Author: Norm

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 37:21-38 OBSERVATION: It is Sennacherib’s pride – taking credit for all his successes (24-25) – that was his downfall. It was God that ordained his victory… and his defeat (26). Sometimes kings would parade the defeated kings through city streets with hooks in their noses and bits in their mouths (29). Sennacherib will be…

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 37:1-20 OBSERVATION: God’s people are being punished for rejecting Him. Now they are in trouble and are repenting. Read Deuteronomy 30:1-10. Through Isaiah God declares that He will return and help them. God will not allow His Name to be dishonoured forever, He will punish those who defy Him (see Acts 12:19b-23).Hezekiah lays out the letter…

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 36:1-22 OBSERVATION: Events occur in 701 BC, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, besieges Jerusalem. Situation desperate (12). Interesting to hear God’s promise quoted by the Assyrian commander (15,18), and of course, he denies it. Hard for the Israelites to hear this taunting, yet to cling to God’s promise. Sennacherib tells his own version of this…

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 35:1-10 OBSERVATION: A vision of a better day, when God’s people will make it through the wilderness and reach the ultimate promised land. Prophecy given when Israel was oppressed by the Assyrians. It was a time of brutality, poverty, fear and violence. In many ways it was like the Darfur region today! Broader context…

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 33:1-24 OBSERVATION: Isaiah sees the eventual downfall of their Assyrian oppressors. The sinners (those who are cruel, oppressive) will be defeated while the righteous (those who do what is right and just) will be restored. Is this situation similar to how Europeans felt under Nazi oppressors. How the blacks felt during the civil rights…