Then the king of Assyria sent his field commander with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. – Isaiah 36:2a Today's Scripture Reading (April 14, 2023): Isaiah 36

Today's Scripture Reading (April 14, 2023): Isaiah 36

There was a day when Kings went out to war with their troops. They were armed, and while the King was often positioned at the back of the battle formation, the King's purpose on the battlefield was to send out their commands to the soldiers under their control in real time. King David is often criticized at the beginning of the Bathsheba saga for not being with his troops when they went to war. The warrior King stayed home and sent his commander, Joab, to fight against the Ammonites. Because he was home, he was tempted by the beauty of Bathsheba, something that wouldn't have happened if he had been out in the field, fighting with his men.

The Book of Kings clarifies that King Sennacherib accompanied his men onto the battlefield in Judah. "In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them" (2 Kings 18:13). What is less clear is if Sennacherib went to Jerusalem for the siege of Judah's capital city. In fact, it appears he didn't, at least not at the beginning of the blockade against the Judean capital. Isaiah says that as the siege begins, Sennacherib decides to send a field commander with a large army instead of going himself. Maybe Sennacherib understood that the blockade would be long, and he didn't need to be there for all of it. Or maybe Sennacherib had more pressing duties elsewhere.

Whatever the reason, Sennacherib stayed behind, maybe in Lachish. Lachish was an important city thirty miles southwest of Jerusalem. During the First-Temple period, Lachish was Judah's second most important city, second only to Jerusalem. Because of its importance, it appears that Sennacherib had left Lachish to the end of his conquest of the area, defeating the city just before he turned the totality of his military strength on the Judean capital.

Archaeologists have discovered a pit that dates back to the attack of Lachish by Sennacherib. The pit was filled with 1,500 casualties of the attack. They also found a carving detailing how the Assyrians laid siege to the city.

The Siege of Lachish became the launching ground for the attack on Jerusalem. Although this time, Sennacherib was not there to witness the siege. Either he was busy cleaning up in Lachish, or he was called back to Nineveh to deal with problems in the Empire. Wherever Sennacherib was, Lachish was the last victory that Assyria would experience in Judah. Jerusalem would be put under siege, but it would not fall, at least not to Assyria.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 37

 

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way. – Isaiah 35:3

Today's Scripture Reading (April 13, 2023): Isaiah 35

I have begun to watch a little more baseball in the last couple of years. I admit that I am a bit of a fair-weather baseball fan. I am a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays; I tend to watch more games when the Jays are winning than I do when they are losing. I am not a bandwagon guy; the Blue Jays are always my team, I am not about to cheer for another team just because the Blue Jays have a lousy team, but my love of the Blue Jays is more often reflected by the time that I am willing to spend watching them when they are playing well.

So as the 2023 season begins, I am interested in getting to know some of the players featured on this MLB Team. And one of them is starting pitcher Alex Manoah. Manoah seems to have had a bit of a unique upbringing. Specifically, Manoah had a tricky relationship with his father, Erik Manoah Sr. When Alex and his brother were young, Dad didn't seem to understand how to handle kids. He was a bit of a disciplinarian, putting pressure on his kids that the children didn't deserve. Dad would sometimes offer his sons a hundred dollars if they could go three for three in batting during a game, but if they could not get a hit in their Little League game, they were sometimes penalized by having to skip the evening meal.

Erik Senior put a lot of pressure on his children to perform well on the diamond, creating more stress than any child should have had to endure. Later in life, Dad's expectations caused a rift between Dad and his sons, as well as Dad and his wife. Today, all sides are trying to repair the damage as Dad recognizes his mistakes in bringing up his sons. But, while some children might have wilted under the pressure, Alex and his older brother Erik blossomed. The ball diamond became an oasis for the kids and a place to which they could escape when the pressure at home became too great.

The author of Hebrews challenges the book's readers to endure hardship as a discipline from God. After all, every loving father disciplines his children. The problem in the Alex Manoah story is that he suffered through an extreme form of discipline, not that there shouldn't have been discipline within the family unit. Discipline must consistently be correctly implemented on right things. But whatever you might think about the Manoah story, it did strengthen him. The author of Hebrews then says that our earthly fathers

… disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:10-11).

But then Hebrews quotes Isaiah 35:3. "Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees (Hebrews 12:12). Stay in the game. Don't let the hardship of life take you out. Let it strengthen you. And recognize that if the hardship is from God, then your God, who is a good Father, will also come and save you.

But if we don't stay strong, none of that will matter.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 36

Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it! – Isaiah 34:1

Today's Scripture Reading (April 12, 2023): Isaiah 34

On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere made his famous midnight ride. According to folklore, Revere rode through the countryside yelling, "The British are coming! The British are coming!" At least, that is the way we remember it now. But the truth is different. Yes, the ride happened. But the truth is that Revere wouldn't have wanted to yell, "The British are coming," because most of the people who heard the message would have been ethnically English and therefore considered themselves British. There were also many British patrols in the area.

Eyewitnesses reported that the phrase used was "The Regulars are coming out," indicating that the standing British army was on the move. Was it yelled? Maybe, but it would have been more likely passed from person to person in an effort to ready the defensive troops without letting the British regulars realize that they were prepared for the attack. There is a sense that Paul Revere's message would have been a bit of a secret message. In fact, rather than a shouted warning, part of the story was that Revere's message was passed with a secret lantern signal, not a shout. Part of our problem is that "The regulars are coming out" doesn't roll off the tongue like "The British are coming" does. 

But whatever the phrasing of the message might have been, and however the message might have been delivered, Paul Revere's ride was an essential moment in the history of the United States. And the message, which preceded the first engagement of British and American armies, was one of the reasons that the Colonies were victorious in their subsequent battles.

In contrast to Paul Revere's ride, Isaiah's message is an open invitation to everyone. Isaiah wants the nations to hear the message. Like Paul Revere's message, it was essential to everyone, regardless of whether they lived in the country or the city or whether they were Judean, Assyrian, or Chaldean. Unlike Paul Revere's message, this was intended for everyone to hear. Isaiah's message had a worldwide importance attached to it.

Isaiah's message was also phrased in the language of the law courts. Not only was the message important, but the prophecy was part of man's legal standing before God. Therefore, "come near" is an imperative; the judge has called the accused into his presence; he has something to say that all of his creation needs to hear.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 35

LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. – Isaiah 33:2

Today's Scripture Reading (April 11, 2023): Isaiah 33

Grace. It is the one thing we all need, but it is sometimes unavailable. I have spoken against this siloed society in which we live. There is an expectation that everyone we meet, and maybe especially everyone we worship with, will believe precisely as we do, even in the minor things. And if they don't, we often shun them, trying to force the person into a belief that matches ours. It is maybe especially prevalent among our spiritual leaders. Nostalgically, I wonder if there was ever a time when our spiritual leaders were allowed or even expected to challenge our beliefs, to truly lead us in "paths of righteousness," and not just expect us to conform to what they already believe. Was there ever a time that a leader could lead us to consider that maybe we are wrong in some of what we believe? That is probably just misguided nostalgia, something that never existed although we wish it did.

I do not believe I get it all when it comes to God. There are places where I am unsure of what I should believe or not believe. I often find myself returning to dwell on what I do know and believe. And chief among those things is that God is love and that the world will see that we belong to him because of the presence of love in our lives. For everything else, I am willing to depend on the grace of God.

Isaiah breathes a prayer as he continues to prophesy to Judah and Jerusalem. And there is a reality that so much of what is about to happen is beyond him. He needs to depend on the grace of God. And so he prays, "Lord, be gracious to us." Extend to us your grace. Be our strength in the morning when we rise from our beds, as well as in the evening when we succumb to sleep. And when trouble comes, save us? We understand that what we really need is you.

For Isaiah, he understood that the threat from which he needed God to deliver him was the presence of the Assyrians. For us, it is something else. But regardless of the danger, every day, when we rise, we recognize our need for God, and every night when we retire to sleep, we ask God to carry us through the night. He is all that we need or will ever need. And when danger comes and we are in distress, we know that the one who is with us when we get up and when we lie down will be our salvation and save us from whatever it is that the enemy might bring.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 34

Personal Note: Happy Birthday to my Sister, Cheri.

In little more than a year you who feel secure will tremble; the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come. – Isaiah 32:10

Today's Scripture Reading (April 10, 2023): Isaiah 32

The truth is that most of us who live in North America feel reasonably secure in our lives. There is little danger of invasion by a foreign country. However, the countries of North America continue to be invaded by the homeless migrants that inhabit Central America to our south. We don't go to bed at night wondering if the United States might invade Canada during the night or if Canada or Mexico might invade the United States. And so, we often get complacent. As Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, or as China continues to eye a possible invasion of Taiwan, one of the most crucial conversations that are taking place around me is, "Why should I care?"

Interestingly, the same conversation occurred in the United States during World War II's early days. The European War was taking place a long way away, and many people couldn't figure out why they should care, let alone why they should send their sons and daughters to Europe to fight in this European conflict. But then Japan bombed Pear Harbor, Hawaii. At the time, Hawaii was a territory, not a state. And it was still 3,200 km (2000 miles) from the mainland of the United States. But it was an escalation, and even the distance couldn't mask the reality that the war had come home. The next day, the United States joined their neighbor, Canada, in fighting in the European conflict. Japan had intended the bombing of Pearl Harbor to be a punch in the nose to the United States, reinforcing the need for the United States to stay on the sideline. But the attack had the opposite effect.

This prophecy of Isaiah is generally dated to somewhere around 705 B.C.E. The northern Kingdom of Israel had fallen to Assyria a decade and a half earlier, and other nations of the Levant had also folded under the threat of the Assyrians. But Judah had been spared. Isaiah looks at the people of Jerusalem, especially the women, and senses a feeling of complacency and belief that the threat of Assyria would never reach them; they were secure.

Isaiah prophecies that the time was coming when that complacency would be tested. Isaiah says that the threat would become real in a little more than a year. The women of Judah would tremble; the grape harvest would fail, and other agricultural produce would not come to harvest. It was hard for the people in Judah to imagine, but Isaiah was sure.

A little over a year after Isaiah spoke these words, Assyria turned its attention toward Judah. The Assyrians invaded the rural areas, defeating the cities and towns and destroying any chance for a Judean harvest. And finally, in 701 B.C.E., Assyria turned its attention to Jerusalem, laying the city under siege. It was a time when the women of Jerusalem would tremble as their complacency fled. Trouble had come home, and no one could pretend it wasn't happening. Finally, no one could pretend that the threat of the Assyrian Empire had nothing to do with them.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 33

This is what the LORD says to me: "As a lion growls, a great lion over its prey— and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against it, it is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor—so the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights. – Isaiah 31:4

Today's Scripture Reading (April 9, 2023): Isaiah 31

If you have ever tried to scare an animal away from something, you know there are a few different responses. I live in an area where several wild animals might be encountered if you are out for a stroll or a bike ride. Maybe one of the more common ones is a hare. Hares are fascinating animals, and there are significant differences between them and rabbits. I know of an area in the same city just south of where I live, populated with wild rabbits. Rabbits can be a bit skittish. If you chase after them, they will likely run away and disappear entirely from your sight. But a hare is a little more willing to stand its ground. It will run, but just far enough to stay away from you.

Geese are different. One park I like to ride through is populated with geese, and as I ride past them, I hope that they will just ignore me, keep going about their business, and let me go about mine. But sometimes, the geese are unwilling to let me ride peacefully by. Sometimes, as you draw near to them, they decide that it is time to chase you away from the area. Yell, scream, and try to intimidate them as you might; they are unmoved. You are moving through their territory, and they let you know that they are not afraid of you, and you should be afraid of them.

God speaks through Isaiah and lets Judah know he is willing to fight for Jerusalem if they will trust him. God is not a rabbit or even a hare. He does not get scared just because someone is yelling at him and waving their arms. Like a lion in the pasture, he doesn't care if a whole band of shepherds is waving their staffs and shouting, trying to scare him off. A lion might be content to ignore the shepherds unless they get too close, and the lions decide that you are a problem with which they have to deal. Then, the lion will attack. Similarly, God roams Mount Zion, ignoring all the enemies of Judah who are screaming to get his attention but willing to attack if those adversaries get too close.

However, he will not force his protection on the people. He is willing to protect, but if the people would rather live under the protection and oppression of Egypt, then he will step aside. The choice belongs to the people, and Isaiah hopes that Judah will understand that and make the choice that will set them in the best place to move into the future that God has for them; Isaiah hopes that they will choose God.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 32

… who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh's protection, to Egypt's shade for refuge. – Isaiah 30:2

Today's Scripture Reading (April 8, 2023): Isaiah 30

Every time I write the word "slavery," my computer rebels against me and asks if that is really the word that I want to use. My computer suggests that I replace the word "slavery" with the phrase "enslaved people," although I admit that I am not sure the change makes the sentence much better. But I struggle with the idea that one person could think it is right to own another person. I know people have been enslaved on this planet since the beginning of our time here, but it just doesn't make sense that anyone could think that that was okay. And yet I also know that people have defended the institution of slavery throughout history, even if I struggle with understanding how that could be true. I also don't see why any of us would think that one person is better than other due to the color of our skin.

So, it amazed me that a group of High School students in Missouri in 2021 decided to post a petition to return the area, and maybe the nation, to the institution of slavery. Some students thought the petition was some sick joke, but it wasn't. These privileged white kids decided that they wanted the world to know that they "hated blacks" and "loved slavery." Something inside of me hopes that they were just trying to be combative, and someday they will realize how wrong just speaking those words is and that they will regret this moment of their youths, just as I regret some moments of mine.

But even worse would be if the enslaved person returned to the enslaver to become enslaved once more. It is almost unthinkable. Almost.

God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. Maybe that should have been enough for Israel never to want to return to the North East African nation, but in case of some misunderstanding, Moses stresses this point in his final messages to Israel. "The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, "You are not to go back that way again" (Deuteronomy 17:16). If you are thinking of going back to Egypt for whatever purpose, just don't do it.

Isaiah's prophecy continues, and the prophet centers his focus on Judah. His concern is that Judah is showing a tendency to want to run to the Pharaohs of Egypt for protection. And God is amazed. The people of Judah are more willing to trust the ones who once enslaved them than to put their trust in the God who delivered them from that slavery. They were ready to voluntarily walk back into the very place from which they had been delivered, trying to seek refuge from their former enslavers.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Isaiah 31