Book of Prophet Isaiah Chapter 10

ISAIAH 

CHAPTER 

10

1. Ah, you who make iniquitous decrees, who write oppressive statutes, 2. to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be your spoil, and that you may make the orphans your prey!

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 10 verses 1 to 2)

Oh God, my Father as much as You judged Your people with these accusations if You look on to me and my society I am sure that You would find much more accusations by which to judge us. Therefore, let us all stop judging others' faults and start focussing on our shortcomings and pray for help to change our ways Amen.


3. What will you do on the day of punishment, in the calamity that will come from far away? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth, 4. so as not to crouch among the prisoners or fall among the slain? For all this his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still.


(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 10 verses 3 to 4)


Oh, God almighty to whom can we go but You. You are my tower and my refuge. In You only can I ever find my security and not in the ways of the world. You are my insurance policy, that does not have small print terms and conditions that try to scam me when the time of testing arrives and I need to claim with my insurance. All the wealth in the world cannot buy heaven or persuade death not to visit us. It is there for the rich and for the poor, however for those who are humble death is a peaceful moment, while for the evil and crooked it is a moment of fear and gnashing of teeth.

5. Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger the club in their hands is my fury! 6. Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him to take spoil seize and plunder, and to tread them down like mire of the streets.


(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 10 verses 5 to 6)


Oh God, my Father, we are also sent to fight against a godless nation. Our society has become more secular than ever. The weapons that You give us are the powerful message of the 'Good News'. You give us the power and authority to trample and plunder the devil and all his evil spirits down to a state of no -existence. I pray oh God that You keep on empowering us to plunder our enemy and claim one victory over another over ourselves and the traps of the evil one.

7. But this is not what he intends, nor does he have this in mind; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few.


(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 10 verse 7)


Oh God my Father as much as we can be like You in the sense of being creative and of help to one another we can also be destructive and of harm to others. If left to our own devices we end up destroying each other and end up in a state of nature. In order to have an idea of this state of degeneration please click on the following link:-


Video clip Lord of the Flies



8. For he say: "Are not my commanders all kings? 9. Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus? 10. As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols whose images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria 11. shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols what I have done to Samaria and her images?"


(Book of Prophet Isaiah Chapter 10 verses 8 to 11)


Oh God, You strictly ordered us in Your commandments of love, that You were to be our only God, and that we were to have no other god but You. You love us so much that You wish to have the first place in our lives and that nobody was to eve challenge that place be it a person or image. You love us so much that You tolerate no form of competition.



12. When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the arrogant boasting of the king of Assyria and his haughty pride.


(Book of Prophets Chapter 10 verse 12)


Oh my God and Father nobody can escape Your wrath. Nobody kills and humiliates or rapes or beheads or kills by means of bombs Your sons and daughters and remains free from Your jurisdiction or condemnation. Even though the forces of evil seem to have the other hand as witnessed by the events that are currently taking place in Brussels and other parts of the world, You oh God will have the final victory. Hail and Glory and Victory to the King of Kings.



13. For he says: "By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I have removed the boundaries of peoples, and have plundered their treasures; like a bull I have brought down those who sat on thrones. 14. My hand has found, like a nest, the wealth of the peoples; and as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken so I have gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved a wing, or opened its mouth, or chirped."


(Book of Prophets Chapter 10 verses 13 to 14)


Oh God, my Father there is nothing that takes place in the world that is beyond Your knowledge and awareness. Indeed, like a hen You watch over us and tuck us under Your wings of love and kindness. You have done great achievements in our lives, even those that we were not aware of. Even though there were times when we  may have felt helpless and alone You were working on our issues and were closer to us than we ever can be close to You my God and Father. I thank You for being so loving and caring. Amen.



15. Shall the ax vaunt itself over the one who wields it, or the saw magnify itself against the one who handles it? As if a rod should raise the one who lifts it up or as if a staff should lift the one who is not wood!


(Book of Prophets Chapter 10 verse 15)


Oh God even though the chainsaw can never turn against the person who is holding it, we still manage to sin against You time and time again. Forgive me oh Father for I am still weak and prone to sin Amen.



16. Therefore the Sovereign, the LORD of hosts will send sickness among his stout warriors, and under his glory a burning will be kindled like the burning of fire. 17. The light of Israel will become a fire, and his Holy One a flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and briers in one day.


(Book of Prophets Chapter 10 verses 16 to 17)



Oh God may my faith also burn like a hot furnace like the boiler of a train so much that it will melt away my sins and negative desires Amen. May I be reborn again with a clean slate and may I be empowered by our relationship so much  that it would not even cross my mind to sin against You my, God and Father. Amen.



18. The glory of his forest and his fruitful land the LORD will destroy, both soul and body, and it will be as when an invalid wastes away. 19. The remnant of his forest will be so few that a child can write them down.


(Book of Prophets Chapter 10 verses 18 to 19)


God is able to bring to an end all our achievements and make us rub our noses in the dust in order to humble us and make us aware that the purpose of our life is to follow Him and not our personal agendas. Our goal is to inherit our place in heaven and not to increase our bank account or yearly revenue and stocks. If You oh God sees that we need a raise in our income You will permit it to happen, however if money or the drive to earn more takes His place then something heeds to be done and God will intervene in order to save us from calamity Amen.



20. On that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on the one who struck them, but will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21. A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. 22. For though your people Israel were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. 23. For the Lord God of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in all the earth.


(Book of Prophets Chapter 10 verses 20 to 23)



Oh God, my Father it seems that not all of the people who were saved from the bondage of Egypt entered the promised land. Throughout the process of the conquest of these lands many died because of their sins and because they were called and not chosen. Only a few or portion of that people did enter the land You promised t to them. I am also like such people oh God, in the sense that I received your calling to follow You, and I responded in obedience to Your call, but I was not chosen to be a priest or friar and live a life of poverty as I wished to be. Time and time again each time the doors You closed in both cases, the Friars of St. Augustine and the Brothers of Mother Theresa by whom I was also refused to join. Although I am married I still wish to do something nice and helpful for others. I even graduated as a Social Worker but again You called me but did not choose me to work in this area. I thank You for giving me the opportunity to pray on Your Good News and share it with others. I believe that all the rejections were for my own good Amen.



24. Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts: O my people, who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians when they beat you with a rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. 25. For in a very little while my indignation will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction.


(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 10 verses 24 to 25)


Today our God is telling us that the situation or person that has been persecuting us, will soon exist no more, for He will deal with it with his might love and power and it will cease to exist. Therefore, we are to remain firm in our love for You and have blind faith that You are going to handle our situation of Egypt or trial or tribulation. Praise be Your Name oh God my Father. Amen.



26. The LORD of hosts will wield a whip against them, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb; his staff will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt. 27. On that day his burden will be removed from your shoulder, and his yoke will be destroyed from your neck.


(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 10 verses 26 to 27)



Oh God my Father even though in our perception of reality, Your timing seems to be slower than slow, especially when compared to our stress anxiety and personal agenda, in truth it is perfectly planned according to the plan that You have fashioned for me. When the appointed time that is according to Your will arrive, and only then I will see Your hand at work. Your whip will break down my sinful self and all the barriers that stand between us. One day we will be Father and Son and nobody will hinder me from being in Your presence Amen.



28. He has gone up from Rimmon, he has come to Aiath; he has passed through Migron, at Michmash he stores his baggage; 29. they have crossed over the pass, at Geba they lodge for the night; Ramah trembles, Gibeah of Saul has fled. 30. Cry aloud, O daughter Gallim! Listen, OLaishah! Answer her, O Anathoth! 31. M\admenah is in flight, the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety. 32. This very day he will halt at Nob, he will shake his fist at he mount of daughter Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.


(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 10 verses 28 to 32)


Oh God on reflecting and typing these verses in the back of my mind I was listening to the theme song of the cartoons 'Superman' during which the sons refers to the following question, 'is this a bird is this a plane it is Superman!



Who but You oh God can create such fear and panic in the hearts of mankind but Your second coming for those who do not believe in You. However during 2016, many people believe more in the threat of Isis, Aids, the fall in the economy, the increase in the price of oil, global warming, more than You oh God my Father which is a big mistake.



33. Look, the Sovereign, the LORD of hosts, will lop the boughs with terrifying power; the tallest trees will be cut down and the lofty will be brought low. 34. He will hack down the thickets of the forest with an ax, and Lebanon with its majestic trees will fall.

(book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 10 verses 33 to 34)

Oh God my Father blessed are the humble people, for they shall inherit the kingdom of God. I pray oh God that You will trim my boughs and always keep me down to earth so that I will never feel proud over others in the sense of feeling superior to  them. Help me God to adopt an attitude of humility that places me in a not knowing position in the presence of others so that I will be sure not to be tempted in the snare of pride, haughtiness or superiority over others.

I ,therefore, wish to offer the following prayer, my God, and Father:-

Oh God and my Father, if I look deep down into my sinful self, I find nothing that makes me feel superior to others. Even though I have been meditating on scripture for fourteen years I do not consider myself as being an authority. My greatest profession is that of a sinner my God. I thank You on the other hand for any goodness that You have given me for it is not my own but given to me by You Amen.

Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 9

ISAIAH 

CHAPTER 

9

1. But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the ways of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 1) 

Oh God this scripture as in all others is very encouraging. As in the case of us who have either been treated wrongly or been denied of their rights, You are promising better times. You promise to calm down the waves of those situations that have been troubling us for such a long time. The rainbow will appear in the sky after such days of rain and tribulation. When You become active in our lives oh God my Father our lives change and improve. It is as if we are born again not from flesh but from the Holy Spirit, who gives us a new drive and renewed strength to live and face the even he greatest of our tribulations. Amen Praise be to God indeed, there is none like You.



2. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness-on them light has shined.



(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 2)



Oh God really and truly Your light is so bright and those on whom Your light will also shine. May our faith be like a strong search-light that shines so bright that others who have not yet met You or experienced You personally will greatly benefit from such light. I thank You for bringing me out of my darkness of lack of Your awareness of love and faith and bringing me into the light. I pray that I will not find Your light too bright and chose to retreat back to my darkness as is the case when I sin against You. I pray for Your protection 'sun-glasses' that filter the negative rays of the world from those that You wish to transmit to me and the world by means of the Holy Spirit Amen.



3. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.



(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 3)


Oh God, whether we admit it or not oh God my Father it is You who restores our soul and happiness and well-being, for all depends on You for our very existence even though admit it.



4. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5. For all the boots of tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.


(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 9 verses 4 to 6)



Oh those of us including myself who at times find life to be challenging and even difficult to endure, today God has given us a new hope. If we want Jesus can be born in us and give us new life, new hope, new motivation, and a new and better future based on God and his Message as found in the Bible. Today we are given this Good News and we either have the choice to accept God's invitation as given to us by the prophet Isaiah or remain stuck in the depressive rut of life. The decision is ours to make, but for those who decide to choose Jesus as our 'wonderful counselor, mighty warrior, everlasting father and prince of peace', God bless you, for even though life seems to be hard God is going to lift of the bar of anguish pain and persecution and lay it across his shoulders as he did at the time of the passion.  Because You love us oh God, You took and are still bearing on Your shoulders our problems, pain and anguish, for You are my Father and Saviour Amen.


7. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.


(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 7)


Oh god although Your power unlike that of humans seems to be invisible it is like yeast in the dough, that grows gradually until it reaches its full development in the finished loave of bread. Unlike the crooked ways of the world, Your ways and just and reliable Amen.



8. The Lord sent a word against Jacob, and it fell on Israel; 9. and all the people knew it- Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria-but in pride and arrogance of heart they said. 10. "The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place."



(Book of Prophets Isaiah Chapter 9 verses 8 to 10)


Oh God my Father at times we may be under the false impression that Your ways have failed, however when thinking in such a way we decide that our way is better and we decide to do things our way instead of Your way and this is a big mistake.



11. So the LORD raised adversaries against them, and stirred up their enemies, 12. the Arameans on the east and the Philistines on the west, and they devoured Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still.


(Book of Isaiah Chapter 9 verses 11 to 12)


As much as You oh God can send angels to come and save us, You are also able to raise adversaries in order to hinder our negative plans and in doing so save us from being hurt by our own schemes.



13. The people did not turn to him who struck them or seek the LORD of hosts. 14. So the LORD cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day- 15. elders and dignitaries are the head, and prophets who teach lies are the tail; 16. for those who led this people led them astray, and those who were led by them were left in confusion.


(Book of Isaiah Chapter 9 verses 13 to 16)


Even in the life of the State and Church, You are sifting out the wheat from the weeds oh God. Many leaders both in the secular and in the spiritual either died, resigned or were removed in order to be replaced by others. I pray oh God that You keep on cleansing both realms so that one day we will have a balance of goodness and Godness in both the spiritual and the secular world. Amen.



17. That is why the Lord did not have pity on their young people, or compassion on their orphans and widows; for everyone was godless and an evildoer, and every mouth spoke folly. For all his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still.



(Book of Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 17)


Oh God, You love us so much and this is why You hurt so much because You love us so much. Forgive us oh God my Father for we are all sinners, however even though we are sinners we all wish to love You. Our spirits desire to love You, but at times, our brains and carnal desires, are much to hold us back from sinning against You. Mercy oh God!



18. For wickedness burned like a fire, consuming briers and thorns; it kindled the thickets of the forest and they swirled upward in a column of smoke.



(Book of Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 18)


Oh God wickedness and anger are also like fire, it consumes our spirit and renders totally spiritually dead. Unlike evil our prayers also go to heaven however our prayers give us a sense of peace and tranquility. May we all oh God have the blaze of faith burning like fire within our souls forever like a bonfire that never dies out Amen.



19. Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land was burned, and the people became like fuel for the fire; no one spared another. 20. They gorged on the right, but still were hungry, and they devoured on the left, but were not satisfied; they devoured the flesh of their own kindred; 21. Manasseh devoured Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, and together they were against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still.



(Book of Isaiah Chapter 9 verses 19 to 21)



Oh God even though we may not devour each other's flesh we have the potential of eating or destroying each other's personality or psychological state of mind by abusing each other's feelings and render the person as being the scapegoat of the family or of the class or even on the job. As much as we can be positive and constructive oh God, we can be negative and destructive towards both ourselves and even towards others.



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


Oh, Father who art in heaven hallowed be they Holy Name forever and ever, again and again! The more we go against Your will and curse your name, the more it will deserve to be hailed in praise and worship in compensation for our sins. Foy Your name is greatly worthy to be praised. I pray oh God that You have mercy on the world, for although many of us are trying to overcome and overcome our sinful self in order to be more You the evil one is still at work in making us sin against each other and so against You. Mercy oh God!

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.