God has rescued the people from Egypt and guided them through the wilderness to the Promised Land, but there's a problem: the Israelites' descendants wouldn't have direct experience of God's saving work (verse 2). They would just ...

In this chapter we read moving expressions of God's care for his people. 'Do not be afraid – I will save you,' he says; 'I have called you by name — you are mine' (verse 1). In vivid images, the prophet brings God's ...

After a beautiful picture of Spirit-filled believers joyfully committing themselves to the service of God – 'One by one, people will say, "I am the LORD's"' (verse 5) – Isaiah 44 moves into a devastating and very funny at...

King Cyrus, the Persian ruler whose vast empire included the Holy Land and who was to allow the exiled Jews to return home from Babylon, was not a believer in the God of Israel. However, God believed in him: 'I have given you great honour, altho...

Isaiah's prophecies are treasure troves for preachers. In this chapter, he compares the gods of Babylon to the LORD; they cannot save, he says, but God does. But it's his vivid illustration of their helplessness that brings his thought to l...

Israel is to return home from Babylon thanks to God's action through the conquering King Cyrus. But the slate isn't wiped clean. Even as an instrument of God's judgement on Israel, Babylon has behaved cruelly: 'I was angry with my...

‘Hear … See … Listen to me … Draw near to me, hear this!’ Isaiah 48 is a heartbreaking cry of frustration from a God who has spoken openly to his people, yet they act as if they are deaf and blind to all the clear signs of his devotion to t...

In Isaiah 49, God’s compassion for his suffering people is so total and overflowing that there is no hint of further judgement. It is a chapter about a complete reversal of fortunes. The nation has hit rock bottom – desolate, devastated and swall...

In verse 4 of this chapter, the prophet Isaiah says that God has given him ‘the tongue of a teacher’ – but notice that he also tells us how he listens to God ‘as those who are taught’. The two activities are linked: first he listens and lea...

This prophecy is addressed to a people who have been struck down and laid waste by their oppressors and by devastating circumstances that are beyond their control. One of the key themes in the chapter is ‘comfort’, especially in verses 12–16.

Isaiah 52 is a call to rise up from the lethargy of despair. When people lose hope, they may shut down emotionally to guard themselves against further pain. But the prophet now tells them to wake up, shake off the dust and watch out for their long-aw...

The book of Isaiah is full of foreshadowings of Jesus. Chapter 40 marks the beginning of a new section which may have been written by a different author; most scholars don't think the book was written by one person, though they all stress its ar...

The book of Ecclesiastes seems to concentrate on how to get by in the world without too much trouble – though when we dig below the surface, we find there's more to it than that.

Some parts of Ecclesiastes can seem like a very bleak read. 'A live dog is better than a dead lion', says the Preacher (verse 4); at least while we're alive we can eat, drink and be cheerful, but when we're dead we're dead.

This chapter of Ecclesiastes would not be out of place in Proverbs, another example of 'Wisdom' literature. It is full of wise, rather wry advice based on a keen observation of human nature. One of its themes is the need for wise government...

This section of chapter 11 is another set of proverbs, focused on living well while we have the chance. Verse 1 is translated 'cast your bread upon the waters' in older translations; the GNB interprets this rightly as 'invest your mone...

These verses are advice to remember God while we're young – or at least, before we are so old and frail that we don't enjoy life and are no longer active. They also contain some of the most beautiful poetry in the Old Testament, with love...

Hebrews was written by a Jewish Christian to other Jewish believers to encourage them in a time of persecution. It's extraordinarily rich theologically, and deeply rooted in the Old Testament. These opening verses speak of the absolute supremacy...

The writer of Hebrews is overwhelmed with a sense of the glory of Christ. He takes the words of Psalm 8 about human beings lifted up and 'crowned with glory and honour' (verse 7) and applies them directly to Jesus.

Hebrews was written at a time of persecution, and contains many references to remaining faithful. We're responsible for our own discipleship, but the writer also encourages us to 'help one another every day' (verse 13). We are responsi...