You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock....In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul. My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.

Isaiah 26-27

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock....In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul. My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. Isaiah 26:3-4,8-9

I return to my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, on Lesson 10, Day 1, the focus moves to Isaiah 26-27, primarily on Isaiah 26, where my commentary indicates that while Isaiah 24-25 describe "triumphant prophecies of final victory by the Lord over all tyrants who oppress God’s people in this world[,]" God's people seek encouragement and guidance about how to endure in the present while waiting for God's promised end times judgement of the whole world.  The commentary writes that "Isaiah 26 is a song of realistic praise for God’s present protection and future deliverance for his suffering people."  In particular v3-4 and v7-9 offer such encouragement and guidance.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, and who protects and delivers me from the dark forces of this world now and for eternity - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings - my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.

Isaiah 48

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. v17

As God continues to admonish Israel for its wicked ways, He continues to provide hope and encouragement - this is how perfect God - His love is present in all that He does for His children.   Today's verse serves as a great reminder for how we need not look elsewhere for our guidance and direction.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:23-24

 

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

 

Just as God led the Israelites out of Egypt by fire and by cloud, He continues to direct our ways - as long as we submit to Him (Romans 12:2).

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me all I need to know my way.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Psalm 37

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. v23-4

While not explicit, my read of these verses is that with God is our guide, our direction is true and sure that He will always place us on firm ground and He will always be there to coach us as we try and walk with Him.


Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3

I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." Isaiah 48:17

As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. Luke 6:47-48

My Prayer: Lord You are a great God and You are my God, my teacher, my guide, my counselor, my protector, my healer, my provider and You are with me always.  What a great God You are!  I am not worth such a God - You bless me beyond what I deserve.  I continue to worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 32

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. v8

As I reflect on my 50th birthday today and read this verse, I am thankful for the greatest gift of all time - Jesus Christ.  Without a doubt, Jesus is the "way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).  At the same time, I have experienced what David writes in verses 9-10:


Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle.  V9-10

 Arrogance is self-worship and this is dangerous - just ask Saul when Samuel tells him that God has rejected him as King:

For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” 1 Samuel 15:23

I have been, more so than today, arrogant....and thankfully God has humbled me...and I know there is more humbling needed because none of us are where God needs us to be.

Help me have a hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) and recognize that "apart from You I have no good thing" (Psalm 16:2).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and patience for me...despite my arrogance...and despite my anger and impatience for others.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such patience, love, grace, compassion, etc.  My anger continues to burn as I lose my patience too easily.  Please forgive me!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You love me...please!  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

What sweet verses that David expresses about God and who He is...indeed I lack nothing and "apart from you" I have no good thing.  He comforts me, provides peace, rest and directs my path and my walk - what an awesome God You are Jesus!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

 

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6

 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

My Prayer:  Lord, indeed You are great in that ALL good things are from You and that if I am in You and abide in You I know I will find comfort, peace, rest and direction - life in abundance and for eternity!  How awesome a God are You!  Yet I am not worthy of such a God - I fail to give You my first fruits as I am easily distracted by worldly concerns...please forgive me for my worldly desires and worry.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Thank You for Your grace and patience.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.