COMMENTARY

Old Testament: Isaiah 63:16b-17; 64:1-8
This pericope comes from the third section of Isaiah (chapters 56-66). It was written by an unknown author(s) in the period of 540-500 B.C. The Jews returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile. The exiles find a pathetic situation: Jerusalem is desolate and the temple has been burned to the ground. This passage is a lament and a cry for God to come and help them. The people are despondent and are impatient for God to come and do something about their condition. They feel that God is angry with them and he has hidden his face from them. He is accused of causing them to sin. The people confess their sins and feel confident that God will not reject them for he is the potter and they are the clay.

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Lesson 2 compri…