I feel somewhat like I do when the kids and grandkids leave for home after a short visit. I wish I would have had more time with them.  However, I know they will be back and we will have more. On the other hand, at this stage of life I doubt if I will have another opportunity to teach Isaiah and that makes me regret we do not have more time. We barely skimmed the surface and next week we move on to the next series of lessons. As we have seen over the last several weeks, we cannot just jump into the assigned text without stepping back and seeing…

This morning we are in Isaiah 58 and, like last week, it helps to have a little context.  In Isaiah 55 the Lord invites the people to come to him and be healed. “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters.” “Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.” “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Then in Chapter 57 he rebukes…

This morning we are looking at Isaiah 53 and the Suffering Servant. Let’s begin at the end of chapter 52: 14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him—     his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being     and his form marred beyond human likeness— 15 so he will sprinkle many nations,     and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see,     and what they have not heard, they will understand. Chapter 53 Who has believed our message     and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender…

Last week we looked at the character and role of Cyrus who had been anointed and called by God to liberate the Jews from their captivity in Babylon.  He is even referred to in the text as the (lower case) messiah and savior. He was a conqueror and king.  He was a military genius. But he was only a precursor, an opening act, for the real Messiah and Savior.  It is the king and conqueror who sets them free from their temporary exile but it is the Servant who sets them free from their captivity to sin and restores them not only to Jerusalem but also restores the whole world.…

It is safe to say if there were an album titled, “The Best of Isaiah” this chapter would be included. It would be in “The Best of the Old Testament” and even “The Best of All Literature.” While many, if not most, of us recognize it from singing or hearing it performed every Christmas as one of the high points in Handel’s “Messiah” it also contains some of the most quoted and memorable verses in all of Scripture. This is why I am reluctant even to address it this morning in the usual way.  What can anyone say about the incomprehensible – especially the incomprehensible that became flesh and dwelt…

Several weeks ago when we were told what the lessons were for this time I looked up where we would be on the Sunday before the election and uttered a little prayer, “Lord, please make it have nothing to do with the election or with political figures.” I checked out Isaiah 46 and was relieved to know it was all about idols and false gods and how there is only one God. What a relief! But then I knew there had to be some context for Chapter 46 since this is a passage where Isaiah is predicting an event, the deliverance of Judah from Babylon, that would not occur for…