Woe To the Decree Makers

“Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression,” (Isaiah 10:1, ESV) To pronounce a woe upon anyone is a frightening proposition when God speaks it. This is because it speaks of a future pending judgment. That is the case here as it pertains to the legislators of Israel. ThoseContinue reading “Woe To the Decree Makers”

The Glorious Light

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” (Isaiah 9:2, ESV) In the Bible, there is a constant metaphor of light and dark. Darkness represents evil, oppression and calamity. In contrast, light represents good, deliverance and victory. IsaiahContinue reading “The Glorious Light”

Living On a Higher Plane

“Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread.” . . . “And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the deadContinue reading “Living On a Higher Plane”

The Sign of Immanuel

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14, ESV) Here we have one of the most famous prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures. Matthew quoted this prophecy in his gospel account and attributed it to Christ, Israel’s Messiah.Continue reading “The Sign of Immanuel”

Strength For Today

“If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.” (Isaiah 7:9, ESV) Do not worries and fears plague us today? Many of us walk through this life with much fear and trepidation. There is an antidote for this. It is faith. Faith is at the core of firmness or confidenceContinue reading “Strength For Today”

What fruit are we yielding?

“. . . he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.” (Isaiah 5:2, ESV) This section of Isaiah records a metaphor that pertains to house of Israel (v1-7). Israel was God’s chosen and beloved people. He did everything to make them fruitful and productive. Yet they chose to go the wayContinue reading “What fruit are we yielding?”

Fight the Quintessential Sin

“And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.” (Isaiah 2:17, ESV) Isaiah speaks of a glorious day, a day when the Lord shall defeat the quintessential sin in our lives once-and-for-all. What is the quintessentialContinue reading “Fight the Quintessential Sin”

100 Percent Pure

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18, ESV) Ivory Snow had a commercial slogan that said it was 99 and 44/100 percent pure. This was from anContinue reading “100 Percent Pure”

The Devout Few

“If the Lord of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah.” (Isaiah 1:9, ESV) When the Lord brought this message to the nation, it had just experienced a time of great prosperity. Judah, the Southern Kingdom, had experienced a time peace and prosperity andContinue reading “The Devout Few”

God’s Grace

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.” (Galatians 6:18, ASV) When you ask someone to explain the grace of God, I am afraid that their explanations often fall short. The grace of God has been manifested from the beginning of time. It is infinite and all encompassing. In otherContinue reading “God’s Grace”