August 15, Reading 2 – Isaiah 62:1-63:14

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Our hope is that God will not give up until He has done all He promised, until He has finished us. We might despair at our own ability to change. Look to God’s ability to change you, to transform you into the image of Jesus.

SJA Notes

* Righteous Saviour, please plant Your word deep within us today, and grow it.

“You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married,”

Names are important.

As are changes to a name.

“Forsaken” to “My Delight Is In Her”.

“Desolate” to “Married”.

The changes of name here reflect the changes in standing, in blessing, in the “now and now yet” reality that the Lord has effected for His people through Himself, God the Son, our King Jesus.

His delight is in us!

We the church are the bride, joined in marriage with the lamb (God the Son).

We are the “Redeemed of the LORD” – In Jesus redemption from sin is found!

We are “Sought Out” – The Good Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine in safety to go outside the camp and find the one lost sheep.

We were all lost, broken, blind, dead. He sought us out.

Jesus is our Rescuer. Our Redeemer. Our King and Saviour.

In Him we are never left alone or forsaken. This is God’s love to us!

* Holy God,

Mighty are Your deeds and marvellous is Your Name.

Your glory shines forth, please help us to walk in that light and to reflect it to those around.

Please mark us as a faithful people, a people not forsaken, a church redeemed, a bride being prepared for her wedding day.

Amen.

August 13, Reading 2 – Isaiah 60

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

This chapter is like a great shout of “Hallelujah! Emmanuel has come to us!” The Light has dawned. Jerusalem Above in all her glory is unveiled in that light. Read John 1:4,5.

SJA Notes

* Dear Lord God, please write Your word on our hearts today.

“The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.”

God is light.

We see this clearly in today’s passage.

The apostle John expands with the idea of walking in God’s light, from 1 John 1,

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

God is light. God dwells in light. And we can choose to walk in God’s light, or not.

In Revelation 21 the apostle John, in that amazing vision given to him, sees the revealing of God’s word to Isaiah to be for us in glory,

“And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”

God is light. God dwells in light. God’s glory generates the light.

This is our God!

* Father In Heaven,

God of light,

Thank You for bringing us from darkness into light.

Thank You for this promise to us that we see here, the new Jerusalem, that heavenly city, where there is no need of sun or moon for You are our light!

Please help us to walk in Your light today, reflecting to those around us.

Amen.

August 12, Reading 2 – Isaiah 59

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Cobweb religion seeks to hide from ourselves and others our own lawless ways and behaviour. I can’t help myself here. Our helplessness appalled God. This is why He sent Jesus from before the foundation of the world – God’s own arm worked our salvation.

SJA Notes

* Rescuer God, please show us Your word today, that we might know You better.

“Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter.”

As in Isaiah’s time so in ours.

The public square is hostile to truth and righteousness.

Instead of justice being close, instead of righteousness as clothing, we run to evil and are swift to shed innocent blood.

What is the problem?

“… transgressing, and denying the LORD, and turning back from following our God,”

The problem is what it has been from Adam and Eve and the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Sin.

This is not a new problem, and the solution is not new.

It is the same beautiful wonderful fearful means of grace from our Creator God to His created humanity.

John the Baptist, earthly cousin of Jesus, says it so very clearly,

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Jesus is the answer. The solution. He is the means of grace and the great showing of mercy.

Turn to Him. Look to Him. Fix our eyes on Him.

* Saviour God,

Thank You for saving us by Your grace.

Thank You for saving us by Your righteousness, death, blood and life.

Thank You for saving us by Your illumination, Your renovation and Your preservation.

Thank You Lord!

Amen.