B2a-devotions

Alternative devotions for Monday 4th January

Review

There is no doubt that this passage stands at the climax of Isaiah’ prophecies. For Christians today, the suffering of the Servant described in Isaiah 53 is probably the most stunning and powerful of Isaiah’s prophecies, anticipating the way that God would one day redeem His people through the mystery of Christ’s suffering. The prophecy is deeply moving and strangely uplifting, knowing that our Lord Jesus Christ has walked this path of suffering and death for our salvation. However, today’s prophecy is not about the ‘how’ of God’s redemptive work, but about ‘why’. Isaiah’s words are like a ray of light revealing the Father’s intentions and purposes, showing His love and passion for all people and especially those who accept the saving work of His Servant.

Our passage is an amazing vision of recreation, and its only parallel in scripture is the Revelation of John, where we read in chapter 21, ‘then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away ...’ (Rev 21:1f.). These words are very similar to Isaiah’s here in verse 17, and it is likely that John knew this prophecy. When God revealed the future to John, the vision made sense to him because he knew that it was consistent with what had been prophesied by Isaiah in the Scriptures he knew (65:17). Of course, John’s vision quickly revealed far more detail about the new creation because at this later point in history, God had done much more through Jesus Christ to reveal Himself to the world. John spoke about the coming of a new Jerusalem, adorned as a bride and as the dwelling place of God with people (Rev 21:2,3). Nevertheless, it is still remarkable that here in the Old Testament, Isaiah prophesies the same; a heavenly Jerusalem in which people live and dwell in peace with themselves and with God (65:18,19). The consistency of this prophecy throughout Scripture must surely give us confidence that this indeed is God’s intention for all people who respond to His love.

The truth about God and His purpose for the whole of His creation is this. He wants to have a peaceful and loving relationship with all (65:18), where ‘weeping will not be heard’ (65:19), where the finite limitations of life will be irrelevant (65:20), where people will have a fruitful life (65:22) and their children will always be a blessing (65:23,24)! The picture is extended further by verse 25 which speaks of the peaceful co-existence of animals in God’s recreated future, a picture typical of Isaiah, as we remember from previous prophecies (11:6f., and hinted at in chapter 35). The addition of the whole of creation in God’s scheme of salvation and re-creation is typical of scripture as a whole, and its inclusion here reminds us of Paul’s great comment about this in his letter to the Romans. In this letter, he sums up God’s eternal purposes with this great phrase, which reflects what we have read today in Isaiah,

‘all creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God ... that creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God’ (Romans 8:19,21).

The vision is concluded with God’s incisive comment on human efforts to please Him; ‘Heavens are my throne ... what is this? A house you have built for me? ... My hand has made all these things!’ The Lord does not require His people to make a house for Him, and there is no Temple in the new Jerusalem because God lives with His people. God who has made all things needs no ‘dwelling place’! It is often forgotten that this majestic statement is found in the Old Testament. It stands together with the great opening verses of Genesis chapter 1 as a description of the breadth of God’s creative power. People often ask ‘what will heaven be like?’ The answer is here. Heaven is like our world but with the pain and suffering removed and replaced by the perfect love of God. For those who care to delve deeply into Isaiah, this is exactly what he says here!

17 Look! I am creating

new heavens and a new earth!

The first ones will not be remembered

nor will they come to mind;

18 Instead, rejoice and be glad forever

because of what I am creating.

Look! I am creating Jerusalem as a delight,

and its people as a joy.

19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem,

and be glad in my people;

the sound of weeping will not be heard in her,

or a cry of distress.

20 No more will it ever happen there

that a baby only lives a few days,

or an old man does not live a lifetime;

for he who dies at a hundred years

will be but a youth,

and he who falls short of a hundred

will be considered accursed.

21 They will build houses and live in them;

they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

22 They will not build

For another to live there;

They will not plant

so that another may eat;

For the lifetime of my people

will be like the lifetime of a tree,

And my chosen will enjoy to the full

the work of their hands.

23 They will not work hard for nothing,

or bear children and bring disaster;

But they will be children blessed by the Lord,

and their descendants as well.

24 So it will come about that

before they call I will answer,

and as they are speaking I will hear.

25 A wolf and a lamb will graze as one,

a lion will eat straw like an ox;

and a serpent will eat dust!

They will not harm or destroy

on all my holy mountain,

says the Lord

All praise to You, Lord Jesus. You are with me from my waking through each and every moment of the day, and Your presence is my unspoken guide. Move my heart to turn away from stubborn self-centredness to appreciate the immense potential of your guidance. Lead me to rejoice in Your gifts of grace, love and peace so I may look forward to everything You have prepared for me this day, and always: AMEN

Stay beside me, Lord, I pray, for You have given me everything.

Lord of direction, go with me wherever I go;

Lord of protection, surround me with Your love;

Lord of purity, clean the pollution of my mind;

Lord of security, protect my family from all evil;

Lord of faithfulness, show me Yourself in others;

Lord of authority, guide the decisions I make;

Lord of wholeness, heal me in my rest;

Lord of creation, restore me whilst I sleep;

Be with me every day, I pray, so I may remain with You forever.

Prayer ideas

Prayerfully seek God’s perspective on what the papers and internet sites predict for the coming year

On-going prayers

Pray for Christian families. Pray that the whole church will support parents as they strive to maintain godly standards in family life.
Pray for US and western nationals under threat in Yemen
Give thanks to God for those who are closest to you

Isaiah 65:17-25

The alternative Bible studies are brief.

Scroll down to read this or select the regular study.