Scripture

Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall into exhaustion. Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Observation

God calls for comfort for Jerusalem. Her sad days are gone, and her sins are pardoned.

Someone calls in the wilderness for a highway to be built through the wasteland.

The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of the Lord stands forever.

There is no equal to the Lord. He measures the heavens and the earth. Can we even supply an offering that is worthy of Him? God stands above the earth. He created the stars and calls them by name.

God gives power to the weak. Even young men become weak and tired, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength.

Application

When we feel that we have done all that we can do, and still the world is imploding on us, it is time to stop and wait on the lord.

The NLT translates the word as “trust”, but other translations use “wait. ” The sense is the same. We need to trust that God is going to resolve the issues and that needs us to wait.

Waiting in this sense does not mean pacing up and down, stewing stewing and saying, “Why doesn’t God do something?” No, waiting means that we can be calm and patient because we know that God is way bigger than our problems.

To God, the whole earth is like a grain of sand. My problems are big to me, but tiny to the lord.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the knowledge that I can put my trust in you. Please help me to wait in confidence and in peace. Amen.

Scripture

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, listen to this message from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ‘The time is coming when everything in your palace – all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now – will be carried off. Nothing will be left,’ says the Lord.”

Observation

Some envoys from the king of Babylon come to Jerusalem to send Hezekiah his best wishes following Hezekiah’s sickness.

Hezekiah is delighted with them, and shows them everything in the Palace, including the armoury and the treasure stores.

Isaiah asks Hezekiah what the men had wanted. Hezekiah tells hem. Isaiah says that the Lord says that all of these things will be carried away to Babylon. Even Hezekiah’s sons will go into exile.

Hezekiah thinks this isn’t so bad because at least there will be peace in his time.

Application

Although Hezekiah is considered a godly king, on this occasion he acted very foolishly. Seduced by a gift and kind words, he treated these envoys as friends when he should have been more careful.

On one occasion, Jesus told us not to throw pearls to pigs. In other words, there are spiritual truths that we don’t need to share with unbelievers. Some people just want to engage Christians to find out how silly they are. Their desire is to condemn not to convert.

There are many aspects of my life that I keep to myself. In this highly connected world, privacy seems to be at a premium. What I share in a closed meeting can easily be repeated to the world.

We must always be as gentle as doves and as wise as serpents.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to discern who is open to your word and who is hard of heart. Amen