April 20, 2011 (Isaiah 13-22)

Always judgement and more judgement. I'm trying to find some 'good promises' in my reading.  But the result of judgement and discipline is to bring us back to God, which is always for our good:

^17:7 Then at last the people will look to their Creator
      and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.
 ⁸ They will no longer look to their idols for help
      or worship what their own hands have made.
   They will never again bow down to their Asherah poles
      or worship at the pagan shrines they have built.

But again, for those that don't respond, here is what they can look forward to:

⁹ Their largest cities will be like a deserted forest,
      like the land the Hivites and Amorites abandoned
   when the Israelites came here so long ago.
      It will be utterly desolate.
 ¹⁰ Why? Because you have turned from the God who can save you.
      You have forgotten the Rock who can hide you.
   So you may plant the finest grapevines
      and import the most expensive seedlings.
 ¹¹ They may sprout on the day you set them out;
      yes, they may blossom on the very morning you plant them,
   but you will never pick any grapes from them.
      Your only harvest will be a load of grief and unrelieved pain.

As I read that last verse, I thought of how true it was. When we turn from God, and not even 'in sin', but just don't look to Him and remember Him as good and on our side, we get discouraged.  We feel overcome by grief. We must keep the focus of our heart upon Him and upon His love for us.

Here was another passage of God's help:

^19:20 When the people cry to the Lord for help against those who oppress them, he will send them a savior who will rescue them. ²¹ The Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians. Yes, they will know the Lord and will give their sacrifices and offerings to him. They will make a vow to the Lord and will keep it. ²² The Lord will strike Egypt in a way that will bring healing. For the Egyptians will turn to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas and heal them.

I liked the fact that God would 'strike them in a way that would bring healing'. That's how and why He disciplines us - to ultimately bring healing to our souls.

And then a verse that convicts every time I read it:
     
 ^22:11 But you never ask for help from the One who did all this.
      You never considered the One who planned this long ago.

We are so self-sufficient. We do things on our own without ever asking God for help. Please remind me, always, to see You and Your assistance with all I have to do.