God Speaks
The Servant of the LORD is Instructed to Comfort, Help, Heal, Save and Restore God’s People
Verse of the Day: [The LORD God assures His people:] “So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.” (Isaiah 41:10-11 NIV 2011)
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Watch TBR Day 207
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Isaiah 40-43:
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 40
1. God has never abandoned Jerusalem or Israel. He is always in the process of calling them back to being His people with Him being their God.
2. The great people of the world [the super wealthy globalists] are as nothing to God, yet He desires that each of them repent and receive His offer of salvation.
Isaiah 41
1. The LORD God alone is sovereign over all the “kings” and rulers of the earth, not some idol or ideology. When He is ready, the LORD God will blow them all away.
2. People often put their trust in foolish and worthless things. Their ideologies are as empty as winds [but as destructive as a hurricane or tornado].
Isaiah 42
1. God calls people (sometimes specific ones like the Messiah) to demonstrate His righteousness. He puts His Spirit in them to carry out His work and proclaim His glory.
2. People who refuse to obey the LORD and trust in other so-called “gods” will be turned away in shame unless they repent.
Isaiah 43
1. God is the One who created, ransomed, redeems, and sustains human beings and everything else on the earth. There is no other God and never will be.
2. People are witnesses of God’s goodness, protection, and provision. We must depend on Him, be faithful, and speak up.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Isaiah 40-43?
Dearest LORD God, thank You for creating human beings in Your image and loving them. Thank You that throughout our existence You have provided ways for us to interact with You. Our own sinful rebellion has drawn us away from You and led to actions that meant You needed to correct our behavior and attitudes. You also put processes in place to comfort us and draw us back to You. You told those You called Your people to prepare the way for Your Anointed One (Messiah) to come and be with them (Immanuel). You don’t need us, but we need You. There is no one like You! No one else can create anything and everything from nothing. No one can even come close to Your understanding, Your strength, or Your power. In Your great love and wisdom, You choose to extend these attributes to benefit all who will put their trust in You. You choose who will rule over and/or rescue Your people. You call them to be Your servant(s). You strengthen, help, reassure, and use them to glorify Your name. You answer the needs of the poor and needy, and you help us to remember that we are Your servants, but You are not ours. No idol or human can do what You have done and are doing. It brings You pleasure to choose in whom to put Your Spirit. Your chosen ones are to demonstrate Your righteousness, guide the nations, open the eyes of the blind (physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually), and set the captives free. You, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel are the LORD! We who put our trust in You are to learn lessons from the past. We must recognize and acknowledge when we have sinned and not walked in Your prescribed path. Then by Your mercy and grace, we can avoid the ruin that awaits us in the future. We cannot do this on our own! Thank You that You have sent Your Son to walk with us through the fires of oppression and Your Holy Spirit to guide us in choosing to believe in You and to understand that You alone are God. No one can snatch anyone You choose out of Your hand. May we all live to 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 40-43? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will use the Word of God to comfort those who have recently lost a loved one.
- I will proclaim to all who will listen that they should prepare for the coming/return of the LORD. I will speak out about the destructive ideologies and policies of our day.
- I will tell a friend, that I know fears the LORD, not to be afraid or discouraged because God Himself will strengthen them and help them with His mighty right hand.
- I will join with others to sing praise to the LORD for who He is and what He has done for us.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.