Bible Reading Challenge Blog

We find ourselves in the thick of things with Isaiah. I do have to admit that it is that portion of Isaiah which just might be considered the most difficult read in all of Isaiah. The basic take from these sections is that God is promising a couple of things: 1) that victory is ahead of us, but it is not imminent. There are difficult roads that still need to be taken and those roads will lead to hardship and persecution and even death for the community. But victory is out there and it will take place, of that you can be assured. The second, 2) When victory comes it will be final and complete. There will be no such thing as a partial temporary victory, but a complete one where God will reign and God will demonstrate that all of the other gods that the people have worshipped are flaccid compared to the God of Israel.

A sidenote that might be interesting which we find briefly, and mentioned again in other places, is the mention of this Leviathan in chapter 27. The people of Israel were terrified of the ocean. Now, the Sea of Galilee is a big lake and certainly not the ocean, even if it was able to have some scary moments with some waves that could scare you into thinking that your boat might not make it. We know there are those stories of Jesus on the water with his disciples on the Sea of Galilee and they make it out. But the ocean, well that is something completely different and foreign to the people of Israel. Not foreign in the sense that they knew nothing about it, because there is a long coastline in Israel, but foreign in the sense that they were not an ocean going population and the ocean was the sight of scary creatures who would do battle and have a go at their very God. Leviathan is one of those mentioned who was a scary creature who needed to be defeated, a sea monster, similar to the dragons of yore. It was probably the whales that were the Leviathans, but they were considered mythical, deadly creatures.

I didn’t mention anything about Matthew. Appropriate that we have the Christmas story in Matthew for Christmas Day. Oh, Merry Christmas! There is so much to be said about the birth of Jesus and the ensuing escape from Herod and he and his family settling in Nazareth. Interesting that the location of where Jesus is born is Bethlehem. Matthew gives us a sense that Bethlehem may have been the hometown of Mary and Joseph because they seem to only settle in Nazareth when they get back from Egypt. That is not the case in Luke, so it makes it a bit interesting.

We continue along with our oracles and saying against the surrounding nations and how they will be brought low. The oracle against Tyre is interesting because bemoans the falling of a locality that was well known and was famous for its commerce, but it has been conquered. But like so many of these other oracles, certainly the ones that speak about the fall of Israel and Judah, there is hope in the final verses. Look at vs.17-18 where Tyre will once again be in the game. Even though it is described as a prostitute, it is meant to mean that she, Tyre, will be in the game again.

There are a number of verses here that remind me of the statement that haters are going to hate. Look at chapter 24 where we find a reversal of fortunes from the top to the bottom. There is also a reminder that the earth which was gifted to us back in Genesis in order for us to care for it, in chapter 24 we find that it is laid to waste. I would see this chapter as a very strong message to be careful with how we use the earth because it is the only one that the Lord has given us. When it “lies polluted under its inhabitants” (24:5) then we are at the stage that we might be at the point of no return. Just a word to the wise, like all of Scripture is.

Psalm 144 sets the stage for what we read in Isaiah. The prophet speaks about what will happen to the nations surrounding Israel and Judah (Remember, Israel was the northern kingdom and Judah was the southern kingdom, all of whom were the people of God, they were just divided after Solomon). I find it interesting that these prophecies do not hesitate to give insight into what pagan nations will experience and how those nations ought to act and react. It is not just a word for the people of God, but also for those who may not even believe in God.

Chapter 20 gives us an unfortunate object lesson of Isaiah being commanded to walk around naked for three years, as a symbol of what will happen to Egypt and Ethiopia at the hands of the Assyrians. Meaning, they will be taken out of their land after they are stripped of any significant possessions that they may have, including their clothes off their back. These verses serve as a warning to those who might rely solely upon their ability in warfare, as Psalm 144 states, because even in those skills, or maybe especially in those skills, the plans of God will still overtake you and could mean that you will be found defeated in battle. Better to trust in the Lord with all of your heart and mind and strength, than in your own strength.

Isaiah is filled with warnings to the people of Judah, promises of restoration, praise to God for his steadfast love, and warnings to the surrounding nations who have conquered Judah. These chapters are a combination of all of that. Chapter 11 gives us the vision of a peaceful kingdom that will come about once all of this foolishness is over. Once the nations have finished warring, then peace will come and God will establish his throne. But that day has not come yet. Chapter 12 is a series of praises for God’s steadfast love, even in the midst of the slavery of his people. Chapter 13 gives a warning to those invading countries, Babylon specifically, that their hegemony will not last. Chapter 14 promises the restoration of Judah and another warning against Babylon and 15 finishes with a similar warning to Moab.

These are typical chapters in Isaiah which don’t necessarily catch our attention, but are important to put within the context of what is happening during the life of Isaiah. It is a not a great time in the nation and certainly it is not enjoying its prominent status which it once enjoyed. We can see it as a warning.

There are so many chapters to be read in this section that contain super important verses for this time of year that we call Advent. There are two in particular that I want to lift up which you have already heard and which we have to apply to Advent. Look at 7:10-14 where we see the promise of the coming of Emmanuel. Remember, this promise is given within the context of the people of Judah being so stubborn to not ask God for a sign that will show them how God will overcome their enemies that God decides to give them a sign anyway. Also notice that the term for young woman in Hebrew, which this Scripture gives us, is not the same term as virgin. Matthew gives us the translation virgin which is not from Isaiah.

We also see in Isaiah 9 the Scripture that I read when I light the Christ candle on Christmas Eve. Look at verses 2-7 which reminds us that the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. This light coming into the world is, of course, Jesus who is God in made flesh. But there is one more Scripture here that is super important and which we should know because one of our favorite hymns comes from it. Look at 6:8 where God asks the rhetorical question of: “Whom shall I send?” and Isaiah answers: “Here I am Lord.” I’m going to leave you with two songs to sing this morning.

You can see in the first chapter of Isaiah all of the kings under which he served: Uzziah, Jotham Ahaz, and Hezekiah. In all his service to the people of God as a prophet of the Lord was about 40 years. He saw a lot of change in that time as he can imagine, and he experienced some of the most tragic moments in the history of the people of God. Keep in mind that the kingdom is now divided. The 12 tribes of Israel are divided into the a Southern Kingdom, Judah, where Jerusalem is located and where the temple was located so many consider it the more genuine location of the people of God. We also have a Norther Kingdom which was called Israel but did not have Jerusalem as its center of operations. So Israel was the norther kingdom and Judah was the southern kingdom. Isaiah served in the southern kingdom, where Jerusalem was, and the temple.

Here are some highlights in these chapters, verses that we have heard before. 1:18 where we see the promise that Isaiah gives that one day our sins will be washed clean, although they may be like scarlet now. 2:4 which gives us the Pete Seeger song that they will study war no more. The turning of these instruments of war into farming equipment is an image that we have used over the years repeatedly to be encouraged by the promise that God is a God of peace. I’ll leave you with this song.

We find ourselves for the first time reading an entire letter of Paul to one of the churches. Let’s remember who Paul is. He is the Pharisee that upon Jesus’ death began persecuting the church and Christians. On his way to Damascus Jesus meets him in a vision, since the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ had already taken place, and tells him to stop fighting against him, and to join him in proclaiming the fact that Jesus brought the kingdom of God to earth. He goes blind, receives his sight back and joins Jesus’ side.

Most of the New Testament is written by Paul, who was Saul and then upon his conversion became Paul. What Paul wrote were letters to these churches that he either founded, like this church in Ephesus, or that he had heard about and wanted to commend, like the church in Rome in his letter to the Romans. His letters are filled with theological truths and take a little more time to read for understanding than the Old Testament stories or the Gospels with the life of Christ. This letter to the church in Ephesus, or Ephesians which describes the person who lives in Ephesus, gives us much to consider.

I do want to highlight 6:10-17 which underlines what we can do in order to be equipped for the work of God. Putting on the armor of God allows us to be protected from the influences of the world, and it also brings us closer to Christ. Both of these things are positives which push us to a following of Jesus that is not inconsequential. Chapter 4 which provides us with a vision for unity in Christ is equally compelling. Ephesians 4:4 and the surrounding verses remind us that as a body, as a church, we are unified with others across the world in our service to God. This is so key to not see ourselves isolated. Just imagine how important this was for the church in Ephesus as well to understand this.

We close out Luke with a couple of different topics that we need to cover: Jesus’ second coming, also known as the day of judgment, and the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. I know, that looks like 5 things, but it is only two. Let’s look at the second coming, or the day of judgment, which is emphasized in Luke 21. We see the well known Scripture in vss. 10-11 which speaks of earthquakes and famines and plagues and how these are signs of the day of judgment that is coming. Over history people have tried to match up earthquakes, famines, and plagues as the, emphasis on the, sign that the days are now upon us. Not so fast, Jesus has still not come back, and the day of judgment has still not come upon us.

There is the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem which could have already happened when this Gospel was written. Jerusalem was destroyed in 71AD and so the people reading this early on could have said that these end times are upon us now. The point of these Scriptures is really seen in vs.34 where we are called to be alert and on our guard. Our alertness needs to be seen in our prayers. As we wait for the coming of the Lord, prayer has to be our calling card.

A quick reference to vs.33 where Jesus tells us that heaven and earth will both pass away, but that comes on the heels of Jesus stating that all of these things will take place before this generation passes away. What is this generation? Obviously the day of judgment did not come, and yet Jesus’ compatriots are no longer with us. We know that Scripture tells us in Revelation 21 that there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and so we have to assume that in order for the new to come the old has to be redone, revised, restructured, or pass away. We have the promise of restoration, but that restoration is not to where it was, but with Jesus in all things. This includes a new heaven and earth.

When we talk about the resurrection we have to recognize that it is the single most important theological truth that we believe which is somewhat unbelievable. We believe that we will be resurrected, bodily, just as Jesus was. That ties us into a new heaven and a new earth along with a new body. Boy, I can’t wait.

We find some of the most popular parables in these chapters in Luke. We see the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the prodigal son and both of them are found in chapter 15. This emphasis of Jesus pursuing those who are considered lost is a theme throughout. Jesus’ preference for those who aren’t accepted by culture or society and are considered outcasts are welcome into the kingdom of God.

In the final chapter you read Jesus telling the crowds that unless we receive the kingdom of God as a child does then we will not receive it all. That is a crucial perspective that we often overlook. How we understand our faith, innocent and believing that all things are possible through God. When we try to use our logic to think that we somehow have to help God along as he supports us and gives us all we need, and equips us with what we need, then we stop becoming like children.

We find ourselves in the meat of Luke with all sorts of great stories that we have heard before. There is a lot that is familiar, but there is also quite a bit that I don’t remember ever reading before. Let me highlight some of that Scripture which was unfamiliar to me. Luke doesn’t include the beheading of John the Baptist, but does have Herod perplexed because people are saying that Jesus is the resurrected John. We have the very familiar, and the singular, story of the good Samaritan. We have the story of Mary and Martha without the resurrection of their brother Lazarus which only takes place in John.

To start it all off we have the resurrection of the widow’s son which I had not remembered reading before. It is quite a story with a man in a casket who is being carried out and Jesus has compassion on a widow who is left with no one, and inevitably would have descended into destitution, being raised from the dead. The work of Jesus is underscored by his sympathy and his love for the people. In Luke you find a Jesus who absolutely loves people and will be swayed and affected by the plight of those who are in need. I see it more here in Luke than in any other Gospel.