Isaiah Ch's. 26-30.
Ch. 26:
*Faith, faith, faith. Keep the faith. Be a real man of faith!
*v3. "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."
*v12. "Lord, you establish peace for us."- I can't get real, permanent peace from anywhere else.
*v12b. "All that we have accomplished you have done for us."-I've got to give Him credit for everything in my life.*
*v18. Humility-what benefit have I brought to the world compared to what the Lord has done? He is the One who brought salvation and breathed life into people. Can I join Him in that work by the power of the Holy Spirit?
Ch. 27:
*Judgment first.
*Redemption second.
*We need to be in a willing position of dependence on the Lord. That's the best life possible.
*We only grow when we suffer and struggle through our problems.
Ch. 28:
*Woe to Ephraim (Samaria)- a city of luxury, indulgence, pride, beauty, and pleasure. Hmmm...Sound familiar? That is Anytown, USA, sold out to the "good life".
*People mock God, but He can teach us the right way to live.
Ch. 29:
*Ariel (Jerusalem)-spiritual dysfunction has a dead end.
*v13. "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is made up only of rules taught by men." Am I real?
*v16. "Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, 'He did not make me?'"- I am His. I gave up my rights when I surrendered my life to Him.
*Seems redemption is a picture of grace. This passage describes me/people. Do I get what I deserve? No. I simply said and continue to say "yes" to Jesus. So simple, so difficult.
*Check it out: this is the only transaction that requires me to surrender to obtain victory. Unheard of in war strategies and the world's ways.
*v24. "Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding. Those who complain will accept instruction."
Ch. 30:
*v1. Me and my planning! Argh. Need to check myself before I wreck myself.
*v15. "In repentance and rest is your salvation. In quietness and trust is your strength. But you would have none of it."
*v18. The Lord longs to be gracious to me. I must wait on Him!
*Holy moly. What a story of futuristic redemption, then wrath. Wow. Super strong language of destruction. I wonder why there is so much material that seems to repeat the warnings of destruction? Could it be because we are so thick-headed? Reminds me of the lengthy conversation between Job and his 3 friends. We need this reminder of how dense we are.
