“Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick,
and the whole heart faints. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment. 7 Your country is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire; Strangers devour your land in your presence; and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8 So the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a hut in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. 9 Unless the Lord of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah.” Isaiah 1:5-9 NKJV
Lord of light,
We need Your help as we enter into the book of Isaiah. It speaks history, Isaiah prophesies to Judah present and future. He speaks of their future where it touches our past. It speaks to how Judah’s future will bless ours and theirs and our far distant future. But Isaiah’s prophecies of judgement were also to Judah and the nations around in their day.
The Kings of Judah spanning this time were Uzziah (Also called Asariah, who had leprosy, 2 Kings 15:1-5), followed by Jotham, Ahaz, and then Hezekiah. The northern kingdom of Israel was going through a politically turbulent time and the Kingdom changed hands many times. There was Jeroboam II, Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah and Hoshea (the final king of Israel before the fall of Samaria) Four of whom were ‘smote’ that is killed by their successors!
At least the first five chapters of Isaiah set the scene of Your condemnation and judgement of Judah. Colourful illustrations if a bit gruesome. Putrefying sores, open wounds and not a bandage in sight. They are vulnerable like a cheap little temporary woven shelter for a watchman in a cucumber field. Not rich inhabitants of a glorious city on a hill! Isaiah constantly warns to give opportunity for Judah to humble themselves and return to You.
It gives me reason to pause and thank You for the millions of world wide teachers and preachers and Bible study leaders and Sunday school teachers who bring us Your Word. And most of all we thank You that Your holy Spirit enables us to hear what You are saying individually to us and as a church. (John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10) May we hear and respond.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 9th June 2026
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love what Thou dost love,
and do what you would do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until with Thee I one will,
to do and to endure.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am holy Thine
Until this earthly part of me,
Glows with Thy fire divine.
Lyrics: Edwin Hatch