Joy is not the only thing that has returned, so has Project 3:16.
We are skipping Song of Solomon (ESV) / Song of Songs (NIV) as verse 15 is the end of chapter three. Now onward to Isaiah, the first of the Prophetic Books.
Major Prophets
The major prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Ezekial could envision or see things normal people could not see. This reminds me of life today. There are those of us who see trouble in the here and now (high food and gas prices) but also based on the here and now, we can see potential challenges are on the horizon (food and gas shortages).
Isaiah’s Theme
Isaiah “reveals the full dimensions of God’s judgment and salvation.”, according to the NIV Introduction. The God who punishes but then redeems His people, Israel.
Israel is a nation blind and deaf. (6:9-10; 42:7)
NIV Introduction – 1985 version
An excellent example of God using Isaiah is verses 3:16 and 3:17
The Lord says,
“The women of Zion are haughty,
walking along with outstretched necks,
flirting with their eyes,
strutting along with swaying hips,
with ornaments jingling on their ankles.Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;
the Lord will make their scalps bald.”
Isaiah 3:16 – 17
God saw how the women were strutting their stuff and decided enough was enough. He used Isaiah to tell them of their sin and the consequences they would face. It was not just the daughters of Zion’s sins that got called out. Isaiah spends the first 5 chapters calling out all of Israel’s sins. That’s a lot of sin.
Will our country repent and ask forgiveness for there is no difference between the United States and the Israel Isaiah called out.
Imagine how much joy we would all experience if we repented and asked for forgiveness.
Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her widowhood adventures hoping to inspire widows to move through grief and rebuild their lives. Michele is the amateur photographer behind the blog OgleOhio.com.
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