Category: Isaiah

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Our religious deeds by themselves don’t mean much to God. This upset people then and it does us today. Verses 6,7 describe that God looks for a consistent faith over all parts of my life. It is good to meditate on such verses.

SJA Notes

* God of grace and mercy, please be merciful to us today, forgive us our sins, and teach us Your ways.

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”

We see again God’s calling for us, His people, to TRUE religion.

Faith that works itself out in God’s good purposes.

When we are tempted to fall into a rut of outward regulations without the heart of faith, then we do not bring God pleasure, we do not honor His name or keep it holy.

Because we know that it is not the _doing_ that is the difference here. The examples God gives us in this passage on both sides are examples of work.

On one side we have actions that are other full of false humility and fasting for self-pleasure and feeling superior (The goats, Jesus will tell them they cannot enter).

On the other side we have actioned that are other-centered and of true humility (The sheep, Jesus the Good Shepherd will welcome them in).

And because we know that we cannot save ourselves, we cannot _do_ anything to gain the righteousness we need to stand before the living God, we must wrestle with what it means that God calls us to do good.

As with Israel, so with us. They were not given the law before they were saved out of Egypt, but after God had rescued them.

We are not saved BY good works, not even a little!

Our King has saved us UNTO good works.

* Father God,

Please teach us from Your word today.

And Lord please call those around us, and may they answer.

So that when the Son of Man returns in all His glory, all the angel hosts with Him – Lord may we be welcomed in by the Good Shepherd.

Please give us a heart for the lost. Please draw them to You.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

This is a very sad passage. We are indifferent to the things that produce our peace, and feed those things that destroy our peace. The last verses 13b-21 bring us to God’s great promises. Make Him your refuge today.

SJA Notes

* Gracious Lord God, please open our ears today to heed Your warnings here in this passage.

“I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, but they will not profit you. When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them all off, a breath will take them away.”

This passage turns to the leaders of God’s people, those who are teaching false religion and leading the people astray into idolatry.

The Lord is clear,

“‘… There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked.'”

There is no peace for the wicked.

What is the alternative?

“But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain.”

The alternative is to be hidden in Christ, His righteousness clothing us!

Because there is no peace for the wicked.

But those in Christ will know true peace that passes understanding.

Let us flee from idolatry and into the arms of our God!

* Sovereign Lord,

These can be hard words we read from Your word.

We see the broad way and the narrow road. The wide gate and the straight gate.

Please write Your word on our hearts. Please plant Your truths deep within us, and grow them, that they would impact us more and more, further and deeper as the day grows long.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Think of Jesus’ words at the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem in John 7:37,38: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

SJA Notes

* Faithful God, please teach us of Your promises to us today.

“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.”

Look at these promises!

A name better than sons and daughters, a name that shall not be cut off!

Our spiritual posterity does not rely on us having a family of our own or children to parent.

Because God has called us to His family! We are His children, and that relationship is our posterity!

God will bring us all to His holy mountain, make us joyful in His house of prayer, regardless of nation or background.

This is our God, these are His promises to us!

This is an amazing passage, it gives us clear direction on the hope we have.

Let us be encouraged and find joy in these deep truths that the Lord speaks to us through His word.

* Father God,

Thank You for Your promises to us.

Thank You that those who seek after You, regardless of temporal and earthly limitations, decisions and debilities, are promises a name that shall not be cut off!

Thank You that though we were once far away, now we can draw near to You because of Jesus.

Amen.