Author Archive for: meiling

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 4:1-6.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 4:1 (NIV)
1  In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes; only let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!”

On verse 1:  Even though both verses 1-2 of chapter 4 both begin with the words “in that day”, verses 1 and 2 appear to be talking about two very different things.  Also, verse 1 of chapter 4 seems to continue the final verses of chapter 3 which describe the shame and desperation that the women of Judah would face when Jerusalem and Judah fall to the Babylonians.  For this reason it is best to group verse 1 of chapter 4 with the rest of chapter 3.

Keep in mind that Isaiah himself did not insert the chapter and verse references himself; rather these were added in later for convenience and general reference.  So the chapter and verse references can often, though not always, serve as a helpful guide, but they are not inspired the way we believe the actual Scriptures themselves are.

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 3:1-26.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 3:1-3 (NIV)
1  See now, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of water,
2  the hero and warrior, the judge and prophet, the soothsayer and elder,
3  the captain of fifty and man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.

Verses 1-3:  Isaiah warns that in response to Jerusalem and Judah’s sins, God is about to take away from Jerusalem and Judah the things which they used to rely on for supply and support.  In addition to a famine (v1), there would also be a leadership drought in Jerusalem and Judah (v2-3), such that everyone that Jerusalem and Judah would otherwise rely on for leadership and guidance will be taken away by the Lord.

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 2:6-22.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 2:6-22 (NIV)
6  You have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans.
7  Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots.
8  Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.
9  So man will be brought low and mankind humbled– do not forgive them.

On verses 6-22:  When my sister and I were much younger, we would take a bunch of our favourite stuffed animals, put them on a large blanket, and with a hand on each corner of the blanket, we would shake the blanket up and down.  The animals would bounce high in the air before coming down either back onto the blanket or onto the ground.  We would keep shaking that blanket until only one animal was left on the blanket, and that surviving animal we called the winner of our “animal battle royal”.

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 1:21-31.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 1:21-23 (NIV)
21  See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her– but now murderers!
22  Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water.
23  Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.

On verses 21-23:  These verses describe two transformations that the people of Judah would go through.  The first is a negative transformation as a result of sin (v21-23):  Jerusalem was once “the faithful city (v21) but has become a whore.  Her riches are now depleted and diluted (v22).  Once they had the almighty, just and compassionate God as their best friend, ruler and protector, but now, having forsaken Him, they have heartless rebels for rulers and evil thieves for companions (v23).