Today we start reading the remarkable prophecy of Isaiah; what a challenging life he had in serving the LORD!  He brought messages from God to the people through the reigns of 4 kings which are named in the first verse.  But he was also privileged to receive and record God’s word concerning “the latter days” as we will read tomorrow – and, above all, the astonishingly detailed vision of the sufferings, death and resurrection of the Messiah in his 53^rd chapter, which, until the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, sceptics declared must have been added later.

This is a book that inspires in us greater and greater faith – if we are willing to apply our minds to the many aspects of its messages.

As we read the first chapter we could not help but think how much it was also a message for today as it was for the spiritually decadent people to whom Isaiah was conveying God’s message.  “Ah sinful nation,” writes Isaiah, “a people laden with iniquity … who deal corruptly. They have forsaken the LORD, they have despised the Holy One …” [v.4]

He challenges them. “Hear the word of the LORD you rulers of Sodom … of Gomorrah” [v.10].  Their religious practices were but a show and a sham and on a level with those evil cities; “Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me … I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly … your appointed feasts my soul hates” [v.13,14]  They were hated by God because the spirit in their hearts was all wrong.  What a message to have to give to the people!  

Then the theme changed, “Learn to do good … come now, let us reason together says the LORD; though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow … if you are willing and obedient” [v.18,19].  It is the same message today – but how few are willing and obedient?  Make sure you are.