Read Isaiah 10
Highlights:
God allows evil kings to punish Israel, but He also punishes evil kings for harming Israel (Is. 10). A prophetic picture of Christ returning in glory (chap. 11); The Holy One of Israel (12:6); our salvation (12:2).
Salvation and fellowship with God are two great themes of the Bible. All who believe the Word of God and trust Christ as their personal Savior receive the Living Water and experience spiritual satisfaction beyond compare. Behold, God is my salvation. . . . Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. . . . Praise the Lord, call upon His Name, declare His doings among the people (Is. 12:2-4). Living for the Lord then becomes our way of life, and our greatest joy is to lead others to the wellspring of eternal life. His well of life-giving water is truly overflowing and inexhaustible, just as the nature of God. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman: Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14). His invitation is to come to the wells of salvation (Is. 12:1-3).
All the wells of salvation are in Christ; and from Him the believer receives the priceless Living Water that satisfies the spiritually thirsty. The wells of salvation are revealed in His Word (John 4:10; 7:37-38).
We cannot afford to neglect the joy of drawing from the water of salvation provided in His Word for the day-by-day cleansing from all sin. Jesus taught us to pray: Give us this day. . . . forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors (Matt. 6:11-12). We praise the Lord that we have been cleansed with the washing of water by the Word (Eph. 5:26). There is a precious assurance of acceptance and fellowship with God. This comfort is real, abiding, and inexpressibly precious.
Can we praise the Lord, call upon His Name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His Name is exalted (Is. 12:4) amid difficulties and disappointments, heartaches, and loneliness? Can we sing unto the Lord (12:5)? Yes, it is possible. How? By looking beyond ourselves and recognizing that the Sovereign God has a purpose for everything He allows to come into our lives and has placed us exactly where we are at this time for our eternal good (Rom. 8:28). We can learn from every circumstance, proving and proclaiming that His grace is sufficient in any situation.
He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (II Cor. 12:9).
Thought for Today:
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities . . . for when I am weak, then am I strong (II Cor. 12:10).
Christ Revealed:
As the Descendant of Jesse, King David's father (Is. 11:1; comp. Luke 3:23,31-32). Isaiah 11 reveals Christ's coming earthly rule of righteousness. One day soon Jesus will return to earth in all the fullness of His glory and will be accompanied by His angels. Then He will set up the millennial Kingdom of His creation; this will be the beginning of His rightful eternal rule over His creation (Matt. 25:31-46; also Rev. 20-22).
Word Studies:
10:1 grievousness oppression, injustice; 10:12 high aroud; 10:20 stay rely; 10:22 consumption destruction; 10:33 lop cut off; 14:16 narrowly look upon gaze at.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Staff: Dan Murton • Government Official: Rep. Christopher Murphy (CT) • Country: Senegal (10 million) in western Africa • Major language: French • Religious freedom • 92% Muslim; 4% animism and ancestor worship; 3% Roman Catholic; .1% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Ask the Lord to be merciful and to forgive your sins (Ps. 25:6-7).
Optional Reading:
Memory Verse for the Week:
Psalms 34:19
