Cush and Egypt were allies of Israel during the time of the Assyrian conquest. Since the Assyrians were God's chosen instrument, they proved insufficient. Also during these chapters we get a look forward to Apostolic times when peace would reign from Egypt to Syria.

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Isaiah 18-20, Oracles of Cush and Egypt

Moab, named for one of the sons of Lot, is to be destroyed. This oracle explains that Moab's pride caused her to exacerbate the suffering of God's people during the time when Israel was being chastened by the Lord. Even though Israel's misery was caused by God, He judged the nations involved in that chastening when they engaged in 'unnecessary roughness' against His people.

Isaiah 15-19, Destruction of Moab

Projecting the regathering of Israel, the prophet describes the ultimate disposition of Babylon. In this it becomes clear that the spiritual authority behind earthly Babylon is none other that Satan.

Isaiah 14, Son of the Dawn

The New Heaven and New Earth will be as God planned it in the Garden. Man will have dominion in peace instead of by force. This will be preceded by the destruction of Babylon and the salvation and reunification of Israel.

Isaiah 11-13, And a Little Child Shall Lead Them

To understand what God was doing to the Northern Kingdom, they should have referred to Leviticus 26. There Moses describes how God would react if Israel does not walk according to the covenant. His chastening would be designed to get their attention and cause them to repent. If they didn't get the message, the intensity would increase up to the point of exile. This section also describes God's disposition of Assyria.

Isaiah 9-10, Exile of the Northern Kingdom

Isaiah prophesies the exile of Israel by the Assyrians. He tells them that the Torah both predicts and explains what is about to happen. Once Israel abandons the Covenant and ignores the chastening God sends to get their attention, His Covenant specifies defeat and exile. In the midst of this gloom, He promises the Messiah.

Isaiah 8-9, Exile of the Northern Kingdom

Isaiah receives his commission directly from the Throne of God. He is told to speak to Israel in a way that they will not understand so that they will not turn from their wickedness and be healed. This teaches us that there can come a point where a nation has fallen so far that the only remedy is destruction and exile. In that event, God hides His face and speaks in parables.

Isaiah 6-7, Lest They Turn and Be Healed

God describes Israel as a vineyard that has produced wild grapes instead of the useful ones He desired. In a lament, He asks what more He could have done to prevent this sad result. The answer being, 'Nothing,' He decides to remove His hand of protection and blessing. The lesson is that God will not continue to bless a nation that has become wicked.

Isaiah 5, The Vineyard of the Lord

Isaiah lists the details of why God is displeased with Judah and Jerusalem. This is a very sobering passage of Scripture; because, allowing for differences in language, every detail could be said of the United States today.

Isaiah 2-4, A Corrupt Society

In God's dealing with Israel, there is a definite process of prophecy. When Israel strays, the first message of the prophet is, "Repent." If they do repent, the process ends there and the prophet was successful. If not, the prophet begins speaking in parables, words of truth that will not be understood because exile is decreed. Finally Israel goes into exile at the hand of a gentile nation.

Isaiah 1-2, The Process of Prophecy

In the first four chapters, Isaiah writes of God's displeasure with the Southern Kingdom of Judah and its capitol, Jerusalem. In addition to speaking of Israel then, he speaks to us of our own situation.

Isaiah 1, Rebellion of Judah

Having been given favor by Boaz, Ruth is guided through the maze of Hebrew law by Naomi. Naomi's goal is leverite marriage and redemption. In this she is building up the house of her dead husband and son.

Ruth 3-4, Redeemed

Naomi had left Bethlehem with a husband and two sons, she returned as a widow with her widowed daughter in law, Ruth. In her bitterness and poverty, Naomi did not yet know that Ruth would be to her better than seven sons.

Ruth 1-2, Call Me Mara

In both of these two short letters, John speaks of the duty and limits to Christian hospitality. In one he warns against extending hospitality to those who would sow confusion about the identity of Messiah and in the other he commends hospitality to missionaries.

2,3 John, Christian Hospitality

John closes his first letter with what seems almost like a throw away line, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." Far from being a non sequitur, that line summarizes the entire letter.

1 John 5, Keep Yourselves from Idols

Discussions of Biblical subjects from the perspective of a Torah observant Messianic community.

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