Isaiah 53:6- 

"All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way." (v6)

Here is raw truth. The truth that each of us must admit and we must confess..  We have that sin nature.. handed down from Adam.. and we are all guilty.  We want it OUR way.  We want to live life on our own terms. We want to make our decisions, even if they are terrible..  We " all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

Yet the God who created heaven and earth, Who has knit each of us together in our mothers' wombs, God who is altogether Holy.... chose to send His Son:

To cause "the iniquity of us all to fall on Him." (Isaiah 53:6b)

Jesus was "oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth." 

As the song goes.. "He could have called 10.000 angels.."  He could have opened up the earth to swallow those who beat Him. He could have destroyed every enemy.  But, He didn't. In obedience to the Father, Jesus "poured out Himself to death".  So that He could "justify the many".. so He could bear our iniquity. 

"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." ( Romans 5:6)

Precious truths that give us hope and peace and life. 

Father in heaven, Your will be done.. on earth as it is in heaven.  You know every one of Your sheep.. even those who are lost. You sent Jesus to seek and save those dear ones. Thank You for the Word. Thank You for the gospel "for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes."  Help us all to believe in our hearts and confess with our lips, that Jesus Christ is Lord. May many more have their eyes opened to see Your glory.. today, I pray.. in Jesus' name . Amen. 

 Isaiah 53:1-5

  "Who has believed out message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"  The apostle John quotes this passage saying.. "that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke... These things Isaiah said, because he saw His glory and he spoke of Him." ( John 12:38-41) 

"the arm of the Lord"  was revealed.. in Jesus.  His strength.. His help.. His mighty power.. has been revealed.. but who will believe?  Jesus "performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him; " John wrote.. for their eyes were blinded, their hearts were hardened.. " Lest they see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.." ( v40) 

Jesus came " as light into the world that everyone who believes in [Him] may not remain in darkness."  He "came to save the world".  He came that we might have life. Eternal life.  He came to be "the arm of the Lord".. revealed to us.. 

He was the "tender shoot" who came from the root of Judah. 

He had no "stately form or majesty" 

"He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised and we did not esteem Him." 

The arm of the Lord - the might, strength, power, and help of the Lord, Creator of heaven and earth - was revealed in a despised, forsaken, man of sorrows... in Jesus. 

"In fact, it was our diseases (griefs) he bore, our pains from which He suffered; yet we regarded him as punished, stricken and afflicted by God. But he was wounded because of our crimes, crushed because of our sins; the disciplining that makes us whole fell on him, and by his bruises we are healed." (v4-5 CJB)

The might of the Lord our God.. revealed in Christ who suffered and died for us.. What a powerful, beautiful, wonderful Name .. the Name of Jesus. 

Oh Father, no greater love can ever be known, no greater grace can ever be shown.. than what happened that day, when Jesus laid down His life that we might live.  How can we ever thank You enough?  Our praises rise up to You forever and ever.  You have revealed Your might to us, You have opened our blinded eyes.. You have healed our stubborn hearts.. You have forgiven our sin.   Thank You Father..  All praise and glory to our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit..  Amen. 

 Isaiah 52  The Lord calls for His people to wake up and get ready.. for He will provide redemption. "Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore in that day I am the one who is speaking, 'Here I am.' " (v6)

Good News! Redemption came to Israel and it comes to us.. news of "peace and .. happiness."  News that "Your God reigns!" (v7)

God would restore Zion then and He will restore Zion again. (v8)

God comforted His people then.. and He will comfort all of us again!

God "bared His holy arm".. "That all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God." (v10) 

God declared Himself their leader and their "rear guard". ( v12)  And He has not changed!

God's Servant came. But, in a way they failed to recognize.. even though He declared it plainly here in the words of Isaiah.  " So His appearance was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men. thus He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; For what had not been told them they will see, and what they had not heard they will understand."  ( v15)

As we reflect on yesterday, Palm Sunday.. and anticipate Good Friday.. it is fitting to read these words, to think about the sacrifice of our Savior... marred.. pierced.. scourged.. crushed.. poured out as a "guilt offering".. "Because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sins of many and interceded for the transgressors." ( 53:12)

Father in heaven, Holy God, who bared Your arm.. Who sent Your Son.. to redeem, to restore, to take all of our sins on a cross.. for us. We exalt and lift high the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Lord, You reign and we rejoice! Thank You for the cross. Thank You that in the crucifixion of Jesus, we are crucified to the rule of sin, self, and satan.. forever and ever. Amen!  Draw us nearer. Fill us with Your love and grace. May we hear and understand, may we see clearly Your glory and majesty.  In Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Isaiah 51  Although Judah has "drunk from the Lord's hand the cup of His wrath.. "  He is not finished with His people.  He reminds them of who they are and of Who He is. 

"Look to the rock from which you were hewn.. "  They needed to remember that they came from Abraham and Sarah. That, God had promised Abraham, to multiply his descendants and to bless them.  God would do everything He said He would do.  They needed to "pay attention"!

"My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, and My arms will judge the peoples."  God has provided all that He promised. In Jesus Christ we find salvation. In Him we are made righteous. He drank the cup of God's wrath for us.  He will judge the nations.  He is a perfect Savior! Hallelujah!

"Lift up your eyes to the sky, then look to the earth beneath; for the sky will vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment, and its inhabitants will die in like manner, but My salvation shall be forever, and My righteousness shall not wane.  ( v 6) 

He made a way for Israel to cross the sea.  He made a way for us to cross from death into life. When all else is gone.. including the sky above us and the ground beneath our feet... still there will be God.  

"I, even I am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, and of the son of man who is made like grass; that you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth..." (v12-13)

"I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea and its waves roar (the Lord of hosts is His name). and I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, 'You are My people.'" ( v15-16) 

Father in heaven, Holy and Righteous God, You alone made the heavens and the earth and all that is in them.  One day, You will destroy it all and only those who are in Christ will remain, for salvation in Him is forever.  By Your love You sent Your Son so that we would not perish but have everlasting Life. Thank You gracious Lord! Help us to pay attention. Help us to put away fear of those things that are only temporary. Help us to not put our hope in anything except Your eternal Word. We are comforted in Your Truth. Praise and honor and glory to our God and to the Son in whom we have life.  Amen. 

 Isaiah 50  The Word of God brings us hope.. and like the psalmist I am clinging to its Truth.. "I put my hope in your word." ( Psalm 119:74, 81, and 114).  

Here in Isaiah 50 are words that bring me precious hope:

".. Is My hand so short that it cannot ransom? Or have I no power to deliver?" (v2b) The answer is no, never.. there is nothing that our God cannot do! He has the power to save! Hallelujah!

"Behold, the Lord God helps me; who is he who condemns me?" ( v9) No one.  We are safe in the arms of our Father in heaven who will never leave us or forsake us.. who does not condemn, but saves. 

The Lord sent His Servant, Jesus, to save us from our sins.  Jesus was perfect in obedience to the will of the Father.. "I gave My back to those who strike Me, and My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting." (v6)  He gave His life.. willingly.. for us. 

Jesus has brought to us - hope.  Paul wrote.. "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end." (Romans 6:11)   "... In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise, the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." ( 6:17-20)

We have a "better hope".. a "living hope"  because Jesus is our Hope. 

Father in heaven, I put my hope in You and in Jesus Christ my Redeemer.  You are the God of grace and salvation. You can redeem us and You can deliver us.. from all sin, from death, and from the lies and deceptions of our enemy.  My prayers rest in Your Word.. unchangeable and an anchor for my soul.  I pray that You would bring hope to my loved ones who are in desperate need.. deliver them, save them, I pray. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Isaiah 49  Written hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, the Lord God, presents His Servant.  He would be brought from His mother's womb, named by His Heavenly Father, given a "mouth like a sharp sword" and made like "a select arrow".  His words and actions would be precise and would display the glory of God. 

Jesus is "a light of the nations". He came so that His salvation would "reach to the end of the earth".  But, when He came, He was despised by His own people.  The Redeemer was "abhorred by the nation".  Yet, even this achieved God's purpose, for His death on a cross paid the ransom for all who sin.. for us all who will put our trust in Him. 

A day is coming, when Jesus will return.  This time "Kings shall see and arise, princes shall also bow down.."  

"Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have compassion on His afflicted." ( v13)

God's promises will be fulfilled.  This is our comfort.  When Israel speaks in verse 14, she thinks she has been forsaken and forgotten, but the Lord comforts her and us... "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;"

He will not forget us. He will be our God and our Savior forever.  We can know Him and wait on Him with confidence and hope.  Hallelujah!  What a Savior. 

Father in heaven, I needed to hear Your voice this morning, to know You have not forgotten or forsaken me.  I need to know Your Presence and compassion, Your love and power today.  "You are my hiding place and shield".  Please keep me in Your perfect peace as my mind is stayed on You.  Thank You that there is nothing impossible for You. Thank You that You hear our cries and bring hope. I will trust in You, wait on You, and worship You today and every day.  Lord help me to be faithful always.  In Christ... I live and pray. amen. 

 Isaiah 48  Israel is the personification of stubbornness.  They used God's name but "not in truth nor in righteousness".   The Lord said this about them... "... I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your forehead bronze.. ."   Hard-headed and stiff necked!  I know a few people like that, don't you? 

Because of their stubbornness the Lord told them what was going to happen, so that when it did, they couldn't deny that it was from Him.  He did the unexpected, the unpredictable, and the miraculous things so that they would see His glory.  He did it when He redeemed Israel out of Babylon.. and He did it when He gave His Son, Jesus. 

Because of their stubbornness, they were tested but not cut off.. "I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory, I will not give to another." (v10-11)

The Lord desires His people to obey His Word.  He desires to bless them with righteousness, to redeem them, and to give them joy. That is His desire for all of His creation. 

Why are we.. all of us.. so stubborn?  Why do we refuse the grace that God is willing to give?  Why is it so hard to trust in the God who created us?  Why do people choose wickedness, when they find no hope and no peace?  We need to look to Him and trust in His Word.  Lord, help us!

Father in heaven,  You are the Lord of hosts, the Holy One... the Lord my God and I bow before You. "Let my heart be pure in your laws; so that I won't be put to shame. I am dying to know your salvation; my hope is in your word." ( Psalm 119:80-81 CJB)   My hope is in You.  Forgive us our trespasses.. our stubbornness and sin. Forgive our unbelief and pour out your grace and mercy on us.  How great is the glory of God, the Lord who is my God and Father. Thank You for all that You have done and all that You have promised.  I will trust in You. Lord, by Your Hand, will You change hearts and minds so that more people.. my loved ones too...  will come to know You, worship You and love You with all their hearts?  In Jesus'  name I ask this, amen. 

 Isaiah 47  This is a lament for Babylon.. personified into a young woman.. once beautiful and proud.  Because she was allowed to triumph over Israel but showed no mercy, Babylon would suffer. 

She would be reduced from a "tender and delicate" princess.. to a slave, sitting on the ground grinding meal. ( v1-2)

She who once dressed in beautiful garments would be naked and exposed. ( v2b-3)

She, who once was called "the queen of kingdoms",  would now sit in a dark corner.. in silence. ( v5)

She, who once declared, "I shall be queen forever".. who thought she would never suffer.. would suddenly lose her children and her husband and any security she trusted in. 

No matter what she tried, Babylon would find no answers. She believed that her evil would go unseen.. but it would not. 

"Your wisdom and your knowledge have deluded you.. ."  the Lord tells her.  Her sorceries and spells were useless. The astrologers couldn't save her. Her allies deserted her. 

"There is none to save you." 

And such it is with everyone of us... who will not turn to Jesus Christ.  We delude ourselves and we allow others to delude us.. saying "I am, and there is no one besides me."  We claim power over our own lives, our own choices, and our own destinies. But, it is all a lie. For God, the Lord of hosts.. the Holy One.. sees. 

"For I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done.. " (46:9-10)

The Lord said He would send a Redeemer and He did.  He said that the Messiah would suffer... and He did. He said that He would be "pierced through for our trangressions.. crushed for our iniquities.. like a lamb that is led to slaughter.. cut off out of the land of the living.."  ( Isaiah 53)  And this is what Jesus did.  Everything that God said.. happened. 

But, He didn't end it there.  He says that there is coming a day.. when a trumpet will sound and the heavens will be opened.. a day when all of us.. for "all of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way" - just like Babylon. All of us will stand before Him to account for our actions, our choices, our attitudes.. our delusions or our faith.. 

Our only hope is Jesus. Our Redeemer, who offered His body.. "Because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors." ( Isa. 53:12)

Father, we are so thankful for the grace that You have lavished on us, that we should be called Your children, in Jesus Christ the Lord.  You have taken us from the hopeless ash heap where we had no way out.. to the throne of heaven with Jesus forever!  How amazing and wonderful is Your gift of salvation for all who will trust in Jesus. He bore MY sin.. He interceded for ME!  Hallelujah! What a Savior!  Help us to see You more clearly, to trust in You with all of our hearts, and to love You with all of our being.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 

 Isaiah 46 The false gods of Babylon.. all false god, from the past, present, and future - are "burdensome", the Lord tells His people.  You spend your money, you hire someone to make the idol, you lug it home, and set it up.  It doesn't move. It doesn't speak.. and it "cannot deliver" you from your distress.  It is worthless. 

All  the success, all the wealth, all the beauty, all of the things that our culture worships.. are the same as an idol made of wood, silver, or gold.. worthless... when you need help, worthless when you are on your death bed, worthless when your marriage is falling apart, worthless when your addiction has brought you to the end of your life... when there is no more hope...

But, listen to what God says.. "You who have been borne by Me from birth, and have been carried from the womb; even to your old age, I shall be the same, and even to your graying years I shall bear you; And I shall bear you and I shall deliver you. To whom would you liken Me, and make Me equal and compare Me, that we should be alike?" 

Our world is broken by fear, anxiety, hatred, and self-centeredness.  It is a burden that we carry.. to be good enough.. to be smart enough.. to be successful enough.. The pressure to be better than others has led to heartache, hostility, suicide and homicide.  We see it every day on the news.. on our streets.. in our own families.. 

But, for those who will turn to the One true God.. there is hope .. "Listen to Me you stubborn-minded, who are far from righteousness. I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; and My salvation will not delay, and I will grant salvation in Zion and My glory for Israel." 

Jesus came to preach this very thing.. "From that time Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'" ( Matthew 4:17)  He came to fulfill the Father's plan!

We choose.. to carry a burden that we can never find life in, that can never save or satisfy.... or to be carried by the One who made us, loves us, and offers us His Kingdom.  Jesus came for this very purpose. God declared it. God did it. God will accomplish all His purposes. ( Isaiah 46:10)

Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.  You are God and there is no other. You have made us. You have loved us.  You know that we have no hope of salvation, no hope of life in our own power, so You sent Jesus.  Thank You Jesus, for being perfectly without sin, for willingly laying down Your life to pay the penalty for my sin.  Thank You for making me righteous in Your sight by Your gift of salvation.  I pray that You would continue Your work.. Your purposes in my life and in my family, in our church and in our world.   Let all the earth praise the Lord! Let Your righteousness rain down. Let the Name of Jesus be proclaimed to the ends of the earth, I pray. Amen. 

 Isaiah 45  The beginning of this chapter names Cyrus.. a man who would not even be born for over 100 years later.. to be God's chosen instrument to restore Jerusalem. 

 But, this chapter mainly has one resounding message.. " I am the Lord, and there is no other." This message is vital and wonderful, life-changing when we hear it, receive it, and live by its truth. 

God would give Cyrus a road to success that would be unparalleled.  He would "subdue nations."  He would have open doors.  He would have "treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places."  The Lord would work in a way that he would know that "the Lord, the God of Israel" called him by name and set him in place to do His will. 

The Lord calls Israel His "chosen one."  "I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor though you have not known Me." (v4)  And then He goes on to remind them and teach them Who He Is... This message is for every one of us.. He calls each of us by name.. even when we don't know Him.. and thankfully, He reveals Himself to us too!

v5 "I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me."   In a day and age where so many people are lost and filled with fear, doubt, and anxiety.. this message needs repeating. 

v6-7 "That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no  one beside Me. I am the Lord and there is no other."  People everywhere.. all people need to know.. today.. before another hour passes them by.. "The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these." The Lord is Sovereign.. everything is in His hands. 

He created righteousness. v8

He created earth and man, the heavens and the hosts. v12

He extends grace... for the eternal salvation of those who are His. v17

v 18 ".. I am the Lord, and there is none else."

v21 ".. and there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me." 

v22 "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God and there is no other."

Do you think that this is something God wants to make very clear to us? Absolutely!!!!

His Word has been given that we might know Him.. "that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.  They will say of Me, 'Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength.'" v23-24

Father in heaven,  You are God alone and we worship You. We exalt You and praise You with all of our hearts, for You alone are worthy.  That You are mindful of us.. that You created mankind, knowing how much we will fail You.. boggles my mind.  But, how very thankful I am that You have offered salvation to the ends of the earth... and to Me.   You are our righteous God and our Savior.  In Jesus Christ we have been cleansed of all our sin. We have been made whole. We have been purchased and adopted and hidden with Christ in You.  All of this and more!  Glory to God, for there is NO other!  amen. 

 Isaiah 44  At the beginning of Isaiah's writings the Lord said, "Come now, and let us reason together..."  and this chapter presents a very powerful argument for Israel.. and for us.. to believe and follow Him.  

God chose Israel.. established them as a nation.. declared them to be His people. He speaks to them and through them to us....  "Thus says the Lord who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you..  Do not fear.. " 

The God who will "pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground.."  is our God. He tells us..   "The Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts; I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me." and ".. Who is like Me?.. Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock? I know of none."

The Lord presents  the foolishness of trusting in any idols.   A man cuts down a tree. He uses part of it to start a fire, to keep warm.  He uses some of it to cook his food.  Then he uses the rest to form an idol and then worships it. "They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend. And no on recalls, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, 'I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals.. then I make the rest of it into an abomination, I fall down before a block of wood.'  He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, 'Is there not a lie in my right hand?'"

But, the One True God, who formed every one of us.. still offers to wipe out our transgressions.. to redeem us from the pit, to show us His glory.. "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, I the Lord, and the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself, and spreading out the earth all alone." This is our God!

What are the idols that people serve today? Nature? Wealth? Things? People?  Every idol...everything that is temporary.... is like that piece of wood.. ashes.. deception.. abominations.  God said, " I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images..." ( 42:8)

Let us listen to the Shepherd's voice and trust in God alone.  Let us know.. be fully convinced..  that Jesus is our Redeemer and that we must come to Him, lay down our lives, pick up our cross.. and follow Him. 

Father, we hear You speaking.. fill our hearts with Your Truth and lead us by Your Spirit. May Jesus Christ be our all in all. Hear our prayers of intercession for those who are lost.. even as You have promised to hear and answer our prayers... we pray for life and salvation for our brothers and sisters, in Jesus' name, amen. 

 Isaiah 43  Up and down... mountains of joy and valleys of grief.. the book of Isaiah see-saws back and forth between the  blessings of God and the suffering of sinful man...

As I try to listen closely for the voice of the Shepherd, I find myself longing more and more for that glorious day.. when we will finally be home. When the grief and tears are over... 

 Meanwhile, as the Lord speaks to Israel.. again.. may we take it to heart and keep our eyes on Him. 

" I have called you by name; you are Mine!" v1  Our Creator.. formed us, just like He formed Jacob.. so "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you."  He will be with us, too.  "For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."  Hallelujah!  "Since you are precious in My sight, since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life." v3-4

We are also His witnesses.. even as Israel was called to be.. " in order that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and there is no savior besides Me." v10-11 "So you are My witnesses, declares the Lord, and I am God. Even from eternity I am He; and there is none who can deliver out of My hand."

"I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins." v25

He gave Jesus in exchange for our lives. He loves us and calls us His own. He wipes out our transgressions. We are precious in His sight.

Truths to meditate on during these days of mountains and valleys. 

Father, God, who gives perseverance and encouragement.. You understand our weaknesses, You know our failures.. and You love us still. You choose to give us Light. You choose to send us Living Water. You choose to make ways through difficult days and circumstances.. for Your glory. Thank You for wiping out our transgressions.   All glory and honor and praises to Your Name! Amen and amen!

 Isaiah 42 The Servant of God is described here.  Whether or not this is meant to be Israel or Jesus.. it is very true of Jesus :

He is God's chosen One.. in whom He delights.

He was given the Holy Spirit after His baptism.

He will "bring forth justice to the nations." 

He did not cry out.. 

"A brushed reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not distinguish." 

"He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not be disheartened or crushed, until He has established justice in the earth." v4

"God, the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out.. appointed [Him] as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to bring prisoners from the dungeon, and those who dwell in darkness from the prison." ( 5-7)

The Lord Jesus came to bring justice.  He will accomplish all that He has been called to do. I've said it before and will say it again:  as we hear the cry from every corner, for justice..   what we really need to cry  out for is mercy.  The justice of Christ will be perfect.. and each person will receive the verdict he or she deserves.. but for those without the covering of Jesus' blood.. that will mean eternal punishment. Sin and rebellion that has not found the forgiveness that Jesus alone can bring, will not be spared from God's wrath. 

Father in heaven, may those who have turned away from You  have their eyes opened.. may they be freed from the dungeon of unbelief.. may they be released from the darkness of sin and death and hell. Lord God, have mercy on us we pray, in the name of Jesus, Your Servant and Your beloved Son. Amen. 

 Isaiah 41  The Lord calls us to listen carefully.. to open our eyes.. to come to Him and wait on Him, and to remember Who He is.  "Who has performed and accomplished it. Calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last. I am He." 

From the beginning of creation, God has "performed and accomplished" ... everything.  He brought about the nations.  He directs their rise and their fall.  He is first.  He will be the same with "those who are last." 

God chose Israel to be His servant. " I have chosen you and not rejected you. Do not fear for I am with you;  do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." ( v9-10) 

Just as He chose Israel.. He chose us. Ephesians 1: 4 ".. just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him..." 

In Christ we have received "every spiritual blessing". We do not need to fear.. for He is with us.  He is our strength.  He is our help. He holds us with His powerful Hand. 

The message is repeated in verse 13 "for I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'"

I needed to hear this.  I need to remember this.  Sometimes, just watching the news.. or hearing about difficulties that loved ones are facing.. fear and worry try to rob me of the perfect peace that God has promised. But, He is calling me.. calling us to Trust Him.  The Holy One who has been "calling forth the generations from the beginning"  and who will be with "those who are last"... Is our God.. and He will help us. 

What good news!

Father, we praise Your name.  You are my God. I will exalt You and give You thanks.  Thank You for choosing me, for making me Your own.  Thank You for the grace freely bestowed on me in Christ, the Beloved. Thank You for redemption through His blood, for the forgiveness of my sins. Thank You for giving wisdom and insight to make known to me the mystery of Your will, which You purposed in Jesus, according to Your kindness. Thank You for the inheritance that is mine in Jesus.  Oh for the day when faith will be sight! Fill us to the full with Your Presence, Lord. Let the world see Your Light shining through Your chosen ones.  In Jesus' name we pray.. amen. 

Isaiah 40:27-31  The final section of this chapter is well-known and brings such encouragement.  But, note verse 27 "Why do you say, O Jacob...'my way is hidden from the Lord and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God'?"  

Nothing escapes His notice. Whether the speaker is someone who is good and has been treated unfairly.. or someone evil who thinks he can get away without punishment.. God sees. He will judge in righteousness. He will do all that He has promised. 

Again, Isaiah asks, "Do you not know? Have you not heard?"  What is it that we need to know?  "The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not grow weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power."  The CJB says it this way.. "He invigorates the exhausted, he gives strength to the powerless." 

We need to KNOW this about our God. He understands us. He doesn't get tired of dealing with us.  He will give us the help that we need!

"Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." 

Some of us are weary. Some of us are exhausted.  Many of us are so tired that we are stumbling.  But, the Lord tells us to "wait" on Him...to hope in Him. Once again, my thoughts turn to  Isaiah 26:3 "The steadfast of mind" - the person who is waiting on...  resting in, hoping in, clinging to..  and trusting completely in the Lord, "the Creator of the ends of the earth".. will receive "perfect peace". He will give us strength to keep on running the race that is set before us.. to keep walking in His Light.  Praise the Lord!

Father, thank You that there is nothing that hides us from Your sight or keeps us from Your Hand. Thank You for loving us, for becoming our salvation, and for making us glad even in our struggles. Thank You that Your plan for each of us is perfect, because it is You who promises to finish what You have begun in us.  Oh how marvelous is Your amazing grace which is forever and ever! Help us, Lord, to know You, to trust You, and to obey Your Word. Come and have Your way in me today, Lord. 

 In Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Isaiah 40:18-26

"To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?"

The Lord asks Judah.. and us.. to compare Him to any other god... 

An idol, made by a man's hand, even covered by gold or silver, or hand cut out of wood and magnificently carved into a beautiful image - is still.. nothing.   Psalm 115: 4-8 says it this way:

"Their idols are mere silver and gold,

made by human hands.

They have mouths, but they can't speak;

they have eyes, but they can't see;

they have ears, but they can't hear;

they have noses, but they can't smell;

they have hands, but they can't feel;

they have feet, but they can't walk;

with their throats they can't make a sound. 

The people who make them will become like them,

along with everyone who trust is them."

"Do you not know? Have you not heard?" The Lord says, "Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the vault of the earth..." 

God is so great that we "are like grasshoppers" in His sight... smaller than that, I would think...

God is so great.. that rulers are reduced to nothing and judges are meaningless. "Scarcely have they been planted, scarcely have they been sown, scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, but He merely blows on them and they wither, and the storm carries them away like stubble." 

"To whom then will you liken Me that I should be his equal? says the Holy One." 

"Lift up your eyes on high

and see who has created these stars,

The One who leads forth their host by number,

He calls them all by name;

Because of the greatness of His might

and the strength of His power

Not one of them is missing."

Father in heaven, our Great and Mighty God, You are our Creator who has revealed Yourself to us.. mere men and women.  How amazing that You would love us.  That You would send Jesus to redeem us from our sin. How amazing that You have given us precious promises and a future inheritance that is beyond our understanding. I lift my eyes to You, O Lord.. to trust You, to worship You, and to obey Your Word.  Fill our hearts and minds with Your Truth.  Spirit of God, lead us nearer to the Father's heart..  we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Isaiah 40:1-18  May we find consolation in the Word given here.. as the glory of the Lord is revealed in His everlasting Word.  It is such good news! God has made a way.. so that we can also find forgiveness for our sins. Hallelujah! 

The rest of this chapter encourages us to worship.. for our God:

Comes "with might."... v10.. " with His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him. "  He will come to complete everything that He has promised.  He will restore Jerusalem and it will be wonderful. He will reign forever and it will be perfect in every way!

He comes "like a shepherd".. He will "tend His flock, In His arms He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes."  The Good Shepherd is our Lord. He cares for us. He leads us in paths of righteousness.. beside still waters.. and to His house. Praise the Lord!

He is a great God, the Creator of heaven and earth, He "measure the waters in the hollow of His hand.. marked of the heavens by the span.. calculated the dust of the earth by the measure.. weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills in a pair of scales.. "v12

Our Mighty God...needed no counselor.. no consult.. no teacher.. v14

"Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold He lifts up the islands like fine dust.... All the nations are as nothing before Him, they are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless." v17

"To whom then will you liken God?" v18

I need to stop more often and meditate on passages like this.. that reveal the greatness, the majesty, the awesomeness of God.  It helps me gain perspective on the current events and on my own life as well. 

Father in heaven, You are my God and You see me. You know my beginning and my end.  If the nations are a drop and the islands are like dust.. what am I?  Yet, You have chosen me.  You have called me to Yourself. You have saved me, forgiving my sins, by the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ.  There is no one like You!  "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases Him.. " the psalmist wrote. ".. trust in Adonai" ( Psalm 115)  You hold all the waters in Your hand.  I am in awe of Your greatness... and of Your grace towards us.  I will trust You, Lord.  Now and forever. Bless the Lord! All glory and honor and praise to Adonai.. forever ! Amen. 

 Isaiah 39 Hezekiah recovered from his illness and received visitors from Babylon. Foolishly, he showed them all his treasures.  His pride would be his downfall.  Isaiah tells Hezekiah that because of his actions, his descendants would be taken into captivity by Babylon. Even then, Hezekaih is not disturbed, but glad that his own life would be peaceful.  Hezekiah's son Manasseh would succeed his father and become one of the evilest kings yet. Hezekiah's grandson, Josiah, would do good, but after that would come the nothing but trouble until they were taken into captivity by Babylon. 

Chapter 40 begins a turning point for the book of Isaiah. Some think that a new author is responsible. The focus switches to the future of Israel. The coming of the Messiah and the restoration of the nation is revealed. This chapter is filled with wonderful truths, revealing the greatness of God. 

"Comfort, O comfort My people.. " the Lord begins.  He brings good news!  Jerusalem's warfare will end. "... her iniquity has been removed, .. she has received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. "  There is an end coming.. when all judgement will be over, when all sins will be gone. It will begin with "a voice calling, clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness.. " 

The Lord made a way.. to Himself.  He smoothed the desert into a highway. He filled in the valleys and flattened every hill and mountain. He raked up the rough ground and straightened out the rugged land... so that "the glory of the Lord will be revealed." (v3-5)

We are reminded here that life on earth is short.. temporary.. " All flesh is grass and all its loveliness is like the flower in the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;"   And this is true.. "but the word of our God stands forever." 

Perhaps that is enough to chew on for now.  Kings came and went. The nation of Israel began and then stopped.. and then began again.  Our lives on earth are temporary.  What is most important is what comes next.  May we find comfort in the good news.. that God has made a way that we can come to Him.. to find forgiveness for all our sins.. to see the "glory of the Lord". 

Father in heaven, You are great and there is none like You. Thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ our Messiah. Thank You for the grace that You have shown in making a way for us to find You.  Hold us in Your arms like the lambs that the Shepherd gathers.  Tend us.. the sheep of Your pasture, for we need You.. every day and every hour.  Conform us to the image of Jesus, that Your glory would be seen in our lives.  Sanctify us, Holy Spirit, we pray. In Jesus' name . amen. 

 Isaiah 38  Hezekiah became very ill and Isaiah was sent to tell him that he would die.  But, Hezekiah prayed and the Lord healed him and gave him 15 more years.  

In verse 3 we read Hezekiah's prayer.. "Remember now, O Lord, I beseech Thee, how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in Thy sight."  The Lord heard this prayer and  saw Hezekiah's tears.  He granted healing to Hezekiah and deliverance of the city.  He even gave Hezekiah a miraculous sign - "... the sun's shadow went back ten steps on the stairway"  of Ahaz's tower.  Think of this as a sundial - and time went backwards.  That's pretty astounding. 

Verses 9-20  are "... a writing of Hezekiah king of Judah"  from that time as he reflected on what had happened to him.  His description of his illness, when he was told he would die.. is interesting: 

"In the middle of my life I am to enter the gates of Sheol"  he begins. "I am to be deprived of the rest of my years... "  He likens death to:

" a shepherd's tent.. pulled up and removed.."

".. a weaver.. [who] rolled up my life.. He cuts me off from the loom."

".. like a lion - so He breaks all my bones.. "

"Like a swallow, like a crane, so I twitter; I moan like a dove." 

In the depth of his sorrow, the Lord restored Hezekiah back to health. "It is Thou who hast kept my soul from nothingness, for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back." 

Hezekiah gives praise to the Lord who has saved Him. 

II Chronicles 32:25  tells us that this illness was given to Hezekiah because  "his heart was proud".  And verse 26 tells us that ".. Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did to come on them in the days of Hezekiah." 

In the times that we are living, we are hearing a lot about death. I find it interesting that so many people talk about how their friend or loved one.."didn't deserve to die".  Like Hezekiah, those who are stricken down think they are being "deprived" of the years that they should have. We act as if death shouldn't happen to us until we are ready for it... our hearts are proud, too.  Like Hezekiah, we must humble our hearts before the Lord.  He is God. He decides when we live and when we die.  He sees us.. everyone of us and has written in His book the "days.. ordained" for each of us.  ( Psalm 139) 

The truth that I keep hearing from My Shepherd is "Trust the Lord forever, for in God we have an Everlasting Rock."  When we keep our minds steadily on Him, He gives us His "perfect peace".  We just have to keep trusting!

Father, You are always faithful, always good, and always in control.  No matter our circumstances, no matter the political issues, no matter the pandemic... our days are in Your Hands.. written in Your book. Thank You for being my Everlasting Rock. Help me to keep trusting. Help me to keep clinging to Jesus, trusting that as I abide in Him and He in me, You will sanctify me through and through according to Your Word.  Be glorified in Your children today, I pray, In the name of Jesus. Amen. 

 Isaiah 36-37  Isaiah stops at this point to report what happened.  It was during Hezekiah's reign that Assyria came up against Judah.  They seized some of the fortified cities and came to the walls of Jerusalem.  The king's messengers boasted of the power of Assyria over every nation and challenged Jerusalem to give up and not trust in the Lord to deliver them.  To the Assyrians, the God of Israel was no different than all of the gods of the other nations that had been conquered.  But, they were wrong!

Hezekiah trusted in Adonai, the One true God and so he prayed.. .  His prayer is so powerful.. 

" O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, who art enthroned above the cherubim, Thou art the God, Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. Thou hast made heaven and earth.  Incline Thy ear, O Lord and hear; open Thine eyes, O Lord, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib who sent them to reproach the living God. Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have devastated all the countries and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. And now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that Thou alone, Lord, are God." 

God answered Hezekiah's prayer. The arrogance and reproach of the Assyrians was not only against Judah, but against God, the Holy One of Israel. 

The Lord sent an angel to strike 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.  Overnight. Sennacherib returned to his home in Ninevah where he was killed by his own sons. 

Arrogance towards the Lord and rage towards His people are things not hidden.  "But, I know your sitting down, and your going out and your coming in, and your raging against Me.. " the Lord says. And this is true today.. He sees those who are even now, arrogant. scheming to do things that are wicked in His sight. Let us pray, like Hezekiah did, that all the world will know that the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.. is God.. and there is no other!

Father in heaven, enthroned above the cherubim, high and lifted up, surrounded by beauty and majesty, with worship and praise continually poured out at Your feet.. let this world know once again that You alone are God. Let Your word run rapidly and flow freely through our nation once again.  Bring revival. Please.  May Your Name be made known and exalted in all the earth! Amen and amen. 

 Isaiah 34-35  Once again, Isaiah is given a vision of the future - chapter 34 painting the picture of a scorched earth after God's wrath is poured out on the nations. Chapter 35 painting the glorious future of God's kingdom. 

In the world we live in today we hear so much about climate change and environmental disasters.  The Word of the Lord reveals that it will happen.. not because of fossil fuels or air pollution.. but because of the sins of mankind. "Draw near, O nations, to hear; to listen, O peoples!" the Lord proclaims, "For the Lord's indignation is against all the nations,  and His wrath against all their armies." 

The Lord will destroy the nations. He will give them over to slaughter. He will drench the mountains in blood. ( v2-3) 

Not only that, but the Lord will allow the stars and the sun and the moon to rot, to be rolled up and torn away. ( v4)

The sword of the Lord will be "filled with blood".  For "the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion." 

Streams will be filled with pitch. The earth with brimstone. Desolation will be everywhere. Only the wild creatures will be found in places where great cities once stood.  All that God has says.. He will do.  All who refuse to humble themselves before Him and obey His word will be included in this judgement. 

In contrast to this picture of devastation is the scene of Zion's future. "The wilderness and the desert will be glad, and the Arabah will rejoice and blossom." 

The future city of God will be glorious.  There will be great rejoicing. There will be glory and majesty surrounding it. "They will see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God."

"Encourage the exhausted and strengthen the feeble. Say to the anxious heart, take courage, fear not. Behold your God will come with vengeance." 

God will save us.  He will open blind eyes. He will unstop deaf ears. He will restore the lame so that they will leap.  He will give a voice to the mute.  He will bring water to the deserts.  He will build a highway through the wilderness. 

And only the righteous will walk there.  Those "ransomed of the Lord."  We will come with "joyful shouting.. with everlasting joy.. and sorrow and sighing will flee away. " 

Choose life.. the Lord calls to us.  Choose to believe. Choose to obey.  We each have a choice to make.. as to which destination we want to end up in... a place of terror beyond anything we can imagine.. or a place of joy beyond our expectations.  May God help us to seek Him with all our hearts, for when we do, He has promised... we will find Him. 

Father,  your deeds are great. Your work is full of majesty and splendor.  Your righteousness is eternal. You are merciful and compassionate.  Your Word is truth. It can be trusted.  You have offered redemption through Jesus Christ, to all who will call on His holy Name.  Stir the hearts of the lost and confused, the rebellious and the disillusioned .. to seek You and find You. Send more workers into Your harvest field. Bring salvation to the nations, before it is too late.  We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Isaiah 33  Every glimpse that  I get of the kingdom of God stirs my heart and strengthens my desire to know Him more!

 When the judgements of God have finished.. the Lord says, "Now I will arise.. Now I will be exalted, now I will be lifted up." 

All the "chaff" will be consumed by the fire of God.  The sinners and the godless cannot live in the presence of the "consuming fire".   But, " He who walks righteously, and speaks with sincerity, He who rejects unjust gain, and shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil.. "  are the ones who will be blessed. These are the remnant who will be saved.  

"He will dwell on the heights; His refuge will be an impregnable rock; His bread will be given him; His water is sure. Your eyes will see the King in His beauty." 

They will see Jerusalem, "an undisturbed habitation, a tent which shall not be folded, its stakes shall never be pulled up, nor its cords be torn apart.. " 

And they will see the Lord.. "But there the majestic One, the Lord, shall be for us, a place of rivers and  wide canals, on which no boat with oars shall go, and on which no mighty ship shall pass - For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will save us....and no resident will say, 'I am sick'; The people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity."

The Lord desires a holy people, who will trust in Him and walk in His ways. Our only hope to live this way.. is for the life of Jesus to live in us.  Jesus said, "Because I live, you also will live. When the day comes, you will know that I am united with my Father, and you with me, and I with you." John 14:19-20 Paul wrote to the Colossians, "For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God."(3:3)

In Christ our Messiah, we are able to "see the King in His beauty" and not be consumed.  In Christ, we can live in righteousness and truth. In Christ, we can live on the "heights".  In Christ we find provision and safety.  In Christ, we can have the proper relationship with our Heavenly Father, knowing Him as our Judge, Lawgiver, and King. In Christ we can have "perfect peace" for we keep our minds on Him and trust in Him fully. 

Father, lead us by Your Spirit into the truth of Your Word, that we might begin to grasp what it means to be hidden "with the Messiah" in You. Teach us Your ways and help us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. Amen. 

 Isaiah 32  The writings of Isaiah continue to vacillate between the present ( of Judah) .. filled with sin and its consequences .. and the glorious future, when "a king will reign.."  As much as we want to just think about that wonderful day, we need to hear what God has to say about Judah.. for their sins are also ours. 

In Judah's day:

The fool was called noble. The rogue was called generous. 

The fool spoke nonsense and inclined his heart "towards wickedness."

He practiced ungodliness and spoke "error against the Lord."

He kept the needy hungry and thirsty. 

He used evil as a weapon.

He devised evil schemes. 

The women of Judah were called "complacent".  Because they would not listen or rise up against the wickedness..  they would watch as their vines wilted and their fields dried up. They would see only "thorns and briars" growing in their gardens.  The city would be abandoned . There would be no more joy... except for the wild donkeys.. 

God proclaims that those who deal treacherously would be dealt with in the same way.  Brave men would cry in the streets. Highways would be desolate.   Because  they had "no regard for man.".. everything would be consumed.

Sin's consequences will always be destruction and death. It happened in the past and it will happen again.. here and now.  It is a tragedy that we see unfolding right before our own eyes. 

Thankfully, we have the same promises that God gave to Judah, the promise of a day that is coming when the Lord will create a new heaven and a new earth... and the old will be no more. 

The King, Jesus, will reign.

Princes will "rule justly".

We will find refuge, shelter, "like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land." 

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, "and the mind of the hasty will discern the truth." 

"Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness will abide in the fertile field. and the world of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever."

As we wait for that day, we can pray, like Isaiah.. "O Lord be gracious to us; we have waited for You. Be [our] strength every morning, our salvation also in the time of distress.. "

"The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on High; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. And He shall be the stability of your times. A wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge ; The fear of the Lord is [our] treasure." 

Father, You are our Everlasting Rock and we lean wholly on You. Be our strength. Be our guide. Let Your will be done on earth... now.. as it is in heaven. Stop the foolish and the wicked from their evil plans. Open our eyes that we might discern truth and have understanding. We take refuge in You for we trust You with all of our hearts.  We wait for You with hope, trusting in Your great goodness.  Bless us, we pray, with Your Presence and be gracious to us, according to Your great Name..  in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.