great-is-the-lordFriday, 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). circle-of-the-earth 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).

wings-as-eaglesIsaiah 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