Is. 34-36
I wonder why the book of Isaiah includes this story of Sennacherib and Hezekiah? I get Isaiah’s involvement with the situation. Still, this historical account seems a little out of place with the prophetic nature of the rest of the book up to this point. So far, Isaiah prophesied about God’s judgment on the nations, both of that time as well as at the final judgment, and about the return and blessing of God’s ransomed few, again both for then and later. Then this story interrupts all that prophecy. What is the significance of that?
It makes me think that this story is also a piece of prophecy somehow. It is certainly a demonstration of how God will shut down those who boast in their own power, even while carrying out His purpose. The story also shows how God saves those who trust in God. Certainly themes relevant to the prophecies. And it does seem to me that this destruction of the proud and redemption of the humble is a scenario that is bound to be repeated at some point in the future.
Rom. 4
There was quite a debate in Paul’s time, as the number of Gentile believers increased, over whether or not those Gentile believers needed to be circumcised. But what does all this talk of circumcision have to do with us today? Lots, really. Circumcision, like most everything else in the Bible, has a symbolic as well as a physical purpose. Remember that the whole Bible story is a demonstration, if you will, of God’s plan for His redemption of mankind to Himself.
The physical circumcision of the Jews was a sign of God’s covenant with Abraham. It also served as a seal that Abraham had faith and believed God’s promise. Circumcision set the people apart as God’s people. But that was the covenant of God’s law. With the birth, life, death, and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, God made a new covenant based solely on faith. The keeping of the law was then taken out of the picture. In its place, God’s forgiveness, received through faith in Christ, prevailed (thank God!). And so, as Paul explained back in Romans 2, “circumcision” – the sign and seal of God’s covenant with us – is now the indwelling of His Spirit in our hearts, which leads us to a life of faithful obedience to Him.