SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 34-39
“But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isaiah 35:9-10)
Israel is a weak, helpless nation; their only sure hope and defence is God.
But the armies of Sennacherib are HUGE, their commander is arrogant.
In these chapters God shows how He is the one in control; He decides when and how things will unfold.
For Assyria and Israel, and for Sennacherib and Hezekiah – God is ultimately in charge.
His agenda is clear: to help the weak, the needy, the fearful, the oppressed.
In the midst of all the chaos and misery, He is building a highway in the desert – a Way of Holiness.
God will uproot the arrogant, and plant the humble.
“Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come to save you!”
This is what God is ultimately doing in history, what He uses world events for.
And the day is coming when only the good, humble, loving, generous, just, kind ones will remain.
There will be no more tears, no more inequities, no more underdogs, no more abused or neglected ones.
‘You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one!’
I choose to trust God for, and join God in advancing, this dream of God’s better world.
It’s better than any other nightmare humanity has envisioned.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, sometimes the nightmare of life leads me to despair of Your dream. Thank You for this vision of Your better world, and for the assurance that You will establish it!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Observations/Application
Hear the voice of the Lord. He is angry with the people of the world on all their armies. Their waywardness is upon the generations and their ‘kingdoms’ will be no more. The world is in His hand and His Spirit will follow up on His Word. He redeems His people. His people need to walk in His Way. Only His people are able to walk in the Way and the joy of the Lord God is their strength.
Not only is our confidence in the Lord but also our confidence. We need to listen to His Word and follow it. We need to be able to discern His voice and follow it daily. The Lord does indeed take care of His people. He is faithful as I too need to be unto Him. All my actions are seen by Him. He sees all my daily doings. All of my life I need to b serving the living God. I need to talk to Him daily. He is my Father leading me and guiding me. My time is in His hand.
I need to walk faithfully with wholehearted devotion serving the Lord each day. I am His and He is mine. I need to bring my joys, sorrows, daily goings to Him in prayer. I must daily with my God and sing of His praise and tell the next generation of His faithfulness.
Whole-hearted thanksgiving to Thee I will bring
In praise of Thy marvelous deeds I will sing;
In Thee I will joy and exultingly cry,
Thy Name I will praise, O Jehovah, Most High.
Refrain
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
O come to Jehovah, declare ye His fame,
And give Him all honor, for just is His Name.