Isaiah is passing on God’s message to God’s people. Their religion has become a mere series of ceremonies, for example, *fasts. But true religion should also affect how believers live their lives. Especially, they should behave in a manner that helps weaker people.... [ Continue Reading ]
ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS GOD’S PROMISES TO HIS SPECIAL PEOPLE ISAIAH CHAPTER S 58 TO 66 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 58 WRONG PRACTICE OF RELIGION V1 (This is what God says.) ‘Shout loudly with all your strength! Sound the alarm! Tell my people about the wrong things that they have done.... [ Continue Reading ]
God uses ‘*fast’ as a picture word, to mean ‘not to do things only for oneself’. • Although the law of Moses required only one *fast a year (see Leviticus 23:27-32), the *fast was important (see 2 Samuel 12:13-23; Zechariah 7:5). RIGHT PRACTICE OF RELIGION V6 ‘This is how I want you to *fast. Fr... [ Continue Reading ]
To take care of poor and weak people in society is to practise *self-denial. This what the *Lord calls a true *fast. • The *Lord approves of those who take care of other people in this way. They will find that the *Lord takes care of them (see Luke 6:38). • Among his other benefits, the *Lord will... [ Continue Reading ]
Light is at its brightest at midday.... [ Continue Reading ]
In a dry land like Israel, water is essential for life. It is not just essential for people. It is essential for everything that is alive. Without water, all die. • Here ‘water’ is also a picture word for the *Lord’s free gifts. He provides all that is good and necessary for human life (see John 4:... [ Continue Reading ]
The ‘ancient properties’ were buildings that the *Babylonians had knocked down a century earlier. The people had never repaired them, although Cyrus had given the order to do so (see Isaiah 45:13). • To erect a building, people did not clear the ground first, as today. They simply knocked down the... [ Continue Reading ]
To ‘ride high in the land’ means ‘your happy life will attract favourable attention’. • The *Lord promised to supply all that his people need (see Deuteronomy 32:13-14). TEMPLE ~ special building in Jerusalem where Jews praised God and offered him prayers and gifts. JERUSALEM ~ at the time of Davi... [ Continue Reading ]