Isaiah - a book to be lived

Friends of our book club: 

For December, let us take up the book of Isaiah and note its promises of comfort and present goodness.

SIXTEEN "WRITING PROPHETS"

In his introduction to the 16 prophetic books of the Bible (Isaiah to Malachi), Eugene H. Peterson startles us with his comments about "the writing prophets" (see The Message):

• "Over a period of several hundred years, the Hebrew people gave birth to an extraordinary number of  prophets - men and women distinguished by the power and skill with which they presented the reality of God. They delivered God's commands and promises and living presence to communities and nations who had been living on god-fantasies and god-lies."

• "...prophets insist that we deal with God as God reveals himself, not as we imagine him to be"

• "Prophets train us in discerning the difference between the ways of the world and the ways of the gospel, keeping us present to the Presence of God."

• "Their words and visions penetrate the illusions with which we cocoon ourselves from reality."

• "...the prophets worked to get people who were beaten down to open themselves up to hope in God's future."

• "If we insist on understanding them before we live into them, we will never get it."

ISAIAH

In introducing Isaiah, Peterson writes "For Isaiah, words are watercolors and melodies and chisels to make truth and beauty and goodness."

Whether you enjoy working in colour, notes, or in timber, you will surely enjoy working with Isaiah as its pages unfold its beauty. 

According to Peterson, the book is divided into three sections:

1. Messages of Judgement (chapters 1 - 39)
2. Messages of Comfort (chapters 40-55)
3. Messages of Hope (chapters 56-66)

We look forward to exploring this important tome together.

Julie Swannell