Corona Devo 1338

Sometimes we have to ponder, dissect and digest God's Word in the Bible to understand it.  And sometimes, it pours off the page and into our hearts like a cup of water onto a parched houseplant. 

Isaiah Chapter 25 is like that--it's easy to soak up and it refreshes and revives, regardless of where we are at today.  

Isaiah 25 begins by reminding and reassuring God's children (us!) that God is in charge.  He has this world, our lives, and wonderful things planned, and because He is God, He planned them long ago...we can trust Him today...and we can honor and praise His name for all of it.

O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God.  You do such wonderful things!  You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.  ~Isaiah 25:1

~~~

If it feels as if we are being defeated today, be watered by God's Word today.  Remember and stand-up-straight in God's Word and His promises to us.  

Are we confused today?  Afraid?  Bombarded?  Hurting?  

Is our spirit/heart/or faith poor or needy?  God confirms His presence with us right now and His authority over all of our circumstances and deficiencies: He is our tower of refuge:

(3) Therefore, strong nations will declare your glory; ruthless nations will fear you. 

(4) But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress.  

You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat.  For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall, (5) or like the relentless heat of the desert.  But you silence the roar of foreign nations.  As the shade of a cloud cools relentless heat, so the boastful songs of ruthless people are stilled.   ~Isaiah 25:3-5

What a relief to know that God is our covering.  Yes, we will have storms and even oppressive acts of ruthless people that beat against us relentlessly.  (Some of us are in the fight of our life today.)

But hang in here.  This God that we serve is our refuge, and He will silence the roar of people that do not stand with Him, and as the shade of a cloud cools relentless heat, so the boastful songs of ruthless people are stilled by the Lord who is our refuge (Isaiah 25:4-5).  

Still the boastful songs of (our) ruthless people today, Lord.

~~~

We might be in a fight for our faith today.  God's people have always been in opposition with popular culture and the pleasure-seeking/self-truths of people who see and serve themselves as a god.  

But the One True God (I Timothy 2:5) will reign in the end.  And if we will allow Him to reign supreme in our hearts today, then we can (and do!) have victory, peace, and purpose because He is our refuge.  

And one day (in God's timing), we will celebrate God's victory together.  The ruthless people and nations will no longer barrage us, and our perseverance in faith (in God) will earn us a seat at the Lord's banquet table:

In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world.  It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat.  

(7) There he will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth.  (8) He will swallow up death forever!  The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears.  He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people.  The Lord has spoken!   

(9) In that day the people will proclaim, “This is our God!   We trusted in him, and he saved us!  This is the Lord, in whom we trusted.  Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!”  

(10) For the Lord’s hand of blessing will rest on Jerusalem.   ~Isaiah 25:6-10

Soak...it...up.  Like a forgotten houseplant finally receiving a big cup of water, we can thirstily absorb every bit of the rejuvenating promise that we read in Isaiah 25 today.  

Which one of us has not been (at one time) shackled by the cuffs of sorrow?  Or covered by the dark shadow of death in losing someone that we love?  

But the Lord of Heaven’s Armies conquered death on the cross for all that believe in Him.  And He promises that one day He will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth.

If You say so, Father, and we wait (sometimes not so patiently) for such luxury.  Thank You.

We wait for that day, and we can trust God and the Bible (His Word) that it will come.  And when it does, the pain of death will cease to penalize people that know the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (which--we do.)

In that day the people will proclaim, “This is our God!   We trusted in him, and he saved us!  This is the Lord, in whom we trusted.  Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!”  ~Isaiah 25:9

Soak that up today.  Absorb God's promises today.  Let God's Word water our parched hearts today.

And God's Word is true.  God's Word is historically accurate.  God's Word is even geographically specific.  God rewards His chosen people (the Jews originally, and then everyone believing in Him) in His chosen city: Jerusalem.

(10) For the Lord’s hand of blessing will rest on Jerusalem.   ~Isaiah 25:10

There's no scavenger hunt or secret-decoder necessary in understanding Isaiah 25.  It pours off the page and into our hearts like a cup of water onto a dry houseplant. 

God is our tower of refuge.  

Soak up and absorb God's promises today.  Let Isaiah 25 water our parched hearts today.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com