Joy Comes Through God’s Renewal
Read: Isaiah 35:1-10 [E]verlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (v. 10) Joy! This wonderful gift is the major theme of this chapter. This is God’s true desire for us. The prophet describes, in beautiful symbolism, three sources of joy: Creation is renewed. […]
Can We Ignore God’s Judgment?
Read: Isaiah 34:1-12 Night and day it shall not be quenched; its smoke shall go up forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it forever and ever. (v. 10) Before undertaking this study, I was familiar with Isaiah 35, a wonderful picture of the joy of God’s redeemed people, but […]
Wait for Him
Read: Isaiah 30:1-18 For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. (v. 18) There is an interesting and encouraging pattern in many of Isaiah’s messages. They begin with a clear statement of the path God’s people are to follow and a stern warning of the consequences if they […]
A Middle East Prophecy
Read: Isaiah 19:19-25 When they cry to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them. (v. 20) Chapters 13-27 include several oracles addressed to the nations surrounding Judah, all of whom were threatened by the dominant power of Assyria. Isaiah often warns Judah not to make an […]
An International Hymn of Praise
Read: Isaiah 12:1-6 Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. (v. 4) This beautiful, thoughtful hymn of praise to God is the climax of the first twelve chapters of Isaiah. It is his vision of the grace and glory of […]
Unity and Peace under Messiah’s Rule
Read: Isaiah 11:1-11 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. (vv. 1-2) The Messiah is here pictured as coming from the line of Jesse rather than from King David himself. The reason […]
God Dispels the Gloom
Read: Isaiah 9:1-7 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. (v. 1) Zebulon and Naphtali was the northern region of Israel, called Galilee in Jesus’ day. This area knew great anguish when invaded and humbled by Assyria. But Isaiah foresaw the region honored and filled with joy when a great […]
Mired in Distress and Gloom
Read: Isaiah 8:18-22 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. (v. 20) In the readings for today and tomorrow Isaiah introduces us to one of the most dramatic experiences one could ever have, a transformation from spiritual darkness to […]
Christ Alone
A year ago, a resident in Niger informed Words of Hope’s Hausa language producer that he was suspicious of our Christian programming. As a Muslim, he expected to find much of the content of our Hausa programs offensive. He was angry at the thought that local programming might be attacking the majority Muslim faith of the region.