Can you believe that our series in Isaiah began almost one year ago? We have heard 35 sermons on Isaiah’s vision so far, and we still have so much ground to cover! Last week, though, we reached the halfway point, and I wanted to pause and reflect on some of the blessings, encouragements, challenges, and warnings presented so far.
- Isaiah has given us two interwoven themes—judgment and salvation. Too often, people focus on one of these or the other, but Isaiah reminds us that God works and is glorified in both.
- Because God’s judgment is in view, Isaiah gives us a clear picture of God’s awesome majesty. He is holy, mighty, and powerful. Those who live in proud rebellion to Him will experience these attributes in terrible ways.
- The promises of God are also in view. The long arc of history tells the story of God’s salvation, and He will show Himself faithful to His promises. Readers should cling to those promises even in present, difficult circumstances. Even in these challenging times, God is a refuge in the storm.
- An intimate familiarity with Scripture—It has been amazing to me how often Isaiah quotes or alludes to the Bible. His Bible was the Torah (Gen.-Deut.) and the writings (Psalms, etc.), and there are hundreds (thousands) of quotations and allusions. Far more than we could identify and explain in our short times together. Even as a prophet, Isaiah’s primary understanding of God comes not supernaturally, but from His Word…just like us.
- Thus far, Isaiah’s challenge has been to trust God rather than others (the nations, false gods, ourselves). Human beings are tempted to put their trust in everything other than Him. It is a test of our spiritual vision where we anchor our trust.
- A firm eye on the coming of Jesus. Everywhere vigilant readers look in Isaiah’s vision, they see the promise of Jesus. Of course, the original readers did not know it was Jesus, they simply knew someone/something was promised. As New Testament believers, we know Isaiah spoke of Jesus. That gives us confidence in God’s coherent, complete, continuing plan of redemption, which is still being worked out in our day.
- Isaiah is a missionary book. We have seen the beginnings of that in the first half, but that theme will expand in the second half of the book. God’s people understand and trust His redemptive plan and want to include the nations in that plan while He is still patiently waiting for the final salvation of His people and His creation.
This is certainly not a comprehensive list! What have you been encouraged or challenged by? I would love to hear from you, and I look forward to journeying through the second half of the book with you starting in September.