For the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. – Isaiah 14:1 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
Isn’t it good to know that God has a patient heart toward his people? In the book of Isaiah we see a consistent and persistent neglect of God on the part of Israel, and yet there is still a reason to celebrate. God reveals that there will be a time when he will have compassion on Israel and will allow those that have been exiled to return to their own land. And not only will God show compassion toward them, but he will allow those with no national identity to be connected to them. This means that the same blessings Israel receives will be bestowed on foreigners who attached themselves to the house of Jacob. So Isaiah prophesies that despite their deliberate and malicious neglect of God, this nation will both be blessed and be a blessing! When we lean in to the grace and patience of our creator God, we’re reminded that the oasis of hope he provides is never contingent upon our goodness, but on His compassion. May this truth remind us to consistently seek out the pleasant and peaceful areas of rest he so graciously offers us.

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What area of my life will I connect or reconnect to Christ?

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And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them. It will never be inhabited or lived in for all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there; no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there – Isaiah 13:19-20 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
We all have issues. Some are common to humanity, others are unique to our situation. Some are huge and glaring, others are easily hidden and kept secret. Because this world is a fallen place, we will all have to deal with things that seem insurmountable. That’s why these verses are so encouraging. To the world Isaiah prophesied, Babylon would eventually end up being the most fearsome and devastating kingdom they would face. Their military might, political tyranny, and geographical advantages all added up to a nation that was larger than life. So when Isaiah saw a world where Babylon would be overthrown and uninhabited, it seemed nearly impossible. Almost as impossible as what you’re facing being overthrown and being rendered powerless! The world’s systems that leave people broken, marginalized, and defeated, that stand in opposition to God, will one day lose their grip on humanity. And Isaiah reminds us that when that day comes, the glory of the Lord and the hope that comes with it will be what remains.

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What area of my life will I connect or reconnect to Christ?

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And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the Lord’s land as male and female slaves. They will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them – Isaiah 14:2 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
Ever since humans began to share stories with one another, we have been drawn to tales of justice being served in surprising places. The helpless, youngest kid in the family was abused and sold into slavery, only to become a high-ranking political official and in position to rescue the very brothers who betrayed him. The oppressive dragon decimated whole nations to be in control of a mountain of gold, only to be slayed by one small but crafty hobbit. And as he gave a prophetic word regarding Babylon, Isaiah foretold a similarly surprising story of justice. God showed Isaiah a day when the fiercest, most intimidating kingdom the world had seen to date would be subdued and ruled over by the very kingdom it had oppressed. Would this take place because Babylon had weakened militarily? Was the nation it oppressed about to employ more modern battle tactics? Surprisingly, the thing that would bring this global bully to its knees was the grace of God toward Israel. As the remnant remained faithful to their Lord and served him despite the challenges they endured, God promised he would see to it that those systems that enslaved his people would be decimated by the freedom he brought. They would soon be destroyed, not through the might of another earthly kingdom but by the strength of a heavenly one. What’s more, when God exercised his mighty arm, the blessing that Israel received would reverberate to bless every nation, Babylon included. This oracle is a good reminder that God loves to show mercy to people we might not expect him to, through means we might not expect him to use, in ways we might not expect him to move!

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What area of my life will I connect or reconnect to Christ?

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You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; – Isaiah 14:13 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
Embarrassing wasn’t the proper word for what had just happened; humiliating was more like it. The most powerful fighting force in the modern world was about to concede defeat to a startup nation of rebels. The Battle of Yorktown may have been the last straw that broke the back of the British Army, but throughout the Revolutionary War, George Washington had instilled in the Continental Army the idea that they actually could defeat the biggest superpower of their day. There were many elements that historians point to when asked how the Americans won their independence, but one of the more interesting suggestions is that the British were victims of their own hubris. The British Army was more adequately trained, more thoroughly equipped, and more rigorously experienced. This caused those loyal to the crown to assume that they would make short work of the uneducated and unskilled Continental forces. By simply carrying an attitude that lacked humility, they embarked on a mission that ultimately changed the course of history.
This is what Isaiah referenced in his taunt of fallen Babylon. Referencing Satan and his fall from grace, Isaiah mocks the lack of humility that comes before the demise of those that oppose the rule of Christ in our world. In our own lives it can be very easy to take credit for the accolades we get at work or the awards we receive on the field of play. But by cultivating a heart of humility and acknowledging that everything we own came from God in the first place, we will guard against the very thing that causes even the most powerful among us to surrender as conquered adversaries.

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Where do I need to have humility?

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The whole earth is at rest and quiet; they break forth into singing. The cypresses rejoice at you, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, ‘Since you were laid low, no woodcutter comes up against us.’ – Isaiah 14:7-8 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
The problem with an oasis is that it requires a barren wilderness to surround it. In order to experience its vitality and refreshing, one must experience the dryness and discouragement of the desert. The same is true for those moments when we need to be rescued from an oppressive situation. While we are grateful to be delivered from those who use us for their own benefit, we are often sad or frustrated that we had that experience in the first place. That’s why the prophetic taunt against Babylon is so encouraging. As broken as this world is, Isaiah sees a day when the whole earth will be at rest and quiet, they will rejoice with singing, and there will be no more oppressor to be found. As idyllic as this scenario sounds, Isaiah uses the perfect tense of the verbs in these verses, indicating that this is an action or state that is completed at the time of speaking. God will earn a victory on behalf of his people, and the fiercest enemy they have ever had to deal with will lose all of its sting. And this victory will be so complete and final that the celebration that results will usher in a time of peace and worship, with God’s people finding no reason to fear! When the Lord fights our battles, Isaiah reminds us that the scope of His victory will cause us to keep our eyes fixed on him without looking back.

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Where do I need to have humility?

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Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?’ – Isaiah 14:16-17 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
On paper, the 1960 World Series should have been a rout. The New York Yankees had a better record than the Pittsburgh Pirates that season, and had more future Hall of Famers on the roster. The Yankees even set a record for most runs scored in a single World Series, outscoring the Pirates 55-27 in the seven-game set. Yet, Bill Mazeroski hit a walk-off home run in the final game to finish Pittsburgh’s comeback and clinch the historic championship. Despite the odds being stacked against them, the Pirates found a way to achieve the impossible.
The story of the 1960 World Series is often told as an inspirational tale to prove that no challenge is insurmountable. David sometimes beats Goliath, and the fastest runner doesn’t always win the race (see Ecc. 9:11). The problem with this kind of inspiration, however, is that it isn’t enough on its own to ensure the victory. In other words, we can be as inspired as we want, yet still wind up broken and struggling to keep our head above water. But the good news embedded in Isaiah’s prophecy is that the greatest battle we will ever face has already been won on our behalf! Isaiah sees a day when the cultural, political, and spiritual entities that set themselves up against God will be brought low by his power. The seemingly insurmountable enemies known as death and Hell have had their sting removed. And though we still must endure a spiritual battle as we wait in hope for the Lord, we do so already knowing the outcome and rejoicing that our best efforts are not required to contribute to the victory.

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Where do I need to have humility?

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Therefore the abundance they have gained and what they have laid up they carry away over the Brook of the Willows.
– Isaiah 15:7 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
The phrase “you can’t take it with you” must not have been too familiar in Ancient Egypt. Men and women with financial wealth or cultural position chose to be buried with objects they believed would help them adjust to the afterlife. Gold, weapons, chariots, and food have all been found in the tombs of the rich and famous, along with one other unique item: board games. Apparently, Egyptians were very concerned about being bored in the life to come because games such as Senet (think Parcheesi) are staples in the burial cache that archaeologists still find today. It goes to show that as humans we have a tough time letting go of the things we enjoy.
Scholars believe that the scene Isaiah paints for us in today’s verse is the people of Moab leaving their country with the possessions they value the most as well. They can’t find rest or refreshment at the oasis of Nimrim (v. 6) in their own country and have to cross over into Edom. The Moabites recognize that they need to bring what they own with them, as they will be unable to return home anytime soon.
Even though it’s not wrong to have things, it is wrong for things to have you. In other words, if our possessions are our main focus and slow us down in our pursuit of Jesus, we likely will need to do some soul searching. So as we honestly assess what God is asking us to let go of, let us remember that although Jesus had access to all the riches of Heaven, he chose to empty himself (Phil. 2:7) in his pursuit of us.

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What is God asking me to let go of?

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My heart cries out for Moab; her fugitives flee to Zoar, to Eglath-shelishiyah. For at the ascent of Luhith they go up weeping; on the road to Horonaim they raise a cry of destruction; – Isaiah 15:5 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
Humans are complicated. We can experience a range of emotions in a single moment and from a single event. When all-star pitcher Chris Sale took the mound for the Boston Red Sox on July 17, it was only his 11th start for the team in the last 3 seasons. He had suffered a number of injuries, surgeries, and setbacks, and finally felt healthy enough to pitch against the rival New York Yankees. Imagine his frustration, then, when a ball was hit back to him in the first inning of the gameand broke his pinkie! After the game, a video clip circulated that illustrates the complex nature of human emotion: several Yankee players watching a replay of the injury were visibly shaken and lamenting Sale’s pain. Here was a group of rival players actively trying to beat the other guys on the field, and yet they were clearly upset and dismayed by their opponent’s fate.
It would be silly to fully compare the pain of Judah’s oppression by Moab to a baseball rivalry, but a form of the same sentiment can be found in Isaiah’s account of Moab’s fate. Here was an enemy nation – one that Judah feared greatly – and yet when Isaiah foresaw how complete their devastation would be, he records God’s lament, “My heart cries out for Moab.”  It wasn’t because God hoped they would succeed in their plans against his chosen people; it was because he was lamenting their rejection of him and the consequences they would face. And even we, as complicated humans, are often impacted when people lose hope as completely as the Moabites had.
When God saw how hopeless we were in our sin, he sent Jesus – while we were his enemies (Romans 5:8) – to do something about it! Jesus died so that Jews, Moabites, Edomites, or anyone else could have the hope of eternity with him. And as we live with this Gospel perspective as our guide, we will begin to sense the urgency of taking this hope to the broken and hurting around us.

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What is God asking me to let go of?

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He has gone up to the temple, and to Dibon, to the high places to weep; over Nebo and over Medeba Moab wails. On every head is baldness; every beard is shorn; – Isaiah 15:2 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
From 1909 to 1970, more than 120 fire towers were erected throughout New York State. These structures topped strategic mountaintops and, for decades, were integral in saving countless thousands of acres of forested lands. As wildfire technology advanced, these towers were rendered obsolete, and became more expensive to maintain than they were worth. However, rather than removing them completely, a movement began to restore the towers as a hiking destination with incredible views. At first, this movement was resisted by some who lamented the change and disliked the change in purpose. But time has shown that the change has been well received and beneficial for the communities they are a part of.
What is God asking me to let go of? Sometimes the answer is directly attached to the hopes we have for our lives. When life doesn’t go the way we plan it, there can be a tendency to accuse God of being unjust, unloving, or both! We can become so consumed with our vision for life that when God provides anything else, we dismiss it. But when we are willing to lay our own version of the good life at the feet of the giver of every good gift, we will find ultimate hope. Moab was wrecked when it couldn’t find hope in the temple of its foreign idols. The trip to their sacred worship site left them weeping, wailing, and in mourning. But God wasn’t finished with Moab! Isaiah foresaw a day when the Messiah would pave the way for a hope to break in that’s not based on bloodlines or power. This hope may not have been what the Gentile nations had planned, but God’s purposes will always lead to redemption.

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What is God asking me to let go of?

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What will one answer the messengers of the nation?
“The LORD has founded Zion,
and in her the afflicted of his people find refuge.”
– Isaiah 14:32 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
It’s the phobia with the name that’s almost as ridiculous as the fear it labels. If someone is afraid of being without their mobile phone, they may have a condition called nomophobia (get it, NO MObile PHone phOBIA??). The crippling anxiety that some experience when their phone isn’t within arm’s length is unsurprisingly on the rise. In fact, one US study found that 23% of male participants met the criteria for nomophobia. Experts tell us that the security that comes from accessing a phone operates on two levels; the tactile comfort of holding a phone in your hand, and the psychological satisfaction of being able to connect with the world at large, often in real-time. The good news is that various treatments seem to work, including seeking out areas with no cell reception. And while God’s people in Judah never had to deal with nomophobia, they knew exactly what it felt like to be afraid and seek a place of refuge.
As they surveyed the political landscape of their day, Judah must have sensed a twinge of alarm welling up inside. The nations surrounding them were either militarily superior adversaries or weakened allies. But just as the panic was setting in, God showed Isaiah that there was a place of refuge in the city where the Lord’s presence dwelt! Rather than look to the nations for comfort and security, the hope they needed was found in the presence of God. When we commit to spending time with him, God provides the place of protection and shelter each one of us needs.

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What will I create to be a tangible reminder to trust God?

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The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,
– Isaiah 14:24 ESV

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In 1989, Mexico City faced an environmental dilemma. The air quality in the city had become so poor that smog was extremely dangerous and perpetually visible. Officials knew they had to do something, and so they enacted a law that prohibited certain vehicles from being on the road on certain days of the week. This system was based on license plate numbers, and – as an example – cars whose plates end in a 5 or 6 cannot be driven on Mondays. Seems like an effective plan, right? Unfortunately, in the years following the implementation of this law, air pollution actually increased throughout North America’s largest city. It turned out that in order to get around the law, people were buying second vehicles, often choosing the cheapest, oldest, and least fuel-efficient car they could find! The law that was designed to clear the smog wound up making the smog worse.
It turns out that humans are really good at formulating plans that backfire. Even those men and women with the best degrees and the best intentions can design disastrous plans. Thankfully, that’s not anything we have to worry about when it comes to the plans of God. The thing that he has planned “so shall it be.” For the nation of Judah, Assyria may have represented oppressive imperialism and imminent danger, but God had a different plan than its leaders had. Even when we feel like things are out of control and we fear the worst, God’s purposes are so much bigger than our fears. His plans never backfire, and we can trust that as we immerse ourselves in his presence we will begin to see them unfold for his glory and our joy.

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What will I create to be a tangible reminder to trust God?

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And the firstborn of the poor will graze, and the needy lie down in safety; but I will kill your root with famine, and your remnant it will slay. – Isaiah 14:30 ESV

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“Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in His holy sight,
He will hold me fast.
He’ll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.”
(Ada Habershon, 1861–1918)

What will I create to be a tangible reminder to trust God? For Ada Habershon, the answer was several hundred hymns. Habershon grew up in England, but didn’t write a single hymn in English until she was nearly 40 years old and experiencing significant illness. Creating hymns in response to her immediate need seemed to be Ada Habershon’s gift, inspiring millions of people to trust God’s goodness, herself included. Isaiah’s prophecy against Philistia is another good reminder of the care of God. Rather than the powerful, influential, and self-made people being blessed by the Lord, our Heavenly Father declares through Isaiah that the poor and needy will find safety and comfort from his hand. And when we find ourselves in a situation where we need to trust God, may we remember Isaiah’s sentiment that in Habershon’s words, “He shall hold me fast.”

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What will I create to be a tangible reminder to trust God?

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then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness.” – Isaiah 16:5 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
One of our Because and Therefore statements at Centerway ends with this phrase: “Because we truly love people, we will speak the truth in love.” This statement was crafted, in part, because we live in a culture that finds truth and love to be incompatible at times. From news reporters to neighbors, it can feel like love toward one group of people requires a lack of concern toward another. Is there hope for a leader who can unite these diverse elements of caring for others? Isaiah believes so, and in fact anticipates a time when the One who sits on the Messianic throne will establish it in steadfast love while seeking justice in the process. This will be a king who will provide hope for more than one solitary nation; he will display love to all peoples who put their trust in him, and will execute justice on behalf of anyone who has been turned away by others. With a faithful king who is swift to act, we are guaranteed a hope that has the ability to unite all kinds of people.

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What has God guaranteed?

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“Give counsel; grant justice; make your shade like night at the height of noon; shelter the outcasts; do not reveal the fugitive; – Isaiah 16:3 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
It’s amazing what humans are capable of when their own life is on the line. We’ve been known to do astounding things, from braving unfathomable elements to creating prodigious systems in the name of survival. One example is the Central Arizona Project (CAP), a canal that diverts the Colorado River an incredible 336 miles to bring water to the deserts of central and southern Arizona. Millions of people rely on the CAP for their daily needs, and the 456 billion gallons of water in the system even rises as much as 2900 feet in its travels through a series of state of the art pumps. But as astonishing as this engineering feat is, perhaps the most amazing part of the CAP project is that it became a reality only as a result of bipartisan politics. Without a great measure of support from both Republicans and Democrats in the state, the CAP today could simply be an item on a legislative agenda. Rivals were able to lay down their differences to make this dream a reality.
Let’s face it, sometimes it seems easier to bring water to the desert than to get enemies to agree on something. In Isaiah’s day, the nations of Moab and Judah certainly had their disputes, and yet Moab was under such persecution that they looked to Judah for refuge. And what Isaiah saw is a day when both their immediate need for refuge and their universal need for safety will both be met in a ruler from Judah. There will be a day when a King will reign who will shelter from oppression and lead with a heart of love for all who run to him for protection. Because of Jesus, we are living in that day, but the story is not over yet! He will return again and finish the miraculous work of uniting his people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. May that day come soon!

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What has God guaranteed?

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Therefore I weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah; I drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; for over your summer fruit and your harvest the shout has ceased. – Isaiah 16:9 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
Wilson Mizner was a man who took pride in his wide variety of work. In the late 1800s he followed the Klondike gold rush and made a living conning miners out of their money. In the early 1900s he managed prize-fighters, illegal gambling rings, restaurants, and movie theaters, and developed several full-length plays and movies. He enjoyed counterfeiting works of art. For a short time, Mizner even became secretary and treasurer of a real estate development corporation. Toward the end of his life, Mizner expressed pleasure in being embraced by both low and high society, but perhaps Mizner is best remembered today for the last words he spoke before his death. When a priest asked Mizner if he wanted to have a conversation, he replied, “Why should I talk to you? I’ve just been talking to your boss!”
In general, humans take pride in a whole host of random things, and in Isaiah 16 we see Moab suffering the consequences of her pride in a devastating way. Why was this nation haughty? Experts aren’t exactly sure, but we know Moab wasn’t the biggest, strongest, or wealthiest kingdom in the Biblical world.  Although there isn’t an obvious source for Moab’s pride, that’s kind of the point! It doesn’t have to be conspicuous – anything we put our joy, hope, or trust in will eventually fade and we’ll be left to deal with the fallout from it. But the hope for Moab is that as they are forced toward Judah by their oppression, Isaiah prophesies that the Messiah will receive them in love and protect them with justice (see v. 5). As pervasive and insidious as pride is, the Messiah offers an eternal hope that can redeem any misplaced worship we could offer.

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What has God guaranteed?

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 For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge; therefore, though you plant pleasant plants and sow the vine-branch of a stranger, though you make them grow on the day that you plant them, and make them blossom in the morning that you sow, yet the harvest will flee away in a day of grief and incurable pain. – Isaiah 17:10-11 ESV

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In Isaiah’s day, grafting one culture’s foreign plant vines on existing local root stock was considered a sort of theological apologetic. In other words, if a plant from an area where a particular god was worshiped began to thrive in your garden, it was thought to be proof that the foreign god would bless your household if you chose to worship him. As people throughout the Biblical world benefited from vine propagation, they would simply add to their collection of household gods in the process. Today’s verses refer to this practice and accuse Israel of idolatry. They believed that Canaanite gods would provide the protection they were looking for, and likely even propagated foreign vines at their shrines as an act of pagan worship. For all of their religious busywork, they were found guilty of forgetting the God of their salvation (v.1).
Today, it’s easy to buy into the idea that effectiveness in one area equates to influence in another. A sports star can win a championship, and suddenly they are being sought after for their political opinions. An actor becomes well known for their craft and the public wants to hear where they stand on social issues. Isaiah warns that the vines that Israel grafted may have flourished, but that had to do with the principles of botany, not theology. And in so doing, those vines led a nation away from the author of salvation. As we take some time this week to focus on God’s glory, may we guard against the religious distractions that keep us from the rock of our refuge.

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This is the way I will focus on God’s glory:

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Gleanings will be left in it, as when an olive tree is beaten—two or three berries in the top of the highest bough, four or five on the branches of a fruit tree, declares the Lord God of Israel. – Isaiah 17:6 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
One of our Because and Therefore statements reads like this: Because God gave us everything we value GENEROSITY therefore we are open-handed and happily go above and beyond with our time, our talent, and our treasure. We steward our spiritual gifts and serve. We are contributors not consumers. This concept isn’t new for God’s people; in fact some of the first laws God passed down to Moses included how to care for the marginalized among them. Rules were established requiring harvesters to leave some of their grain or fruit so that the poor could glean for the needs of their family. Isaiah sees a day when the destruction of Israel will be so complete that there will only be a remnant remaining in the land, akin to the few pieces of fruit left on a plant after harvest. But just like God intended the remaining fruit to be a blessing to those in need of grace, God supplied a remnant in Israel as a means of providing grace to his people. We can be assured that it’s never too late to rely on the goodness of God for all that we need because he has shown himself faithful even when his people don’t follow suit. All those who look to their maker (see v. 7) can trust that even in the darkest of times they are not without hope, and all those for whom God has provided a harvest can in turn look for opportunities to generously steward that blessing for his glory.

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This is the way I will focus on God’s glory:

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In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel. He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands, and he will not look on what his own fingers have made, either the Asherim or the altars of incense.
– Isaiah 17:7-8 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
This is the way I will focus on God’s glory: As we reflect on this week’s application, some questions may come to mind. If we are called to reflect the nature of our creator God, doesn’t that mean it’s appropriate to take pride – or glory – in what we create? Does focusing on God’s glory mean we shouldn’t find joy or pleasure in earthly things? These are good questions, but if they are being asked with the assumption that God doesn’t want us enjoying anything man-made we are missing the point. Our creative God designed us to be creative as well, but instead of putting our trust in that ability, creativity was actually designed as a form of worship. We see it in Exodus when Bezalel was hired as the chief artisan of the Tabernacle. We see it in 2 Samuel and the Psalms when David crafted poems to the Most High God. We even see it as God’s people parade their cultural designs as they enter the New Jerusalem in Revelation: “They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations” (Rev. 21:26). The Bible reminds us often that those things we create can and will be used for God’s glory. We are simply asked to allow the Spirit to safeguard our hearts as we do so; otherwise instead of glorying in God, we may subtly be led to glory in the offering itself. Thankfully, what we make will be powerless to morph into the idols Isaiah warns of, when the goal of our lives is to fully focus on the glory of God!

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This is the way I will focus on God’s glory:

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All you inhabitants of the world, you who dwell on the earth, when a signal is raised on the mountains, look! When a trumpet is blown, hear! – Isaiah 18:3 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
It was a project that took four years to undertake, millions of dollars to complete, multiple countries to cooperate, and failed within a month. For all of its issues, however, the laying of the transatlantic cable in 1858 proved that speedy communication around the planet could be a reality. The second official telegraph received through the nearly 2,500 miles of cable was a note of congratulations from Queen Victoria to President Buchanan, and it seemed as if the entire world anxiously awaited its contents. So imagine what would have happened if Buchanan said, “I’ll read the Queen’s note next week… I’ve got way too much going on to check my mail!” The Queen’s telegraph was deemed the most anticipated international communication of the 19th century, and for good reason.
When Isaiah penned his prophecy concerning Cush, he included a charge to all nations: when a signal is raised on the mountains, look! When a trumpet is blown, hear! (v 3). This was poetic language encouraging people everywhere to pay attention to what God was about to communicate. Just like President Buchanan would never have ignored the Queen’s historic message, it would be absurd for us not to pay attention to what the Lord has asked us to listen to. He used Isaiah to let the world know that he wants to speak to us, and has sent his son Jesus – the Word of God – to communicate his love and grace. May we expectantly listen for the Lord’s voice this week as we lean into Christ and his word.

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What is the Lord telling me to do?

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Ah, land of whirring wings that is beyond the rivers of Cush, which sends ambassadors by the sea, in vessels of papyrus on the waters! Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide. – Isaiah 18:1-2 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
Humans have been captivated by foreign cultures for as long as communities have existed. In the 1600s, Europe was so fascinated with the pineapple that simply being seen with one was a status symbol. In today’s dollars, a single pineapple could sell for $6,000. At first, eating pineapple during a meal was a symbol of wealth and luxury. But after a while, consuming one so quickly was considered a waste, so cottage industries began springing up in England that would rent out pineapples to carry. Companies would rent the exotic fruit out by the day, and sometimes even hour to hour. Walking the streets of London with a pineapple under your arm was considered the height of fashion.
Being fixated on what this world has to offer is clearly not a new concept. And this fixation is what Isaiah warns about in today’s verses. The envoys mentioned here were eager to find other earthly nations to secure the military future of Egypt and Cush. However, Isaiah warns here that instead of being distracted by matters of earthly concern, these people should focus on the One who has the ultimate authority in their lives! The search for peace and hope in the strength of others only serves to divert our attention away from the God who speaks to us daily. It’s only when we take a step back from the distractions of our lives and center our hearts on the true ruler of this world that we can achieve the lasting peace we all seek.

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What is the Lord telling me to do?

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At that time tribute will be brought to the Lord of hosts from a people tall and smooth, from a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide, to Mount Zion, the place of the name of the Lord of hosts.
– Isaiah 18:7 ESV

REFRESH & RENEW
So, how do you go about ensuring that your country heals from a civil war and avoids crippling debt? If you’re King Charles II, you marry up! Charles was the King in power when the monarchy was restored in 1660, and one year later married Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza. The marriage brought with it a dowry that included money, land, and international trading rights with Portuguese ports all over the world. These trading rights sparked the economy and helped propel England into an era of prosperity and political dominance on the global stage. But the size of the gift left Princess Catherine forever wondering if Charles had a greater interest in who she was, or what she could offer him.
When considering what the Lord is telling us to do, it’s important to reflect on what he has already told us to do through his word. We know that humans are called to love God and our neighbors and glorify him with our lives. Connecting these truths to this week’s text, we find Isaiah prophesying that Egypt, Cush, and the entire world (see v. 3) will ultimately bring their gifts to the Lord. We will do so as an act of worship, recognizing that he holds the ultimate power in our world. But rather than use that power to destroy us for our sin, God sent his son Jesus to destroy sin itself! It was his love for us – not the benefit he could extrapolate from us – that was the impetus for his demonstration of power at Jesus’ empty tomb. We never have to wonder if his love is authentic because he demonstrated it before we ever could! And because he gave himself first, the gifts we bring are simply a responsive act of worship to that love.

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What is the Lord telling me to do?

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Where then are your wise men? Let them tell you that they might know what the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt.
– Isaiah 19:12 ESV

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How many of us have ever tried to flip on a wall switch during a power outage, expecting the room to light up? Even though we are conscious that there is no power, we still unconsciously expect results. Our lives are filled with examples of routines that we assume will be effective because they have been in the past. And when they don’t produce the anticipated outcome, we’re reminded of just how much trust we put into things we rarely think about.
In Isaiah 19, we see the nation of Egypt trusting in the past victories of her unmatched wisdom to keep from submitting to the Lord. The intelligence that built the pyramids and harnessed the mighty power of the Nile would surely be enough to gain salvation from any force that dared oppose them. But therein lay Egypt’s weakness; trusting in her human wisdom without any understanding of God’s plans was like turning on a light switch in a blackout. No amount of prior results would counteract such plans, and in fact would inevitably lead to staggering toward humiliation in need of salvation (v 14). But Egypt isn’t the only one that should heed this warning. Trusting in our own earthly wisdom will never produce the spiritual results we hope for, regardless of how far that wisdom has taken us in the past. Only by submitting to the will of God and trusting his plan of salvation will we be refreshed by the oasis of grace and hope Christ has won for us.

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How can I be part of what God is doing?

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And the waters of the sea will be dried up, and the river will be dry and parched, – Isaiah 19:5 ESV

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It’s called the Triple Crown of hiking: completing The Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail requires a person to traverse 8,000 miles of some of the most rugged and unspoiled terrain on earth. So imagine what it takes to accomplish this feat in a mere 295 days! When Sammy Potter and Jackson Parell completed the Calendar Year Triple Crown (CYTC) in 2021, the 21-year-olds became the youngest ever to do so. Over 1 million feet of elevation, extreme weather conditions, and 7 bear encounters didn’t deter this pair from their mission. For the rest of us however, the thought of finishing just one of these arduous trails in a year seems nearly impossible.
Through this week’s pericope, God warned Egypt that he would do something so impossible that it would make the CYTC look like a walk in the park. Though they harnessed the natural resources that allowed them to flourish in the desert, this strong and proud nation would be unable to withstand the Lord’s work against them. The steady and dependable Nile River would dry up at the command of its Creator, thus exposing the weakness of building one’s national identity on anything so far out of their control. This imagery would have served to remind both the Israelites and Egyptians of the Exodus of God’s people out of Egypt. Just as the Red Sea parted so that the Israelites could walk through on dry land, “the waters of the sea will be dried up, and the river will be dry and parched.” This reminder of the strength of God and the relative weakness of mankind is important for us to reflect on as well. He invites us to place our trust firmly in his character, and rest in his power to navigate the seemingly impossible situations of our lives.

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How can I be part of what God is doing?

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And there will be nothing for Egypt that head or tail, palm branch or reed, may do. – Isaiah 19:15 ESV

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How can I be part of what God is doing? By honestly asking that question we reveal our priorities and confess that our agenda must be laid down to take his up. We refuse to ask “How can I get God to be a part of what I’m doing?” because that question prioritizes our plans, not the Lord’s. This week’s pericope lists three things that Egypt trusted in for deliverance: religious fervor, natural resources, and cultural wisdom. These three elements combined to make Egypt unrivaled throughout the region financially and militarily. And while this text served as a warning to the Egyptians, it can also bring us a measure of comfort. God’s plan for your life does not depend on how impressive your gifts are! In fact, Jesus’ work has made a way for you to be included in what God is doing, even if you feel as if you have nothing to contribute. It is the completed work of Christ on our behalf that has uniquely positioned us to join God’s work in the world.

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How can I be part of what God is doing?

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In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them.
– Isaiah 19:19-20 ESV

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As Jesus traveled through the region of Samaria, he met a woman who recognized that there was something different about him. One of the reasons for this was that Jesus refused to believe that Israel had “cornered the market” on entering the presence of God. For Jesus, authentic worship was the privilege of anyone who wanted to offer it, and he told the Samaritan woman that God’s presence would soon not be limited to a particular place (John 4:21). As Jesus proclaimed this new reality, it’s not too far a stretch to think of him reflecting on this important section of Isaiah. The prophet sees a day when Gentile nations will build altars to the Lord and be delivered from oppressors by a savior and defender. Far from being a vision of universalism, Isaiah attributes the presence of God to a shift in the heart of the Egyptians. They will rely on the hope that this savior brings, and will establish centers of worship as a witness to the presence of the Lord in their midst. These verses appear toward the end of an oracle against Egypt, where you might expect the hammer of God’s judgment to drop for all the sins that Isaiah just laid out. But if we fast forward through Isaiah’s prophecy, we see that a Savior will one day be judged for our transgressions, and be broken so that sinners can be healed (Isaiah 53:4-5). As we contemplate how we will cry out to the Lord this week, let’s remember that we only have that privilege because our Savior Jesus cried out “It is finished” and died the death we deserved. His sacrifice means that even the most undeserving among us can experience authentic worship in the presence of God.

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How will I cry out to the Lord?

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And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them. – Isaiah 19:22 ESV

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The eighth century BC was a time of unprecedented political change in the middle east. Kingdoms rose and fell, world powers were established and conquered, and alliances were forged and severed. In these tumultuous times, two of Israel’s most important prophets rose to prominence. Isaiah and Hosea were contemporaries who both saw a day when the Lord’s love would overcome the volatility of life. But along with this message they also gave nearly identical prophecies regarding his judgment. In a world in which military defeat was synonymous with God’s punishment, these prophets told of a day when the Lord would strike and yet heal the people to whom he was speaking. When Hosea encouraged “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us” (Hosea 6:1) his words echoed Isaiah’s oracle of healing through the Lord’s striking. Rather than believing that the pain of life serves only to display God’s hand of chastisement, these men taught that his striking would lead to the healing of Jewish and Gentile nations! As Egypt cries out for mercy, Isaiah says that the Lord will hear and will heal. Later, Isaiah attributes this healing to the work of the Messiah, who will treat us with gentleness (42:3) and bear our punishment completely (53:8). Experiencing change, pain, and difficulty in this life is a matter of when, not if. So it’s good to know that because of Jesus, our pleas for mercy will be heard by the One who has already earned it for us.

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How will I cry out to the Lord?

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In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.” – Isaiah 19:24-25 ESV

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Philadelphia was a hard place to make a living during the Great Depression. As inflation skyrocketed, job opportunities became scarce. But as times got tough, the Athletics became one of the few bright spots for The City of Brotherly Love. The team won the World Series in ‘29 and ‘30, and Shibe Park was a gem nestled in the middle of Philly’s North Side. In fact, in an era before television and internet, some buildings that surrounded the ballpark began hosting gatherings on their rooftops during games. That way fans who couldn’t afford tickets because of the depression could still cheer on their favorite team from their rooftops. That’s when the spite fence was built. In 1933 A’s owner Connie Mack sued those die-hard fans to get these rooftop gatherings disbanded. In his opinion they kept too many people from buying tickets and concession items. He lost that lawsuit, but as a result chose to build a 33-foot wall around the outfield so that his neighbors could no longer peer in and enjoy the games. His decision caused the neighborhood to feel cut-off from the team, and the A’s lost favor in the city as a whole. Attendance dropped off significantly, and the revenue lost was one reason why Connie Mack sold many of his star players. The team eventually relocated to Kansas City in 1954 having never won another championship.
The Bible is unambiguous in its stance on being stingy (Prov. 11:24, Deut. 15:8-11). God has something to say to us If our intention is to keep others from benefiting from what we’ve been blessed with. This attitude extends into the spiritual realm as well, as we see in today’s verses. Far from putting up a spite fence and barring other nations from experiencing the goodness of God, Israel would share the distinction of being His people with their political adversaries. When this happens, they will fulfill the promise given to Abraham that his descendants will be a blessing in the midst of the earth (Gen. 22:18). What a gift it is to be generous with what God has entrusted to us! As we consider how we will cry out to the Lord, may we keep in mind that giving what we’ve been given could be an important component of receiving what we are crying out for.

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How will I cry out to the Lord?

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And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’ ” – Isaiah 20:6 ESV

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Many of us have heard the legendary tale of Thomas Edison’s attempts to invent a sustainable and effective light bulb. The story goes that he failed 999 times and was determined enough to find success on his 1,000th try. Each of Edison’s failings gave him valuable insight into how to succeed down the road. But for every Thomas Edison, there are plenty of James Edward Russells among us. Russell made a mistake that landed him in prison, then another, then another. Serving his fourth prison sentence, Russell managed to escape a prison work camp and hike 14 miles into the woods. Thinking he was far enough away from the authorities, Russell knocked on a cabin door and asked to use the phone. Unfortunately for him, the cabin belonged to a prison guard, who recognized Russell’s uniform. It was a mistake that cost him a lot more time under lock and key.
As Isaiah wraps up his oracle concerning Egypt, he seems to have a global message to share. Isaiah sees a day when the Egyptian-Philistia alliance will unravel and be decimated by Assyria. These nations relied on each other to stand firm in the face of tough military challenges, a reliance that proved to be a huge mistake. Would Judah learn from this mistake, or would they continue to look to human help before they sought after God? That was the challenge that Isaiah put before his nation, and it’s our challenge still today. When we seek God first for our peace and safety, we are acknowledging that it’s folly to trust in human solutions. So many things are constantly promising to be a reliable source of hope for us but wind up being as hollow as Egypt’s assurances to Philistia. We’ve all been given the gift of another day; let’s learn from our previous mistakes and place our hope in the One who has already done the work we need!

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What will I declare over the thing I fear the most?

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Then they shall be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their boast. – Isaiah 20:5 ESV

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Poor James Howells. He’s a regular guy with an IT job in a small town in Wales, but his story has become a cautionary tale at dinner tables around the world. In 2009 he mined 8,000 Bitcoins when the cryptocurrency was not nearly as valuable. However, in 2013 Howells accidentally threw away the hard drive on which the key is stored, believing it to be blank. Today, even with the recent crypto crash, that hard drive is worth around $180 million. Needless to say, Howells has devoted the past decade or so of his life to developing a plan to excavate the landfill it sits in to get the hard drive back.
Chances are that a story like Howells’ elicits a range of emotions in us as humans. We may find a mistake like that gut-wrenching, shocked that someone would be that careless. Or perhaps his story is comforting to us, a reminder to put our financial lives in perspective. Regardless of our opinion, James Howells is a modern-day example of an age-old problem: nothing in this world is guaranteed. Even though Howells owns millions of dollars in cryptocurrency, he’s unable to access it. And if you’re tempted to counter with the argument that he might one day retrieve that hard drive, in the end, that money will not provide him the hope of eternal life we humans innately crave. Isaiah warns the people of God not to look to earthly places for their hope. Just as Ashdod (Philistia) wound up in broken despair as they relied on the alliance they built with Egypt, we too are bound to suffer if our hope is tied to anything that won’t last. That’s why Jesus taught us to lay our treasure up in Heaven (Matthew 6:20). We may not be able to trust ourselves and others with what our souls require, but Christ has already achieved those things on our behalf! We will one day see Him face to face, and when we do, the farthest thing from our minds will be whether or not a lesser source of hope is at the bottom of a landfill.

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What will I declare over the thing I fear the most?

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And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’ ” – Isaiah 20:6

REFRESH & RENEW
We have a Because and Therefore statement at Centerway that goes like this: Because he loves to do new things we value INNOVATION therefore we hold loosely to the way it’s always been. We purpose to release creativity and reveal the beauty of God, joyfully expecting new things to flow out of us as individuals and as a church community to point to Jesus. Innovation can arise from times of calm and tranquility, but quite often it is forged in the fires of adversity. In other words, we tend to innovate because we have a problem that old methods do not or cannot address. Isaiah used his oracle concerning Egypt to warn other nations (this coastland) that the old approach of relying on alliances with other nations wouldn’t work against Assyria. He offers a new course of action – trusting in the Lord alone and allowing Him to be first in their lives. What would this look like in the midst of fear? Because he loves to do new things, we might not know specifically. But innovation is an exercise in trust, believing that the power is not found in the method, but in the One who inspires it. When fear tries to drive us back to the way we’ve always done things, our hope in the Lord can release the kind of creative work in us that reveals the beauty of God and points to the love of Jesus.

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What will I declare over the thing I fear the most?

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Then he who saw cried out: “Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed whole nights. – Isaiah 21:8

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The days leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion were incredibly tense. He was on a mission from His Father, and that mission included calling out the hypocrisy and injustice that was found in Jerusalem’s religious leaders. In Matthew 23, Jesus’ accusations of these leaders included killing the prophets that God sent to warn his people (vs. 34-37). And if tradition is any indication, Isaiah could be included in Jesus’ indictment. Although not explicitly stated in the Bible, the story goes that King Manasseh of Judah ordered Isaiah sawn in two because he directed his prophecies toward his own people. The king was angry that Isaiah would have the audacity to declare that what the nation was doing was evil. But here in Isaiah 21 we get a glimpse into the devotion that the prophet had to God. When asked by the Lord who would be a watchman and keep a lookout, Isaiah declared that he would remain obedient to the Lord’s call, despite having to endure seeing some horrifying things. Isaiah’s obedience would prove unpopular in his lifetime, and ultimately lead to his martyrdom. And that seemed to be Jesus’ point to the religious elite in his day. Obeying the call of God is impossible to do fully when your focus is on something other than his glory. They and their ancestors would stop at nothing to keep from repenting, including killing the prophets God sent to preach repentance. Directing your focus and saying yes to God may not be the easiest thing to do, but it’s worth it every time.

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What aspect of God’s character will I commit to focus on this week?

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And he answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to the ground.”
– Isaiah 21:9b

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There is no such thing as a typical worship song writer. Men and women from all walks of life and backgrounds have written hymns and penned choruses of praise. But one man that would be in the running for the most interesting author in the world is Edgar P. Stites. Born in 1836, he was the direct descendant of a man who came to America on the Mayflower. He fought for the North in the Civil War, and afterward became a riverboat captain. Stites eventually served as a missionary to the Dakota Territory. But for as varied and eclectic as his life was, it was hymn writing that brought him the biggest platform for his faith. His best-known work is called Trusting Jesus, and the second verse says,

Brightly doth His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

This verse articulates Stites’ philosophy throughout his life: whether engaged in battle, cruising along the river, or bringing hope to people with far different backgrounds than he had, Stites knew that he could enjoy the benefits of trusting Jesus.
Isaiah spoke of a day when Babylon and her idols would come crashing down, and it’s interesting that he saw both of these things simultaneously. Not only was Babylon proud of the gods she trusted in, but in fact created those carved images! Their gods were created, not creators themselves. No wonder Babylon fell as their idols were cast down to the ground! Isaiah sees this oracle as a frightening warning for God’s people. God can be trusted because he is Creator, not created. And regardless of what we find ourselves doing, like the song says, when we follow his lead we will feel his Spirit shining in our hearts and providing the spiritual benefits that Christ has earned on our behalf.

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

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What aspect of God’s character will I commit to focus on this week?

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O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you. – Isaiah 21:10

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Dreams are free, but they require a good amount of detailed work to become a reality. Chances are, if you have a Type A personality you just said a hearty “amen!” to that last sentence, and if you have a Type B personality, you’re too busy dreaming to stop and think through its implications! Take, for example, Google Barge. Oddly enough back in the early 2010s, Google launched a fleet of four-story vessels off the coast of San Francisco, but they neglected to secure the permits to dock them near the city. The Coast Guard then inspected the barges and found that they were a serious fire hazard. Google scrapped the Barge project, still tight-lipped about the purpose these ships were to have. It may have been a solid dream of a preferred future, but that dream still needed to be pointed in the right direction in order to be realized.
When we don’t pay attention to the details that make our dreams a reality, we can easily leave them unfulfilled. And that’s what Isaiah warns the nation of Judah about – to pay attention to the details of the dreams we dream! He had to announce what he heard from God, despite the word being a huge blow to the system they depended on. But we shouldn’t be surprised when we hope for something that doesn’t materialize, because that hope is in faulty systems. Whether that dream is directed toward some system of foreign power for Judah, or the corner office and private jet for us, the only place our hope for human thriving is safe is in the Lord.

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What aspect of God’s character will I commit to focus on this week?

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For thus the Lord said to me, “Within a year, according to the years of a hired worker, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end. – Isaiah 21:16

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The largest oasis in the world today is found in the Arabian Desert. Known as Al-Ahsa, it is roughly 33 square miles and is home to 4 cities. A huge aquifer lies beneath Al-Ahsa, providing water for more than 280 artesian springs and 2.5 million palm trees – including date palms. And just about the only thing surrounding this impressively fertile region is hundreds of square miles of sand. Can you imagine what would happen if the people who inhabit Al-Ahsa neglected to care for it and decided instead to have a foreign nation manage their resources however they wanted? It goes without saying that it would be foolish to trust any entity that did not have their best interests in mind.
As Isaiah turns his prophetic attention to Dumah and Arabia, he is warning people who inhabit desert oases around the vicinity of modern-day Al-Ahsa. They have aligned themselves with Babylon and are eagerly awaiting news regarding whether or not this was a good idea. Isaiah tells them that unfortunately, it was not. Within a year their glory will come to an end. In all likelihood their oasis resources will be plundered and used to help their enemies.
How we steward our resources matters for many reasons. But all too often, we as 21st-century people believe that we have the right to use our resources however we want. With this mentality, it’s easy to see others merely as beings that are out to drain our resources. But what if we entrusted our resources to One who not only promises to protect us (Psalm 46), but also to abundantly provide for us (John 10:10)? When our confidence is found in what Christ has done for us rather than human promises, our perspective changes. Suddenly, our resources are no longer finite assets to horde as the desert sand encroaches, but boundless gifts with which we can confidently reflect the goodness of our God.

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How am I anticipating what God is going to do?

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The watchman says: “Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again.” – Isaiah 21:12

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The Book of Acts records that followers of Christ were first called Christians in Antioch. Barnabas brought Paul to this Roman city in modern-day Turkey, and together they taught disciples for about a year. To some contemporary scholars, the appeal of Jesus to such cosmopolitan and affluent people is difficult to comprehend. Throw in the challenges that Paul faced as he navigated his newfound faith in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 11) and “Christianity” didn’t have much to offer these men and women from a worldly standpoint. But that is exactly why the gospel produces the fruit that it does – humanity cannot and will not ever reach the point of self-sustenance! Whether we find ourselves celebrating our best days or mourning our worst, the empty tomb satisfies our greatest longing as humans.
Isaiah plays the role of a watchman in this week’s passage, and as he peers out on the horizon he sees both the hope of daybreak and the agony of recurring night. We get it. We all know what it’s like to see the light of dawn dissipate our darkness, only to face a totally different situation that is just as dark and hopeless. But when we choose to place our faith in Jesus Christ, even the darkness is not dark to Him (Psalm 139:12), and we can be assured that our hope is anchored in the One who has chosen to navigate our nightfall right by our side.

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How am I anticipating what God is going to do?

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To the thirsty bring water; meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema. For they have fled from the swords,
from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the press of battle. – Isaiah 21:14-15

REFRESH & RENEW
As we wrap up another incredible summer studying the book of Isaiah, our Oasis series ends with a vision of a wave of immigrants seeking to have their basic needs met. These foreigners were fleeing from the very thing they had put their hope and trust in – military alliances and political might. As this section of his prophecy draws to a close, Isaiah’s point in using this imagery is to summarize what happens when God’s people rely on human resources for their survival instead of the Lord’s resources. Just like Jesus declared, when you live by the sword, you die by the sword (Matthew 26:52).
But at the same time that Isaiah looks backward in disheartened summary, he is about to prophetically look ahead to a day when the Lord of hosts will rule the nations and comfort his people. And the beauty of this vision is that our hope isn’t hindered by the error of misplaced trust; rather the coming Messiah will be uniquely acquainted with the difficulties of this life and will one day die to heal us of them. Thank God Isaiah has shown us that the Lord’s care for his people has the power to overcome even our biggest mistakes.

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How am I anticipating what God is going to do?

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