Day 51 of 90 Devotion

Dearest e-votees-

Day fifty-one of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible. If you want to see the readings for our trip through the Bible you can follow this link:

www.christthegoodshep.org/biblein90days.html

Peace,
Karl

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Day 51 Readings: Isaiah 29:1-41:18

Part of our readings have a familiar ring to them as they are recounting things we read about in 2 Chronicles 32 and following. We have the account of Sennacherib threatening Hezekiah, God's deliverance, Hezekiah's illness, God's healing, etc., etc. There is more than the size of the foe or the extent of the illness when God is involved. The threats of a tyrant are no match for the promises of a gracious God.

Part of our readings have a familiar ring to them as they are source material for Handel's Messiah as well as predictions of the ministry and testimony of John the Baptist. Great and glorious promises are made and delivered upon in the life and testimony of John which points unflinchingly to the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus, his cousin and Lord. Threats of a tyrant and even a beheading are no match for the promises of life and resurrection from a gracious God.

Part of our readings have a familiar ring to them because we know what it is to be parched and forsaken. We know what it is to be so desperate that we try to prop up solutions of our own making with hastily pounded nails trying to keep our idols from toppling. We know what it is to run and get weary. We know the fear of enemies and threats that overshadow us. But God makes promises to slake our deep thirst. God makes promises to forgive our idolatry and be the only means of salvation we need. God promises to give us rest. God promises to vanquish our enemies up to and including death. Threats of a tyrannical world may frighten us but they are no match for the power, grace, joy and sufficiency to be found in our gracious God.


God, thank you for your healing and deliverance. Thank you for the life and testimony of John the Baptist. Thank you for the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. Thank you for caring about and tending our needs. Help us lean hard into your grace. Amen.