Gods story in your renewal

Do you ever want God’s help on your terms? Deliverance by your design? Salvation by your strategy? You need help, want help, and would appreciate help, but with the caveat that you control the timing and the process. I have been there a few times. In today’s passage, Isaiah 15-16, Moab desires Judah’s support but wants nothing to do with Judah’s God. Let’s set the context and then delve into the passage. 

Are you familiar with the seven deadly sins? Here’s the list: greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. Oh, I missed the first one on the list—pride. The writer C. S. Lewis would agree that pride should be listed at the top. In his book Mere Christianity, he devoted an entire chapter to what he calls “the great sin,” “the essential vice,” “the utmost evil.”

Lori and I enjoy watching historical dramas based on real events. We recognize that these dramas often take liberties with characters and details, prompting us to research how accurately the show represents reality. Usually, we learn that the actual events are even more fascinating! Exploring history reminds us that humans frequently make a mess of things. Evidence of this can be seen every day in our newsfeeds. However, the question remains—does everything happen solely due to human will and circumstances? 

What’s your favorite worship song? Is it a song that calls you to praise the Lord for his work in your life? Maybe it’s a hymn you learned as a child or a song that declares the Person of God. Perhaps you have a special song because it was meaningful during a challenging time. Certain songs evoke such emotions that I can’t hear or sing them without tearing up. Isaiah records one of Israel’s favorite worship songs in today's passage. 

In Genesis, we learn that God chose a people through whom to send his Son. The Abrahamic Covenant promised that all nations would be blessed through him (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:18-21; 17:7-8; 22:17-18). The Mosaic Covenant described how God’s chosen people should live and demonstrated the need for a new covenant that would be fulfilled in Jesus (Jer. 31:33-34). The Davidic Covenant confirmed that David’s royal line would continue forever (2 Sam. 7:16). Today’s passage presents the One who will come through the descendants of David and reign forever. That will be a day of spiritual renewal!

What’s more refreshing than a mountain stream? The brisk air at higher altitudes, the rushing clear water, and the picturesque surroundings provide a natural reminder of the spiritual living water that Jesus gives. We love to be renewed and refreshed. And yet, there are times when we find ourselves by stagnant pools. The beauty of God’s love is that he refuses to let us remain there for long. He will command our attention one way or another. 

Israel was going through a dark time. A civil war had divided the nation, causing both Israel and Judah to turn away from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies and form alliances with other countries. When Isaiah wrote his prophecy, the northern kingdom (Israel) was only a few years away from being overthrown by Assyria. God sent Isaiah to warn the southern kingdom (Judah) that they would face discipline if they did not repent and return to him. 

Judah lived under the threat of an alliance between Israel and Syria. Isaiah had already assured them that the coalition would fail (Isa. 7:4-17). In today’s passage, he reaffirms that promise. Additionally, two witnesses confirmed that Isaiah’s message came from God.

In Isaiah 7-12, the prophet emphasizes Judah's deliverance. Isaiah 7 describes how God safeguarded Judah from a Syria-Israel alliance. In the middle of this chapter, we find the prophecy of Jesus' virgin birth. How do the coalition against Judah and the virgin birth connect? We have some work to do. The first verses of this chapter provide a summary.