In my devotional times this week, I’ve been in the book of Isaiah. It is an amazing book covering a variety of subjects, but there are some recurrent themes that strike me as I have been reading it:

1. God’s judgment on sinful nations and also on His own sinful people, Israel. Sometimes God uses wicked nations to judge Israel, and sometimes He uses Israel to judge the wicked nations. But ultimately He is the one doling out the consequences for sin.
2. In the midst of judgment, there is a glimmer of hope. Isaiah offers many prophecies of the son of a virgin, Immanuel (7:14), a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace (9:6-7), a branch from the stump of Jesse who will have the Spirit upon him (11:1-5) (cf. Suffering Servant Is.53). He reminds us that God longs to be gracious to us and show mercy (30:18), even when His people have good actions but their hearts are far from Him (29:13-14). God will bring His people back to Himself (35:8-10; 51:11) leading to joy and peace.
3. Another theme I noticed is that God’s people are created for His glory (43:7,21) and He will not share His glory with another (45:5-7, 21-23; 46:8-9). He will defend His own glory so His name is not profaned (48:9-11). He is infinitely above us, sovereign over all (55:6-9).
4. For those who seek and follow the Lord, trusting in Him, there is great blessing, and the Lord’s steadfast love remains on them (26:3; 40:1-2; 41:10; 62:11-12). For the one who is humble before the Lord (66:2), there is the promise of a glorious eternal future with the Lord (66:22-23).

The sovereign, gracious, holy, just, faithful Lord runs through every page of Isaiah, and I have been challenged again to humbly bow in worship before Him, for He is worthy.