epcblog

Devotional thoughts (Monday through Thursday mornings) from the pastor of Exeter Presbyterian Church in Exeter, NH // Sunday Worship 10:30am // 73 Winter Street

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Isaiah 26

There are wonderful passages in the Bible that have been the inspiration for some of our favorite hymns. Isaiah 26 begins with a reference to the singing of a song. The songs of the Bible are various. Some are songs of praise to God extolling the greatness of His being or celebration his wondrous works. Others are songs of lament or supplication through which the church brings to God our heartfelt request. The song referred to in the beginning of this chapter is a song of the glory of the city of God, thus directing our attention to the Kingdom of Heaven.

The phrases in this song remind me of “Like a River Glorious” in certain places. The context of Isaiah 26 gives us a new lense through which to see the hymns of the church. We need to view our devotional exaltation in light of the ultimate victory of God on behalf of His people in the coming of the final Day of the Lord. Then we shall have our most perfect peace and rest. The church will be welcomed into that great city, which is the Land of the Lord. What a joy it will be to sing such a song on that day, the day of the fulfillment of all of the Lord’s greatest plans.

We need to live in the light of that final day of victory every day of our lives. This is the right path for us, though faithful devotion may be rare and strange in our day. Our day of rest is perfectly secure, and will come at the time of the Lord’s choosing. Because of Him we can trust in the Lord’s unfailing love forever.

By His grace we must follow in the pathways of the righteous, where we may seek the Lord every day and find Him. He makes the pathways of the righteous level. The soul that yearns for Him in the night will be satisfied with God’s own presence. Nothing else will do. We need to know that our lives matter. We need to know that God exists, and we need to know that we are in the heavenlies even now through our risen King.

From beginning to end, it is the Lord Himself who has sought us, and who has found us. Because He will keep us forever, we can be firm in the grace of the Lord, and walk in the faith that He supplies. The life of sin has loaded our pathways with spiritual and physical landmines, but the Lord is our safety and His promises are sure. Not only shall the remnant of Israel and Judah be saved, but even the inhabitants of the world will love the judgments of God and will learn the way of righteousness.

But there are some who continue to resist the goodness of the Lord. They must not allow themselves the possibility that the Lord is the one blessed Creator and King. They must invent theories that exclude Him from His purposeful reign, His powerful word, and His loving embrace as a true Father of His people. The conscience of the wicked will not feel shame any more. They ignore the corruption of their dealings with the people of the Lord. They stand far off from the Lord’s beloved children, and are not content that we might live in peace. Their ways lead to the persecution of the godly. They will not be satisfied until the godly are removed from the earth. But the Lord will soon consume the wicked.

Through all these trials the Lord will work out His good plans for His people. As they turn away from evil, He will surely grant them peace and life and growth in Him. They will have no other God than Him, and He insists that they will be the people of His special affection. Today the people of God may go through horrible trials and times of correction that may be very difficult. But a better day is coming, a day of the greatest resurrection victory secured for us through the suffering of the suffering one on our behalf, a suffering that is far beyond the trials that we face today.

Even our dead shall live and their bodies shall rise because of our risen and conquering Lord. The people of God from all ages shall be one in Him. Their hearts shall be fully blessed as those who are stayed upon Jehovah. Through the Lord they find the promised and perfect peace and rest of our God even now. May He keep us in His everlasting grace yet again this day. May He restrain the evil of our hearts, our lips, and our hands. For the glory of His name, may we walk in faith in a world of pain.

posted by Pastor Magee @ 7:00 AM

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