THE LORD SPOKE (September 22)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Isaiah 9-10

It still rings joy into our hearts! The promise of a Savior to be born who will be a Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Father of Eternity, and the Prince of Peace. We didn’t need Handel to give us goose-bumps. The very “zeal of the Lord Almighty” (Is. 9:7) stirs us. To think that His government will never end and it will be characterized by absolute justice and righteousness!

But close on the heals of Isaiah’s great messianic prophecy come four repetitions of this phrase:

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
his hand is still upraised.
(Is. 9:12b, 17b, 21b, and Is. 10:4a)

Why so harsh? Take a good look at Israel’s sins for which she is being judged in each of these sections:

• “pride and arrogance of heart” (Is. 9:9)
• “not returned to...nor...sought the Lord” (Is. 9:13)
• “wickedness burns like a fire” (Is. 9:18)
• “unjust...oppressive...withhold justice” (Is. 10:1-2)

Now ask yourself, am I any better? Am I not frequently guilty of the same? And more? Worse, Israel’s leaders only contributed to the apostasy. “Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray” (Is. 9:16). Their leaders didn’t lead.

So God turns to wicked Assyria to punish Israel (Is. 10:5-6). Assyria, of course, thinks she’s in control and plans to use such power to personal advantage (Is. 10:7). How foolish! In the end, God judges Assyria even more (Is. 10:12,16-19). That part of the prophecy has happened. Assyria has been wiped out. It is no more. We look at some of the pitiful evidence in museums today. Such is the nation that forgets God.

And so the attention turns back to Israel in chapter ten. A remnant will finally “truly rely on the Lord” (Is. 10:20). They will “return to the Mighty God” (Is. 10:21) and the “burden will be lifted from [their] shoulders” (Is. 10:27). And another amazingly encouraging prophecy follows - chapter eleven and the “shoot from the stump of Jesse” which becomes the Righteous Branch.

If we did not have a God of mercy, where would we be? It is “because of the LORD's great love [“mercies”, KJV] we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22). Aren’t you glad? Tell Him so.


Psalm 11-12

Have you ever heard voices saying to you, “Flee like a bird to your mountain” (Ps. 11:1)? Has the temptation ever struck you to fly away when things start to get tough? When it feels like the foundations are crumbling (Ps. 11:3), have you wanted to beat it, skip town, fly the coop, cut and run, hightail it out of Dodge, make a fast getaway, skedaddle, or make yourself scarce?

David was, no doubt, tempted along similar lines many times but he came up with a better solution. He decided that, “In the Lord I take refuge” (Ps. 11:1). The problem with flying away to a mountain retreat is that it doesn’t solve the real problem. You carry that away with you in your own heart. You might even find a way to get away, but if you don’t know how to give your troubles over to the Lord, you just take them into your refuge with you.

So, David’s way is best. Cast yourself upon the Lord, trust in Him, and find your refuge in His presence.

• don’t listen to bad advice (Ps. 11:1b)
• don’t pay attention to the enemy’s threats (Ps. 11: 2a)
• don’t focus on the shadows (Ps. 11: 2b)
• don’t trust in the wrong things (Ps. 11: 3)
• don’t think that you need to, or can, take things into your own hands and wrestle them straight (Ps. 11: 5)

God is always watching. His eyes are on your every way. He is looking at you, so if you look to Him you “will see his face” (Ps. 11:7). That’s a promise!

The Lord's our Rock, in Him we hide;
A shelter in the time of storm.
Secure whatever ill betide;
A shelter in the time of storm.

A shade by day; defense by night;
A shelter in the time of storm.
No fears alarm, no foes affright;
A shelter in the time of storm.

The raging storms may round us beat;
A shelter in the time of storm.
We'll never leave our safe retreat;
A shelter in the time of storm.

O Rock divine, O Refuge dear;
A shelter in the time of storm.
Be Thou our helper ever near;
A shelter in the time of storm.