Before Reading.
- Centering prayer— Pray for illumination, “Lord, open my heart and mind by the power of the Holy Spirit,” and remain in silence.
Reading.
- Read slowly, keeping any words or phrase that come to your mind, and mark on them.
- Close eyes and meditate on what you read.
- Take a note if you have question, inspiration.
Read Isaiah 39
Overview.
The last chapter of the first Isaiah is a story of King Hezekiah.
Babylonian king Babadan sent an envoy to king Hezekiah of Judah seeking to ally with him in anti-Assyrian revolt. King Hezekiah gave him warm welcome showing everything in the palace. It was his gesture of ally with Babylonia.
This caused him in trouble. He took God’s glory for his own sake. Isaiah consistently claimed that Judah’s only appropriate ally is the Lord alone.
Isaiah prophesied fall of Judah by Babylonia and people be exiled. However king Hezekiah did not give his ear to Isaiah. Judah was actually destroyed by Babylonia in 597BC.
Reflection.
1. What does this passage tell you about God?
2. What does this passage tell you about people.?
3. What does this passage tell you about yourself and God’s will for you?
