READING: Isaiah 5-8
I’ve written it more than once in these devotions this year, and I will say it again after reading today’s texts: the One we should fear is not the enemy, but the God who rules over all. The people of God in Isaiah’s day had turned against Him, reflecting ways that sound strangely familiar to American culture today. They had reversed God’s standards of good and evil, and had then taken credit for determining what is right: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight” (Isa 5:20-21).
Woe to them, indeed, as God would allow the enemy nations to come against His people as His tools of judgment. They would “seize their prey and carry it off with no one to rescue it” (Isa 5:29b). Yes, Immanuel would come (Isa 7:14)— as destruction is not final in God’s plan for His people — but necessary judgment would affirm His righteousness and bring His people to repentance. They would need to learn what we’ve considered throughout this year: “The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread” (Isa 8:13).
I have heard more than one Christian leader wonder when God will draw the line with His people in our own country. Some who call themselves believers have also reversed good and evil while claiming their knowledge over the Word of God. I wonder if the church fears God like we should.
And, when I sometimes try to convince myself of the rightness of my wrong actions, I wonder if I, too, fear God like I should.
ACTION STEPS:
- Spend time today praying for our nation. It’s no secret that we are in the midst of much questioning and fear.
- Consider how your life would change if you genuinely feared God like you should. Make repentance a priority today.
PRAYER: “God, I desperately want to respect You like I should — and I want to learn that without facing Your judgment first for my actions. Help me.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Isaiah 9-12