I was trained to read the bible as though it were always speaking to me personally. I think that’s the way most are taught to read the bible. When a “you” or “they” or “we” is introduced, we usually substitute “I” or “me” in there. It makes each piece of scripture personal, addressed to the individual reader. I think this often can be good, especially in the New Testament and reading through Psalms. But ultimately as a whole, I think it’s the wrong approach to scripture.

Just a few days ago my bible reading plan started me in the book of Isaiah. It’s a long book written by a prophet who is, considered by most to be, one of the greatest. The book is essentially a collection of prophecies and oracles concerning God’s promises and judgements on Israel. At the time, half the nation was in exile and the other half was in over their head in some pretty raunchy sin.

Basically, Isaiah’s message would be that God’s promises of salvation would stand, but not without the purification of Israel—which would come through the neighboring heathen nations.

As I begin to read through Isaiah, I find that I’m quickly stirred up emotionally. The words sound and feel so heavy (indeed they are). But upon closer examination, I can see that I’m failing to read the scripture appropriately. Now, I don’t mean to claim that scripture shouldn’t stir us up. It should. But when it does, we have to be discerning as to why and to what end.

Reading Isaiah with each piece of scripture personally addressed to "me" or "us", the words burn hot in my ears. The judgement of God looms and dangles just above the church’s head. His wrath mounts as his patience seems to be reaching a breaking point. What’s more, so many of the sins Isaiah cries against in Israel are the sins America embraces and wears on its sleeves.

Reading the book of Isaiah in this method has the affect of making every reader feel like a prophet of God with a warning of judgement for the church or for America. Sit long enough in an unchecked study of Isaiah and you’ll hear your language shift, but more importantly, you’ll notice the Gospel grow dim.

The fact of the matter is that Isaiah was a prophet to Israel who communicated to Israel the very words of God. Words that God indeed saw fit for us to hear because he put them in the bible. But that does not mean that the words spoken to Israel through Isaiah are also intended for us in the same way. In fact, I contend that the warnings in Isaiah do not stand to loom the danger of provoking an angry God, but rather to further beautify, brighten and highlight the grace, salvation, justification, propitiation and sanctification that we experience only as children redeemed by the blood of Christ—what we now call the Gospel. A hope that apostate Israel could not fully understand.

Now, to be sure, Scripture will be used by God in many ways. To bring about conviction and change. To encourage and strengthen. To save and to condemn. So for what purpose the book of Isaiah stands today, I won’t make any specific claims. Only that in reading scripture, namely Isaiah, we must use great discernment as only provided by the Holy Spirit.

We must not act on our assumptions and must remember that for the true Church of God, Jesus is the completely sufficient savior. Through whom God now feels no wrath. Through whom there is now no condemnation.