Day 194 – 2 Chronicles 27, Isaiah 9-12

Talking Points

• Uzziah’s son Jotham becomes king of Judah, doing right in the sight of the LORD, and not following in his father’s sin of burning incense in the Temple. The Bible says that, because of this, his ways prospered. “Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God” (2 Chronicles 27:6). There are two words that are key, here. Ordered means “prepared, set firm, formed.” Before translates “in the face of.” So, understand, Jotham set firm his plans aware of God, aware He was watching, aware of His directing, and aware He is worthy of honor. Our pattern should follow, ordering our ways aware of God.
• Isaiah 9 is a tremendous picture of the promised Messiah! Each word reveals the rich promises of God which will be fulfilled in the Christ. My favorite line, sometimes overlooked, describes the gospel perfectly: “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them” (Isaiah 9:2). A little over 700 years later, Jesus would stand and declare, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12).
• In a powerful display of His sovereign might, God declares that He will use the Israelite enemy, Assyria, as an instrument of His judgment for Israel’s idolatry. Even nations and people who hate Him are tools in His hand.
• God’s Word never fails! Never has, never will. Because of this certainty, God’s people can rejoice and sing ahead of time. In Isaiah 12, a song of thankfulness rings out for God’s great victory long before it is realized. As we walk though these days, some of them pretty tough, may we sing in victory for the great coming days! Praise God — His Word never fails!

Thoughts

When I was in classroom management classes in college, I remember learning about positive and negative reinforcements. Positive reinforcements were things like words of praise, extra recess, or a good note sent home — they were desired things that reinforced good behavior or diligent work to help motivate the students to continue that behavior. Negative reinforcements were the opposite — undesirable consequences to discourage and hopefully extinguish behavior you did not want to continue. They can both be effective, but you usually have to consider each child and experiment a little to discover which is most effective for a given behavior. Sometimes, students can even self-correct with the promise of the reinforcement, or when they see others reinforced. As a classroom teacher, my desire was the best environment for each student and for all students. I wanted them to learn, to thrive, to be blessed, to know they were loved.

As I read through the book of Isaiah, I can’t help but notice that God is constantly providing positive and negative reinforcements, trying to shape us to walk with Him. When His people do right, they see astounding blessings which should reinforce their trust in the LORD and, therefore, their obedience. When they rebel against Him, God brings about negative consequences. Sometimes, His people are able to self-correct with the promises He gives, or in seeing what happens to others.

I look at the Israelites, tremendously blessed at times, severely punished in others. I see the Assyrians, with their capital city of Ninevah (remember Ninevah?), with the promise of the judgment to come for their pride. I read of each king and entire nations, of prophets and priests, of daughters and sons. I think of us, today, and I know God’s proven character shows that He wants what is best for each of us and for all of us. He really does. And, so, He reinforces. He blesses us tremendously. He reminds us of His promises. He disciplines. He tries to shape us to walk with Him. And, when that’s still not enough for us, He comes as the Christ promised in Isaiah chapter 9. What a “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6)!