The Ryrie Study Bible titles this section "In Releasing Judah from Babylon." The Lord was speaking to Cyrus, Israel's deliverer from Babylon; then He spoke directly to Babylon. Now He speaks to Israel.
...continue reading "Isaiah 48 (Judah)"Isaiah 47
A Ryrie footnote describes this chapter as a song of triumph over Babylon--as crushed by Persia 150 years later and, ultimately, at the end of rebellion against God in Revelations (Rev. 17:5).
...continue reading "Isaiah 47"Isaiah 46
The Lord's predictions concerning Cyrus and Israel's deliverance from Babylon continues.
...continue reading "Isaiah 46"Isaiah 45
At the end of Isaiah 44, the Lord is predicting the deliverance of Israel from Babylon by the decree of Cyrus, 150 years in advance. This prediction regarding Cyrus continues in this chapter.
...continue reading "Isaiah 45"Isaiah 44
This is a continuation of the Lord speaking from Chapter 23.
...continue reading "Isaiah 44"Isaiah 43
Beautiful promises of redemption from our Lord.
...continue reading "Isaiah 43"Isaiah 42
In Isaiah Chapters 40 and 41 we have been exploring Who God Is. Here's what we know so far. God is Great! He delivered Israel; He is in control of world leaders; He is greater than idols. He provides. He protects. Let everything that has breathe praise the Lord.
Now, in Chapter 42, we learn more about God and His mysterious Trinity, specifically His Servant Jesus.
The Lord is our God; the Lord is One.
...continue reading "Isaiah 42"Isaiah 41
The Lord calls out to the Coastlands (Islands/the nations) to listen to His case against them in silence and then to speak their case, if they have one. (Spoiler alert...they don't.)
...continue reading "Isaiah 41"Isaiah 40
We now enter a new section of Isaiah. Most commentators distinguish two "halves" of the book. The dire prophetic judgements of the "Old Testament" half, with the tragic end of Israel and much of Judah by the Assyrians, and the more hopefully, Messianic, "New Testament" half in which Isaiah has amazingly accurate prophesies regarding Babylon. This second second begin with chapter 40.
...continue reading "Isaiah 40"Psalm 76
As I have noted previously, I am reading through the Old Testament chronologically, using a list I found through the Blue Letter Bible. Between Isaiah 39 and 40, the chronological order includes Psalm 76. It probably should go, specifically, after Isaiah 37 and the victory over Assyria, but here is where it fell. It is a Psalm of victory and celebration over Assyria.
...continue reading "Psalm 76"