Isaiah 40, Treasures for Living

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Before I leave Chapter 40 of Isaiah, I want to draw your attention to my favorite verses that give me strength, courage and a feeling of being loved by God.

Isaiah 40:8 shows me the strength I am assured of through God’s Word. “The grass withers and the flowers fall,  but the word of our God endures forever.” God and His Word are eternal and will not change, fade or die out. I can use His Word as an anchor for my soul as God and His Word do not change. Hebrews 13:8 speaks of the immutability of Jesus and confirms our trust in Him. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Proverbs 30:5 speaks of the perfection of God’s Word and its ability to protect us. “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Hebrews 4:12 speaks of how the Word of God is alive and will help us discern our own hearts and the world around us. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” The Word of God is eternal and provides grounding and hope in any situation.

Isaiah 40:11 “He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.” This verse is very comforting as God reveals his heart of compassion and love for me. I know that in times of heartache, joy and desperation He will hold me close to His heart and never let me go. There is no one or nothing like our God. He alone can hold and comfort me. However, He uses other believers to come alongside me and bring tangible comfort right when I need it. Thank you God for you exquisite care of me.

Lastly, I love Isaiah 40:28-31. This portion of scripture is a favorite of so many. Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

There is such strength in knowing God is creator of all, sovereign and everlasting. Nothing can outlast God. He is tireless and in my human weariness I can know that God will not give up or not help because He is too tired or preoccupied. He gives strength and power in Jesus’ name. He uplifts when I grow tired and always will renew my strength. He will cause me to soar and not grow faint. God is an amazing God who loves me and will always support me. I am reminded of Lamentations 3:21-23 when reading these verses, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.” We know that God always loves us and each and every day His mercies are new for us. We can count on His Faithfulness!

I pray you have seen God in new ways as we have spent time in Isaiah Chapter 40.

Linda

Creator God Makes Himself Known

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Chapter 40 of Isaiah has been a treasure trove of insights into the character of God. The last attribute of God is mentioned in several verses. God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 proclaims this fact about God, “ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” God existed before anything was created and there was never a time when God did not exist. He existed before time. No one made God. God as creator made everything from the smallest particle to the expanse of the galaxy. All that we see and experience- the heavens, the angels, the whole spiritual realm, all earth what is inside and on it were made by God alone. Genesis tells us that God spoke things into existence. Genesis 1:3 “And God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” By the power of His Word He created all things. God alone brought something out of nothing. He is an amazing God!

Isaiah wants to remind us of God’s power and His ability as Creator God.

Isaiah 40:22 “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
    and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
    and spreads them out like a tent to live in.”

Isaiah 40:26 “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing.”

Isaiah 40:28 “Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.“

In each verse we see a tender aspect of Creator God. Isaiah 40:25 speaks of God stretching out the heavens like a covering to provide us a place to live. God created our home with us in mind. He knew what we needed- water, air, sunlight, shelter, means to grow food, places of beauty to take in his grandeur. I am reminded of the verse in Romans about everyone knowing that God exists because of His marvelous creation. Romans 1:19-20 “ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Isaiah 40:25 talks about the expanse of the heavens that is filled with stars. God named each one when He made them. He watches over all creation and no stars go missing just like no sheep go missing either. The good shepherd, Jesus will seek us out. John 10: 14-15 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Finally, Isaiah 40:28 explain the tirelessness of God. He never ceases to work for His creation. He has as long as it takes as He is eternal and filled with endless energy. His ways are beyond our understanding as His ways are not our ways. He is incomprehensible. There is no way we can totally understand our infinite God. Thank goodness, Jesus knew we would not be able to totally comprehend God so He made provision for us. John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” John 14:7 “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Knowing Jesus we can know the Father. Jesus will reveal the Father to us though the power of His Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus.

What a wonderful picture Isaiah paints for us in Isaiah 40, a treasure to be cherished, studied, prayed over and praised!

Linda

4th Sunday of Lent, God Has NO Equal

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I am comforted today knowing God has no equal. Isaiah Chapter 40 has proof for us that God has no equal in heavens or on earth. Isaiah 40:18 and 25

18 With whom, then, will you compare God?
    To what image will you liken him? ” God’s answers by asking the Israelites which idol that they have made by their own hands has power? Their skilled craftsmen have set up their handmade idols but which of them will never fall over? We can ask ourselves the same questions today. Whom or what do we put above God- education, material things, relationships? What thing, event or person has the power to change life eternally? Only God has the power to change, mold and create new life within us. I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 5:7 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Christ is the Holy one, the Only one, who can Save and transform us.

25 “To whom will you compare me?
    Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. God is asking them, and us, whom do we have to compare to God? Will our education, our accomplishments, our relationships, our jobs, our families, our vacations, or our money compare to God and His power, might, forgiveness and hope? Whom can offer us eternity? Whom can offer us a personal relation ship with Almighty God? No one and nothing can be substituted for God.

Thinking of Who God is and His power and might brings me to Psalm 18. Here are a few verses that show us How our God is alive and will intervene and sustain us.

1 I love you, Lord, my strength.

2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and I have been saved from my enemies.

30 As for God, his way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    he shields all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord?
    And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
    and keeps my way secure.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
    he causes me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
    my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You make your saving help my shield,
    and your right hand sustains me;
    your help has made me great.
36 You provide a broad path for my feet,
    so that my ankles do not give way.

May you be in touch with God today as you worship Him. He is worthy of all our worship and there is NONE like Him! There is NONE EQUAL to GOD!

Linda

Sovereign God Has It Within His Control

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Chapter 40 of Isaiah has a lot to say about God as Ruler of all nations and the heavens! The image Isaiah is presenting is one of God who is the preeminent ruler of all creation whether He is acknowledged by the Israelites or even us. He is in control of all things showing His sovereignty. The Sovereignty of God is defined as: God is the one who is in control of all things. There is nothing outside of God’s wise control, even the exact time and place for each person to live. No one tells God what to do or how things are to happen. God plans are set by Him and no event, natural disaster, person, not even Satan can stop God’s plans. When God permits evil we can trust that He has planned to use it for our good and His glory. God planned the time for His son, Jesus, to come into the world and He determines when the time is right for Jesus to return. God will accomplish His plan because He alone has the power to do it.

Isaiah begins this portion of the Chapter 40 with a few rhetorical questions. He does not expect the people to answer Him but to know that the answers should be obvious to them. Isaiah 40:12-14 sets the stage for God’s comments about the earth, its rulers and inhabitants as they are seen by Him.

Who else has held the oceans in his hand?
    Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers?
Who else knows the weight of the earth
    or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?
13 Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord?
    Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?
14 Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice?
    Does he need instruction about what is good?
Did someone teach him what is right
    or show him the path of justice?

Isaiah 40:15 “No, for all the nations of the world
    are but a drop in the bucket.
They are nothing more
    than dust on the scales.
He picks up the whole earth
    as though it were a grain of sand. God’s answer to the questions is there is no one, no nation under heaven and on earth that can give Him advice, teach Him or show Him the pathway of justice.

Isaiah 40:17 “The nations of the world are worth nothing to him.
    In his eyes they count for less than nothing—
    mere emptiness and froth.” The nations of the world are temporary and their own splendor is limited.

Isaiah 40:40:22 “God sits above the circle of the earth.
    The people below seem like grasshoppers to him!
He spreads out the heavens like a curtain
    and makes his tent from them.” God looks down from heaven over all His created beings and provides for them.

Isaiah 40:23 ““He judges the great people of the world
    and brings them all to nothing.” God can and will judge all people. Their own lofty purposes will count for nothing.

God concludes this reminder of who He is and who we are with 2 more questions in verses 25-26.

“To whom will you compare me?
    Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. 26 Look up into the heavens.
    Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another,
    calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
    not a single one is missing.

I love the conclusion God reaches. As we gaze at the stars in the heavens and look at the majestic beauty of God’s creation, we are faced with the realization that there has to be an all-powerful, sovereign God guiding all of this. Not man, his nations or governments can create and sustain the things of God. Today send a few minutes in prayer thanking God for who He is and the beauty and power of His creation. Be comforted that God is in control and we do not need to fear the governments of man as God is Sovereign and will bring about all things that are for our good and His glory! Praise God!

Linda

Rest in the Power of God

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So far in Isaiah Chapter 40 we have seen God as caring, glorious and eternal. Today’s verses reveal God as powerful. Isaiah 40:9-10 tell us that God is coming with a message, a powerful message.

“O Zion, messenger of good news,
    shout from the mountaintops!
Shout it louder, O Jerusalem.
    Shout, and do not be afraid.
Tell the towns of Judah,
    “Your God is coming!”
10 Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power.
    He will rule with a powerful arm.
    See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.” God is encouraging the people of Israel that He will indeed return and when He does it will be with power and rewards for the faithful. The message of good news is the gospel brought by and through Jesus Christ. The rule of power would refer to the future and His return as King to judge and rule overall creation. There is a promise of return, hope, salvation, power, might and reward. Only God can achieve all this perfectly in His power. He is All Powerful or Omnipotent. God has unlimited power, authority and influence. His power is not bound by time and He does all He wants and intends to do. What He says He will accomplish. God is the source of all power in the universe and with out Him all things fall apart. We can depend upon His power and might to sustain and keep us. I am encouraged by Hebrews 1:3 “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.”

Isaiah 40:28b also speaks of God’s power. “The Lord is the everlasting God,  the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.   No one can measure the depths of his understanding”. In addition to God’s power we see His eternality, creativity, and incomprehensibility. Only an all powerful, Omnipotent God could be all these things. He is eternal- everlasting. He is the Creator of all heavens and earth. He never tires or grows weary as we humans do- He is tireless. He is so deep in character and thought that our finite minds cannot comprehend all of God. We do not have to worry that God will not understand us or grow tired of dealing with our problems or circumstances. I am encouraged when I consider God’s description of himself in Isaiah 55:8-9
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
    “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so my ways are higher than your ways
    and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” God is God and there is no one like Him. He is above us in intellect, power and might. Praise God He is in control and is the Sovereign power of the universe.

How does God’s power impact your life? I am encouraged as I can always depend upon Him. He never tires or grows weary. He has the power and grace to help me though any circumstance. 2 Corinthians 12:9 constantly reminds me He is the sustainer of all.  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” His plans are eternal and nothing can thwart His will. His power leads me to rest in Him and take a breath as He Has This and He Has me!

Linda

Two Key Attributes for Daily Living

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The attributes God reveals to us today from Chapter 40 of Isaiah are: God is glorious and God’s Word is eternal. These are two profound attributes of our great God that can have direct meaning for our lives today.

Why should I care that God is glorious? Isaiah 40:5 “And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,   and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” By definition God’s glory is the sum total of all His attributes. God displayed His glory in the beauty and wisdom of His creation. Throughout history, God has revealed His glory to His people through His power, mercy, grace, judgement, holiness, love, etc. In the Old Testament God showed his people His glory in a cloud and it was known as the Shekinah glory. The cloud was used by God to lead his people in the wilderness for 40 years and then filled the tabernacle and later the temple in Jerusalem. The key factor about God’s glory is that Jesus Christ, the Son, reveals to us completely God’s glory. We can know and feel his glorious presence with us each day by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus shows us all about God’s glory. Here in Isaiah 40:5, God tells us He will be revealing to the world His glory and we would see it. Jesus is that glory God spoke of, He was coming and would show us all about God the Father. John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” Jesus made Him known to us.

I am so thankful that I can know God the Father and His glory because of the work of Jesus on the cross. He came to reveal God to us and to save us so we could have a relationship with His Father and ours. All that God is Jesus made known to us in His Word so we can see and feel His glory in a new and personal way today. Christ is the Holy one, the Only one, who can Save us.

God’s Word is eternal. Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers and the flowers fall,  but the word of our God endures forever.” Recently, I was working with a group of teens to study Chapter 40 and several of us chose this verse as one of our favorites. It is so important to know that God’s Word is eternally true and does not change from generation to generation. The Bible is filled with affirmations of God’s Word being eternal. Here are a couple of my favorites; Psalm 119:89 Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Psalm 119: 160 “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.” John 6:68 “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” 2 Peter 3:5 “But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.” God’s Words brought the world into existence as He spoke “Let there be…” in Genesis. John called Jesus the Word of God in John 1:1-3 “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. and verse 14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” As in the case of God’s glory, the world has experienced God’s eternal Word from the beginning as He created all the heavens and the earth. We have experience the fullness of His Word in Jesus, the Word, the one who saves us and lives today after being raised from the dead. We have the assurance from God’s character that His Word is eternal and will endure for all generations. Praise God! That is an anchor for our soul and affirmation of our faith as we seek to live each day for Him. We do not need to worry that God will change His mind about loving and saving us. He is eternally true and keeps His promises.

May you have a day permeated by His glory.

Linda

God Loves and Cares for Us!

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Chapter 40 of Isaiah begins the portion of scripture beloved by believers because God reveals his plan of redemption in Christ and shows His great love and mercy for His people. They had sinned greatly against God and yet, God loved them. John 3:16 shows the true heart of God “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Throughout this 40th Chapter God reveals more and more about His character so we can know and trust Him more fully.

Here are some verses that show God cares for His people!

Isaiah 40:1 “Comfort, comfort my people,  says your God.” God is a God of comfort and desires that we live our lives comforting those who are in need. Jesus said in Matthew 27:37-39 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Paul also wrote in 2 Corinthians 13:3-5 as he described our God, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Isaiah 40:2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
    that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins.” In spite of the coming hardships and trials in captivity, God promises to forgive their sins. He will redeem them and bring them back to Jerusalem. He will speak tenderly to them and proclaims them forgiven.

Isaiah 40:11 “He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.” God here is portraying himself as a shepherd to His people. He cares for them, carries or holds them close to His heart. How tender is this picture of our God. Jesus portrayed himself as a shepherd to help explain the unique relationship He has with us as a believer. John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:14  “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” John 10:27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Jesus is our perfect shepherd.

Isaiah 40:29 “He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.” God says He will give us His strength when we get weary or tired and in our weakness He will make us strong. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul proclaims Christ’s power in his weaknesses . “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Our strength comes from Christ and His indwelling Holy Spirt. Romans 8:37-38 “ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,” In Christ we can be sustained and let Him fill our weaknesses with His strength.

May these verses from Isaiah 40 help you to see the depth of God’s love for YOU!

Linda

Actions Have Consequences

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The last lesson from this interlude portion of Isaiah comes from Isaiah 39. Here is the story:

Soon after this, Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift. He had heard that Hezekiah had been very sick and that he had recovered. 2 Hezekiah was delighted with the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything in his treasure-houses—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils. He also took them to see his armory and showed them everything in his royal treasuries! There was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did those men want? Where were they from?”

Hezekiah replied, “They came from the distant land of Babylon.”

4 “What did they see in your palace?” asked Isaiah.

“They saw everything,” Hezekiah replied. “I showed them everything I own—all my royal treasuries.”

5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: 6 ‘The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. 7 ‘Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.’”

8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”

As much as King Hezekiah sought to follow the Lord, he was still a man and a sinner. When he had recovered from his illness due to the Lord’s healing, he welcomed these men from Babylon and showed them around the palace. He let them see all the riches the Lord had provided. Why would he do this? Scripture does not name his sin but it looks like pride on Hezekiah’s part or maybe he was seeking the help from the Babylonians militarily. He wanted to ‘brag’ to the visitors how much he had, what he had gained and accomplished while king. He was showing off and the Lord sent Isaiah to call him up short and let him know there would be consequences for his actions. Whether it was from pride or seeking to rely on someone other than the Lord for their protection, it was sin in God’s eyes. Isaiah mentions by name the enemy that will capture, deport and take their possessions with them, Babylon. God was letting them know that judgement was coming in the future.

As a believer, we need to be mindful of the image we show to others. Self-examination is needed to not let our ‘self’ get too big and our pride become a problem. God desires that we are humble. Isaiah 66:2 “Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” Is a great reminder of the attitude that God desires in and from us.

I am also troubled by Hezekiah’s attitude towards God’s message as he called it good because it did not result in immediate consequences for himself but involved future consequences for his children and grandchildren. Shouldn’t we be concerned about our legacy to future generations? God is eternal and redemption is for all mankind, now and in the future until He returns. Psalm 89:1 “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” Psalm 145:13 “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.” Moses spoke of our obligation to our children and grandchildren in Deuteronomy 6:4-8. This portion of scripture is know as the ‘Shema’ and was recited by Jewish believers as their confession of faith. It was recited daily by devout believers. It would have been known to Hezekiah.  Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” God has tasked each believer with the work of passing on our faith to the next generation.

May we be humble in spirit as Paul describes in Ephesian 4:2 ‘Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.“ and mindful of our witness to the next generation.

Linda

Hezekiah Turns What He Learns from God into Praise!

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Isaiah was called to Hezekiah’s deathbed and gave him the news that he would not recover. Hezekiah pleaded with the Lord for his life and God answered. Isaiah 38:5  “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.” After his recovery, Hezekiah wrote about his experience and how he felt about the Lord.

Isaiah 38:15-20 But what can I say?
    He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. Hezekiah acknowledges his healing was all God.
I will walk humbly all my years
    because of this anguish of my soul. Hezekiah pledges to walk with God the reminder of his life.
16 Lord, by such things people live;
    and my spirit finds life in them too.
You restored me to health
    and let me live. Hezekiah thanks God for saving his life.


17 Surely it was for my benefit
    that I suffered such anguish. Hezekiah humbly admits his suffering was for his own benefit.
In your love you kept me
    from the pit of destruction;
you have put all my sins Hezekiah is encouraged as God has taken away his sins
    behind your back. and hidden them.
18 For the grave cannot praise you,
    death cannot sing your praise;
those who go down to the pit
    cannot hope for your faithfulness.
19 The living, the living—they praise you, Hezekiah reminds us it is the job of the living to praise God.
    as I am doing today;
parents tell their children Hezekiah proclaims it is the job of the parent to teach their
    about your faithfulness. children about God’s faithfulness. 20 The Lord will save me,
    and we will sing with stringed instruments
all the days of our lives Hezekiah reminds the Israelites it is their privilege
    in the temple of the Lord. to praise their God all their lives.

Hezekiah came to some profound conclusions that we can learn from and incorporate into our lives. He also challenges us to live each day with God in mind. When God rescues you from some circumstance or illness, are you quick to give Him the praise? Do you allow your healing or change of circumstances to be life altering and point you to God? Do you thank God for healing/rescuing you and then seek to see what benefits your received from the suffering? Hezekiah remembered the biblical truth that God allows things to happen in our lives to teach and grow us. James puts it this way in James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Hezekiah knew he was a sinner and had perhaps added to his own difficulties. He praised and thanked God for removing and hiding his sin behind his back. Micah 7:18-19 gives us the same principle, Who is a God like you,
    who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
    of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
    but delight to show mercy.
19 You will again have compassion on us;
    you will tread our sins underfoot
    and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah encourages all of us with the fact that God has removed our sins and has buried them in the depths of the sea. Both analogies tell us that God deals with our sin and then removes it. It is gone out of our sight and will be remembered by God no more. If you are constantly plagued by old sins you have confessed before God, then be assured God has removed them and they are gone. That guilt memory is from Satan as he wants us to wallow in defeat and be burdened by past sins. God has given us a clean slate through Jesus’ work on the cross so use it and put those sins away. God has.

Hezekiah also reminds us that it is a privilege in life to praise God and to teach our children about His faithfulness. How are you doing with that? Do you count it a privilege to worship and praise God? Do you seek to teach your children about God? As Hezekiah reminds us, praising and teaching is a privilege God has given to the living. We are to be about His work and continually give Him praise with thanksgiving in our hearts.

Let me end today with Psalm 150. Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
    praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
    praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

May it be a praise on your lips.

Linda

Worship from the Heart, 3rd Sunday of Lent

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We are seriously into the Lenten Season and I pray that you are being touched by Jesus and His sacrifice for you in a new and profound way. Here is a favorite psalm to encourage you, point you to Him and lead you to worship God from your heart.

Psalm 16

Keep me safe, my God,
    for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    apart from you I have no good thing.”

5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
    you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Blessings today as you Worship our God and Savior.

Linda