Bible Reading
Isaiah 26:
1In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
2Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
5For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.
6The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.
7The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
8Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
9With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
10Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.
11LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.
12LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.
13O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.
14They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.
15Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.
16LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.
17Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.
18We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
19Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
20Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
21For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
Devotional
"Peace, peace," so the Hebrew reads. This double peace, or multiplied peace, shall be to those who trust in the Lord. O, how the world longs for peace and security in our day, but it does not know where to find it. People are full of anxiety, fear and worry. Individuals are apprehensive and full of concern, and there is distress of nations, with perplexity.
Peace can be found only in God. We must be at peace with him. How are we at peace with him? "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ our thoughts do not flutter about like birds that can find no rest for their foot, but they are stayed on him, who loved us and gave himself for us. They rest in him. "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
"Because he trusteth in thee." "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid." "The turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of the fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." "Trust in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." (Hebrew: He is the rock of ages). That Rock shall never be moved.
Prayer
Ever blessed God and Father, we thank Thee that Thou hast not left us alone in this dreary, sinful world. We could never find peace nor rest, nor eternal salvation. We thank Thee that through Christ Thou hast provided all these for us. Thou hast provided for our temporal well being and also for our eternal happiness and blessedness. Thou hast given us Thy Word with its promises to comfort and strengthen us on our pathway of life. Help us then to believe and trust in life and in the hour of death. Grant us Thy peace. For Christ's sake. Amen.
Scripture in Devotional: Luke 21:25; Rom. 5:1; Titus 2:14; Phil. 4:7; Ps. 112:7, 8; Prov. 1:32, 33; Isa. 26:4.
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