Wed.’s Devo - The Coming Messiah

Read: Isaiah 6:1-7:25; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33; Psalm 54:1-7; Proverbs 23:1-3 This was Isaiah’s first recorded prophecy. Uzziah had just died after reigning for 52 years. Isaiah could have been a teen-ager at that time. He saw the Lord on his throne all his glory. He saw the seraphim and the Temple of God in heaven. Isaiah thought his days were over and he was going to die until a seraphim touched his lips with a burning coal from the altar. The Lord asked for a messenger to tell the people what he wanted them to know and Isaiah volunteered. God told him he would tell him things he would not understand and was not to try to figure out the meaning. His message would harden the hearts of the people and they would not understand either. They were not supposed to. He would warn them of what was coming, not so they would repent, but so God could judge them. Their hearts had already condemned them. He was to prophecy till the whole land became desolate. *** The next prophecy we read was when Ahaz became king. Jotham had ruled 16 years and now Ahaz was ruling. Ahaz was not a good king. King Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel were coming to attack Judah. *** God told Isaiah to take his son Shear-jashub and go meet the king as he went to the upper pool. He was to tell the king not to fear their attack because it would never happen. *** Later, Isaiah sent Ahaz another message asking him to name the sign he wanted to show him the Lord was promising this to him. Ahaz refused to ask for a sign so Isaiah gave him one. He told him that the virgin would have a son and name him Emanuel which means “God is with us.” By the time the child was weaned these two kings would no longer be a threat. But, then the Lord would send the nation of Assyria upon him and the army of Egypt. They will destroy everything and the entire land would become briers and thorns. *** A few things to note: The name of Isaiah’s son Shear-jashub means “a remnant will return.” God was already giving the end from the beginning. Isaiah’s wife had another son who fulfilled the sign of the son who would prove that God was with them. When he was weaned all these things happened. The prophecy was also a messianic prophecy of Christ who would come and reconcile us to God. *** In Corinthians, Paul is trying to knock some sense into the people who have become so deceived by these super apostles who won them over with talk of their great achievements. Paul gives them the list of his great achievements which were all about his persecutions. He laid down his life for what he preached. He did this for Christ and for the people he served. *** Lord, may we be willing to speak the truth no matter what it costs us. Thank you that your Word always leaves us with the promise of a better time coming. May we be the remnant that rebuilds the ruins.