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Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Savior of the world. He is the Good News. Because of His sacrifice on the cross, our sins are forgiven, and we can have an eternal relationship with our Heavenly Father. The promise of a coming Messiah can be found throughout Old Testament scriptures. 

The prophet Isaiah describes the Messiah in detail, with Isaiah 32 revealing aspects of Jesus’s reign on earth. Although the prophet Isaiah may have been speaking about the reign of Hezekiah, a king who did “what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 31:20), it is believed that Isaiah’s words point to the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. 

Isaiah foretells of a king who reigns in righteousness. Jesus is that king of righteousness, and His followers are the princes who rule with justice. Jesus coming as the Messiah provides us shelter from the storm (Isaiah 4:6) and a spiritual awakening. It is through our trust in Jesus that when we look, we see; when we listen, we hear. The blessings He brings are plentiful, including a changed heart. Inviting Jesus into our lives and becoming a Christ-follower frees us from the consequences of sin, making us grow in righteousness because of the king of righteousness Himself. 

Isaiah calls the people to prepare for the righteous king by repenting and being ready to trust in Him. He commands the people to turn from their inward, selfish focus and look instead outward to the coming Messiah. It is through the Messiah that the Spirit of God will “pour upon His people from high.” Through God’s outpouring of love and goodness, He gave His only son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place. And we stay forever and always connected to God with the Holy Spirit living in us. What a gift of grace and mercy from a loving Father. A Father who through His Son makes beauty and peace, justice and righteousness. 

We have the assurance of life everlasting when we put our faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit: three in one. The Messiah gives us life eternal. 

This chapter echoes a similar message to the previous one. It was foolish for Judah to put their trust in the Egyptian army instead of the Lord for protection. They thought maybe if they could get some military alliances, they would have a chance to stand against the Assyrian army. The Assyrian empire was the world superpower of the time. Israel had already been overrun by the Assyrians and they were threatening to do the same thing to Judah.

Judah was looking to find security in anything other than the Lord. They thought this alliance with Egypt was wisdom, but it ended up being foolish. First Corinthians tells us that the “wisdom of the world is foolishness in God’s sight” (1 Corinthians 3:19). Judah was idolizing the Egyptians, who were “men, not God ” and their horses that were “flesh and not spirit” (v. 3). They were finding their confidence in the creation and not in the Creator. Creation is no match for God’s power. 

Psalm 20:7 says that “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Judah was putting their trust in chariots, relying on horses, and the strength of a military alliance. We too, can put our trust in the things of this world. We often tend to rely on our own strength in times of trouble instead of seeking the Lord who is our “refuge and our strength” (Psalm 46:1). God can be our last resort when we are facing trials instead of our first.

The chapter closes with a promise that Assyria will fall, but “not by human sword” (v. 8). This promise might have seemed unimaginable to the Jews, but it was fulfilled exactly. In Isaiah 37, God sent an angel of the Lord and killed 185,000 Assyrians overnight. This had nothing to do with the “sword of man” but only by the power and the strength of God. The people rose up in pride, and God quickly humbled them. He is not terrified by the shouts of His enemies or subdued by their nose (v. 4). God cannot be humbled by any man or by any army, but He willingly chose to humble himself through Christ by taking the form of a servant and dying on a cross. The Lord cannot be humbled, but His Kingdom is as humble as death. 

This chapter speaks to what happens when we seek out shelter through our own understanding. God’s people sought protection from Egypt and sent them money and resources. God, through Isaiah, told His people that seeking this help would be their shame. This serves as a reminder to us that is how it always ends with us when we seek help and shelter from anything but God. The things of this world will always end up bringing us shame and keep asking more of us. When we can’t give anymore to whatever we were seeking help from it will either abandon or enslave us. We can have this happen with unhealthy relationships with family and friends or dependencies on anything that we think might help us feel control. Isaiah is speaking directly to us today about what happens when we choose things of this world over things from God.

“Rahab the Do-Nothing” is a phrase Isaiah uses to describe (and make fun of) Egypt. It points out their own powerlessness and how they can’t actually help at all. Egypt is not in a position of power and in only a few years they also fall to the same threats facing God’s people. It’s hard to say for certain why they wanted to seek help from Egypt, but the same can be said of us when we rely on things of this world. How often do we look back at our life and wonder why we did certain things? Wouldn’t it be great to have hindsight in the moment rather than after the moment?

Punishment and destruction is promised in this chapter, and it’s said in a way that God is giving them exactly what they wanted. Verses 15-17 talk about how they wanted nothing to do with God’s peace and wanted to flee on horses. So, God let them flee on horses and do what they wanted. God will let us have our free will to do what we choose to do (even when it is not the best thing for us). He will even let us walk directly into destruction. However, we are not left without hope. Verse 18 is perhaps one of the most comforting verses in all of scripture. The first part of that verse (“Yet, the LORD longs to be gracious to you”) sums up God very nicely. He longs to be gracious to us. He wants to restore us to Him, and He dearly misses walking in the garden with His creation and getting to enjoy us. Rest in the fact today (and every day moving forward) that God desires to be gracious to you.  

The woes or warnings prophesied by Isaiah continue now with a focus on Ariel (which is a reference to Jerusalem, the city of David). In his warnings, Isaiah describes Jerusalem as presumptuous, living in denial of danger. While an attack on Jerusalem will occur, the Lord will mercifully deliver them from their attackers. Despite God’s powerful deliverance, Isaiah reveals that the people of Jerusalem are blind to God’s Word and deaf to His voice, even as they offer meaningless and mechanical worship. Their hearts are far from God.

As Isaiah continues to pronounce woes, he also reveals God’s compassionate heart toward His people in spite of their refusal to recognize God as their Creator and their tendency to try to hide their plans from Him. They repeatedly challenge God as if they were the potter and God the clay. Yet God graciously responds to these rebellious actions and arrogant attitudes with a promise of hope. Isaiah tells us that there will come a day when blind eyes see, the humble rejoice in the Holy One of Israel, and His people stand in awe of the God of Israel.

These woes are corrective in purpose and interlaced with God’s plan of hope and restoration. Isaiah’s words to Jerusalem are also words for us – you might call them wake-up calls. God uses His Word and wake-up calls in our lives to drive us to turn wholeheartedly to Him in complete dependence. Paul reminds us in Romans 15:4 of the value of examining Old Testament passages: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.” As we continue to study Isaiah, let’s ask God to wake us up from our empty worship and arrogant approach to our Maker. May He turn our hearts in repentance to trust and hope in Him alone.

Throughout the book of Isaiah we see a contrast of judgment and hope. That same pattern emerges in this chapter. Isaiah 28 is the first chapter in a new section (chapters 28-39) on the rise and fall of Jerusalem. The next six chapters are referred to often as the six woes (or laments). The first woe here is to the leaders of the Northern Kingdom and Judah. These leaders are both political and religious but look nothing like the representatives God is calling them to be.

Verse one begins to paint a clear picture of the character of the leaders of Ephraim, once admired now known as drunkards, repeated often in this chapter. Hosea 7:5 also refers to these leaders by their drunkenness. Throughout the verses that follow the Northern political leaders and Judah’s religious leaders are described as prideful, scoffers, liars, mocking, and refusing to listen to God. They were feeling pressure from Assyria, one of their enemies, so instead of trusting in God they seek foreign alliances for their security. Isaiah prophesies that this will result in their downfall.

While their future judgment seems inevitable, Isaiah still offers contrast through our God of hope. Israel’s reputation is fading, but God is described as a “glorious crown”, “spirit of justice”, and “source of strength” (v. 5-6). Despite their mocking, Isaiah tells them the Lord is providing a precious cornerstone and foundation who can always be relied on through justice and righteousness (v. 16-17). This prophecy was thought to be a reference to the temple but was ultimately pointing to Jesus. First Peter 2:6 also refers to Jesus as the cornerstone. With all of this in mind, Isaiah calls them to repent and turn back to God (v. 23-29). For He is a God who teaches and instructs, even in our sin. He is a God of mercy, even when we too seek our own way. 

The lesson of Isaiah 28 is that when we feel the pressures of life closing in, we can trust in the precious cornerstone and firm foundation God has provided in Jesus, instead of trusting in merely what we think is best. For His “plan is wonderful and wisdom is magnificent” (v. 29).

The first thing we notice reading through this chapter is the cryptic promise about a dragon-like serpent, Leviathan, who lives in the sea. Even though God will destroy this beast, what is it? Why is it referenced here? 

Chapter 27 opens with the promise that God will conquer the source of evil and fear. He will punish the serpent with His sword. He will kill the dragon in the sea. This is a reference to the mythologies of Israel and surrounding nations during that time. The myths mentioned here included a seven-headed, fire-breathing monster in the sea called the Leviathan. The Leviathan is mentioned in several places throughout the Bible in addition to Isaiah, including Job and Psalms. The Leviathan represents the fear, chaos, and death that come with sin. God’s destruction of the Leviathan is synonymous with the destruction of Satan. 

There may not be a Leviathan swimming through waters nearby, but there are certainly sources of evil and fear near us today. What are some common myths in our nation? How do lies told in our culture impact us? What fear, chaos and death do they bring? 

On the day death is destroyed, the people of Israel will be restored to Him. We begin to see a vision of the kingdom of God. People are safe and at peace. They blossom and fill the earth with fruit. They are under the protection of the God who loves them. Yet, those who rise against God experience something different altogether. Rather than their land being filled with life and fruit, it is a wasteland of death and poison. Those who rise against God are broken like old sticks used in a fire. The vision in the chapter ends with how God will bring the scattered people of Israel back to Him from all across the known world. At that time, this would include land from Egypt to Assyria to Jerusalem. All the sons and daughters of God will be restored.

Chapter 26 takes a second to pause from the oracles and judgment to give a beautiful reminder of who God is. While this song describes the ultimate fulfillment when Jesus returns, it is still one that we can sing now, anticipating that day.

Much of the language of this chapter models our attitude to the Messiah. It speaks of our hearts desiring, yearning, and earnestly seeking him. This shows a deep longing for the Lord comes from rightly knowing Him. By increasing our knowledge of who God is, we see Him more clearly. We are reminded that He is steadfast (v. 4), fulfiller of promises (v. 15), has a sovereign plan (v. 5-6), and is just (v. 21). When we are reminded of who He is and what He has done, it puts us in a heart-posture to trust Him.

Verse 3 is the heartbeat of this chapter “You keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” In order to understand the “how-to” of this verse, we have to work through it backwards. When we trust Him, our minds focus on Him. When God is our focal point, we find peace. Tara-Leigh Cobble describes it this way: “The only way to trust and delight in Him is to know Him more and more. In coming to know Him, our peace increases as a byproduct.” This message is one that we can see throughout scripture: our lives are transformed (Romans 12:2), we can have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16, Philippians 2:5), and think about the things above (Colossians 3:2).

The most important thing for us to remember here is the finished work of the cross. The peace that surpasses all understanding is found in the hope of knowing what Christ has already done on the cross for us. We get to walk in freedom and joy because of this truth! He has given us a new way to walk: one that is slow and unhurried. Find rest in knowing that He has already gone before us and we get to walk in His footsteps with Him guiding us the whole way.

In Isaiah 25, we are reminded of God’s perfect faithfulness in what He has done and what He will do. We simultaneously see a picture of His all powerful judgment of the prideful and His tender love and complete victory for those who trust in Him. Take a few minutes to pause and savor the verses that lift up your soul and stir reverence and joy in your heart. Underline the words that describe the great reach of His reign, the totality of His victory, His tenderness and grace, and the seriousness of His judgment. Consider how it might feel to one day see the fulfillment of these verses, because this is our future reality.

So, how does the future change how we operate today? We trust, stand firm, and give ourselves fully to God’s work because victory, in every sense of the word, is coming! Whatever we face today, we face with hope, and we keep trusting and standing firm in our commitment to Him. We trust that He will save us, believing that one day we will say (as it says in verse 9) “Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him, and He saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” 

This is our God. This is the LORD. We will behold the one we waited for and trusted in through all the trials of this earthly existence. And the Sovereign LORD Himself will wipe away our tears and remove all our disgrace from all the earth. There is nothing that will keep you in a place of mourning – nothing you have done or been through in this life. Let that soak in.

In light of the coming victory where death is swallowed up, 1 Corinthians 15:58 calls us to “stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” God’s victory is surely coming. Isaiah 25:3 declares even “strong peoples will honor [Him].” Even “cities of ruthless nations will revere [Him].” He certainly does not need our help to turn people to Himself, but what a privilege that He allows us to participate in His work! Whatever we offer today toward God’s work, we know that it is not in vain. We withhold nothing, we trust through everything, and we fix our eyes on the final victory that is certain to come.