Isaiah 43 (résumé): Israel's only Saviour

 Isaias 43 is a wonderful declaration of God's redeeming love: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine". When you pass by waters, rivers and fire I will be with you. God goes on to ridicule powerless idols and refers to the Israelites as "my witnesses". Then God goes on to promise to deliver his people from Babylon and for this he says "I am making a way in the desert". Then the Lord says: "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" Finally God says: "I am he who blots out your transgressions... and remember your sins no more". God's mercy is supreme.

Isaiah 42 (résumé): The Servant of the Lord

Isaiah 42 brings us the first of 4 'servant songs' presenting us with a chosen and gentle servant Messiah (Jesus) filled with the Holy Spirit. Initially the "chosen" one is presented as a gentle bringer of "justice to the nations". The servant is to be "a covenant for the people and a light for the gentiles", opening blind eyes and freeing "captives from prison". "I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols". The text then calls all to "sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth... give glory to the Lord". It goes on to address "blind and deaf" Israel because "you have seen many things yet paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing".

Isaiah 41 (résumé): The Helper of Israel

Isaiah 41 is a chapter of comfort encouraging Israel saying: "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God". Initially God summons everyone to witness his power through the calling up of a leader from the east (Cyrus the Great?) to deliver his people: "Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service?" God then goes on to tell Israel to trust him saying: "I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand". God then encourages "worm Israel, O little Jacob... I will make you into a threshing-sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth". God goes on to promise water where there is none for the poor and needy. Finally God stresses the futility of useless idolatry incapable of predicting the future or of doing anything! "They are all false! Their deeds amount to nothing".

Counselling

Our ministry has various aspects and angles, but one of them we often do together is counselling which has been the case this week. God has used and blessed us this week and we value your prayers for each person we minister in this way. No names no pack drill.

We ask for prayer for the difficult situation we face concerning the pound sterling which is at an all time low as a result of the Iran war. It is making things very difficult for us and the work. 

Isaiah 40 (résumé): Comfort for God's people

Isaiah 40 brings a total shift in emphasis, from now on to the end of the book, focusing on comfort and blessing rather than judgement and difficulties. "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God", says Isaiah at the start. "Speak tenderly to Jerusalem". (This chapter again reminds me of Handel's Messiah) "Every valley shall be raised up... the glory of the Lord will be revealed... the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever... the Sovereign Lord comes with power... he tends his flock like a shepherd... the nations are like a drop in a bucket... to whom will you compare God?... He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth... lift your eyes and look to the heavens: who created all these?... do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God... he gives strength to the weary... those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength... they will walk and not faint"!

Isaiah 39 (résumé): Envoys from Babylon

 Isaiah 39 and 2 Kings 20:12-19 are virtually identical telling the story of Hezekiah receiving envoys from Babylon to whom he unwisely showed off all his treasures in his storehouses. Isaiah rebuked this telling him that one day everything he had showed off would be "carried off to Babylon"! Hezekiah was relieved that this would not occur during his lifetime.

Isaiah 38 (résumé): Hezekiah's illness

Isaiah 38 has parallels in 2 Kings 20 and 2 Chronicles 32. Some people incorrectly presume that the Book of Isaiah is situated on a timescale after 2 Kings/2 Chronicles owing to its position in the Bible, but this is not the case. The chapter tells the same story seen in Kings/Chronicles of King Hezekiah's terminal illness with a divine extension of 15 years given in answer to his prayer. This 15 year healing is confirmed by the solar sign: "The sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone". Hezekiah's response to his illness and recovery was: "In the prime of my life must I die?... like a weaver I have rolled up my life... my eyes grew weak... I am troubled Lord so please come to my aid... You restored me to health and let me live... for death cannot sing your praise... the living they praise you".