Day 204 – Isaiah 31-34

Talking Points

• God makes it clear that it is foolishness to trust in the world’s solutions, and He commands us to trust in the LORD, “the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 31:1). The temptation is always to believe our hope is in horses, chariots, and horsemen. We must remember that God is our deliverer, our help, and our strength!
• God, help us to walk in righteousness, speak with sincerity, reject unjust gain, and hold no bribes. God, lead us to shut our ears to cruelty and keep our eyes from evil. Lord, for Your glory, may we “keep [our] behavior excellent” (1 Peter 2:12).
• “For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us–” (Isaiah 33:22).

Thoughts

Halfway through Isaiah, here is a good question: What is the point of prophecy? Why does God send and speak through these prophets? The answer: the knowledge of the future should impact our lives now.

If you knew there was a coming judgment, and if you knew ahead of time the actions to take to avoid that judgment, wouldn’t you prepare? More than that, if you were certain of the harshness of that judgment, wouldn’t you be urgent to avoid it?

On the flip side, if you knew there was a coming kingdom, one of peace and rest, wouldn’t you make sure to be a part of it? If you knew how gloriously marvelous it would be, wouldn’t you prepare now to live in it? More than that, wouldn’t you urgently lead others to the Savior who provides it?

As crazy as it is to watch God’s people’s response to the prophets, aren’t we pretty much the same? You see, through these same prophets, He has told us of a coming judgment and of a coming kingdom. Today, the knowledge of the future should impact our lives now!