July 1, 2025 - Isaiah 6-9

“What goes around, comes around.”  “There’s nothing new under the sun.”  Proverbs or adages that we use often.  And why is that?  It’s because there’s so much truth in those sayings.  In college or professional sports, certain teams seem always to be winning championships while all others just seem to plug along.  Fashion “fads,” so often, are not fads in the sense they are new; allow a decade or two to pass, and what was once fashionable is, once more.  On and on, we could go:  What goes around, comes around.  And it is so with God and his people, Israel, and with God and us.  The book of Isaiah begins with words of harsh judgment because of Israel’s sin and rejection of God.  But just as quickly, we come to these chapters in which God promises a Messiah, Immanuel, who will deliver his people.  Though rebellious, Ahaz and Israel are rescued by God from the Syrians.   Through dark days, Isaiah testifies, “I will wait for the LORD . . . I will hope in him” (8:17).  Isaiah’s hope, like ours, is not in vain.  And why is that?  Well, because . . .l

To us a child is born,

      to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

      and his name shall be called                                           

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

      Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  (9:6)

Indeed, what goes around comes around.  We sin, we trust in the wrong things.  We grow cold I our love for God.  But his love for us never wanes, and always, he is forgiving us and redeeming us.  He is always with us.

Our God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast,

And our eternal home:

Under the shadow of your throne

Your saints have dwelt secure;

Sufficient is your arm alone,

And our defense is sure.   –Isaac Watts (1719)