Friday, February 24, 2017
Daily reading assignment: Isaiah 40-44
The breadth of today’s prophetic reading in Isaiah 40-44 is so broad I find it impossible to do more than a cursory oversight and a brief commentary.
The destruction of Jerusalem and God’s judgment against Judah for her sin and rebellion appears imminent in Isaiah 40; however, nearly a century would pass before Babylon would attack the city, destroy the Temple and take the people captive. Let’s take a few minutes and glean from these verses some insight into the character of our God.
The God of Israel is longsuffering, forgiving and comforting (40:1-2). Seven hundred years before he was born, the birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ the Messiah, is foretold here (40:3-5; Matthew 3:3). Observing this earthly life is temporal and our physical lives are like grass that withers and flowers that fade, Isaiah proclaims, “the Word of our God shall stand forever (40:6-8). Times have changed and men have changed; however, God’s Word is unchangeable!
Who is my God? He is the Creator and the deep waters of the ocean depths are like “the hollow of his hand” (40:12a). He knows the span of the heavens, the stars, moons, and planets. He has calculated the dust of the earth and knows the weight of the mountains and hills (40:12b).
My God is so great that all the nations and their armies are as nothing to Him (40:15-17). There is nothing and no one greater than my God! The beauty of earth’s sphere reflects the glory of His throne and men are like grasshoppers in his presence (40:22-23). He is omniscient, and calls the host of heaven by name (40:26). He is Everlasting God, Creator and Sustainer of all things (40:28). He is my Savior and my Strength (40:30-31).
Isaiah 40:30-31 – “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
You wonder from whence my God came? He was God before there was time and Creation.
Isaiah 43:10b-11, 13a – “… I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour…13 Yea, before the day was I am he…”
Isaiah 44:6 – “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”
Before the first day…there was God! He alone is God and there is no other!
Copyright 2017 – Travis D. Smith