20-21).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the imagery of a Divine Warrior, who would bear His strong arm for the sake of his people: "He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him” (Isaiah 59:16). The things that matter dearly to the LORD—justice, righteousness, and truth—were sorely lacking. In fact, it was the exact opposite of justice, righteousness, and truth that were on the rise: “Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways. The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace” (Isaiah 59:6b-8). The LORD notes the native weakness of His people and the overwhelming fierceness of evil against His people: “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice” (Isaiah 59:14-15).

The LORD’s intervention is depicted through the imagery of a warrior who is armed and ready to wage war: “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak” (Isaiah 59:17). The military garments that the warrior is wearing shows that he is ready to rescue and defend his people for he will rescue and defend his people with the very protections that he is clothed with. His breastplate of righteousness will be his people’s breastplate; his helmet of salvation will be his people’s breastplate. This mighty warrior would conquer evil and establish his own kingdom.While the people were unable to stand against evil on their own; they would no longer be on their own, for they would be clothed with the Divine Warriors war clothes. The New Testament draws on this imagery to direct us to Christ in response to the devil’s attacks: “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:14-17a).

The Divine Warrior will also inflict vengeance on his people’s enemies, which are more importantly, his enemies. The enemies will be defeated and those who survive the defeat will live in fear: “According to their deeds, so will he repay, wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render repayment. So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives” (Isaiah 59:18-19). The demise of Satan and evil decisively began at the Cross, where Christ: “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Colossians 2:15). And that victory at the Cross establishes the future of Satan’s complete demise with absolute certainty: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20a).

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

Pastor Joe