In addition to Genesis and Proverbs, the Holy Orthodox Church directs us to read from the Book of Isaiah as he prepares the Jews for the Advent of Christ. May we be prepared to meet Christ either at our own falling asleep or when He comes again in glory at His Second Coming.
Please feel free to share your fruitful meditations on these readings as we strive toward repentance and theosis.
During this first week in Great Lent, the readings are taken from Isaiah 1 to Isaiah 3:14, which cover the vision of Isaiah against Judah and Jerusalem.
There is this plea of the Lord God in Isaiah 3: 12-14*
"O My people, your punishers gather you,
and those who make demands of you rule over you.
O My people, those who bless you
lead you astray and trouble the path of your feet."
The Lord stands up to plead
and stands to judge His people.
The Lord will enter into judgement
with the elders of His people and His princes:
"For you set fire to My vineyard
and the plunder of the poor is in your houses."
Reference: Orthodox Study Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers: 2008, p. 1060
We are warned that those who bless us will lead us astray.
Let those who have eyes, see, that we are in those times.
Lord have mercy.