This week we continue our reading in the book of the major prophet Isaiah. From chapter 40 onward, there is a turning point in Isaiah's message as it focuses upon God's forgiveness, consolation and hope as God speaks through Isaiah, and the revealing of his plan of blessing and salvation through the coming Messiah. The New Testament quotes the book of Isaiah 66 times, more than any other Old Testament book except for Psalms.
We get a reference to the one we know as John the Baptist in chapter 40 as the voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God". (Isaiah 40:3)
We also see a few references to the suffering that the Messiah would go through on our behalf:
- "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth." (Isaiah 53:7)
- "I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting." (Isaiah 50:6)
Here is the schedule:
31, Sunday: Isaiah 30-33
01, Monday: Isaiah 34-37
02, Tuesday: Isaiah 38-41
03, Wednesday: Isaiah 42-45
04, Thursday: Isaiah 46-49
05, Friday: Isaiah 50-53
06, Saturday: Isaiah 54-57
May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His holy word. Amen.
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