Some thoughts on Isaiah

Isaiah has to be one of my favourite books in the Bible. It has so many verses that I love, so many verses that speak to me so directly.

The judgment of God. The judgement in the last days. About how the former things shall pass away, and never will they be brought up again. They have all fade into history. New heavens and a new earth shall come. How I yearn for that new place.

"Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old."
(43:18)

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind."
(65:17)

The love and mercy of God. That He always have mercy for the one who turn back and return to Him, even if one had sinned terribly against Him before. He will not only have mercy, but He will strengthen him who had once failed Him.

"And I will not remember your sins."
(43:25)

"A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench"
(42:3)

"For a mere moment
I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies
I will gather you.
With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you"
(54:7-8)

The warnings of God too.

"But you have burdened Me
with your sins,
You have wearied Me
with your iniquities."
(43:24)

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear."
(59:2)

But also the reassurance and comfort from God.

"I have covered you with the shadow of My hand"
(51:16)

"For I, the LORD your God,
will hold your right hand,
Saying to you, 'Fear not,
I will help you.'"
(41:13)

"Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you."
(49:15)

"Do not fear,
for you will not be ashamed;
Neither be disgraced,
for you will not be put to shame;
For you will forget the shame of your youth,
And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore."
(54:4)

Reminding us also that He is our strength.

"For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation."
(12:2)

"But those who wait on the LORD
shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."
(40:31)

And He is our Prince of Peace.

"You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You."
(26:3)

And He will definitely carry us through.

"Even to your old age, I am He,
And even to gray hairs I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry, and will deliver you."
(46:4)

And His heartfelt regret for us.

"Oh, that you had heeded My commandments!
Then your peace would have been like a river,
And your righteousness like the waves of the sea."
(48:18)

And this wrapped up Isaiah for me, for now.

"In returning and rest
you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence
shall be your strength."
(30:15)