Isaiah 33
COMMENTARY:
: 2 O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. (2220 “arm” [z@rowa] means power, strength, forearm, shoulder, mighty, or forces.)
DEVOTION: The book of Ecclesiastes instructs us in the fact that the LORD’S mercy is new every morning. The New Testament teaching of Jesus informs us that we are to take up our cross daily and follow HIM. Each morning we have a choice to make regarding our service to the King of Kings and LORD of LORD.
Isaiah prays for the people who are faithful to the LORD. Isaiah is pleading with the LORD to show them grace. Grace is giving us what we don’t deserve. Mercy is not giving us what we do deserve. We all need grace and mercy every day. The people of God have always been sinners and will continue to be sinners until they die or the LORD returns to call us to HIM. The people of God were looking to others for help instead of God.
However, there was a remnant that remained faithful to the LORD that turned to HIM for strength. They were waiting for HIM to act in their behalf. They wanted HIS strength. They wanted HIS salvation in their time of trouble.
There is noise all around us even today. We need to focus on righteousness and proper judgment. We need the wisdom from above that is given to those who ask for it on a daily basis. We need to learn more about who the LORD is and how HE acts in our world. When we practice these characteristics in our life we have the strength of the LORD working in our life.
There is the constant reminder that the “fear of the LORD” is the beginning of wisdom. Our reverence for the LORD and HIS work in our life shows who we are really following. The LORD sees our heart. HE knows our thoughts. If we truly worship HIM in spirit and in truth we can face any enemy with confidence.
We need to realize that we need the same strength in our times of trouble. The LORD told HIS disciples that in the world they would have tribulation with a little “t”. BUT HE also said that HE had overcome the world. We need to put our confidence in HIM as HE carries us through all of our life. HE is the one who can help us overcome all circumstances HE allows in our life for our good. We need this strength EVERY MORNING.
CHALLENGE: Mediating on the Word of God each morning gives us the strength to face each day. Each day can be a day of victory.
: 6 Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; The fear of the LORD is His treasure. The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
DEVOTION: Recently I have begun to preach through the book of Revelation and to instruct the church on the truths that Revelation holds. I have taught that the Lord is a judge who will judge righteously and with wisdom. He is portrayed as a regal judge, a suffering judge and at the judge of eternity and here the prophet Isaiah is challenging the nation of Israel to remember that God is a great God who will adjudicate the wicked and also be a blessing to those who serve and love Him.
Through His wisdom and knowledge we can have a stability and proper perspective in chaotic times. With all that is happening in the United States with the breakdown of families, civil law and economic uncertainties we need the constancy of God’s salvation and the treasures of His word. People might desire to plunder, deal treacherously and be deceptive but the Lord is still in charge.
CHALLENGE: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6) (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
: 22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us. (2710“lawgiver” [chaqaq] means governor, leader, inscribe, engrave, director, determine, or commander.)
DEVOTION: This is a verse that a lady in our second church had all the children memorize. She also thought that the pastor of the church should memorize the same verses as the children. So needless to say that Virginia checked me out on the verses right along with the other children of the church. She believed as I believe that children should memorize Scripture early and it will stay with them the rest of their life. It has stayed with me. She was a good worker.
Now the children of Israel had to learn that the Assyrians were no threat to the LORD. HE had their number. They were going to be defeated. All enemies of Israel were going to be defeated.
In the past it happened after the LORD was done using a nation to correct the bad behavior of HIS people. This is going to happen in the future for the same reason. HIS people still need correcting at the end of the world.
There was going to be a final judgment of Israel in the end times. Then the reign of Christ would take place. While Christ was reigning on this earth for the thousand years HE was going to be the one directing the people in the proper treatment of the law. HE was going to uphold the truth of the Word of God. HE was going to be the judge of those who broke HIS law. HE was the King.
Those who were able to enter the time period of the reign of Christ knew that HE had the power to save them from anything that could happen during HIS reign.
Earlier in the chapter we find a description of those who would enter the time period. They were going to walk, speak and act properly. They were going to act in accordance with the rules of the LORD.
We are not living in that time period yet. We still have to realize that HE is still our King. HE is still our director. HE is still our judge. Our actions will be revealed to HIM for either judgment or praise. We are here to glorify the LORD right now.
The timing of HIS return is unknown to everyone except the Father. Our responsibility is to obey until HE comes. HE wants to find us working for HIM. HE is coming with rewards for those who are using their spiritual gifts to bring honor and glory to HIS name.
CHALLENGE: Our gift needs to be used today for HIS glory. Don’t sit on your gift. Too many believers are sitting in the pews watching instead of using their gift where the action is happening.
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