Old Testament - Isaiah 8 & 9 -September 8, 2022

9/8/2022- Isaiah 8-9

The Israelites have not been following God’s laws, and they refuse to change their ways as Isaiah has pleaded with them to do. In Chapter 8, v 22 warns them of what will happen if they don’t change their lives: “And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish, and they shall be driven to darkness. Isaiah continues to tell them of the Lord’s answer as to how to avoid that and how to live a higher and better life: “Look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not.”   

In chapter 9 v 6 Isaiah prophecies of Christ’s future coming to the earth: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”…the Messiah. Israelites have stopped their efforts in establishing their relationship with the Lord, but Isaiah tells them (v10) how to rebuild that relationship: The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.” We change the directions of our life brick by brick, and some changes (as the sycamores and the cedars) take a lot of time to fully develop. We will have to accept consequences of our poor actions, but He repeats that His arm is stretched out still.

The Israelites did not change their ways. They found themselves in terrible times, and yet Isaiah continues to encourage them to turn to the Lord: “For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.” (v 12) The Lord helps us even when we area unworthy, but His joy comes back to us with the growth of our righteousness. 

 

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