September

We are entering the homestretch in our readings. Two-thirds of the readings are behind us, and only one-third remain. At the end of the year, we ought to have a big party to celebrate!

Most of our reading in the Old Testament during September will be in Isaiah. You can gauge the importance of this book from the fact that it is referred to so often in the New Testament. Isaiah has a wonderful feeling for the way God's mercy and justice intermingle. His awareness of God as the "Holy One of Israel" (1:4) is exceptional as well. Notice chapter 6, where his call to be a prophet develops the theme of the holiness of God.

As you sill discover in Isaiah, there is a major difficulty in reading the books of the prophets. Generally speaking, the prophecies are not written in careful historical order, and often there is no clear reference to the specific situation. This means that, oftentimes, the prophets can be bewildering books to read. Therefore, you will want to read Isaiah fairly quickly, looking for main themes and topics. Search for compelling verses and memorable phrases - ones that sound familiar to you or ones that convey something significant about God's ways with the world. For instance, you may notice the warm-hearted appeal for repentance in 1:18: "Come now, let us argue it out, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow."

There are at least two major sections in Isaiah: chapters 1-40 and chapters 41-66. Some think that chapters 56-66 are a third division. The sections are clearly distinguishable, and they reflect such different periods in the history of the Jews that many think the latter section was written by a follower, or followers, of Isaiah. We can't sort all that out here, but it may be helpful to be aware that the first forty chapters are set in the later years of the Southern Kingdom, Judah, while the rest of the book refers to the period after the fall of the Kingdom and the exile of the people to Babylon.

Isaiah is especially interesting because it contains many Messianic passages. Examples are chapters 7, 9, 11, 42, and 53. You may want to look for New Testament Parallels to other passages as well, for instance, 28:16; 35:5-6; 56:7; and 61:1-2. Isaiah 7 is most fascinating, because it illustrates so clearly the tendency of Old Testament prophecy to contain a dual reference both to the present and to the future. On the one hand, this chapter relates directly to the reign of King Ahaz, who didn't believe (or didn't care) that God was with Judah. Isaiah tells Ahaz that he will receive a sign: a young woman will soon bear a son. As evidence of their faith in the midst of desperate circumstances, she will name her child "Immanuel." On the other hand, however, this prophecy of a sign for Ahaz can be broadened and deepened so that it points to the birth of another child, the Christ. He is born of a virgin and is Immanuel in the fullest sense - he himself is "God with us."

Our readings in the New Testament this month will complete the letters of Paul and take us through most of the book of Hebrews. Hebrews was written by someone who was steeped in the Jewish Scriptures. In the early days of the church, Paul's name became associated with the book, but for centuries scholars have recognized that the style of Hebrews is very different from that of Paul. Educated guesses are that Barnabas or Apollos were the authors, but there is no certainty about this.

Whoever the author was, he seems to be writing to Jewish believers in Christ who were tempted to return to Judaism, perhaps because of imminent persecution. To ward off this possibility, the author of Hebrews offers a kind of extended proof that Jesus Christ fulfills, and is superior to, all that we find in the Old Testament. You will find the reasoning very complex, as the author not only plays on the meaning of individual words but also draws allegorical implications from a variety of Old Testament passages.

The heart of the book is found in the description of Jesus as the great high priest who far surpasses the priesthood of Israel (chs. 4-8). Because of Christ's ministry, a new and better covenant has been established. This covenant is eternal and final, due to the fact that it is based on Christ's own sacrifice.

Notice that, from beginning to end, Hebrews stresses that all of life, and salvation as well, revolves around Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews thought that it was important for his readers to remember this. It is still important for us today!

From The Year of the Bible by James E. Davison