Day 83: December 15, 2025 – Isaiah 1-5 and Psalm 148

A word about Isaiah. We do not know what it is like to live in a country or a setting where might makes right in a most brutal and violent way. Isaiah was a prophet to Israel in a time that the kingdom was divided, north and south, and a time when in order to maintain or at least survive, violence was implemented and used. There was not peace in the land. Every day you wondered if your life was required of you. This is almost impossible for us to understand, although this is the setting for many people in the world. It is not dangerous for us to go to the marketplace or the grocery store. For many people this simple chore is one where you are taking your life in your hand.

As a result Isaiah is describing how the people of Israel have seen turmoil and are desiring a time of peace and tranquility which they have not experienced. We see the prophet speak about Israel in a way that it is described as a transgressor and so it will be transgressed against. Not a very comforting passage, even if there is hope here for the future which is not quite in reach. As we make our way through Isaiah there are certain verses that are well known. We see the phrase that there will come a day that we will learn war no more. How can we not think of Peter, Paul and Mary.