Isaiah 61: The Story Line

Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth!
For the Lord has spoken:

Isaiah 1:2 (NKJV)

Alas, sinful nation,
A people laden with iniquity,
A brood of evildoers,
Children who are corrupters!
They have forsaken the Lord,
They have provoked to anger
The Holy One of Israel,
They have turned away backward.

Isaiah 1:4 (NKJV)

'Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Put away the evil of your doings from before My Eyes.
Cease to do evil,
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.'
'Come now, and let us reason together,' Says the Lord,
'Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land;
But if you refuse and rebel,
You shall be devoured by the sword;'
For the Mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Isaiah 1:16-20 (NKJV)

A storyline is 'the plan, scheme or main story of a literary or dramatic work' (Random House Dictionary).

The Bible tells the ultimate story: the story of our earth and its people, the story that tells us why we were born.

  • The Bible is global and personal: a wondrously real history lesson. It guides us now and reveals the future.

  • The Bible is the living Word of God. Supernaturally, His Word transforms the circumstances of our lives… and US!

  • The Bible is true on every level. No person can understand It fully. Earth’s wisest people must read it as babes.

God penned His Book through wise men and prophets. Isaiah is one! He lived 2800 years ago.*

He’s been called the 'Messianic Prophet,’ as well as the 'Shakespeare of the prophets’ and his Book a 'miniature Bible.' Consider:

The Bible consists of 66 books, as Isaiah has 66 chapters. In Isaiah's first 39 chapters (like the Old Testament’s 39 books), is God’s judgment for humanity’s sins. Isaiah's last 27 chapters, (like the Bible’s last 27 books: the New Testament!), REVIVE US with God’s messages of hope.

Isaiah speaks to present-day cultures… and certainly to America: Earth’s modern mecca of idolatry– and supposedly… Christianity.

Can these cross-purposes co-exist?

Isaiah 61: The Story Line (Part 1)

* Study of Isaiah: http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/isa.htm

* Interesting Facts about Isaiah: http://www.biblecharts.org/thebible/interestingfactsaboutisaiah.pdf

* What You Need to Know About the Book of Isaiah: http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1051&context=will_know

NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey ArbanComment