Musings about Isaiah

Sunday I was musing about Isaiah. With the turmoil in the world today, I wanted to see what thoughts Isaiah, from the Old Testament, had about our world. Here are a few of his thoughts that stood out to me:

From Chapter 6:

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

From Chapter 9:

12 "...For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."

From Chapter 28:

10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

From Chapter 40:

26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names..."

31 But they that await upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

From Chapter 48:

10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river,..."

22 There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.

From Chapter 54:

8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.

From Chapter 55:

1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

From Chapter 57:

20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

What do these scriptures say to me? They tell me that God is kind and merciful; that God knows each of us by name; that he is patient with us and that "his hand is stretched out still". They tell me that He created all things, including the heavens and the earth and that we learn by doing; "line upon line" and by the "furnace of affliction". They tell me to be bold and to be righteous; to do good. They tell me that God is patient and wants to bless us with strength, knowledge, and "peace like a river". They tell me that wickedness leads to turmoil and unhappiness.