Isaiah 13 (résumé): A prophecy against Babylon

Isaiah 13 is an "oracle concerning Babylon" telling of God's impending judgement on them in "the day of the Lord" because of their arrogant wickedness. He says: "Listen, a noise on the mountains... God is mustering an army for war... to destroy the whole country... wail, for the day of the Lord is near... terror will seize them... see the day of the Lord is coming - a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger... I will punish the world for its evil... whoever is captured will be thrust through... their infants will be dashed to pieces... their wives will be ravished... Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah... and she will never be inhabited but will be taken over by jackals, hyenas, owls and wild goats".                                      

Isaiah 12 (résumé): Songs of Praise

Isaiah 12 points to a future time when God's people will joyfully trust in God after his "anger has turned away... surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid... with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation... give thanks to the Lord... proclaim that his name is exalted... sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things... shout aloud and sing for joy for great is the Holy One of Israel among you".

Isaiah 11 (résumé): The branch from Jesse

 Isaiah 11 is a messianic prophecy about "a shoot that will come from the stump of Jesse... the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him... and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.... with righteousness he will judge the needy... and faithfulness will be the sash around his waist". In the messianic kingdom predators and pray will live in harmony... "the wolf will live with the lamb... the leopard will lie with the goat... and a little child will lead them... for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord". And "in that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner to reclaim the remnant and gather the exiles". "There will be a highway of the remnant of his people that is left from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt".

Rachmaninov

I have been listening to Rachmaninov's 3rd Piano Concerto. Absolutely magnificent!

I have just prepared a sermon for this Saturday at Green Pastures on John 7:37 when Jesus said - 'If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink'!

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Pastor Rafael gave the study on Zephaniah chapter 2. The worship was led by Rogério and Rogaciano. It was a nice service.

This morning it rained 9 mm at Green Pastures taking this year's total up to 623.6 mm. It is unusual for it to rain in the morning here.

Ten done

 I have done the first 10 chapters of Isaiah in my résumé of the Bible and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I went past familiar texts such as 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow". Then 6:8 "Who shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, Here am I. Send me!" Then 7:14 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel". Then 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given... and he will be called Wonderful Counsellor... Prince of Peace".

Liz went to the women's fellowship meeting last night and enjoyed it. 

Isaiah 10 (résumé): Woe to those who make unjust laws!

Isaias 10 proclaims God's judgement on wayward leaders. "Woe to those who make unjust laws... who deprive the poor of their rights and rob orphans... making widows their prey". God therefore uses Assyria as "the rod of his anger" to castigate Israel. "I send him against a godless nation. I dispatch him against a people who anger me... when the Lord has finished all his work against Zion he will punish the king of Assyria because of his pride thinking that he can do what he likes! Then the light of Israel will become a flame and God will keep a faithful remnant of his people... the survivors of the house of Jacob... a remnant will return... O my people do not be afraid of the Assyrians who beat you with a rod... the Lord will lash them with a whip... the yoke will be broken... see the Lord Almighty will lop off the boughs with great power... Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One."

Isaiah 9 (résumé): To us a child is born

Isaiah 9 points to a messianic hope: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light... for to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders... and of it there will be no end... he will reign on David's throne". This is followed by a message of judgement against the northern kingdom of Israel. "The Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail... the elders and prominent men are the head and the prophets who teach lies are the tail... everyone is ungodly and wicked... wickedness burns like a fire... by the wrath of God the earth will be scorched... no-one will spare his brother... each will feed on the flesh of his own offspring!"