It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flowto it – Isaiah 2:2 ESV

Hebrew
וְנָהֲר֥וּ/wə-nā-hă-rū: to flow, run

Why It Matters
The Genesee River is one of only 60 or so rivers in the world that flow northward. With its source in the rolling hills of Potter County, PA, it bisects New York state, travels 157 miles and empties into Lake Ontario. As unique as a north-flowing river is, the Genesee River still adheres to the laws of nature. It flows from a higher elevation to a lower one, gets rerouted when a physical impediment is in its way, and opens up into a larger body of water. No one would expect anything different!

This concept in part is what makes Isaiah 2:2 so incredible, both to its original audience and to us as well. Isaiah says that the highest mountain in the world will be the mountain of the house of the Lord. This poetic metaphor is meant to reveal that in the latter days the place where God can be found (and worshipped) will be the most important place in the world. But something unique will happen here: nations will wə-nā-hă-rū, or flow to this mountain! Something supernatural will be taking place, because it is only natural for things to wə-nā-hă-rūaway from higher elevations. If you’re honest with yourself, your natural tendency apart from Jesus is to wə-nā-hă-rūtoward selfishness and stubbornness, not toward the heights of Heaven. The natural thing for all of us is to flow downward toward sin, and our best efforts to redirect our lives are as futile as trying to push the Genesee River southward. It would take a supernatural act to undo the natural law and wə-nā-hă-rūtoward something higher than yourself. Thankfully, when Isaiah prophecies about this flowing upward of the nations, he does so in the context of the Messiah coming out of Zion. Only Jesus could undo what comes so naturally to us and bring the nations to the place where they wə-nā-hă-rūupward toward mountain of the house of the Lord.

Declaration of the Week
I will intentionally lean in to the ultimate source of my strength and power.

Application
Who will I serve this week?

Music Response
We kicked off the new series singing about the glory of God, how Jesus changes everything, and how we can build our lives on the truth of His Word. We pray these songs encourage you to serve others as you sing about Jesus, the ultimate servant. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. – Isaiah 2:3 ESV

Hebrew
וְנֵלְכָ֖ה בְּאֹרְחֹתָ֑יו/wə-nê-lə-ḵāh bə-’ō-rə-ḥō-ṯāw: we shall walk in His paths

Why It Matters
For the past several decades, sociologists have been warning us of the dangers of “commodification” in our relationships. Commodification is the process in which social relations become reduced to economic exchange relations. In other words, there’s a danger when people choose who they draw close to for the product they receive rather than simply being the person they are. Commodification is sometimes considered the quickest path to relational self-destruction. Isaiah spoke of the day when the nations of the world would stop looking to God as a means to achieve selfish ambition. Instead the nations would desire to learn the wisdom and instruction that only God could provide and thus declare “Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.” This going up has a specific purpose – to be taught His ways and wə-nê-lə-ḵāh bə-’ō-rə-ḥō-ṯāw (to walk in His paths). Notice the catalyst: we draw near to God so that we can be more like Him in our thoughts and actions! wə-nê-lə-ḵāh bə-’ō-rə-ḥō-ṯāw implies that we give up the path that we have walked on and submit to following in His footsteps. If we don’t properly understand or reflect on this purpose, we may be tempted to commodify our relationship with God. We draw near in order to learn from and walk in the path that God has established, trusting that His ways are better than ours and that our journey can be taken for His glory alone. When our purpose for drawing closer to God is corrupted by our selfishness we are in danger of self-destruction.

Declaration of the Week
I will intentionally lean in to the ultimate source of my strength and power.

Application
Who will I serve this week?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the “Tried and Truth” series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. – Isaiah 2:4 ESV

Hebrew
וְכִתְּת֨וּ/wə-ḵit-tə-ṯū: to beat or hammer; to crush to pieces

Why It Matters
Robert Frost (1874-1963) is known today as one of America’s most important poets. Frost delivered a poem at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration and became the face of American modern poetry in the 20th century. This poetic passion was kindled in high school, where he became interested in reading and writing poetry. But his passion didn’t translate into immediate success; Frost actually drifted between several failed careers, most notably a newspaper editor, cobbler and farmer. However, after being encouraged and inspired by others who saw a gift in him, Frost published his first full length collection of poems… at nearly 40 years of age. When Robert Frost directed his diligence and hard work toward poetry, he finally felt like he could go back to what originally inspired him and do what he was born to do.

Today’s verse promises us that there will be a time when the nations will wə-ḵit-tə-ṯū (beat or hammer) their swords into plowshares. What a picture! wə-ḵit-tə-ṯū implies hard work – beating and hammering on metal repeatedly – so that our effort will be leveraged toward working with God to heal injustice. There is often hard work associated with peace but this is what we were born to do, since Isaiah reminds us that our worship will lead us to action. In the Book of Genesis, sin entered the garden of Eden and division sprang up in our relationship with God and each other. Suddenly there was a need for swords to wage war because of this division. But prophetically Isaiah spoke of a day when the work of God would cause humanity to go back to the place where we could do what we were born to do. God’s work of justice will be the catalyst for us to work diligently to wə-ḵit-tə-ṯū what once harmed humanity into something that would help humanity. As we lean in to Christ’s redemptive work, may we come alive in the work God has given us to do.

Declaration of the Week
I will intentionally lean in to the ultimate source of my strength and power.

Application
Who will I serve this week?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the “Tried and Truth” series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made. – Isaiah 2:8 ESV

Hebrew
אֱלִילִ֑ים/’ĕ-lî-lîm: of nought, of nothing, “no gods”

Why It Matters
One of our Because and Therefore statements at Centerway reads like this: “Because we’ve been awarded grace we value AUTHENTICITY therefore we honestly do life together, don’t try to hide our mess, and don’t lead second rate versions of our one and only life.” This statement reminds us that grace flows from One authentic source, and that no one wins when we try to bring a counterfeit version of ourselves to the community God has called us to. In this passage we see Isaiah calling out the people of Judah for filling their land with ĕ-lî-lîm, counterfeit versions of the only One who deserves their worship. Everything about these ĕ-lî-lîmis counterfeit, from the fact that they are created beings (by Judah’s own hands no less!) to the way this word sounds, since the similar sounding ĕl-lo-hîmis the Hebrew word for God. As close as they may have seemed to being authentic objects of worship for Judah, ĕ-lî-lîmcan be literally translated as “nothing” or “no gods.” They can’t give the grace that Judah was looking for and had no capacity to bring the life giving hope that they needed. If we’re not careful, we could fall into the trap of finding Judah foolish for their tolerance of ĕ-lî-lîmwhile simultaneously hoping that a counterfeit ĕ-lî-lîmwill be worthy of our worship. How often do we hide our mess because we think it’s the only way people will like us? Have we submitted to the temptation to live with increasing debt because we hope a lifestyle will garner the respect of our peers? These are just a few ways to recognize the “no gods” that we so often serve. Thank God that His supply of grace doesn’t run out for us! As we authentically turn from our ĕ-lî-lîm, God will grant us the ability to live out the potential of our one and only life.

Declaration of the Week
I refuse to hold anything back in my pursuit of holiness.

Application
What will I surrender to the Lord in prayer this week?

Music Response
This Sunday we sang songs of surrender that acknowledged attributes of God’s goodness and trustworthiness. We closed with It is Well by Bethel Music (a take on the hymn It Is Well with My Soul by Horatio Spafford). Singing “it is well” is not a stamp of approval on the difficulties of life or a way to convince ourselves that it’s fine; instead it’s a posture of our heart and willingness to declare that – because of Jesus – it is well, and that we choose to trust him with open hearts and hands. Let this and other songs from the series be an encouragement and reminder to you this week. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. – Isaiah 2:7 ESV

Hebrew
מָלֵא/wat-tim-mā-lê: containing as much or as many as possible

Why It Matters
Food is delicious. It’s enjoyable and necessary. Consumed properly, it sustains us, nourishes our brains, and gives us energy to go about our lives. But filling ourselves with too much food results in sluggishness and eventually obesity. Left untamed, it could even lead to death. More subtly, when food becomes a focus, it shifts from an enjoyable, necessary thing to an ironically unfulfilling source of comfort.
The people of Judah believed they were on the path to becoming more spiritual, but were actually engaging in the spiritual destruction that comes with pride, self-sufficiency, and idolatry. Verse 7 says, “Their land is wat-tim-mā-lê (מָלֵא) with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is wat-tim-mā-lê (מָלֵא) with horses, and there is no end to their chariots.” The land of Judah was filled with good things. But sadly, those things became ultimate things. They wat-tim-mā-lê themselves with things and pursuits other than God. In the end, they isolated themselves from God, ultimately forsaking Him.
Today, our own pursuits can be just as harmful. We have the propensity to become proud and overconfident, determining for ourselves what will satisfy. Like Judah, we forget the truth about who God really is. We may begin to think that by being wat-tim-mā-lê with things like food, money, productivity, success, stability, and comfort, that we can find relief from the cares and pressures of this life. But at the end of the day, those things will never fill our emptiness and can even lead to death. Silver and gold was never designed to satiate the spiritual hunger that is common to the human experience. Our emptiness can only be filled – and Salvation can only be obtained – through Christ alone. On the Day of the Lord, He alone will be exalted.

Declaration of the Week
I refuse to hold anything back in my pursuit of holiness.

Application
What will I surrender to the Lord in prayer this week?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the “Tried and Truth” series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And the idols shall utterly pass away. – Isaiah 2:18 ESV

Hebrew
כָּלִ֥יל יַחֲלֹֽף׃/ya-ḥă-lōp̄ kā-lîl: completely cease to exist

Why It Matters
In 1302 BC, a total eclipse seen in China blocked out the sun for 6 minutes and 25 seconds. People were thrown into a panic; they thought the sun was permanently disappearing. In order to save the sun from dying, the Emperor committed to eat only vegetables (I have no idea how that would help) and offered ritual sacrifices. Today, we understand that just because the sun is obscured in an eclipse doesn’t mean that it’s gone for good. The moon’s orbit may interfere with our perception, but the sun still remains intact. However, Isaiah shows us that when the Lord is exalted in that day, He will be so powerful that all of the “no gods” (see our devotional from Monday) will ya-ḥă-lōp̄ kā-lîl. This Hebrew phrase means significantly more than to be obscured from view; the Lord will cause the idols that were once prominent to be completely obliterated from existence! This is an important reminder for us today, because sometimes we are tempted to waffle between prioritizing our relationship with God and prioritizing other things that we hope will illuminate our lives. But when God alone is truly exalted, our idols and their sway over us ya-ḥă-lōp̄ kā-lîl. In this regard Isaiah takes the imagery of a beloved hymn one step further, so that the things of earth don’t just grow strangely dim, they actually disappear from existence.

Declaration of the Week
I refuse to hold anything back in my pursuit of holiness.

Application
What will I surrender to the Lord in prayer this week?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the “Tried and Truth” series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves. – Isaiah 3:9 ESV

Hebrew
הַכָּרָה hakkarah; a look:—expression

Why It Matters
Ever hear the phrase “at face value”? It dates back to the 1800’s and has roots in banking and finance, as face value is the value printed on the face of a coin, stock, bond, even a postage stamp. When you take something at face value, you’re not looking for a deeper, hidden meaning; you’re accepting it as it appears to be. No interpretation needed; what you see is what you get.

Interestingly enough, we can take this verse at face value. Often we find deeper meaning as we unpack the original Hebrew. But in this case, it’s quite literal. The hakkarah on the faces of the nation of Judah plainly revealed and bore witness against them. They wore on their faces the expression of their sin. While the look or expression itself was not a sin, it revealed their heart of rebellion, their lack of remorse, and contentment in their sin. Taken at face value, you wouldn’t have been left wondering the state of their heart. Their faces made it apparent.

What are you projecting to the world around you? Taken at face value, what is the story you’re telling? Verse 9 says “they do not hide it.” It’s clear here that Judah wasn’t trying to hide it, but even if they had tried, changing their hakkarah would not have modified the condition of their heart. The same is true for us, and God, of course, already knows. Trying to hide it from a watching world won’t transform our hearts; only Jesus can do that. But taking a moment to consider our hakkarah may provide us an indicator of what we’ve become content with in life. Are you reflecting and projecting the contentment found only in the pursuit and presence of Christ, or have you become content in sin, settling for a lesser version of your one and only life?

Our (face) value is priceless because of the work of Jesus, and as we seek his face, we will most certainly be transformed into his likeness.

Declaration of the Week
I choose to pursue proximity to Christ for my own spiritual health and for the sake of those in my sphere of influence.

Application
With whom in my life will I share the message of hope?

Music Response
What a great start to the week singing songs that positioned our hearts to remember the message of hope, as well as songs the remind us of God as our source and delight. We encourage you to check out the playlist to continue to keep these truths front and center as you go about your day. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. – Isaiah 3:10 ESV

Hebrew
פְרִ֥י/p̄ə-rî: fruit, produce

Why It Matters
My childhood was pure chaos. I (Tara) grew up in the country on the same dirt road as all of my family, and there was always so much going on. After I made the decision to follow Jesus, there were many moments in which I would have to choose between the chaos of my family and what I knew to be the right decision in following Jesus. None of my family members believed in Jesus and most of them held tightly to very unhealthy vices just to get through life. They would often look at me as though I were crazy and that they had more control over the atmosphere I was in than I did. In the midst of living in an environment I had no control over, I was trying to stick close to Jesus and trust that He would lead me in the right direction. On days when my decisions went completely “against the grain” of my family’s lifestyle, I clung to hope that my life would produce the p̄ə-rî (fruit) that comes from following Jesus and not the fruit of chaotic choices.

In the middle of proclaiming and speaking about the terrible future for the people of Judah, Isaiah drops a line of hope for those who desire to cling to Biblical truth. The principle of reaping and sowing is very much at play. Though Judah is reaping the destruction that the majority had sown, the righteous would also reap what they had sown. They would not be swallowed up by their environment and forgotten about. Their choices mattered and God used Isaiah to encourage their hearts to remain steadfast. He was giving the righteous the strength and encouragement to continue in their faithfulness, even in the midst of an environment that they could not control. How could Isaiah be sure? It was because he saw a vision of the Messiah who would willingly trade our wickedness for His righteousness. If you find yourself in a less than ideal environment, you can cling to the reality that because of Jesus, you will “eat the p̄ə-rî” that His righteousness imparts to those who trust in Him!

Declaration of the Week
I choose to pursue proximity to Christ for my own spiritual health and for the sake of those in my sphere of influence.

Application
With whom in my life will I share the message of hope?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the “Tried and Truth” series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of hosts. – Isaiah 3:15 ESV

Hebrew
תִּטְחָ֑נוּ/tiṭ-ḥā-nū: to grind, as in a mill

Why It Matters
Sometimes even the most difficult situations we face can be solved by looking at them from a unique perspective. In 2002, Sweden adopted a ban on putting biodegradable waste in their landfills, and suddenly the country had a difficult issue to wrestle with: where were they going to put their garbage? Paying to haul it to another country proved costly, and illegal dumping was starting to become a serious concern. The solution was found in looking at waste from a different perspective. Waste-to-energy plants – facilities that convert garbage to electricity and heating –  began springing up all over the country. Within 11 years, only 1% of garbage in Sweden ended up in traditional landfills and by 2013 the country was actually importing 700,000 tons of garbage from other countries to convert to energy. The way we choose to see a situation we face really matters!
The way we see the people God has placed in our lives must be done from a fresh vantage point as well. In Isaiah 3:14-15, we find Judah being judged for their treatment of the poor in their midst. Rather than seeing this group and asking how they could help, Judah saw the poor and asked how they could use them for their own gain. Isaiah depicts this terrible way of seeing people in his use of the word tiṭ-ḥā-nū (grinding). At a grinding mill, the raw material of grain is picked from the field and crushed down to a powder. The resulting material would then be used for gain, either to be consumed by people or sold for the benefit of the grinder. God does not look kindly on those who would see the poor as a resource to tiṭ-ḥā-nū up and extrapolate value from, rather than as people to serve and lift up. When Jesus articulated His reason for entering our world, he told his disciples that he didn’t come to be served, but to serve (Matt. 20:28). Our Lord saw us in our state of need, poor and lowly, and rather than take from us, he gave his life for us! Thank God that his heart of love was on display at the cross, and as a result we are empowered to love those in our world who need it the most.

Declaration of the Week
I choose to pursue proximity to Christ for my own spiritual health and for the sake of those in my sphere of influence.

Application
With whom in my life will I share the message of hope?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the “Tried and Truth” series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Instead of perfume there will be rottenness; and instead of a belt, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a skirt of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty. – Isaiah 3:24 ESV

Hebrew
יֹֽפִי׃/yō-p̄î: beauty

Why It Matters
In 2017, the wedding industry boasted a whopping $72 billion dollars in revenue. There is no expense spared when it comes to the “big day,” Brides go to great lengths to have the perfect hair, dress, jewelry, and makeup. The perfect songs are selected and the perfect toasts are made. At the end of this beautiful day, the bride and groom are sent off with cheers and celebration. As life moves forward, there must be more than perfectly crafted moments, or we will be tempted to believe the beauty of a marriage is tied to a singular event. There needs to be substance and dedication in the face of disappointment, frustration, and certainly in grief and difficult times. When everything is stripped away, is there still an unwavering commitment to one another and to God?

Isaiah was speaking to the nation of Judah with a very visual metaphor concerning what they place their importance on. The embellishments and yō-p̄î(beauty) will be thrown away and replaced with the unpleasant. When God doesn’t occupy the highest place of glory in our lives, all our beauty will fade. When that happens, will we be willing to repent and have God be the center? Judah was more concerned with the perfect presentation of what serving God looked like than truly serving God, much like a couple that begins with the perfect wedding day but only focuses on maintaining the appearance of a perfect marriage. While the beauty of a wedding day may fade, as pursuers of Christ, our lives only increase in beauty as we humbly serve him and others. We can trust that Jesus will bring yō-p̄îfrom the heart that submits to Him.

Declaration of the Week
Because the gospel frees me to take my eyes off myself, I will serve others in humility

Application
When this week will I evaluate my priorities?

Music Response
We responded to the Word today with songs that told of the great love of God and that encouraged us keep Jesus the center. As we evaluate our priorities this week, we pray that you would “lay aside the worries of (your) day, quiet down (your) busy mind, and find a hiding place.” Grateful for these words from the song Unashamed Love and others that point us to Jesus. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts. – Isaiah 3:17 ESV

Hebrew
וְשִׂפַּ֣ח/wə-śip-paḥ: to bring sores

Why It Matters
What is your least favorite thing about summer? For many of us in upstate New York, the answer to that poll question begins and ends with mosquitoes. Amidst all the warm weather enjoyment, mosquitoes can put a damper on just about any gathering or outdoor event. And if you think that you get bit more than the people around you, you may be right. People with an O blood type are 83% more likely to attract mosquitoes than any other type. For these people, it often feels like there is nothing that can be done to repel the blood sucking insects. Regardless of your best efforts, mosquitoes are attracted to you.
This is the opposite of what is happening in our verse today. The indictment that Isaiah levels at the nation of Judah is that their haughtiness will destroy them, and their best efforts to attract the attention of others will actually cause the Lord to wə-śip-paḥ – to strike with a sore or scab. The word is related to the noun for leprous tissue, which would mean that the thing that Judah meant for attraction would actually lead to being isolated! It can be frustrating when we experience the opposite of the result we expect from our actions. But the story didn’t end there for Judah, and it doesn’t have to end there for us either. Throughout his book, Isaiah interweaves his prophecies of deserved punishment with a hope that the Messiah will undo all that Judah should expect to experience. In fact, Isaiah 53 declares that the Messiah will be “pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities… and with His wounds we are healed.” Thank God that when we should expect to be repelled in isolation, He offers the very opposite of what we deserve.

Declaration of the Week
Because the gospel frees me to take my eyes off myself, I will serve others in humility

Application
When this week will I evaluate my priorities?

Music Response
We responded to the Word today with songs that told of the great love of God and that encouraged us keep Jesus the center. As we evaluate our priorities this week, we pray that you would “lay aside the worries of (your) day, quiet down (your) busy mind, and find a hiding place.” Grateful for these words from the song Unashamed Love and others that point us to Jesus. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach.” – Isaiah 4:1 ESV

Hebrew
חֶרְפָּתֵֽנוּ׃/ḥer-pā-ṯê-nū: our reproach or scorn; the taunt of an enemy

Why It Matters
In 2003, Aron Ralston was hiking and exploring a canyon in Utah when his arm got pinned by a boulder. In an act of final desperation, after days of waiting and weighing his options, he made the choice to amputate his own arm with his pocket knife. When we are faced with the idea that we may not survive, desperation will drive us to do just about anything, even if it means we will lose something extremely valuable. Our goal is self preservation.
The passage this week is a prophetic metaphor of the state the nation of Judah is in. In Jewish culture during the time of Isaiah, a woman was expected to be attached to a man (whether it be a husband or father) to have any worth associated with her. If not, she would often suffer ḥer-pā-ṯê-nū, or reproach. Women were not often educated and did not have many choices in the direction of their lives. If a woman had no father and was without a husband, she carried a unique burden. Along with this reality, women who were childless in Jewish culture were filled with shame and that ḥer-pā-ṯê-nūoften made a woman feel as though something was wrong with her. She may soon begin to believe that she was punished by God if she were not granted a child.. These women depended solely on their earthly provider to have worth and to survive.
We are awakened to the fact that Judah has attached her worth to something other than God, and had suffered ḥer-pā-ṯê-nūas a result. Its hope of survival has been placed in the temporal and because of that, they are acting out of total desperation. Judah was desperately looking for a savior in things that won’t last, instead of turning to God himself. Will there be hope to overcome the reproach that comes from misplaced worth? Yes! Isaiah saw 700 years into the future as Jesus would submit himself to the undeserved ḥer-pā-ṯê-nū of the cross, so that we could find our worth in Him.

Declaration of the Week
Because the gospel frees me to take my eyes off myself, I will serve others in humility

Application
When this week will I evaluate my priorities?

Music Response
We responded to the Word today with songs that told of the great love of God and that encouraged us keep Jesus the center. As we evaluate our priorities this week, we pray that you would “lay aside the worries of (your) day, quiet down (your) busy mind, and find a hiding place.” Grateful for these words from the song Unashamed Love and others that point us to Jesus. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. – Isaiah 4:2 ESV

Hebrew
לִצְבִ֖י/liṣ·ḇî: beautiful, decorated

Why It Matters
On the PBS series Antiques Roadshow, a woman asked for a piece of artwork to be appraised for its value. She had recently inherited it from her grandmother, and even though she knew it was nothing special, its beauty had captured her attention from childhood. Because there was a mosquito caught between the image and the glass, she took the painting out of the frame to clean it up. The granddaughter had always assumed the piece was a print or copy of an older work, but once it was out in the open, she saw that it was an actual painting, not a print. This woman hoped her artwork or even the frame alone would be appraised for around $250. Much to the woman’s delight, it was determined to be an original 1892 piece from Henry Francois Farny, and the auction value was estimated to be upwards of $300,000. Thank you, Grandma!
In Isaiah 3, the nation of Judah was personified by women who decorated themselves in an attempt to make themselves liṣ·ḇî, or beautiful. Their efforts ultimately had the opposite effect, leading the nation to be ashamed and neglected. However, in our verse today, Isaiah forsees a day when the branch of the Lord will be liṣ·ḇî (beautiful) and glorious. Judah’s shame stemmed from attempting to pass off a copy for the original. They sought to take the place of God and sit alone in glory atop the throne of their own lives. But rather than punishing them completely, God forgave them and displayed His liṣ·ḇî for the world to see. The act of selfless beauty Jesus displayed on the cross is a constant reminder that no matter how hard we try, humanity can never duplicate the liṣ·ḇî of the authentic. Don’t settle for a copy among the philosophies and world views this life offers.

Declaration of the Week
I will find my identity in the final word that God speaks about me.

Application
What will I address in my life in light of how God views me?

Music Response
This week’s set focused on the truth of who we are in Christ and what he says about us. We are loved, chosen, known, we are not forsaken, we are free, and the list goes on. Let these and other songs from the series be a backdrop to your week as you process what needs to be addressed in your life in light of how God views you. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, – Isaiah 4:3 ESV

Hebrew
וְהַנּוֹתָר֙/wə·han·nō·w·ṯār: to remain; to be left behind

Why It Matters
New York City is one of the most impressive cities in the world. It is a permanent fixture in the minds and lives of people across the globe. It is a hub of commerce, trade, travel, and culture. On September 11, 2001, New York City faced an incomprehensible attack. One of the most difficult realities to process during the aftermath was that the Twin Towers (two buildings that defined the city’s skyline) collapsed. Those buildings did not wə·han·nō·w·ṯār (remain). The unthinkable shook people to the core as they realized that even the strongest of buildings could fall. Most people crave a permanent residence or a permanent community to belong to. We crave permanent relationships that we will always be able to count on. We crave permanent relationships that we will always be able to count on. The hard truth is that nothing on this earth is permanent. Our relationships change, our family dynamics change, our communities and cities change.
Jesus is our permanence. He is the permanent solution, the permanent salvation, and the permanent hope for our lives. He has the final say, and all opinions begin and end with Him. In Isaiah 4:3-4, Isaiah speaks of the permanence of the remedy that Jesus will be for Judah’s sins, struggles and pretending. Because of His work, those who wə·han·nō·w·ṯār will be called Holy. He is the authentic solution and our answer “once and for all.” When life feels stable and when the incomprehensible happens, He is that same remedy for us today. Nothing on this earth will produce the lasting solution we crave except for Jesus himself.

Declaration of the Week
I will find my identity in the final word that God speaks about me.

Application
What will I address in my life in light of how God views me?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the “Tried and Truth” series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain. – Isaiah 4:6 ESV

Hebrew
וְסֻכָּ֛ה/wə·suk·kāh: a booth or tent used as a place of safety

Why It Matters
Whether we have articulated it in these terms or not, we probably have all suffered from buyer’s remorse – the sense of regret after making a purchase. It’s more than likely that you can share your own story of this type of regret. Maybe it was because you bought something expensive and didn’t think about the cost. Maybe it was because you expected the item to bring a sense of fulfillment that never materialized. Whatever the reason, the feeling of buyer’s remorse can last far longer than the actual purchased item does! In our day and age, it’s rare that we come across an item that exceeds our expectations.
But this is one of the reasons why Isaiah’s prophecy is so profound. When our pride and self-absorption leave us expecting wrath, we find that the branch of the Lord has purchased a wə·suk·kāh – a tent or booth. This booth promises not to disappoint regardless of where we find ourselves. God’s wə·suk·kāh is protection from the opposite issues of heat (dryness and mundane) and rainstorm (inundation and changing conditions). And the best news of all is that this wə·suk·kāh has already been purchased on our behalf by the work of the branch of the Lord! No matter what situation you find yourself in, God’s covering is sufficient, and you can rest assured that there’s a shelter and place of safety for you.

Declaration of the Week
I will find my identity in the final word that God speaks about me.

Application
What will I address in my life in light of how God views me?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the “Tried and Truth” series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. – Isaiah 5:2 ESV

Hebrew
בְּאֻשִֽׁים/bə·’u·šîm: stinkberries

Why It Matters
The Great Westminster Clock known as Big Ben had been in near-perfect operation for 117 years when a policeman on duty in the palace heard a “thud.” At 3:45am on August 5th, 1976 the fatigued metal in the chiming mechanism cracked, causing large pieces of the flywheel to go hurling into the walls and ceiling of the clocktower. It took experts 9 months to clean up the carnage and repair the clock to working condition. Some placed the blame for the crack in the metal on the manufacturer using inexpensive parts; others blamed the engineers for not upkeeping the clock like they should have. Either way, the debate about who was responsible continues to this day.

When Isaiah wrote his song about the vineyard in chapter 5, he left no debate as to who was responsible for the stink fruit that the vineyard produced. The vineyard owner did everything right, from selecting fertile ground to surrounding it with dual fences to planting the choicest vines. No one is to blame but the vineyard herself! Isaiah reveals through his song that God, who is the vineyard owner, has created the perfect environment for Judah to flourish. However, instead of flourishing, Judah produces bə·’u·šîm or stinkberries. We can’t blame God for the rotten fruit we produce, so what can we do with the weight of responsibility that comes with the reality of our sin? Jesus shows us in John 15 that it’s only in connection with Him that our fruit becomes healthy. Thankfully as a result, the weight of responsibility is placed on Christ, who took it to the cross with him.

Declaration of the Week
I commit to turning my good intentions into positive action.

Application
When will I act on the radical obedience God is calling me to?

Music Response
One of the lyrics from this week’s set says, “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me.” Praying as you sing these words from “Oceans” by Hillsong and other songs from the series that you would put your trust in God who doesn’t fail and who will most certainly produce good fruit as you remain in Him and respond in obedience. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

What more was there to dofor my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? – Isaiah 5:4 ESV

Hebrew
לַּעֲשׂ֥וֹת/la·‘ă·śō·wṯ: could have been fashioned or designed

Why It Matters
Little league baseball is the quintessential summer activity for a child in American culture. It almost seems as though it has become a rite of passage in some communities. This year, I (Tara) signed my youngest son up and we were all really excited to see him play. We got him new cleats, a water bottle, bat bag, and of course his uniform. We made sure he had the best breakfast before his first game and we were there early to be sure he was prepared. Once the team showed up, he refused to step out into the field. His little four year old mind conjured every excuse in the world not to engage in the environment that had been perfectly curated for him. He had made a choice that he didn’t want to participate, regardless of how perfect the circumstances were. When the game ended, he was sad that he didn’t have fun. Obviously, it was his choices that kept him from experiencing the joy of the game and being part of a team. His choices had created his reality.

Isaiah is communicating that the people of Judah had no excuses for the position they find themselves in. God had lovingly la·‘ă·śō·wṯ– fashioned or designed an environment where they could grow, know Him and communicate that to the world. But they chose to do what they wanted instead of allowing that environment to have an impact on them. We find ourselves in the same situation. God hasla·‘ă·śō·wṯenvironments for us where we can choose to engage our relationship with Him, be truly transformed, and affect the world around us because of that change. Our environments may not be what we expect, but they are environments where we can encounter God and allow Him to work through us to speak to a broken world. We can either be the four year old on the sidelines who has counted ourselves out or we can respond to God’s voice and enjoy the transformation only He can bring.

Declaration of the Week
I commit to turning my good intentions into positive action.

Application
When will I act on the radical obedience God is calling me to?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the “Tried and Truth” series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry! Isaiah 5:7 ESV

Hebrew
מִשְׁפָּט֙/miš·paṭ: justice – the quality of being free from favoritism, self-interest, bias, or deception; especially conforming to established standards or rules.

מִשְׂפָּ֔ח/miś·pāḥ: bloodshed – the shedding of blood resulting in murder.

צְדָקָ֖ה/ṣ·ḏā·qāh: righteousness – adherence to what is required according to a standard; for example, a moral standard, though not always.

צְעָקָֽה׃/ṣə·‘ā·qāh: cry of distress – a cry of emotional distress or anguish.

Why It Matters
Very few things can be as embarrassing as when you think you’ve heard something only to discover that although it sounded similar, something very different was being said! Even as you read this you’re probably able to remember a time you asked someone to repeat what they said because you couldn’t believe that they said what you heard. We’ve all been on both sides of that situation. Something very similar is intentionally being done in this verse that should challenge us. These pairs of words sound and look very similar in the original Hebrew, yet they have opposite meanings. The poetry and depth of meaning is truly lost in translation. You see, Judah as a nation was very careful to appear one way while in their hearts were the opposite. The Lord was looking for miš·paṭbut found miś·pāḥ… He was searching for people of justice and found murderers. The Lord was looking for ṣ·ḏā·qāhbut found ṣə·‘ā·qāh… He was searching for people of righteousness and found people crying out in distress. They looked the same and even sounded the same at face value, but they were ultimately revealed in the fruit of their lives.

All too often Christians look the part and talk the talk but in circumstances and situations of life they reveal themselves to be more focused on self than on the Christ they are called to represent. Ultimately it is not our efforts that bring about change in our lives. It is only in increasing proximity to our Savior that our hearts and minds are transformed!

Declaration of the Week
I commit to turning my good intentions into positive action.

Application
When will I act on the radical obedience God is calling me to?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the “Tried and Truth” series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflamesthem! – Isaiah 5:11 ESV

Hebrew
יַדְלִיקֵֽם/yaḏ·lî·qêm: to kindle or hotly pursue

Why It Matters
In traditional Greek Mythology, a Siren was a half bird, half woman creature who lured sailors with their beautiful singing voices (and seductive words) to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their islands. If a sailor took their focus off of their charted course and steered their ship toward the Siren’s enchanting music, they would inevitably suffer danger and severe loss.

After painting a vivid picture of how God should have counted on good crops from his vineyard, Isaiah explains what “stink fruit” looks like in the lives of God’s people. Interestingly, the examples Isaiah provides all address the danger of the “Siren Song” – chasing after the appeal of other voices apart from God. In our verse today, it’s wine that calls out to those who are growing in God’s vineyard. However, the danger isn’t necessarily found in strong drink itself, but in the all-consuming pursuit of that strong drink. From morning until evening they allow the pursuit of wine to lure them away from their charted course, just like the Siren song! They do this so that the wine will yaḏ·lî·qêm(to ignite, kindle, hotly pursue) them. What’s interesting is that by using this Hebrew verb, Isaiah is explaining that the hope of being yaḏ·lî·qêmis not the result of drinking wine but actually the purpose of drinking wine. These people who have produced stink fruit with their lives have done so by rejecting the pursuit of God and embracing the hot pursuit of the Siren song, of which wine is just one example in this chapter. So how can anyone keep from veering from the proper course with their lives? The answer to that question can be found in keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane, when tempted to veer from His Father’s plan for our redemption, Jesus demonstrated what staying the course looked like. And because He kept the charted course of the cross in front of him, salvation is the fruit that his life produced! May we lean into His loving voice as he directs us away from the allure of all others.

Declaration of the Week
No matter what vies for my attention this week, I will prioritize my relationship with God.

Application
Who will I extend mercy to?

Music Response
Grateful for songs that spur us on to sing of who God is and songs that help us sing prayers and praise to Him. This week’s set points to foundational truths about God and his goodness as well as his great mercy and how we can extend mercy to others. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! – Isaiah 5:21 ESV

Hebrew
חֲכָמִ֣ים בְּעֵֽינֵיהֶ֑ם/ḥă·ḵā·mîm bə·‘ê·nê·hem: wise, cunning, shrewd or learned in their own eyes

Why It Matters
Our mission statement at Centerway reads like this: To cultivate a movement in which people become Gospel-centered influencers in every sphere of life. We are convinced that when we have Jesus and His work at the center of who we are, He will leverage that to impact our world. The difficulty in all this is that our natural tendency is to center our lives on anything that points to our goodness instead of God’s glory. Isaiah is addressing this issue in our verse today by pronouncing a woe on anyone who insists on starting with themselves in their pursuit of truth. There are those who are ḥă·ḵā·mîm bə·‘ê·nê·hem, or learned and wise in their own eyes. Instead of being Gospel-centered, they are themselves-centered, and in so doing they are establishing a worldview that allows them to be autonomous. They believe they don’t need the wisdom of others to navigate life, and they don’t need to be submitted to the implications of the Gospel to experience freedom. The warning is that beginning with you at the center of your worldview will cause a warping of your life that will lead to destruction (v. 24). The only way to experience the freedom that comes from truth is to center your life on that truth!  The Gospel allows us to lean into that freedom while simultaneously trusting that Jesus has a plan for the lives we submit to him.

Declaration of the Week
No matter what vies for my attention this week, I will prioritize my relationship with God.

Application
Who will I extend mercy to?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the “Tried and Truth” series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom go up like dust; for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. – Isaiah 5:24 ESV

Hebrew
כַּמָּ֣ק/kam·māq: decay, rottenness

Why It Matters
We’ve all heard the old trope “be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.” We can recognize it in King Midas and his golden touch, the lottery winner who winds up depressed, and the executive who dreams about retirement only to resent how aimless and insignificant he feels. When the thing we wish for runs counter to the design of God, we will eventually regret having it fulfilled every time. Isaiah’s prophecy of kam·māq (rottenness, decay) in the root of the Israelites comes shortly after the revelation that their own wisdom was what their roots were drawing strength from. Instead of drawing near to God for strength and direction, they attempted to live independently from him and be rooted in their own gifts and ability. Now they are getting exactly what they wished for – an autonomous existence where they are free from spiritual authority. The specific tense of the noun kam·māq is only found here in the entire Bible, and it implies complete decay so that there is nothing useful left to extract from the root. So does this mean that it’s too late to “wish for” something other than the kam·māq we deserve? Isaiah’s response would be something like, “It’s never too late to return to God and wait in hope for the Messiah!” In fact, Isaiah 11:10 shows the prophet looking to a future in which another root, the Root of Jesse, would stand as the signal of hope for the entire world. The God we serve specializes in redeeming our kam·māq and providing undeserved hope.

Declaration of the Week
No matter what vies for my attention this week, I will prioritize my relationship with God.

Application
Who will I extend mercy to?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the “Tried and Truth” series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

He will raise a signal for nations far away, and whistle for them from the ends of the earth; and behold, quickly, speedily they come! – Isaiah 5:26 ESV

Hebrew
כַּמָּ֣ק/wə-šā-raq: will whistle, create an audible signal

Why It Matters
Around 41 million people are issued speeding tickets every year. In 2017, speeding caused 26% of all automobile accidents in the United States. When we are caught speeding, it is so easy to justify what we have done. We say things like, “I didn’t realize how fast I was going” or “I was just going with the flow of traffic” or “I just couldn’t be late for my appointment.” Instead of accepting responsibility, we justify why speeding is acceptable and then, when we get caught, we rationalize why we shouldn’t receive a ticket. Knowing the dangers that speeding can bring, it is astounding that most of us will try to avoid the consequences of a ticket when caught. Instead of acknowledging that we were putting ourselves and others at risk, we try to manipulate our way out of justice. We are reaping the consequences of our actions and instead of repenting, we choose manipulation. 
This verse is an illustration that God’s sovereignty to accomplish his purposes is powerful and swift. At the mere wə-šā-raq (whistle), nations will come to deliver justice as a consequence for Israel’s actions. The Israelites can get angry and blame earthly nations for what they are experiencing but they are reaping what they have sown. Instead of trying to manipulate the situation to “get out” of something, they need genuine repentance. They can continue to fight against reality or acknowledge the sovereignty of God and turn toward Him in an act of true obedience and acceptance of His ultimate plan. So may we be known for the speed in which we ourselves respond to His signal!

Declaration of the Week
This week, I will head in whatever direction I hear God calling me.

Application
What next step will I take?

Music Response
This week we sang songs that declare living our lives in remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice, songs that highlight the incredible grace that God extends to us in our brokenness, and that recognize the great love that God has for us. Throughout many of the lyrics we find declarations that focus our hearts and prioritize our lives in recognition of these great truths as we consider our next steps. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

None is weary, none stumbles, none slumbers or sleeps, not a waistband is loose, not a sandal strap broken; – Isaiah 5:27 ESV

Hebrew
אֵז֣וֹר/’ê-zō-wr: a belt, waist-cloth or innermost piece of clothing

Why It Matters
What do the phrases “Start your engines!” and “Gird your loins!” have in common? Even though they were uttered in different eras and different parts of the world, both of these phrases were meant to ready people for speed. When someone girded their loins in antiquity, they gathered up the material from the bottom of their toga, robe, dress, etc. and tied it above their knees in a knot or tucked it in their ’ê-zō-wr (waistband). This would ensure that their legs were freed up to run quickly without hindrance from their clothing. Their tightened ’ê-zō-wr would ensure that their clothing would stay put for the duration of their journey. In an era when hunting and battles happened on foot and information traveled at the speed of how quickly a person could run, being free from obstruction was absolutely critical.

This is what Isaiah is referring to when he talks about people responding to the call of God. As they come to Him from all over the globe, they are careful to tighten their ’ê-zō-wr so that nothing is impeding their response. Their waistbands are tight and their sandals are in working order so that they can execute the command of God as speedily as possible. Have you identified anything that could interfere with your response to God’s call?

Declaration of the Week
This week, I will head in whatever direction I hear God calling me.

Application
What next step will I take?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the “Tried and Truth” series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!

Their roaringis like a lion, like young lions they roar; they growl and seize their prey; they carry it off, and none can rescue. – Isaiah 5:29 ESV

Hebrew
שְׁאָגָ֥ה/šə-’ā-ḡāh: a lion’s pouncing roar

Why It Matters
Fear can be very powerful. It can cause people to do things they typically wouldn’t do, and it’s hard to make sense of our actions (or inaction) when we’re scared. Americans report being more afraid of clowns than needles, heights and even terrorist attacks, yet the 2017 remake of It – a story about a murderous clown – is the highest grossing horror movie of all time. A record number of people paid money to be subjected to one of their biggest fears! Our passage today is comparing the ferocity of foreign armies in their response to God with the šə-’ā-ḡāhof a lion. This is the specific Hebrew word for the frightful, pouncing roar of a lion intended to paralyze its prey with fear so that it can capture its target more easily. When a lion is close enough to you to hear its šə-’ā-ḡāh, it should get you moving! But instead, the fear it elicits has the opposite effect, to the advantage of the predator. This is one of the many reasons why we are grateful for Jesus and His selfless act of love on the cross. He destroyed the power of death and the fear that it can create in our lives. Jesus’ obedience to the will of His Father is the most important example of perfect love we can see, and the New Testament shows us that perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). With fear and its power removed from the equation, we are free to act in a way that pleases God. How are you using your freedom?

Declaration of the Week
This week, I will head in whatever direction I hear God calling me.

Application
What next step will I take?

Music Response
Music is prayerfully selected to further engage the themes shared in the message. Now you can respond with those songs during the week via the “Tried and Truth” series playlist. To listen to songs from this week’s worship set and the series on Spotify click here!