They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. - Isaiah 61:3b

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

In ancient Canaanite religion, trees symbolized fertility. Fertility rituals often took place under sacred trees, symbolizing participation in the earth’s life. These rituals were believed to bring better harvests, more children, and increased vitality. But as we see from Isaiah 1 and 61, this misplaced worship brought death instead of life.

In the next four studies we’ll see that Scripture uses trees to symbolize Israel. In Isaiah 1, Israel is rebuked for putting its delight in “sacred oaks” and special gardens, places devoted to pagan sacrifices and fertility rituals. Instead of trusting its Creator for fullness of life, Israel trusted His creatures. The result? Lifelessness and spiritual drought. “You will be like an oak with fading leaves,” the Lord says, “a garden without water” (v. 30). Delight in anything apart from the Life Giver eventually leads to spiritual barrenness.

Isaiah 61 speaks of the restoration of the faithful in Israel after the Exile. In a series of opposing poetic images, this passage prophesies how the Lord will exchange Israel’s barrenness for new life. Instead of ashes, there will be beauty; instead of mourning, gladness; instead of despair, praise (v. 3). The final line of this verse, which is easy to miss, recalls the image of Isaiah 1--instead of dying idolatrous oaks, “they will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

By returning to its Maker, Israel will thrive. In the same way, by recognizing that we are the work of God’s hands (Isa. 60:21) and that creating life is His work, not ours, we grow. Because we worship Him, we will image Him; we will display His splendor.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Isaiah 4:2-3; 6:8-13 ; Isaiah 11:1-5

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. - Isaiah 11:1

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

In the children’s story, The Giving Tree, a young boy receives gifts from a tree-friend. First the tree gives him branches to climb; later in life it gives him fruit. Eventually the tree offers its wood for building, until only a stump is left. The story closes with the old man, sitting sadly on the stump that once was his friend.

Stumps generally are images of destruction. They are the sad remains of lives that once flourished but do so no longer. In Isaiah’s prophecy of rebellious Israel’s destruction, tree stumps form part of the landscape of ruin, along with empty cities and ravaged fields--the work of invading armies (Isa 6:11).

Surprisingly, the stump here becomes an image of hope, since it will develop into the “holy seed” (Isa 6:13). This is one of three images of trees symbolizing Christ that we will examine. The remnant of the faithful, “the tenth,” though “laid waste,” will remain with their roots in the land. God judges, but does not utterly destroy His people.

Isaiah 11 shows the transformation of a ruined land into a land of peace through these very roots. Israel will be restored by “a shoot.” This shoot, the “holy seed,” is from David’s line; from Jesse’s roots “a Branch will bear fruit” (Is 11:1), a branch which Isaiah 4:2 describes as “beautiful and glorious.” Instead of a dead stump, new life will spring forth.

But will new life spring from the rebellious, cut-down Israel? What will mark this shoot as different? The fruitful, peaceful reign of the Branch, beautifully depicted in Isaiah 11, stems from two characteristics: “the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him,” and “he will delight in the fear of the Lord” (Isa 11:2). The Messianic Branch will do what Israel did not: delight fully in the Lord and fear Him.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just. - Jeremiah 23:5

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

During dark, difficult moments for a nation, it’s important to have a leader who can see the hope on the horizon and communicate that to a weary people. Prime Minister Winston Churchill played that role for Great Britain during World War II, reminding the exhausted, attacked, and grieving that although the price was heavy, they could defeat the Nazis and repel an invasion. The strength of his hope gave millions of people the encouragement to fight on against Nazi aggression.

Dark clouds of invasion, persecution, and exile swirled around the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. Even though their people often rejected their message, it never became so dark that the prophets couldn’t see the light, as God gave them visions of future glory and redemption.

In Jeremiah 23 God warned those who persecuted the Jews, as well as those who were false prophets (Jer:23:1, 2), warnings we should heed even today. Jeremiah also prophesied of a King that would come in David’s line to “reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land” (Jer 23:5). Jesus was a descendant of David; both His mother Mary and His legal father Joseph were descendants in the line of David.

Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is called the Righteous Branch (Isa 4:5). Jesus deserves this interesting title not only because He is righteous, but also because He makes His people righteous by taking their sins upon Himself and placing them on the Cross. Bible commentator Matthew Henry said it this way, “His obedience unto death is the justifying righteousness of believers, and their title to heavenly happiness.”

TODAY ALONG THE WAY - We have discussed many names for Jesus--here we see Him called “the righteous Branch.”

What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? - Isaiah 5:4

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

In his epic fantasy, The Silmarillion, J. R. R. Tolkien tells the tragic tale of the Numenoreans, a race of men highly favored by the gods, who gave them a special island, blessed with good weather and rich produce, and taught them wisdom and craft.

The Numenoreans grew in power and splendor, but eventually they became proud. They made war on the men they once helped and ultimately challenged the gods. Their haughty acts led to the destruction of their land and people. Only a scattered remnant survived.

In Isaiah 5 and Ezekiel 15, we find a similar account of God’s experience with Israel. Israel is likened to a vineyard; the Lord is the gardener and caretaker. Look at the care God lavished on His vineyard, “His delight.” He chose a fertile hillside, rich in good soil; He cleared away stones and planted the best vines. Anticipating a good crop, He built a winepress to catch the grape juice and a watchtower to guard the harvest. But what was the harvest He gained? “Only bad fruit” (Isa. 5:2).

What fruit was the Lord expecting from Israel? The NIV Study Bible suggests that a wordplay in Hebrew answers this question: “He looked for justice [mishpat],but saw bloodshed [mispah];for righteousness [sedaqah],but heard cries of distress [se’aqah]”(Isa 5:7). In other words, Israel had been equipped to produce justice and righteousness: it had been chosen by God, delivered from oppression by His hand, given the law, and blessed with the tabernacle of God’s presence. Instead, Israel produced fruit that defied its careful cultivation.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Scripture tells us, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded” (Luke 12:48).List some of the recent ways in which the Lord has cared for you and “cultivated” you. Has He planted you in a fertile place? Sent good rain your way? Provided protection and safety? Pruned your branches?

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory. - Isaiah 6:3

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

The Lord’s Prayer begins, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matt. 6:9-note). Another version of the Bible translates this, “Our Father in heaven, let your name be kept holy.”

Martin Luther commented on this verse: “God’s name is holy in and of itself. It is not made holy by us. God is the one who makes all things holy and makes us holy as well. So 'let your name be kept holy’ means that God’s name should be made holy in us. When this happens, God becomes everything, and we become nothing.”

The time of today’s reading is about 740 B.C. in the days of the divided kingdom. In his vision, Isaiah came face to face with the glorious holiness of God. What did he see? He saw God, seated on a throne, high and exalted--that is, sovereign and supreme. The train of His robe filled the Temple, an image of immensity, majesty, and completeness (cf. Rev. 1:13-note). He also saw seraphim, six-winged angels who covered their faces and feet in God’s presence and proclaimed His holiness (cf. Rev. 4:8-note). The smoke and shaking remind us of God’s presence on Mount Sinai. The bottom line: “The whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa. 6:3).

How did Isaiah respond to this vision? He was immediately and absolutely conscious of his sinfulness. He cried out that he was “ruined” or “undone” (KJV). Surely no sinner could see the holy God and live.

How did God show mercy to Isaiah? Isaiah was not consumed (cf. Lam. 3:22, 23). What’s more, the Lord sent an angel to him with a live, cleansing coal from the altar before His throne. The coal touched his mouth, corresponding to Isaiah’s sense of “unclean lips” and his imminent prophetic calling. He had been eternally transformed!

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL
According to a report on the history of the automobile, the boom in the fast food industry may be explained largely by the car's entrance into American daily life. The first "carhops" appeared in the 1930s, allowing people to eat without leaving their cars. Then in the 1970s some restaurants tested the idea of "drive-through" service. The new service was a big hit with people who were too busy to park and eat, let alone sit at a table. Drive-through service, cell phones, beepers and other time-saving devices say a lot about a culture that always seems to be in a hurry.

Unfortunately, as Dr. Tony Evans points out, this "hurry up and get it" mentality has invaded the church. The result is that many Christians want their worship the way they want their hamburgers. They want to drive up to church, grab an hour of worship, and drive off--what Dr. Evans calls "drive-through worship." Nothing could be more opposed to this mentality than the awe-inspiring heavenly scene before us today. The vision Isaiah saw would bring the busiest "drive-through worshiper" screeching to a halt. In Isaiah 6, the curtain is pulled back on the never-ending worship of God that fills heaven.

There is a lot happening in this chapter of Scripture. One purpose of Isaiah's vision was to commission him for service (Isa 6:8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13). Another purpose was to reveal God's holiness and worthiness to be worshiped. Today, we want to step back and take in the incredible scene the prophet describes.

We learn much about heaven in these few verses. For instance, God's throne is in the heavenly temple, which, as we will learn later this month, served as the pattern for the earthly temple. We also catch a glimpse of the ceaseless worship that the angels of heaven render to God (Isa 6:3, cf. Rev. 4:8-note), and we can almost feel the ""doorposts and thresholds"" of the temple shaking.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY -Is your worship being offered to God on His terms and timetable, or has it become a "drive-through experience"?

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. - Psalm 51:17

“Apart from Me–you are nothing.” (Jn 15:5). In light of this truth the great saint of yesteryear Andrew Murray prayed...

Lord, I gladly accept the arrangement: I am nothing–You are all. My nothingness is my highest blessing, because You are the Vine, which gives and works all, so be it, Lord!– Andrew Murray, The True Vine

Humility and brokenness aren’t very popular in our culture. Although some action heroes show sensitivity, the message of our society is that success demands toughness. But “having your act together” runs contrary to Scripture. Over and over, we see people driven to the Lord in their helpless need.

For the past few days, we’ve considered aspects of God’s nature that need to be understood to foster prayer. For the next few days, we’ll consider attitudes of our hearts that open us to prayer. Helplessness is one such attitude.

Consider the following insights from Ole Hallesby in his excellent book, Prayer:

“Listen, my friend! Your helplessness is your best prayer. It calls from your heart to the heart of God with greater effect than all your uttered pleas. He hears it from the very moment that you are seized with helplessness, and He becomes actively engaged at once in hearing and answering the prayer of your helplessness (cp He 2:18-note).”

TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Self-sufficiency can be a serious barrier to prayer. Many people take the adage “the Lord helps those who help themselves” to mean that they can never come to the Lord until they have exhausted their own resources. But passivity and helplessness are not the same. Isaiah’s attitude was brokenness in the blinding light of God’s holiness (Isa 6:5). Yet Isaiah’s eager response, “Here I am!” (Isa 6:8) reveals how he was actively ready to respond to God. Or consider the woman in today’s reading from Mark. Despite her best efforts to find help, her terrible condition worsened and she desperately sought Jesus (Mk 5:26, 27). Both this woman and Isaiah show the close link between humility, coming helplessly before the Lord, and obedience.

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory. - Isaiah 6:3

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

In his book Our God Is Awesome, Bible teacher Tony Evans says, “Holiness is the centerpiece of God’s attributes. Of all the things that God is, at the center of His being, He is holy. . . . God’s holiness unlocks the door to understanding and making sense out of everything else about Him.”

This is an important truth for us to understand in relation to heaven and the kind of people who will be there. Dr. Evans goes on to say, “Only one thing happens [in heaven]: people get to know God. You will spend eternity in heaven getting to know God.”

Since God is perfectly holy and heaven is His dwelling place, it follows that heaven must be a holy place where no sin can exist. That’s exactly what the Bible teaches. The prophet Habakkuk says of God, “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong” (Hab. 1:13).

Isaiah was given a vision of heaven and of the God of heaven that few others have ever experienced. The prophet’s attention was immediately drawn to the throne where God rules in awe-inspiring majesty and holiness. He saw the angels surrounding the throne who eternally call out the reality of God’s holiness. In fact, over 600 years after Isaiah lived, John heard the same testimony in heaven: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty” (Rev. 4:8-note).

In this heavenly environment of pure holiness, holy people are the only ones who will be at home. Thankfully, through salvation, Jesus Christ clothes us with His holiness so we can stand forgiven and clean in God’s presence. He places His Spirit within us so that Christ is formed in us (Gal. 4:19).

We still have to live in a sin-scarred world, of course, and that can wear us down at times. It’s great to realize that in heaven we will finally be free from the presence and power of sin, both our own sin and the evil that surrounds us. Let’s also remember that God made us holy in Jesus Christ not just to prepare us for heaven in the sweet by-and-by, but so we can live above the pull of sin in the mixed-up here-and-now.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory. - Isaiah 6:3

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

A. W. Tozer once said the most important thing anyone could know about him was what he believed about God. That's another way of saying that theology matters. What Tozer said about the importance of his view of God can be said about each one of us. What we believe about God is so crucial because everything else in our lives is built on that foundation. If the foundation is shaky, things will start to crumble.

As with most of our studies so far this month, we can't summarize everything the Bible teaches about God in a few lines. Isaiah 6 is a good representative because it captures the majesty of God's Person, His perfect holiness and overwhelming presence. Isaiah knew he was standing before an awe-inspiring God when he had his vision in the temple.

Missionaries and others who live among various cultures observe that people tend to create and then worship gods whom reflect their own peculiar tendencies. A tribe or village prone to violence invariably creates gods whom they believe delight in violence and blood.

This was true in the nations around Israel, as well. That's one reason God commanded the Israelites to eradicate the Canaanites.

How different the true God is from one of these created beings. He is so unlike us, so exalted over His creation, that we can't control Him or make Him simply a reflection of ourselves.

Isaiah was struck with awe, and even terror, when he saw a vision of God on His throne. The presence of the seraphim and their thunderous voices are a picture of indescribable majesty. The repetition of the word 'holy' speaks of God's perfect holiness His complete purity and separation from anything evil.

Isaiah did the same thing we would have done. He cried out in distress, suddenly very aware of his sinfulness. But it was at this point that the character of this terrifying God shined through. Instead of erasing the prophet with a blast of holiness, God sent an angel to cleanse and forgive Isaiah.

We don't have to ask Isaiah what he believed about God. The question was what Isaiah's encounter with God did to him. We face the same question because, amazingly, this holy God has said, 'Be holy, because I am holy' (1Pe 1:16-note).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Isaiah 6 is not the kind of text we can just read and put down. It seems to demand some reflection. But too many of our schedules allow too little time for reflection and meditation on God and His Word. God Himself tells us, 'Be still, and know that I am God' (Ps. 46:10). Make sure this day includes some time alone with the Lord to thank Him for His holiness, and consider what it means to be holy the way He is holy.

See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for. - Isaiah 6:7

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

Have you ever accidentally burned yourself? You might have a vivid childhood memory of reaching out to touch that hot stove Mom warned you against. Perhaps you accidentally stepped on a live coal from your campfire during your last vacation. Maybe at your last backyard barbecue, the wind blew a bit of hot ash from your charcoal grill and singed your skin. Whatever the case, being burned wasn’t a pleasant experience. Given a choice, you certainly wouldn’t repeat it. So why in today’s reading does God’s angel touch a burning coal to Isaiah’s lips?

It’s a familiar passage, often associated with missions conferences or sermons on God’s holiness, and rightly so. But the topic of forgiveness is also front and center here and deserves our consideration.

Over the past few days, we may have given you the idea that forgiveness is only pleasure. Certainly Scripture associates God’s forgiving love with delight, but let’s back up a bit and remember the big picture. Forgiveness follows repentance, and confessing and rooting out sin can be a painful experience. It certainly was for Isaiah.

Confronted with a vision of God’s holiness, the future prophet felt crushed with the knowledge of his own sinfulness. He stood condemned and ruined. He saw that he was a sinful man in a sinful community. His focus on “unclean lips” may foreshadow his calling, but more likely signals that he understood how far short his worship fell of God’s worthiness.

God knew Isaiah’s need. He sent an angel with a live coal, an image associated with Old Testament sacrifices. For example, the high priest took live coals into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16:12). This coal came from the altar before God’s throne--the real altar of which the earthly ones were only copies or shadows.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

Visitors to the Mount St. Helens volcano in Washington can now peer directly into the huge crater left by the volcano's deadly eruption on May 18, 1980. A new visitors' center brings the mountain up close, satisfying the curiosity of many who want a firsthand look inside the famous mountain. The volcano has been mostly in-active since 1986, and scientists see little danger of another eruption any time soon.

No doubt visitors to Mount St. Helens will gasp as they look into a crater almost two miles wide. They are likely to stare, take pictures, buy postcards, and go home with another vacation memory. But what would happen if a human being were to look on the eternal God?

The Bible tells us that no one can see God and live, so awesome is His presence. But the prophet Isaiah came as close to seeing God as anybody in the biblical record. In a vision, Isaiah saw God's holiness and glory, and he was utterly overwhelmed.

This well-known passage teaches us a lot about the God we worship and the ministry of worship itself. Evidently Isaiah was in the temple in Jerusalem when he had this awe-inspiring vision of God's throne (Isa 6:1). The description of God leaves no doubt that Isaiah was dealing with the Lord of heaven and earth.

These verses give us a vivid word picture of God's majesty and glory. He is the eternally holy God, worthy of the adoration of angels who minister to Him in unending worship (v. 3, see also Rev. 4:8).

The seraphim Isaiah saw are magnificent beings. Through-out the Bible, whenever an supernatural being appeared to someone, that person was overcome with fear and amazement. But in God's presence, even the seraphs covered themselves in humility (Isa 6:2).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Peter also felt overwhelmed and sinful in God's presence after Jesus performed a miracle one day in Galilee (Luke 5:8).

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

Charles Swindoll once said that if Dan Rather had given a news broadcast in 1809, it would have focused on Napoleon’s sweep across Europe with no mention of the many remarkable babies born that year, all of whom would become quite famous. For example, the outstanding British political leader William Gladstone, the American writer Edgar Allan Poe, and President Abraham Lincoln were all born in 1809.

They will call him Immanuel--which means, ""God with us."" - Matthew 1:23

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

Let's do another one-question Bible quiz today, like the one we did on Tuesday (see the November 23 study). Which name or title of Jesus Christ was never again used in the Bible after its first mention? Once again, the answer is in today's verse.

In explaining the significance of Jesus' birth, Matthew said the people would call Jesus ""Immanuel,"" which the writer interprets for us. Matthew drew this name from Isaiah's prophecy, but it appears only once in the New Testament. If Jesus was ever called Immanuel, it is not recorded in Scripture.

But that doesn't lessen the power of this name. Matthew's purpose was not to give us an alternative name by which to call Jesus. The purpose of his quotation from Isaiah was to demonstrate that Jesus' virgin birth was the fulfillment of a prophecy made centuries before.

You may know that Matthew's use of Isaiah 7:14 has generated much controversy. The problem centers on how we should understand what Isaiah was saying. His prophecy had a meaning for his own day, which was clearly not a virgin birth, and a greater meaning that Matthew explained.

It can be argued that the Hebrew word Isaiah used does not have to mean ""virgin."" But the woman the prophet was speaking about in his day could have been his future wife, with whom Isaiah later had a son (Isa. 8:1-4). In that case, she may have been a virgin at the time Isaiah 7:14 was written.

Isa 7:15, 16, 17 say this child was a ""sign"" to King Ahaz of Judah in that by the time the boy was old enough to know right and wrong, the kings of Israel and Syria, who were threatening Judah, would be driven away.

Whatever the specifics of Isaiah's prophecy, Matthew leaves no doubt about the virgin birth of Jesus. Quoting from the Greek translation of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint, Matthew used a word that can mean only virgin.

Jesus is ""God with us."" No one else can claim that title, which makes Him unique. As you prepare your heart and home to celebrate His birth, praise God for sending His Son to live among us--and die for us.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY -When we did the little quiz on Tuesday (the November 23 study), we mentioned a book that contains more than 300 names for Jesus.

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

The writings of C. S. Lewis form the basis for a popular statement regarding the choices people have about the claims of Jesus Christ. The statement says that Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord of all in His claim to be the Son of God.

People are also faced with several choices concerning the birth of Jesus. His divine origin is validated by the Bible's teaching that He was born of a virgin. And people's eternal destiny may hinge on what they believe about this doctrine.

The prophecy of the Messiah's virgin birth is embedded in a passage that has immediate and far-reaching implications. The setting is the threat against the southern kingdom of Judah by an alliance between the kings of Aram (Syria) and Israel, the northern kingdom. God sent Isaiah to King Ahaz of Judah to assure him that the attack would never take place, because within several years God would bring down the kings of Aram and Israel.

Ahaz's refusal to ask for a confirming sign of this prophecy sounds very pious, but it was actually a way of rejecting God's message and His messenger Isaiah. This is why the prophet reacted the way he did.

Then came the message that God would sovereignly provide a sign. The virgin in the prophecy may have been the woman Isaiah called 'the prophetess' (Isa. 8:3), who could still have been a virgin when the prophecy was given.

This wife of Isaiah had a son, and by the time the boy was two or three, old enough to know right from wrong, the kings of Aram and Israel were no longer a threat to Judah. The boy's name, Immanuel, was a reminder of God's presence with Judah.

But the Holy Spirit clearly had something more in mind for this remarkable prophecy. Matthew said its ultimate fulfillment was in the birth of Jesus (Mt 1:22, 23) and the word Matthew used means a woman who is sexually pure.

That's why the Gospels are so careful to establish that Mary conceived Jesus before she had any relations with Joseph. Even in his genealogy, Matthew was careful to show that although Joseph was the husband of Mary, he was not the biological father of Jesus. The term 'of whom' (Matt. 1:16) is a feminine pronoun, pinpointing Mary alone as the parent of the Messiah.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

The claims of Jesus rise and fall together. If He was not virgin born, then His death would have no power to do anything for us.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor. - Isaiah 9:6

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

Throughout history, kings have relied on wise men; prime ministers have sought capable advisers; and presidents have trusted experienced cabinet members.

Today’s passage points the way to an even better adviser. In the seventh century B.C., Isaiah advised Judah’s king, Ahaz. During this treacherous time in the divided kingdom, Israel had formed an alliance with Syria against Assyria and sought Judah’s allegiance. God used Isaiah to speak out against the alliance and to persuade Judah to put its trust in God alone. During this unstable time, God gave Isaiah astounding prophecies about the coming Messiah.

In the midst of political turmoil, God promised that one day the government of the nation and even beyond (Isa. 9:2, 3) would rest upon the stable, unwavering shoulders of an amazing Child yet to be born. This Promised One would rule with wise counsel, divine strength, the endless care of a father, and peace (Isa. 9:6, 7). For a terrified, war-weary people, there could be no better news!

Isaiah 11 provides additional descriptions of Messianic rule. Upon Him the spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and power (Isa 11:2) would rest. We read that “with justice, he will give decisions for the poor of the earth” (Isa 11:4).

In the incarnation of Jesus, we see the beginning of these prophecies’ fulfillment. The gospels record people’s amazement at the wisdom of Jesus’ teaching (Luke 4:32). Everything about Him revealed the marvelous wisdom of God--the Wonderful Counselor!

Jesus understood that Isaiah’s prophecies referred to Him. In Luke 4, in the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah, directly applying the prophecy to Himself (Luke 4:13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21).

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, another Counselor came to be with His disciples forever--the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 17; 16:7). The Wonderful Counselor, incarnate in Jesus, now dwells within us who have put our faith in Him.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. - Isaiah 9:6

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

After it became obvious that the Allies' policy of appeasing Adolf Hitler had failed to stop the Nazi leader's plans for war and conquest, one British leader described the dark situation in memorable terms. ""The lamps are going out all over Europe, and we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.""

The situation looked dark in the northern region of Israel after the Assyrians invaded in 732 B.C. and put the people under their rule. The region even came to be called ""Galilee of the Gentiles"" because of its domination by the foreigners.

But Isaiah used this dark period of Israel's history to prophesy of a time when the darkness and gloom would be lifted. That happened hundreds of years later when Jesus began His ministry in this same area--an occasion which Matthew noted by quoting from Isaiah (Matt. 4:13, 14, 15, 16).

But Isaiah did not end his prophecy with Jesus' first coming. The prophet went on to describe the day when the Messiah would carry the government of the world on His shoulders. He would be born as a child, a clear reference to Christ's birth in Bethlehem. But He would be given as a son, a gift from God because Jesus existed in eternity as God before He came to earth.

The names in Isa 9:6, like all the names we have studied this month, are impossible for anyone but God to claim. Isaiah said the Messiah would be a ""Wonderful Counselor,"" having exceptional wisdom. He would also be the ""Mighty God,"" far more than a mere human being. As ""Everlasting Father"" Jesus is the eternal God, and He is uniquely the ""Prince of Peace,"" the One who will bring in and maintain peace in His kingdom.

We could spend a month absorbing all the beauty and nuances of the names contained in this one verse. Imagine what it will be like to experience the fulfillment of all these roles when Jesus returns to reign!

It will happen, the prophet says, because ""the zeal of God Almighty will accomplish this"" (Isa 9:7). We have learned the power behind the name Almighty, which means when God is ready to send His Ruler and Savior back to earth, nothing will stop Him.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. - Isaiah 9:6

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

Most of us are familiar with Handel’s use of Isaiah 9 in his famous work, the Messiah. One of the most thrilling moments is when the choir sings, “And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

The list of names in Isaiah 9:6 is quite impressive, and can fully describe only Jesus. This prophecy of His birth can give us great encouragement today.

Isaiah has been called the “Messianic Prophet.” God gave him the challenge of speaking for Him to the nation of Judah. Ahaz, one of the kings to whom Isaiah spoke, was so evil that he even sacrificed his own son to idols (see 2Kings 16:1, 2, 3).

Isaiah called his people to repent and warned what would happen if they didn’t. He also prophesied of the coming of a Child, a Child who would bring peace. In case there is any doubt who this Child is, Matthew’s gospel tells us clearly that Jesus is the one who brings light in the darkness (Matt. 4:15, 16, cf. Isa 7:14; Matt. 1:22, 23).

It’s worth reflecting on what Isaiah 9 tells us about Jesus. Have you ever thought of Jesus as your Wonderful Counselor? In these days of self-help books and TV therapists, we have access to the wisdom of God through Jesus.

When Jesus was born, there weren’t many people who saw Him as the Mighty God–all they saw was a helpless baby. Sadly, there are still many people today who think Jesus was just a good man. Isaiah, though, is clear: He is the Mighty God.

As we saw yesterday, Jesus was present and active in Creation with the Father. The title of Everlasting Father addresses both Jesus’ eternal deity as well as His compassionate care and protection of His people, like a loving father.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

And he will be called . . . Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

When President Wilson signed the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, the United States had high hopes for lasting peace. Soon, however, financial tragedy and a new shadow rising over Europe threatened this fragile peace. Fifty-nine years ago today, a surprise, pre-dawn attack on Pearl Harbor shattered any hope for peace. The United States once again faced the horrors of war.

Heads of state often think of peace as the avoidance of conflict, but sin makes conflict impossible to avoid for long. The biblical idea of peace includes completeness and well-being. Such peace only comes from God. In fact, today we will see that Jesus is the embodiment of this peace (Isa. 9:6).

When Jesus was born, many recognized that God’s promised peace had finally come. Following John’s birth, Zechariah praised God for sending the Lord “to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:79). Following Jesus’ birth, the angels announced: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14). Not surprisingly, one of the final things Jesus said to His disciples was “Peace be with you!” (John 20:26).

When the Prince of Peace returns in glory, He will usher in a reign of everlasting peace (Isa. 9:7). But prior to that, there are three areas in which we now have peace, even in the midst of a stressful, conflict-filled world.

First, we have peace with God (Ro 5:1-note), because we have been made right in God’s sight through faith in Jesus’ blood shed on the cross.

Second, we have peace in our circumstances. Jesus said, “My peace I give you” (John 14:27). Paul also wanted believers to experience “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” (Phil. 4:7-note). Philippians exhorts us to be anxious about nothing, but to come to God with prayer and thanksgiving (Php 4:6-note). Only God’s peace can “guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus” (Php 4:7-note).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. - Isaiah 9:2

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

On July 13, 1977, a heat wave caused a blackout in New York City. In the twenty-five hours before power was finally restored, looting and vandalism inflicted $150 million in damages on the city. What a terrifying picture of the “people walking in darkness”!

As we learned yesterday, Isaiah was writing during a tumultuous, dark time. What more joyous news could there be to people “living in the land of the shadow of death” than that a “great light” had dawned (Isa. 9:2)!

By God’s mercy, this great light was even to extend beyond Judah. Isaiah later wrote that the Lord’s chosen servant will be “a light for the Gentiles” (Isa. 42:6) to bring “salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isa. 49:6).

God never forgets His promises, even when several centuries pass. After Jesus’ birth, His devout parents dedicated Him in the temple as was required (Luke 2:22, 23). There, Simeon, prepared by the Holy Spirit (Lk 2:26), immediately recognized Jesus as the Great Light (Lk 2:32).

In John’s gospel, where darkness always portrays the sinful world in need of salvation, Jesus is powerfully revealed as the Light of the World. Chapter 1 proclaims that Jesus is the light of men (v. 4), the “true light that gives light to every man” (Jn 1:9). Jesus Himself stated this truth in the plainest possible terms: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12).

As followers of Jesus, not only do we have the light of life, but we are now the light of the world to those walking in darkness around us (Mt. 5:14-note). And our light shines as a vibrant testimony to our Father in heaven (Mt 5:16-note).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah. - Isaiah 11:12

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

Since the government of the former Soviet Union lifted its severe restrictions on Jewish emigration in the 1980s, hundreds of thousands of Jews have poured into Israel from Russia and other Soviet republics. Officials say that in 1999 alone, more than 60ꯠ (typo - ? number) Jews came to Israel from other nations. This figure includes the last members of the Jewish remnant in the nation of Ethiopia, who were airlifted to Israel last year in a dramatic rescue effort. This return is being called a “second exodus” by many of those involved in helping Jews around the world immigrate to Israel.

Whether this current wave of Jewish emigration signals a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy remains to be seen. But it is unprecedented in history since the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and the dispersion of God’s chosen people.

Isaiah clearly prophesied that the Jewish people would return to the land of Israel in preparation for Messiah’s coming to establish His kingdom. And the prophet did compare this great future return to Israel’s Exodus from Egypt under Moses (Is 9:16).

Scripture says that God will eventually regather Israel in fulfillment of His covenant promises. The Abrahamic covenant guaranteed that the land would belong to Israel (Ge 15:18, 19, 20, 21; 17:7, 8), and God’s covenant with David promised that a king from his line would forever rule on Israel’s throne (2Sa 7:16).

Jesus fulfilled many of God’s promises during His incarnation-–He will fulfill all of them at His second coming. God will fulfill all His promises to the Church and to Israel (Romans 9-11-notes), and we can be confident that what He does will completely surpass any human expectation.

Israel will play a key role in the Messiah’s kingdom. The Scripture indicates that many Jewish people will believe in Christ when He reveals Himself as Messiah (Ro 11:25-note, Ro 11; 26-note, Ro 11:27-note), and will come under the blessings of the new covenant (Jer 31:31, 32, 33, 34). The Gentile nations will also share in the joys of Messiah’s kingdom.

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Believers in Jesus Christ don’t have to wait to enjoy the benefits of His peace.

To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. - Isaiah 9:6

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

Today’s reading may take you back to the Christmas season. Isaiah 9:6 is one of the great Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah’s first coming as the child in Bethlehem.

But this same verse ends with an entirely different picture. Here the Messiah is not viewed as a baby but as a King. In other words, the last phrase of Isaiah 9:6 is a prophecy of Messiah in His kingdom.

But these two events, Jesus’ birth and His return, are already separated by more than 2000 years. And no one knows when Christ will come back to claim His kingdom. So how could Isaiah speak of Messiah’s two advents in one sentence?

One explanation draws a parallel between prophecy and two mountain peaks in the distance. Both peaks are clearly visible to you, but they are lined up in such a way that they appear to be close together rather than far apart. There is actually a long valley separating the two peaks, but you can’t see the valley from your vantage point.

That’s the way many of the Old Testament prophets saw the future in terms of God’s plan. Isaiah saw the two great peaks of Messiah’s two advents, but God chose not to reveal to him the huge gap of time that separates them. We’re part of that gap, because the time period we are talking about is often known as the church age.

Paul said the fact that Jews and Gentiles would be united in one new body was a mystery (Eph. 3:3, 4, 5, 6-note), a truth not previously revealed before it was given to Paul.

Neither Isaiah nor any other Old Testament prophet knew all the details of the prophetic plan they were recording. This explains why Isaiah 9 contains elements of Christ’s first and second comings together in one narrative.

In addition to Jesus’ birth, Isaiah prophesied the impact of His ministry in bringing light to people in darkness. The prophet also pinpointed Galilee as the place where Messiah’s ministry would be concentrated (Isa 9:2, cf. Mt. 4:15, 16).

But the joy, liberation, and peace prophesied by Isaiah remind us of Christ’s return in glory. Isaiah saw the peaks, the high points. We are privileged to have a more complete revelation in God’s Word.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Think about the trustworthiness of God’s revelation to us. Prophets like Isaiah faithfully recorded the message they were given by the Holy Spirit. They relayed God’s message accurately as it was given to them, even when they didn’t understand it or wondered how their prophecies would be fulfilled. Now we have the Bible, God’s Word we can trust completely. Take time to thank God for His wonderful Word.

The earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. - Isaiah 11:9

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

George Frideric Handel wrote his famous oratorio Messiah under adverse conditions. His eyesight was failing, and he was under the threat of going to debtor’s prison because of unpaid bills. But despite these pressures, Handel wrote his work in three weeks, compelled by an overwhelming sense of joy. He said he felt as if his heart would burst with joy over the music he was hearing in his mind.

The inspiration Handel felt as he wrote the Messiah helps to explain its impact on listeners and performers. It’s hard to sing the “Hallelujah Chorus” without imagining what it will be like when Jesus Christ returns to reign “for ever and ever.”

The prophet Isaiah peels back the corner of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom give us a glimpse into the future. Many of the images in today’s reading are embraced even by those people who believe that world peace can be achieved by negotiations.

But the Bible never offers peace without the Prince of Peace. A world at peace will not just magically appear someday. Earth’s golden age will only arrive when this world comes under the direct reign of the Messiah, the “Branch” from the line of Jesse (David’s father).

The requirements for this King (Isa 11:2, 3, 4, 5) cannot be met by any ordinary ruler, either in history or yet to come. Only Jesus Christ can claim the perfect fullness of the Holy Spirit as described by the prophet. Jesus alone is capable of judging righteously in every case, because He is perfect in righteousness. And no other ruler has the power to bring about worldwide judgment against evil.

Paul tells us that all of creation is groaning under the curse of sin, waiting eagerly for the day when God’s judgment will be lifted (Ro 8:19, 20, 21, 22-notes). Isaiah reveals what will happen when creation is transferred from the dominion of Satan to its rightful owner and ruler.

The scenes portrayed here are almost beyond the imagination. In the second half of the chapter Isaiah turns his attention from the natural world to the nations. That will be our study tomorrow.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Christ rules today as Lord and King in the lives of His people. Since we have the King, we also enjoy His blessings. One example is the Holy Spirit’s ministry, as outlined in Isaiah 11:2. The Spirit who indwells us brings all the wisdom, counsel, power, and knowledge of God into our lives. Our response is to “be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:1-note). Come to the Lord with an open heart today and ask for the increase of the Holy Spirit’s revelation and power in your life.

Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. - Isaiah 11:5

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

Months of promises, posturing, and political maneuvering come to an end today as another election day goes into the history books for our country.

The integrity of leaders has been an almost constant debate in America this year.

It reminds us once again how important integrity is in leadership, and the damage that is done when leaders are faithless in their responsibilities.

But no amount of scandal and failure can obscure the fact that we are still called upon to elect faithful and responsible leaders. God's requirement for ""those who have been given a trust"" is that they prove faithful to that trust (1Cor. 4:2). We can praise God that there are many faithful people serving at all levels of government and public service.

Nevertheless, this Election Day is a good opportunity to step back to get an eternal perspective. God's promise to bring righteousness to the earth will never be fully realized by any human ruler. And although no one executes the responsibilities of leadership perfectly, one day this earth will be ruled by a leader who can perfectly fulfill God's requirements--because He is God Himself.

Isaiah 11 is a picture of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will take His rightful place as Ruler of the earth in His millennial kingdom. This description is both awe-inspiring and encouraging. Finally, all the earth will be ruled in absolute righteousness.

God is a faithful judge who never perverts justice or subverts righteousness. So the Messiah's kingdom reign will be characterized by perfection in these areas. Sin will be judged quickly and decisively by one who is not hampered in His judgment by the limitations that plague all systems of government.

When Jesus takes His throne, God's faithfulness will be as visible as if Christ were wearing it around His waist (Isa 11:5). Looking ahead to that glorious day gives us another reason to thank the Lord for His faithfulness. It also keeps us from placing our ultimate hope in the outcome of any election.

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While we listen for the results of today's election, we can praise God that His ""election results"" have been in for all eternity. In light of all that has happened in government this year, you may be tempted to become despairing or cynical about the entire political process and the institutions of government. But God's requirement of faithfulness applies to us as well. Let's be faithful to pray for the leaders who are elected today, and for their colleagues who will serve alongside them at every level of government.

The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. - Isaiah 12:2

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

After winning many trophies and awards, tennis player Michael Chang lost the 1992 French Open and Wimbledon. he knew something was wrong, and discussed with his family the reason for the change in his playing: they hadn't been praying before each game like they had in the beginning.

""We then vowed to work as a team to praise God, to focus on Him, to worship Him, to thank Him, and to learn from Him,"" Chang says. ""We took that preparation and mentality into the U.S. Open, and although I didn't win, we came away feeling that it was a success and that God's work was done.""

Isaiah, too, knew the importance of praising God. Today's passage teaches us that true prayer to the Father begins with praise and thanksgiving.

The context of today's reading is prophetic, taking place during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Isaiah is picturing the coming of the Messiah to redeem His people and establish His glorious reign. We know this future period as the millennial kingdom spoken of in Revelation 20:1, 2, 3-note, Re 20:4, 5, 6, 7-note. Notice the phrase ""in that day,"" repeated at the beginning of each stanza (Isa. 12:1, 4).

The first three verses are the praise and gratitude of ""the remnant of His people,"" Israel (see Isa. 11:16). Isa 12:4, 5, 6 are the praise of ""the nations,"" the Gentiles. In that day when Christ sits on His throne, the redeemed of both groups-those who make up His body, the church (Eph. 2:11, 12-note, Ep 2:13, 14-note, Ep 2:15, 16-note, Ep 2:17, 18-note)-will reign with Him.

But we don't have to wait until Christ returns to offer Him the praise He deserves. Praise and adoration of God is the ""sacrifice of praise"" we are called to give to Him (Heb. 13:15-note).

Isaiah 12 may be prophetic, but the attributes of God and the ""glorious things"" mentioned in these verses are true for us today. For example, we can ""trust and not be afraid"" (Isa 11:2) because God is our salvation. And we can ""draw water from His wells""-that is, enjoy the full benefits of His salvation.

Praise is a great way to keep your prayers from falling into the ""gimme"" mentality. God loves to give, but He also delights to hear our praise.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY -
"Sing to the Lord," Isaiah urges (Isa 11:5). if your devotions don't include some music along the way, you have a whole new realm of worship open to you. Singing hymn of praise or gratitude to the Lord during your prayer time is as natural as speaking to Him. Try it today with a hymn or a chorus that God brings to mind. Or sing as a family for a touch of variety, or in place of the prayer at your next meal together.

The formal transfer of Hong Kong from British to Chinese control this past July 1 marked the culmination of a long-anticipated process. The transfer was agreed upon between Britain and China in 1984, giving the island nation's people thirteen years to prepare for the change in government. For the Chinese government and Chinese communities around the world, July 1 lived up to its advance billing, the hand-over being accompanied by great pomp and celebration. Those who witnessed the ceremony will no doubt remember it for a long time.

There's another great ""transfer of power"" coming to this earth. It has been eagerly anticipated for thousands of years, and its arrival will fulfill all of its advance notices to the exact detail. It will be a time of celebration--and worship.

We are talking about the return of Christ to usher in His thousand-year kingdom from His throne in Jerusalem. God gave the prophet Isaiah a wonderful glimpse into that future day, and in today's reading we share Isaiah's joy.

This brief but important chapter is a two-stanza hymn of praise to God. In it, His Messianic King, Jesus Christ, has finally taken His throne. This gives us a foretaste of the worship we will experience when Jesus sets up His kingdom on earth.

The people speaking God's praise are the remnant of Israel, redeemed by God's mighty hand and enjoying the blessings of the Messiah's righteous rule in His millennial kingdom. In Isa 12:1, 2, 3, the remnant praises and worships God for the great salvation He has accomplished for His people.

Then in Isa 12:4, 5, 6, the remnant calls on all the people of the earth to join them in worship and exaltation of God. The arrival of God's long-promised kingdom will vindicate His great name before every nation. The only proper response to the ""glorious things"" God has done and will do in the Millennium: offer Him thanks, sing His praises, and shout aloud for joy (Isa 12:4, 5, 6).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Imagine one thousand years spent worshiping our wonderful Savior and King! It will take that long to even begin expressing our gratitude for our salvation. And the Millennium is just the beginning. When we are in heaven, our praise and worship will never cease (see tomorrow's study). Since that's the case, we had better be practicing worship as a way of life down here!

The once-famous flying feet have been reduced to a painful shuffle, struggling to obey a mind that has absorbed too many blows in too many boxing matches.

Muhammad Ali, “The Champ,” was once the most famous athlete in the world. Today the man who often boasted, “I am the greatest,” suffers from Parkinson’s disease. The fighter who bragged of what he would do to each opponent looked back at his life and said, “I had the world, and it wasn’t nuthin’.”

With that self-assessment, Muhammad Ali joined a long line of kings and queens and champions and captains of industry whose prideful boasts have been short-lived. We remember Ali’s arrogant speeches of the 1960s, but self-asserting pride was not born in the locker room of a boxing tournament. It originated in heaven, with Lucifer.

Today’s verses are the end of an oracle against Babylon that begins in Isaiah 13:1f. Although the rulers of Babylon were as prideful and arrogant as any on earth, the writer points to another prideful being. Beginning in Isa 14:12, he writes of the “morning star,” a term translated as “Lucifer” in the Latin version of the Bible.

This “morning star” is Satan, the once-beautiful angel who wanted to exalt himself above God. His five “I will” boasts outline his plot to claim the power and glory of God for himself. But God did not tolerate Satan’s arrogance: “Your heart became proud…So I threw you to the earth” (Ezek 28:17). Satan’s prideful rebellion changed the course of human history in the Garden of Eden.

There the former “morning star,” now eating the dust of the earth as a serpent, tempted Eve with the same sin. He tempted her with the same prideful desire for God’s power that had led to his own downfall (Ge 3:1, 2, 3, 4, 5). This interaction between Satan and Eve centered around pride. It planted in human hearts that fierce rebellion of spirit that says, “I will be my own god.”

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

If pride is that insidious and persistent, and it is, then we need to learn to deal with it on a daily basis.  James 4:13, 14, 15, 16, 17 is a great place to start. James’ concern is with “today or tomorrow” (Jas 4:13), so this is no one-shot deal. Since the primary manifestation of pride is the “I will” syndrome, we need to change wills! Jas 4:15 seems like a small shift in emphasis, but bowing to God’s sovereignty in our lives is a daily antidote to arrogance.

Even though Mexico possessed great riches when it possessed California, the Mexican government had to yield the territory. Mexico was a defeated foe. In much the same way, the angel Lucifer had to surrender his heavenly glory after leading a rebellion in heaven against the rule of God Himself.

Even though Satan's sin is well-documented in Scripture, it still boggles the mind to realize that rebellion began in heaven. But the record is there in the prophets, couched in terms that cannot apply merely to a human leader such as the kings of Babylon or Tyre.

Without explaining the mystery completely, these texts supply much in the way of indictment against the angel called ""Lucifer"" (Isa. 14:12, KJV) or the ""morning star."" The problem clearly began in Satan's heart. He said in his heart (Isa 14:13) that he would exalt himself above the throne of God. The five ""I will"" statements of Isaiah 14 outline his sinister plan. Ezekiel 28 reveals that pride entered Satan's heart because of his great beauty (Ezek. 28:17).

Satan's rebellion was doomed to fail, of course; and his judgment was sure. One of the most exalted angels in heaven was cast out of God's presence and thrown to the earth (Isa. 14:12; Ezek. 28:17).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Unfortunately, our battles against Satan do not always end in decisive spiritual victory. But that's due to our humanity, not to any lack in God's daily provision for our spiritual lives. Knowing the kind of enemy Satan is, God has given us all the armor we need to defeat the devil.

Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. - Isaiah 29:19

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

Robert Bogucki set out last summer to ride his bike across the Great Sandy Desert in western Australia. Two weeks later, his bike and camping gear were found, and a huge search was launched for the 33-year-old American. Australian police called off the search after twelve days. But Bogucki's parents helped fund another search team--and a news helicopter following the searchers later spotted the lost man. Bogucki had been in the desert for forty-three days, surviving by eating plants and drinking muddy water.

We don't know what might have happened if Robert Bogucki's parents had given up hope that their son was still alive. But they would not let Robert go, reaching out to rescue him--just as God reaches out to rescue those He loves.

God's special relationship to His chosen people is clearly demonstrated in His name, ""the Holy One of Israel,"" a God whose holy character demanded holiness from His people. But God identified with His chosen nation even when the people were living in sin and rebellion against Him.

This was the situation described in Isaiah 29. The southern kingdom of Judah was under siege by the great Assyrian king Sennacherib, whose armies had already swept the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity. God delivered Jerusalem from the Assyrians (see Isa. 37:36), but He also warned them that if they did not repent and worship Him in sincerity (Isa 29:11), He would bring judgment.

Placed in the middle of this warning, today's verses are a refreshing promise of blessing for Israel in Christ's kingdom. Notice that the Lord's work in restoring Israel will inspire in the people a desire to keep His name holy, and ""acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob"" (v. 23). As believers in Jesus Christ today, we share in the delights of His kingdom. The anticipation of ruling with Christ should produce in us the same desire to honor His holiness by the way we live in this world.

We know that it is God who makes us holy (see the November 2 study). And since we ""participate in the divine nature"" (2Pe 1:4-note), we have the capacity to honor Him through holy living.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

How do we know when our daily lives are reflecting the kind of holiness God's holy character demands? There's no quick and easy answer to that question, but it's worth some effort. Try this experiment. Write down three or four key areas of life, such as marriage, family, work, personal life, etc. Beside each category jot down several attitudes or actions that you feel would be characteristic of a holy life. Then take a ""mini-retreat"" with the Lord today. Read His Word, and pray to Him for His strength in pursuing holiness.

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal. - Isaiah 26:4

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

The office of prophet was instituted during the days of Samuel, the last of the judges around 700 b.c. Prophets were God’s special representatives, called to speak for God. They warned the people to turn from lives of sin or face God’s judgment and punishment. Although Isaiah is often considered to be the greatest prophet, his message went unheeded by most who heard it in his day.

Certainly the people of Isaiah’s day longed for rulers who were righteous and just--they had suffered under so many immoral and corrupt kings. We can understand this; in recent months our news headlines have been filled with stories of leaders-–business, political, and religious–who have betrayed trust and acted immorally. We can see the pain and devastation that bad leaders bring, and we, too, long for righteous and just leadership.

Because Jesus came, we can find a shelter in the storms of life (Isa 34:2). And as He reigns in our lives, we are able to provide a refuge for others, and we can see the righteousness that we were once unable to grasp (Isa 32:3).

Those of us who have believed in the saving work Christ accomplished on earth can see how Jesus transforms the blind into seeing, the rash into reasonable, the stammerers into fluent speakers. We may even have experienced such a dramatic transformation at our own conversion. But as we look around our world, we don’t see these characteristics everywhere as Isaiah seems to indicate we should.

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The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. - Isaiah 35:10

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

Just as the Jews yearned to worship in Jerusalem, so we, too, should joyfully anticipate worshiping God in the new Jerusalem. Listen to the apostle John:

“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. . . . 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’. . . . The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. . . . Nothing impure will ever enter it . . . but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11-note).

On our Christian journey, this is where we’re headed, and this is where we long to be. Today’s reading reflects the joy of the redeemed on that day. Israel’s return from exile foreshadowed this joy but did not completely fulfill it.

Nature, personified in Isaiah’s prophecy, will share in the rejoicing (cf. Ro 8:19-note, Ro 8:20, 21-note). Water will come to the desert, and the wilderness will blossom. Barren places will become fruitful, like the most beautiful and fertile places the author knew. These images reflect radical transformation--the old order of things will pass away.

Humanity will likewise be transfigured. The effects of sin will be undone. The blind will see, the deaf hear, the lame walk. Christ’s miracles showed that the kingdom has indeed come, and in God’s timing will grow from a tiny seed to a tree that fills the whole world (Ma. 11:2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

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Your God will come . . . he will come to save you. - Isaiah 35:4b

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

On Saturday, March 9, 2002 cousins Melissa Cook and Jill Semplinski-Nelson were visiting Chicago with their mothers to celebrate Melissa’s 30th birthday. But their trip turned tragic when high winds blew a piece of scaffolding off of the 43rd floor of the John Hancock Building while the party was waiting in traffic below. The heavy equipment flattened the front of their car. The mothers, sitting in the back seat, watched in horror as their daughters were killed. The falling debris killed one more motorist, injured eight bystanders, and left witnesses in shocked disbelief. The accident provides a horrific example for how random violence and destruction can seem in this world. Such events could easily lead us to despair if it weren’t for God’s promise of justice in the final kingdom.

Today’s Scripture reading gives us a vivid picture of what we have to look forward to as we walk in a right relationship with God. Isaiah 35 is the counterpart to the previous chapter’s description of God’s vengeance on the wicked. In chapter 34, Isaiah proclaims God’s displeasure not only with Edom (Isa 34:5), but with all of the nations (Isa 34:2). In a display of power that is absolute and complete, God vows to destroy the nations and, ultimately, all those who oppose Him (Isa. 63:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

In chapter 35, Isaiah goes on to describe the other side of this equation, the blessing of the righteous. While in chapter 34 God promises to destroy the wicked, in chapter 35 He promises to transform the world into a place where the effects of sin are reversed and creation functions in proper relation to Him once again.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

Fathers tell their children about [God's] faithfulness. - Isaiah 38:19

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

If they were asked, many people would say the reason for Daylight Saving Time is so they can squeeze in an extra hour on the lake or prolong the backyard summer barbecue and croquet game. But while outdoor recreation is one reason Congress passed a uniform daylight saving time act in 1966, the measure's original purpose was much more urgent. The practice was begun on March 31, 1918 as a war measure to conserve fuel and light.

Because human nature tends to be forgetful, we still carry on a lot of traditions that have long since lost their original significance. This can happen spiritually too, which is one reason the Bible constantly urges parents, fathers especially, to tell their children about the wonderful acts of God.

Consider the poem written by King Hezekiah of Judah after his illness and miraculous recovery at God's hands.

When you know the context (Isa 38:1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 9), you have no trouble understanding the intensity of Hezekiah's praise. He had just been healed and given fifteen more years of life. God had been abundantly faithful to the king. He had a story to tell!

Notice that the king praised God not just for healing, but for the illness and ""anguish"" (v. 15) that preceded Isaiah's announcement of healing. This lends a note of honesty and authenticity to Hezekiah's praise that makes his testimony more compelling.

All of us have a story to tell of God's faithfulness. With this comes the added responsibility of teaching the next generation that God will be faithful to them too if they will trust Him. The challenge is to communicate this in such a way that we help motivate these next generations to follow God with passion and commitment.

As we celebrate God's faithfulness, let's ensure that those around us know the full story of God's faithfulness to us, remembering to include His love in the hard times.

The modern term for this spiritual openness is transparency. But it's not enough just to be open and let everything spill out. Neither is it enough just to be able to be seen through. There must be some substance for other people to see. This Thanksgiving, help pass on the truth of God's faithfulness to the next generation by being open about all that He has done for you.


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The Thanksgiving season is tailor-made for our testimony of God's faithfulness. As you plan your Thanksgiving Day meal and activities, why not allow time for yourself and others to share a brief testimony of God's faithfulness this year? You may want to ask several people in advance to help you. These stories can have a powerful impact on young hearts, and on those around your table who may not know Christ.

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. - Isaiah 40:28

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

“The world is charged with the grandeur of God,” begins a sonnet by the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins.

The poem’s beginning affirms that the glory of God shines forth in nature. But there’s a problem. The divine authority it represents is not recognized or acknowledged by human beings.

Why not? Because human sinfulness has marred the original design: “All is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil; / And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell.”

The poem goes on, however, to assert the permanence of the goodness God placed in creation. Despite our sinful, “smearing” effect, this deeper reality remains, testifies to the Creator, and gives hope.

In the sonnet’s concluding couplet, Hopkins alludes to Genesis 1:2, picturing the Spirit hovering over creation--pointing both to its redemption (Ro 8:21-note) and to the new heaven and earth to come.

In this poem and in Isaiah 40, creation reveals God’s overall supremacy (cf. Neh. 9:6; Ps 89:11-note; Isa. 37:16, Isa 48:12, 13). This is the concluding idea for the second part of this month’s study.

Our passage begins with a rhetorical question (Isa 40:25). The answer is obvious--that God has no equals--and Isaiah goes on to give justification for it. Basically, the evidence is in front of our faces: “Lift your eyes.” God made the stars. Not only that, but since He calls them by name and knows that none are missing (cf. Luke 15:3, 4, 5, 6, 7), He must love and care for them (Isa 40:26).

This sounds like a great basis for trusting God. Surely the Creator of the cosmos can handle our lives. Yet because they were in exile, the Israelites complained that God didn’t care about their problems (Isa 40:27).

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Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God. - Isaiah 40:28

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At the time when most people his age have long ago ridden off into the sunset, Bruce Brown is still in the saddle as a volunteer mounted sheriff's deputy in Oklahoma City. At 85, Mr. Brown is believed to be the oldest mounted sheriff's deputy in the country. He spends many hours on his quarter horse, patrolling public events, helping investigators search for evidence, or visiting with children's groups.

People like Bruce Brown are newsworthy because they seem to defy the norm. Our physical limitations usually become more obvious and tend to take over as we get older. Teenagers may think they're immortal, but that illusion fades as the decades add up. Our days on earth are definitely limited.

Imperfect, powerless people like us need a God who does not wear out, run down, or give up. There's only one God who qualifies; the ""eternal"" or ""everlasting"" God of Israel. Only a God who is eternal is able to stand apart from and above every created thing, untouched by the passing of time and the winding down of His creation.

So while our limitations and weaknesses may frustrate us, our eternal God never suffers any loss at all. Here's another name of God in which we can take real comfort. In fact, comfort is the theme of Isaiah 40: ""Comfort, comfort my people, says your God"" (Isa 40:1).

The people of Israel in Isaiah's day needed comfort. The ten tribes of the northern kingdom were under threat from the Assyrian empire, and would be conquered and taken into captivity in 722 B.C.

This was God's judgment for Israel's sin, but those who remained faithful to Him needed to know God had not forgotten them. Even in the middle of judgment, He would give strength to the weary and restore those who had lost their strength.

It was obvious where Israel needed to put its trust. God's people had been carrying on an illicit love affair with idols for many years, but these manmade gods could not compare to the eternal God. They would rot, tarnish, and topple over (Isa 40:18, 19, 20). Israel's trust was misplaced. Where is your trust today?

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If you belong to the eternal God, His ""everlasting arms"" are underneath you today.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. - Isaiah 40:8

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As anyone who has parented toddlers has experienced, the process of raising little ones requires both firmness and gentleness. Children often want to do their own thing, like crawl into the fireplace, run into the street, or throw their toys. Parents find themselves firmly correcting (for the hundredth time!) the inappropriate action. But children also need hugs and encouragement as they develop and learn new skills.

God is the perfect model of the firm and gentle parent. It is the will of God that His people should be comforted even in the worst of times. In the previous chapters of Isaiah, the prophet warned the people of the consequences of their sin, and he foretold of the Babylonian captivity. But before God sent His people into captivity, He furnished them with promises of support and comfort during their times of trouble (Isa 40:1).

“A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the Lord’ ” is a prophesy of the coming of John the Baptist (v. 3). John the Baptist called people to repent of their sins, thereby preparing them for Christ. God used John the Baptist to initiate the public ministry of Jesus after His baptism.

Isaiah 40 also prophesies the coming of Christ, who was and is God, that He would come into the world in a physical form. “And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it” (Isa 40:5). At Christ’s first coming many didn’t accept Him, so for all people to see, Isaiah had to be referring to the Second Coming. This is reinforced a few verses later, “See the Sovereign LORD comes with power” (Isa 40:10).

The “good tidings” of Isa 40:9 is that God is here. This was also the message of John the Baptist (cf. John 1:29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34). And it is the message of the gospel. Christ was born--God was here on earth. He came to take away our sins.

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Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. - Isaiah 40:31

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According to a study by Dr. Daniel Mroczek of Fordham University, youth is not a guarantee that a person will be happy. Mroczek studied people from ages 25 to 74, and found that the older people had a greater sense of well-being than their younger counterparts. He wrote, 'There was a positive relationship between age and well-being; as age went up, well-being went up. As people get older, they are able to regulate their happiness. They have a sense of wisdom that few younger people have yet attained.'

Studies like this suggest that the so-called golden or retirement years don't have to signal the end of anyone's productive period. If a general cross-section of people in this age group can report a strong sense of well-being, imagine the level of peace, contentment, and satisfaction senior Christians ought to be able to report.

That's not always the case, though, and today's reading has something important to say about the issue. It's true that Isaiah 40 was not written specifically to older people. But it holds a message of hope for two of the problems older people often face.

The first is a sense of being forgotten, even abandoned in some cases. Isaiah told his readers, in effect, 'How can you say God has forgotten you? Have you forgotten that He's the eternal God, the Creator of everything? He's far too powerful and loving and strong to ever get tired.

Then the prophet addressed a second problem his readers faced, which many seniors also deal with a sense of weariness and weakness, whether physical or emotional or spiritual. God is not only beyond growing weak Himself, He delights in taking weak and tired people and giving them a new surge of strength.

But there's a condition attached to this promise. God reserves special strength for people who make Him the focus of their hope.

This is talking about more than just salvation. A person whose hope is in God is someone who has turned from every other possible source of security and has staked his or her life completely on God. That's what it takes to soar like an eagle.

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But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. - 1 Peter 2:9

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Gloria Matthews faced a mother’s worst nightmare. She had gone to visit her parents in another state when her husband called with some very bad news. Their youngest daughter had not returned home from an evening concert. Gloria and her husband Jim did everything they could, but their youngest child would never return.

Some six months after their daughter’s disappearance, Gloria was driving to work asking God for answers. She reports that it was as if God spoke to her and said, “Gloria, will you give me honor and glory even if you never learn what happened?”

The Matthews family has never completely recovered from their loss. However, the encounter with God on her way to work began to change the way Gloria thought. She has started to develop a God-centered life. It is the same kind of thinking that can assist any believer in developing the character trait of goodness.

As we learned yesterday, goodness refers to the pursuit of that which is excellent and often occurs when we consistently think the best of other people. But the word goodness can also be translated as “praises,” as in the case of 1Peter 2:9-note. Both the apostle Peter and the prophet Isaiah were calling their audience to praise God.

The people of Israel had every reason to offer up praise to God. As we see in our text, God declares Himself as the Lord, the one who redeems His people and is sovereign over all things. But in addition, He declares new things that will take place for Israel (Isa. 42:9). The prophet had been prophesying judgment for the nation’s rebellion against God. But then Isaiah invites everyone and everything to give God glory and praise (Isa 42:10, 11, 12). And the reason for such praise was because God would rescue His people and defeat their enemies once again.

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Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight. - Isaiah 42:1

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Charles Colson is known around the world as the founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries. Colson’s first book, Born Again, tells the dramatic story of his conversion after being sentenced to prison for his role in the Watergate scandal during Richard Nixon’s administration. As a brand-new Christian facing prison, Colson was ministered to by Senator Harold Hughes, a believer who offered to serve Colson’s sentence if the judge would let him go. The judge refused, but Colson was deeply impacted by the example of servant leadership he saw in Hughes.

The terms servant and leader are opposites in the world’s lexicon. Charles Colson had never seen loving sacrifice during his years in the inner circles of political power. Maybe that’s because the concept of servant leadership did not originate on earth. It came straight from heaven in the person of Jesus the Messiah, who “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mk. 10:45).

Earlier we talked about the way Old Testament prophets sometimes spoke of Messiah’s first and second comings in the same breath, since they did not always see the gap between these two events. Isaiah 42 is another example of this. It’s the first of what are often called the prophet’s “Servant Songs.” These are passages that depict the life and ministry of the Messiah, God’s holy servant, and they are incredibly rich. We’ll look at each one over the next week.

We can see the traits of servant humility that characterized the Messiah during His life on earth. Jesus did not create an uproar or make a scene, so to speak. He restored the most broken of lives. He was the very fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Israel, and He brought light to the Gentiles.

And above all, Jesus came to be the servant of all. No wonder Matthew quoted from Isaiah 42 in referring to the Lord (Matt. 12:18, 19, 20, 21).

But Isaiah also mentioned an important element of Christ’s second coming--the establishment of universal justice. The Messiah came the first time as the unassuming servant. He will return, however, as the King of Kings who will reward His own servants for their faithfulness.

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The late Vance Havner was one of the most popular Bible teachers and conference speakers in America for a number of decades. Known for his plain-spoken, no-nonsense style of teaching God's Word, Havner was equally as straightforward and unpretentious when it came to the epitaph he wanted on his headstone: ""Just a preacher.""
One of the greatest portions of the Bible begins in a similarly unpretentious way. Isaiah 42 begins with the phrase, ""Here is my servant""--a simple declaration, but one that carries with it infinite meaning.

Today's passage describes a Figure identified as the ""servant"" of the Lord. This is a Person so amazing, so anointed by God, and so righteous that only the Lord Jesus Christ could fit the description, as Christian interpreters have generally agreed.

At least four times in his prophetic book, Isaiah describes this One called the Lord's Servant. These passages, which include Isaiah 42:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9; 49:1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13; 50:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11; and 52:13-53:12, have come to be known as the ""Servant Songs.""

The context surrounding the Servant Songs is Isaiah's message of comfort to Judah's exiles in Babylon (Isa 40-66, see Isa 40:1). Although Judah's exile and return would take place 150 years in the future, God prophesied the nation's coming judgment and return under a Gentile king (Isa. 41:25, 26, 27, 28, 29), later identified as Cyrus.

Ultimately, however, God's Servant is the one who will establish justice on earth. The two comings of Christ paint the picture of an unassuming Servant who brings justice. In His earthly ministry, Jesus was the meek Servant. At His Second Coming, however, He will boldly bring righteousness to the world in His millennial kingdom.

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TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

Earlier this year, former prisoner of war Pete Peterson was appointed as the first U.S. ambassador to Vietnam since the war's end in 1975. Peterson spent six-and-a-half years undergoing torture and other mistreatment under the Vietnamese communists, yet he was willing to return to the place where he had suffered so much.

Pete Peterson's return to Vietnam in his official capacity is another reminder of the many P.O.W.s from that war who, although weak and oppressed, were not completely broken by their experience.

Isaiah's first Servant Song addresses the weak and oppressed through the image of a ""bruised reed"" and a ""smoldering wick"" (Isa 42:3). These metaphors describe people who are near to being crushed and extinguished --but they are still people for whom there is hope of restoration. Such hope can only be found in the Lord's Servant.


Today's verses continue to describe Jesus Christ's earthly ministry and triumphant reign in His coming millennial kingdom. We know that Jesus had compassion on those who were ""harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd"" (Mt. 9:36). The bruised, the broken, and the downtrodden who reached out to Jesus found a gentle Shepherd.

Another side of Jesus' character, His righteousness and justice, will be the distinguishing mark of His Second Coming and millennial rule. As we noted yesterday, only the Son of God can bring universal justice to the earth. Even the most distant lands, ""the islands"" (Isa 42:4), will rejoice in His law.

Isaiah 42:4 also contains two interesting word plays in the Hebrew language. The Servant is said not to ""falter,"" a word that means to dim or fade, like a smoldering wick. And the Servant will not ""be discouraged""--literally, be crushed or bruised, an obvious reflection of the bruised reed. There is a strength in the Servant that allows Him to help the broken.

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TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

In China, an advocate of democracy has called on the government to reverse its condemnation of the 1989 democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square and release those still in jail.

Leng Wanbao was himself put in prison in 1989 for leading demonstrations in support of the students, where he then spent time in solitary confinement. He was released in 1994 and has continued to be active on behalf of Chinese dissidents. Human rights observers believe that Mr. Leng's recent appeal will lead to his re-arrest.

We can admire this man's courageous attempt to free prisoners sitting in dark cells, however unlikely his chance of success. But when the Servant of the Lord purposes to open prison doors and release those held captive by sin and fear, no power on earth can thwart Him.

This is the assurance God Himself gives the Servant in the verses we are studying today. In a sense, we are privileged to be in on a conversation between the almighty creator God and His Servant, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our real privilege, of course, is that we are the direct beneficiaries of what God promises the Servant.

The assurance is this: because God has called the Servant to fulfill His righteous will, the Servant will complete His ministry both to Israel and to the Gentiles.

Jesus' ministry to Israel is ""to be a covenant for the people"" (Isa 42:6)--that is, to fulfill God's covenant promise of a Redeemer, the Messiah, who would live a righteous life and take away the sins of His people.

Jesus is the fulfillment of this calling down to the very letter of the Law (Mt 5:17, 18-note). And when He came to earth, He also brought light and salvation to the Gentiles, setting free those held in sin's bondage (Isa. 42:7).

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We talk a lot about the benefits of salvation. One reason is that they are so incredible, it will take us all eternity to realize what Jesus did for us. Another reason is that the benefits begin in the here-and-now, not just in the sweet-by-and-by. That means no matter where you are or what you're facing today, your salvation holds a very real blessing for you.

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. - Matthew 20:28

TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

Many early American folk songs describe what life is like when you are poor--and in the case of spirituals, when you are a slave. As one spiritual puts it, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, Nobody knows but Jesus.” These songs give us a sense of despair of those conditions.

Isaiah 42 is one of the Servant Songs of Isaiah, named so because here God describes someone who is His Servant and pleases Him (Isa 42:1). As we think about the birth of our Lord, we can learn much from this passage about His coming to earth.

First, how do we know who this Servant is in Isaiah 42? We find the answer in Matthew 12. The Pharisees were plotting to kill Jesus, so He left that place and continued to heal the sick. Then Matthew quotes Isaiah 42:1, 2, 3, 4 to confirm that Jesus is indeed the Servant in whom God delights.

Second, don’t you find it striking that the Son of God, the Lord of the universe, would choose to be described as a Servant? As we ponder our response to the birth of Christ, it’s appropriate to remember that we should have the same attitude and willingness to be a servant (cf. Phil. 2:5, 6-note, Php 2:7-note;Php 2:8-note).

Isaiah 42 describes Jesus as both gentle and just. The word justice is mentioned three times in four verses. Although the perfectly just rule of Christ over all the earth is still to come, we can and should value and promote justice as His followers. And we can have confidence that He will one day return to rule with perfect, faithful justice (Isa. 42:4).

The Lord of justice is also our gentle Savior who promises to be patient with the downtrodden--“the bruised reeds” (Isa 42:3). Our culture promotes survival of the fittest, instructing us to “Clear out the dead weight!” and “Step or be stepped on!” But Jesus gently cares for us when we are desperately hurting, when we are like candles struggling to stay lit.

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TODAY IN THE WORD DEVOTIONAL

The government of the Netherlands has decreed an unusual plan to promote the music of its native composers. Unfortunately, while the Dutch are well-known in the world of painting, Dutch composers ""pretty much wallow in obscurity,"" according to one report. So the government has ordered its national orchestras to play at least seven percent Dutch music in future concerts.

Aren't you glad that our great God needs no promotion plan or any other help to make His name known? One fact we are reminded of in Isaiah's initial Servant Song is that God alone has the power and authority to do everything He wills to do. Because of who God is, it is impossible for any other so-called god to share His glory (Isa 42:8).

God's power is so great, in fact, that He can reveal what He intends to do far in advance of its fulfillment. These final two verses of this Song are a further word of assurance to the Servant--and to us--that God will accomplish all He has said.

Remembering the context of the Servant Songs helps us understand why God raises the issue of idols here (see Sept. 1). In Isaiah 41:21, 22, 23, God challenges the false gods of other nations to do what He can do: foretell the future and then make the predictions come to pass.

That challenge will always go unanswered, because there is no god like the one true God. In today's verses, God is still addressing His Servant, assuring Him that His prophecies in verses 6-7 will take place. We considered that prophecy yesterday in light of the fulfillment and salvation Jesus brought at His first coming.

But for the Jews to whom Isaiah was writing, the prophecy of a release from captivity was directly related to the Babylonian captivity that lay ahead. Although His people would go into captivity, God would set them free. He was announcing this many years before it happened.


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