The Way of Holiness

8And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. 9No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up onContinue reading “The Way of Holiness”

Pray Watch and Remember

“O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. At the tumultuous noise peoples flee; when you lift yourself up, nations are scattered, and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, it is leapt upon.” (Isaiah 33:2–4, ESV)Continue reading “Pray Watch and Remember”

Nobility or Ignobility

“But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.” (Isaiah 32:8, ESV) In the movie, “Forrest Gump,” Forrest’s mother used to tell him, “Stupid is as stupid does.”  Her point to Forrest was that a person is only stupid if they do stupid things. Here we have another sentiment withContinue reading “Nobility or Ignobility”

Seek God for Direction

1 “Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; 2 who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh andContinue reading “Seek God for Direction”

True Worshippers Needed

“And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,” (Isaiah 29:13, ESV) In my years as a Christian, I have observed church folk from both the pulpit andContinue reading “True Worshippers Needed”

The Pride and Humility Paradox

“The Lord of hosts has purposed it, to defile the pompous pride of all glory, to dishonor all the honored of the earth.” (Isaiah 23:9, ESV) This section of Isaiah deals with a prophecy concerning Tyre and Sidon. Tyre was a seaport, a prosperous and pompous city that historically had its rises and falls. ThisContinue reading “The Pride and Humility Paradox”

Some Will Listen

“In that day the Lord God of hosts called for weeping and mourning, for baldness and wearing sackcloth; and behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.‘” (Isaiah 22:12–13, ESV) Jerusalem was under siege. Biblical historians believe that this wasContinue reading “Some Will Listen”

Observe, Discern, and Teach

“For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees.” (Isaiah 21:6, ESV) One of the great practices of elementary school days was that of the “Show and Tell.” The student would bring something from home and tell the story about it. Similar to this is the nextContinue reading “Observe, Discern, and Teach”

Trust God Not Man

“And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’” (Isaiah 20:6, ESV) Today, we as a nation seem to beContinue reading “Trust God Not Man”

Waiting On God

“For thus the Lord said to me: “I will quietly look from my dwelling like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”” (Isaiah 18:4, ESV) Here Isaiah gives an oracle concerning Cush. Cush is the area that broadly refers to the countries of the Upper Nile, south ofContinue reading “Waiting On God”