Isaiah #31 - Lift Up Your Eyes

2021-03-30

Isaiah 60 (NIV) Read by Emily Johnston From the second chapter of Isaiah on, we’ve had this hope… of a New Creation, a place with no more suffering, no more war, where nations would come together, lay down their weapons and learn from their Maker how to be truly human. We walked with this hope in our pocket through the drama of the Assyrians and the Babylonian exile, through the poems and prophecies of God’s judgment on Israel, her kings, and her violent oppressors. We’ve seen The Servant of the LORD do what Israel could not… we’ve see...

Isaiah 60 (NIV)

Read by Emily Johnston

From the second chapter of Isaiah on, we’ve had this hope… of a New Creation, a place with no more suffering, no more war, where nations would come together, lay down their weapons and learn from their Maker how to be truly human. We walked with this hope in our pocket through the drama of the Assyrians and the Babylonian exile, through the poems and prophecies of God’s judgment on Israel, her kings, and her violent oppressors. We’ve seen The Servant of the LORD do what Israel could not… we’ve seen him be the human God could partner with. And we’ve seen him suffer and die on their behalf. We’ve seen him rise to the throne as the Messianic King—his suffering vindicated, his eyes satisfied by the inheritance... of the nations. And now, in today’s passage, we see in full color the nations streaming to the New Jerusalem, the New Creation so hoped for, so longed for by the faithful. Abraham’s descendents from far and wide bring their wealth—offerings of praise to Yahweh. And the walls that were destroyed by foreign nations will be rebuilt by them as well. RESTORATION. RECONCILIATION. PEACE…

----------REFLECT----------

1. What words or phrases stood out to you in the passage?

2. The opening of this chapter is a distant echo of the first Creation… Arise, Shine, for your light has come. Let. There. Be. Light. It’s a picture of the LORD’s victory over sin and evil and his determination to inhabit his Creation. How does this passage give you hope today?

3. Throughout the Bible the promise of New Creation is that of the world made right. But, empowered by God’s Spirit, we don’t have to wait to participate in that New Creation… as signposts pointing to what will be, we can live out of that hope now. So, is there someone who needs your forgiveness? What might it be like to forgive them now, in anticipation of the healing to come? Or, is there someone whose forgiveness you need to ask for? Ask the LORD for courage to respond to Him today.

----------GO DEEPER----------

Bible Project Podcast: Family of God Series >>

Bible Project: Isaiah 40-66 >>

BP Exploring My Strange Bible Podcast: The Meaning of Hope >>

InterVarsity Press Selections: Isaiah >>

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