Here we go - reading Isaiah 34, and 35; then Micah 2,3,4, and 5 today. Restoration - it's my favorite!
“It’s for GOD ’s people exclusively— impossible to get lost on this road. Not even fools can get lost on it” (Isaiah 35:8-10 MSG)
In the midst of His anger, God provides a road which will lead us back home. Always looking for ways to bring us back, draw us close, restore us into right relationship. (And this is still before Jesus - the best is yet to come!)
How about this one:
“I’m calling a meeting, Jacob. I want all of the survivors back......Then I, GOD, will burst all confinements and lead them out into the open. They’ll follow their King. I will be out in front leading them” (Micah 2:12, 13 MSG)
God wants us back, always! ALL of us! Lead on, King - we will follow You!
Today, continuing in Isaiah. Let's read Isaiah 30, 31, 32, and 33. Are you hanging in there with the Old Testament? How are you doing? Here's what stands out to me today:
A favorite:
“But GOD ’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you. He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you. GOD takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for Him are the lucky ones” (30:18 MSG)
God, just looking and waiting for opportunities to bless and strengthen us - not at all “out to get us” like people sometimes say of the God of the Old Testament. We must find Him to be kind️, His love toward us unchanging.
In 31, Isaiah says that God “must be reckoned with”. We have to decide who God is for us and operate in truth and faith. It won’t do to say “I don’t understand so I won’t do anything about God”. It’s really our responsibility and obligation to learn and apply His truth to our lives. I love 32:15-20, so applicable to us today:
"Yes, weep and grieve until the Spirit is poured down on us from above
And the badlands desert grows crops and the fertile fields become forests.
Justice will move into the badlands desert. Right will build a home in the fertile field.
And where there’s Right, there’ll be Peace and the progeny of Right: quiet lives and endless trust.
My people will live in a peaceful neighborhood— in safe houses, in quiet gardens.
The forest of your pride will be clear-cut, the city showing off your power leveled.
But you will enjoy a blessed life, planting well-watered fields and gardens,
with your farm animals grazing freely" (32:15-20 MSG)
What a blessed peace!
Please read Isaiah 24, 25, 26, 27, and 29 today. Take every opportunity to notice God's kindness! Here's what stands out to me - do you have a highlight to share?
“Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing” (Isaiah 26:4 MSG)
I love that. God is sure, He is a constant - and that doesn’t depend on my success or failure.
"The path of right-living people is level.
The Leveler evens the road for the right-living.
We’re in no hurry, God. We’re content to linger
in the path sign-posted with Your decisions.
Who You are and what You’ve done
are all we’ll ever want.
Through the night my soul longs for You.
Deep from within me my spirit reaches out to You" (Isaiah 26:7-8 MSG)
Amen! Wow, what beautiful words. To expand on that would be like trying to put ruffles on the stars - there's no need. Read it aloud if you have a minute - make this your prayer today!
27:2-5 reminds me of the chapter with the disappointing vineyard. God says He isn’t angry, but that He cares - even if the vineyard produces thistles. As we submit ourselves to God, He continues to work with us.
Today, we are reading Isaiah 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23. Rough day for Isaiah and for the people within his hearing.
It must have been hard for these prophets like Isaiah to deliver such strong messages. These prophets prayed more than anyone. They were most closely acquainted with the character of God. They knew His propensity for restoration. Considering all this, it must have been heartbreaking to speak these things. Even though consequences are a result of a people’s own actions, it’s still sad to see people struggle - especially when you know that better is possible! (and with God, better is always possible!)
A verse stands out to me, and I'm going back to the NKJV for a minute on this one:
“ 'Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?'
The watchman said, 'The morning comes, and also the night' " (Isaiah 21:11-12 NKJV)
I'll spare you the history lesson, but these folks are in bad shape. They are afraid, so they go to the watchman, charged with seeing what comes from afar off. What about the night, they ask - twice, like it is urgent. I wonder if they whispered it or if they yelled - does anyone get quiet when they get afraid like I do? The watchman's answer offers peace and a reason to fear: the morning is coming (relief is coming), but night is coming with it (utter darkness and confusion). I think we could describe our present situation in this same way: there is spiritual darkness all around, but the possibility of spiritual light is also near - because God is always near. As the "morning" and the "night" are coming simultaneously, it is of the utmost importance that we can discern between them. We have to depend on the Lord and His wisdom like never before.
So thankful for the Word of God, bringing light today!
Psalm 136, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150:
In Psalm 136, the phrase “for His mercy endures forever” follows every line, like a cause and effect:
“Give thanks” because why? “FOR His mercy endures forever”
“He does great wonders” because why? “FOR His mercy endures forever”
“Who remembers us in our lowly state” because why? “FOR His mercy endures forever”
Everything good that happens originates with the Lord.
In all of these psalms today, we see: the Lord never leaves anyone out. He actually never leaves at all. All people, generations, all ages, all situations, all creations... as everything falls under the category of “creation”, no one escapes the love and attention of the Lord. As everything and everyone for all time has the opportunity to benefit from the goodness and mercy and love of the Lord, then no one is exempt from the praise and worship of the Lord. ️ His faithfulness and generosity and kindness ought to inspire our faithfulness and praise and worship in return.
His mercy endures forever!
Today we're reading Psalm 128, 129, 130, 132, 134, and 135. Here's a few of my highlights- comment with a highlight or two of yours! Let's visit a little bit!
Back in the NKJV for a minute, for these old familiar friends:
“When you eat of the labor of your hands, you shall be happy and it shall be well with you” (Psalm 128:2 NKJV)
Fulfillment comes as we follow the Lord and He gives increase. The “labor of your hands” are fruits that come as a result of obedience to the Lord.
“If You O Lord should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You” (Psalm 130:3-4)
God doesn’t keep a record of our sins, not ever. That’s because He desires us to come to Him without fear, knowing He’ll forgive. Remember Psalm 56:8? God does keep a record of our heartbreak. That’s because His greatest desire is to heal and restore us.
How great is our God, how kind.
Today we have what are called the "psalms of ascent". In other words, the "journey psalms". We're on a journey ourselves! Let's read Psalm 120, 121, 123, 125, and 126.
"I look up to the mountains;
does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
who made heaven, and earth, and mountains" (121:1-2 MSG)
I love the pilgrimage psalms! So much of our returned faithfulness to God depends on a process. What do I mean by "returned faithfulness"? Well, because His faithfulness to us came first, we should be inspired to be faithful in return from His example, right?
"He won’t let you stumble,
your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel’s
Guardian will never doze or sleep" (121:3-4 MSG)
So much depends on a daily commitment to walk with Him and toward Him - committing our hearts to this pilgrimage on hard days and victorious days alike.
"God’s your Guardian, right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke.
God guards you from every evil, He guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
He guards you now, He guards you always" (121:5-8 MSG)
He guards you now, He guards you always. And with a grateful heart, we say amen.
One Psalm today, but it's a long one! Here we go with Psalm 119! So many items to highlights and truth to take away.... Hard to pick only a few!
“I’m homesick, longing for Your salvation” (119:81 MSG)
Do I long for God like I long for home? Do I miss Him when I stray? Lord, help me to be faithful to You!
"Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing shall offend them" (119:165 KJV)
Taking up an offense can stop us in our tracks, completely our progress. David writes in another psalm about the "wounds of a friend being faithful" (I wrote about that too if you want to check it out here). However, if your focus is the Word of God, loving Scripture and applying it to your life, the result of that dedication will be great peace - and who couldn't use a little peace?
Today we'll read Psalms 115, 116, 117, and 118. Do you ever read the Psalms (or any Scripture) aloud? We haven't gotten there yet, but Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (not sure that's what that verse references, but hearing aloud can make a difference!). Here's what I'm thinking about today:
“thank God because He’s good, because His love never quits!” (Psalm 118:1 MSG)
Not because I feel like it, not because He has offered the proof I want to see, not because htings are going “my way” - but thank Him because He IS GOOD. HE IS GOOD on days that I judge to be good and HE IS GOOD on days that I judge to be bad. God’s goodness is a fact, not a feeling!
We are going to read Psalm 107, 111, 112, 113, and 114 today. What stands out to you? Here's my take-a-way for the day!
"Hallelujah!
I give thanks to God with everything I’ve got—
Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation.
God’s works are so great, worth
A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!
Splendor and beauty mark his craft;
His generosity never gives out.
His miracles are his memorial—
This God of Grace, this God of Love" (Psalm 111:1-4 MSG)
I love these Psalms that recount history and count God faithful and kind and generous. When we read the Old Testament, God might not seem kind and loving, but He always was. All of those histories were about restoration. All of those histories were about love. All of those histories were about bringing His children back close to Him. God was and is kind, even to today.
