If prophecies are mountain ranges, we’re looking at the distant peaks now, as Isaiah talks about God’s plans for Jerusalem...one day.
True worship
Isaiah 58:1-12
Reward for keeping the sabbath
Isaiah 58:13-14
The people’s sins condemned
Isaiah 59:1-8
The people’s confession
Isaiah 59:9-15
The coming of Christ
Isaiah 59:16-21
Jerusalem's future glory
Isaiah 60:1-5
All nations to honour God’s people
Isaiah 60:6-9
God’s favour and mercy
Isaiah 60:10-22
Good news of deliverance
Isaiah 61:1-11
First Isaiah spells out what true worship should entail, justice, peace, care for the downtrodden; not violence, oppression and corruption. You can’t argue with his words, they are so obviously true and right, but somehow we all forget them, unless they are spoken with such power and persuasion as only a poet like Isaiah can muster.
Having outlined the people’s sins, and their desperate condition because of them, God promises to act. He will ride in to rescue his people, no longer will he trust the people themselves to do what is right - he himself will be their salvation. Good news indeed.
Then he gets on to the distant future, when Jerusalem will be restored, not back to her former glory, but to something far, far beyond. The words of chapter 60 are far more wonderful than anyone could have dared dream: “Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Though in anger I struck you, in favour I will show you compassion.” (60:10) Chapter 61 continues the theme, and with words that Jesus took up and applied to himself, speaks about God wonderfully restoring his bruised and battered people.
It doesn’t get any better than this.
True worship
Isaiah 58:1-12
Reward for keeping the sabbath
Isaiah 58:13-14
The people’s sins condemned
Isaiah 59:1-8
The people’s confession
Isaiah 59:9-15
The coming of Christ
Isaiah 59:16-21
Jerusalem's future glory
Isaiah 60:1-5
All nations to honour God’s people
Isaiah 60:6-9
God’s favour and mercy
Isaiah 60:10-22
Good news of deliverance
Isaiah 61:1-11
First Isaiah spells out what true worship should entail, justice, peace, care for the downtrodden; not violence, oppression and corruption. You can’t argue with his words, they are so obviously true and right, but somehow we all forget them, unless they are spoken with such power and persuasion as only a poet like Isaiah can muster.
Having outlined the people’s sins, and their desperate condition because of them, God promises to act. He will ride in to rescue his people, no longer will he trust the people themselves to do what is right - he himself will be their salvation. Good news indeed.
Then he gets on to the distant future, when Jerusalem will be restored, not back to her former glory, but to something far, far beyond. The words of chapter 60 are far more wonderful than anyone could have dared dream: “Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Though in anger I struck you, in favour I will show you compassion.” (60:10) Chapter 61 continues the theme, and with words that Jesus took up and applied to himself, speaks about God wonderfully restoring his bruised and battered people.
It doesn’t get any better than this.
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