Day 145 – Isaiah: Theme
“When the Lord rises to shake the earth, his enemies will crawl into holes in the ground. They will hide in caves in the rocks from the terror of the Lord and the glory of his majesty.” Isaiah 2:19 NLT
The office of prophet was instituted during the days of Samuel, the last of the judges. Prophets stood with the priests as God’s special representatives. The prophet’s role was to speak for God, confronting the people and their leaders with God’s commands and promises. Because of this confrontational stance and the continuing tendency of people to disobey God, true prophets were usually not very popular. But though their messages often went unheeded, they faithfully and forcefully proclaimed the truth.
The first half of the book of Isaiah, up to chapter 39, contains scathing denunciations and pronouncements as God calls Judah, Israel, and the surrounding nations to repent of their sins. The last 27 chapters, however, are filled with consolation and hope as Isaiah unfolds God’s promise of future blessings through the Messiah.
As you study, imagine this strong and courageous man of God fearlessly proclaiming God’s word, and listen to his message – return, repent, and be renewed – in relation to your own life. The trust in God’s redemption through Christ and rejoice. Your Savior has come, and he’s coming again!
Prayer: Father, so often we read the prophets and see the sin in other people’s lives instead of reflecting on our own. As we work through Isaiah (and the other prophets), they show us how Scripture relates to us, so we can return, repent, and be renewed through Jesus Christ. Amen.
