Today's Reading:

Isaiah 54
Isaiah 55
Isaiah 56
Isaiah 57
Isaiah 58

God makes promises to His people. He does not say He will not be angry with sin. He just won’t get that angry to flood the earth and wipe out humanity again. God rarely “swears” in the Bible, but when He does, it is in a covenant. Like the unchanging covenants of Abraham and Noah, we now have a new one. Here are the main covenants God has made in Scripture:

• Adamic Covenant- God created humanity, allowed dominion over creation, and gave the condition of obedience (the tree of knowledge). He promised land, descendants, and blessing through offspring. (Genesis 1:26-30, 2:16-17).
• Noahic Covenant- After the flood, God promised to never flood the whole earth again and gave seasons. The bow in the sky was God putting down His weapon. (Genesis 9:8-17).
• Abrahamic Covenant- God promised Abraham the land of Canaan and numerous descendants who would make him a great nation. His family line would bless the entire world. Circumcision was a sign. (Genesis 12:1-3, 15:1-21).
• Mosaic (Sinai) Covenant- God made Israel His chosen people at Mount Sinai. He gave the 10 Commandments as terms for their relationship, sacrifices, and the tabernacle where God would dwell. There were blessings for obedience to God’s Law (Torah) and curses for disobedience. (Exodus 19-24).
• Davidic Covenant- God promises David one of His descendants would rule and be the king forever (2 Samuel 7:8-16). He would have an everlasting dynasty. The Son who would build God’s house. Fulfilled by Jesus, the Son of David.
• New Covenant- (Covenant of Peace) An invitation for all, including non-Israelites, to be a part of God’s salvation. God promises to forgive sins completely, change hearts, and live in a close relationship with the people through Jesus. A universal covenant that the Messiah will actually be the embodiment of the covenant (This was sealed by Christ’s blood) (Isaiah 55:3).

Each covenant builds on one another. Noah preserves creation, Abraham initiates redemption, the Mosaic shaped the nation, and David pointed to Jesus. The New covenant brought it all together and is fulfilled. They tie in to the “never again” oath by God. (Isaiah 54:9). Just as God swore after Noah to never flood again, He now swears after the Servant suffering that His anger is finished forever. He covered us with kindness forever.

How do God’s “never again” oaths and His rainbow promise change how deep your relationship is? What about your confidence in His faithfulness across all the covenants? Who can you encourage by sharing one of His covenants today?

God turned to His people and gave them an invitation for salvation. Israel was still being personified as a barren woman who had been disgraced. In ancient times, a woman without children was often looked at in shame. Children were where her security and identity came from. But God said to sing first. This was a pattern in Scripture. God often told His people to celebrate BEFORE He worked. Here are a couple of examples:

• Joshua and Israel marched around Jericho shouting before the walls fell (Joshua 6:16).
• Jehoshaphat sent the singers out before the battle (2 Chronicles 20).
• God told the barren woman to sing before she had children (Isaiah 54:1).

You are not supposed to wait before you rejoice and praise. Sing now because He has already done the hard part through His Servant. You will end up with more spiritual descendants than the married wife (this was grace reversed). Put the addition on your tent; the Messiah’s kingdom will reach farther, and children will come. The Lord will be the Redeemer. In Galatians 4:27, Paul quotes the “barren woman” as the church, the heavenly Jerusalem. Children are born into God’s family by having faith in Jesus, not by keeping the laws. The Creator does not just forgive you; He marries you like the faithful husband in the Book of Hosea; God pursues us, His bride.

God hid Himself, like a time-out punishment from the people, due to His anger. Although we must remember our time and God’s time are different, this divine time-out (Babylon exile) lasted 70 years. God promised to bring His people back with compassion. He flashed back to the time of Noah, where He declared He would never flood the whole earth again. This is how serious God’s promise is. The Lord Himself will teach the next generation by His Spirit dwelling within and His Word.

God created both the blacksmith to make weapons and the destroyer. He is in control and decides if the weapons succeed or not. The enemy can sharpen the sword all day, but God decides if it cuts.

Chapter 55 was an invitation to the party. An invitation for both the physically and spiritually exhausted, the broken, and the frustrated. He offers them free water, wine, and milk as joy, nourishment, and abundance. In John 7:37, Jesus publicly invites anyone who is spiritually thirsty to come to Him and drink. He Himself is the cure for spiritual emptiness.

There is so much hope in these final verses. God told His people who were hurting that they do not understand what He is doing right now, but that is okay. His method and His goals are different than ours, because He sees the bigger picture from heaven above. This is humbling and comforting that when life feels chaotic and God is silent, He said, His plan is better than anything we can imagine. His Word will never fail. All promises made are kept and fulfilled in His perfect timing. Go out with joy and peace, sing loud and clap. He gave an everlasting sign that endures forever!

If you maintain justice, and do what is right, and keep the Sabbath, then God’s salvation is inclusive for you. Foreigners (Gentiles) and eunuchs were previously excluded from taking part in Temple worship, but now are included and welcomed if they follow the Lord. The prophets and leaders were rebuked as they were blind and ignorant, greedy and selfish, and drunkards who only cared about personal gain. They did not warn the people or protect them; they neglected them, like leaving the sheep without a shepherd.

Chapter 57 says that the righteous who die young are being protected from the evil that is coming. The wicked will be judged for their pagan practices of child sacrifice, and worshiping idols, and their unfaithfulness and spiritual idolatry. God is not laughing at them; He is laughing at their foolishness. They were secretly placing small idols or pagan shrines next to their doors, right where God said to put His Word (Deuteronomy 6:9). Hiding the idol while pretending to follow the Lord. He compared their idolatry to prostitution. They were not just sometimes unfaithful; they made their “bed” wide and invited many idols and pagan practices in, loving them more than the true God. God mocked the wicked and said, " Go ahead, cry out for help to the idols you love so much; let them save you. " See how well that works! The idols are so weak the wind will carry them away.

In a turn of Mercy, God sees all of the wickedness and still does not run from the sins. He lives with us, choosing to dwell with the person who is humble, broken, and low in spirit. He is there to revive and restore. The double, ‘Peace, peace,” has been seen before, the “perfect peace” offered to those who come to Him.

God rebuked the people for their hypocritical fasting. They were frustrated when they came back from exile and were going through the motions of fasting (even extending the number of days they fasted), yet they felt like God was ignoring them. They expected immediate results and answers to their prayers. Their heart was not in it; they fasted for show and selfishness. They fasted hypocritically, outwardly while not changing their daily lives. So, God said their prayers would not reach Him. He broke down what fasting should look like. True fasting is having compassion, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, clothing the naked, not ignoring the needs of others. This is outward love to your family and community. When you do this, the Lord will respond, “Here I am” (Isaiah 58:9).

God’s last condition was to treat the Sabbath like a holy day, a delight, not a burden. When you honor God with your time, then you will receive true joy. Your light will shine bright, and He will guide and strengthen you. True religion is not just rituals; it is in your heart where you love God and actively love His people. Pour into others because the more you give, the more He satisfies and restores you.

 

Today's Discussion question:

How do God’s “never again” oaths and His rainbow promise change how deep your relationship is? What about your confidence in His faithfulness across all the covenants? Who can you encourage by sharing one of His covenants today?

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