Isaiah 41:1 “Keep silence before me, coastlands!
Let the peoples replenish their strength!
Let them approach; then let them speak.
Let us assemble for judgment.”
2 Who has raised from the east one who is just
and called him to be in his service?
He hands nations over to him
and subjects kings to him;
his sword reduces them to dust,
his bow to driven straw.
3 He pursues them, passing on unscathed,
hardly touching the path with his feet.
4 Whose work is this? Who has brought it about?
He who called the generations from the beginning,
“I, Adonai, am the first;
and I am the same with those who are last.”
5 The coastlands have seen and became afraid.
The ends of the earth have trembled.
They have approached, and now they have come.
6 Every one helps his fellow workman,
everyone says to his brother, “Be strong!”
7 The woodworker encourages the goldsmith,
the polisher encourages the hammerer;
he says of the soldering, “Yes, that’s good,”
then puts nails in [the idol] to keep it from moving.
---------------------God had used the Israelites to humble many proud nations: Egypt, Edom, Moab, the Canaanites, the Philistines, and the Syrians among others. The Israelites had suffered defeat from time to time, but the tiny kingdom of Judah survived and even thrived at times in a very tough neighborhood. Judah had managed to hang on even when their brothers and sisters in Israel, along with its capitol, Samaria, had been destroyed. The Judeans may have believed that Solomon’s temple was their lucky charm: “God won’t allow the temple to be destroyed; who will worship Him then? God has to save us,” they may have thought.
God refuses to be put into a box, even a beautiful marble and gold box like the temple. God will not sacrifice His holiness for our perfunctory worship or religious pretense. In the end, He will be found righteous in His judgment. The trouble begins when people believe “God is on our side,” and they forget to ask themselves, “Are we on God’s side?”
Hymn for Today: "Conflict Today Is Fierce"
1. Conflict today is fierce,
The strength of Satan more;
The cry of battle calling now
Is louder than before.
The rebel voice of hell
E'en stronger now becomes;
But list, the midnight cry resounds,
Behold, I quickly come!
2. Trials more bitter grow,
The fighting doth enlarge;
Hell's forces rally all their pow'rs
And gather for the charge.
Yet while we wait and watch
And feel the war severe,
We hear the joyful song ring out,
Jesus, the Lord, is near!
3. 'Tis harder at the end
The word to testify,
For Satan fights with all his pow'r
Our witness to defy.
Much greater strength we need
The foe to overcome;
How happy when the Lord we see
And all our sighing's done!
4. Who then will forward go
Strong in His mighty power?
Who then will firmly trust the Lord
Until the vict'ry hour;
Till with the conqu'rors blest,
The triumph song's begun?
That man will then rejoice to hear,
Behold, I quickly come!
5. [We] then will choose God's best,
And take the narrow track,
Though passing through the wildest storms,
Yet never turning back[!]
[We] now will dare press on,
Enduring pain and fear[!]
All such will then rejoice to see
Jesus, the Lord, is near!
6. Though deep the darkness be
We still would onward go,
Till we the day of rapture greet
And glory 'round shall glow.
'Tis there we'll see the Lord,
And Satan overcome;
The overcomers will rejoice,
Jesus, the Lord, has come!
Thought for Today:
"“Keep silence before me, coastlands!
"“Keep silence before me, coastlands!
Let the peoples replenish their strength!
Let them approach; then let them speak.
Let us assemble for judgment.”" [Isiaih 41:1]
Please pray:The folowers of Jesus will actively work for the violence to end in the world as Disciples of the Prince of Peace.
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