Author Archive for: meiling

Hi GAMErs!

There is so much we can learn from today’s passage in Isaiah 30:1-33.  Let’s go!
Remember that Isaiah chapters 28-33 represent a new section in the book of Isaiah.  Scholars believe that this section relates to the time when Judah was considering forming an alliance with Egypt in order to help defend against the threat of Assyria.  The ongoing message from Isaiah is that this alliance will only hurt Judah and that Judah’s only true hope is trusting in the LORD.

Isaiah 30:1-5 (NIV)
1  “Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin;
2  who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge.
3  But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame, Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace.
4  Though they have officials in Zoan and their envoys have arrived in Hanes,
5  everyone will be put to shame because of a people useless to them, who bring neither help nor advantage, but only shame and disgrace.”

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 29:1-14.  Let’s go!
 
Remember that Isaiah chapters 28-33 represent a new section in the book of Isaiah.  Scholars believe that this section relates to the time when Judah was considering forming an alliance with Egypt in order to help defend against the threat of Assyria.  The ongoing message from Isaiah is that this alliance will only hurt Judah, not help them, and that Judah’s only true hope is trusting in the LORD.

Isaiah 29:1-8 (NIV)
1  Woe to you, Ariel, Ariel, the city where David settled! Add year to year and let your cycle of festivals go on.
2  Yet I will besiege Ariel; she will mourn and lament, she will be to me like an altar hearth.
3  I will encamp against you all around; I will encircle you with towers and set up my siege works against you.

On verses 1-8:  Have you ever gone from not understanding a passage in the Bible to loving it?  That’s what happened to me when it comes to Isaiah 29:1-14.
My first question when reading this passage was: who is “Ariel”?  Ariel is another name for Jerusalem, “the city where David settled” (v1).

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 28:1-29.  Let’s go!
 
Isaiah chapters 28-33 represent a new section in the book of Isaiah.  Scholars believe that this section relates to the time when Judah was considering forming an alliance with Egypt in order to help defend against the threat of Assyria.  The ongoing message from Isaiah is that this alliance will only hurt Judah, not help them, and that Judah’s only true hope is trusting in the LORD.

Isaiah 28:1-8 (NIV)
1  Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley– to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine!
2  See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong. Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind, like a driving rain and a flooding downpour, he will throw it forcefully to the ground.
3  That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards, will be trampled underfoot.
4  That fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley, will be like a fig ripe before harvest– as soon as someone sees it and takes it in his hand, he swallows it.

On verses 1-8:  In the first 6 verses Isaiah paints the picture of two wreaths.  The first wreath is the political leaders of Israel, who like a “fading flower” (v1, 4), will be plucked and trampled on (v3).  Their “glorious beauty” (v1, 4) will be taken away.  The second wreath is the LORD Himself (v5).  He is described as “a glorious crown” and “a spirit of justice” for the willing leader, “a source of strength” to Israel’s soldiers (v5-6).