For Isaiah, the message was mixed. On the one hand, God allowed Isaiah to see the result of a nation that turns their backs upon the very God that converted a group of slaves into a great nation. That result was dire. Plunder, capture, and total reversion back to an exiled and broken people was coming soon to Judah. Still, Isaiah was also privy to the restoration of God’s people. He was given the very real opportunity to know the very heart of a loving and nurturing Father, God.
As Isaiah pondered the dichotomy of Israel’s state and future–he had an epiphany. Let’s stop and simply praise God for who He is. Realizing what lie ahead, it still merits Israel to stop and simply acknowledge worldwide that God is God! The Creator, the Author, the Administrator, but mostly, the Father that loves His own and longs to bless and keep them safe and prosperous. It is a tribute for all to recognize and worship in one loud and joyous voice.
Today, it is the very same. We as God’s chosen, need sometimes to simply step back and acknowledge the amazing God we serve. We have the specifications to gain some understanding of the depths and widths of our universe, our galaxy, our solar system, our planet, our continent, country, state, county, city, subdivision, street and very home. In that home, God cares for us down to knowing the cell count of our bodies, the very waking and dozing thoughts each day are counted and cared for. The care and attention we receive from God is unparalleled. He truly longs to be in relationship and to bless us. That is reason enough simply to stop and praise the Lord God almighty.
One of the great hymns of old is entitled the Doxology:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise him, all creatures here below.
Praise him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
As His chosen, let’s each stop and praise God–from whom all blessings do indeed flow!
God Bless You
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise from the ends of the earth,
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
you islands, and all who live in them.
11 Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices.
let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice.
Let the people of Sela sing for joy.
let them shout from the mountaintops.
12 Let them give glory to the Lord
and proclaim his praise in the islands.
13 The Lord will march out like a champion,
like a warrior he will stir up his zeal.
with a shout he will raise the battle cry
and will triumph over his enemies.
14 “For a long time I have kept silent,
I have been quiet and held myself back.
But now, like a woman in childbirth,
I cry out, I gasp and pant.
15 I will lay waste the mountains and hills
and dry up all their vegetation.
I will turn rivers into islands
and dry up the pools.
16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do.
I will not forsake them.
17 But those who trust in idols,
who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’
will be turned back in utter shame… or pay close attention in time to come?
24 Who handed Jacob over to become loot,
and Israel to the plunderers?
Was it not the Lord?
against whom we have sinned?
For they would not follow his ways.
they did not obey his law.
25 So he poured out on them his burning anger,
the violence of war.
It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand.
it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.
Walking With God 