Isaiah 2 (résumé): The mountain of the Lord

Initially chapter 2 focuses on the mountain of the Lord to which all nations will stream. "The law will go out from Zion and the Lord will judge between the nations... and they will beat their swords into ploughshares... Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord."

Then God says, through Isaiah the prophet, that the day of the Lord will come to humble the lofty. He will condemn the superstitions, divinations and idols... the arrogance of man will be brought low on the day of the Lord... the idols will disappear and only the Lord will be exalted... men will flee to the rocks and hide in holes... and men will throw their idols to rodents and bats... stop trusting in man!

Isaiah 1 (résumé): A rebellious nation

Isaiah is a major prophetic book written approximately between 737 BC and 681 BC. In chapters 1 to 39 the focus is on God's impending judgement upon Israel, Judah and Jerusalem via Assyria and Babylon for their sins of idolatry, social injustice and illicit international alliances. Then in chapters 40 to 66 the focus changes to comfort and hope of return from exile plus extensive messianic texts involving the suffering servant and visions of a new heaven and new earth.

Chapter 1 commences charging Judah with rebellion and corruption. "They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.... your country is desolate... your fields are being stripped by foreigners". God refers to Israel as Sodom and Gomorrah and tells them "Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me". Their festivals, he says, have become a burden to me... even if you offer many prayers I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood. Wash and make yourselves clean... Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!" "Come now let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow... if you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword... how the faithful city has become a harlot! Your choice wine has been diluted with water... your rulers are rebels... they don't defend the cause of the fatherless... so I will turn my hand against you and purge you... and afterwards you will be called the city of righteousness... but you will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks... the mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no-one to quench the fire."

Song of Songs 8 (résumé): If only you were to me like a brother

The concluding chapter starts with the bride wishing she was the king's sister so that she could always kiss him, bring him in-doors, give him spiced wine to drink and embrace. She then says: "Place me like a seal over your heart... for love is as strong as death... it burns like blazing fire... many waters cannot quench love!" Some friends then discuss the protection of a younger sister prior to marriage. The Shulammite then remarks about how she brings contentment to her husband, and he replies that he likes to hear her voice, before she calls him to come away with her like a gazelle or young stag.

It should be noted that in the first place this book gives God's blessing upon human love and romanticism. However Song of Songs can also have an allegoric interpretation of Christ's love for his people/church.

Song of Songs 7 (résumé): How beautiful your sandalled feet

Chapter 7 starts where the previous chapter left off with the kingly lover extolling his bride's feet, legs, navel, waist, breasts, neck, eyes, nose, head and hair! Her legs are graceful, her navel is a rounded goblet and her breasts are like two fawns. How beautiful you are, he exclaims. Your breasts are like clusters of fruit, your breath has the fragrance of apples and your mouth is like the best wine. To this the Shulammite replies "I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me", and invites him to spend the night with her in the villages and "there I will give you my love... both old and new I have stored up for you, my lover."

Meaningless

I have concluded the writing of the résumé of the Book of Ecclesiastes and it started and finished saying that everything is meaningless like chasing the wind. Or as Bob Dylan sings, "The answer my friend is blowing in the wind"! This means I have concluded the first 21 books of the Bible which is 56% of its chapters. Now it's on to the Song of Songs.

I took people home from the dentist's at the Care Centre yesterday and saw 3 Burrowing Owls on the way. 

At Green Pastures it rained 7 mm yesterday.

Song of Songs 6 (résumé): Where has your lover gone?

 Chapter 6 starts with friends asking the Shulammite where her lover had gone? She answered that he had gone to care for his garden to gather lilies, but she assured them of the sureness of their relationship saying "I am my lover's and my lover is mine". The king returned saying "you are beautiful my darling and your eyes overwhelm me. Your hair is like a flock of goats and your teeth are like a flock of sheep. You are unique and better than 60 queens, 80 concubines and countless virgins. You are as fair as the moon, as bright as the sun and as majestic as the stars."

Song of Songs 5 (résumé): I have come into my garden

Chapter 5 starts with the lover king going into his bride's garden and eating honeycomb and drinking wine and milk! The bride then hears her love knocking on her door. His hair was damp from the night air and he asked whether he needed to put his robe back on? He put his hand through the latch opening and her heart pounded! When she finally opened the door for her lover he had gone. She couldn't find him anywhere! Her lover, she said, is radiant and ruddy with black wavy hair. His eyes are like doves, his lips are like lilies, his arms are like rods of gold, his body like ivory, his legs like marble and his mouth is sweetness itself. He is altogether lovely!