READING FOR APRIL 9, 2026: ISAIAH 50, 1 CORINTHIANS 5, PSALM 30:1-5    

ISAIAH 50   There is no doubt that God is addressing Israel at the opening of the chapter. He sarcastically asks them if He divorced their mother leaving them orphaned or sold them to others to pay off His debts. Of course He didn’t. He says the mess they are in is due to their own disobedience. That’s often the case with us, but there could be other reasons we cannot know in this life. God says that He called them, but no one picked up the phone. He wonders if that’s because they thought God wasn’t able to help them. Let’s never underestimate God. Pick up that phone (i.e., the Bible). As result God caused lots of problems for them which should get their attention. 

Almost all commentators state that the remainder of the chapter describes Jesus. Again, this writer is not convinced and agrees more with the older theologians, in this case John Calvin.

 Two reasons for selecting Isaiah as the speaking servant instead of Jesus the Messiah: 

• God gave this person the tongue of a disciple (vs. 4): “He touched my [Isaiah’s] mouth with it and said, ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; and your guilt is taken away and atonement is made for your sin”’ (Isa. 6:7)  Jesus was the Word from before the beginning of time and needed no touch.
• God awakens this person’s ear to listen as a disciple (vs. 5): Jesus always knew everything and is never called a disciple. “The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all” (John 3:31)

Verses 7-10 could also apply to Isaiah and in fact all true believers. Consider the benefits:

• God helps us so that we are not disgraced and enables us to be resolved (vs. 7).
• God is always near to vindicate us in times of spiritual warfare (vs. 8).
• If God is for us, who can condemn us? Our accusers will disintegrate (vs. 9).
• We can walk in the light (read the Bible!) not darkness. Trust in the name of the Lord and rely on His God. This doesn’t sound like a person asking for others to trust in himself (vs.10).
• If we don’t do all the above, we are encircling ourselves with blazing arrows. The final remark about receiving torment from “my hand” admittedly sounds more divine than human in nature (vs. 11).

1 CORINTHIANS 5 Paul has harsh words for the church in Corinth. They are allowing two people in the church to display what Paul believes is an immoral situation. A man has taken up a sexual relationship with his father’s wife. This practice is specifically forbidden in Leviticus 18:8. In addition, Paul implies that the Corinthian Church has not only accepted the relation- ship but has celebrated it. Paul demands that the couple be put out of the church. Paul uses the image of how a small amount of yeast mixed in the bread dough allows the bread to rise.                                                                  READINGS FOR APRIL 9, 2026 CONTINUED: 1 CORINTHIANS 5, PSALM 30:1-5                         This image of yeast is used several times in the Bible. Sometimes the image is used positively. In Luke 13, Jesus uses it to explain how the kingdom of God can grow into something power- ful. Most often, the image is negative. Here in Corinthians, Paul uses to emphasize that if the church allows sin to be accepted in any amount, it will grow and fester in the community until it overtakes the entire culture. Paul tells the church to not let the yeast of sin take hold and infect the entire church.

Paul then warns the Corinthians to avoid those brothers and sisters who indulge in sins: “But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.” (1Cor. 5:11). One of the important things to emphasize in this direction from Paul is strictly about those who claim to be Christians and yet refuse to admit that they are engaging in sinful behaviors. Those who refuse to accept that their choice, their behaviors are in viola- tion of God’s teachings. Or worse, those who know that their behaviors are sinful and put on the airs of religion. Notice that this instruction is not about non-Christians. If anything, Paul is telling Christians that we should engage with non-believers who may be living sin-filled lives. How can we judge someone by the teachings and laws of God if they do not understand those laws? Are there people who would be pushed away from Christ because we judged their behaviors by laws and rules that they did not know?

PSALM 30:1-5 This psalm is a song of praise attributed to King David. It gives thanks to God for saving him. It is possible that David had been healed from some type of serious illness. In this psalm it is not the hands of the enemy that brought on David’s issue. God gives grace to David so that his enemies can not boast about his illnesses. The psalm begins with a commitment by the writer to praise God. David promises to “lift up” or exalt” the name of God (Yahweh). This is the heart of praise, where we lift up God for who he is. 

The reason for the writer’s praise is because God brought David out of the depths. The reason that David thought he was near the point of death is unclear. But the imagery that is used underscores the fact that he believed that death was nearby. Verses 4-5 are often quoted by persons who have endured suffering: “Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:4-5). The concept here is that suffering will happen; however, it does not last for eternity. There will be dark times (times of trouble) where we will be sad, grieved, and mourning. But the morning is coming, and joy will come with it.