Scripture

“Don’t let Hezekiah mislead you by saying, ‘The Lord will rescue us!’ Have the gods of any other nations ever saved their people from the king of Assyria?”

Observation

The land of Judah is invaded by the army of Assyria. Having taken all the walled towns in Judah, they proceed to Jerusalem.

The Assyrian leaders call the leaders in Jerusalem to surrender. They claim that they have no alternatives. Egypt is weak and cannot help them. The Lord will not help them, they say.

The Assyrians offer that, if they surrender, the residents of Jerusalem, will be taken to another land where they can grow their own grain and vineyards. They tell them that they cannot rely on the Lord to rescue them. The Assyrians have overcome all the gods of the other nations.

Application

The Assyrians were a fierce and fearsome nation. They rapidly expanded their empire, conquering the nations around them.

The Assyrian leaders made a fundamental mistake when they came to Jerusalem. They made what philosophers call a category error. That is, they assumed that the Lord is the same as the gods of the other nations. They reason that these other gods had not been able to protect their people, and therefore the Lord would not save the people of Jerusalem.

Whereas other so-called gods are imaginary and therefore weak, the Lord is real and strong. He is not like the others.

We can rely on the Lord and have faith that He will provide for us and protect us. He knows what we need, and like a wise Father, he looks after us.

Prayer

Father, I thank you that, unlike all the other false gods, you are real and you care for your people. Please help me to trust you. Amen.

Scripture

The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the planes of Sharon. The Lord will display his glory, the splendour of our God.

Observation

God is bringing his refreshment. Even the deserts will be green and fertile. The Lord’s glory will be on display.

Encourage the weak, tired and fearful because God will come to destroy our enemies. He will heal the blind, the death and the lame.

There will be a highway through the land that only the righteous can travel on. It will only be for those who walk in God’s ways. The redeemed of the Lord will return with joy and singing. Sorrow and morning will disappear.

Application

God brings life to the desert and joy to his people.

This is not a far off reconstruction of the world when Jesus returns. It is right now.

Jesus takes the desert places of our lives – the addictions, the sins, the broken relationships – and He redeems them. He turns them into something beautiful.

So life comes to the desert. As we walk close to Jesus, we also bring life to other people. The greening of the desert places becomes contagious.

Isaiah talks about a highway of holiness that only the righteous people can travel on. When we come to Jesus, He takes away our sins. We need to then start living God’s ways, as holy people, in order to be the change agents, the healers of the desert.

Prayer

Lord, your ways are beyond our wildest dreams. You take broken people and heal us, and then use us to heal others. Thank you. Amen.