Sunday 05:12:13

Isaiah chapters 24-27 are referred to as "Isaiah's Apocalypse" He refers to a time when God will bring judgment upon the whole world because of sin. The response of God's fearsome holiness to the sin of the world is devastating. All those who are not His will bear their own guilt for their sin - and the result is frightening. Yet, In the midst of judgment, there are scenes where people are praising God. Because of His majesty and because God is bringing His purposes to fruition, the threats of judgment are seen in the perspective of thanksgiving. Because of God's majesty, we have reason to rejoice - always. Don't miss it. Isaiah 26:1-6 God is Defender of His people V. 1 "in that day" refers to a coming time when God will intervene dramatically amongst mankind. In this case, the Isaiah has apparently had a view of "millennial reign" of Christ, when He will rule over the earth. God's protection of His people is seen by Isaiah as a fortified city. The people are protected within its walls. The walls and ramparts are God's salvation - His saving actions for His people. V. 2 the righteous may enter, they are people who trust in The Lord. Don't miss this - the people of God know Him personally and He keeps them within His power and strength. V. 3 the result is, the people of God have peace. We cannot avoid struggles in this fallen world, but when we remember we can have peace in the midst of turmoil. We all have things in our lives where what we believe does not match up to what we do or how we react. In my head, I know that I should not let small, fleeting things ruin my day in anxiety or stress, but I often let small, fleeting things take my mind off of the majesty of God and the beauty of what He has done for me. But this doesn't make any sense at all. I believe that my struggles cannot measure up to the beauty and majesty of God. I believe that my problems, no matter how bad, cannot compare to the joy that I should have because of what The Lord has done for me. He's saved me, blessed me, took away my sin, calls me His Son when I was His enemy, he is working in me, He is including me in the greatest purpose on the planet. Yet, I let small things crop up and act like none of that matters. That's not what I believe. I believe that those are the things that really matter. It's the small stuff that doesn't matter. But I find this incongruity between what I think and how I live. We need the Lord to help make what is true in our minds also true in our lives. V. 4 trust in The Lord, rock eternal - God Himself is our protecting rock. Vv. 5-6 God will act justly - he will act against pride. Isaiah 26:7-11 contrast: The righteous long for God. The wicked ignore the majesty of The Lord. V. 7 - God helps us, leads us, guides us V. 8-9 - God's people follow Him. We wait on Him - in hope/expectation that we will see His goodness because He has already done so much, we trust in His goodness. We desire Him - to be with Him - longing, yearning for His presence. Vv. 10-11 the wicked do not respond to God's kindness. They continue on their own way. They do not regard the majesty of The Lord - don't let me miss your majesty. I don't want to live like that. I want to live like someone who's been changed by God's work. I want to live like I'm His. Isaiah 26:12 V. 12 - "all that we have accomplished you have done for us" How can I have peace and rely on God's strength when I'm anxious or fearful or down? How can you cooperate with God to make what is true in your mind also true in your life? 1. Memorize helpful verses. Write them down. Remind yourself of them during the day. Meditate on them. 2. Ask The Lord to show you how you can trust Him with your struggle. 3. Journal about the times you're anxious, fearful, or depressed. Answer these questions in a journal about your struggle: A. The Situation - what were the circumstances? B. Your Response - what did you do in response? C. Your Thoughts - what did you think about what was going on? D. Your Motives - what did you want out of - or in the midst of - what was going on? E. How could your response be different? 4. You have to be in His presence, reading and meditating on His Word, and praying. The ability to change comes from God's Spirit within us (v. 12). The majesty of who God is and what He has done gives us joy, even in the midst of struggles. Lord, don't let us miss it.