Rachel Klooster 0:07
Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s Daily Dose of the Word of God. It’s Tuesday, November 11 and this is Billy Heschl reading for Rachel Klooster. As we walk through the Bible this year, we will better see the Big Picture of how God has been and IS STILL at work for good in the world. Here is Isaiah 1:1
Rachel Klooster 0:28
These are the visions that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. He saw these visions during the years when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were kings of Judah.
Rachel Klooster 0:43
Really, Pastor Gregg? This is the portion of scripture assigned to us today? One small verse with a lot of strange names? Well, ok, let’s see what we can get out of this verse. We can see there are some visions heading our way. It's probably good to keep listening to these Daily Doses and maybe even get out my own Bible to keep reading. Time to google again: Uzziah reigned for 52 years but a more famous verse in Isaiah quotes “In the year that King Uzziah died” so let’s say 1 year for him. Plus 16 years each for Jotham and Ahaz and 29 years for Hezekiah - that’s about 62 years. One google site said maybe his ministry was 55 or so years. I would surmise that it’s important for these visions to be placed within history, thus the listing of all these kings.
Rachel Klooster 0:43
What is the book of Isaiah about? More googling says: God’s Holiness and Justice, judgement and warning, hope and restoration. And of course we all the know most famous verses in chapter 53 that we attribute as a prophecy about the coming Messiah: “He was pierced for our transgressions” And what do these names mean? Uzziah means, the Lord is my strength. Jotham means, God is perfect. Ahaz means, the Lord holds. Hezekiah means, God has strengthened. Isaiah means, God is my salvation. So at the start of some visions and prophesies regarding the kingdom of Judah, we are held up by God’s strength, his perfection, his holding on to us and his strengthening of us. Maybe having these names here at the start of this book are God’s way of saying, “hold on tight, I know what you are about to read won’t be easy for you, but stick with me, my strength is here for you, my perfection is enough, and at the end of the day there is salvation.”
Rachel Klooster 2:59
Let's pray. Holy Spirit, illuminate the words of the Bible so we may see the lessons held there for us. May we lean on your strength, your perfection and your salvation. In Jesus name, amen.
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