Isaiah 11!!!

More of Isaiah's prophesy to Ahaz!  This is another section we know well!

Read this one with the ears again of the Jews that heard this from Isaiah.  What a hard challenge!  We read these each year at Christmas!  We KNOW that they point to Jesus.  But, try--try to forget those things, and imagine yourself as a Jew, in exile in Babylon.

1) Read the chapter twice.
2) Pray and walk away from it.
3) Read it again and answer the questions.

Questions!
1) What points to Jesus?
2) What doesn't point to Jesus?
3)  If you were a Jew in exile--what would your Messiah look like?
4) What hit you powerfully in this passage?
5) So, what is the point of this?  What have you learned examining these passages?

Love and Blessings!
Pastor Emily

Scattered.....

Today's wrap up is a little more scattered--please forgive the scattered state of my brain tonight!

I really enjoyed this reading more than I'd anticipated!  You'll have to bear with me--I wasn't stoked about reading more Isaiah. I can't believe that I read that passage 4 times and still missed the reference in verse 1 to the Jordan!  Thanks Lindsay!

I can absolutely see how this points to Jesus--but I still can't imagine that I'd ever have connected the dots in the time and place!  Maybe that's part of the point.  One of my favorite verses is in John when Jesus reminds us that the Holy Spirit will come and reveal more to us!  Its amazing how God puts all the pieces together!

When was the last time God put the pieces in your life together?  When you thought the world was lost--but instead God showed you that there was a light at the end of the tunnel.  I think this passage can speak to people in those places.  The people who have been waiting for a sign, they have been walking in darkness, but there was hope!

So, next time things seem to be out of place--return to this passage.  And remind yourself that God can make good out of anything!  Exile, famine, sin!  Remind yourself, there is always light.  Remind yourself there is always good!  Remind yourself that there is always more to the story.

God, thank you that you are so many things.  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.  Thank you for making a way when we don't see one.  Thank you for the beauty in our lives.  Thank you for understanding our messes.  Thank you. Thank you.  Thank you.

Amen!

Blessings!
Pastor Emily

Names of God

This week, we will continue with Isaiah's prophecy.  This section continues in Isaiah's prophesy to King Ahaz.  So, its a continuation from last week.

Remember, Isaiah is telling Ahaz about the exile that is coming!  The selection we skipped was talking about how terrible the invasion would be!  Think about that as you start this section.

This week's assigment:

1) Pray for enlightenment and wisdom!
2) Read Isaiah 9:1-7 twice.
3) Put it down for a while!
4) Read it again, and then answer the questions below!

a) If you were Jew during the exile or during Roman occupation, what would you expect the Messiah to be like?
b) Which parts do you think point to Christ as the Messiah?
c) Why would Isaiah use the words government in verses 6 and 7, if he wasn't pointing to an earthly ruler?
d) What struck  you in these passages?

Blessings!
Pastor Emily

Being Honest

I have to start by being honest.  Preachers are very honest people--unless it comes to talking about themselves.  We like to tell you that everything is ok, that we are superhumans--never sick, never doubting, never lacking faith.  But we do get sick and down in spirit.  We have days when we don't want to preach or write blog posts.  Days when we are too sick or tired to listen.

I know Christ had these days.  I know my mother does.  I know so many of us do.  I say all this to say this has been one of those weeks.  I've read this passage each day with an overflowing heart and a stuffy nose and a bad cough.  And through those lenses, I think God really was able to speak.  I love that--when God speaks even when my ears are too plugged up to listen!

First, I'm honestly split on whether this is a direct prophesy pointing to Christ or not.  I agree that the words in verses 14-18 have traditionally be seen that way.  I also believe that the ancient Hebrews were looking for the messiah to come through David because of the covenant in 1 Samuel we have already studied.  So, the discussion of the house of Ephraim points that way.  Still, the rest of it is a bit murky for me.  I'm not so sure that it all makes sense to me.

But these passages did speak to me.  I've learned through my life, never to ask God for signs--not becuase its not Biblical--but because I'm often scared of what the sign will be.  But, God starts this passage to Ahaz asking him to ask for a sign. A big sign--as deep has hell and as high as heaven (vs. 10)!

Sometimes I don't ask God for enough.  I think I can do it all myself. Instead of asking God for big things that he can do, I ask him for little things that I CAN DO!  That was Ahaz's problem, wasn't it?  He wanted to DO for himself, and he forgot God.  That's why he was so "evil" because he forgot God.  I do that--do you?

Ahaz replied, "I won’t ask; I won’t test the LORD.” (11)

I've said that!

God then grew weary of him!  UGH!  Does God grow weary of my little faith?  Sometimes, I'm sure!

Then come the words about the coming savior.  That even if Ahaz won't ask--God will send a sign.  That God will be with them!  That one will come to show us evil and good, and good times will be coming!

Then God talks about the evil that Assyria will do to its enemies.  It talks about the bad things that will be coming for Israel!  The pictures of the flies and bees particularlly got me--since after returning home from the better part of two weeks out of my apartment, I had a million fruit flies!  They were a mess.  (Thankfully an open glass of apple cider vinegar with some dawn in it solves that problem fast!).  But I thought of this verse.  How many times do I unintentionally leave other people my messes to clean up!  That's what was going to happen to Ahaz!  The goodness of their riches would become briers and thorns.  Bad things were coming.

This week, I was given hope that God will do bigger things than I ever can.  That its time to start trusting God and asking for big things.  Giant things.  Wonderful things.  God, I'm ready for the grace that is too big to swallow too enormous to contain.  I'm ready for big things--give me the faith to believe!

Amen!

What parts of these passages really got to you this week?  How was your week?

Blessings and praying for you all!

Pastor Emily

Isaiah the Prophet

For the next several weeks we will be studing prophesies from the writer Isaiah.  Scholars believe that the book of Isaiah was probably composed from the words of several prophets.  Even with that, the writings clearly show a prophetic voice speaking to Israel as they are about to go into exile and as they are exiled.

Don't forget--"prophetic" in this case doesn't exactly mean predicting or pointing to the future.  It mostly means that they will speak to issues of justice in their own society.  Mostly prophets pointed out what was going on wrong in society and that there would be consequences to their actions.  Yes, in these cases we believe the writings may have pointed to Jesus, but they could also just be speaking to the time period.  Let us read the passages from Isaiah thinking with both minds!

This week's passage is the Word of God speaking to Ahaz.  Ahaz was king of Judah, and mentioned in Matthew's Geneology of Jesus.  At this point, what we think of as Israel was in fact two kingdoms.  Israel in the North and Judah in the South.  They had a bitter rivalry.  Ahaz was an evil king who was cruel and worshipped other Gods.  However, his son Hezikiah was widely revered and loved.  The final words of verse 9 are poignant, "If you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all." 

This Week's Assignment:
1) Read Isaiah 7:10-25 twice.
2) Put it down and pray over it. 
3) Read it again and answer the questions below!

Questions:

1) What verses seem to speak directly to the time--to King Ahaz?
2) What verses seem to point to Jesus?
3) What makes you believe that these verses point to a Messiah?  Or what makes you think they don't?
4) Do you believe its a good idea to ask the Lord for signs?  Why or why not?
5) What part of the passage was most interesting or insiteful to you?
6) Is this study working?  Has it been helpful?

God--Open our eyes so that we may see your truths!  Let us not forget your love and your Word to us!

Blessings!
Pastor Emily

Jesus on the Cross

Did you picture it?  Jesus--humiliated, judged, in mind-blowing pain--hanging on the cross.  His loved ones standing around, watching him suffer.  The onlookers wanting to see him die.  The guards.  The criminals beside him.  Did you picture it when you read Psalm 22?


I think this picture was even more poignant for me this week.  I was in seminary when I first heard of Troy Davis.  He was a man on death row.  At that point, I didn't know the strong stance our church takes against the death penalty.  But, as I read more statements from our church on the death penalty and as I learned more about Davis's case, I began to hurt more and more for the situation.  I attended prayer vigils and prayed a lot.  That time in 2008, we thought we'd won.  We thought we'd saved him from death.  As we saw this week, that wasn't so.  As I prayed for Davis, his family, and for the family of Officer MacPhail, I thought of this Psalm and read it with new eyes.


"My God, My God, why have you forsaken me".


This is the line Mark quotes.  I can hear Jesus singing this.  This is what we think of first--of the pain.  We wonder where God is in these situations.  We question how God is at work in this world of evil.  Where police officers are shot.  Where justice never seems to be served.  Where Jesus, innocent, hangs on a tree.

In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.


But, we know that God is faithful and will deliver.  Even from the injustice and pain and death.  This is foreshadowing of good things!

But I am a worm, and not human; scorned by others, and despised by the people. 


I'm not good enough to deserve saving.


All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads; "Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—let him rescue the one in whom he delights!’ 


Wait, didn't one of the criminals say that to Jesus.  Can you imagine Jesus, singing a familiar song, a holy song, and the other criminal realizing that he was part of the plan!  How do you think he felt?


On you I was cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me you have been my God. 


Jesus, once again speaking to the prophesy of his birth.  Words from David, that apply to Jesus and to David and to you and to me!


I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 


We believe Jesus died of a "broken" heart.  When he was pierced in the side, blood and water poured out of his body.  His bones were probably out of joint--although not broken.  His heart was melting like wax!  He is reciting the words of David, and speaking truth of what was about to come.  His heart was breaking!


my mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.


One of the Seven Last Words of Jesus.  "I thirst".  Again, David speaking truth, and Jesus singing truth.  By now, I see them all stopping and listening to him.  How do you think they felt?  Mad?  Scared?  Sad?  Frustrated?  Do you think they realized it?

a company of evildoers encircles me.

Do evildoers surround you?  They were surrounding Christ.

They stare and gloat over me; they divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.  

But you, O Lord, do not be far away!  O my help, come quickly to my aid! 

Do you think those soldiers thought twice.  The ones who cast lots for his clothes.  Do you think they stopped as they mouthed the words with him?  God has no longer forsaken, God is coming to help!  God is coming!  There is hope!

From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me.
I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the Lord, praise him!

Wait!  There is hope!  Maybe Jesus will be saved!  Maybe there is still hope that we can have a world where cops won't die, and where our government makes all life sacred and gives chances for redemption--even when it seems doomed!  Maybe there will be a last minute pardon!  

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.

This is a far cry from "My God why have you forsaken me!"  For, remember God wins!  We will proclaim God's love and power to the world!  This is what Christ was singing.  More than just feeling forsaken--knowing that even in this place that God wins!

Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, 

Oh, Jesus!  Oh David!  You are so right!  We still sing your name!  Preach on!  Sing on!  God is mighty!!!

and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.

Some translate the words "he has done it" for it is finished.  He has finished it.  Just like John says Jesus's last words were.  It is finished.  Maybe not finished like we wanted.  We didn't want Jesus to die.  But Jesus didn't die in vain.  Jesus may have died to this world, but soon, this would would be saved in ways they didn't know. 

Jesus died on his terms.  Probably not doubting God's presence, but instead singing of God's love and mercy and power.

In your bad times--remember that God's power will reign.  If your world is caving in, return to Psalm 22, and remember that Jesus feels your pain, and in the end God wins.

God wins.  Love wins.  Jesus wins.  Let us go into the world and sing this song.  Don't let this world discourage you.  Let God love you.  Let God's power encircle you.  Remember, you are loved--by a God whose song should be sung to the ends of the earth.  

Amen.

The Psalmist

We learned about King David last week a bit.  While last week we focused on covenants, this week we'll look at the poetry attributed to King David.  If you are looking for the Bible's Hymnal, look no further than the Psalms.  Although we may not know the tunes, these poems were to be SUNG!  They were an important part of worship, something people knew!  


In Friday's post, I asked a trivia question.  Several of you had heard it from me--but the answer is twice that I can find.  1) With the disciples at the last supper (See Mark 14:26).  They probably sang Psalm 114-118, the hymns for Passover.  2) On the cross.  If someone said, "Amazing Grace how sweet the sound", we would look at them like they were crazy.  We automatically SING those words.  In the same way, when Jesus quoted Psalm 22 in Mark 15:34, he probably sang it!  More, he probably sang the WHOLE THING.


So, lets look at Psalm 22.  


Here's this week's suggested Methodology:


1) Pray--God of Light--Open our eyes to your truths.  Show us your vision.  Let us see with your eyes.  Let us remove all distractions and focus instead on your word.  We know you are speaking, let us listen and hear.  Amen
2)  Read the Psalm Through twice.
3) Take notes on what jumps out at you, and then put it down!
4) Come back to it later, and answer these questions!


The Questions!


1) What in this Psalm jumps out at you?  
2) If you were a Jew at the cross when Jesus was singing this, what would you be thinking?
3) What clearly doesn't point to Jesus?
4) What points to Jesus?

5) What else needs to be said?

Looking forward to this!

Blessings!
Pastor Emily