Amens: Isaiah

Takeaways from The Message translation of Isaiah. Oh my word.  This book could also be called, "Laying it DOWN."

• Isaiah 1:12,13,14 - When you come before me, whoever gave you the idea of acting like this, Running here and there, doing this and that - all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship?  Quit your worship charades.  I can't stand your trivial religious games: Monthly sacrifices, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings - meetings, meetings, meetings - I can't stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that, I hate them! You've worn me out! I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion while you go right on sinning.

• Isaiah 30:15 - God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel:  "Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves.  Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me - The very thing you've been unwilling to do."

• Isaiah 42: 8,9 - I am GOD.  That's my name.  I don't franchise my glory, don't endorse the no-god idols.  Take note:  The earlier predictions of judgment have been fulfilled, I'm announcing the new salvation work.  Before it bursts on the scene, I'm telling you all about it.

• Isaiah 43:13 - "Yes, I am God.  I've always been God and I always will be God.  No one can take anything from me.  I make; who can unmake it?"  (I also love the NKJV as well.  "...I am God.  Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of my hand; I work, and who will reverse it?")

• Isaiah 43:21 - ...a people custom-made to praise me.

• Isaiah 43:25 - But I, yes I, am the one who takes care of your sins - that's what I do.  I don't keep a list of your sins.

• Isaiah 45:6,7 - "...I have no god-rivals.  I am GOD, the only God there is.  I form light and create darkness, I make harmonies and create discords.  I, GOD, do all these things.  Open up, heavens, and rain. Clouds, pour out buckets of my goodness!  Loosen up, earth, and bloom salvation; sprout right living.  I, GOD, generate all this."

• Isaiah 45:21-25 - Who told you, and a long time ago, what's going on here?  Who made sense of things for you?  Wasn't I the one? God? It had to be me, I'm the only God there is - The only God who does things right and knows how to help.  So turn to me and be helped - saved! - everyone, whoever and wherever you are.  I am GOD, the only God there is, the one and only. I promise in my own name:  Every word out of my mouth does what it says.  I never take back what I say.  Everyone is going to end up kneeling before me.  Everyone is going to end up saying of me, 'Yes!  Salvation and strength are in GOD!'"  All who have raged against him will be brought before him, disgraced by their unbelief.  And all who are connected with Israel will have a robust, praising, good life in GOD!

• Isaiah 46:5 - So to whom will you compare me, the Incomparable?  Can you picture me without reducing me?

• Isaiah 46:11,12,13 - I've said it, and I'll most certainly do it.  I've planned it, so it's good as done.  Now listen to me:  You're a hardheaded bunch and hard to help.  I'm ready to help you right now.  Deliverance is not a long-range plan.  Salvation isn't on hold.  I'm putting salvation to work in Zion now, and glory in Israel.

• Isaiah 51:4,5,6 - Pay attention, my people.  Listen to me, nations.  Revelation flows from me.  My decisions light up the world.  My deliverance arrives on the run, my salvation right on time.  I'll bring justice to the peoples.  Even faraway islands will look to me and take hope in my saving power.  Look up at the skies, ponder the earth under your feet.  The skies will fade out like smoke, the earth will wear out like work pants, and the people will die off like flies.  But my salvation will last forever, my setting-things-right will never be obsolete.

• Isaiah 66:1,2 - GOD's Message:  "Heaven is my throne, earth is my footstool.  What sort of house could you build for me?  What holiday spot reserve for me?  I made all this!  I own all this!"  GOD's Decree.  "But there is something I'm looking for:  a person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say."

Oh my word, our GOD is amazing.  Amazing in power, in love, in patience, in mercy.  Oh my word. How lucky are we?