November 18 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Isaiah 49:7-17:

⁷Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
⁸Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
⁹That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.
¹⁰They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
¹¹And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.
¹²Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.
¹³Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
¹⁴But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
¹⁵Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
¹⁶Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
¹⁷Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.

Devotional

A true mother always has the interest of her child at heart. Day and night, in sickness and health, she labors and sacrifices for the child. Who is so weak and helpless, and so dependent as a sucking child? Yet, that child is perfectly content and happy at the bosom of the mother. Would that we were as content and happy in the loving care of our heavenly Father! He is even more concerned about our welfare than a mother is concerned about the wellbeing of her child. "Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee," says the Lord. "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusa­lem."

Sometimes it may seem as if God had forgotten us, and we say with the psalmist: "Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favorable no more? is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?" But that cannot be. That is our infirmity. The mercy of the Lord never fails. "It is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him." We often forget God's Word, God's promises; but in spite of that, God even in wrath, remembers mercy. And He casts all our sins into the depths of the sea, and will remember them no more. His mercy endures for ever. Praise the Lord.

Prayer

Gracious God, our heavenly Father, we thank Thee, that Thou art ever mindful of us. Thou dost never forget Thy children. Thou art full of compassion toward them, and Thy compassions fail not. Help us to abide in Thy love. We ask this with the forgiveness of all sins, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Isa. 66:13; Ps. 77:7-9, 10; 103:17; Hab. 3:12; Micah 7:19; Jer. 31:34, Ps. 136.

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