Reading Isaiah with Luther

I thought Reading Isaiah with Luther by Pastor Brian Kachelmeier would be about Isaiah's prophetic writings.  But I was wrong.

Recall Martin Luther's famous statement:

"...for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe."

Reading Isaiah with Luther is about the conscience.

Our conscience is a gift from God.  It filters what we take in, processes it, and then influences us.  And when we're reading God's Word and hearing it preached, we're convicted by His law, we feel guilty and humbled...but then we're refreshed and freed by His gospel. 

Use of book's photo approved by CPH.

I love this book's set-up...

The author introduces a chapter's topic.  He then quotes scripture passages along with large portions of Luther's written views.  And, in a pastorly way, he further clarifies and explains those concepts.


I especially like the chapters in which Pastor Kachelmeier contrasts King Ahaz's conscience and actions with those of King Hezekiah. 

When his kingdom is threatened, King Ahaz hears God's Word, but he isn't comforted by it, he lacks faith, and he falls into idolatry. (Isaiah 7)  But King Hezekiah's conscience is strengthened by God's Word, and he turns to God in prayer. (Isaiah 36-37)

Pastor Kachelmeier deals with these two kings in a way that makes it personal and applicable for me, for my faith and my conscience.

My favorite part of the book is the section on Isaiah's conscience from Isaiah 6, which is a vision of God's throne room.  I've always loved this passage, but Luther's comments give it a whole new meaning.

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew...And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"  Isaiah 6:1-2, 5

Isaiah is in God's presence, he knows his own sin, and he confesses.  The passage continues...

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.  And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for."  Isaiah 6:6-7

After Isaiah confesses his sin, one of the angelic beings, a seraph, applies a coal from the altar to Isaiah's mouth and Isaiah is free; his guilt is gone.

And Luther likens the seraph in Isaiah to the pastor.  The pastor is the one who hears my confession, announces forgiveness of sins, and preaches God's Word.  And then, at Holy Communion, the pastor gives bread and wine to my unclean mouth.  Like the coal from the seraph, this bread and wine are also given for the forgiveness of sins. 

Reading Isaiah with Luther has made me more aware of my conscience and how my conscience is influenced by my own sin and by the culture, and how it needs to be affected by God's Word.  I know that I'll be referring to this book again and again.

But, the book's real value is that it does what every Christian book should aim to do - this book has fueled my interest and desire to read and study Isaiah and to read the Bible even more. 

Thanks, Pastor Kachelmeier.