Writing Regularly - A Practice for 2019

The only way to get better at most things is to regularly practice them. This year, I would like to be a better reader, writer, and listener to Scripture. I also want to use these skills to be a better servant of others. In order to do all that, I am going to attempt to write something everyday.

I have decided to start by writing something about the book of Isaiah. I have always wanted to write a devotional commentary for myself. I hope this writing can be of some use to someone else. Surely, the writing will be full of errors of different types, but the goals are improvement and aid, not perfection.

Here is day 1.

Isaiah 1:1

1.      The vision of Isaiah:

a.       This vision is of a similar type to that found in Daniel, Nahum, Obadiah, and Habakkuk. From the very beginning, the writer of Isaiah is claiming supernatural connection, and this leads all commentary in one of two directions: either Isaiah wrote from the point of inspiration or he did not. The matter of faith then confronts the reader, or at least the current reader, from the beginning.

b.      Questions for reflection:

                                                                          i.      Will I set aside my notions of how the world or God works to hear from someone who claims to see things from God?

                                                                        ii.      How am I formed to interact both critically and faithfully with such a work as this?

                                                                      iii.      What is my reason for reading and writing about this book?

2.      In the days of…On this first day of the year, I am reminded, somewhat mundanely that our lives are made up of a day at a time. The sum of these lives is what we are known for after the fact. Covers 792 B.C. through 686.

                                                                          i.      Uzziah – (2 Chronicles 26:3-5): reigned in Jerusalem for 52 years, starting at his 16^th birthday. Followed God during the days of Zechariah.

                                                                        ii.      Jotham – (2 Kings 15:32-38): King of Judah, ruled from age 25 for 16 years. Did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but the high places were not removed.

                                                                      iii.      Ahaz – (2 Kings 16:1-4): King of Judah, ruled from age 20 for 16 years. Did not do what was right, including sacrificing his son and participating in other cult practices of the region.

                                                                      iv.      Hezekiah – (2 Kings 18:1-8): King of Judah at 25, ruled for 29 years. Did what was right and removed idols, including the bronze snake of Moses. No other king is known for his righteousness in the same way.

3.      Thoughts on verse 1

a.       There will be a lot to cover- scripture is far richer than we often give it credit for in our brief readings. How can we engage scripture on a level which moves into genuine engagement without worshipping the text?

b.      Scripture speaks to scripture. In order to be conversant with the biblical text and let it speak to me, I need to be in the word regularly and be open to parallelisms.

c.       The arc of our lives can be set early by those we surround ourselves with every day.

d.      Am I open to the work of the Holy Spirit in my life in such a way that I can hear from God?