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