Day Forty-Nine -- The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem . . .

Isaiah 1:1 to Isaiah 13:22

This is going to be an adventure, not only because Isaiah kicks off our reading of the Hebrew prophets, but because as we read this book we will be challenged to remember all that was going on in the kingdoms of Judah and Israel.  Oh, yeah, all those kings, most of whom "did evil in the eyes of the LORD" and opened the door to being conquered by the Assyrians and Babylonians.  Isaiah prophesied during this period, mostly in Jerusalem, proclaiming the LORD's judgment on a people who forgot the ways and commandments of God.  His words were not entirely without hope.  In chapter two, Isaiah saw a vision of the last days when "the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the nations, and all nations will stream to it."  It will be there that God will "judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.  They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore."

In the meantime, however, things will not be so wondrous.  There will be a price to pay for disobedience, and when God does act to restore the remnant of the people to the land there will be changes: "in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles" (Chapter 9:1).  Wait, did I hear that right? The Gentiles?  This whole journey with God just has one surprise after another.