Saturday, October 20: Isaiah 35- The brightness of God on a dreary day.

It is a rainy dismal day outside, yet when I opened to Isaiah 35 my day immediately brightened. Such is the power of the word, and a word of joy and redemption like today's chapter.

As I read verse 1-2: The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Immediately I pictured this hillside in my town that just blows up in spring with crocuses of every shade and hue. There have to be 1000's of crocuses on this small hillside. It is just beautiful. Last year I stopped to photograph them it was so pretty.

This hillside is a signal of Spring... when the crocuses bloom everyone knows that we have crossed from Winter to Spring. Joy lights hearts to see the beauty in full bloom.

Isaiah, must have a hillside like this in mind as he writes.

What Isaiah sees with his prophetic eye is far more joyous that the annual arrival of springtime. Isaiah is imagining the day when God arrives on His glory. As Isaiah says: Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert (5-6).

Isaiah sees the Lord's day and describes the blessing side of God's day. Vengeance and judgment are one side, joy and healing and life the other. I am grateful to be on the Lord's side... His day will be a great day for His family.

After the heaviness of all the judgments, my heart is buoyed by wonder and joy of God's kingdom in all its splendor and delight visiting humanity.

My mind popped to the fact that tomorrow in worship I get to enjoy a taste of the Lord's day as I spend time with God's people in worship...

Oh, Lord, may you display Your power and majesty during our time of worship tomorrow. Come, Lord Jesus, fill the hearts of Your faithful with joy and gladness and a palpable sense of Your nearness. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen

 

Friday, October 19: Isaiah 34- God have mercy on us.

God have mercy on us…  O God, have mercy on us.

After reading another word filled with judgment, all my heart could do was cry out for mercy.

All over the world people are living oblivious to the coming judgment. People give little or no heed to God and His Word. They fill their days with anything and everything except the Lord. Some fill it with work. Others fill it with pleasure. Some live basically enjoyable lives and others drudge every step as down trodden people. Few lift their eyes to the Lord. Most lean on anything but the Lord.

The day is coming when God will collect His due.

God have mercy on us…  O, God, have mercy on us.

 

Thursday, October 18: Isaiah 33- I would gum up the works.

I struggled finding a connection with today's chapter reading. I read. I sat. I reviewed. I wondered why I'm not connecting. Is there something in my life that is a block? Is my mind and heart preoccupied with other things so I am not truly present to God? Does God want me to sit and struggle?

I don't really know...

I reviewed the chapter again and was drawn to verses 5-6. There was no lightning bolt, simply a nudge. The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with his justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.

I pondered a world filled with justice and righteousness. What an amazing world that would be. Then even as I am writing my last line, I realize I would gum up the works because I am not fully just or righteous. God would have to do much work in me to enable me to live in a world filled with God's justice and righteousness. Still how wonderful life in that world would be...

Verse 6 builds and continues closing with a familiar Biblical refrain, the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. To fear You, Lord, to revere You, Lord, to submit to You, Lord, this is the key to the treasure of life with You.

Teach me to fear You, Lord. Holy Spirit, work in my life developing heathy fear of the Lord. Guide me to a depth of understand, love and fear of You, Lord, to the end that I serve You with humility and verve. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Wednesday, October 17: Isaiah 32- Yes what a wonderful day that will be .

Two very different words… still both offer a slice of promise. And it is upon the promises that my heart clings today.

The chapter opens with words that draw me in… See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land (1-2).

To have a king who reigns in righteousness, what an anomaly. As I listen to news reports it seems that the more power a leader has the more he/she gets sucked into the vortex of protecting power and privilege. And this is anything but righteousness. Yet Isaiah sees a day where a king will reign in righteousness. And then he built the word pictures of that day… will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. How amazing it would be, it will be, to live in that day.

I don't see that day coming led by earthly rulers. But that day will come when Jesus the righteous one, King of kings and Lord of lords reigns. And what a wonderful day that will be. Yes, what a wonderful day that will be.

Then in the second prophecy, the one to the women, my heart connected with verse 15. Bad days will come, till the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest (15). The Spirit has come, Pentecost, God is breaking into our world. Through Jesus, I am a person of the Spirit. Through Christ this same Spirit lives in me. It is the guarantee that God will come and bring me into His perfect inheritance where the Spirit will live and the king –Jesus –will reign in righteousness.

Oh, what a day what will be. Yes, what a wonderful day that will be.

Jesus, Father, Holy Spirit, I sit here today content in You and longing for that day, Your day. Come, Lord Jesus, come. In the name of the Triune God I pray. Amen.

 

Tuesday, October 16: Isaiah 31- What am I trusting in?.

Again, today it was right out of the gate that the word latched onto my heart. Verse 1: Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD (1). Two aspects of this verse caught my eye:

1.      Relying on horses, chariots and the strength of armies.

2.      NOT relying on the Lord.

Application was immediately apparent to me… we can trust in the strength man can produce or we can trust in the Lord. And how easily I can apply this to myself.

I may not have horses, chariots and armies, but I do have a middle class upbringing, college and advanced degrees, steady employment, a loving family etc., etc. And it comes very naturally to lean of these when trouble comes rather than leaning on the Lord.

I find the word 'but' instructive. God didn't expect Israel to give up horses, chariots and soldiers. What God did expect is that Israel would not rely on those to the exclusion of the Lord.

Now there was one piece God did expect Israel to give up… trusting in Egypt a rival 'god.' Egypt was not a god per se for Israel, but Egypt was a human power Israel turned to instead of God and that was a major breach of faith.

Back to my life, are there human institutions that I turn to so that I can avoid turning to the Lord? This is the question that the text asks of me. This is a question I must probe within myself…

Lord, help me to be honest with myself… honest before You. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.

 

Monday, October 15: Isaiah 30- Listen up church.

Right out of the gate I was hooked. The imagery of verse one had me… "Woe to the obstinate children," declares the LORD, "to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; (1).

Obviously, this is a word to Israel but yet it gripped me as a word for today, a word to the church, a warning to me as a son of the King…  [T]o those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin

It is all too easy to think, I've got it. I know what to do and launch off with nary a thought given to the Lord and what He would want. I can solve my problem. I can…

Now it is not that the Lord doesn't want us to use the mind and abilities we have been given by Him, but to venture out only on our best 'wisdom' is to miss the gift God has given us, His Spirit is always with us. And worse yet is when we use our abilities and thoughts while avoiding what God has told us. This is rebellion… heaping sin upon sin.

So, the first part of my time with the Lord is processing this word, this warning from the example of Israel.

Yet, this is not the entire story. Throughout the chapter God continually reaches out to His 'children'.

Verse 15: This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. It is sad that they will have none of it, still God is showing them the way back… repentance and rest. His offer to Israel remains good for all His children in any day and age.

Verses 18-19: Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.

Here is God's heart… longing to be gracious. Just turn to Him. Just turn to Him. Again, this offer still stands. Though we are obstinate, we need only repent and turn to Him and He is there to reclaim and love us again and again.

How many times have I strayed and God welcomed me back with arms open and heart delighted that I have returned?

Lord, thank You for Your ever present grace, always held out and extended that I might reach for it and be drawn close to Your heart. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 

Saturday, October 13: Isaiah 29- Remember who you are.

A number of years ago, a fledgling ministry, A Journey to the Potter's House, came to my church. Basically, in a 90-minute presentation, Dr. Mike Ferris gave an amazing talk on God while turning a clay pot in our sanctuary.  He taught so much using the image of a potter from Scripture. It was excellent.

As my eyes lit on verse 16, so much of the demonstration/teaching by Mike Ferris came back to me.  Isaiah writes: You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, "You did not make me"? Can the pot say to the potter, "You know nothing"? (16).

This vivid picture is a strong reminder that we are to remember who we are. We are NOT God. We are God's creation. And we (I) have to be so careful not to get things mixed up. I cannot dictate to God. I cannot order God to do the slightest thing. I cannot presume on God to do anything. God is God and I am not and never will be.

I am creature. God alone is Creator.

Jerusalem in her pride started to think she could order God… NO Never!

We listen, God directs. This is the proper order of things and we (I) dare not forget it!

Lord, I submit to You. I will read and study Your Word. I will take it in and make it the blueprint for my life. And, Lord, when I don't or when I fail to live up to Your Word, I will deem myself wrong and You and Your Word correct. I hope and pray that this way I will always remember who I am and that You alone are God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 

Check out Journey to the Potter's house at: http://www.ajourneytothepottershouse.com/#homepage

 

Friday, October 12: Isaiah 28- Pride goes before destruction .

As I began to read the chapter for a second time the word 'pride' caught my attention. Three times it appears in the opening 3 verses:

Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley— to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine! (1)

[T]he pride of Ephraim's drunkards appears again in verse 3.

The writer of Proverbs reminds us that pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18). Ephraim's pride is her undoing. And the Lord is coming to execute His judgment.

Pride is the downfall of many a person… leaders, presidents and kings as well as regular Tom, Dick and Jane. Pride gives us a false sense of security, an air of invincibility and eliminates our ability to make wise and righteous decisions.

It is interesting that in the instances above pride is coupled with alcohol abuse and drunkenness. They are a lethal duo. Alcohol, especially excessive alcohol (drunkenness and 'laid low by wine), also eliminates a person's ability to make wise decisions. Thus alcohol multiplies the negative affects of pride.

And these two led to Ephraim's demise.

Alcohol is not a major issue for me; pride, however, is another concern altogether. I have to be careful that I do not think too highly of myself. A swelled head is never good for decision-making. And a swelled head doesn't lead to God-honoring living.

The warning of Proverbs comes back to my consciousness: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).

Lord, may I heed Your warning… I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Thursday, October 11: Isaiah 27- That day, God's day.

There seems to be a number of connections between "the day" of this chapter and the end of days. The defeat of Leviathan seems possibly to mirror the defeat of the dragon in Revelation. Then there is the trumpet sounding in verse 12. Is that a foreshadowing of the trumpet call of Christ when He returns for His saints? Look for yourselves and compare:

Isaiah 27:13 (NIV2011): And in that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (NIV2011): According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

I found myself considering that day… when the trumpet call of Christ is sounded and the dead in Christ rise to be with him and those still alive join the church triumphant with Christ in glory.

Oh, what a day that will be… indescribable joy and wonder. The glory of the Lord filling the earth as water covers the seas. Tears and pain and morning and sorrow all a thing of the past. Life forever in the wonder of heaven… the new heaven and new earth. Life as it was intended to be when God created and before the fall occurred.

Oh, what a day that will be…

Lord, that will be a great and glorious day. Help me to share Your love and the opportunity to live with You in glory forever with the people of my world so that as many as possible put their faith in Jesus and thus will be received into Your presence and eternity when their life on earth is over. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

 

Wednesday, October 10: Isaiah 26- Praise lightens the load.

My day has been very hectic. Early start, helping at an event. I feel like I was shot out of a canon and I'm still traveling fast. As I sit down I feel like my heart is still racing.

Then I sit for my time with the Lord. I flip open my Bible to my chapter for today and the heading jumps off the page, "A Song of Praise." My heart lightens. I am so glad that the pages of judgments have ended. The joy of praise begins to enter me even before I read verse 1.

I come to verses 3-4 and my heart leaps. I know this is where I will camp after I finish the chapter. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal (3-4).

Just reading these words causes peace to rain down like a slow, soothing, soaking summer rain. Someone from the event needs help. As I rise to help I can sense that my attitude has shifted. I feel lighter... peace, perfect peace is filling me. And even though people are placing demands on me, internally the burden is different. Peace is finding its' home in my life.

I return and sit down filling my thoughts with verse 3-4 again: You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.

Steadfast: I focus on Jesus... His teachings, His life, His atoning death, His resurrection and ascension, His coronation and return. Jesus, my Lord. Jesus, my Savior.

Steadfast: I focus on God, the Father... His power, His love, love that willingly sacrificed His one and only Son for the world and me. His sovereignty. His seat above everything supreme and Lord over all. God my Father. Abba.

Steadfast: I focus on the Holy Spirit... The counselor, God with us. God who comes along side. God who empowers and leads, guides and gifts. God, the Spirit, who lives in me, yes, He takes up residence in me thanks to faith in Jesus. I am never alone and it is God who is with me!

Steadfast: I focus on the Trinity, one God, three persons. Mystery and awe. My God's ways are higher than I can ever understand. Trinity, three persons of the Godhead in perfect harmony and deepest relationship. This God, my God, is a relational God and God invites me (and you) into relationship with Him. Halleluiah, what joy!

As I stay my mind steadfastly on the Lord, peace continues to blanket me. The slow soothing soaking summer rain of God's peace continues to wash over me.

Thanks be to God.

Praise the Lord, the King of creation. He is my rock and my fortress. In God I find rest and peace and home. Amen and amen.

 

Tuesday, October 9: Isaiah 25- Joys of praise.

What a change of tone... the dire judgments of pages past give rise to the joys of praise.

LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. ... In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation" (1, 9)

Even in that day God will watch over His people. I was correct, I thought, to praise God yesterday in my prayer. Because those who stand with the Lord will be preserved during the day of the Lord. Jesus will protect us and we will praise the Lord for His wonderful grace, love, forgiveness and cover!

I join Isaiah in praising God and I look forward to the day when I will join with all God's family exalting and praising God –Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit –for the many wonderful things He has done since the creation of time. And I will rejoice that I trusted in Him and not in myself or some other false god.

Halleluiah, what a day that will be! I will see God's majesty in new and more wonderful ways. Praise, praise and more praise to my God for His mighty acts of goodness and grace.

Through Jesus, I pray. Amen.

 

Monday, October 8: Isaiah 24- The reality of judgment.

All the judgments of the nations are a prelude to the Lord's final judgment 'in that day.'

See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants—it will be the same for priest as for people, for the master as for his servant, for the mistress as for her servant, for seller as for buyer, for borrower as for lender, for debtor as for creditor. The earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. The LORD has spoken this word.  ...  In that day the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below. (1-3, 21).

There is no running away from it, 'that day' will come when everyone will answer to the Lord. Isaiah graphically portrays that day saying, it will be the same for priest as for people, for the master as for his servant, for the mistress as for her servant, for seller as for buyer, for borrower as for lender, for debtor as for creditor.

By repeating six times a-z analogies it seems as if God is saying, "Folks, this is for certain. Everyone will be judged from small to great, everyone."

Certainly this is what I am hearing as I sit with this word open before me. My judgment is certain. I will be judged. There is no escaping being screened by the eye of the Lord.

And this judgment will not go well. I have broken God's commandments, I have failed His best. I have not lived up to His requirements.

Oh, God, I stand naked before You. You know the truth. I have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. I have broken Your law. I am riddled with and filled with sin! And I deserve every punishment You choose to mete out. The only thing that stands between me and hell is Jesus. Thankfully that is all I need. Jesus is my answer and the answer for everyone who believes.

Thank You, Jesus, for saving my life and my eternity. I will praise You with my whole life.

In Your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

 

Saturday, September 29: Isaiah 17- Dangerous bedfellows.

The chapter begins with a word against Damascus and Ephraim, which is an alternate name for the northern kingdom of Israel. A prophecy against Damascus: "See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. … The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, and royal power from Damascus… (1, 3a)

Why when prophesying against Damascus would God include the northern kingdom? Why is God prophesying the disappearance of his northern kingdom? Because corruption has taken over and His sword will fall to cut the cancer out.

The northern kingdom has grown chummy with Damascus. As I recall, they even imported the gods of Damascus.  So when God judges Damascus, Israel/Ephraim is judged as well.

This makes me think… be careful who you chum around with.

How many shows and stories have I read where friends lead others into bad experiences. Our friends, companions and associates can lead us toward or away from the Lord.

In today's reading friendship with Damascus ends in judgment for Ephraim.

As a Christ-follower I should not cloister myself from people outside the faith. After all I cannot effectively shine the light of Jesus into others lives if I don't associate with them. But at the same time, I need to guard my heart so that their misdeeds don't draw me away from the Lord.

Navigating these relational dynamics can be tricky, still they are manageable if we keep our eyes on the Lord, stay in communion with Him, and listen for the leading of the Holy Spirit along the way.

I remain duly warned to keep my eyes and heart open so that I do not allow others in my life to lead me away from Jesus, my Lord…

Jesus, teach me to rightly evaluate my relationship web. Show me how to be in the world but not of it. Also, help me to be a light for You in my relationships and in my world. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Friday, September 28: Isaiah 16- A ray of light shining in the darkness.

In the midst of the continuing judgment on Moab, a momentary ray of light shines amidst the darkness. Verse 5: In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it— one from the house of David— one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.

Could this be a prophecy about Jesus? That is certainly the way I read it and heard it in my heart.

I was blessed by the opening words, In love… reminds me of John 3:16: For God so loved the world… Established in love, built on faithfulness, seeking justice and speeding the cause of righteousness… that is a throne for the ages. That is Jesus, who sits on the throne of heaven and will come to judge the world in righteousness at the Father's appointed time.

Would that all nations aim for a similar goal: Established in love, built on faithfulness, seeking justice and advancing righteousness.

The last line makes me wonder what I could do, if anything, to shape my world as this verse suggests; to bathe my world in love and build it on faithfulness, to be a world that seeks justice and advances righteousness.

Lord, what can I do? What should I do to bring this world, Your world, closer to reality in my neck of the woods? I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Thursday, September 27: Isaiah 15- Our words, thoughts, deeds, intensions, everything will be open for the Lord to see and judge.

I find no pleasure in chapters about judgment. No matter who is being judged by God, God's judgment is a frightful situation. Chapters like this are a constant and stark reminder that God judges everyone. Whether this side of eternity or at the gate to eternity, every person will be judged. Our words, thoughts, deeds, intensions, everything will be open for the Lord to see and He will judge to see if in any way we broke the law. Minor transgression or major it doesn't matter. Once the law is broken, we are lawbreakers deserving punishment and the wrath of God.

This is a frightening realization. And whenever I read about God judging some person or nation, I realize that I, too, will stand before God.

I have broken the law more times than I even know and certainly more than I could count or list. My hearing before God would not be pretty, except for the gift of Jesus, my Lord, carrying my sins on His body as He hung on the cross. Moab had no one to ransom them…frightful. As Jonathan Edwards reminded his parish, it is a frightful thing… sinners in the hands of an angry God.

Sitting here today, reading about Moab's fate, I am eternally grateful for:

·         The Father's love that sent Jesus,

·         Jesus dying for sinners and His invitation to believe and be forgiven, and

·         The Holy Spirit who opened my eyes and heart to the truth of God's redemption through Jesus…

Jesus is the only reason I fear not God's judgment. And I say this not in a cocky way, but completely humbled by God's love and grace for me…

If you are reading this I hope you know the love of God through Jesus Christ, God's one and only Son.

Lord God, Father in heaven, thank You for Jesus and the riches of grace found in confessing Him as Savior and Lord. Thank You, Holy One, for taking the truth of Jesus and applying it to my heart. For wooing and calling me home to Jesus. I pray in the matchless name of my God, Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Wednesday, September 26: Isaiah 14- Jesus is our safe harbor.

It amazes me how our minds make associations and connections with its thoughts. An idea here, a comment there weave our web of thoughts.

As I was reading verses 3 and 4, On the day the LORD gives you relief from your suffering and turmoil and from the harsh labor forced on you, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended!  My mind connected these words with the New Testament words "Fallen, Fallen is Babylon."  I knew those words were from Revelation, so I looked them up. Sure enough, Revelation 18:1-2: After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. With a mighty voice he shouted: " 'Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!' She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.

This chapter of Revelation pictures the judgment of the great harlot Babylon… the name for all that is vile and evil in the world, God's enemy Satan and his kingdom. The judgment spoken in Revelation 18 comes immediately before the Halleluiahs of chapter 19 and the description of the final end of God's enemy and the establishment of God's forever kingdom the new heaven and new earth of chapters 19-22.

Is God in Isaiah foretelling the destruction of earthly Babylon or spiritual Babylon? I am not certain. Either way the overarching message for me is that God will judge all that is evil. And God will establish His people forever and ever. In that day all aligned with Jesus will sing with the multitudes of God's people in glory, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants" (Revelation 19:1b-2).

What a day that will be… what a day that will be.

Lord, I long for Your day, that day when evil is crushed and Your new and perfect kingdom is reality. Until then, Lord, I pledge my life to You. To live for You, to obey You, and to follow You in the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Tuesday, September 25: Isaiah 13- God's rightful judgment.

The entire chapter is God exercising His right to judge. Babylon judged will fall… men, women, children, all will be struck down.

I don't like to read these chapters. They are so different from Jesus in the New Testament. And yet the New Testament discusses the judgment of God as well. God's judgment is declared throughout the entire Bible.

Judgment is never pretty. It is a topic I would avoid but then it comes up in my Bible reading and I can avoid it no longer. Today is one of the days I must consider judgment.

The Lord will avenge sin. The Lord will punish sin. And if it were not for Jesus and His grace, I would receive God's judgment, and rightfully so.

My life is marred by sin. I deserved God's wrath, punishment and judgment. Only faith in Jesus saves me from my deserved punishment. Only faith in Jesus saves me from the fate of Babylon.

If you are reading this blog, then you should ask yourself, "Do I know Jesus? Have I confessed Him to be Lord and Savior of my life? Am I following Jesus as His disciple?" Only an honest and heart-filled 'yes' can save you from the wrath and punishment of God Almighty.

Think about it…

Oh, Jesus, I surrender to you. You alone are Lord and Savior. I believe in You. I will follow You. I will live with and for You… I pray in Your name. Amen.

 

Monday, September 24: Isaiah 12- The things God has done.

In this delightful chapter of praise and joy to the Lord I wondered where I should stop to meditate. It is all so positive, so life-lifting. I read it over and felt a slight nudge toward the last verses, so that is where I landed for my deep meditation.

In that day you will say: "Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you" (4-6).

I started remembering things God has done. About a month ago a ministry I am involved with had a significant fire, destroying its primary facility at its home base. While the fire was not God I could see God's hand in mitigating the loss of life and property. The fire happened just after a few visitors had exited the building to inspect the site of a new prayer chapel being built about 100 yards down the road. Their proximity to the main house meant that the fire was spotted quickly and emergency personnel were on site in about 10 minutes. The building was vacant of people so no human harm happened. And since it is a heavily wooded area, the fire personnel said that had the fire blazed for much longer without notice, the woods could easily have caught fire which could have been catastrophic for the camp and the wooded acreage surrounding the camp. So while the fire was not good, God's hand kept things from being far worse than they were. And we are hopeful that a beautiful and modern structure will rise from the ashes of the old house.

My extended family has had the joy of welcoming a new child into the world... what a joy and gift.

I could go on... to issues of health, and riches of faith. Rather than writing all I simply sat and remembered the many works of God I have witnessed. Just this week I met with a missionary friend who shared stories of conversions and much more in a very difficult land...

God is good and His blessings are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness, O God, my father. I bless You, Lord, along with Isaiah the prophet: In that day you will say: "I will praise you, LORD. ... Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation" (1-2). Through Christ, my Lord, I pray. Amen.

 

Saturday, October 6: Isaiah 23- Can't hide from God.

I did a little reading on Tyre, it was a small sailing powerhouse in the ancient world. And because of its small size Tyre was generally left alone by major powers when they roared through and conquered the region. This however was about to change. God's judgment was soon to be realized. No longer would Tyre be a hidden gem, left alone by the large powers.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary notes: The Phoenicians, with their accumulated wealth and their blatant materialism, represented the very type of culture against whose vices Amos in particular warned the Israelites. Until the time of the Assyrians, who had designs on the whole Mediterranean seaboard and its hinterland, this small state and its important commercial cities had been left relatively undisturbed by conflict. From Assyria forward most powerhouses inflicted their will on the Phoenicians.

Pondering Tyre's story brought some interesting thoughts. For years they escaped any kind of punishment/attack as different rulers moved through the area. But then God named a day and said now I will bring judgment upon you for the way you have been living... a way that doesn't acknowledge Me or My way.

Like Tyre I can feel like I am not seen, as if God is not paying attention to my sin. This can lead to false feelings that God won't be bothered with my sin. Thus, I'm okay.

But I am not okay and my sin is mounting up. The story of Tyre reminds me that judgment will eventually come, in God's timing. The story of Tyre also reminds me that I don't get away with sin; eventually in God's timing judgment comes to everyone. Everyone... even me and you.

Have I been hiding from God? Do I think I can hide my sins from God? I can't. God sees and knows everything... and my day will come.

Without Jesus that day would be a disaster, like it was for Tyre.

Lord, I sit here and face myself and my sin. I am far from perfect. I would be lost without your grace and the atonement of Jesus for my sins and the sins of the world. Through Jesus, I pray. Amen.

 

Friday, October 5: Isaiah 22- The danger of becoming puffed up.

I can easily imagine God's people in Jerusalem becoming puffed up as God circles them, judging all their neighbors and enemies. How much more the hammer blow of this chapter must have hurt as they rolled the scroll only to find their city and their name among the judged!

This stings because I can imagine so easily how puffed up Jerusalem could have felt because I think I would have become puffed up. My imagination is so much a projection of myself.

So even as God is judging Jerusalem in this chapter of the Bible, I am feeling a pinch of warning.

"Bill, don't allow yourself to become puffed up with pride on how well or how blessed you are. Beware, Bill, for you, too, are a sinner deserving of judgment. Only God's grace, mercy and love through Jesus Christ separates you from deserved judgment… don't ever forget this."

Lord, Your Word has chastised me. It has cut me to the bone and marrow. Cleanse me, O Lord, from my sin of pride, that I might be Your faithful servant. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Thursday, October 4: Isaiah 21- The final word.

The Lord continues His scan of Israel's neighbors, parceling out His judgments against these nations. The third prophecy in this chapter closes with the words, The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken (17b).

There it is. The final word, the God of Israel, has spoken.

The Lord doesn't need incantations, or magic or displays of power. All God needs to do is speak and what He says happens. This has been the picture we see of God from the very first words of the Bible. God spoke and creation happened. Now God speaks and judgment happens.

The Lord God, all-powerful, only needs to speak and what He speaks happens.

Absolute power. Absolute authority. Absolute rule. Absolute…

It is difficult for me to fathom absolute. Nothing in my frame of reference is absolute, except the Lord. And it is difficult to truly comprehend a lone exception. To simply be able to speak and create things, that is so far above my frame of understanding.

As I ponder all this I am awed by the greatness of the Lord. And then I am awed that the Absolute Sovereign of the world would be mindful of me, a tiny insignificant speck of humanity.

Humbled. Awed. Blessed. Amazed. Appreciative.

Oh, Lord God, I do not deserve Your lavish love, care, concern and interest. I don't really have words to respond. Joy and wonder roll over me. Appreciation for You and Your kindness well up inside of me. Tears of love fill my eyes. Thank You, Lord. Bless You, Lord.

I pray through Jesus, my Savior. Amen.

 

Wednesday, October 3: Isaiah 20- Prayers for the United States of America.

In this short chapter, when I read verse 5: Those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt will be dismayed and put to shame, I immediately thought when we trust in anything other than the Lord we will be dismayed and put to shame.

At one point Egypt was the pinnacle of human society, and yet here Egypt is being defeated by Assyria. Oh, how the mighty fall. Instantly as I wrote this last sentence I thought, someday that will likely be true of my country, the United States of America. Right now it feels like we are a forever great nation. Likely Egypt at one point certainly thought they were a forever great nation, but then the tide changes and the mighty fall.

Hopefully I will not be alive when the USA slips, but only God knows His plans for any country, including mine.

These thoughts drive me to pray for my country…

Lord God, for two centuries and counting you have had Your eye on the USA. You have protected her and helped us flourish. We like to think it is our ideals, and while that may be an element of our greatness, Your providential hand is the more foundational reason. I lift up my country and pray that You would sustain us. I pray that You would watch over us. Keep our eyes on doing good and help us from growing arrogant and haughty… like any mighty country we are more vulnerable when that happens. Grace us also to be a force for good in the world and to be a force for You and the completion of Your commission to take the name of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Tuesday, October 2: Isaiah 19- That all might praise the Lord.

Chapter 19 is given a heading in my Bible, "A Prophecy Against Egypt." I realize that these headings are not canonical, but generally descriptive. What I found fascinating was that the prophecy concludes with a blessing that Egypt and Assyria will erect altars to the Lord and worship Him.

In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border. It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and keep them. The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.

In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance" (19-25).

The modern day span of this prophecy would include Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and Egypt. How amazing it will be when all these peoples worship the Lord.

Would that all words from God end with people worshipping the Lord and being blessed.

Oh, God, I pray for the completion of this word. I pray that the nations of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and Egypt come to know You.

Lord, how many of the problems in today's world would disappear if all these peoples united under You God –Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit?  Lord, if these peoples united it could/would be a catalyst for the world to unite under Jesus. May this become reality… may the world and all the peoples of the world come to know Jesus. I pray in His name. Amen.

 

Monday, October 1: Isaiah 18- Listen for the Lord.

Monday, October 1: Isaiah 18- Listen for the Lord…

Through Isaiah, God is speaking words to all the countries and cultures around His people. God's eyes now turn to Cush. As the word begins to flow God notes how all people naturally see and respond to appropriate signs and signals. All you people of the world, you who live on the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it, and when a trumpet sounds, you will hear it. This is what the LORD says to me:… (3-4a)

This word picture launched my meditations. When a banner is raised on a mountain we see it. When a trumpet blast is sounded people hear it. In today's language, when a police siren sounds we pay attention. This word picture is followed immediately by, This is what the LORD says to me:…

What hit me is that God gets our attention (banner, trumpet, siren) and then speaks…

How often has God tried to get my attention, and I haven't given it? This question plagues me…

Lord God, am I paying attention to You?  Open my ears and maybe more importantly, open my heart to hear You, to pay attention and listen for Your voice. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Saturday, September 22: Isaiah 11- A wonderful day is coming.

It was as if verse 9b was written in neon script on the page as I read. For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea (9b, see similar Habakkuk 2:14). Oh, what a day that will be, the world filled with the knowledge of the Lord.

God known... no veils, no cloaking, no twisting… only truth, the knowledge of God widely known. What joy, what wonder, what delight...

I sit imagining what this will be like, but my imagination can only go so far. I know the reality will be far greater than I can imagine.

I also know I will experience this when God greets me and leads me into eternity... Oh, the wonder and glory of that day.

Lord, thank You for these glimpses of Your day to come. I bless and praise You through Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen

 

Friday, September 21: Isaiah 10- Woe to those who make unjust laws .

Often when I listen to the news I think how sad. Blacks v Whites both looking for an edge to gain over others. Lawmakers writing laws that favor the 'haves over the have nots'. Minimum wage is not a livable wage. Then in news from other lands I see those with power oppressing those without power. Clamoring to get ahead of others seems a universal human activity and putting others down along the way is just what one does.

With these thoughts as my background I read, Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches? Nothing will remain but to cringe among the captives or fall among the slain. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised (1-4).

God desires a different approach. Help those who are deprived. Watch out for people who have no personal clout in the world.

It is all too easy for me to begin pointing fingers at politicians and others as I read these verses forgetting or minimizing what these words say to me! I play this game too frequently, noting others' failures rather than my own. Recognizing my fault, I lay Isaiah words upon my life... Do I dis the poor? Do I vote for people who will care for me at the exclusion of widows, orphans and the fatherless? Do I revel in my advantages while having a stone heart toward those not as fortunate? Would I legislate differently were I in a seat of power and influence?

Lord, these questions penetrate. Thank You for not allowing me to get off easily. Probe me and know me, correct any wicked way in me. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Thursday, September 20: Isaiah 9- Lead in the right direction.

Following hard on the heels of one of the greatest prophecies in the Old Testament about the coming of Jesus (2-7), the Lord begins to describe His anger against Israel (the Northern Kingdom). God called to them... But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty. So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day; the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail. Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray. Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men, nor will he pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks folly. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised (13-17).

When I read these words, God's comment about the leaders struck me hard... the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail. Those who guide this people mislead them... God is angry with Israel's leaders because they led Israel astray! Leaders bear the responsibility to lead rightly and will be judged harshly when they do not.

Everyone is responsible for his or her own life. However, leaders are doubly responsible. They are responsible for their own lives and also that they lead people toward deepening faith in the Lord. I remembered the words of James in the New Testament. Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly (James 3:1). As a pastor and teacher these combined thoughts strike a deep nerve.

Lord, am I leading people to You? Am I living faithfully before You?

Two questions we can all ask of ourselves... think about it

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah... guide me in my own daily living and guide me as I lead Your church, Your flock, Your people. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen,

 

Wednesday, September 19: Isaiah 8- Don't take God's grace for granted.

The last straw has been broken; Israel (the northern kingdom) will be judged, overrun by the Assyrians. For too long Israel has gone her own way. She will not listen to God's call to return. She will not revere the Lord. God Himself will be a stumbling stone on which Israel stumbles… Judgment comes if we don't trust and honor the Lord

The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured." (13-15)

Reading this chapter, the words of Isaiah in verse 13 hit me. The Lord is the one I am to regard as holy. The Lord is the one I am to fear and dread. Recently I remember preaching the story of Ananias and Sapphira. In that passage and again today, through the words of Isaiah, I was confronted with the power, majesty and justice of God. He is to be feared. He alone is the holy and mighty one and God is not to be trifled with… ever.

For too long Israel refused to grant God His due and worship Him alone. Eventually God's hammer fell with the sword of Assyria.

God is gracious, but God's grace must not be taken for granted. When God calls me (us) to repent; we must repent. When God reveals our sin, our response should be 'forgive me, Lord. Cleanse me, Lord.' It is in those moments that we need to fall on our faces before the Lord and reach out for His forgiveness. Over and over God extended His hand to Israel but they swatted it, reaching for a false god instead.

May their error be a reminder not to do as they did. Instead accept God's gracious invitation to confess and be forgiven…

Oh, Lord, I have not loved You as I ought or loved my neighbor as myself. I have not kept my way pure… I turn to You and reach for Your forgiveness, believing the promise of 1John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Thank You for this gift of forgiveness, I pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 

Tuesday, September 18: Isaiah 7- Man up, God is with you .

Isaiah says in effect to Ahaz, 'Man up, God is with you."

How often that is what God has to say to me...

When I worry about this, that or another thing, God needs to remind me, 'Man up, I am with you.'

When a witnessing situation presents itself and I stumble for words I need to hear, 'Man up, I am with you.'

"I am with you," are power-filled words. The God of heaven and earth, creator of all there is and ever will be, is with me. I recall at one point in Moses' life God said he would bless Moses but would not go with him into the Promised Land. And Moses replied, "I will not go if You will not go with me (see exodus 33:15)". The blessing of God was not enough; Moses knew he needed the presence of God!

To Ahaz God said, "I am with you"...

And we, children of the New Covenant, have the presence of God by the indwelling Holy Spirit with us all the time! What a gift. What a blessing.

"Man up today, Bill (readers add your own name), I am with You. Live like you know that!", says the Lord.

Oh, God, may I live understanding You are with me. May I radiate Your presence and follow Your lead faithfully. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 

Monday, September 17: Isaiah 6- .Oh, to see the Lord

 

I sat and wondered what it would be like to see the Lord as was Isaiah's privilege... In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;

the whole earth is full of his glory."

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"

And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

He said, "Go and tell this people... (1-9)

I imagine my heart beating wildly, fear, yes, actual FEAR mixed with reverence and awe covering me. I doubt I could speak. And when the Lord speaks I wonder if I could hear, not for lack of interest or anything like that but because I am overwhelmed.

Isaiah stood, fully cognoscente of his sin, his lack, his unworthiness. I'm sure I and any human would be there, too.

Often when I think of heaven, I think of being overwhelmed in the presence, physical, actual presence of perfection. Isaiah had a taste of that here on earth and it marked his life forever.

Oh, God, I don't know that I even dare to pray that I have an experience like Isaiah. It is too wonderful and the responsibility thereafter too great. I will pray for a sense of Your presence. I will pray for a growing sense of Your presence in and around my life from now until You bring me into your full presence.  Through Christ, my Lord, I pray. Amen.

 

Saturday, September 15: Isaiah 5- Keeping the main thing the main thing.

Matthew, Mark and Luke quote Jesus saying, What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? (Luke 9:25, version) It is a strong and I'll admit a bit frightening word. In one way or another we all keep score of what we have gained. We record our bank account(s). We know the valuation in our homes, if we own one. We insure our vehicles, which means we place a value on them and so on. We all keep score of what we have gained. Jesus reminds us that that we can amass gobs of stuff, even the whole world, but none of it is any good if we lose our self, our soul.

Ultimately, Jesus' word is a comment on priorities. Stuff is secondary to God.

Isaiah has a similar thought in verse 12: They have harps and lyres at their banquets, pipes and timbrels and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD, no respect for the work of his hands (12). We can hold the most lavish events, we can throw parties that are the envy of the neighborhood, but if we don't have respect for the Lord and the work of His hands, what good is it?

Isaiah and Jesus are reminding me to examine my priorities... in order to keep God the main thing that drives my life. This requires that I spend some time in quiet personal contemplation...

Will you join me?

Lord, meet me in the quiet. Instruct me in the deepest places. Lead me to You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 

Friday, September 14: Isaiah 4- Restoration.

Judgment isn't the end of the story. Verses 2-6 picture a restoration of cleaned and redeemed people. I focused on descriptors in these verses.

·         beautiful and glorious,

·         Those who are left ... will be called holy,

·         The Lord will wash away the filth

·         a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything ... It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

The last descriptor is reminiscent of the protection God gave to the people of Israel as they fled Egypt following the Passover. The cloud of smoke and fire by night was a manifestation of God's presence that guided and protected the people for the 40 years in the wilderness.

God is restoring things... His protection will again be over His people.

The judgment of the last day will purge and cleanse His people so His joy can be restored in fullness and completeness.

Oh, to long for the day when God restores all things. Until then I need to live as a child of God, a righteous one obedient to Jesus and following the Lord with heart and soul and mind and strength.

Oh, God, give me the strength I need to honor You all the days of my life. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Thursday, September 13: Isaiah 3- A glimmer of hope .

The day of the Lord will not be pretty. Isaiah provides one glimmer of hope for the day of the Lord. It is for the righteous. In the middle of this dower word of God's judgement comes one ray of light for a few. Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds (10).

I breathe a sigh of relief... not because I am righteous in myself. I sigh because in Christ, God the Father, has granted me and all who believe and follow Jesus the righteousness of Jesus, God's one and only son.

Here is one more joy of knowing Jesus... protection during the dreadful day of the Lord.

Oh, the wonder and the richest of knowing Jesus Christ and giving one's life to Him and growing in Him and living for Him.

Oh, the joy of knowing Jesus...

Lord God, thank You for opening my eyes and heart to Jesus... my Lord, my Savior and my God. Praise be to You, Jesus, along with the Father and the Spirit. Three persons, one God over all. Amen and amen.

 

Wednesday, September 12: Isaiah 2- Why do we esteem humans over the Lord? .

Honestly, I found this chapter a bit confusing. And I found myself thinking as I read, "Lord, help me. Give me understanding. Give me a morsel of your word to chew and meditate on." After reading much of the chapter more than once, my heart settled onto the closing verse of the chapter.

Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem? (22)

The verses preceding speak of the day of the Lord, when The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear (17-18). That will be a dreadful day. Human folly and arrogance will be laid bare and exposed as God is shown for whom He is, majestic and wonderful in His nature.

Isaiah ends the chapter with the words that grabbed hold of me. Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem? (22)

Why do we esteem humans over the Lord? I pondered this question.

Is it because I can relate to humans and God is so far removed from me? Is it that sin with its strong grip pulls my heart to worldly things instead of aspiring to the lofty ideals of the Lord? I am not sure of the answer. Likely it is what I mentioned and more all jumbled together. Whatever the root, we humans find it difficult to trust wholeheartedly the Lord God Almighty. So Isaiah speaks a theme that surfaces many times in the Bible. Stop trusting in mere humans...

Friends, family, and associates are all important in life, but they must never replace the Lord, who is the only One ultimately deserving our trust. 

Lord, show me if I have replaced You in any way by trusting more in people than You. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Tuesday, September 11: Isaiah 1- God holds out an olive branch.

As I sit today beginning my two-month sojourn through Isaiah, I wonder where God will take me and what the Lord will show me through this most significant Old Testament prophet.

Israel has been judged for her evil behavior. God has closed His ears to their prayers. Still God will not forsake them forever. He offers an olive branch. He invites them back into His good graces.

Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword."

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken (16-20).

Stop living sinfully, turn to me and I will wash you clean. I will forgive your sins. I will bless your land. This is God's offer.

After all Israel has done, after the ways she has prostituted herself with foreign gods, God continues to extend His hand to welcome Israel home… if they will turn from their sin and come to Him.

In this offer to Israel, I hear God's offer to everyone. "Turn from your evil ways and seek Me", says the Lord. "I will forgive your sins. I will redeem your life. I will welcome you home."

Lord God, thank You for Your offer of forgiveness, peace, and love. Thank You for grace, for a second and third chance. Place in me a new heart. A heart that longs to do right, to seek justice and to defend the oppressed. A heart that will take up the cause of the fatherless and plead the case of the widow. A heart that longs for You… that longs to be Your hands and feet in this world. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Monday, September 10: Acts 28- Pausing to pray .

Often when I read my daily chapter, there is a verse or thought that I read in a different way than times I have read it before. This morning my verse was verse 8. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him (8). Paul's actions caught my attention.

Luke reports, after prayer, [Paul] placed his hands on him and healed him. Before today I have always figured that Paul began to pray for the man, laid his hand on him and the man was healed. However a slower intentional read of the sequence suggests that Paul prayed and in response to the prayer laid his hands on the man and he was healed.

My sense is that Paul prayed to the Lord, possibly for guidance on what to do, and God's answer was to lay hands and be God's instrument of healing.

Maybe I am straining our gnats, but my understanding of the event is that Paul's prayer was a check in with the Lord about what he should do. Prayer for healing is only one of a number of potentially faith-filled responses Paul could have had to the sick man in bed.

Needs are present around us all the time. I love the thought of Paul pausing to pray to ask God how He would have Paul respond. This is a powerful guiding image for me...

Lord, help me to pause, to intentionally slow down and seek your guidance as needs are presented to me. To check in with You so that I am led to do what You would have me do and not simply act out of my own fleshly desires or thoughts. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.