the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 3 of 5
Isaiah 8:1-22
Two characters, two great subjects dominate the whole prophecy of Isaiah:the first, infinitely precious and comforting, is the Messiah Himself.The other on the contrary arouses terror: it is the Assyrian, the powerful enemy of Israel in the last days.Because the people have rejected the first, they will have to do with the second. Because they have refused the waters of grace of the One who was sent to them (Siloam means "sent": John 9:7), they are going to be submerged in judgment by the "strong and many" waters of the formidable king of Assyria. Nevertheless, remembering that the land of Immanuel is involved, God will finally crush those who form a coalition to invade it. This v. 9 also reminds us what fate soon awaits the groups of nations who are very much in the news today (Isaiah 54:15).
In order to hold on to the main thread in these prophetic words, do not forget that they sometimes concern the rebellious, apostate nation as a whole (vv. 11, 14, 15, 19 . . .) and sometimes the faithful remnant whom the Spirit also addresses here.
The quotation of v. 18 in Hebrews 2:13 allows us to see in the prophet and his sons (Isaiah 7:3; Isaiah 8:1) Christ appearing before God with His "disciples" (v. 16). He is not ashamed to acknowledge them and call them His brethren (see John 17:6; John 20:17).
