Yahweh is my protector

Isaiah 13 & 14 talks about how God will judge Babylon and the Philistines after their oppression of God's people.

God had allowed them to oppress His people earlier because of their disobedience. But in the end, God still loves His people and will redeem them.

This reminds me of the song "Still".

Hide me now under Your wings
Cover me within Your mighty hand
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father, You are King over the flood
I will be still, know You are God
Find rest, my soul in Christ alone
Know His power in quietness and trust

Praise the Lord

Isaiah 12

Though God is angry with our sin, yet He is our deliverer. As Romans 5:8 points out, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, demonstrating God's love for us.

That's why we can trust Him and not fear - He gives us strength and protects us. Hallelujah!

“Praise the Lord! Ask him for help! Publicise his mighty acts among the nations. Make it known that he is unique. Sing to the Lord, for he has done magnificent things; let this be known throughout the earth.”

- Isaiah 12:4-5

 

Prophetic fulfilments not straightforward

Isaiah 11

Verses 1-5 at first seem to tell of a just and godly human king, but then verses 6-9 is either hyperbole or it's pointing to something out of this world.

Verses 10-13 talk about the reunification of Israel & Judah and the return of the exiles, Then verse 14 talks about how this reunified Israel will take over Philistia Edom, Moab, and Ammon. And that YHWH will dry up the Red Sea and the Euphrates River so that they will no longer be a barrier and people to walk across, symbolic of the return of the exiles.

Some of these things seem be fulfilled by the Maccabees, for they did conquer Philistia and Edom, but Moab and Ammon had disappeared as a separate people by then and been absorbed into the Nabataean kingdom. Furthermore, the Maccabees were Levites, not descended from Jesse.

So, it makes more sense to interpret this as fulfilled in the Kingdom of God of Jesus, which wasn't a political conquest, but rather, a spiritual conquest.

Therefore, when we study yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecy, we should also be careful not to impose our too-often literal interpretations on them.

Not all stealing is done by “thieves”

Isaiah 10

Beware, those who enact unjust policies; those who are always instituting unfair regulations, to keep the poor from getting fair treatment, and to deprive the oppressed among my people of justice, so they can steal what widows own, and loot what belongs to orphans. What will you do on judgment day, when destruction arrives from a distant place? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your wealth?

Isaiah 10:1-3

This seems so relevant in Malaysia today, as we see foreign workers and the poor being abused and exploited.

Not all stealing is done by “thieves”. Some do their stealing by such corrupt means. 

We must fight for social justice as well. In this way, Marxists like Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, Arutchelvan, A Sivarajan, and Bawani KS of the Parti Socialis Malaysia are doing the work of God, whether they know Jesus personally or not. So while I do not agree with Marxist atheism, I respect their track record on social justice.