Friday Five: Isaiah

My Bible-reading plan is a simple one: I read a book from the Old Testament and, when finished, read a book from the New Testament, then back to the Old Testament. Sometimes I read fast, taking in the words like any good literature, and sometimes I read slowly, pondering every phrase and looking up ever imagery.

I’m reading Isaiah right now. Isaiah is a fast-read approach this time. I chose to read from The Message, just for a different input this time. Here are some fascinating verses from Isaiah:

But they won't get by with it. As fire eats stubble and dry grass goes up in smoke, Their souls will atrophy, their achievements crumble into dust, Because they said no to the revelation of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Would have nothing to do with The Holy of Israel. Isaiah 5:24

…consuming one another in their lusts— Appetites insatiable, stuffing and gorging themselves left and right with people and things. But still they starved. Not even their children were safe from their rapacious hunger. Isaiah 9:19-20

The wolf will romp with the lamb, the leopard sleep with the kid. Calf and lion will eat from the same trough, and a little child will tend them…. The whole earth will be brimming with knowing God-Alive, a living knowledge of God ocean-deep, ocean-wide.

Isaiah 11:6-9

Joyfully you'll pull up buckets of water from the wells of salvation. And as you do it, you'll say, "Give thanks to God.
Isaiah 12:3-4

What does one say to outsiders who ask questions? Tell them, "God has established Zion. Those in need and in trouble find refuge in her."

Isaiah 14:32