Isaiah

Here's another huge book of the Bible, and one of the key books used by Christians for linkage between the Jewish religious texts and the events of the New Testament. According to most biblical scholars, this book was written by between 2 and 6 different people, with the first major division in writing styles coming at chapter 40. If you like, you can look into this issue yourself - I have no idea exactly how these ideas are arrived at or supported. I do know that this book is just chock-full of strange things.

Is 1:11 - What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? Says the LORD. I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
This is interesting, and shows a dawning realization that the religious cycle of breaking rules (sin) and sacrificing (obtaining forgiveness) is not leading to the result of getting the people to act correctly. The first thing I thought of was that an omniscient god would have known this wouldn't work in the first place, and thought up something that would have worked. Second, if God didn't delight in the sacrifices, why would he order the system created in the first place?

Is 1:16,17 - Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.
Here's some noble sentiments, and I agree everyone should follow the advice. However, the question arises, why would God tell us to make ourselves clean, when in other places the Bible states that this is impossible?

Is 3:1-3 - For now the Sovereign, the LORD of hosts, is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and staff - all support of bread and all support of water - warrior and soldier, judge and prophet, diviner and elder, captain of fifty and dignitary, counselor and skillful magician and expert enchanter.
Hold on a second! Where did those last two "vital" professional groups come from? Are these types of people necessary for running a city? Must be one loony sort of place where the government employs magicians and enchanters (though in our governments, snake oil salesmen seem to abound)!

Is 3:16,17 - The LORD said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet; the LORD will afflict with scabs the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts.
This is pretty immature, I think. To threaten women with such treatment, just because they liked to look attractive is silly. This sounds like the bitterness a man can experience when he's rejected often by pretty women.

Is 4:3,4 - Whoever is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, once the LORD has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.
I wonder if this is where the idea of an apocalypse and the "Book of Life" we see in Revelation got started?

Is 5:4 - What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?
What an interesting statement! God, the omniscient creator of humanity, expected Israel (his vineyard) to produce perfect people? And why would he have expected those people to be perfect and stay perfect considering the way they were treated? Possibly, you could hope people would stay perfect if they had ever been that way at some time, but they never had that "perfect starting point" - unless it was that perfect start in Eden, or the other perfect start after the flood, or that perfect start after the exodus, or that perfect start when the original temple was built, or...

Is 6:1 - In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the LORD sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple.
Here's still another person who says he saw God! This is a flat contradiction to statements by Jesus in the New Testament. This statement is not like what Ezekiel said (he only saw "the glory of God").

Is 6:6,7 - Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said, "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out."
This raises an interesting question in my mind. If Isaiah could have his sin blotted out by this method, why does the Christian religion exist? If God really wanted to show universal love, and keep everyone from going to hell (as Christians are always telling us is the case), why go through all the trouble with Jesus? Why not touch everyone's lips with this magic, sin-removing coal? Why go though all this blood and cross business when we could save a lot of effort and bother by worshipping a glowing coal? My guess is, there'd be no money or power for the priests that way. Some Christians might say that there would be no reason for morality, but the Christian religion has no moral imperative either, so there is no advantage there. Think about it.

Is 6:10 - Make the mind of this people dull, and stop their ears, and shut their eyes, so that they may not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and comprehend with their minds, and turn and be healed.
Now, this makes no sense. If God wanted people to stay sinful, why bother this guy Isaiah at all? Why ask him to keep them from understanding things? Did he want people to change or not? Or yet again, is this just standard sort of thing you'd find in your average mystery religion?

Is 7:10-16 - Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, "Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test." Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
Here's a very famous passage. Let's look at it for a moment. The background situation is that Jerusalem is surrounded by enemies - the kings of Israel (the Northern kingdom) and Ephraim (later Samaria). God sent Isaiah to Ahaz the king to tell him that the city would not fall to these enemies, and God offered to give any sign to Ahaz to prove his statement. Ahaz had heard that you don't test God (something we hear often, these days), and refused to ask for one. God insists on giving Ahaz a sign, so talks about a "young woman" who is already pregnant, and that the son she will give birth to will have his Bar Mitzvah (coming of legal age - becoming a "son of the Law") after the two enemy kings' countries are deserted.

Does this sound at all like a prophecy of a savior? Not by a long shot. But that didn't stop a couple of Gospel writers from twisting the words around to make it into one. The book of Matthew quotes this passage as saying "a virgin will conceive." The first twist is the changing of verb tenses. The Hebrew here is in past tense, but the Greek Septuagint translated the words in future tense. The second twist is to take the Hebrew word "almah," which means "young woman" or "maiden," and translate it as "virgin." The Hebrew word specifically meaning "virgin" is "bethulah."

I did a little investigating, courtesy of the Blue Letter Bible. Of the 42 times the Old Testament has the word "virgin" (in the KJV - the only translation available at the Blue Letter Bible site), the original Hebrew term was "bethulah" 38 times. It was "almah" 4 times. I looked at the 4 translations of "virgin" for "almah," and the context on every one clearly would have made more sense if it had been translated as "young woman" or "maiden." However, looking at occurrences of "bethulah," we come across these quite often in the books of the Laws, where virginity was a central issue and the writers were seriously insisting on literal virginity.

Make of this what you will. My research into this issue shows that the New Testament writers, working from the Greek translation of the Jewish texts, had the word "virgin" to work with. At best, I think this makes it look like the early church made up their story to match what they thought needed to be, based on their inferior traslation. The fact is, however, that many Christian denominations keep to this line, in spite of the fact that it has been shown to be false.

Is 11:4 - ...but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
This is part of the prediction of a messiah. It promises this person's words will kill the wicked. Now, I'm sure that plenty of nasty people were put to death over the centuries on account of their crossing the Christian authorities. However, it must be said that many evil people were also left unmolested by those authorities, and that large numbers of innocent, inoffensive people were killed on account of the words of Jesus.

Is 11:7,8 - The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den.
This is, I'm guessing, a vision of how life will be in heaven. Why God would change the nature of predatory animals and make poisonous snakes into playthings for toddlers is anybody's guess. It is possible, though, that this is just wishful thinking on the writer's part - thinking that it would be really nice if there were no dangers in his world. A nice sentiment, but what a dull world it would be!

Is 13:16-18 - Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be plundered, and their wives ravished. See, I am stirring up the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver, and do not delight in gold. Their bows will slaughter the young men; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; their eyes will not pity children.
This sort of verse is far too common for it to be a mistake. It's pretty clear that the writers of the Bible were sure that God ordered the violent deaths of babies and little children, and the rape of the women.

Is 14:1-2 - But the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land; and aliens will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob. And the nations will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess the nations as male and female slaves in the LORD's land; they will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them.
This is an interesting prophecy of Israel's return from exile. And I have to give the Jews credit - they have done their level best to make this whole prediction about enslaving those who had oppressed them come true. Unfortunately for them, the Arabs in the vicinity are not interested in cooperating in this endeavor!

Is 17:13,14 - The nations roar like the roaring of many waters, but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind and whirling dust before the storm. At evening time, lo, terror! Before morning, they are no more. This is the fate of those who despoil us, and the lot of those who plunder us.
What is this? It looks like a threat of swift, unexpected punishment for any who conquer Israel. However, it is not recorded that anyone who overran this area experienced such an outcome, particularly not the Romans!

Is 19:5,6 - The waters of the Nile will be dried up, and the river will be parched and dry; its canals will become foul, and the branches of Egypt's Nile will diminish and dry up, reeds and rushes will rot away.
God made quite a strong threat here, but it hasn't happened. It certainly didn't happen in the 2500 or so years since this prophecy was originally written down!

Is 19:14 - The LORD has poured into them a spirit of confusion; and they have made Egypt stagger in all its doings as a drunkard staggers around in vomit.
Here's a new theory of history! Spirits of confusion coming from God are the cause of Egypt's decline, and the inbreeding and appearance of lots of recessive traits in the ruling family had nothing at all to do with it!

Is 22:12-14 - In that day the LORD God of hosts called to weeping and mourning, to baldness and putting on sackcloth; but instead there was joy and festivity, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating meat and drinking wine. "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." The LORD of hosts has revealed himself in my ears: surely this iniquity will not be forgive you until you die, says the LORD God of hosts.
It looks like Israel is simply not on the same page as God, and being happy at the wrong time appears to be a mortal sin. What's a nation to do?

Is 23:14-18 - Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your fortress is destroyed. From that day, Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, the lifetime of one king. At the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song about the prostitute: Take a harp, go about the city, you forgotten prostitute! Make sweet melody, sing many songs, that you may be remembered. At the end of seventy years, the LORD will visit Tyre, and she will return to her trade, and will prostitute herself with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth.
I had recently heard that Ezekiel had foretold the desolation of Tyre (in error, as it turned out - it has never been a ghost town), but this looks like the same thing here! And it looks pretty pointless - Tyre will be deserted for seventy years, then it'll be back to business as normal!

Is 24:18,19 - Whoever flees at the sound of the terror shall fall into the pit; and whoever climbs out of the pit shall be caught in the snare. For the windows of heaven are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble. The earth is utterly broken, the earth is torn asunder, the earth is violently shaken.
Here we go again! The sky has windows, and the earth is set on foundations, which God will shake up and tear apart one day. Yet another flat, immobile earth passage!

Is 25:9,10 - It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain. The Moabites shall be trodden down in their place as straw is trodden down in a dung-pit.
This is rather interesting - we start off hearing about being happy over God's promised salvation, then we jump immediately into gloating over the destruction of the "evil" Moabites.

Is 26:12 - O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for indeed, all that we have done, you have done for us.
I hear this idea repeated all the time. If anything good happens, it was God actually doing the good thing (removing free will) through us. Conversely, when bad things happen, it's entirely due to errors made by sinful humans, and God had nothing to do with it. In my opinion, this is just an instance of an attempt by religious leaders to make believers think they are bad to the core and in need of religious help from said leaders.

Is 26:14 - The dead do not live; shades do not rise - because you have punished and destroyed them, and wiped out all memory of them.
There's a theology going on here that's far different, at least, from the standard line I hear from Christians. Even if you allow that there is no death for God's chosen people, this looks like it precludes the possibility of the eternal torment of hell. If such a thing existed, you'd expect God would have thought to mention it when speaking through all his prophets!

Is 34:2-4 - For the LORD is enraged against all the nations, and furious against all their hoards; he has doomed them, has given them over for slaughter. Their slain shall be cast out, and the stench of their corpses shall rise; the mountains shall flow with their blood. All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall wither like a leaf on a vine, or fruit withering on a fig tree.
It looks like God is one totally angry being! If he had really decided to hand over all the nations (to whom?) for slaughter, I wonder why there are still people? Also note that in among the rivers of blood and mountains of rotting flesh, there's mention of the sky rolling up like a scroll, as if it was a solid, material covering for our little world-sized universe.

Is 40:2 - Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
Hold everything! What's this all about? I thought that the word of God was that sin could only result in infinite suffering! How could a complete city receive twice the punishment for all the sins of the people?

Is 40:12-14 - Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Who has directed the spirit of the LORD or as his counselor has instructed him? Whom did he consult for his enlightenment, and who taught him the path of justice? Who taught him knowledge and showed him the way of understanding?
This is the sort of thing you hear from those trying to prove God's existence from the concept of "first cause." The answer the writer obviously expected was "no-one." However, I would like to point out that when it comes to the area of justice, God has some ideas that are less than perfect (cursing children for parents' errors, destroying innocent bystanders, ordering rape victims to marry their attackers for life); in the area of knowledge, think back to Leviticus, where God stated that hares chew their cud, and gave orders to avoid 4-legged insects.

Is 40:22 - It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in.
Speaking of knowledge, it sure looks like God has kept to his idea that the earth is a flat disc and covered by a solid sky that can be removed later.

Is 41:17,18 - When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
This sounds just peachy - God will help the poor, and there will always be help to sustain them - except when God is angry and sending a drought to kill people, I would think. The twists and turns of religious texts can often make a person quite dizzy!

Is 42:1-4 - Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
This looks like a prophecy of the coming messiah. But the prediction is that he will bring justice to the nations - but that didn't happen. It predicts that this servant wouldn't do anything violent, or make a fuss in public, but Jesus made quite a ruckus, apparently, when driving the moneychangers from the temple, for at least a half-hour. I think it's most interesting that it says the messiah would not faint or be crushed until justice was established in the earth. The stories of the crucifixion say (in one version) that Jesus said "It is finished." So where is the "justice in the earth" that was promised?

Is 42:19-21 - Who is blind but my servant, or deaf like my messenger whom I send? Who is blind like my dedicated one, or blind like the servant of the LORD. He sees many things, but does not observe them, his ears are open, but he does not hear. The LORD was pleased, for the sake of his righteousness, to magnify his teachings and make it glorious.
I find this passage disturbing, because it is saying that God's messengers are blind and deaf, and they don't understand what goes on around them. This much is bad enough - but it also says that God likes it this way, and that being "righteous" is most important - that such people who spurn understanding are to be listened to.

Is 58:13,14 - If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
My first thought about this verse is that here is another unrealistic "promise" made on God's behalf, which would be enough to convince moderately intelligent people that the saying that "God's promises never fail" is disproven by counterexample. However, another thought on this is that this statement looks very similar to the thinking that goes on in America today: If only we could be more religious (in this case by observing sabbaths more scrupulously), God would surely make our hard lives easier! Ask a school prayer proponent!