Category: Isaiah

Isaiah 40:18 With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him?

When I read verse 18 this morning, Isaiah 55:8 came immediately to mind: “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

Isaiah 40:19 As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it.

It is human nature to try to understand God through comparisons to things we already experience, but God is so unlike anything we know, that comparison will never be anything close to accurate.

Isaiah 40:20a A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot;

Precious Savior, I struggle to understand who You are in relationship to things that I understand. I know that that can be a futile task. Help me to keep striving to know you more, know you better. Help me to keep seeking to draw closer to You. Amen.

Isaiah 40:20b …they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.

Have a blessed day.

Isaiah 40:15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.

Commentary says that verse 15 means that even the finest city with the best reputation is not worth much in comparison to God. Since humans tend to see things in comparative terms–Charlotte is a fabulous city. God is a fabulous God. God’s glory must be similar to Charlotte’s reputation.–It makes sense to me that when it comes to God, the syllogism doesn’t hold up. Bless us, humans need that confirmation.

Isaiah 40:16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.

And I find that, repeatedly, despite the fact that I know God cannot be compared to anything that I know, my mind tries to make sense of God in human terms, with human comparisons. Today’s scripture reminds me that that’s not possible. God is so far beyond humans that any comparison to help me understand is pale at best.

Isaiah 40:17 Before him all the nations are as nothing;

Precious Savior, It is human to try to make sense of things we don’t understand in terms of things that we know. Thank You for the reminder that You do not, cannot, will not fit neatly into any models of understanding that I have. But just because I can’t truly comprehend You doesn’t mean I can’t understand who You are and who You are to me. Thank You. Amen.

Isaiah 40:17b …they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.

Have a blessed day.

Isaiah 40:12a Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?

God is sovereign. Though He only donned a physical body with Jesus, and then it was the body of a humble carpenter, He has the whole world in His hands. He measured the seas and weighed the mountains as He was creating everything. He is also thoughtful and intelligent–not in human terms, though, unfortunately, that’s the only measure I seem to have. No one instructed Him, no one taught Him. He is sovereign.

Isaiah 40:12b …Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?

When looking up sovereign to try to articulate my thoughts further, I am struck with the reality that sovereign isn’t adequate. Google says it means “possessing supreme or ultimate power,” which is true, but it doesn’t really get at what I mean. God is the top of the hierarchy. There is no one higher than Him. He is the wisest. He is the most powerful. He is the most loving, most gracious, most compassionate.

Isaiah 40:13 Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor?

Precious Savior, As I try to define You, I find that it is really hard. You are so much more than anything, anyone I have ever known. You defy earthly terms and descriptions. Thank You that I know who You are and who You are to me, even if I can’t adequately describe You. Thank You for Your sovereignty and love. Amen.

Isaiah 40:14 Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?

Have a blessed day.

Isaiah 40:6a A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?”…

I love a good analogy, and the analogy employed in verses 7 and 8 is specifically a simile comparing people, Christians, to grass and their faithfulness to flowers by using the preposition “like.” So how are Christians like grass and their faithfulness like flowers?

Isaiah 40:6 b …“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.

We have potential for great beauty. In a Christian analogy, beauty, I think, would have to be the quality of being like our Savior–our faithfulness. Godly behavior, godly attitudes,godly actions and words. If plants are watered (with the word), nurtured (through time with God), given adequate sunlight (Son-light), planted in the right soil (maybe that deals with finding the right mission field?), we will shine beautifully–illuminating His light and love for all.

Isaiah 40:7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.

Precious Savior, I am not a gardener, though I have great admiration for those who can grow things in the soil. However, I feel I truly understand Your analogy today. And even as beautifully as we can be when we bloom in You, we are transient, temporary like the grass and the flowers. You–Your word, Your love, Your mercy–is eternal. Thank You. Amen.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

Have a blessed day.

Isaiah 40:3a A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord ;

A footnote to verse 3 reads: Or A voice of one calling in the wilderness: “Prepare the way for the Lord…”, meaning this verse can either be a voice calling in the wilderness (footnote) or we are to prepare a way for the Lord in the wilderness (original NIV). Semantically, the difference deals with who is in the wilderness–the voice that is calling or the way we prepare for the Lord.

Isaiah 40:3b …make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

I know that I more readily cry out to the Lord when I am in a wilderness period. I also know that the Lord went through His own wilderness period, so He knows what that feels like. He knows how to comfort His people who are in the wilderness. Perhaps, semantically, the difference isn’t truly important. The Lord being there with us in that wilderness is.

Isaiah 40:4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.

Precious Savior, Thank You for understanding what it means, what it feels like to be in a wilderness period. Thank You that we can call on You, that You are with us even if we don’t call, that You understand what it feels like to be in the wilderness, that You are with us always. Amen.

Isaiah 40:5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Have a blessed day.

Isaiah 40:1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

I feel a deep need to comfort others. Sometimes I think I’m pretty good at it. Others, I know I’m terrible, but I’m doing the best I can. I am confident that God can use it all. And that’s what God asks of us: Comfort each other. Love each other. Do the best you can to lift and encourage each other.

Isaiah 40:2a Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed…

This week, I have been on the receiving end of comfort–Comfort that was offered simply as a kindness from a kind heart. Comfort that ended up being a God-wink, a reminder that my Savior sees me, knows my struggles, is with me always.

Isaiah 40:2b …that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

Precious Savior, Thank You for the ability to comfort each other, to uplift and encourage. Thank You for acts of kindness that become acts of comfort. Help us to show others compassion and kindness always. Amen.

Isaiah 40:3a A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord…

Have a blessed day.

Isaiah 12:4a In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;

When I look at the words that jump out at me from today’s verses, the ones that draw my attention are: praise, proclaim, exalted, sing, let this be known, and shout aloud. These verses are definitely about praising God.

Isaiah 12:4b …make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.

I want my life, my recognition of my Savior to be exemplified by these words. Some days I’m incredibly successful at praising His name. Other days…when the world is crashing in, when life is veering completely off course, when nothing is as it should be…not so much.

Isaiah 12:5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.

Precious Savior, Thank You for who You are and who You are to me. Thank You that on the good days, it is so easy to praise, proclaim, exalted, sing, let this be known, shout aloud, and sing Your praises. Help me, on the difficult days, to give You what praise I can. Help me on the tough days to remember that You are still sovereign, You are still good, You are still with me. Always. Amen.

Isaiah 12:6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

Have a blessed day.

Isaiah 12:1 In that day you will say: “I will praise you, Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.

Verse 2 has my attention today. I long for the ability to trust and not be afraid. And while I know God is my Savior, my refuge, my strength, I still struggle in the trust and no fear department. It is truly aggravating, and yet, I know I’ll get there eventually. I’ve been working on it long enough.

Isaiah 12:2a Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid….

Verse 2 might hold the key to why it is so difficult. While I know the Lord is my strength and my defense, I still have a stubborn, independent streak a mile wide. I’ll toil and scrap and labor under my own strength in my own defense, trying to be independent. And eventually I’ll realize I’m carrying a burden that was never meant for me. Maybe that’s why I’m so weary.

Isaiah 12:2b …The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation.”

Precious Savior, Thank You for whispering to my heart these truths that I know yet I persist in ignoring. Thank You for loving me fiercely even though I have way too much in common with a recalcitrant toddler at times. Help me to lay my burdens at Your feet and to rest in Your peace. Amen.

Isaiah 12:3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Have a blessed day.