I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     This passage really says a lot to me about today, but I do not know where to start talking about the message I see. The first bit I see is Isaiah writing about how in times of trouble, the leaders of the people slipped away and left the people leaderless. The remaining people made no effort to step up and lead the people to deal with their tribulation, they, also, attempted to slip away and leave the problems behind. Isaiah tells us that those who tried to slip away from the troubles failed to do so.
     Second, Isaiah writes about how in times of trouble, the people relied on human agency. They turned to the weapons and supplies they had stored up. They did this instead of what they should have done, which was turn to God and call on Him for help. Isaiah is not saying that we should not make plans for times of trouble or store up resources for times of hardship. He is saying that we should rely on God rather than believing that the plans and stores we have laid up will carry us through. In times of trouble, first we should cry out to God for help, then implement our plans to deal with the trouble. We should be willing to help others with the supplies we have laid aside, trusting God to supply our needs when our preparations fall short.
     The final bit that is part of one coherent message (I see how it all ties together, but cannot quite verbalize that link) is about those who instead of seeking to help those in need choose to spend their resources on their own pleasure in a fatalistic understanding that soon it will all be over. I know so many people who spend their resources on their own pleasure in the belief that there is no long term accountability for their actions.
     The next piece of this passage that speaks to me this morning is a prophecy against Tyre. Tyre was the center of a trading empire. Ships from Tyre sailed throughout the Mediterranean and beyond trading goods far and wide and bringing the wealth back to Tyre. The people of Tyre relied on their wealth and their importance to the wealth of others for their safety. Isaiah tells them that their wealth will not protect them from the coming judgement, neither will their importance to the wealth of others. So far in Isaiah, he has told us that God’s judgement will come against both the military powers and the economic powers of the earth. Neither military power, nor economic power will protect a people from God’s judgement on their sin. The U.S. is both an economic and a military power, but neither will protect its people from God’s judgement for their sins. Only by turning to God and following His commands can we obtain protection from His judgement. I must stop spending my resources on my pleasure and instead spend them to help those in greater need than myself.

     There is a lot to be gotten from this passage and I find it difficult to put what Paul is saying here into my own words. I hope that anyone who is following my devotions reads this passage for themselves. One message that I get from this passage is a reminder of something God taught me years ago. I was struggling with sin. I felt called to be involved in God’s work, but felt like I would be being a hypocrite to do so before I overcame the sin in my life. The realization came to me that while I might not be able to stop doing the things I knew I should not be doing, that did not meant that I could not do the things I knew I should be doing. I followed that leading and soon discovered that I was no longer doing the things I should not be doing that I was powerless on my own to stop. I believe that is a significant part of Paul’s message to the Galatians here. Follow God, believe in Christ. Understand that only through the saving blood of Christ can our sins be overcome. We are all sinners and none of us have any claim of being better than any others. We will not overcome the sin in our lives through strength of character. We will only overcome the sin in our lives through the intervention of the Holy Spirit. Do not worry about following the Law, but instead trust in our faith in Jesus. Do those things that the Spirit calls you to do and do not worry about trying to overcome those sins that plague you. The Spirit will provide you deliverance from those sins in God’s time and then you will know that you have nothing to boast of in overcoming those sins. I did not overcome those sins I spoke of earlier, the Holy Spirit removed them from me when I gave up my struggle against them and did what the Spirit was calling me to. I turned those sins over to God and admitted that I was powerless to stop committing them. I have other sins in my life that I am powerless to stop committing. I am asking God to take them from me.

     The psalmist writes that the people have been struck by God’s judgement and are reeling from the effects. But God has provided us with a rallying point. If we rely on Him and turn to Him for victory, we will be strengthened and find security. When we seek to overcome through human intervention we will fail. Only by seeking God’s help and joining the battle on His side will we find victory. The question is not; “Is God on our side?” The question is; “Are we on God’s side?” In all too many conflicts the answer to the second question is “No” for everyone involved in the conflict.

     This proverb speaks of the joy a parent will have when their child follows the path of wisdom. But this should also apply to any of us when those we have been placed in positions to mentor demonstrate wisdom. We should always be pleased when those whom we have provided guidance to show that they have learned wisdom, even when we are not the source of that wisdom. Of course, it also means that we should strive to demonstrate through our words and actions to those who have been our parents and teachers that we have acquired wisdom.