Isaiah 11:1-12:6.  Remember that the first part of Isaiah (Chapters 2-12) revolve around a main idea.  That idea is seen in what happens in chapter 6.  In chapter 6 Isaiah had a vision of God in heaven.  He was impressed by two things: how pure and perfect God is and how he (and we) didn’t deserve to be friends of God.  But God was merciful and removed Isaiah’s guilt then he gave Isaiah an assignment, to warn the people the people of Judah about the mess they were in, in their relationship with God. Unfortunately the people would not listen.

The way Isaiah put his messages together (in their written form) was to reflect ideas around this main theme.  Chapter 5 reflects chapters 7-8.  Both focus on destruction in the southern kingdom.  This destruction will come at the hands of the Assyrians.  The main idea of God’s purity, or holiness, gives the reason for the destruction.  Chapters 2-4 reflect chapters 9-11 giving the reason for the trouble the Israelites will find themselves in.  The problem was pride, the Israelites were forgetting the source of the good life they had been enjoying.  They also put their trust in others, like the Assyrian king and his army.  While their trouble would be aimed at getting them to turn back to God we also see the nation of Assyria facing destruction for their pride too.  And their destruction will be more complete.  So God’s purity and holiness are contrasted with the pride of mankind.  The pride results in a broken relationship with God and God’s purity and holiness mean that he cannot just ignore our disrespect and disobedience.

Throughout this section though we see another side of God, his love or care or compassion.  In chapter 6 we saw God removing Isaiah’s guilt, symbolized by his “unclean lips”.  There has been consistent talk of a few remaining people, a remnant.  There has also been talk of help.  That talk has moved from a vague mention of a “branch” of God, to an offer of help and another vague mention of a son born to a virgin, to talk of a new and permanent leader who will lead the people in following God and bring peace.

In chapter 11 we see more about this coming leader, we see that he will be a  “shoot” of David, his descendant.  David was a former king of Israel to whom  God had promised an everlasting kingdom (2 Samuel 7:11-16).  He will be guided by the Holy Spirit, he will act with true knowledge, and he will deal rightly as a king.  We also see that the world will be a completely different place, full of peace down even to the animal kingdom.  Danger will be unknown in his kingdom.  This coming king will be good not just for the Israelites, but for all the people of the world.  Isaiah finishes this chapter by telling them that God will bring his people home and reminding them that he has the power to do what needs to be done.

Chapter 12 finishes up this section of Isaiah with a song.  Although it does not look like a song to us in Hebrew (the language which Isaiah wrote in) experts in the language say it is in a poetic form, the way lyrics of a song need to be.  The song has two parts that start with the phrase “in that day you will say”.  In the first part (verses 1-3) Isaiah tells us that the people will admit that they need God to save them.  They will be thankful and have joy.  In the second part of the song they then start to tell others about what great things God has done for them.  So the song is a song of praise and worship and also a way of helping others learn about God (evangelism).  Evangelism, in a way, is just worship in an open or public way.

Chapter 12 seems like a good conclusion to all of this section where we see both the purity and holiness of God and his love and forgiveness.  Ultimately we will learn from the New Testament that Jesus is the promised king from the family of David.  His kingdom is not finished yet, it is just started, with all of the people who have believed in him down through time.  According to the book of Revelation his physical kingdom is coming.  He is just getting the most important part together first, us.  Jesus made the way possible by removing our guilt forever, not just in a symbol, but by really paying for our disobedience.  Jesus also made it possible for the same Spirit which guides him to enter and guide us (Evidently although he is God he also allows the other two parts of God, the “Father” and the “Holy Spirit” to guide his actions)(See also “Three or One?”).  Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Paul call this story the “gospel” a word which means good news.  As people see and experience a new relationship with God it should motivate them to declare how great God is (worship).   When they do this around people who do not know God this worship becomes evangelism.  Peter told a group of believers to make Jesus the boss of their lives and to trust him with their forever.  This new relationship with God should give them hope.  They were to be ready to share their story with anyone who asked them where their hope came from (1 Peter 3:15). Lord thank you for caring about me, about us.  Thank you for making a path back to you.  Thank you for taking my punishment upon yourself.  Thank you for cleaning me up and making me into a place where your Spirit can live, and help.  Let me be forever grateful to you and help me talk about you wherever I am.  Let my life show your presence and let my mouth tell about you all the time.

Isaiah 10:20-34.  Yesterday we saw God hearing the boasts of the Assyrian king and informing the Israelites that he would deal with his pride.  Today’s reading continues that idea but it begins with a side note.  When the destruction of Assyria comes there will be some in Israel (now probably talking mostly about people from the southern part of the original nation) who will realize God is their true source of protection (vv. 20-22).  The will see this because the enemy who had been an ally and then turned on them will be destroyed; the Assyrians (vv. 22-23).

In verses 24-27 Isaiah continues to give hope to the Israelites by reminding them that God had saved them before when he brought them out of Egypt and when he saved them through Gideon (Whom he also mentioned in Isaiah 9:4,  It was at Midian that Gideon fought.)  Verse 27 is kind of weird but it is basically telling the Israelites that the Assyrians will be destroyed because they have gotten fat by taking advantage of the Israelites.

Verses 28-32 give the route of the particular invasion which will end with the Assyrian army’s failure to capture Jerusalem (the mountain of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem).

Verses 33-34 are a metaphor using a forest to describe how God will deal with the Assyrians.  The reference to Lebanon is probably a reference to the fact that Lebanon was known for it’s large cedar trees.  Even so great a forest was not immune to the axe.  God is able to do what needs to be done.

A couple of thoughts.  First don’t miss the link between verses 15 (from yesterday’s reading and vv. 33-34.  In verse 15 the Assyrian king was the axe and he thought he was so cool, so powerful, not realizing the an axe is only a tool in the hand of the one with the real power.  In vv 33-34 God is the axe and the power behind it and the Assyrians are the trees and bam, down they come.  Also notice in v. 22 that the destruction of Assyria is because of righteousness.  God always does what is right and he works for a right world.  It takes time, though, as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, God is looking for people to return to him and that takes time, so in the mean time bad stuff can and does happen.  But God is picking the best course through history, taking in to account His goal of letting people return to him.  I also liked how sudden verse 20 was.  In the middle of dealing with the pride of Asssyria God throws in this little piece of hope for the Israelites who begin to trust him again.  I like how quick God is to forgive when we turn back to him, like the whole book of Judges.  Last night some of us who went to Rancho Santa Marta for the weekend were talking about God and one person mentioned a Christian leader who was trying to remind people of God’s wrath.  He thinks many Christians forget about that side of God and just talk about His love.  We never want to forget God is holy and pure, that is the focus of the structure of this part of Isaiah (remember chapter 6) but we see over and over again that God wants people to turn back to him and when they do he is right there to take care of them.  He is the same God today for us that he was back then for the Israelites.  Nothing we do can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:31-39)..  That promise is written to those who love God and have given their lives to Him (Romans 8:28).  God is right there helping us live for him too (Romans 8:26-27).  The same power that destroyed the Assyrian oppressors in ancient Judah is available to destroy the things we want to trust in but shouldn’t in our lives.  What ever it is you think you need for a safe and happy life remember it is really God who can provide for all of your needs.  We need to not lean on our own understanding but give God the credit, allow him to run our lives and he will help us find the best way to live (Proverbs 3:5-6).  Lord show me the way.  Help me see your path.  Help me not rely on human solutions for life’s problems and my hurts and hopes.  Help me remember that you have my best interest in mind, you want the best for me, now and for eternity.  Everything that is good you created for us, you clearly want us to have good lives.  Show me your ways God and teach me your paths (Psalms 25:4), lead me in the everlasting way (Psalms 139:24).  Thank you for your love.