restoration

So wow. I'm going through Isaiah this semester with a friend of mine and we read chapters 7,8 and 9. I'm not very far in this book and am already finding it both very difficult and very awesome all at the same time. Difficult because it is driving home God's power.

And it scares me.

I can't act like i'm comfortable with reading a lot of this stuff. For those of you who are, I pray that day will come when in humility I'm able to share in such faith and wisdom. But right now, it scares me to read the second half of Chapter 9 which ends each phrase with:

"yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised."

That's scary to read

"Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered! Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle and be shattered!
Prepare for battle and be shattered!
Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted;
propose your plan, but it will not stand,
for God is with us" (8:9-10)

There is a power here that I just do not understand. This Father of ours is able to crush whatever He wants. He has the power to give and take whatever He chooses. This fact makes me quite uncomfortable. I'm not sure, that in my heart, i'm very willing to accept the fact that I deserve such a fate as would be the case for these people---

"Therefore, as toungues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames,
so their roots will decay
and their flowers blow away like dust;
for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty
and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Therefore the Lord's anger burns against his people;
His hand is raised and he strikes them down.
The mountains shake,
and the dead bodies are like refuse in the streets.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised." (5:24-25).

...ow.

Is it possible to be absolutely moved into a lack of comfort--to be scared and really unsure of myself because i'm so unable to actually wrap my mind around this stuff--and yet still somehow enjoy it at times?

I'm finding this book hard. But i'm finding it to be amazing as well.

I can't understand the huge amount of hope found in His love that Isaiah talks about. I do not understand the love He has for His people. There's so much hope and love in the little I've read of this book. It seriously just seems like it is bursting out of it. In the midst of all this desolation and destruction, there's something good that is sitting quietly, waiting to be revealed.

I'm reading this book and am finding a great deal of joy.

I'm considering the difference Jesus made. The time period in which i live is one where something is already true about me.

He is restoring all things. I have no need to fear.

There's so much joy in this--

"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,
as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian's defeat
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.

Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning
will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom
establising and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this."
Isaiah 9:1-7


I love this. It is seriously a huge breath of fresh air to me---

you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.

I'm still scared to death of some of this stuff. It certainly helps to go through this stuff with someone else. But I still don't understand a lot of it and am not comfortable with the majority of it yet. I'm still really foolish about a lot of stuff and so I am getting convicted by a lot in this book. But I do know that every time I read, I can receive it with joy because of Jesus Christ.

have a great night guys :)
-dave