St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

Judgement and mercy

The prophet Isaiah is the second most-quoted Old Testament book in the New Testament, mainly because it contains many references to the coming of the Messiah, and many descriptions of the “Servant of the Lord” - and Jesus fulfilled both of these predictions. So it’s not surprising that churches often read Isaiah just before Christmas.

Isaiah began prophesying in 742 BC. Israel and Judah had been divided into two kingdoms ever since the civil war after Solomon’s death in 922 BC, but life had been prosperous until the superpower of Assyria began to threaten the northern borders. Internally the country was in a mess. There was a huge divide between rich and poor, the rich were comfortably off and immoral, the courts could be bribed and there was no justice for the poor. Religion had become just ritual, and the religious leaders made no protest about these things: in fact, the people felt that they were secure in God’s favour and they therefore didn’t need to change. Why should they, if they were safe?

Isaiah’s message to Judah was to remind the people of the promises God had made to David, but to point out that these promises were on the basis that they were to be his holy people, different from others in their conduct. God would send his Messiah, but there would be judgement as well as mercy, and only a remnant would be saved. And it partly happened in his day: the Assyrians conquered Israel (the northern kingdom) in 721 BC and came right to the gates of Jerusalem before turning back and leaving Judah intact.

Our generation has lessons to learn too from Isaiah. We’re not on the brink of being invaded ... but we’re definitely rich, comfortable, immoral and divided by wealth. The church is no longer the well-to-do at prayer, but people use ritual to avoid repentance. Isaiah has words for us too.

John Hartley

Old Testament History at a glance

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. December 2007, Page 2.
Home Page. Index of articles: by subject, by date. In this issue: (December 2007) Christmas, Isaiah, Charles Wesley, Hymn. Other articles on the bible and sermon series.	Judgement and mercy The prophet Isaiah is the second most-quoted Old Testament book in the New Testament, mainly because it contains many references to the coming of the Messiah, and many descriptions of the “Servant of the Lord” - and Jesus fulfilled both of these predictions. So it’s not surprising that churches often read Isaiah just before Christmas. Isaiah began prophesying in 742 BC. Israel and Judah had been divided into two kingdoms ever since the civil war after Solomon’s death in 922 BC, but life had been prosperous until the superpower of Assyria began to threaten the northern borders. Internally the country was in a mess. There was a huge divide between rich and poor, the rich were comfortably off and immoral, the courts could be bribed and there was no justice for the poor. Religion had become just ritual, and the religious leaders made no protest about these things: in fact, the people felt that they were secure in God’s favour and they therefore didn’t need to change. Why should they, if they were safe? Isaiah’s message to Judah was to remind the people of the promises God had made to David, but to point out that these promises were on the basis that they were to be his holy people, different from others in their conduct. God would send his Messiah, but there would be judgement as well as mercy, and only a remnant would be saved. And it partly happened in his day: the Assyrians conquered Israel (the northern kingdom) in 721 BC and came right to the gates of Jerusalem before turning back and leaving Judah intact. Our generation has lessons to learn too from Isaiah. We’re not on the brink of being invaded ... but we’re definitely rich, comfortable, immoral and divided by wealth. The church is no longer the well-to-do at prayer, but people use ritual to avoid repentance. Isaiah has words for us too. John Hartley Old Testament History at a glance
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