The LORD has issued rich, lasting means of grace to His people, which are found in God and to be enjoyed in the community of the saints. Gladness should mark the life of redeemed pilgrims as they live a life of purposeful worship together. Of different backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures, those purchased by the blood of Christ set their traditions aside as they walk in their new God-given identity.

On this side of eternity, saints of all time and space have faced uncertain futures. We may calculate plans and schedule our lives to great detail, but the reality remains: we have no control of what lies ahead. We can either adopt the lie that we are in control, or we can rest in the One who has made heaven and earth. In the latter, we find an everlasting help that is sustained and secured by Jesus himself.

The Psalmist then and Christians today know the depth of pain caused by hurtful words. How would the Bible have us respond in such grief-stricken seasons of contention? Psalm 120 reveals the power of words, but even more so, the might of the Defender. It's not in our strength where defense is found, but in the One who "entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly."

The Lord imparts faith to His people, but historically, we have always been a forgetful bunch. In his great patience, He extends helpful and necessary reminders for Christians, that we may remain confident in what he has accomplished, what He’s doing today, and the work He will continue for His glory and for our joy. A significant reminder for Israel then and for believers today is the collection of feasts and festivals found in Leviticus 23. These feasts look back to his protection while pointing to His ultimate provision: Jesus.

During these latter days, the people of God live in the tension of the already, but not yet. Isaiah, through fine poetic fashion, lifts our eyes to see our forthcoming joy at the exaltation of God Almighty. Upon the Lord being exalted, the nations will forsake their ways as they submit to His paths. From Zion, the hope of the Gospel flows and carves the only way for the peoples of the world to walk in the light of the Lord.

God is holy and we are not. Our sin has alienated us from God and one day we will stand before Him and give an account for the things we have done in this life. Therefore, our greatest need is to have our sins forgiven and to be covered by the righteousness of another. The good news is that God in Christ is reconciling the world to Himself. God made a way by sending Christ who “redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” This awesome display of sacrificial love then compels us to no longer live for ourselves but to live for God. This reorientation sets us free from seeing temporal things as ultimate and to properly see that which is of eternal significance. We are now ambassadors for King Jesus in the midst of an alien world, proclaiming his message of reconciliation. Sinners can be totally, completely, and, eternally forgiven, and so “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

"As if he had said, 'You have no right to reply, that you have not the ability; for all that I require of you is, be strong in the Lord.'" (Calvin) This text identifies our enemies, our assignment, and our armor. We sometimes think of the spiritual and physical worlds as distinct realities with very little overlap. Earth now, heaven later. Paul, on the other hand, sees a deep connection between physical and spiritual realities - in fact, he sees one reality that includes both physical and spiritual aspects. In this world, God's world, we have a simple but difficult command: Stand. Thankfully, we have "the strength of the Lord's might."

The Church is the bride of Christ. God's people are God's children. All masters/lords have a Master/Lord (the Greek word is the same) in Christ. Thus the three major relationships of the earthly family in Paul's time are redefined by their relationship with Christ. Christ is Husband; God is Father; Christ is Lord. Earthly roles and relationships are not thereby dissolved, but they are radically transformed from what prevailed in the ancient Roman world or the contemporary Western world.

Since the fall of man, any that the Lord chooses to save are added to the redemptive storyline of His unfolding narrative. In His kindness, He shows undeserving sinners his majestic holiness and they can but fall on their face in His presence. We are broken and in need of grace apart from the restorative hand of God in our lives. He takes our utter brokenness and creates a missioinal masterpiece. That's Isaiah's story. That's our story. May it be that we respond in worshipful obedience as Isaiah did to this stunningly divine question, "Who will go for Us?"