Monthly Archives: November 2023

ISAIAH 40:1-31

Gospel, ,

Isaiah 40 marks the beginning of the second part of this prophetic work.  The first 39 chapters deal mostly with judgment on the people of God and the surrounding nations, but chapter 40 introduces a new note of compassion and mercy and the promise of hope and restoration.  If God’s people would only turn back to Him, God was  waiting to show them His mercy and forgiveness and to bring them back under His covenant protection.  In this second part of Isaiah, all of God’s promises ultimately focus on the one person who is called the Servant of the Lord.

ISAIAH 40:1-31

Now ‘tis time to call my people

Closer to the Father-heart;

Speak to them, bring comfort to them,

Call them now to come apart.

Tell them that the days are over,

Days of punishment for sin;

Their iniquity is pardoned

All their guilty stains have gone.

Hark, I hear the voice of someone

Shouting in the wilderness,

“Clear the way, the Lord is coming,

Coming now to save and bless.”

“Level mountains, fill the valleys;

Make the crooked places straight,

Smooth the pathway, God is coming,

We no longer have to wait.”

“All mankind shall see His glory:

God has spoken, it will be;

For the knowledge of His kingdom

Will be known o’er land and sea.”

Once again I hear a voice say,

“Shout!”  “What shall I shout?” I cry,

“Shout that man, like grass, is dying,

All his beauty fades away.”

“Flowers wilt, the grasses wither

‘Neath the fiery breath of God:

Only one thing lives forever,

God’s abiding, living Word.”

Crier of Good News, from the mountains

Shout to all Jerusalem,

Tell God’s people He is coming

Justly to rule over them.

Like a shepherd He will lead them,

Hold the lambs on His strong arm;

Ewes with young keep closely to Him;

None of them will come to harm.

Who has cupped the mighty oceans,

Measured heaven in His hand?

Who has held the hills and mountains,

Knows the weight of sea and land?

Who can teach the Holy Spirit

Give Him counsel or advice?

Does He really need instruction;

Do we think we are so wise?

No, we humans pale to nothing;

We’re like dust upon the scale

Next to God’s almighty Spirit,

Tiny drops within a pail.

Light as feathers, islands nestle

In the hollow of His hand.

What an awesome God we worship,

One too great to understand!

Can we find sufficient fuel

From the trees of Lebanon,

Animals enough to offer

Sacrifice to honour Him?

Is there someone we can liken

To this God we here present?

Like an idol, cast in metal?

Are we yet so ignorant?

Can a lump of gold or silver

Moulded into human form,

Can a tree stump shape our future,

Care for, love us from the womb?

Are we, then, so stubborn, stupid,

Deaf to ancient words of God?

Ignorant of truth and wisdom?

Have we never understood?

God, who sits above the circle

Of the earth, He is the one

Stretches heaven like a curtain,

(We’re like grasshoppers to Him.)

Makes His dwelling in the heavens,

Dooms great men, brings them to naught,

Blows on them, their labours wither

Just as they were taking root.

“Who is like me, who my equal?”

Asks the Holy One, the Lord.

“Maker of the stars and planets,

Is there someone like this God?”

As a shepherd leads his sheep out,

Calling each by its pet name,

Counting, so that none is wayward,

Checks to see that none is lame,

So this God knows every planet,

Comets, stars and galaxies,

All are His for He has made them.

This should bring us to our knees.

Jacob, Israel, how can you say

That the Lord God doesn’t care?

That He doesn’t see your troubles,

That He isn’t being fair?

Have you yet no understanding?

Surely you should know by now

That our God does not grow weary

And His wisdom none can know.

He gives power to the fainting,

And the weak He will make strong;

Even youths shall fall exhausted,

Tiredness o’ertake the young,

But to those who wait upon Him,

Those who listen patiently,

God will give His strength and power

To rise up and to fly free.

They shall mount with wings as eagles,

Viewing life from way up high;

Not for them to live as earthbound,

But to soar up in the sky.

Those who wait will not grow weary

Of the race that they must run;

Without fainting, they’ll keep walking

In God’s strength till they have won.

ISAIAH 11:1-10

Gospel, ,

The prophet visualises a restoration of God’s original creation before sin brought discord and death into the physical world.  God would send His servant who would be clothed with the Holy Spirit and who, through His suffering, would restore justice and harmony to all of God’s creation.

ISAIAH 11:1-10

The royal line of David will be cut off like a tree;

But from the stump will grow a shoot

A new Branch from the former root,

The Holy One will come for everyone to see.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him, He’ll appear

A man of wisdom, counsel, might,

Understanding; His delight

To honour and obey His God, to live in holy fear.

He will not judge by outward looks, false evidence, hearsay,

He’ll help the poor, the exploited;

He’ll crush oppressors, and wicked,

Fairness and truth will be His dress; He’ll wear them every day.

For in that day both wolf and lamb will lie down, side by side;

Leopards and goats will be at peace;

For strife among the beasts will cease;

Cattle and lions will graze as one, small children as their guide.

The cows will graze among the bears; cubs, calves will play as friends;

Babes will make of asps their pets,

And play with them while no one frets,

For peace will reign in God’s domain, and joy that never ends.

The knowledge of the Lord will spread across both land and sea;

The world will know His saving grace,

And every nation take its place

To worship Him who came from David’s royal dynasty.

Y Y Y Y Y

SAIAH 7:14; 9:1-7

Gospel, ,

This second poem focuses on the child to be born, in whom lies hope and restoration for a broken people.  Although He is only a shadowy figure at this point, already the prophet sees an unusual person, one who is born as a human, yet carries both divine names and divine functions.  He will rule in peace over a kingdom which will never end.  What an encouragement for a people who are constantly being harassed by alien nations at enmity with them!

ISAIAH 7:14; 9:1-7

Virgin-born, a son is given,

Emmanuel, His name;

To those who walked in darkness,

To them, in love, He came.

People, now in shadows deep,

Have glimpsed eternal light:

No longer will death’s shadow

Imprison them in night.

God will break the chains that bind

His people, by His hand,

As Midian’s host was broken

By Gideon’s little band.

In that glorious day of peace

There’ll be no battle gear;

No more blood-stained garments;

No longer any fear.

For unto us a child is born

To rule in power and might;

His kingdom lasts forever,

His rule of peace and light.

His royal titles: Wonderful,

Counsellor, His name,

Mighty God, they call Him,

Eternal Dad, His fame.

He is our glorious Prince of Peace,

He sits on David’s throne;

Brings justice to the nations

And peace to all His own.

The Lord of all of Heaven’s hosts

Will carry out His will:

He pledged that He will do this,

Empowered by His zeal.

PORTRAITS OF CHRIST AND GLIMPSES OF THE KINGDOM FROM THE PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH AND OTHER SCRIPTURES

Devotion, ,

PORTRAITS OF CHRIST AND GLIMPSES OF THE KINGDOM

IN VERSE

FROM THE PROPHECIES OF

ISAIAH AND OTHER SCRIPTURES

The first poem deals with Isaiah’s call to be the mouthpiece of God to His people.  Why does the account of his call only come in the sixth chapter of the book?  It may not have been recorded chronologically, or it may be that this came to the prophet as a confirmation of what was already in his heart. 

In the first five chapters Isaiah calls down woes on God’s wayward people, but  only when he sees the Lord in His awesome holiness does he see himself for what he is.  Then he turns the focus on himself and cries, “Woe is me!”  The power of his message moves from his head to his heart, so that he can feel the pulsating compassion in the heart of God even when he has to bring a message of condemnation and judgment.

ISAIAH 6:1-8

The year that King Uzziah died

Isaiah saw another King,

Exalted on a heavenly throne;

Around Him mighty angels sing.

The smoke-filled temple’s pillars shake

As glory fills the Holy Place:

Above, around, winged creatures fly

In solemn awe, with covered face.

In antiphonal chorus call

Till heaven swells with living sound,

“Thrice-holy is our mighty God —

His glory’s shining all around.”

“Alas!” the prophet cried, “Undone!

A foul-mouthed sinner, nothing less:

A member of a foul-mouthed race…

I’ve seen the King; I must confess.”

A mighty angel left his place

And to the glowing altar flew;

With tongs he chose a burning coal:

He touched his lips and whispered low.

“Your sin is purged, your heart is pure,

For blood was shed to make you clean.

Come closer to the holy throne;

Much closer than you’ve ever been.”

Isaiah bent to worship God  —

He heard a gentle voice speak out,

“I need a messenger to go;

My people need to know about

My judgement and the wrath to come

On those who fail to heed my voice.

O you must warn them of their fate;

Isaiah, will you make a choice?”

“O Lord, I’ll go,” Isaiah said,

“Please send me, let me speak for you.

I’ll be your mouthpiece, share your heart:

Help me be faithful, keep me true.”

A voice still calls, as we draw near,

To hearts made pure through Jesus’ blood,

“Now who will speak of saving grace?

Come, who will share the love of God?”

Submissive, willing, Lord, I bow

Before your awful, burning throne;

I’m broken hearted, listening close,

And now I make that call my own.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Prayer, ,

THE LORD’S PRAYER

MATTHEW 6:9-13

Jesus sat down on the hillside;

His disciples gathered round;

He had many things to teach them —

Simple things, and yet profound.

“When you pray unto the Father,

Don’t be like the hypocrite,

For he loves to pray in public,

Wanting man’s praise, every bit.”

“Go into your inner chamber,

Close the door, pray secretly:

Talk to God, He is your Father;

He’ll reward sincerity.”

“For God knows you, He will answer

Every cry wrung from your heart;

He will give you grace and wisdom

As you quietly come apart.”

“God desires your submission,

For He knows your deepest need.

He will satisfy your longing

If you let Him take the lead.”

“Do not mutter like the heathen,

For they think they will be heard

For their mindless repetition,

Piling word on empty word!”

“Pray like this,” the Master told them,

“Come to God as He has shown,

Through the courts with adoration,

Boldly to His holy throne.”

“Let the words that I have taught you

Be the pattern for your prayer:

Simple words, yet as you pray them

God will meet and bless you there.”

“Abba, Father, dearest Daddy,

What a joy to come to you!

You’re a father to your children,

Ever faithful, ever true.”

“Can there be a heart more tender,

Overflowing with pure love?

Can there be a Dad that’s kinder

Than you, Father God above?”

“Let your rule of peace and justice

Grow and increase on the earth;

Let your kingdom come in power,

Bringing people to new birth.”

“As your will is done in heaven;

Holy angels haste to do

Gladly, joyfully, your bidding,

For they trust and honour you…”

“So, dear Father, let your people

Do your will down here on earth:

Let your glory, shining through us,

Mirror everywhere your worth.”

“Father, as I kneel before you,

Trusting you to meet my need,

Give me, daily, bread from heaven;

Body, soul and spirit feed.”

“Daddy, how I need forgiveness.

Wash me, cleanse me from my sin;

Let the precious blood of Jesus

Make me pure and whole within.”

“If I gladly free my brother

From the debt he owes to me,

Only then will your forgiveness

Take my debt and set me free.”

“Keep me from the hour of testing;

By myself I cannot stand.

Lest temptation’s lure ensnare me,

Hold me in your powerful hand.”

“Cover me with your protection;

Save me from the devil’s snare;

Keep my feet from slipping, stumbling:

Of his wiles make me aware.”

“Lord, to you belongs the kingdom;

Yours the pow’r, the glory too!

Joyfully I kneel in worship,

Lift your name and honour you.”