I started this blog when I was following the Life Journal Bible reading plan on YouVersion. (I've since completed that plan.) At that time, YouVersion didn't provide any way for people to respond to my notes, other than to "like" them. So this blog is here to remedy that problem. You may comment on my notes here in the comment section.
I also have a general blog.
During Isaiah's time, YHWH was only considered the God of the Israelites. But in the last days, He will be acknowledged as the God of all nations.
We are part-way there at this point. There are people from the majority of nations on earth who acknowledge YHWH as God. Some of the things mentioned here are not yet fulfilled - we still have wars, we still have nations who do not know YHWH.
When verse 2 talks about YHWH's mountain will be higher than all others, it's not talking physically, but regarding the honour given to YHWH as the aroma of Christ permeates the world.
As ambassadors for Christ, we are part of the movement to bring verse 3 to pass. The witneses of the past cheer us on.
We're pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful
Isaiah uses the term YHWH of Armies again - traditionally translated "Lord of Hosts" or "Jehovah Sabaoth". This name denotes His universal soverignty over every army, both spirtual and earthly. The Lord of Hosts is the king of all heaven and earth. [mybible.com]
Israel had rebelled against God, so He compares them to Sodom and Gomorrah. Their continuance of the rituals are worthless because they continue to sin. God ignores their prayers because of their sin. So God has allowed enemies to lay seige to Jerusalem as a result.
So God calls them to repentance. "Stop sinning, learn to do what is right, and promote justice."
"Come, let's consider your options," says YHWH. Though your sins have stained you like the colour red, you can become white like snow; though they're as easy to see as the colour scarlet, you can become white like wool. If you have a willing attitude and obey, then you will again eat the good crops of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you wil l be devoured by the sword."
Too often when we have sinned, we tend to just wallow in it and persist. Instead, God calls us to repent and turn back to Him.
As it says here and many other places, the thing to do when we have sinned is to repent and get back walking with God.
