Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Here we are toward the end of the Book of Deuteronomy. Moses is delivering his third and final discourse on the plain before handing over the reins to his successor Joshua so that the Israelites may enter the Promised Land. These are Moses’ final instructions to the people he has guided and instructed…

Isaiah 58:2-9a, (9b-12) God wants something more for us. God calls the prophet to point out the futility of fasting, worship, religion that does not make a difference in the current world. The idea of humbling ourselves is not to call God to pay attention to our posture: “Why do we fast, but you do…

Isaiah 9:1-4 The Assyrians had conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, including the regions of Zebulon and Naphtali. As God’s covenant people and recipients of his special favor and protection, there could be no explanation for this utter catastrophe except that God was punishing them for their lack of faithfulness to him and his covenant….

Isaiah 49:1-7 In this passage the author answers three important questions: What is the nature of the servant’s origin? What is the nature of the servant’s work? And who are the benefactors of the servant’s work? First, the nature of the servant’s origin is identified. According to the text, before birth, the servant has an…

Isaiah 42:1-9 “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet.” Arguably, Juliet’s words about Romeo in the famous balcony scene from Shakespeare’s play are among the most frequently quoted in Western culture. She speaks aloud, unaware that he is below in the garden, listening….