Isaiah 43 - Day 529 (link to today's reading)
Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7 Commentary (workingpreacher.org): Just as the ancients in Israel and Judah needed to hear divine judgment against injustice, so does the contemporary church. Nevertheless, dispirited people also need to hear reassurance of divine love, protection, and presence. This poem from the prophet scholars call II Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55) speaks tender, encouraging, empowering words to those who faced an uncertain future. In their original context, the words in this passage helped motivate Judean exiles to embrace their faith and return to Jerusalem to rebuild. The wise and brilliant prophet evoked images of divine love and care to speak to the exiles who tentatively considered whether to leave the stability of life in Babylon to return to the rubble of their former home (or the home of their parents). Application: Although we may never have sacrificed our children to foreign gods, we have all sinned and fallen short of God's expectations. The point of reading the Old Testament prophetic books is to gain hope from the fact that God forgave the Israelites so He may forgive us too. Prayer: Lord, words fail me so please listen to my heart... Comments are closed.
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January 2024
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