He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. – Isaiah 33:6

Today's Scripture Reading (May 27, 2026): Isaiah 33

We are probably about as close to the end of the Earth as we have ever been. The Doomsday Clock, a symbol of the likelihood of a human-made global disaster, is set to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to the midnight hour since its inception in 1947. Maybe the caveat here is that it is about a human-made disaster. The Doomsday Clock is not about the likelihood of a rogue comet hitting Earth, an event we have no control over. The Clock explores the danger the human race poses to the planet. War in the Middle East and in Europe, coupled with pollution and global warming, are represented in the evaluation that we are only 85 seconds away from a catastrophe. Maybe the biggest problem we have is that there aren't enough "stable geniuses" in charge of the nuclear powers. When we look at the people in charge of Russia, China, Israel, and even the United States, it isn't a huge leap to see one of them pushing the nuclear button in a bid to end an argument and feel like a winner, when the reality is that as soon as the button is pushed, the whole world is a loser. It is only within the last hundred years that we have had the ability to destroy the Earth. The farthest we have been from the midnight hour was seventeen minutes to midnight in 1991, in the wake of the fall of the Soviet Union; a time when the future looked positive for a majority of the planet's nations.

Our ability to destroy the Earth might be relatively new, but nations have recognized their own fragility since the beginning of human history. Empires have risen and fallen, maybe something that we need to be reminded of, and nations have been trampled in the process of the rule of the nations. In those moments of defeat, it has felt like the Doomsday Clock, on a smaller scale, was approaching, and even hitting, the midnight hour. Maybe this is an obvious statement, but one that we need to hear. No earthly empire has ever lasted forever. Every military power has an expiration date, and there are things that we can do to hasten or delay that moment. It is a message that I believe especially those of us who live in North America need to hear.

Isaiah is writing in one of those times. For the nation of Judah, the national Doomsday Clock is approaching midnight. Their sister nation, Israel, has been defeated and carried into captivity. Assyria has entered Judah's territory and, one by one, has defeated the cities of the Kingdom. Now the army is gathering around Jerusalem, seeking to defeat Judah.

Isaiah's message? Stay the course; God is still on the throne, and he can be the foundation that the nation needs. Ultimately, he is in charge of the Doomsday clock. And that is true when the Clock is set at seventeen minutes to midnight, and when it is set at just 85 seconds before the time of catastrophe.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 34

See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. – Isaiah 32:1

Today's Scripture Reading (May 26, 2026): Isaiah 32

In 2026, it is hard to listen to the news without worrying about the various conflicts on the world stage. As I write this post, one of the conflicts that worries me is in Iran. I don't think it is a good idea for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, although if I am brutally honest, I don't think it is healthy for anyone to possess a nuclear weapon. The possession of weapons that any unstable, or maybe even a stable, genius could use to destroy a civilization seems like a bad idea. But part of my struggle as the American-Iranian conflict continues is that one of its outcomes has been the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway on which several nations in the neighborhood depend. It seems that it was through this conflict that Iran discovered the power it has to close the Strait and the ways it can economically benefit from controlling the international waterway, something it wasn't sure of before the conflict began. That knowledge won't disappear after the war is over, and there is no telling how Iran might use its newfound knowledge. It is an unintended effect of the conflict that has changed the world in which we live.

Russia's war against Ukraine continues. Russia seems to want to act as a bully in the area, which is nothing new; history has had its share of bullies. And we still don't know how this conflict will end, except that we must not allow Russia to reunite the Soviet Union, especially by forcing smaller nations to follow a path they don't want to take.

We have mentioned several times that the bully on the world stage in this era of biblical writings remains Assyria. And there is no doubt that Isaiah is very aware of the danger presented by the Assyrians. But he also sees a future after Assyria. Part of that future involves the rise of a "Righteous King." Maybe it is too easy for us to see this passage as Messianic in nature, pointing to the coming of the righteous King Jesus and the justice that will emerge as a result of his rule. I would love to be able to assert that the church has fulfilled the prophecy of rulers who have come to spread justice, but the truth is that that hasn't happened, at least, not yet.

I do think that King Jesus is part of this prophecy, but there is a more immediate fulfillment: the reign of King Hezekiah. King Ahaz was not a good King, but his son, Hezekiah, would grow up to be one of the best Kings ever to rule the Kingdom of Judah. He would be a King worthy of the throne of his forefather, David. And Hezekiah would be the godly king that Judah would need to deal with Assyria, and the one who would show the nation a way back to God after the years of apostasy during the reign of his father, Ahaz.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 33

For in that day every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold your sinful hands have made. – Isaiah 31:7

Today's Scripture Reading (May 25, 2026): Isaiah 31

We believe what we believe. And often we twist the teachings of the Bible to suit our own desires and purposes. As countries continue to clash, I think every nation probably believes that God is with them and honors their actions. In the clash between the United States and Iran, it is not surprising that the United States believes that they are fighting in a just war. Others, including the Pope, aren't so sure. One professor I learned from during my seminary years declared that he didn't believe that there had ever been a "just war." It was an amazing statement, considering the wars fought in the last century, especially the one we call the "Second World War." If there was ever a "just war," that would have to be considered one of them. And yet, as the war was being fought, even Germany believed it was on the side of its God; this was what God wanted it to do.

The reason is that we often construct our gods in our own image, including in our Christian theology. We have divergent beliefs about the character of God because we have constructed him, or maybe her, to reflect the things we believe are important. It is this difference in the gods we have created that has resulted in the conflict between the Trump Government and the Catholic Church over the war in Iran. One side believes they are involved in a war of which God approves, and the other believes that God always stands on the side of peace.

Isaiah argues that the day will come when all of our descriptions of God will fall away, and we will be confronted by the real God. For Isaiah, those false gods were often constructed by talented people working with gold and silver, or even less precious materials. Today, we still have some of those gods around us, but we have also constructed false gods in our minds. We have even called those gods Yahweh or Jehovah, even though it is not the Yahweh of scripture but a god we have created out of the things we find important.

We might all be surprised on the day of our confrontation with God and find a God who is very different from the one we have built in our minds. But in the end, the god we have created with our hands or in our minds will fall away in the presence of the real God of the Universe. And we will reject the false gods we have created in the presence of the God who exists. And he, or she, will be all that matters in that moment.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 32

A prophecy concerning the animals of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lions and lionesses, of adders and darting snakes, the envoys carry their riches on donkeys' backs, their treasures on the humps of camels, to that unprofitable nation, to Egypt, whose help is utterly useless. Therefore I call her Rahab the Do-Nothing. – Isaiah 30:6-7

Today's Scripture Reading (May 24, 2026): Isaiah 30

It is a story I have heard in several different versions over the years. The story tells of a businessman who is told he will die that very night. In response to this news, the man decides to leave his home in Philadelphia and travel to Toronto, Canada. While on his way to the airport, he runs straight into the arms of Death himself. Death seems surprised to run into the man, so the man decides to continue his plan to run and go to a place where Death won't find him. He makes it to the airport and onto the plane. The man relaxes a little as the plane taxis toward the runway, believing that his plan has worked because Death is nowhere to be seen. The man arrives in Toronto, checks into his hotel, and then decides to enjoy the beautiful Canadian summer evening by walking to dinner. On his way to dinner, he runs straight into the waiting arms of Death.

The man concedes that Death has beaten him, but he has a question that needs an answer. "When I saw you this morning in Philadelphia, you seemed surprised," the man commented.

Death smiled and replied. "I was. I knew I had an appointment with you tonight in Toronto, so I wasn't expecting to see you in Philadelphia."

I am not sure what the moral of the story is supposed to be. Maybe it is as simple as you can't outrun Death. However, it also seems like a common thriller plot. The protagonists are warned about the killer among them. And so, they decide to run someplace else, only to run into the killer or maybe someone else who is just as dangerous.

Isaiah is speaking about the animals of the Negev. Today, the Negev consists of the Southernmost portion of Israel. It is a dry place where not much lives, but, more importantly, it is an area that must be crossed to reach Egypt. So, Isaiah mourns the pack animals of Judah. They will be forced to carry the riches of the people from Judah, across the dangerous Negev, in an attempt to get close to the safety of Egypt, but it will all be in vain. Isaiah calls Egypt "Rahab the Do-Nothing." Rahab is a name, but it is also the Hebrew word for "Pride." Isaiah's point is that Egypt is filled with pride over its position in the world, but running to them isn't going to help because they won't lift a finger to defend Israel in a conflict with Assyria.

But maybe more importantly, the rich of Judah are running from a nation that they fear is a danger to them, and right into the arms of someone who has shown that they are a danger to the nations in the area. Assyria is a danger, but so is Egypt, and only God has the answer to the dilemma that Judah faces.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 31

Be stunned and amazed, blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not from wine, stagger, but not from beer. – Isaiah 29:9

Today's Scripture Reading (May 23, 2026): Isaiah 29

From February 1692 until May 1693, the citizens of the Province of Massachusetts Bay endured a frightening period in their history. In the coastal town in Essex County, four young girls accused a few women of the town of causing them harm. The method these women used to harm the girls was not physical, but spiritual; the women were accused of causing harm to others through witchcraft. This accusation was the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials. It was a time when dreams were evidence, and circumstances could often make people believe that others were in league with the devil. The Witch Trials began with four girls, but it didn't stop there. What happened next became an example of mass hysteria as the accusation began to spread. Conflicts that happened between neighbors quickly escalated to accusations of witchcraft. Childhood pranks became evidence of a spreading evil that had infected the area. Those accused were often outcasts or people who were in some way different from the rest of society.

There is no doubt that many believed that witches were real and that the accused were evidence of Satan's army moving among the people. There is also no doubt that the hysteria was self-inflicted. The more people were accused of witchcraft, the more belief in witches seemed to take hold of the people in the area. In the end, more than two hundred people were accused, thirty were found guilty of witchcraft, nineteen people were executed by hanging, one died as a direct result of torture, and at least five people died in disease-ridden jails without a trial.   

One of the stories that sticks out for me is the tale of Reverend George Burroughs. Burroughs was accused of witchcraft and conspiring with the devil, although the real crime was that Burroughs was believed to be a closeted Baptist. The problem was that Burroughs had not taken communion or the Lord's Supper every Sunday, and only one of his children had been baptized. Even though no witches' mark had been found on his body, and the fact that he had emotionally prayed the Lord's Prayer, something that it was believed that no witch could do, Burroughs was found guilty and hanged on August 19, 1692. There is nothing in George Burroughs' actions that many pastors would not be guilty of today.

As Isaiah looks at Judah, he sees a people who had chosen to be blind. They were drunk, but not with drink or with the Spirit. They stumbled as a direct effect of a kind of hysteria. A lie had convinced them, and there was nothing that anyone could do to help them. Sometimes, I feel like Isaiah. As I interact with the culture around me, I am surrounded by people who have chosen to be blind and drunk. It is the same kind of hysteria that swept through the Province of Massachusetts almost three hundred and fifty years ago, and I am still "stunned and amazed." 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 30

See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong. Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind, like a driving rain and a flooding downpour, he will throw it forcefully to the ground. – Isaiah 28:2

Today's Scripture Reading (May 22, 2026): Isaiah 28

Tornado season has arrived. I live in the colder northern part of the world, which means that for a significant part of the year, tornadoes just aren't a worry. Blizzards, snow, and cold temperatures are the things we worry about during the winter months, and those are conditions under which tornadoes don't develop. In my part of the world, the first tornado of the "tornado season" usually occurs between late March and May. Usually, these tornadoes aren't very strong and cause very little damage. Dangerous tornadoes occur when the mercury rises and the days get hot. One of the worst tornadoes to hit this area happened on July 31, 1987. The tornado was rated F4 and stayed on the ground for just over an hour. Twenty-seven people died in the tornado, and it caused 332.27 million dollars in damage (the adjusted value in today's dollars is 796 million). I had a close friend who lived through the tornado. He was in an area destroyed by it, and he still remembers what sounded like a freight train rumbling through his neighborhood. Thirty years later, my friend still goes into a panic whenever he hears a tornado warning during the summer months. I don't blame him. I can't imagine what it was like to be that close to such a dangerous tornado.

Nature can have a powerful effect on our lives. Tornadoes and hurricanes are just the tip of the dangers nature poses to those of us living on Earth. Isaiah has seen some of the worst that nature can throw at an area. He speaks of hailstorms, something else that I see a lot of during the summer months, and destructive winds. Isaiah knows the power of driving rain and flooding that accompany various kinds of storms, which still afflict the Earth. Many of the worst storms are caused by an interaction between the hot and cold air currents. But the cause doesn't ease the damage these storms inflict on the people of the Earth.

Isaiah is speaking to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which he calls Ephraim. And he seems to be surprised by the pride of what he calls "Ephraim's drunkards." Ephraim has benefited from many things that might be considered an accident of nature, yet they seem to miss that God put them there. Some dangers are threatening Ephraim, but God is strong enough to handle the threats that are coming, if only the nation would trust him. And if they need proof, all they need to do is look at the power of nature. If God can destroy with a hailstorm or with the wind, if these natural processes are at his command, what more does Ephraim need to know? He has the power to protect, if only the people would trust.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 29

In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit. – Isaiah 27:6

Today's Scripture Reading (May 21, 2026): Isaiah 27

Isaiah has already written a song about a Vineyard in Isaiah 5. But this vineyard was not a good one. The owner had done everything the vineyard owner needed to do. The vineyard was planted on a fertile hillside. The rocks were cleared, and the field was planted with only the best vines. (Personal Note: Did you know a field grows rocks? I didn't until I was hired to pick rocks as a teen. And the next year, I was hired to clear the same field of rocks. Who knew that fields grow rocks?) Yet, when it came to getting fruit from the vineyard, the only fruit the vineyard produced was rotten and worthless.

In that "Song of the Vineyard," Isaiah invites the listener to judge between the vineyard and its owner. What would you do if you were the owner of the vineyard? Isaiah concludes that the only option is to destroy the vineyard.

Now I will tell you
    what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge,
    and it will be destroyed;
I will break down its wall,
    and it will be trampled.
I will make it a wasteland,
    neither pruned nor cultivated,
    and briers and thorns will grow there.
I will command the clouds
    not to rain on it (Isaiah 5:5-6).

Here, Isaiah is speaking of a different vineyard. This time, the vineyard takes root, and the vines bud and blossom. And rather than being overwhelmed with briers and thorns, the vines fill the world with their fruit. Experts admit that Isaiah here is speaking of the day of the Messiah. It is this day we still wait for.

The Messiah has come, and the fruit of the vineyard has spread throughout the world. We aren't perfect. Sometimes, I think that we are moving in the wrong direction, but Isaiah's words are still in force. Briers and thorns still infest the church, but if we trust the Vineyard Owner, those can be dealt with. And the joy and love of God can infect all the Earth, and in that day, I believe this world will be a much better place.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 28