Day 97 – January 5, 2024: Isaiah 59-64

We find ourselves completely immersed in Isaiah this morning. If you look at 59:17 it slightly reminds me of Ephesians 6:10ff. You should read all of it as it describes what is called the whole armor of God. Isaiah, on the other hand, speaks of the wrath of God that is to come against the nations that have conquered Israel and this wrath is metaphorically described as armor as well. In Isaiah you have: righteousness as a breastplate, salvation as a helmet, vengeance as clothing, fury as his mantle. In Ephesians you have: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes the proclamation of peace, shield of faith, and helmet of salvation. So the parallels are obvious with both the breastplate and the helmet being the same. I had never noticed that before.

Chapter 60 gives us the great phrase of arise your light has come, as well as a precursor to the kings bringing gold and frankincense. A lot happens in Isaiah which later we find in the life of Christ either as a baby, hence the gold and frankincense, and as an adult, the chapter 61 the Spirit of the Lord is upon me. This chapter reflects what he said in the temple in Nazareth, again, which got him in trouble. We are making our way to the end of Isaiah.