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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Is. 32-33
I love the simile at the start of chapter 32. Righteous reign and just rule are compared to shelter, refuge, flowing streams, and shade. You get a massive sense of refreshment and relief reading it. I think about all the injustice and crooked rule in the world today and it’s easy to understand the feeling. What a refreshing relief it will be when wickedness is no more and people – especially leaders – treat others the way they should.
There is a slight wrinkle in the thought, however. We know that God is holy, righteous, and just. These traits destroy anything that is not pure, like a refining fire. They have to, or they wouldn’t be what they are. We also know that none of us are pure; none are righteous. So then, “Who among us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with ever-burning flames?” (Is. 33:14b). Suddenly that righteous reign and just rule isn’t feeling so refreshing.
But fear not – there is an answer! There is One who lives righteously; One who stands up to the holy fire. The LORD God Himself stands in the gap for us in the person of Jesus Christ. He covers us with His righteousness. As it says, “For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our Lawgiver, the LORD is our King. He will save us.” (Is. 33:22). Therefore, when we become a part of God’s Kingdom we can rest in this assurance: “The people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.” (Is. 33:24b). Now THAT’S refreshing!
Is. 34
“The LORD is angry with the nations” (Is. 34:2a). The more I read the Bible, the more I am convinced that its stories, poems, and prophesies have both a practical, physical application and a representative, spiritual one. This statement is a good example. God was angry with the nations surrounding Israel and Judah. He pronounced specific judgments against them for specific crimes against His people, and thus Him. That is the very real, physical application of this pronouncement of His anger. We can take the next step, however, and say that God’s anger is toward the masses who reject His Promise; His gift of grace through Jesus Christ.
I believe we can say this with good confidence for several reasons. First, there is quite a bit of evidence, even from Jesus Himself, of the overlay of deeper, spiritual meaning to physical representations in the Bible. From that we can say that Israel is often a representation of all who enter into the Kingdom of God by faith through grace because of Jesus. Also, we know that the entire Bible speaks a message of one choice with only two options. We can choose life by surrendering to God and trusting in His great promise. Or we can choose death by rejecting His promise and continuing in our own prideful ways. Life or death. That’s it. God’s Kingdom or the world. Jerusalem or the nations. God’s love and mercy, or His anger and judgment. It’s all the same single choice.
Is. 35
This chapter is the other side of the coin. While chapter 34 spoke of the pending judgment for those who oppose God, this one speaks of the life we find in Jesus. “A road will be there and a way; it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it…But the redeemed will walk on it” (Is. 35:8a, 9c). This is why Jesus told His disciples, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn. 14:6). Jesus is that Holy Way that leads us to the land of life.
Ps. 46
This is an appropriate Psalm for the prophecies we just read. “Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when He lifts His voice.” (Ps. 46:6). Yet we don’t need to fear because we dwell in a tent whose pegs will not be pulled up (from Is. 33:20) and we travel a path devoid of danger (from Is. 35:9). The earth beneath us will not crumble because we stand on the rock that is Jesus. “The LORD of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.” (Ps. 46:7 & 11).