Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 8

ISAIAH 

CHAPTER 

8

1. Then the LORD said to me, 'Take a large tablet and write on it in common characters, "Belonging to Maher-shalal-hashbaz" 2. and have it attested for me by reliable witnesses, the priest Uriah and Zechariah son of Jebnerchiah.

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 8 verses 1 to 2)

Oh God my Father as You did in the case of the sign that was given that referred to Your birth in the case that the woman shall bear a son and call him 'Immanuel' , now You are referring to another son who is going to be born and also witnessed by prominent people such as the prophets, however in contrast to Your birth which was to bring unity, this birth was to be a sign of pending doom, marking the invasion of the King of Assyria upon Your people.

Oh God as You showed me many times, we are sign posts for each other. You permitted us to be born in a specific period in the life of the world not by chance, but for a particular reason. For instance, Pope Francesco was made Pope at a critical time in our life, when we really need inspiration and a boost in our faith, especially when considering the pending doom of the forces of evil that are becoming stronger by each passing day. Even in our lives, God created me and you the reader for a special reason, and it is our duty to pray to God, to reveal to us this special reason. Amen.


3. And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LO?RD said to me, Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz; 4. for before the child knows how to call "My father" or "My mother,"the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria.

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 8 verses 3 to 4)


Oh God, You are faithful in Your ways. In order to give us signs by which to lead our lives, You perform acts such as that of the two prophets, whose lives were dedicated to You, to have intercourse and bear a child that had been based according to the previous prophecy.  Although we may show a lack of agreement with such acts, when interpreting them according to Your will they make a lot of sense. When priests abuse children and have unfaithful relations with women, this is a reflection of an unfaithful, society that is also abusive of minors and being unfaithful in marriage and other areas of life. The priests are prophets of our times, reflecting a reality that is happening under our very noses.


5. The LORD spoke to me again: 6. Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and melt in fear before Rezin and the son of Remaliah; 7. therefore, the Lord is bringing up against it the mighty flood waters of the River, the king of Assyria and all his glory; it will rise above all its channels and overflow all its banks; 8. it will sweep on into Judah as a flood, and, pouring over, it will reach up to the neck; and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 8 verses 5 to 8)


Oh God when we refuse You in our lives, we are liable to face the consequences of our actions. When considering that we are part of society, our actions both good and bad may have consequences on more than one person. Even though You love us oh God, others may feel threatened, hurt or angry at us and react against us as in the case of the King of Assyria.


9. Band together, you peoples, and be dismayed; listen, all you far countries; gird yourselves and be dismayed; gird yourselves and be dismayed!

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 8 verse 9)


Today oh God You are saying the same thing to us. As a universal nation, You are calling us to humble ourselves and repent. There might not be time left. You want to welcome us into Your arms oh God my Father. Please, world do not miss out on this offer turn away, from your ways and seek repentance and reconciliation with God. As a sinner who is also in need of repentance in the name of all people, I raise this prayer oh God. Amen.


10. Take counsel together, but it shall be brought to naught; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.


(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 8 verse 10)


Oh God when we seek our own counsel or that of our friends or people in the major professions instead or in addition with that of Yours and Your divine message, our counsel will truly stand to nothing, however if we face the world with Your Spirit and attitude, our perception of You and the world will be more positive, Moreover, if by discernment we realise Your will in all situations our life will be more positive and holy.


11. For the LORD spoke thus to me while his hand was strong upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12. Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what it fears, or be in dread.

(Book of Prophets Chapter 8 verses 11 to 12)


Oh God my Father today years after You are still asking or ordering us in love not to follow the ways of the world and its values which are totally different from Your values which are more positive and free from delusion and sin. The world promises comfort in riches and fame which often leads its followers to an empty life which may result in depression leading to suicide.


13. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall regard as holy; let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14. He will become a sanctuary, a stone one strikes against; for both houses of Israel he will become a rock one stumbles over-a trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15. And many among them shall stumble; they shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.

(Book of Prophets Chapter 8 verses 13 to 15)


Oh God my Fathe, for those who seek You in faith and humility, You are their security and refuge, however for those who are against You, they will find You as a stumbling block in their sinful ways on which they will fall and be harmed.


16. Bind up the testimony, seal the teaching among my disciples. 17. I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.

(Book of Prophets Chapter 8 verses 16 to 17)


Oh God my Father ever since the time of the Prophet Isaiah through these people You ordered that Your verbal messages be written and documented. This alone is enough evidence to show that Your message is inspired by You, Holy and Divine and is not the fruit of intelligence. However oh God, Your message as found in the Bible is a living message that is to be sealed and applied among us believers and not only sealed as in book- binding. The glue that keeps the pages together is Your love and power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.


18. See, I and the children whom the LORD of hosts has given me are signs  and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.  19. Now if people say to you, "Consult the ghosts and the familiar spirits that chirp and mutter; should not a people consult their gods, the dead on behalf of the living, 20. for teaching and for instruction?" surely those who speak like this will have no dawn!

(Book of Prophets Chapter 8 verses 18 to 20)



Oh God on the same line of thought as the prophet, the reasoning holds, that if those of us communicate with spirits who are themselves in need of help as in prayers of intercession for the salvation of their souls from the fires of hell, as Christians it is proper for us to worship the one and only living God, who loves and cares for us, and who can help us in all areas of our lives!



21. They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry; when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will curse their king and their gods. They will turn their faces upward, 22. or they will look to the earth, but will see only distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they will be thrust into thick darkness.

(Book of Prophets Chapter 8 verses 21 to 22) 


Oh God, when we have neglected You and Your ways we end up deeply distressed and maybe even deeply depressed, for neither the world or our idols can bring us the much-needed peace love and care that You can give us. When being in such situations we are already experiencing the feelings of being in hell even though we may be still living or existing on earth.


Oh God my Father I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:


Oh God, I pray for those of us who are feeling lonely and depressed. I also pray for those who have willfully decided to be the Gods of their own life. They experience no fulfillment, for it is only from You that we can find our fulfillment love and care. I  also wish to include in my prayers those who have felt so on the edge of their lives, that they sought the help of Satan either directly or by means of mediums, uiga boards, fortune tellers and other negative means. I pray for their healing from the bondage of evil. Have mercy oh God and lead them with their heads raised high over their situations of bondage and depression Amen.

Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 7

ISAIAH 

CHAPTER 

7

1. In the days of Ahaz son of Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah Of Israel went up to attack Jerusalem but could not mount an attack against it.

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 7 verse 1)

Oh God it seems that Your people were totally divided among themselves. They made for themselves worldly kings who were doing more harm than good to the people as You had told the prophet Hosea that they would carry the burdens of their kings who would rule over them.  During our times 2016 we are also to be aware of whom we elect as rulers, for not all rulers have the values of the Roman Catholic Church and as a consequence as we are witnessing laws may be passed that go against Your will my God. However as in the case of the history of the Church even though the forces of evil tried to bring it down, not even the Nazis succeeded because You have promised to lay Your protection on it and it has survived throughout the years. For this I greatly thank You my God and my Father.

2. When the house of David heard that Aram had allied itself with Ephraim the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 7 verse 2)

Oh God what was once a united tribe coming out of Egypt with heads held high because You had spread Your hand and manifested Your power and love, now degenerated into a fragmented mention, fighting against each other and causing fear to be experienced in their hearts. Oh God when we remove You and Your presence from our hearts we end up at war with others and even with our selves because we lose the peace of Your Divine presence.

3. Then the LORD said to Isaiah, Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jasub at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Fuller's Field, 4. and say to him, Take heed, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah.

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 7 verses 3 to 4)

Oh God my Father many times both online and offline I meet people who are in need of You and Your Word of consolation or enlightenment. I thank You for these moments of prayer and growth for by means, of the messages that You give me, I can be of help to others. On the other hand at times such people act as beacons of light for me and also provide me with important insights on many levels of thought both spiritual and even social and psychological. Without their knowing they are pawns in Your hands for the purpose of passing on to me a particular message. I thank You oh God for sending such people in my life.

5. Because Aram-with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah-has plotted evil against you, saying, 6. Let us go up against Judah and cut off Jerusalem and conquer it for ourselves and make the son of Tabeel king in it;

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 7 verses 5 to 6)

Oh God You are wisdom itself. You are aware of what is happening behind the scenes and what is not yet known to us. Therefore You can guide us throughout the crooked paths of this life and help us to end our trip victoriously and overcome the traps of those who try to harm us. With You on our side my God and Father I am able to face the strongest of enemies even though in might and power the enemy may be greater. However, You are my shield and my over comer, tower of refuge and fortress forever amen.

7. therefore thus says the Lord God; It shall not stand and it shall not come to pass

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 7 verse 7)

Oh  God my Father as humans we make many plans, however not all may be according to Your will and plan for our salvation. There are moments when You make alterations in them for our own good that may not always match with our agendas. I wanted to help others by becoming, a social worker, this was my original plan however unconsciously my agenda was that of showing members of my family who had been degrading me since I was a child that I could succeed in life. In this sense You helped me oh God and I graduated and worked for some time, however when this goal had been reached  in order to protect me and maybe even humble me, You did not permit me to work in this profession any more. However I still thank You my God, for now You have given me the opportunity if sharing my prayers to You with others, which otherwise I would not have had the time or opportunity. Thank You Jesus. Indeed my plans are not always You plans but I love both You and the changes that You make on my behalf and even that of my family.

8. For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. (Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered, no longer a people.) 9. The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand in faith, You shall not stand at all.

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 7 verses 8 to 9)

Oh God as You well know evil has many heads, and that negative forces are in some way related even within ourselves. We all have triggers that cause us to lose control over ourselves such as those things that make us become angry. Therefore, in order to establish a balance within ourselves, we are to become more self-aware  and analyze those triggers and do our best with the help of God to take care of them before they take care of us.

10. Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11. Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12. But Ahaz said I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 7 verses 10 to 12)

Oh God if I was Ahaz, I think that I would also not want to put You to the test. In order for me to believe, I need not see signs and wonders. My faith and love for You is enough for me my God and Father.

13. Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also?

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 7 verse 13)

Oh God I imagine how much we weary You. All the time You wish us to be happy, and many times we make the wrong decisions that make us feel more unhappy than ever. Our greatest happiness is in being with You, for only in Your presence can we ever feel fulfilled. However, as humans, we try to find our happiness in things of the world that give us only momentary happiness.

14. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel. 15. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse evil and choose the good. 16. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 7 verse 14 to 16)

Oh God since early times before Your birth, You are already making Your human birth known to us by means of the prophet Isaiah. It could be the case that the people of these times did not understand the meaning of this sign as at times the same thing happens to us, however, there has never been anybody in history who was proclaimed so early before one's actual birth. Oh God indeed You are trustworthy and reliable, I pray that You always remain a sign for us to follow. Amen

17. The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on your ancestral house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah-the king of Assyria."18. On that day the LORD will whistle for the fly that is at the sources of the streams of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 19. And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines, and in the clefts of the rocks, and on all the thornbushes, and on all the pastures. 20. On that day the Lord will shave with a razor hired beyond the River-with the king of Assyria-the head and the hair of the feet, and it will take off the beard as well.

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 7 verse 17 to 20)

Oh God by means of Your birth as in the sign promised and referred to by the prophet in these verses after having endured bitter times of exile under the king of Assyria, better times will come. As in the case of the king of Assyria, Your coming would bring a renewal in our spirits, giving us the power, strength and motivation to move on as led by You in our lives. Amen.

21. On that day one will keep alive a young cow and two sheep, 22. and will eat curds because of the abundance of milk that they give; for everyone that is left in the land shall eat curds and honey. 23. On that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines, worth a thousand shekels of silver, will become briers and thorns. 

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 7 verses 21 to 23)

Oh God by means of the prophet You are showing Your people, that better days await them, where there situation will be greatly improved. It will be a time of prosperity, however,  the situation appears to be rather ambiguous, for in one sense there will be prosperity and in the other sense some things that were positive will change into negative in the sense that valuable vines will turn into briers and thorns. Oh God even though we may experience moments of great prosperity and even peace this is not long lasting, for the world is not our home. You did not create us to be citizens of the earth, but of heaven, therefore, even though our lives seem to be fulfilled we may never be totally happy if we do not have You in our lives. We will still be living limited lives, conditioned by our sins and by our sinful nature as a human race.

24. With bow and arrows one will go there, for all the land will be briers and thorns; 25. and as for all the hills that used to be hoed with a hoe, you will not go there for fear of briers and thorns; but they will become a place where cattle are let loose and where sheep tread.

Oh God even though You permit us to experience negative situations such as invasions. illness or unemployment and other negative situations, You always give us renewed hope by changing a seemingly negative situation, to one that although still appears to be negative also has positive qualities. A typical example is that when You save us from tragic incidents that although may leave us to be physically impaired, You also give us the faith to endure and accept the event as being part of Your will and plan for us, and therefore our attitude will be one of thanksgiving instead of anger and condemnation.

I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-

Oh God, I thank You for the tribulations that You permit me to experience because it is by such tribulations that You help me to mature in my relationship with You and with others. Although I am currently experiencing times of trial and tribulation You have promised me better times, a hope for a better future, which although may have its restrictions it will be far better than the future. I thank You in advance  for You always keep Your promises Amen.

Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 6

ISAIAH 

CHAPTER 

6

1. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory."

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 6 verses 1 to 3)

Oh God what a majestic sight even the Seraphs cover their faces in Your Holy presence, while giving You praise and worship. Oh what an experience to spend all the time of my life in Your presence giving You praise and worship! What a sight for sore eyes! How I wish that when my time is over on earth, I will be worthy of being in Your presence at some point in time.

4. The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. 5. And I said; "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 6 verses 4 to 5)

Oh God who can stand the power of Your presence. During the time of the prophet there was the belief that nobody can stand in the presence of God and remain alive. This is why Isaiah reacted in this way. If you oh prophet person of God considered yourself a person with unclean lips, how more can I declare myself as being of pure lips and righteous.

6. Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out."

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 6 verses 6 to 7)

Oh dear God I also pray that You consecrate my mind, so that my thoughts will be like Yours, my lips shall proclaim Your words and my behaviour will reflect your presence that dwells in us.

8. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,  "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" 9. And I said, "Here am I send me!

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 6 verses 8 to 9)

Oh God may I also be ready to do what You wish me to do. May our wills be according to Your will, may we be open to hear Your voice and obey Your will. Amen.

9. And he said, "Go and say to this people: 'Keep listening, but do not comprehend; keep looking, but do not understand.' 10. Make the mind of this people dull, and stop their ears, and shut their eyes, so that they may not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and comprehend with their minds, and turn and be healed."

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 6 verses 9 to 10)

Oh God we are living such moments. We think that we are seeing reality, however this is not the case, for if we are seeing the true picture meaning also the consequences of our positive and negative actions we would surely not do them. When we are polluting the air, sea and drinking water in the name of progress and advances in technology and even warfare, we are killing ourselves. When we are giving legal consent, for the marriage of people of the same gender we are killing our society, when we are hindering illegal immigrants from entering Europe, we are committing suicide of our ageing society, for such new members of our society can bring new life on many levels. Even though we may be afraid that they be Muslims, there are many other people from different nations who are seeking asylum due to negative conditions  in their countries.

11. Then I said, "How long, O Lord?" And he said: "until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is utterly desolate; 12. until the LORD sends everyone far away, and vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land. 13. Even if a tenth part remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebith or an oak whose stump remains standing when it is felled." The holy seed is its stump.

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 6 verses 11 to 13)

How long oh God until the end of our life on earth. How long can You tolerate our sins and our sinful acts. We have transgressed against Your name again and again but You still love us.  Oh God Your anger and war is not against human beings. You love us and created us according to the form of humans that You yourself chose when becoming human. Your war is against Satan and his evil spirits. You are showing me this by the fact that You will send us all far away from destruction, only the earth will somehow be destroyed by fire. Then the two most powerful superpowers will wage the last and ultimate war. This is You against the Father of sin and evil.

Oh God I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-

Oh God almighty Father of love, justice and mercy, I thank You for loving humanity as You do. I pray that as a world we will be ready to appear before You at the end of time. I pray for the strength both spiritual and physical to overcome the tricks, drives and urges that the evil one tries to stimulate me by. Oh God he knows which buttons to press to make me become angry and blow my fuse. However God my Father I am not alone, because You are with me. Please help me to realize that when somebody wrongs me, in truth it is not that person, but the evil one who is in possession of that person in order to threaten my spiritual welfare and cause me to sin. 

Thank You Jesus.