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Hey Reading Community,
Last week was a big week in the reading plan. The watershed moment for the Hebrew people came to pass as Jerusalem was destroyed and hauled off into exile at the end of 2 Kings. However, the biblical story didn’t end there.
You also read Isaiah 1-17, which exposed you to the first prophetic literature expressed through, mostly, poetry. Isaiah 1-12 told us about the judgment that was brought against Israel some 150 years earlier with their northern neighbor, Assyria; it provides us with hope in a holy seed that might grow from the remnants of the nation and its leader in the future. Chapters 13-17 are a poetic reflection on God’s justice and indictment against not just Assyria, but Babylon and all of Israel’s corrupt neighbors.
The whole region was in rebellion against God. This week, chapters 18-24 will continue this poetic reflection, while the rest of the week’s readings will turn attention back to Jerusalem and its own downfall.
Onwards!
Jon, Tim, & The Bible Project Crew
P.S. Want to dive deeper? Start with our blog on Biblical Theology. This week, we take a look at Isaiah and the Messianic King |
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Chapter 8
the prophets before the exile |
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Week 17
Summary |
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On day two of this week, you’ll read through a poetic illustration of two archetypal cities (23-27); the lofty city which, much like Babylon and Egypt in other books, represents a corrupt and immoral city that has delusionally elevated itself above God and has to be brought low. This is contrasted against the “New Jerusalem” that will replace the lofty city after it has been destroyed.
However, this is immediately followed up with a realistic picture of the “current” Jerusalem, which is run by corrupt leaders making terrible decisions and heading straight for destruction (28-35). Even King Hezekiah, who has a brief opportunity to shine by relying on God to deliver him from the Assyrians, cannot seem to consistently trust God. They turn to their neighbors for safety, provision, and deliverance, leading to Jerusalem's fall and the exile (36-40).
Chapters 41-44 open us up into the second half of Isaiah, transports us 150 years into the future (post-exile), and further explores the hope Isaiah was pointing to in the first half of the book. |
| Hungry to Read Ahead? |
| Next week we will be finishing the Book of Isaiah. |
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