Today’s Reading: Isaiah 29–30, Psalm 71

Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens.
You have done such wonderful things.
Who can compare with you, O God?
You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
but you will restore me to life again
and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
You will restore me to even greater honor
and comfort me once again. – Psalm 71:19-21

Even in the midst of difficult circumstances, it is good to trust in what God is about to do. Consider what it must have been like for the follower of Jesus the day after His crucifixion. He had told them He would be back, that He would rise from the dead, but they did not understand. Their emotions were mixed with sorrow and fear. Some, like Peter, must have felt strong regret over their lack of faith in the difficulties of the day before. This day between the crucifixion and the resurrection, the period of waiting to see what God will do next, waiting for God’s help. Have you been in this place before – in this time in between your request and God’s response?

ARE YOU, EVEN NOW, WAITING TO SEE WHAT GOD WILL DO NEXT?

In Isaiah, we see the Israelites in a similar holding pattern. They knew God was upset with them for their consistent flopping between faithfulness and fickleness. They knew they were about to experience the consequences of their generational unfaithfulness. They could look back and see the many ways in which God had rescued them and they could look forward to the coming destruction the prophets were describing. In the meantime, in the TIME IN BETWEEN, they waited for God’s help.

In their impatience, God’s people looked again to their enemies for rescue instead of looking to their God. But these enemies were receiving their own message from the prophets foretelling the wrath of God they were about to experience. Because they chose to battle God’s people, destruction and punishment would be in their future. Yet Israel foolishly looked to Egypt for rescue, begging them for a supply of horses for their army (2 Kings 18:24). But God desired for them to call upon His name and look to Him for help in the midst of trouble.

RETURN TO THE LORD, LOOK TO HIM FOR HELP, AND REST IN HIM.

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved.
In quietness and confidence is your strength.
But you would have none of it.
You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt.
They will give us swift horses riding into battle.’…

So the Lord must wait for you to COME TO HIM so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. – Isaiah 30:15-16a, 18

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIS HELP!

How often do I get so impatient waiting on God that I try to make things happen through another source or by my own strength? I need to stop reaching out to “Egypt” and come to God with a willingness to wait for his help…in his time…his way.

He will be gracious if you ASK for help.
He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.
Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink,
He will still be with you to teach you.
You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.
Then you will destroy all your silver idols and your precious gold images.
You will throw them out like filthy rags, saying to them “Good riddance!” – Isaiah 30:19-22

It is time to throw out my plans and my idols — all of the things in my life that I have made more important than waiting on God. It’s time to throw them out and say, “Good riddance! I choose God!”

Lord, I come to you for protection; save me and rescue me. Turn your ear to listen to me and set me free. Be my rock of safety where I can always hide, for you are my rock and my fortress. You alone are my hope and I trust in you. From my mother’s womb you have cared for me so I choose to praise you always — in every circumstance. My enemies jump in to take advantage of my weak moments, but I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more. I choose to constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do for me.

WHO CAN COMPARE TO YOU, O GOD?

O Lord, you alone are my hope.
I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.
Yes, you have been with me from birth;
from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.
No wonder I am always praising you!
My life is an example to many,
because you have been my strength and protection.
That is why I can never stop praising you;
I declare your glory all day long. – Psalm 71:5-8

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 23-28; Psalm 87

Yes, after seventy years the Lord will revive Tyre. But she will be no different than she was before. She will again be a prostitute to all kingdoms around the world. – Isaiah 23:17

But my heart is heavy with grief.
Weep for me, for I wither away.
Deceit still prevails,
and treachery is everywhere.
Terror and traps and snares will be your lot,
you people of the earth.
Those who flee in terror will fall into a trap,
and those who escape the trap will be caught in a snare. – Isaiah 24:16b-18

God was punishing His people in a way that was much different than He had in the generations before them. In the past, he had allowed them to lose a battle or lose territory or lose lives, but this was different. God was allowing several nations to win victories over the people of Judah and they were being carried away to distant lands. The freedom He had blessed them with was gone, and they were now living in exile in foreign nations.

On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the Lord.
He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel.
O city of God, what glorious things are said of you! – Psalm 87:1-3

The city of Jerusalem that had once been Israel’s crowning glory was being destroyed, and what had once been a beautiful home for God’s people was now a quiet reminder of all that had been lost. This time of exile would last for seventy years, but God knew that those He allowed to come back would once again fall into sin. They would boast about their survival rather than be thankful for God’s rescue. He knew they needed more than just punishment; they needed a Savior.

God has told his people,
“Here is a place of rest;
let the weary rest here.
This is a place of quiet rest.”
But they would not listen.
So the Lord will spell out his message for them again,
one line at a time,
one line at a time,
a little here,
and a little there,
so that they will stumble and fall.
They will be injured, trapped, and captured.

Therefore, listen to this message from the Lord,
you scoffing rulers in Jerusalem.
You boast, “We have struck a bargain to cheat death
and have made a deal to dodge the grave.
The coming destruction can never touch us,
for we have built a strong refuge made of lies and deception.”

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem,
a firm and tested stone.
It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on.
Whoever believes need never be shaken.” – Isaiah 28:12a-16

The heart of God can be found in these verses — the heart of a God who loves us and desires for us to live in relationship with Him. He has provided this place of rest for us, where we can spend time in His presence and allow Him to lead us. He is in pursuit of our devotion. We can see evidence of His attempts to draw us to Himself — a little here and a little there, one line at a time.

Father God, we look back and see your hand at work in our lives. We see the people you have placed in our path to speak truth into our lives and to teach us the right way to live. We have been blessed to have had opportunities to get to know who you are; we have experienced your great love for us.

Lord, thank you for this Cornerstone. Thank you for providing salvation for us through the death and resurrection of your Son. We choose again today to believe in Jesus so that we will not be shaken by all the lies and deception of this world. We fall on our knees for the sins of our own nation, and we pray for revival to break out across our land. Amen.

In that day the people will proclaim,
“This is our God!
We trusted in him, and he saved us!
This is the Lord, in whom we trusted.
Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!” – Isaiah 25:9

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 17–22

Why? Because you have turned from the God who can save you.
You have forgotten the Rock who can hide you. – Isaiah 17:10a

One of the biggest problems with the nation of Israel was their tendency to rely on anything and everyone except the God who had shown them His provision time and time again. God had been faithful but His people insisted on keeping their eyes on earthly sources of protection and provision.

Then the Philistines will be thrown into panic, for they counted on the power of Ethiopia and boasted of their allies in Egypt! They will say, “If this can happen to Egypt, what chance do we have? We were counting on Egypt to protect us from the king of Assyria.” – Isaiah 20:5-6

What happens when people disappoint us? What happens when our earthly sources are depleted? God has given us the freedom to choose and we often find ourselves turning to other people for comfort or wisdom. God has shown His great love for us, but we rely on earthly governments to protect us and human relationships to fill our needs. Then we throw our arms in the air in frustration when sinners sin and humans are human, even though God has told us time and time again to keep our eyes fixed on Him. His perfect plan for our life has always been to trust only in Him.

KEEP YOUR EYES FIXED ON THE LORD. PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIM.

You run to the armory for your weapons.
You inspect the breaks in the walls of Jerusalem.
You store up water in the lower pool.
You survey houses and tear some down for stone to strengthen the walls.
Between the city walls, you build a reservoir for water from the old pool.
But you never ask for help from the One who did all this.
You never considered the One who planned this long ago. – Isaiah 22:8b-11

My heart longs to experience everything God is preparing for those who put their trust in Him — His perfect plan for my life! Thank you, Father, for the reminder this morning that you and you alone can meet my every need. I thank you for the perfect peace you give when we fix our thoughts on you.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. – Isaiah 26:3-4

When the people cry to the Lord for help against those who oppress them, he will send them a savior who will rescue them. – Isaiah 19:20b

THE LORD IS OUR TOWER OF REFUGE, OUR ETERNAL ROCK OF SALVATION.

O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God.
You do such wonderful things!
You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them…
You are a tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress.
You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat…
You silence the roar of foreign nations…
In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world.
It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat.
There he will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth.
He will swallow up death forever!
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. – Isaiah 25:1,4-8

THE LORD’S PROMISES ARE TRUE EVERY MORNING.

Thank you, Lord, for faithfully meeting us again with the truth found in your word. Today we join Isaiah in praying the words found in chapter 26:

But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep or rough.
You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them.
Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.
All night long I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek for God. – Isaiah 26:7-9a

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 13-16; Psalms 61

Hear the noise on the mountains!
Listen, as the vast armies march!
It is the noise and shouting of many nations.
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has called this army together.
They come from distant countries, from beyond the farthest horizons.
They are the Lord’s weapons to carry out his anger.
With them he will destroy the whole land. – Isaiah 13:4-5

God used Isaiah to inform His people that they would go through a time of punishment for all their years of unfaithfulness. He would use their enemies to carry out the consequences of their disobedience. But He also let them know that He would eventually punish those nations for their harsh treatment of His children. He would gather together his army from all across the universe to disperse his judgment on the pagan nations who were lording their power over His people.

Babylon’s days are numbered; its time of destruction will soon arrive. – Isaiah 13:22b

Those who captured Israel will themselves be captured, and Israel will rule over its enemies. – Isaiah 14:2b

Now the Lord says, “Within three years, counting each day, the glory of Moab will be ended. From its great population, only a few of his people will be left alive.” – Isaiah 16:14

Even in the midst of His anger and disappointment in the repeated disloyalty of the children of Israel, God showed Himself to be their Great Protector. Yes they would have to suffer the consequences of their selfish choices and deliberate sins, but He promised the day would come when they would be restored and their enemies would be defeated.

IN THE MIDST OF THEIR PAIN, HE GAVE THEM HOPE!

Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!
For the Lord Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth.
He subdues the nations before us, putting our enemies beneath our feet. – Psalm 47:1-3

It was your right hand and strong arm
and the blinding light from your face that helped them,
for you loved them.
You are my King and my God.
You command victories for Israel.
Only by your power can we push back our enemies;
only in your name can we trample our foes.
I do not trust in my bow;
I do not count on my sword to save me.
You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies;
you disgrace those who hate us.
O God, we give glory to you all day long
and constantly praise your name. – Psalm 44:3b-8

O God, listen to my cry!
Hear my prayer!
From the ends of the earth,
I cry to you for help
when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
for you are my safe refuge,
a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
Let me live forever in your sanctuary,
safe beneath the shelter of your wings! – Psalm 61:1-4

Father God, may the truths we find in your scripture confirm to us how good you are. May your character be clearly seen, even while we are struggling to understand what is going on around us. May we learn to trust you through the difficult times and fully believe that you are our Great Protector and our Faithful Friend. Thanks for reminding us that the same God who loves us enough to get our attention when we have strayed is the One who will pull our enemies off of us and stand us back on our feet. With your right hand and your strong arm, as well as the blinding light from your face, you will help us because you love us. Thank you for that kind of grace! Amen.

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 18:1-12; 2 Chronicles 29-31

Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, was 25 years old when he became the next king of Judah. He behaved in ways that were pleasing to the Lord, removing pagan shrines and also breaking the bronze serpent to which God’s people were offering sacrifices (2 Kings 18:1-4). He repaired the Temple and reopened its doors, calling his country to return to the Lord in submission.

“For if you return to the Lord, your relatives and your children will be treated mercifully by their captors, and they will be able to return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful. If you return to him, he will not continue to turn his face from you.” – 2 Chronicles 30:9

THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL.

We serve a gracious God who has planned for our salvation. By His great mercy, we are allowed to make a return journey in our relationship with the Lord. If we will turn from our sinful ways and humble ourselves before God, He is ready to welcome us with open arms.

Hezekiah trusted in the Lord and remained faithful in everything he did, carefully obeying all the commands the Lord had given Moses. Hezekiah brought back the celebration of Passover and required his people to tithe so they would devote themselves fully to the Law of the Lord (2 Chronicles 31:4). And here’s the good part — the Lord was with Hezekiah, causing him to be successful in everything he did (2 Kings 18:7).

In this way, King Hezekiah handled the distribution throughout all Judah, doing what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God. In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God WHOLEHEARTEDLY. As a result, he was very successful. – 2 Chronicles 31:20-21

Oh the blessings God bestows on those who faithfully obey Him! He longs to generously pour out His love on us when we follow Him in obedience. The Lord desires to forgive us of our sins, equip us for holy living, and help us be successful in all He has asked us to do. Do you recognize the many ways in which God is blessing your obedience?

THE EVIDENCE THAT GOD CARES FOR YOU IS ALL AROUND. DO YOU SEE IT?

“Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care – but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them.” – Isaiah 1:3

I wonder how often I fail to recognize God’s blessings in my life – His tender care for me. This morning I long to wrap my mind around how incredible God is toward me DAILY! My prayer is that the death of Christ and His resurrection continues to get my attention; that I am able to recognize God’s favor and His care, and that my heart will respond in sincere thanksgiving toward my Creator, Provider and Friend.

“I will praise you, O Lord!
You were angry with me, but not anymore.
Now you comfort me.
See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song, he has given me victory.” – Isaiah 12:1-2

O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God.
You do such wonderful things!
You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them. – Isaiah 25:1

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal rock…
For those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough.
You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them.
Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws;
Our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.
All night long I search for you;
In the morning I earnestly seek for God. – Isaiah 26:3-4,7-9a

I love that last verse. It describes how I wake up in the morning – with a longing to hear from God. He is so faithful to meet us when we turn to Him! His care for us is evidenced in His response to us. If we seek Him, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

EVERY GOOD AND WONDERFUL THING IN MY LIFE IS A GIFT FROM GOD!

Oh Lord, thank you so much for your tender care of me. When I am scared or lonely, you comfort me. When I am happy, it is because you have filled me with your joy. As I start a new day, I trust in you for what is ahead. You are my eternal rock and I long to fix my thoughts on you and stay there. The road ahead is unknown but I believe the way will not be steep or rough, for you will smooth out the path ahead for me. Glory to God in the Highest! Praise His Name!!!

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. – Psalm 100:1-3

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 9-12

“All right then, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” – Isaiah 7:11-14

In addition to the priceless advice the Lord was sending to King Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah (to stop worrying and stand firm in his faith), Isaiah was telling Ahaz that God would send a sign of salvation. A baby would be born of a virgin and he would be called Immanuel, God with us. In the midst of the trouble and anguish and dark despair, a light would shine in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali.

A LIGHT WOULD SHINE IN GALILEE FOR ALL TO SEE.

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfilled what God had said through the prophet Isaiah:
“In the land of Zebulun and Naphtali,
beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River,
in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,
a light has shined.” – Matthew 4:12-16

Isaiah had the difficult task of declaring the coming judgment of God, but he also had the privilege of declaring the redemption that was to come. The time of darkness and despair would not go on forever (9:1). A remnant would return from exile (10:21) and the Messiah would come to save His people from their sins.

For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen! – Isaiah 9:6-7

“…In a little while my anger against you will end, and then my anger will rise up to destroy them.” The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will lash them with his whip, as he did when Gideon triumphed over the Midianites at the rock of Oreb, or when the Lord’s staff was raised to drown the Egyptian army in the sea. – Isaiah 10:25-26

Before sending His people off to exile as a consequence of their generational unfaithfulness, the Lord was reminding them of who He is and how He had provided for them in the past. Remember when the Lord downsized Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 11,000 to 300. All they had to do was surround their enemy, break their clay pots, and shout their victory, and God caused the Midianite army to panic and start fighting against each other (Judges 7). Remind yourselves of how God parted the Red Sea to provide dry ground for His people to escape; do not forget how the walls of the Red Sea came crashing down on the Egyptian army (Exodus 14).

TAKE NOTE OF WHAT GOD IS CAPABLE OF DOING FOR YOU!

In that day the heir to David’s throne
will be a banner of salvation to all the world. – Isaiah 11:10a

From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” – Matthew 4:17

In that day you will sing:
“I will praise you, O Lord!
You were angry with me, but not any more.
Now you comfort me.
See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.”
With joy you will drink deeply
from the fountain of salvation!
In that wonderful day you will sing:
“Thank the Lord! Praise his name!
Tell the nations what he has done.
Let them know how mighty he is!
Sing to the Lord, for he has done wonderful things.
Make known his praise around the world.
Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy!
For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you.” – Isaiah 12:1-6

Immanuel, we thank you for coming to live among us. We praise you for your strength and your ability, and we fall on our knees in gratitude for the many ways you have displayed your power and authority. Thank you for the salvation that is made possible through Jesus’ message of repentance, his death on the cross, and his resurrection from the dead. We declare today that we will trust you and not be afraid. We will sing of the wonderful things you have done for us, for great is the Holy One who lives among us! Amen.

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 7-8; Psalm 39

King Ahaz and the people were trembling with fear and the Lord sent Isaiah to them. He had this message for the king: Stop worrying. Stand firm. You do not need to fear the fierce anger of other nations. But unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm (Isaiah 7:2-9).

God said: “Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want – as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.”

But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the Lord like that.”

Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? All right then, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey. For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted.” – Isaiah 7:11-16

DO YOU NEED A SIGN FROM GOD?

Do you need confirmation that your God is trustworthy and wants to restore you? Are you trembling with fear and in need of faith so that God can help you stand firm against what you are facing? Look – the sign you are seeking is in His Son, Jesus Christ. Place your faith in the firm foundation of Jesus; make Christ the cornerstone of your faith and you will experience the hope you are looking for!

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God.
There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” – Isaiah 2:3b

Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life.
He is the One you should fear.
He is the One who should make you tremble.
He will keep you safe…
I will wait for the Lord…I will put my hope in him. – Isaiah 8:13-14a,17

May that be our testimony today, no matter what we are facing — that we will wait for the Lord and place our hope fully in Him. May our actions reflect the gift of faith from God.

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered – how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.
And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
Rescue me from my rebellion… – Psalm 39:4-8a

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.
My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. – Psalm 62:5-8

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 6

In those days a man will say to his brother,
“Since you have a coat, you be our leader!
Take charge of this heap of ruins!”
But he will reply,
“No! I can’t help.
I don’t have any extra food or clothes.
Don’t put me in charge!” – Isaiah 3:6-7

I have chosen to repeat this passage again this morning because it gives a stark contrast to Isaiah’s response to the Lord’s call in Isaiah chapter six. You see, no one wanted to lead the people of Judah because the nation was in such a mess. So many of the Judeans had already been taken captive and escorted to foreign lands, with the threat of exile for those who remained. Who would want to be the leader of this “sinking ship”? Who could possibly desire responsibility over a nation that had turned their backs away from the God of their ancestors? Who wanted to share the fate of those who were now suffering the consequence of their generational sin.

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people,
‘Listen carefully, but do not understand.
Watch closely, but learn nothing.’
Harden the hearts of these people.
Plug their ears and shut their eyes.
That way, they will not see with their eyes,
nor hear with their ears,
nor understand with their hearts
and turn to me for healing.” – Isaiah 6:8-10

ISAIAH HAD A WILLING HEART AND GOD CHOSE HIM FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

I love the heart of Isaiah as revealed in his quick response to the call of God. The moment God called, Isaiah responded. Without details, without questions, Isaiah responded in submissive obedience to whatever God was asking him to do. It would not be an easy assignment, but Isaiah knew that sometimes God calls us to do hard things.

God saw the heart of Isaiah and chose to reveal himself for the purpose of pulling Isaiah up to a higher calling. Not many people could say, “I saw the Lord,” but Isaiah lived to tell about the glory revealed to him the day he saw the Lord sitting on the throne, the train of His robe filling the Temple.

Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!”
Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.
Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” – Isaiah 6:2-5

ISAIAH HAD A HEART OF REPENTANCE, HUMBLED BY BOTH HIS OWN SIN AND THE SIN OF THE NATION.

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” – Isaiah 6:6-7

Do you remember that moment when the realization of God’s unmerited favor washed over you? Do you remember the heart of regret with which you prayed for salvation? Do you remember the hope of salvation you received when your guilt was removed and your sins were forgiven?

After saying “yes” to the Lord, Isaiah began asking questions and seeking clarity. Perhaps Isaiah wondered when God’s people would experience this same hope of salvation. Was there a promise of restoration or an end to the suffering in sight? Isaiah was willing to do what God had called him to do but he had questions.

Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?”
And he replied,
“Until their towns are empty,
their houses are deserted,
and the whole country is a wasteland;
until the Lord has sent everyone away,
and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.
If even a tenth—a remnant—survive,
it will be invaded again and burned.
But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down,
so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.” – Isaiah 6:11-13

ARE YOU WEARY OF THE WORK THE LORD HAS CALLED YOU TO?

Perhaps you long for an end date to the hard thing God has assigned to you. Like Isaiah, our hearts must remain willing until God releases us from the work to which we have been called. We must remain a humble servant to the Sovereign Lord, never forgetting our own moment of salvation and staying available to be a part of someone else’s.

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.” – Isaiah 6:8

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 3-5; Romans 1:18-32

The Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
will take away from Jerusalem and Judah
everything they depend on:
every bit of bread and every drop of water,…
I will make boys their leaders and toddlers their rulers. – Isaiah 3:1,4

The Sovereign Lord was pronouncing his judgment on the people of Judah. They would soon turn on one another, oppressing each other. Young people would boldly insult their elders, and vulgarity would disregard what was once considered honorable. They would be without good leadership because no one would be willing to be in charge of the mess their nation had found themselves in.

They display their sin like the people of Sodom
and don’t even try to hide it.
They are doomed!
They have brought destruction upon themselves.
Tell the godly that all will be well for them.
They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned!
But the wicked are doomed,
for they will get exactly what they deserve.
Childish leaders oppress my people,
and women rule over them.
O my people, your leaders mislead you;
they send you down the wrong road. – Isaiah 3:9b-12

On that day of judgment the Lord will strip away
Everything that makes her beautiful…
Instead of smelling of sweet perfume, she will stink….
Shame will replace her beauty. – Isaiah 3:18,24-25

They furnish wine and lovely music at their grand parties —
lyre and harp, tambourine and flute —
But they never think about the Lord or notice what he is doing.
So my people will go into exile far away because they do not know me. – Isaiah 5:12-13a

Why were the people of Judah being led away by the thousands to the land of their enemies? Because at some point they turned their hearts away from the Lord. They no longer knew the God who had led them out of Egypt; they no longer knew the God who had faithfully fought their battles and lived among them. The Lord had given them the land He had promised to them, but they had brought judgment upon themselves when they chose disobedience and idolatry over complete surrender to God.

But the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be exalted by his justice.
The holiness of God will be displayed by his righteousness….
What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil,
that dark is light and light is dark,
that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.
What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes
and think themselves so clever. – Isaiah 5:15,20-21

They had exchanged the truth for a lie, redefining what God had created and forming their own theology based on perverse thinking and false notions. They knew God’s justice would require that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they did them anyway (Romans 1:28-32). God help us, for this sounds like the status of our world today.

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. – Romans 1:18-20

But for those who know God to be sovereign and holy, His promises remain. For those who walk in fellowship with God, there will be a beautiful future. Those who worship Him as God and give the Lord thanks for all He has done will experience the riches of His glory. God will protect those who are faith and give them reason to hope for a better day.

But in that day, the branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious;
the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory
of all who survive in Israel. – Isaiah 4:2

He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day
and smoke and flaming fire at night, covering the glorious land.
It will be a shelter from daytime heat
and a hiding place from storms and rain. – Isaiah 4:5b-6

Where do we fall, as individuals, as a church, and as a nation? How will we respond to the culture of the world around us? Will we chase after the lies and ridiculous notions of those who have rejected God, or will we stand firm on the truth of God’s word? God has made the consequences clear, and He leaves us with the freedom of choice. We can choose to succumb to the ridiculous ideologies of man or we can place our confidence in the truth of God.

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” – Matthew 7:13-14

Sovereign Lord, we repent for the status of today’s culture. We grieve for the distance we have moved away from your truth and your plan. We bow before you this morning in submission to all that you are and all that you are calling us to be. May your Spirit convict us when we stray from your truth, and may you be glorified as we faithfully walk in the way you have laid out for us. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 1-2, Psalm 38

Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem 16 years. He did NOT do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord, as his ancestor David had done…Because of all this, the Lord his God allowed the king of Aram to defeat Ahaz and to exile large numbers of his people to Damascus. The armies of the king of Israel also defeated Ahaz and inflicted many casualties on his army…At that time King Ahaz of Judah asked the king of Assyria for help…Even during this time of trouble, King Ahaz continued to reject the Lord. – 2 Chronicles 28:1,5,16,22

BUT SHOULDN’T PEOPLE ASK GOD FOR GUIDANCE?

Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Look to God’s instructions and teachings! – Isaiah 8:19b-20a

Ahaz was still a young man when he became king of Judah, so naturally he looked to others for help. But why not look to the One who held the plan? Why not trust in God for rescue? It was during this time in Judah’s history that God called the prophet Isaiah to speak His message loud and clear: You can depend on God and it is foolishness to trust in anything or anyone else but God!

Don’t put your trust in mere humans.
They are as frail as breath. What good are they? – Isaiah 2:22

The horrible time that Judah was experiencing was a consequence of their sin. They needed the reminder that we serve a God who is able to break the power of sin and help us survive the mess we have made. When we look around and trouble surrounds us, when all we can see is the result of bad decisions and sinful actions, we can know that OUR GOD IS THERE TO GUIDE US OUT OF THE PREDICAMENT WE FIND OURSELVES IN. The secret is to surrender and trust in God so that we can experience the grace that rescues God’s people from the consequences of their sins.

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord.
Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.
If you will only obey me…” – Isaiah 1:18-19a

WHY DO WE PUT OUR TRUST IN HUMANS?

This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
who rely on human strength
and turn their hearts away from the Lord.
They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
with no hope for the future….” – Jeremiah 17:5-6a

God’s grace and mercy are calling out to us. He is eager to wash us clean and restore our relationship with Him. So what keeps us from running back into His arms? Why do we turn to other people when our Creator holds the answers? Why do we seek other solutions for help when our loving Father is beckoning us? Is it pride or arrogance? Do we struggle to find the humility needed to repent of our sins?

Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled.
Only the Lord will be exalted on the day of judgment.
For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has a day of reckoning.
He will punish the proud and mighty and bring down everything that is exalted…
Human pride will be humbled and human arrogance will be brought down.
Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment. – Isaiah 2:11-12,17

SURRENDER TO THE LORD AND TRUST HIM WITH EVERYTHING.

Father God, reveal in us our tendencies to trust more in other people than we do in you. Show us where pride is getting in the way of asking you for help. No matter how big or small the mess we have made, may we humble ourselves and turn to you for rescue. Amen.

I am on the verge of collapse,
facing constant pain.
But I confess my sins;
I am deeply sorry for what I have done…
Do not abandon me, O Lord.
Do not stand at a distance, my God.
Come quickly to help me,
O Lord my savior. — Psalm 38:17-22