Campfire Scripture: Uncommon scriptures, simple truth… For pondering over a warm campfire.

Author, Date and Context:

Isaiah the son of Amoz penned this book. Isaiah means ‘the salvation of the Lord’. It is the most heavily referenced book in the NT. Isaiah oversaw four kingship’s, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah from 739 – 686 B.C.

Isaiah was a writer, not just a writer of scripture, but a good one. By good I mean, eloquent and rich in his vocabulary. As good as any of the great orators of Greece and Rome. The book of Isaiah has been likened to a mini Bible within the Bible, or a biblical summary. It contains 66 chapters, has two clearly defined sections and is primarily focused on the future Messiah.

Today’s Campfire Scripture is but one of many, many passages in the OT pointing toward Christ our coming saviour.

What I Reckon:

More glorious visions of the coming might of our saviour. Verse 6 will be familiar to anyone who grew up in church.

Other passages in Isaiah elaborate on the son. He will be born of a virgin and be a descendant of King David, the descendant in fact.

Verse five describes with powerful imagery that the engines of war will no longer be necessary when Christ returns, they will become ‘fuel for the fire’. The Lord’s rule will be absolute and the enemies of God will be utterly powerless to stand against him.

Again there’s the reference here to peace which comes up a lot in this climactic future visions, but how is this peace administered? With justice and righteousness. These traits are as much a part of the Lord as his love and compassion.

Make no mistake, our fierce and powerful God is no pushover. He is our ‘Mighty God’.

References

All Campfire Scripture passages are taken from the New American Standard Bible, unless otherwise stated.

John MacArthur, 2006, The MacArthur Study Bible,  New American Standard Bible (1995 edition).