In that day the LORD of hosts will be a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people,
– Isaiah 28:5 ESV

HEBREW
לַעֲטֶ֣רֶת צְבִ֔י/la·‘ă·ṭe·reṯ ṣə·ḇî: beautiful head adornment symbolizing victory

CONSIDER
In the 1600s, King Charles II ruled several regions of what is now the United Kingdom. He was known as The Merry Monarch, developing infrastructure and laws so that his people could enjoy entertainment, freedom, and lifestyle. As a symbol of the hope that his leadership brought, he was given St. Edward’s Crown – a solid gold crown adorned with 444 precious stones. Weighing nearly five pounds, it was the heaviest and most expensive royal headpiece in the world. St. Edward’s Crown has been coveted for centuries by historians, politicians, and treasure hunters, who would consider it their life’s crowning achievement to secure the crown for themselves.
As we embark on a new series through Isaiah, it’s important to be conscious of where we turn to define success in our own lives. The prophet pronounces a warning on Ephraim because their crowning achievement – what they were proudest of – was their drunkenness. But he also sees a day in which “the Lord of Hosts will be a la·‘ă·ṭe·reṯ ṣə·ḇî (beautiful head adornment symbolizing victory) and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people.” In essence, Isaiah proclaims that the future flourishing of God’s people will stem from their intimacy with the Lord! It was His victory that bestowed on them the la·‘ă·ṭe·reṯ ṣə·ḇî. And as we learn to make this victory our own crowning achievement, we’ll begin to discover the beauty of the gospel.

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What will I turn away from as I turn toward God this week?​

and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,
and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.
– Isaiah 28:6 ESV

HEBREW
וְלִ֨גְבוּרָ֔ה/wə·liḡ·ḇū·rāh: bravery, might, valor

CONSIDER
Doesn’t it seem as though modern experts often seem to disagree on what helps performance best? Before 1903, cocaine was an active ingredient in Coca-Cola and said to provide several health benefits. Today, although no doctor would prescribe cocaine soda to their patients, there is still plenty of debate about what is healthy and what isn’t healthy. Far from being solely a medical issue, opinions and ideas vary throughout the professional world. We may have access to exponentially more information these days, but this access doesn’t necessarily correlate to wisdom!
Thankfully, scripture is full of reminders that when it comes to wisdom, humanity doesn’t have the final word. This week’s passage is one example, and in it the prophet Isaiah uses imagery from an attack on one’s city. Although this city has an army with weapons and external walls with a gate, these don’t necessarily ensure victory. He says it is the Lord who gives “wə·liḡ·ḇū·rāh(bravery, might, valor) to those who turn back the battle at the gate.” This Hebrew noun refers to the internal fortitude that is necessary to stand one’s ground in the heat of battle. For God’s people, wə·liḡ·ḇū·rāh doesn’t come from military acumen, strategic ability, or technological advancement; it comes from trusting in the Lord and leveraging that trust to protect and care for what matters most. True wisdom will look more like believing that the Lord will equip us internally than relying on what we possess externally.

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What will I turn away from as I turn toward God this week?

For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”
– Isaiah 28:10 ESV

HEBREW
צַ֤ו לָצָו֙ צַ֤ו לָצָו֙ קַ֣ו לָקָ֔ו  קַ֣ו לָקָ֔ו/ṣaw lā·ṣāw, ṣaw lā·ṣāw, qaw lā·qāw, qaw lā·qāw: blah blah blah, yada yada yada

CONSIDER
One of the fundamental truths of the Assemblies of God refers to the salvation of humanity this way: Humanity’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible points to this hope of redemption. But all too often, the gospel of Jesus is dismissed by those who consider this message too simplistic, or too good to be true. Our sinful, human nature actively seeks to earn our salvation by looking inward to muster up redemptive strength from within. Isaiah uniquely understood this tension as he prophesied about the Messiah to come nearly 700 years before Jesus was born. Influential people ridiculed his message as gibberish: “ṣaw lā·ṣāw, ṣaw lā·ṣāw, qaw lā·qāw, qaw lā·qāw (blah blah blah, yada yada yada).” But even though there were some who dismissed these prophecies, his report of Messianic salvation was too significant to be ignored. Isaiah declared that although Israel’s leaders were too consumed with themselves to receive the word of the Lord, God would still convey his hope to his people! The Lord’s message of justice will one day be given directly to children (v 9), and his message of rest will one day be given directly through Gentiles (v 12). The voice of the prophet is just as relevant today as it was in his day – trusting God will often require us to turn away from our assumptions and rest in the too-good-to-be-true reality of the gospel.

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What will I turn away from as I turn toward God this week?

therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
– Isaiah 28:10 ESV

HEBREW
יָחִֽישׁ/yā·ḥîš: act anxiously; live in a tense state of being

CONSIDER
Steel connector columns. Reinforced shatterproof glass. Frames bolted to the foundation. The landscape of Rio Dell, California is dotted with homes whose safety features help them brace for an earthquake. Rio Dell has the distinction of being the most seismically active part of the most seismically active state in the nation, and yet despite their preparation, each year dozens – and sometimes hundreds – of homeowners are forced to demolish their homes because the damage is too great. Imagine the heartbreak that comes from working and preparing to the best of one’s ability, only to have it all undone in a matter of minutes!
This is an apt metaphor for how Isaiah saw Israel in his day. As Assyria was bearing down on them, her leaders reinforced their alliance with Egypt and trusted solely in this relationship. But much like fitting a home with shatterproof windows in hopes of protecting it from being leveled by a quake, this action did little to prevent the devastation they hoped to avoid. Isaiah, however, reminded God’s people that the Lord himself had prepared a rock of salvation right where they were located. It was tested and firm, and “whoever believes will not yā·ḥîš (act anxiously; live in a tense state of being).” This Hebrew verb is rooted in the idea of being agitated or disturbed; therefore, God is offering us a place to build our lives where we can be contented and tranquil. And while there is certainly wisdom in preparation and occasion for us to plan, our God invites us to be still and rest in his guidance before frantically placing our hopes in these activities. So in those moments where we find it easier to yā·ḥîš than to stop and be still, may we remember the promise of God in Isaiah that refuge is much closer than we might think.

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Where will I trust God and his timing in my life?

And I will make justice the line,
and righteousness the plumb line;
and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”
– Isaiah 28:17 ESV

HEBREW
לְמִשְׁקָ֑לֶת/lə·miš·qā·leṯ: the construction level

CONSIDER
When most of us think of tilted buildings, the leaning tower of Pisa immediately comes to mind. But did you know that these types of engineering problems can be found in 21st-century construction as well? In 2015, work began on 161 Maiden Lane, a luxury apartment skyscraper in Manhattan. Boasting million-dollar views, units were being bought up well before the building had an exterior. However, because the tip of lower Manhattan is actually landfill from a plan to expand the island back in the 1700s, the skyscraper rests on sand, not bedrock. In 2019, engineers confirmed what had been whispered about for years: 161 Maiden Lane tilts 3 inches to the north, causing issues with its windows, plumbing, and more. Today, this promised symbol of glamor and refinement is a deserted eyesore, and the legal battle to resolve what to do next could take years to play out.
After Isaiah points God’s people to the solid rock in their midst upon which to build their lives (v.16), he expands the architectural metaphor and tells them that the Lord “will make justice the line, and righteousness lə·miš·qā·leṯ (the construction level). When we place our trust in Jesus the Messiah, it won’t be financial success, social influence, or carefree days that will serve as proof of the strength of our lives. God will measure our lives by lə·miš·qā·leṯ of right-standing with Christ! Thankfully, that righteousness was won on our behalf through the death and resurrection of Jesus. All we need to do is be still and rest in his finished work.

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Where will I trust God and his timing in my life?

Does one crush grain for bread? No, he does not thresh it forever; when he drives his cart wheel over it with his horses, he does not crush it. – Isaiah 28:28 ESV

HEBREW
וְ֠הָמַם גִּלְגַּ֧ל עֶגְלָת֛וֹ/wə·hā·mam gil·gal ‘eḡ·lā·ṯōw: rolls over the grain with his wagon wheel

CONSIDER
Where will I trust God and his timing in my life? Although this might seem like a simple enough question, trusting someone else – anyone else – can pose a challenge for a variety of reasons. What if they don’t value what I value? What if they want something I don’t want? In difficult times, questions like these are often directed toward God. Isaac Watts, the beloved author of Joy to the World, said, “Learning to trust [God] is one of life’s most difficult tasks.” And since humans aren’t naturally inclined to patiently endure the unknown, it’s critical that we grow in our reliance upon the very One who asks us to trust his timing.
Isaiah provides a poignant metaphor for this kind of trust when he writes about how a farmer cultivates grain. He tells us that one method of separating the head of wheat from the stalk is when a farmer wə·hā·mam gil·gal ‘eḡ·lā·ṯōw (rolls over the grain with his wagon wheel). If a person isn’t familiar with the process, instead of harvesting it, this could easily look like the farmer is trying to destroy the grain. And yet rolling over the crop with a wagon wheel will produce exactly what the farmer hoped for when they planted it. In our own lives, it may seem as though God’s timing is off; that he is allowing life to steamroll us in a way that makes no sense for a loving Father to allow. But when we choose to submit to his authority as our Lord and King, we will learn to trust him in the midst of the crushing.

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Where will I trust God and his timing in my life?

And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel,
all that fight against her and her stronghold and distress her,
shall be like a dream, a vision of the night.
– Isaiah 29:7 ESV

HEBREW
כַּֽחֲלוֹם֙/ka·ḥă·lō·wm: like an illusion; like a fleeting fantasy

CONSIDER
Just about all of us are familiar with the feelings that come from thinking a strange dream we had was real. Our emotions can change in an instant from fear to gladness, embarrassment to relief, or even sadness to joy simply because what we thought to be our new reality was simply the result of eating right before bed. In the moments right after we wake, experts tell us we operate in a state of consciousness known as dream-reality confusion (DRC): our brains have tremendous difficulty discerning where the dream ends and our real life begins. A good way to tell when we’re experiencing DRC is by whether we’re still worried about the giant hamburger that was trying to eat us a few moments earlier!
Dream-reality confusion is exactly what Isaiah says God’s people will experience when God arrives on the scene to protect them. While it’s true that God was angry with the sin the Israelites had committed, he would nonetheless rescue Jerusalem from the invading Assyrians. The fear and anxiety his people felt from their impending doom would be replaced so quickly with joy and wonder that “all that fight against her and her stronghold and distress her, shall be ka·ḥă·lō·wm (like an illusion; like a fleeting fantasy), a vision in the night.” Instead of walking around in a DRC state – making decisions and experiencing emotions that are incongruent with the truth – we will enjoy the wonderful reality of the grace of God (v. 7). All this will occur not because of our own ability to rise above sin, but because the sacrifice of Jesus has satisfied the wrath of God on our behalf! When we truly understand the reality of the Gospel, the worship that results will cause any fear we face to hold the same sway over us a fleeting dream might have.

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How will I express true worship?

And the Lord said:
“Because this people draw near with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
– Isaiah 29:13 ESV

HEBREW
רִחַ֣ק/ri·ḥaq: have become distant

CONSIDER
One of the 16 Fundamental Truths of the Assemblies of God speaks to the nature of sanctification: Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing their identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by the faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. What does that mean? Simply put, when our identity is wrapped up in Jesus, and we offer our entire beings to the Spirit, we grow to be more like Christ. But as humans, there is a tendency to prioritize appearance over substance and settle for looking the part over working to draw near to God. This is the situation described in Isaiah 29, when the Lord sums up the reason for His judgment: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts ri·ḥaq (have become distant) from me…” The prophet relays God’s anger toward His people because they say the right things and work hard to look holy; meanwhile, their hearts haven’t been attended to, and it results in growing distant from the Lord. The incredible thing about God’s response to this is that instead of giving his people what they deserve for their past, the next verse points to a future glory in which he will do wonderful things! When we fully comprehend the depravity of our hearts and God’s gracious response as a result, we can’t help but gladly offer every part of our being to be shaped by his holiness.

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How will I express true worship?

therefore, behold, I will again
do wonderful things with this people,
with wonder upon wonder;
and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”
– Isaiah 29:14 ESV

HEBREW
לְהַפְלִ֥יא/lə·hap̄·lî: extraordinary things; impossible things

CONSIDER
As the Summer Olympics approach, one phrase that can be heard more often is “records were made to be broken.” But there are a few achievements that are so astonishing that it seems impossible that they will ever fall. The U.S. won 239 medals at the 1904 Olympics, nearly 85% of all available medals in those games. Hungarian fencer Aladar Gerevich won the gold medal in his field for six straight games, from 1932 – 1960. But as absurd as these records seem to be, they technically could be broken. So as long as there are Olympic games, there will be people who will be aiming for the impossible.
In today’s verse, we see what the impossible really looks like. Verse 14 shows us God’s surprising response to his people’s unwillingness to submit their inner being to him. These people offer “lip service” worship, honoring God with words without honoring him with their lives. This sinful approach to worship is met by God declaring, “therefore, behold, I will again do lə·hap̄·lî (extraordinary things; impossible things) with this people, with wonder upon wonder…” This Hebrew verb emphasizes what God will do on behalf of his people, offering grace that would be impossible to obtain on their own. Our reaction, then, to God’s lə·hap̄·lî is worship, which requires an awareness of God’s mercy in not treating us as we deserve (Psalm 103:10), as well as actively submitting our entire beings to his Lordship (Romans 12:1). So if true worship exists at the intersection of awareness and action, how will I express true worship?

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How will I express true worship?

You turn things upside down!
Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,
that the thing made should say of its maker,
“He did not make me”;
or the thing formed say of him who formed it,
“He has no understanding”?
– Isaiah 29:16 ESV

HEBREW
הַ֨פְכְּכֶ֔ם/hap̄·kə·ḵem: you have done things the opposite way of how they were designed to be done

CONSIDER
If running on a treadmill feels like torture to you, it may be the result of using it properly. In 1818, Sir Willian Cubitt invented the “treadwheel” as a torture device for prisoners. This wheel would simultaneously be used as a way to punish inmates and mill corn or pump water with their movement. The treadwheel was so excruciating that it was outlawed for inmates in 1902, only to be seen again 60 years later in exercise rooms because the health benefits were undeniable.
The invention of the treadmill illustrates how a negative tool can be turned into something positive, but today’s verse serves as a warning for those who seek to do the opposite. The Lord is voicing his displeasure with people who live with God as an afterthought to their own plans. He says to anyone who lives as though they are the creator of their own reality, “hap̄·kə·ḵem (you have done things the opposite way of how they were designed to be done) Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, ‘He did not make me’; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, ‘He has no understanding’?” When we start with our own agenda at the center of our lives, we are actually living in direct opposition to the way God has designed us. As our Creator, God designed us to receive our nourishment, our vitality, and even our very lives from our connection with him (John 15:4-11). So determining to leverage our one and only lives apart from him is as foolish as a lump of clay demanding that it be formed into a vessel without acknowledging a potter to form it. Without a proper perspective on where our strength comes from, our lives will be upended the moment our plans don’t work out the way we expect them to. Thankfully, the Gospel says that when God told us hap̄·kə·ḵem, he knew that we couldn’t turn things around on our own. Only his Son Jesus was perfect enough to do that work, and his death ensured that things would be set right again as we place our trust in him.

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What area of my life do I need the Lord to transform?

The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD,
and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
– Isaiah 29:19 ESV

HEBREW
עֲנָוִ֛ים/‘ă·nā·wîm: people who possess gentle strength; humble, afflicted

CONSIDER
It began as a celebration, but it would end in attempted murder. When Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth, he was given the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue and publicly read the Messianic prophecy found in chapter 61: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor…” When he was finished reading, Jesus told them, “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” The crowd that day consisted of Jesus’ neighbors, friends, and family acquaintances, and their response was one of marvel and wonder. They had heard tales of his miracles in Capernaum and were excited to support the Messiah, who was assumed to overthrow their political enemies. What Jesus said next, however, changed that dramatically. He told them that rather than preaching good news to the poor of Nazareth alone, or even Israel herself, his rescue work included Gentiles as well! This sounded completely heretical to them because Gentiles were the problem – they were the oppressive enemies that the Messiah was supposed to destroy with political and military strength. The crowd, who moments ago marveled at his words, suddenly marched him to the edge of a cliff to kill him. Thankfully, it was not Jesus’ time to die, and he miraculously walked through the crowd unharmed.
The attitude in Nazareth that day was not much different than that of humanity throughout the ages. They pridefully believed that Jesus would serve their plans and support their ideology. And yet, Isaiah prophesies that when the Messiah comes, “The ‘ă·nā·wîm (humble, gentle) shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.” This Hebrew word implies that new joy will be given to those whose hearts are humbly bent toward the Lord, beginning with his agenda and not their own. We can dream and plan and set goals, but if we do so expecting God to submit to our way of doing things instead of the other way around, we will miss out on the fresh joy that comes from centering our lives on Him. One of the most revolutionary ways to combat the arrogant spirit of our world today is to ask the Lord to transform our hearts from prideful to ‘ă·nā·wîm, and reveal to us the areas of our lives we haven’t fully submitted to the work of His Spirit.

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What area of my life do I need the Lord to transform?

And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding,
and those who murmur will accept instruction.”
– Isaiah 29:24 ESV

HEBREW
וְרוֹגְנִ֖ים/wə·rō·wḡ·nîm: people who criticize, the ones who grumble in judgment

CONSIDER
What area of my life do I need the Lord to transform? Honestly addressing this question will likely prove painful, because any kind of transformation usually involves admitting that something is wrong that we once assumed was right. For Isaiah’s readers, a major area in need of transformation was a critical and judgmental attitude. These people were living in political oppression, financial upheaval, and spiritual turmoil, so it’s not hard to see how they got that way. Instead of focusing internally in repentance, they blamed their politicians, military commanders, and religious leaders for their plight. But through Isaiah, God showed his people that there will come a day when “those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding, and wə·rō·wḡ·nîm (people who criticize, the ones who grumble in judgment) will accept instruction.” The implication here is that when we live with a critical spirit, blaming others for the wrong we see around us, it closes us up to correction and instruction. We cannot see the truth that God wants to show us when we’re focused on the faults of others. The bad news is that this is a universal human condition; we are naturally inclined to be wə·rō·wḡ·nîm! Thankfully, the good news revealed in this text is that when Christ comes, he will undo the internal selfishness that causes us to live foolishly. God knew that apart from him, we were incapable of rescuing ourselves from this critical spirit, and only the death and resurrection of Jesus could accomplish our much-needed transformation.

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What area of my life do I need the Lord to transform?

“Ah, stubborn children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin;
– Isaiah 30:1 ESV

HEBREW
מַסֵּכָ֖ה וְלִנְסֹ֥ךְ/wə·lin·sōḵ mas·sê·ḵāh: weave a web, create a protective covering

CONSIDER
In the days when COVID-19 first developed into a global pandemic, the iconic image of 17th-century “plague doctors” resurged in popularity. These medical professionals wore suits with leather gloves and masks with long bird-like beaks to treat patients with the European Plague. The masks needed to be long enough to fill with theriac, a sweet-smelling concoction that doctors wrongly believed would purify the plagued air and keep them from getting sick themselves. Although their nose and mouth were partially covered, many physicians died from the Plague because of a wrong understanding of how to protect themselves.
Wrong assumptions about how to best protect ourselves from danger have marked human history for centuries. In fact, nearly three thousand years ago, God called out the Israelites as people “who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who wə·lin·sōḵ mas·sê·ḵāh (weave a web, make a protective covering), but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin.” Rather than consulting the God who enacted a covenant of protection with them, his people tried to protect themselves by forming an alliance with Egypt. In their own strength, they attempted to weave a strategic political web but failed to seek God’s wisdom. It may have seemed logical to them at the moment, but not consulting the Lord caused them to heap sin upon sin. They didn’t spend time seeking the Lord, and without divine counsel, they hoped to wə·lin·sōḵ mas·sê·ḵāh with a nation that couldn’t deliver on its promise of protection. It’s only when we lean in to hear from our omniscient God that we will fully experience the security and shelter we all need.

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How will I be intentional in spending time with God?

everyone comes to shame
through a people that cannot profit them,
that brings neither help nor profit,
but shame and disgrace.”
– Isaiah 30:5 ESV

HEBREW
הֹבִ֔ישׁ/hō·ḇîš: has a bad smell; stinks intensely

CONSIDER
It’s known as the king of fruits, it has a higher concentration of nutrients than just about any other produce item, and yet it’s banned from several hotels and public transportation services. The durian fruit smells so bad that once the hard outer shell has been broken into, its scent (thought to resemble sulfur and rotting onions) can linger for days. Its aromatic compounds cause people to have atrocious breath. Despite the durian’s many benefits, only a very small percentage of people will ever experience it because of its odor.
To politically align themselves with others, there are many elements a nation must consider carefully. Any alliance that is entered into without careful consideration runs the risk of having the opposite effect than what was intended. When Israel’s leaders refused to consult the Lord regarding his will for their protection, their reliance on Egypt backfired and caused more harm than good. God said it this way in today’s verse: “everyone hō·ḇîš (has a bad smell; stinks intensely) through a people that cannot profit them, that brings neither help nor profit, but shame and disgrace.” Similar to the way durian fruit leaves an odious imprint on the places it has been, God’s people were left stinking horribly from their shameful and sinful trust in Egypt’s power to protect. Thankfully, Isaiah pointed to a day when the Messiah would remove their shame and confer his righteousness onto the people of God (Rom. 10:10-11). Refusing to think through the ramifications of our prayer-less decisions is not simply unwise; it can lead to shame and an inability to position ourselves around those who need the hope we have to offer.

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How will I be intentional in spending time with God?

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
– Isaiah 30:18 ESV

HEBREW
יְחַכֶּ֤ה/yə·ḥak·keh: will patiently remain, will be content with tarrying

CONSIDER
Bengal tigers are swift, powerful, and hungry animals. Because of this, many of us would expect these creatures to be impatient and hasty hunters, overpowering their prey through sheer speed and force. But Bengal tigers understand the importance of timing; running at their target without an awareness of their activity could easily keep these hunters from their goal. As a result, Bengal tigers can lower their respiratory rate and remain completely still for more than 30 minutes before they sense the perfect moment to attack has arrived. It’s their ability to remain still, not simply their power or agility, that allows them to survive in the chaos of the wild.
As surprising as it may be that Bengal tigers are known for their patience, the fact that the Lord is patient with us can feel downright shocking. When God responds to his people in Isaiah 30, he tells them that despite their lack of trust in his care, they will find salvation through returning and rest (v. 15). However, instead of returning in repentance, the people continued to act wickedly and tried desperately to affect salvation in their own strength. But even then, Isaiah prophesied, “Therefore the Lord yə·ḥak·keh (will patiently remain, will be content with tarrying) to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.” Isaiah boldly declares that the Almighty God, who rescued his people with his powerful right arm, will be content with staying still while he waits for his people to return to him! A variation of this Hebrew verb has been used to describe the patience that a predator displays while waiting to ambush his prey. Yet instead of waiting to condemn or destroy us, Isaiah’s image is that of an omnipotent being stalking imperfect people in order to lavish his grace on them. May we allow that image to resonate in our hearts as we pause to intentionally spend time with God!

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How will I be intentional in spending time with God?

For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you.
– Isaiah 30:19 ESV

HEBREW
יָחְנְךָ֙ חָנ֤וֹן/ḥā·nō·wn yā·ḥə·nə·ḵā: He yearns to show excessive compassion to you

CONSIDER
At Centerway, one hope we have is that we are known as generous people. In fact, we have a Because and Therefore statement that says, 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. It’s important for us to reflect the character of God in the way we relate to others. But generosity runs deeper than the act of donating large sums of money or spending the day helping a friend move into a new home. Biblical generosity can be defined as the outflow of an inward desire to be a blessing to the world around us. Today’s verse is a prime example of this kind of generosity, as the prophet records that God will respond to his people’s rebellion with unmitigated grace. Isaiah says, “ḥā·nō·wn yā·ḥə·nə·ḵā (He yearns to show excessive compassion to you) at the sound of your cry.” Embedded in this Hebrew phrase is a focus on desire; God isn’t content with reluctantly showing compassion but yearns to be gracious to his people. And in case the meaning wasn’t clear enough, this is a phrase with a repeated verb, indicating that the action is both extravagant and abundant. In other words, God deeply desires to show a very large amount of grace to us as we cry to him! Regardless of what we’ve done, where we’ve been, or how we’ve lived, the Father sent his Son Jesus to embody this kind of extravagant grace. When we truly comprehend the kind of generosity that has been given to us, it will be our joy to graciously model it to everyone around us.

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How can I intentionally walk in God’s blessings?

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.
– Isaiah 30:20 ESV

HEBREW
לָ֑חַץ/lā·ḥaṣ: oppression through scarcity

CONSIDER
As the 17th century ended, European settlers in North Africa caught the attention of Moroccan Sultan Ismail bin Sharif. Unwilling to share land with anyone, let alone Spanish Christians, the Sultan besieged the Port City of Ceuta. This siege lasted an incredible 26 years and was designed to starve the Spanish, keep them from vital resources, and drive them away from Morocco. However, Ceuta was roughly 40 miles from the Spanish mainland, and Moroccan forces were not strong enough to stop supplies and reinforcements from entering the city’s port. Although Ceuta is known for being the site of the longest siege in history, the Sultan never succeeded in forcing the Spanish to surrender. Once he died, his forces simply gave up and walked away from their mission. The Siege of Ceuta failed because military forces were unable to achieve their primary objective: creating an atmosphere of desperation within the city’s walls. And since the inhabitants never lacked the resources they needed, the Moroccan forces were essentially engaged in a 26-year camping trip!
The prophet Isaiah understood the concept of desperation. His countrymen were quick to engage in disobedience and trust in their own capabilities apart from the Lord. As a result, God had left them to their own failed plans and had removed his presence from their midst. But Isaiah also saw a day in which “the bread of adversity and the water of lā·ḥaṣ (oppression through scarcity)” would be replaced with the presence of God! No longer would the Lord deprive his people of intimacy with Him, but instead would make a way for anyone who wants to be filled to overflowing with the grace of his companionship. When Isaiah prophesies that “your Teacher will not hide himself anymore” after referencing the bread and water of scarcity, he means to provide an encouraging word that the siege is lifted, and we no longer have to fear the suffering that is felt apart from the Lord. Through Jesus, we have the assurance that God will never bring us lā·ḥaṣ, but will joyfully provide unhindered access to himself.

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How can I intentionally walk in God’s blessings?

For a burning place has long been prepared; indeed, for the king it is made ready, its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it.
– Isaiah 30:33 ESV

HEBREW
כְּנַ֣חַל/kə·na·ḥal: riverbed, wadi, torrent

CONSIDER
The Cuyahoga, a river that runs through Cleveland and empties into Lake Erie, has long been known for the unexpected. After the Civil War, it became so polluted that the surface of the water consistently caught fire, needing to be doused with water from another source by firefighters along its shore. Imagine what it must have been like for rookie firefighters to rush to the scene of a fire, only to discover that its origin was the very water itself! The shock of this contradiction led in part to the formation of Earth Day in 1970.
Isaiah chapter 30 is also full of surprises. Where we expect political stability, national upheaval is found. Where we expect God’s people to seek him, they instead make a hasty military alliance. And where we expect him to punish, God instead awards grace and mercy. But perhaps no clearer contradiction of expectation can be seen than in today’s verse, the final sentence of the chapter. The Assyrians – God’s enemies – are seen arrogantly marching toward the valley south of Jerusalem to overtake the people of God. Because of the size of their army compared to Israel’s, they expect to make quick work of the area in a short battle. But where they expect death and destruction in a lush riverbed, they find a “… pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the Lord, like a kə·na·ḥal (riverbed, wadi, torrent) of sulfur, kindles it.” Much like finding a river on fire, the Assyrians were shocked when the Lord himself fought on behalf of his people, turning their expected flood of victory into a kə·na·ḥal of sulfur. The army was consumed by the breath of God blowing not on a river of water but a torrent of fire! Today, God is still at work in the unexpected. Those who stood against Jesus assumed the cross was a clear path to victory, and yet God leveraged it for the defeat of our biggest enemy – death and the grave. This surprising turn of events means that no matter how desperate our situation appears, there is a river of blessing for those who trust in the Lord.

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How can I intentionally walk in God’s blessings?

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses,
who trust in chariots because they are many
and in horsemen because they are very strong,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel
or consult the Lord!
– Isaiah 31:1 ESV

HEBREW
שָׁעוּ֙ וְלֹ֤א/šā·‘ū wə·lō: do not respect; do not study the character of

CONSIDER
One of the most beloved chapters in the entire Bible is Psalm 119. It’s a love poem written to celebrate the Psalmist’s passion for God’s law. All 176 verses are packed with appreciation of and respect for scripture. And in verse 117, the author even goes so far as to ask God for protection in order that he may study his statutes continually. The Psalmist is so zealous for the law that he connects examining it for the rest of his life to his reason for living.
This same kind of passion can be found as Isaiah reiterates the folly of making plans without the Lord’s help. This time, the prophet hits on the reality that trusting in Egypt is the logical thing to do! But just because something is logical doesn’t mean it’s the best plan. Isaiah says it this way: Woe to those who… “trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but šā·‘ū wə·lō (do not respect; do not study the character of) the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!” This Hebrew phrase shares the verb for gazing with Psalm 119:117. In difficult times, it seemed obvious to the Israelites that they should align themselves with Egypt, the strongest force they could find. However, if they had focused on the Lord the way a military commander focuses on a war, they would have recognized that the battle belongs to him in the first place (1 Samuel 17:47). When faced with our own difficult times, we can choose to trust convincing arguments from human wisdom, or rest in the reality that leaning into the presence of God is the safest place possible. So which will you focus on this week?

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How do I need to change my approach to difficulties?

And yet he is wise and brings disaster;
he does not call back his words,
but will arise against the house of the evildoers
and against the helpers of those who work iniquity.
– Isaiah 31:2 ESV

HEBREW
הֵסִ֑יר לֹ֣א/lō hê·sîr: does not depart from; will not deviate from

CONSIDER
NFL coaches devote their entire lives to their careers. Reports of 18-hour workdays and playbook-induced insomnia can be found on every team in the league. So when a quarterback calls an audible – a different play than the coach originally called – it often is not well received on the sideline. Case in point: In week 6 of the 2023 season, the New York Giants were 1 yard away from scoring a touchdown when their quarterback changed the play that the coach had called for them. The audible didn’t work, and the Giants not only walked away from that possession with no points, but they lost the game by 5 points… less than the amount the touchdown would be worth. The coach was furious at the quarterback, and the entire team was left wondering what would have happened if the original plan had been executed properly.
Isn’t it encouraging to know that when it comes to God’s plans, they can never be improved upon? Not only does he speak from a place of omniscience, but Isaiah says that “he lō hê·sîr (does not depart from; will not deviate from) his words.” When God enacts a plan, it would go against his nature to deviate from what he says is true. The Lord will not call an audible that would change a reality that he has spoken into existence. This should provide us with hope because, through Jesus, we have direct access to the presence of God without ever having to worry about whether he will revoke that privilege. Because of his loving nature, God lō hê·sîr his word to rescue us from the consequences of sin. May we come to him before anything else whenever difficult situations arise in our lives!

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How do I need to change my approach to difficulties?

Turn to him from whom people have deeply revolted, O children of Israel.
– Isaiah 31:6 ESV

HEBREW
שׁ֗וּבוּ/šū·ḇū: Change course and go back

CONSIDER
When humans get lost while traveling, modern tools such as maps, compasses and smartphones ensure that we get back on track relatively quickly. When animals get lost while traveling, they have to rely on something even more amazing: their internal homing sense. Cats, bats, birds, and fish are just a few examples of animals that use celestial cues, specific sounds, and even the Earth’s magnetic field to travel upwards of a thousand miles to find their way back home. A quick internet search will yield dozens of examples of the incredible homing sense in a variety of species.
Throughout the Bible, scripture continually points to humanity’s need for a similar homing system. The prophet Isaiah instructs the people of Israel to “šū·ḇū (change course and go back) to him from whom people have deeply revolted.” This command is a poignant picture of repentance, as broken people return to the very One they have sinned against. Notice that Isaiah never implies that we should turn away from sin and toward punishment, penance, or shame. The only hope for sinners is to šū·ḇū to the Lord, who took our punishment and bore our shame so that we wouldn’t have to! Because Jesus was willing to endure the cross and walk out of his tomb in victory over death, no longer do sin, doubt, or even life’s difficulties need to keep us lost and off course. Instead, God’s Holy Spirit can direct us back to himself regardless of how far we’ve strayed from home.

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How do I need to change my approach to difficulties?

Each will be like a hiding place from the wind,
a shelter from the storm,
like streams of water in a dry place,
like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.
– Isaiah 32:2 ESV

HEBREW
עֲיֵפָֽה/‘ă·yê·p̄āh: exhausted, parched

CONSIDER
Ah, summer; many of us enjoy the warm weather, the extended daylight hours, and the numerous outdoor activities. But the dangers of the sun’s rays are no secret, and the line between healthy enjoyment and harmful exposure is thin. Many people risk overexposure to UV radiation, sunburn, and dehydration by standing in the sun for a mere 10 minutes! The sun is simultaneously a necessity and something to be protected from.
There are many reasons why our lives may become spiritually parched, and those reasons are likely more nuanced than we expect them to be. In Isaiah 32, the prophet foresees a day in which a ruler will reign in righteousness, and their rule will be as protective and refreshing as “… streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a ‘ă·yê·p̄āh (exhausted, parched) land.” The righteous reign of the king and his princes will be like water to the parched and shade to the exhausted. But much like the impact of the sun, the cause of such ‘ă·yê·p̄āh conditions stemmed from overexposure to a good thing. The Israelites were diligent in preparing to protect themselves and their way of life. Yet as important – and even necessary – as it was to be ready for the future, their unwillingness to seek the Lord first left them weary and in need of rest in every area of their lives. It was in this environment that the king of righteousness came to be the very place of refreshing that his people were in desperate need of experiencing (Matt. 11:28-30). For all who are in the midst of a similarly ‘ă·yê·p̄āh land, perhaps the cause is trusting in too much of a good thing, whatever that may be. Allow the hope that the king of righteousness offers through his resurrection to bring a season of refreshing and restoration.

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How can I be a Gospel-centered influencer in my sphere?

The heart of the hasty will understand and know,
and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly.
– Isaiah 32:4 ESV

HEBREW
נִמְהָרִ֖ים/nim·hā·rîm: of the rash, of those in a hurry

CONSIDER
One of the major themes in this section of Isaiah is the importance of being still. Throughout this series we’ve noticed that wherever we find ourselves in life, much benefit can be found in a season of waiting. Not only can we better hear the voice of God’s direction in the stillness, but pausing to rest before we act is profoundly countercultural in a world that values activity, hurry, and urgency. The problem, however, is that many of us are caught in the grip of busyness so deeply that our identity is wrapped up in it. We either can’t imagine a different pace of life or are convinced that if we gave ourselves permission to rest, our world would quickly unravel. If that resonates, today’s verse is meant to be a beacon of hope!
Isaiah sees a day in which the perfect, righteous king will arrive on the scene, and when he does, those things that have been damaged by the impact of sin will be completely restored. Not only will the hurting find refreshing (v.2) and those with dull senses use them properly (v. 3), but “The heart nim·hā·rîm (of the rash, of those in a hurry) will understand and know, and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly.” This Hebrew verb is used throughout the Old Testament in situations where people act anxiously or are so rash that they fail to weigh their options. The implication is clear: when the King of Righteousness comes, the hearts nim·hā·rîm will be changed from frantically running in every direction to resting in the confidence he alone can provide. Jesus not only modeled this sort of patient stillness when he went off to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16), but he is the very One whose death and resurrection enacted the healing that our hurried and anxious hearts require!

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How can I be a Gospel-centered influencer in my sphere?

But he who is noble plans noble things,
and on noble things he stands.
– Isaiah 32:8 ESV

HEBREW
נְדִיב֣וֹת/nə·ḏî·ḇō·wṯ: generosity; liberal giving to God and others

CONSIDER
One of the Because and Therefore statements that guides us most often as a church 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.
Those who call Centerway home consistently aim to infuse generosity into every interaction and relationship. Isaiah distinguishes the noble from the foolish, noting this kind of generosity as a key difference. After speaking of the downfall of the scoundrel (the literal translation is a selfish person) in verse 5, he tells us “But he who is noble plans nə·ḏî·ḇō·wṯ, and on nə·ḏî·ḇō·wṯ he stands.” For the Hebrews, nobility and generosity were synonymous concepts; to be a noble person was to be generous with one’s resources. So when Isaiah pointed to the kind of change that the coming king of righteousness would enact, it was no surprise that nə·ḏî·ḇō·wṯ would mark the actions of those who responded to him. When we truly comprehend the reality that through Jesus, God has given us everything, the generosity that results will no doubt shape us into Gospel-centered influencers that impact our spheres of influence.

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How can I be a Gospel-centered influencer in my sphere?

Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice;
you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech.
– Isaiah 32:9 ESV

HEBREW
שַֽׁאֲנַנּ֔וֹת/ša·’ă·nan·nō·wṯ: who are undisturbed

CONSIDER
July 2023 proved to be a heartbreaking month in the Custer Gallatin National Forest. Reports of grizzly bear activity had led Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to issue a warning to be prepared for an encounter. Unfortunately, that warning wasn’t heeded by a hiker on the Buttermilk Trail, who entered the woods alone, did not have bear spray, and was completely unarmed. Her death was tragic, shocking, and likely avoidable. We may never know what this hiker was thinking on the day she was attacked, but speculation afterward surrounded her high level of comfort in that situation. Although it’s important to be relatively at ease in the woods before setting off on the trail, being prepared amidst fervent warnings is absolutely critical.
This week’s passage serves as a warning itself to anyone who refuses to prepare for what’s to come. Isaiah calls out the complacency in Israel when he warns, “Rise up, you women ša·’ă·nan·nō·wṯ (who are undisturbed), hear my voice…” In this context, the women in Israel are representative of the entire nation, who neglected to heed God’s call to repentance. Instead of trusting the Lord and turning toward Him, they remained undisturbed by warnings of Assyrian invasion. Israel were a people ša·’ă·nan·nō·wṯ because they were living in a time of abundance and safety, unwilling to take God seriously when he warned there was danger ahead. The result was the desolation of the very harvest, institutions, and military that they put their trust in. Thankfully, God not only issued a warning for his people, but he also enacted a plan for His Son to take upon himself the full scope of the punishment for not heeding that warning. Thanks to the finished work of Jesus, the penalty for our disobedience has been covered, and the result of placing our trust in him is a life lived to the fullest in every situation.

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Who will I commit to praying for this week?

until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,
and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.
– Isaiah 32:15 ESV

HEBREW
יֵ֨עָרֶ֥ה/yê·‘ā·reh: is emptied out entirely

CONSIDER
In Genesis 24, we read a story that reminds us that not all relationships begin the same way. When Abraham was looking for a wife for his son, he instructed his servant to bring back a young woman for Isaac from among his relatives in Mesopotamia. Abraham’s servant asked God for a specific sign: if a woman offered to water his camels after he requested a drink from her, that would be the woman for Isaac. When Rebekah came to the town well, she not only agreed to give the servant some water, but she voluntarily emptied her jar into a trough and watered his camels. This act revealed her generosity of character and confirmed that she was a perfect fit for Abraham’s son.
While this story may leave us thankful that we no longer choose spouses in this way, it also helps to illustrate an important lesson from today’s verse. After issuing a warning about the desolation that comes from a lack of trust in the Lord, the tone of Isaiah’s prophecy changes completely. He says that Israel’s disobedience will produce devastation “until the Spirit is yê·‘ā·reh (is emptied out entirely) upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.” The catalyst for this amazing change in circumstances is God’s Holy Spirit being generously and completely poured out upon his people! This verb is the same one used in Genesis 24 when Rebekah spared none of her resources to water camels in a dry wilderness. The use of this word indicates that she generously drained her jar to the last drop, and Isaiah’s use of yê·‘ā·reh indicates God’s life-changing generosity toward his people. Through this complete outpouring of the Holy Spirit, their broken places would become healed, and their wild places would become fertile. The promise of the gospel is that, despite our disobedience, God loves us so much that he spared nothing – including his only Son – to restore our relationship with him.

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Who will I commit to praying for this week?

And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.
– Isaiah 32:17 ESV

HEBREW
וַֽעֲבֹדַת֙/wa·‘ă·ḇō·ḏaṯ: and the harvest; and the finished product

CONSIDER
What kind of things were you working on 16 years ago? Hopefully, any project that you began back then is finished by now! If not, however, you’re in pretty good company. According to the Louvre Museum in Paris, Leonardo da Vinci took 16 years to complete the Mona Lisa, working on it intermittently and adding minor tweaks until his work was satisfactory to him. Other artists could have easily “settled” for fewer layers of oil glazes and fine detail, but da Vinci knew the finished product would be worth the extra effort.
Isaiah’s prophetic vision of the future when the Holy Spirit is poured out on his people is full of similar imagery. He sees a day in which the Messiah would make a way for God and man to be reconciled (see Isaiah 9, 40, 53), and when that day comes, His Spirit would undo the denigration caused by human sin. He then describes the result of that work in today’s verse: “And the effect of righteousness will be peace, wa·‘ă·ḇō·ḏaṯ (and the harvest; and the finished product) of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.” This is a noun that refers to the fruit of a completed task, i.e. the harvest that a worker brings in after a season of farming. But in 64:6, Isaiah compares our own righteousness to filthy rags, so how can that produce quietness and trust? Thankfully, the righteousness that produces these qualities in our lives isn’t the result of our work, but the work of the Messiah. When Jesus agreed to leave the comforts of Heaven to live life as a human, he didn’t consider his work finished until he endured death on the cross. But as a result of his sacrifice on our behalf, the righteousness he earned is available to us! It’s this righteousness that will bring a harvest of quietness and trust as we follow him with thankful hearts. He understood the cost, but because of his great love, Jesus was willing to put in the effort to restore our relationship with God.

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Who will I commit to praying for this week?

O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you.
Be our arm every morning,
our salvation in the time of trouble.
– Isaiah 33:2 ESV

HEBREW
קִוִּ֑ינוּ/qiw·wî·nū: we have been keeping an eye out

CONSIDER
On Easter Sunday, 2024, three friends living in Micronesia thought it would be fun to take a fishing trip to a small atoll about 160 kilometers from where they lived. Soon after arriving, the weather turned, and their boat became damaged by the waves. Without warning, they found themselves stranded on the uninhabited island. To make matters worse, their radio died when attempting to make a rescue call. For over a week, the three men survived on coconuts and fresh water from a makeshift well. Because it was only a 31-acre beach in the middle of a 2.5 million square kilometer area of the Pacific Ocean, they knew that their chances of being rescued were slim. Still, they wrote out the word HELP in palm fronds and kept a vigilant watch for any sign of human activity. After surviving more than a week on the island, their distress signal was miraculously spotted by a Navy jet, and the men were returned to their families unharmed.
In a very real sense, these marooned friends had no choice but to wait to be saved from their situation, but that doesn’t mean they were passive in the waiting. Isaiah’s prayer in today’s verse includes a similar idea, as he declares, “O Lord, be gracious to us; qiw·wî·nū (we have been on alert) for you.” This perfect tense verb indicates an action that is completed in a variety of forms. Much like shipwrecked fishermen who recognize that they cannot rescue themselves and so employ every sense they have to seek help, Isaiah tells God that his people have been active in waiting for him to act on their behalf. The result? They have a heightened awareness of when the Lord is at work. By declaring qiw·wî·nū for you, we are expressing hope in the Gospel that tells us Jesus has already accomplished the victory over sin and death. The best way to respond to that truth in times of trouble is to be on alert for when and where he is at work.

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Start every morning this week praying verse 2.

and he will be the stability of your times,
abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;
the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.
– Isaiah 33:6 ESV

HEBREW
אֱמוּנַ֣ת/’ĕ·mū·naṯ: the faithfulness; the strength to stand or endure

CONSIDER
As far back as we can go, humanity has struggled to find where to place their stability. The first example of this is the Garden of Eden. The world was perfect; all of God’s creation was deemed “good” and left to the authority of humanity. In Genesis 2:16-17, God made it clear to Adam that the tree of “the knowledge of good and evil” should not be eaten from. Reading the story in Genesis, we find that it doesn’t exactly end well. Eve’s decision to eat the fruit, bringing sin into the world, was no small thing. Satan’s temptation caused Eve to question where her stability came from. Giving into this temptation, Eve tried to find her stability in an unfaithful source of knowledge, instead of trusting God.
As humans, we all have a tendency to rely on something or someone for stability. While craving ’ĕ·mū·naṯ (the faithfulness; the strength to stand or endure) is a good thing, we must be sure the source is a trustworthy one. As we have journeyed through Isaiah, we have seen the Israelites and King Hezekiah wrongly attempt to place their hope and stability in the fleeting or non-existent safety of Egypt and Assyria. While we may not be trying to avoid being conquered, this concept is something that we continue to struggle with today. We seek stability in created things, whether that be our jobs, education, family, or relative safety. Isaiah, however, makes it clear that ’ĕ·mū·naṯ is something that can be found only in God, the most trustworthy and stable source in any situation.
Our challenge for this week is to start every morning praying verse two over our lives, which is a practical and powerful way to remind ourselves that our stability is found in our faithful God.

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Start every morning this week praying verse 2.

“Now I will arise,” says the Lord,
“now I will lift myself up;
now I will be exalted.
– Isaiah 33:10 ESV

HEBREW
אֶנָּשֵֽׂא/’en·nā·śê: I will elevate myself to a place of visibility

CONSIDER
Our mission at Centerway is to Cultivate a movement in which people become Gospel-centered influencers in every sphere of life. This means that not only is the gospel central to how we live, but it will also inform how we lead. However, the gospel is offensive to modern-day sensibilities for a myriad of reasons, and because good leadership requires people to lead, we can find it safer to influence others apart from the truth of the gospel. But looking for safety in anything other than the plan and presence of God has proven to be a trap; only through waiting for the Lord and trusting in his ability to save can we experience true security.
In today’s verse, Isaiah shows us what the world will look like once God’s people repent of their lack of trust in the Lord. Once this happens, the Lord Himself will declare, “‘Now I will arise,’ says the Lord, “now ’en·nā·śê (I will elevate myself to a place of visibility); now I will be exalted.” It didn’t take a season of punishment or a negotiated deal for God to move on behalf of the Israelites. He simply saw their changed hearts and acted. And when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem a few hundred years later, he declared the work finished, hung on a cross, and elevated himself to a place of visibility to take the punishment for the sins of the world. May we be armed with the truth of the gospel that Isaiah so vividly communicated and learn to influence others with this same hope!

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Start every morning this week praying verse 2.

he will dwell on the heights;
his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks;
his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.
– Isaiah 33:16 ESV

HEBREW
נֶאֱמָנִֽים/ne·’ĕ·mā·nîm: will be stable, will have the ability to be trusted

CONSIDER
Being in last place stinks. In the 1980s, the Atlanta Braves got really good at it. They came in dead last in their division the final two years of the decade, averaging 98 losses per season in that span. And if fans hoped a new decade would change things, they were disappointed as their team ended up in last place for the third year in a row. But in 1991, everything turned around for the Braves. Their pitchers stayed healthy, their offense surged, and they became the first team in National League history to go from last place to the World Series the following year.
We all seem to love a good turnaround story. When things so drastically change in sports, careers, or even relationships, it’s natural to begin trying to determine why. This week’s passage outlines another turnaround story, with the Israelites going from remorseless to repentant when the Lord responded to their trouble. Before their change of heart, God offered them what they deserved – the bread of adversity and the water of affliction (Isaiah 30:20). However, the moment they repented, Isaiah asserts that God acted on their behalf; “his bread will be given him; his water ne·’ĕ·mā·nîm (will be stable, will have the ability to be trusted).” Contrasting the water of affliction with its emphasis on trouble and instability, God promises a complete turnaround in his provision. And unlike a reversal of fortune from one baseball season to the next, the reason for it is explicitly revealed as God’s response to a heart of repentance. The beauty of the gospel of Jesus is that it only takes a moment to turn from sin and build one’s life on the One who ne·’ĕ·mā·nîm. It’s never too late to allow the Lord to write an incredible turnaround story with our lives! May we be bold enough to course correct in any area of our lives that the Spirit prompts us to change.

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What will I offer to the Lord that I’ve been holding tightly to?

Behold Zion, the city of our appointed feasts!
Your eyes will see Jerusalem,
an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent,
whose stakes will never be plucked up,
nor will any of its cords be broken.
– Isaiah 33:20 ESV

HEBREW
בַּל אֹ֤הֶל יִצְעָן֙/bal yiṣ·‘ān ’ō·hel: [a] tabernacle that cannot wander

CONSIDER
To a wealthy leader with plenty of resources, the idea of the King of Glory on a perennial camping trip seemed ridiculous. We find this story in 2 Samuel 7, where David was seated in the throne room of a cedar palace, at peace with his enemies and enjoying the favor of his kingdom. But although he was living in luxury, the God of the universe lived in a tent that could easily be folded up. So, David set out to build a permanent structure for the Lord to live in, and through a series of prophecies and lessons, his son Solomon was appointed to finish the task.
There were definite benefits to the Tabernacle being portable, but once the Israelites entered the Promised Land, stability and dependability mattered a great deal. The problem became that those attributes were tied to the obedience of God’s people, who quickly found themselves trusting in lesser things than his promises. But Isaiah saw hope on the horizon when he beheld the future of the city of Jerusalem. He tells his readers, “Your eyes will see Jerusalem, an untroubled habitation, an bal yiṣ·‘ān ’ō·hel ([a] tabernacle that cannot wander), whose stakes will never be plucked up nor will any of its cords be broken.” For Isaiah, this word of encouragement is directly tied to the work of the Messianic king (see verse 17). It was he who would be on display so that the people of God would no longer need to chase after temporary promises of safety. The place to find the healing presence of God would now be easy to find, providing stability and strength to a weary world. This is encouragement that spans the centuries and is as poignant today as it was for Isaiah’s original audience. Whatever we have been holding tightly to for our protection grossly pales in comparison to the durability and power of the presence of God!

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What will I offer to the Lord that I’ve been holding tightly to?

And no inhabitant will say, “I am sick”;
the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.
– Isaiah 33:24 ESV

HEBREW
חָלִ֑יתִי/ḥā·lî·ṯî: I am weak, I am tired

CONSIDER
It’s hard to believe that we are at the end of our Summer series! When we reflect on the six chapters of Isaiah that make up the Trust series, the theme that cannot be ignored is where our hope can be found. Israel trusted in the protection of the countries and kingdoms around them and wound up with regret. And yet, the moment God’s people turned from their sin and toward the True Source of their hope, the Lord acted on their behalf and revealed a future marked by his restorative presence. In fact, in addition to the healthy bounty that the land will produce, the people themselves will be healthy. “And no inhabitant will say, ‘ḥā·lî·ṯî’ (I am weak, I am tired); the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.” Isaiah foretells of a time when the Lord will finish his work, and his people who live in his midst will no longer be impacted by physical or spiritual sickness. The Hebrew verb ḥā·lî·ṯî has been translated in all sorts of ways, including to indicate stress, fatigue, illness, and even apathy. So although we currently live in a spiritual state of weariness, this vision of the future empowers us to patiently wait for God to enact the full restoration of our lives and the world. The beauty of the gospel is that the finished work of the Messiah will recover everything that the effects of sin eroded in us, and a few chapters later, Isaiah confirmed this prophecy concerning God’s life-giving presence when he declared, “Those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength.” Imagine how life could have been different for the Israelites if they had waited on the Lord for their strength instead of relying on lesser things. And now imagine how our lives could be different by heeding the same lesson! We have the gift of perspective. Because of Jesus, it’s never too late to “Lean In, Be Still, and Take Ground.”

APPLY
What will I offer to the Lord that I’ve been holding tightly to?