October 25, 2020

 The book of Isaiah is like the introduction to Salvation. I found a list of Old Testament books and their description at books of the bible study tools online website. 

A quick summary up to Isaiah: 

Genesis

Creation, man, fellowship with God. Developing the relationship between God and man. The beginning of man's creation and his/her relationship with God. 

Exodus

The history of the Israelites. Their leaving Egypt. God reveals his name, his attributes, his redemption, his law and how he is to be worshiped.

Leviticus

Leviticus receives its name from the Septuagint (the pre-Christian Greek translation of the Old Testament) and means "concerning the Levites" (the priests of Israel). It serves as a manual of regulations enabling the holy King to set up his earthly throne among the people of his kingdom. It explains how they are to be his holy people and to worship him in a holy manner.

Numbers

Numbers relates the story of Israel's journey from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab on the border of Canaan. The book tells of the murmuring and rebellion of God's people and of their subsequent judgment.

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy ("repetition of the Law") serves as a reminder to God's people about His covenant. The book is a "pause" before Joshua's conquest begins and a reminder of what God required.

Joshua

Joshua is a story of conquest and fulfillment for the people of God. After many years of slavery in Egypt and 40 years in the desert, the Israelites were finally allowed to enter the land promised to their fathers.

Judges

The book of Judges depicts the life of Israel in the Promised Land—from the death of Joshua to the rise of the monarchy. It tells of urgent appeals to God in times of crisis and apostasy, moving the Lord to raise up leaders (judges) through whom He throws off foreign oppressors and restores the land to peace.

Ruth

The book of Ruth has been called one of the best examples of short narrative ever written. It presents an account of the remnant of true faith and piety in the period of the judges through the fall and restoration of Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth (an ancestor of King David and Jesus).

1 Samuel

Samuel relates God's establishment of a political system in Israel headed by a human king. Through Samuel's life, we see the rise of the monarchy and the tragedy of its first king, Saul.

2 Samuel

After the failure of King Saul, 2 Samuel depicts David as a true (though imperfect) representative of the ideal theocratic king. Under David's rule the Lord caused the nation to prosper, to defeat its enemies, and to realize the fulfillment of His promises.

1 Kings

1 Kings continues the account of the monarchy in Israel and God's involvement through the prophets. After David, his son Solomon ascends the throne of a united kingdom, but this unity only lasts during his reign. The book explores how each subsequent king in Israel and Judah answers God's call—or, as often happens, fails to listen.

2 Kings

2 Kings carries the historical account of Judah and Israel forward. The kings of each nation are judged in light of their obedience to the covenant with God. Ultimately, the people of both nations are exiled for disobedience.

1 Chronicles

Just as the author of Kings had organized and interpreted Israel's history to address the needs of the exiled community, so the writer of 1 Chronicles wrote for the restored community another history.

2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles continues the account of Israel's history with an eye for restoration of those who had returned from exile.

Ezra

The book of Ezra relates how God's covenant people were restored from Babylonian exile to the covenant land as a theocratic (kingdom of God) community even while continuing under foreign rule.

Nehemiah

Closely related to the book of Ezra, Nehemiah chronicles the return of this "cupbearer to the king" and the challenges he and the other Israelites face in their restored homeland.

Esther

Esther records the institution of the annual festival of Purim through the historical account of Esther, a Jewish girl who becomes queen of Persia and saves her people from destruction.

Job

Through a series of monologues, the book of Job relates the account of a righteous man who suffers under terrible circumstances. The book's profound insights, its literary structures, and the quality of its rhetoric display the author's genius.

Psalms

The Psalms are collected songs and poems that represent centuries worth of praises and prayers to God on a number of themes and circumstances. The Psalms are impassioned, vivid and concrete; they are rich in images, in simile and metaphor.

Proverbs

Proverbs was written to give "prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young," and to make the wise even wiser. The frequent references to "my son(s)" emphasize instructing the young and guiding them in a way of life that yields rewarding results.

Ecclesiastes

The author of Ecclesiastes puts his powers of wisdom to work to examine the human experience and assess the human situation. His perspective is limited to what happens "under the sun" (as is that of all human teachers).

Song of Songs

In ancient Israel everything human came to expression in words: reverence, gratitude, anger, sorrow, suffering, trust, friendship, commitment. In the Song of Solomon, it is love that finds words–inspired words that disclose its exquisite charm and beauty as one of God's choicest gifts.

Isaiah   

Isaiah son of Amoz is often thought of as the greatest of the writing prophets. His name means "The Lord saves." Isaiah is a book that unveils the full dimensions of God's judgment and salvation.

Works Cited

Books  of the Bible

https://www.biblestudytools.com/books-of-the-bible/

As I glance over each book. I can see two important facts. Beginning with Genesis it seems to me that God wanted two things from mankind. He wanted a relationship with man; and he is Holy so he desires righteousness from man. Righteousness is more about how we treat one another. It is righteous behavior towards each other. God is in heaven and our behavior on the earth affects other people. Wicked people hurt people. They cannot hurt God but God loves people and he cannot stand how we treat one another. His laws were decrees for man to keep in order to know how to act right.  Genesis is also the first interruption in fellowship between man and God. The devil used the serpent and the serpent tricked Eve; and she convinced Adam to disobey God. This pattern reveals man is not bad all by himself. His relationship with God was tampered with by Satan. So God goes on to have mercy and compassion on people. He goes through a lot with them but his ultimate goal is to save each and every person on the planet. Then we move forward to the Levites and all the instructions on how to be a priest hood. Then there is the Kingship; and David has a relationship with God but it is somewhat external. The relationship is somewhat limited. The writing of David is always from the perspective of a man praying to God. He is praying for help to do what is right. He desires what is right even when he cannot perform it. He is always praying deliver me from the wicked! Please don't let me act unrighteous today! When they act wicked let me do what is right! He prays Lord help me to control myself and God finds great pleasure in him.  Moses spoke to the burning bush and he had to go relay the message to the people. Moses wanted what was right. He detested slavery. He left the palace. He became a slave by choice. Moses gave them the law. Thou shalt not, and if you do beware. But Isaiah talks about the day of the Lord and we experience an intimacy with God. As time goes on man drifts further from God and God takes pleasure in Abraham because he spoke to Abraham and Abraham believed him. He takes pleasure in us when we desire righteousness even though we cannot perform it unless he gives us his spirit; and secondly we must believe that he exist. 

If God is a God of our hearts. It is with the heart we believe and it is with the heart we desire to be righteous even when we struggle to perform it. You may not have the power to break your addiction or change circumstances but you keep asking God to help overcome and surely he will. 

Does God punish us for our sins?

No. If you are a believer in Christ Jesus God punished your sins on the cross. If you do not believe you will be punished for your sins. However Believers do not have punishment we have principle. 

Whatever seeds you sow is what you get back. 

What you do unto others will be done to you.

If you don't believe you are condemned and punishment awaits you.

Principle gives us responsibility!

On the  other hand it works for the good.

Blessed and you will be blessed. 

Give and it will be given to you. 

Be merciful and God will be merciful to you. 

Your life is only what you make it!

 An honest heart will always win with God. It is the intentions.

Lastly Isaiah is referenced in the New Testament.  The words had been spoken and decreed. The Messiah would save his people from their sins. In the gospels the prophecies are being fulfilled. Often times Jesus quotes Isaiah but many religious sectors like the Pharisees overlooked all the clues about him located in the book of Isaiah. But we know they saw what they wanted to see, and they saw things the way they wanted to see them. But those whom God allowed the privilege could see clearly that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. There is years in between the prophecy and the fulfillment of the prophecy.  

New Testament References to Isaiah. If you get some free time look them up. Maybe I will post them before the last chapter. 

7:14 Matthew 1:23

9:1-2 Matthew 4:15-16

10:22-23 Romans 9:27-28

11:10 Romans 15:12 22:13

1 Corinthians 15:32 22:22

Revelation 3:7 25:8

1 Corinthians 15:54  28:11-12

1 Corinthians 14:21  29:13

Matthew 15:8,9; 

Mark 7:6,7 29:14

1 Corinthians 1:19 29:16

Romans 9:20 35:3

Hebrews 12:12 40:13-14

Romans 11:34,35; 

1 Corinthians 2:16 40:3-5

Matthew 3:3;

 Mark 1:3; 

Luke 3:4-6; 

John 1:23 40:6-8

1 Peter 1:24-25 41:4

Revelation 1:17  42:1-4

Matthew 12:18-21 42:6

Acts 13:47 44:6

Revelation 1:17 45:9

Romans 9:20 45:23

Romans 14:11 45:23

Philippians 2:10-11 49:6

Acts 13:47 49:10

Revelation 7:16 49:8

2 Corinthians 6:2 52:11

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 52:15

Romans 15:21 52:5

Romans 2:24 52:7

Romans 10:15 53:1

John 12:38; 

Romans 10:16 53:12

Mark 15:28; 

Luke 22:3753:4

Matthew 8:17 53:5

1 Peter 2:24 53:7-8

Acts 8:32-33 53:9

1 Peter 2:22 54:1

Galatians 4:27 54:13.

John 6:45 55:3

Acts 13:34. 56:7

Matthew 21:13 59:20-21

Romans 11:26-27 6:9-10

Matthew 13:14,15; 

Mark 4:12; 

Luke 8:10; 

John 12:40; 

Acts 28:26-27 60:1

Ephesians 5:14 60:20-21

Revelation 21:23 61:1-2

Luke 4:18-19 64:4

1 Corinthians 2:9 65:1-1

Romans 10:20-21 66:1-2

Acts 7:49-50 66:24

Mark 9:44

Isaiah 52 

 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

 For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.

 For thus saith the Lord God, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.

 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.

 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.

For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward.

 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

Have a wonderful, beautiful, day!