God Speaks
Confession and Repentance Are Essential to Receiving Forgiveness and Restoration
Verse of the Day: “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the LORD. (Isaiah 59:20 NIV 2011)
Read or listen on BibleGateway.com
Watch TBR Day 212
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Isaiah 59-63:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Isaiah 59
1. God’s arm is strong enough to save, and He is able to hear the cries for help from whoever will repent and turn from their sins.
2. People’s sins of murder, lying, contentiousness, dishonesty, rebellion against God and His ways, inflicting harm and misery, violence and injustice, and unrighteous lifestyles have put barriers between them and God.
Isaiah 60
1. At His appointed time, God will make the light of His glory shine upon Zion (Jerusalem and Israel), making everything better.
2. People who return to the LORD will witness Him do wonderous things on their behalf.
Isaiah 61
1. The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD will be on His Anointed One.
2. People who love justice and hate robbery and iniquity as the LORD does will be clothed with salvation and righteousness.
Isaiah 62
1. God will bestow righteousness, glory, salvation, and peace on His chosen ones.
2. People who return to the LORD and His ways will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD, a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of their God.
Isaiah 63
1. God in Christ Jesus came to His very own people and became their Savior. “In all their suffering He also suffered, and He personally rescued them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years.”
2. People often blame God for their difficulties when it is their own sinful rebellion that causes their sense of being abandoned and their inability to perceive or receive His mercy and compassion.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Isaiah 59-63?
O LORD God, You are great and mighty to save. You do hear the cries of people who are being afflicted (in any way). However, our continuing in our sinful ways blocks our ability to receive the blessings and goodness You have in mind for us. You are Holy and perfect (mature and complete); we humans are not. It is only as we acknowledge our falling short of Your holiness and perfection and by turning back to You for Your help and empowerment that we can be truly happy and fulfilled. We (I) need You to shine the light of Your glory on us (me) and cleanse us (me) by the blood of Jesus Messiah. Then as we (I) walk in the power of Your Holy Spirit interacting with You and other people according to Your instructions in the Bible, we (I) will become the good people You designed us to be in the beginning. Then we will see and testify to the wonderful things You will do on our behalf. You poured the Spirit of the Sovereign LORD out on Your Anointed One—Jesus–and on Your followers in New Testament times. Please do it again. Then people will love justice and hate robbery and iniquity as You do, LORD. We will live clothed with salvation and righteousness. LORD God, please bestow righteousness, glory, salvation, and peace on those You choose and who choose You (including me). Holy Spirit, draw people to return to the LORD and His ways so that they will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD, a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of their God. Jesus, God the Son, You came to Your very own people and became their Savior. In all their suffering You also suffered and personally rescued them (me). In Your love and mercy, You redeemed them (me). You lifted them up and carried them through all the years, but we sinful hearted people often blamed You, LORD God, for our difficulties and failures when it is our own sinful rebellion that caused our sense of being abandoned and our inability to perceive or receive Your mercy and compassion. Forgive us (me), LORD, and turn us (me) back again to fearing, loving, trusting, and obeying You so that we (I) can bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Isaiah 59-63? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will diligently look for the ways God is shining the light of His glory in my world, both near and far.
- I will pray for people in my sphere of influence to return to the LORD and experience His wonderous works on their behalf.
- I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me take actions to show that I love what God loves (people) and hate what God hates (evil).
- I will do something that shows I support God’s chosen people and nation–Jerusalem, Israel and all those who are following God and His ways around the world, regardless of what they call themselves.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.