When I read these verses – it sounds like holy smack talk in my mind.
Twice – Isaiah told the enemies of God’s people…
“Strap on your armor…”
That’s right. Go ahead.
“Strap on your armor.”
“Go ahead,” he said, “and make plans.
Speak your threats and your taunts.
But it will all come to nothing.”
Why?
Because God was with them.
We must remember Who stands with us. When the enemy has strapped on every piece of armor. When he has made plans for our destruction. When he hurls threats and taunts our way.
In the end – he will come to nothing because we are not alone in the battle.
👉 The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and how to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement. 2 Peter 2:9
The Lord told Ahaz to ask for anything. Anything – “as deep as the grave or high as heaven.” Wow. And Ahaz asks for…nothing.
Talk about anticlimactic.
But don’t we do the same?
We have a God who is able to do “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20) and, honestly, we often don’t ask much.
Why is that?
A lack of faith? Laziness on our part? Eyes that no longer even see the needs around us? Too busy? Afraid of disappointment if we don’t get our desired outcome?
When is the last time we asked for something that only God could do?
👉 Drop an emoji below if you need God to do a work in your life today?
There was an enemy coming for the people of Judah. And the enemy wasn’t coming alone. The king of Syria had joined with the king of Israel and they were after Jerusalem.
That’s often the way it is – right? One problem? We could maybe handle it. But it’s the “various/multiple” trials that Peter and Paul and James all refer to in the New Testament that can be our undoing.
The heart of the people shook (v 2).
Here’s the thing. This doesn’t mean that the people felt a little anxious about the upcoming battle. That would be understandable. It isn’t describing a mixture of fear and adrenaline that would accompany such an attack.
The word “shook” has a much bigger connotation.
👉 Shook: to tremble, to make unstable, to move aimlessly, to be tossed about
Basically, y’all, the people were a mess. And we’re all nodding our heads because we’ve been there or, perhaps, are there.
But the Lord tells them, “Don’t let your hearts be faint.”
Don’t stop believing.
Be firm.
He warns them that unbelief in their God will make them unstable in every area of life (v 8).
James gives a similar warning, “…for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” That idea of being “tossed about” is the same as being “shook” in this passage in Isaiah. Doubt makes us able to be shaken.
👉 Something extra to ponder: in the face of an aggressive enemy, the Lord says, “Be careful and be quiet.” Hmm…that alone will preach. 😉
👇Drop those sweet emojis below, friends, so I know I’m not in Isaiah alone. 😃
“Your guilt is taken away, and your sin is atoned for.”
Then, today’s portion begins immediately with:
“And I heard the voice of the Lord…”
“And he said, ‘Go…’”
I couldn’t help but think about how unconfessed sin in my life will hinder my ability to hear from the Lord. And it will prevent me from being fruitful in my service to the Lord.
May we, like David, pray, “Lord, point out anything in me that offends you” (Psalm 139:24.) Then, when the Lord makes us aware, let us quickly repent. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss a word that the Lord has for me.
