Isaiah 55 -- God Issues Your Invitation

God issued His universal invitation here.  This wasn’t just for the Jewish people:  “All you who are thirsty, come and drink.”  That verse goes out to everyone who thirsts for what really satisfies.

He tells us His truth:  “Why spend your money on something that’s not real food?  Why work for something that doesn’t really satisfy you?  Listen closely to Me, and you will eat what is good; your soul will enjoy the rich food that satisfies.  Come to Me and listen; listen to Me so you may live.  I will make an agreement with you that will last forever.”

But it’s so common for people to want to eke out just a little more time on the “sin side” before giving in to God.  He knows that.  And He warns us not to fall into that trap:  “So you should look for the Lord before it’s too late, you should call to Him while He is near.  The wicked should stop doing wrong, and they should stop their evil thoughts.  They should return to the Lord so He may have mercy on them.  They should come to our God, because He WILL freely forgive them.”

Our thoughts have been corrupted by our sin nature.  We think we know what God is thinking and how to work it all to our advantage, but He says:  “My thoughts are not like your thoughts.  Your ways are not like My ways.  Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

I don’t believe the last two verses are simply poetic.  I firmly believe that once man sinned, Creation itself was fundamentally altered and constrained – no longer able to praise God where we could witness it, lest we be able to see that and repent.  Here, God is giving us a glimpse of what life on the new earth will be like when that constraint is removed:  “Mountains and hills will burst into song … all the tress of the field will clap their hands…”  What a chorus that will be, and what a surprise to us who thought we knew everything about nature!

Father, thank You for inviting all of us to come to You.  Thank You for offering to satisfy us and also for having the ability to satisfy us like nothing else can.  Please free our minds from the constraints of our own lowly beliefs and let us see the world as You see it.  Let us finally acknowledge that You know better than we do!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 54 -- God Chastens For Our Good

“Jehovah, the faithful husband, forgiving Israel, the unfaithful wife, and restoring her to the place of blessing” – that’s what we see in this chapter.  Joy and fruitfulness and confidence would be restored as God brings them back, forgives their sin, and rebuilds the nation.

I like what my commentary had to say:  “Whenever we rebel against God and refuse to listen to His warning, He must chasten us, and He does it in love.  Our Father cannot permit His children to sin and get away with it.  But the purpose of His chastening is to bring us to repentance and enable us to produce ‘the peaceable fruit of righteousness’.  When God ‘spanks’ His erring children, He may hurt them, but He never harms them.  It is always for our good and His glory.”

Father, I love what I read here.  You are a God of restoration.  You said, “I promise I will not be angry with you or punish you again … My love will never disappear … I will rebuild you … and I will build your foundations … All your children will be taught by the Lord, and they will have much peace … No weapon that is used against you will defeat you.”  Those are mighty words from my mighty God.  Thank You for Your watchcare and protection, Father.  And thank You for Your chastening, which brings me to repentance.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 53 -- This Should Knock You To Your Knees

Who couldn’t see Jesus in these verses!  They plainly describe everything He endured for us as He suffered by taking upon Himself our sins.  It all becomes personalized in verses 5 and 6:

“But He was wounded for the wrong we did; He was crushed for the evil we did.  The punishment, which made us well, was given to Him, and we are healed because of His wounds.  We all have wandered away like sheep; each of us has gone his own way.  But the Lord has put on Him the punishment for all the evil WE have done …He had done nothing wrong … But He carried away the sins of many people and asked forgiveness for those who sinned. 

Thank You for loving me that much, Jesus, that You would take on the worst that I can be and carry it away, so that I can be with You and the Father in Heaven some day!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 51-52 Look At The Rock

Three times God tells His people to listen to Him.  He says, “Look at the rock from which you were cut; look at the stone quarry from which you were dug.”  Being God’s own children, they were being reminded that He had decided to create them before the earth was formed.  He had brought them into being for His own purposes.  He’s done the same with us!  He is the Rock of our protection.  God promised to give them His teachings, and to decide on their behalf.  He also promised that salvation was on its way.

Seeing their anxiety, God said, “I am the One who comforts you.  So why should you be afraid of people? … Why should you fear people? … I am the Lord your God … My name is the Lord All-Powerful.  I will give you the words I want you to say.  I will cover you with My hands and protect you.”

Father, thank You for telling me not to be afraid of people.  Thank You for reminding me Whose I am.  Your watchcare over me is so incredible and so needed.  Thank You for creating me for Your purposes and for using me to further Your kingdom.  Help me not to fear.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 50 -- Faith Like That Of The Faithful Servant

My commentary points out that this chapter contains the third Servant Song of Isaiah, in which Christ’s suffering is vividly described.  Christ Himself is speaking, and four times He uses the title “Lord God” – Jehovah Adonai.  This is the only place in the Servant Songs where that title is used.  My commentary says, “The name ‘Jehovah Adonai’ means that ‘God is the owner of each member of the human family, and He consequently claims the unrestricted obedience of all.’”  So Christ is emphasizing “His own submission to the Lord God in every area of His life and service.”  Christ submitted His mind to the Lord God, “so that He could learn His work and His will … The Servant’s will was also yielded to the Lord God,” and I loved the way He described how this should impact our lives:

“The Lord God gave Me the ability to teach so that I know what to say to make the weak strong.  Every morning He wakes Me.  He teaches Me to listen like a student.  The Lord God helps Me learn, and I have not turned against Him nor stopped following Him.”

That’s what I want to be able to say regarding His leadership of my own quiet times in the mornings, and it’s my prayer that He opens my own heart and mind to hear and understand Him.

He continued:  “The Lord God helps Me, so I will not be ashamed.  I will be determined, and I know I will not be disgraced.  He shows that I am innocent and He is close to Me.”  I want that same determination in studying His Word and knowing His will for my own life.  I so want His help!

Father, help me not to make my own light.  I don’t trust myself for guidance – only You.  Please do for me what Christ asked You here to do for him as well.  Wake me, teach me, help me learn.  Help me, show that I am innocent, and remain close to me.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 49 -- God As Our Protector

America is a nation far away from Israel geographically, so we should listen when God says, “Listen, all you nations far away.”  My commentary said this represents Jesus being introduced to the Gentile nations.  Israel was to have been the light of the world, but after their failure, Jesus would become that light, and He is therefore called “Israel” here.

We are to be servants of God like He was, and I saw many verses here that we as His servants should consider:

“The Lord will decide what my work is worth.  God will decide my reward.  The Lord made me in the body of my mother to be His servant … The Lord will honor me, and I will get my strength from God …”

God says here, “I will hear your prayers … I will help you.  I will protect you.”

People who feel forgotten by Him should hear what He says here:  “I will not forget you.  See, I have engraved your name in My hand!”

God speaks as protector also:  “Anyone who trusts in Me will not be disappointed … I will fight Your enemies, and I will save your children … Then everyone will know I, the Lord, am the One who saves you; I am the Powerful One of Jacob who saves you.”

Father, when things don’t seem to be going our way at all, it’s important for us to remember that You are still there as our Protector and Redeemer.  You have perfect timing and will not let us suffer one second longer than necessary according to Your plan.  I don’t know what my life would be like if You weren’t there doing all of this.  I certainly don’t want to find out!  Be my shield.  Be my mighty warrior.  Help me in times of trouble, so that I may glorify You!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 48 -- This Time We'd Better Listen

God was speaking to the remnant still living in Babylon.  They’d listened to Jeremiah’s message and settled in, but now God was saying it was time to become unsettled and to move back to the Promised Land.  “God told them that they were hypocritical in using His name and identifying with His city but not obeying His will,” my commentary said.  God said, “I knew you were stubborn … even long ago you did not listen to Me … you have fought against Me since you were born.  But for My own sake I will be patient … I have purified you by giving you troubles … listen to Me … I have called you to be My people.  I am God … I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to do what is good, who leads you in the way you should go.  If you had obeyed Me, you would have had peace … good things would have flowed to you … there is no peace for evil people.”

Father God, how much heartache do we cause ourselves by all of the disobedience we have to Your Word?  We won’t know this side of heaven.  You very plainly tell us here that obedience to You is the key to our peace.  You don’t leave us to figure it out on our own.  You teach us and lead us.  Please remove the blinders Satan tries to place on us.  Unstop our ears.  Make us understand completely that obeying You is for our own good.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 46-47 God As Protector Or Foe?

It’s vitally important that a person decides which side he’s on – God’s or the world’s.  Babylon made the wrong choice.  They had large idols they thought were guiding and protecting them, but God said that as Cyrus would one day be attacking them, the people would have to pick up those heavy idols and flee the invasion to protect the idols!  God told Babylon, “You are no longer the ruler … I will punish you … You showed My people no mercy … You do evil things, but you feel safe and say, “No one sees what I do.’  Your wisdom and knowledge have fooled you.  You say to yourself, ‘I am God, and no one is equal to me.’  But troubles will come to you, and you will not know how to stop them.  Disaster will fall on you, and you will not be able to keep it away.  You will be destroyed quickly; you will not even see it coming!”

Those are words any mortal should fear to ever hear from God!

But for His children, God also had this message in these chapters:  “I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth.  Even when you are old, I will be the same.  Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you.  I made you and will take care of you.  I will carry you and save you … When I plan something, it happens.  What I want to do, I will do.”

Father, thank You for Your watchcare.  As my son goes to college today, help him to understand this about You.  Help him to know the love You have for him and the plans You have for him.  Enable him to understand in his heart that Satan will be lying to him constantly, trying to make him believe that ultimate freedom comes in being able to do anything he wants, with no restraint and no concerns.  Instead, show him that true freedom – including lack of worry and firm assurance about his future – comes only through his own submission to Your authority over his life.  Help him to understand that is not a bad thing, but something through which You promise to bless him.  I love him and I know You love him even more.  We both want the very best for him.  Help him to want that for himself as well.  Watch over him when I can’t.  Hold him close while he’s away and I can’t, Father.  I’ll never stop loving him.  I know You won’t either!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Proud father of Josh Ford, adopted from Matviivka, Ukraine

Isaiah 45 -- God At Work A Century Early

God directed Isaiah to write this chapter almost a century before Cyrus was even born!  I can just imagine the Jews wondering who this Cyrus was and perhaps wondering if he was to be their warrior Messiah. 

God specifically anointed Cyrus for a task.  He would release the captive Jews from Babylon, return them to the Promised Land, and use all of the treasures God had helped him to amass to rebuild Jerusalem.  A foreign king who would not be a Jew would do all of this!  Isn’t that just like God!

I really liked verses 4-5:  “Cyrus, I call you by name, and I give you a title of honor even though you don’t know Me.  I am the Lord.  There is no other God; I am the only God.  I will make you strong, even though you don’t know Me, so that everyone will know there is no other God.”

Just as God left this message, through Isaiah, for Cyrus, He left one here for each of us as well:

“All people everywhere, follow Me and be saved.  I am God.  There is no other God.”

Father, thank You for this word today.  Thank You for caring about me before I was ever born, and for planning out just how You would bless me.  Though the days coming up seem laden with sadness, I will trust in You.  You are my only hope.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 44 -- God's Strong Love For His Children

I sure felt God speaking directly to me this morning – words of calm assurance that He loves me and is protecting me: 

“You are My servants.  Listen to Me! … I chose you … I made you … I formed you in your mother’s womb … I will help you … Don’t be afraid … I chose you … I will pour out My Spirit into Your children and My blessing on your descendants … I am the beginning and the end.  I am the only God … Don’t be afraid!  Don’t worry!  I have always told you what will happen.  You are My witnesses.  There is no other God but Me.  I know of no other Rock; I am the only One.”

God tells Isaiah how unbelievable it is that people would choose to worship idols they’ve made rather than Him:

“Those people don’t know what they are doing.  They don’t understand!  It is as if their eyes are covered so they can’t see.  Their minds don’t understand.  They have not thought about these things;  They don’t understand … He doesn’t know what he is doing; his confused mind leads him the wrong way.  He cannot save himself.”

God then spoke of us again:  “Remember you are My servants.  I made you, and you are My servants … I will not forget you.  I have swept away your sins … I have removed your sins … Come back to Me because I saved you.”

For those who fail to come back to Him, He promises:  “I make fools of those who do magic.  I confuse even wise men, and they think they know much, but I make them look foolish.”

The words He speaks toward the land and cities sound like they are also for me:  “You will be built again … I will repair you … You will be built again … Your foundations will be rebuilt.”

Thank You, Father, for these strong words and for Your strong love for Your children.  I claim these promises.  Bring them to fruition in my life.  Without You I am nothing.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 43 -- LOVE Hearing God Talk To Me Like This!

So much I needed to hear from Him today:

“I created you … I formed you … Don’t be afraid, because I have saved you.  I have called you by name, and you are Mine … I will be with you … I, the Lord, am your God … You are precious to Me … I give you honor and love you … Don’t be afraid, because I am with you.  I will bring your children from the east, and gather you from the west … Bring My sons from far away … Bring to me all the people who are mine, whom I made for My glory, whom I formed and made … I chose You so you would know and believe Me, so you would understand that I am the true God … There was no God before Me, and there will be no God after Me.  I Myself am the Lord; I am the only Savior.  I Myself have spoken to you, saved you, and told you these things … You are My witnesses, and I am God … FORGET what happened before, and do not think about the past.  Look at the new thing I am going to do.  It is already happening … I did not weigh you down with sacrifices … Instead you have weighed Me down with your many sins; you have made Me tired of your many wrongs … I am the One who forgives ALL your sins, for MY sake; I will not remember your sins.  But you should remind me.  Let’s meet and decide what is right.

Father, thank You for remembering that I am precious to you, and thank You for forgiving and forgetting my sins.  Thank You for choosing me to know and believe You, and for helping me to understand that You are the true God.  Thank You for bringing my children from the east, gathering us from the west.  Thank You for bringing my sons from far away!  Thank You for telling me to forget what happened before and to forget about the past, as You have.  I love the new thing You are still doing in me.  Thank You for forgiving all my sins, for Your sake; thank You for choosing not to remember them.  I love You!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 42 -- Cries For God's Help

Father, Your Word speaks to me again this morning:

“Here is My servant, the one I support.  He is the one I chose, and I am pleased with him.”  Father, that’s what I want to hear You say about me.  I love You.  I want to be doing Your will.  I don’t want to sin.  I know this speaks of Christ.  When I read verse 3 – “He will not break a crushed blade of grass or put out even a weak flame,” I never thought of myself as being that crushed blade of grass or that the flame You placed within me would grow weak, but that sure could fit right now.  Thank You for promising not to crush me or put out that flame of Your Spirit within me.

Verse 4 says, “He will not lose hope or give up.”  I so struggle with that right now as well.  I treasure the hope You give.

Verse 6 says, “I will hold Your hand and protect you.”  I need that too, Father.

Verse 13 says, “The Lord will march out like a strong soldier; He will be excited like a man ready to fight a war.  He will shout out the battle cry and defeat His enemies.”  Do that for me, Father!

Verse 16 says, “Then I will lead the blind along a way they never knew; I will guide them along paths they have not known.  I will make the darkness become light for them, and the rough ground smooth.  These are the things I will do.  I will not leave My people.”  Father, I so need to be led by You right now.  I don’t know this path.  I can’t see what’s ahead.  Thank You for Your promise not to leave me.  Direct my paths.

Help me, Father.  Be my guide.  Direct my steps.  Give me Your wisdom.  You are the only One who can provide hope.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 41 -- God's Protection and His Perfect Timing

Father, Your timing as always is absolutely incredible!  Exactly what I needed to hear this morning!

“Who caused this to happen?  Who has controlled history since the beginning?  I, the Lord, am the one.  I was here at the beginning, and I will be here when all things are finished … You are My servants … I chose you … I have chosen you and have not turned against you.  So don’t worry, because I am with you.  Don’t be afraid, because I am your God.  I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with My right hand that saves you.  All those people who are angry with you will be ashamed and disgraced.  Those who are against you will disappear and be lost.  You will look for your enemies, but you will not find them.  Those who fought against you will vanish completely.  I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, and I tell you, ‘Don’t be afraid.  I will help you.’ … Do not be afraid even though you are weak as a worm.  I myself will help you … The one who saves you is the Holy One of Israel … Look, I have made you [strong].  So you will walk on mountains and crush them; you will make the hills like chaff … Then you will be happy in the Lord; you will be proud of the Holy One of Israel … People will see these things and understand; they will think carefully about these things and learn that the Lord’s power did this…”

Father, thank You for Your reassurance and Your promise of protection.  Glorify Yourself through the protection You will give us.  Help the world to see that evil will not thrive in Your presence.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 40 -- Our Circumstances

I love how this chapter points us to God’s awesomeness.  I also love some things my commentary brought out:

“God is greater than the circumstances BEHIND us … The remnant in Babylon looked back, seeing only failure and sin, needing encouragement.  Four voices are heard, each with a special message … The voice of pardon …The nation had sinned greatly against the Lord … But they were still His people, and He loved them.  Though He would chasten them, He would not forsake them… The voice of providence … The Jews had a rough road ahead of them, … but the Lord would go before them and open the way … The way back may not be easy, but if we are trusting God, it will be easier… The voice of promise … Like the grass, nations and their leaders fulfill their purposes and then fade away, but the Word of God abides forever … As they began their long journey home, Israel could depend on God’s promises … The voice of peace … God’s arm is a might arm for winning the battle, but it is also a loving arm for carrying His weary lambs.

God is greater than the circumstances BEFORE us … When you behold the greatness of God, you will see everything else in life in its proper perspective.

God is greater than the circumstances WITHIN us … God knows how we feel and how we fear, and He is adequate to meet our every need.  We can never obey God in our own strength, but we can always trust Him to provide the strength we need.  If we trust ourselves, we will faint and fall, but if we wait on the Lord by faith, we will receive strength for the journey … It is much harder to walk in the ordinary pressures of life than to fly like an eagle in a time of crisis.  The greatest heroes of faith are not always those who seem to be soaring; often it is they who are patiently plodding … God enables us to walk longer.  Blessed are the plodders.”

Father, thanks for lifting me up just when I need it.  When life knocks the wind out of me, causes me to feel entitled to sin, or looks absolutely hopeless, Your strong arms are there in reassurance and forgiveness, holding me close.  You know my future and You have Your absolute best planned for me, even when I sin and find myself off the path You’ve laid out for me.  Thank You for Your sovereignty, Your omniscience, and Your omnipresence.  Thank You for using Your great power just for me.  Such love!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 39 -- What Pride Did

Having recovered from being near death, Hezekiah was thrilled to feel well enough to be back on his throne.  The Babylonians – at that time not yet even considered a world power – saw their opportunity and sent their crown prince with a gift to celebrate Hezekiah’s recovery.  Hezekiah didn’t seek God’s guidance on this, however.  He failed to see that this was a reconnaissance mission, and his pride led him to fully disclose the wealth Israel had accumulated over the centuries.

My commentary said, “When Satan cannot defeat us as a roaring lion, he comes as a deceiving serpent.  What Assyria couldn’t do with weapons, Babylon did with gifts.  God permitted the enemy to test Hezekiah so that the proud king might learn what was really in his heart … The king was basking in fame and wealth and apparently neglecting his spiritual life.  Hezekiah was safer as a sick man in bed than as a healthy man on the throne.  Had he consulted first with Isaiah, the king would have avoided blundering as he did.”

Father, I’ve seen pride do terrible things to people – even to those I love.  It causes us to think much more highly of ourselves and less respectfully of You.  Please make such behavior abundantly clear to each of us and help us to admit how this deadly sin so deceitfully attacks us.  Humble us and cause us to seek only Your will in our lives.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 38 -- Hezekiah Prayed

Prior to the Assyrian invasion, but while Assyria was making threats to Judah and Jerusalem, Hezekiah found himself near death because of a boil on his skin.  Isaiah gave him God’s message that he would die.  Yet Hezekiah prayed, “Lord, please remember that I have always obeyed You.  I have given myself completely to You and have done what You said was right.”  He cried loudly.  He did not yet have a son, and his nation was in dire need of experienced leadership with Assyria threatening.

Isaiah hadn’t gotten far when God turned him around.  He told Hezekiah what God had said, “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.  So I will add fifteen years to your life.  I will save you and this city from the king of Assyria.

In an amazing display of God’s omnipotence, He either took Hezekiah back in time a few hours (as evidenced by the sun’s shadow retreating), or He reversed the path of the earth’s rotation without disrupting everything on the face of the planet!  Either sign was incredible!

Hezekiah’s response was humility and praise for God.  “The Lord told me what would happen and then made it happen.”  His illness was not without blessing:  “I have had these troubles in my soul, so now I will be humble all my life.”  As with Hezekiah, God uses the troubles in our lives to cause us to be humble and to acknowledge our dependence upon Him.  “It was for my own good that I had such troubles,” he said.  God works for our own good in everything He does for us!

Father, I’m so thankful for the hard times, which led me to seek You out, to cry out to You, and to watch in amazement as You’ve answered with good.  Those times have stoked up my dependence upon You, and with each of these “divine appointments” I continue to grow my faith.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 37 -- God At Work

I love this passage!  When Hezekiah was faced with a seemingly impossible situation, he humbled himself, went to the Temple, and spread out his troubles before God.  Then he prayed:  “Lord All-Powerful, You are the God of Israel … only You are God … You made the heavens and the earth.  Hear, Lord, and listen.  Open Your eyes, Lord, and see.  It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these countries and their lands.  They have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire, but they were only wood and rock statues that people made…  Now, Lord our God, save us from the king’s power so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that You, Lord, are the only God.”

He didn’t ask simply to save his people.  He asked God to defend His own honor.  He wanted God to be glorified by what He would do, above all else.

“When Hezekiah had been deathly ill, Isaiah had assured him of deliverance.  God’s promises ARE sure, but God’s people must claim them by faith before God can work … In the building up of our faith, the Word of God and prayer go together,” my commentary said.

God responded with three things:  Jerusalem would be delivered, the Assyrians would leave, and the people would not starve.  Then the angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers during the night.  The Assyrian king left and never returned.  Twenty years later, his sons assassinated him in the temple of his god!  He had been a tool used by God to discipline God’s people, but his pride led him to speak against Almighty God, and that led to his demise.

Father, thank You for reminding me of Your sovereignty and omnipotence!  Help me to remember that, when I am afraid, I can bring my problems before You and ask for Your protection as well.  Remind me to be humble and worshipful of You as I do, and the allow me to watch and see You at work protecting me!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 35-36 Faith Is Living Without Scheming

The people of Jerusalem had watched as the Assyrian army had decimated the surrounding land, and now that mighty army stood ready to invade the Holy City.  They were likely amazed to hear Isaiah’s words from chapter 35.  God was telling them about a time in the future when the curse of sin on creation would be removed.  The deserts would become more fertile than farmland.  All sickness and infirmity would disappear, and God would establish “The Road To Holiness” to lead people to Him!

But first there was this matter of the Assyrian army outside the city walls, waiting for the order to attack.  The field commander had come to Jerusalem to talk sense into them.  He spoke Hebrew so that every citizen would understand him and likely put pressure on King Hezekiah to surrender.  The propaganda he delivered included the promise of peaceful lives in Assyria in captivity.  He also told them something that shocked them:  “The Lord Himself told me to come to this country and destroy it.”

“The Assyrian invasion was a part of God’s discipline to teach His people to trust Him alone,” my commentary said.  “Hezekiah and his people needed to learn that faith is living without scheming.”  No more running to Egypt for help or trying to buy off invaders.  Only trust in God would do.

Ironically, this meeting was taking place on the very spot where Isaiah had confronted Ahaz, Hezekiah’s father, about 30 years earlier.  “Ahaz hadn’t trusted God, but had instead made a treaty with Assyria, and now the Assyrians were ready to take Jerusalem!”

Father, You call us today to lives of faith – living without scheming – trusting You for everything in our lives.  But we must be on Your Highway to Holiness.  We cannot expect Your blessings when we are cheating faith by scheming.  Help us to see when we are doing that and to repent and depend solely on You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 33-34 What To Do When Things Seem To Be Going Wrong

Some verses particularly seemed to stand out this morning:

“Lord, be kind to us.  We have waited for Your help.  Give us strength every morning.  Save us when we are in trouble … He will be your safety.  He is full of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.  Respect for the Lord is the greatest treasure … The Lord says, ‘Now, I will stand up and show My greatness.  Now, I will become important to the people’ … Your eyes will see the King in His beauty … The Lord is our judge.  The Lord makes our laws.  The Lord is our king [note all three branches of government mentioned].  He will save us.”

My commentary said, “Isaiah 33:2 is the prayer of the godly remnant … Isaiah had promised that God would be gracious to them if they would only trust him, so a few devout people turned His promise into prayer.  God spared Jerusalem for David’s sake and because a believing remnant trusted God and prayed.  Never underestimate the power of a praying minority … Unbelief looks to human resources for help, but faith looks to God  … We witness to a lost world when we trust him and let Him have His way.”

Yesterday was a disappointing day for our church.  We’ve gone over a year without a music minister, and we had hopes for the man who came yesterday.  Yet God helped me to understand through the whole process that He is sovereign, that His will cannot be thwarted.  These verses seem to echo that today.  We can turn His promise into prayer as they did.

Father, help us to know in our hearts what that believing remnant did.  Help us to understand the power of prayer.  Help our church not to look to human resources for help.  Remind us that faith looks to You, and when we exercise that faith, we bear witness to a lost world.  We trust You and we too will let You have Your way.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Isaiah 31-32 Come Back To The God You Fought Against

God had specifically warned His people for years not to trust Egypt for help and not to trust in military might (chariots and horses), but to trust only in Him.  To that end, He said:  “The Lord All-Powerful will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.  The Lord All-Powerful will defend Jerusalem … He will defend it and save it; He will ‘pass over’ and save Jerusalem.”

In telling words, God spoke to us today as well – “Come back to the God you fought against.”  Even in our sin, He seeks our return!

Isaiah again describes the Messianic kingdom, when people will listen and understand and obey God’s will.  He also plainly tells us that the person who says foolish things, who plans evil, who does wicked things, who speaks wrongfully about the Lord, and who doesn’t feed the hungry or give water to the thirsty are fools.

But one day “God will pour His Spirit from above upon us.”  Justice and fairness will then rule, and the defilement will then be removed from the land, bringing fertility, peace, and safety.  “Hail will destroy the forest, and the city will be completely destroyed, but you will be happy.”

Father, it will be so wonderful when we can experience life without sin and see how You created us to live!  How we should mourn the effect our sin has had on creation!  Make it happen soon, Father!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford