Scripture

For the Lord has told me this: “I will watch quietly from my dwelling place – as quietly as the heat rises on a summer day, or the morning dew during the harvest.”

Observation

Isaiah prophesies against Ethiopia. He tells their swift messengers take a message to Ethiopia to be attentive when God raises his battle flag.

The Lord watches over the affairs of men quietly. He will cut off their plans the way we might cut off a new branch. Their armies will be left dead in the field for the vultures and wild animals to eat.

Application

The world is in a constant state of upheaval like the restless ocean. People make their plans for war or business, but God watches silently – as silent as the heat that rises or the dew that falls. But then He will act often in ways that don’t seem to be divine interventions, and all the ripening plans of men and women are cut off in an instant.

Because the Lord most often does not speak in a loud and obvious way, we must make it our habit to stop and listen. It is in the still small voice rather than the storms and earthquakes that the Holy Spirit often speaks to us.

The voices of the world are loud and clamour for our our attention. It is very hard to shut them out and focus instead on the Lord. This is a discipline that we must learn to grow in.

Prayer

Speak Lord, your servant is listening. You watch quietly and speak quietly. Please help me to hear you. Amen.