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July 31

Our Bible reading today is in Isaiah chapters 59-63.

During the years of Israel’s discipline at the hands of their loving, all-powerful God, many in Israel wondered if God still loved them. And many others wondered if the strength of God had diminished. Some believed that God’s hearing had become dull and that He had lost interest in His covenant people.

And then Isaiah speaks...“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭59:1

Isaiah would remind the people of promise that the problem was not on God’s end, but theirs. They felt distanced from God and blamed God. When in reality, their rebellious and unrepentant sinning separated themselves from close fellowship with God.

God was still right there. Their sinning simply made it hard for them to see and feel his presence or hear His gentle voice. I'm just quoting God’s prophet Isaiah...“your sins have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so it seems to you that he does not hear.”

Isaiah. 59.

Now in chapter 60...“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭60:1-2‬ ‭

The prophet’s message was one of hope and charge to Israel as their days in Babylonian exile marched on. Isaiah was preaching God has judged the nations just as surely as He has put you through the refiner’s fire. You are right, the earth has been covered with darkness.

But, the Lord will arise on you. So get up, take courage, let your faith in Him be seen brightly, shine now.

Fellow followers of Jesus, remember Jesus’ charge to the apostles?...“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭

O friends, the glory of the Lord has already arisen upon us who believe Jesus. His light has already come to us who believe.

So Isaiah’s message may have been prophesy and hope for Israel’s future in the kingdom of God. But in Christ, the kingdom of God is within us, because the king lives in our hearts today. So let us rise and shine by the power of the Holy Spirit within us and point people toward our glorious Savior Jesus.

Now to one more piece of God’s thunder through the prophet today...Isaiah. 61

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭61:1-3‬ ‭

Sound familiar? This is what Jesus quoted when he spoke in the synagogue in his hometown. Saying...I am that person that Isaiah prophesied of 800 years ago. I am the Messiah you have been waiting for. And all that I do will be done for the glory of God the Father.

O Jesus if You lived for the glory of God...by your grace so will your disciples!

Have a great day