Sixth Day Art

Sixth Day Art is an exploration of an art-based approach to the creative reading and enjoyment of the Bible and initiation of a community of shared experience. You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook at @sixthdayart

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W12: Isaiah 28-30: Mysteriosity

The Gospel is simple. This simplicity emphasizes its inherent beauty and an unwavering commitment to truth. This means it doesn’t take much to stray off this simple line. One misunderstanding, one wrong priority is enough to set off the sights, making something so simple incomprehensible blabber. So beware! If it is sealed, unseal it. If you cannot read it, have another read it for you. There is no room in God’s book for excuses, it is already too full of goodness given and promises yet to be fulfilled.

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W12. Isaiah 28-30: “Mysteriosity.” Ink on paper. 1.18.2018. #sixthdayart #drawing #illustration

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W11: Isaiah 26-27: Peace Kind:

The Hebrew word for peace is an interesting thing. It can be used as any part of speech and when used as a greeting, roughly translates into “what is your peace?” What shape is the peace of your hearts desire? The Lord of the table has offered you the banquet feast. Do you have the audacity to claim it all? May His all fulfilling peace occupy every part of your being.

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W11. Isaiah 26-27: “Peace Kind.” Ink on paper. 1.3.2017. #sixthdayart #illustration #drawing #isaiah27

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W10: Isaiah 24-25: Amazing

In a movie I saw recently, a former apprentice declares his cause for victory. “Amazing,” the mentor replies, “everything you just said is wrong.” When we try to explain our place by the world’s terms, we fall under the same trap. Every pursuit that holds anything but God at the center will fail no matter how desirous they seem. But the journey God has designed for us is righteous, and it is just beginning.

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W10. Isaiah 24-25: "Amazing." Ink on paper. 12.17.2017.

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W9: Isaiah 21-23: Timeout

Chapters 21-23 find the doom of Babylon and Tyre, the twin snakes of power and charisma. But no matter how fast you crank the engine or grease the gears or cram the observation deck with lookouts looking for land, the only direction a sinking ship will go is. Out of time, it's going down.  Safety is diving off, straight down.  This is the mystery of the gospel. The more we accept our unrighteousness, the faster true righteousness seeps in. Let it fill your lungs and breathe. The stinging will eventually fade. The sea is not to be feared. We are not meant for sinking ships of make-believe strength.

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W9. Isaiah 21-24: "Timeout." Ink on paper. 12.06.2017. #sixthdayart #isaiah21 #drawing #illustration

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W8: Isaiah 17-20: Little Pond Wisdom

In chapters 17 through 20, Isaiah continues to pronounce judgment on the nations that will not turn to God. Specifically, he condemns the diplomacy of Ethiopia and the intellect of Egypt. Skills and knowledge are necessary for success, but they cannot compensate for misplaced values. Having fast feet doesn’t matter if we are running in the wrong direction. However, when we center our sights on God, He aligns our skills, knowledge, and values to work in harmony and build on each other to truly be "a blessing in the midst of the earth.” Know why and for whom I’m living.

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W8. Isaiah 17-20: "Little Pond Wisdom." Ink on paper. 11.26.2017. #sixthdayart #illustration #drawing #isaiah17

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W7: Isaiah 13-16: Strong as Stone, Heavy as a Corpse

When we attempt to save ourselves, we only succeed in showing our brick-headedness. Like the Philistines, we imagine maybe this time things will be different. Like the Moabites, we reach for refuge with one hand while firmly gripping our self-seeking ways with the other. Yet as sure are the destruction of the godless and the preservation of the godly, the terms of salvation are not ours to decide. We cannot have the gift of grace and maintain moralistic hierarchies or enter the kingdom of God with worldly ambition in tow. The promises and purposes of God come hand in hand.

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W7. Isaiah 13-16: "Strong as Stone, Heavy as a Corpse." Ink on paper. 11.20.2017. #sixthdayart #isaiah13 #drawing #illustration

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W6: Isaiah 10-12: Answer the Herald

There are much encouragement and cause for rejoicing in chapters 10-12. The instruments of judgment are destroyed, a remnant is preserved and reinstated, and a Man of God restores God’s kingdom, “for the LORD God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” New life grows out from what was once put to death. Yet in this celebratory song, I also hear another tune. It is a call to muster and be faithful to the LORD who shows much faithfulness and grace. And I am compelled to answer the call, to not see and hear as the world does, but to stand firm despite temporary defeat and resist the allure of false victories. To this end, the song of celebration reminds me both the strength of God I have thus far witnessed and on whose strength I must rely to see future victory. How will you answer the herald?

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W6. Isaiah 10-12: "Answer the Herald." Ink on paper. 11.13.2017. #sixthdayart #isaiah10 #illustration #drawing

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W5: Isaiah 9: Gluttons of Madness

The first half of chapter 9 is a passage that should sound familiar to most believers. It is our triumphant promise and hope of a Savior. So the gloomy tone of the second half of chapter 9 makes for an intriguing juxtaposition to the hope captured in the first half. How can a God so loving and merciful maintain his hand of judgment for so long? Yet in His promise for salvation and judgment, I find the character of a steadfast and faithful God. Who is more fitting to judge? More worthy to save? He is trustworthy without fail, in Him I am protected and have cause for joy that will not disappoint.

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W5. Isaiah 9: "Gluttons for Madness." Ink on paper. 11.05.2017. #sixthdayart #illustration #isaiah9

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W4: Isaiah 7-8: What Seeks the Skies

If you seek glory, be shattered. Let your pride be broken. Let your cunning counsel fail. Let your reserves be found wanting. Let your best plans be made dust. If you seek glory, be shattered. For nothing can survive the burning fire, save fire itself. “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”