Day 205 – Isaiah 35-36

Talking Points

• After describing the terrible scene of God’s wrath against the unrepentant nations, chapter 35 tells of the blessing awaiting God’s people. As splendid as it is, the most spectacular part is that “they will see the glory of the LORD” (Isaiah 35:2).
• The wonderful future promised is provided by God’s grace in the redemption of His people. Not all people will enjoy it. Not all will enter in, but only those who are ransomed back by God Himself. “The unclean will not travel on it…And fools will not wander on it…But the redeemed will walk there…And the ransomed of the LORD will return” (35:8-10). This is a picture of the reality of the gospel. God has prepared “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,” but it is for those redeemed by the cross of Calvary (1 Corinthians 2:9). Only those who have received His grace by faith in Jesus shall enter in.
• As King Hezekiah stands firm in his commitment to trust God, the Assyrian messengers take their appeal directly to the people. This scheme is an attempt to sway the hearts of the people against their leader. Satan is a master of division and dissension between God’s people.

Thoughts

Want to do something great today? I mean truly impactful? How about something that could carry eternal consequence, that would even be a blessing to our Lord? I’m going to propose just the thing.

Ready?

Today, encourage someone else. Deliberately, sincerely encourage someone else. The truth is, someone needs it, and God actually calls for it.

In our verses today, we find this simple command: “Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble” (35:3). As God tells of the glorious things to come, He tells His people to encourage someone with the good news of that coming blessing. We should do the same!

Right now, we can tell someone that the best is yet to come. Because, for believers, it is! Right now, we can tell someone that God sees them, cares for them, and loves them. Because, He does! Right now, we can tell someone that God offers forgiveness for failures. Because, in Christ, He does! Right now, we can tell someone we will pray for them. Because, in His grace and mercy, God hears us!

So, today, do something great. Encourage someone!