Understanding Isaiah Chapter 2 - Me vs New Oxford Bible

Created: 7 November 2021  Modified:

I want to know the mind of God. Yet I avoid the conventional paths to such wisdom.
Introspection, meditation, exercise and study of religious texts. I dread my own judgement of my sins. How much greater will the burden of mans’ and Gods’ be?
God give me strength.

God’s house will rise as a shining beacon to all people and nations. People of many nations will come to learn from the house of God. God’s arbitration will bring peace to the world. Israel please do what God wants. You have been participating in the supernatural activities of foreigners. Distracted by their riches and power. The idols of the foreigners demeans our people. Hide from the awesomeness of God. God will rise up and the unworthy will fall. Lebanon, Bashan and Tarshish will be made low. The works of men will not save them. Nor will the natural world. Those with undeserved pride will fall and their idols discarded. Listen to God and not to man.

After Reading Annotations

The scholars indicate that this is meant as a divine revelation. The houses are almost certainly references to temples. References to mountains probably means the universe and all things.

Breakdown by verse

Chapter 1 Verse 1

Isaiah son of Amoz delivers what he thinks about the cities Judah and Jerusalem. Presumably from divine inspiration.

Chapter 1 Verse 2

Gods temple/nation will be elevated above all others. Nations will follow this divine example.

Chapter 1 Verse 3

People of all nations are going to want to learn from Jerusalem’s and Israel’s shining example.

Chapter 1 Verse 4

God will mediate between people and nations resulting in world peace.

Chapter 1 Verse 5

Israel please do what God wants.

Chapter 1 Verse 6

Israel you are not doing what God wants. You are participating in supernatural activities not originating from out traditions. Stop hanging out with these foreigners and their unacceptable practices.

Chapter 1 Verse 7

The foreigners are rich and militarily powerful.

Chapter 1 Verse 8

The foreigners worship idols and their own works.

Chapter 1 Verse 9

This is bad for the people of Israel. Don’t forgive the foreigners.

Chapter 1 Verse 10

Hide from the awesomeness of God.

Chapter 1 Verse 11

The pride of the people will be brought down and God elevated.

Chapter 1 Verse 12

The day is coming when those high and might will be brough low by God.

Chapter 1 Verse 13

Lebanon and Bashan will be humbled.

Chapter 1 Verse 14

All the elevated will be humbled.

Chapter 1 Verse 15

Even man’s mighty works will not help.

Chapter 1 Verse 16

The navy of Tarshish will be humbled.

Chapter 1 Verse 17

The arrogant people will be brought low.

Chapter 1 Verse 18

Idols will be done away with.

Chapter 1 Verse 19

Hide away from God’s awesomeness. He is coming and not happy.

Chapter 1 Verse 20

When God arrives people will toss their idols to vermin.

Chapter 1 Verse 21

Hide from God’s awesomeness.

Chapter 1 Verse 22

The words of men are useless.

tags: bible - isaiah - oxford - new oxford annotated bible - understand
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