Wed.’s Devo - God’s Response

Read: Isaiah 57:15-59:21; Philippians 1:1-26; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 24:9-10 God told his people that he would not always be angry with them and fight against them. If he did, he would have no people on the earth because they would all be dead. He would forgive and heal them and cause they to have peace. He called them to repentance. They were fasting but their fasting was just an outward show of repentance when their lifestyle didn’t change. They still oppressed their slaves, refused to have pity on the poor and continued to fight and quarrel among themselves. God told them to humble themselves, free the imprisoned, let the oppressed free and feed the hungry giving them shelter and clothing. These are all signs of a repentant heart. When they truly repented, God would rebuild their cities, send rain on their crops in the right season, and guide them continually. They would be used to help rebuild the ruins and restore people’s homes. God told them to honor and keep the Sabbath as a holy day unto the Lord, doing what delighted Him. God wanted to be their delight. Their sins had separated them from the Lord. They were guilty of murder, rebellion, lying, libel, deceit and evil deeds. Violence was their trade mark and all they could think about was sinning. They had no idea how to find peace or what it meant to be just and good. Isaiah responded for the people saying: there was no justice among us and we know nothing about right living. We are blind even in the light. We look for justice and deliverance but it never comes. Our sins have piled up before God and they testify against us. He admitted to everything God has said about them. It was all true. His last statement was: truth is gone, and anyone who renounces evil is attacked. That sounds like today! God was displeased that there was no justice and no one to step in to save them so God would. He would come wearing righteousness as his armor and salvation as his helmet. He would be wearing the robe of vengeance and divine passion. He would repay his enemies for their evil and his fury will fall on them. In the west, people would respect the name of the Lord; in the east, they would glorify him. The Redeemer would come back to Jerusalem and buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins. Glory! Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians from his prison in Rome to thank them or the financial support they had sent to him through Epaphroditus. Paul admonished them to have unity and to be steadfast in their faith. He warned them against dangerous heresies that were threatening the church and society (probably Judaism and Gnosticism). Judaism tried to get the to go back to rituals to please God and Gnoticism taught they could do anything and then repent. Verses 9-11 are a great prayer to pray over your children and the body of Christ. Paul had a great desire to die and go to his reward in heaven but for the sake of his people, he wanted to stay alive and continue encouraging them to walk blameless before Christ. Lord, may our lives encourage others to walk blameless before Christ in love. Lord, please come and bring salvation to our nation and the world.