“For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” – Isaiah 30:15
Returning and rest. Quietness and confidence.
Those terms seem quite the opposite of the happenings in our world as of late. This verse in Isaiah was originally spoken against God’s people because of their haste to rush off and trust in other men and kingdoms to save them instead of trusting in Him. The verse ends:
“but you would not”.
Can’t you hear the sadness in His voice? What a stinging rejection of God by His people! He wanted them to remember Him and how He had come through for them time and again-to bring to mind His promises of protection, love, comfort and rest-but they stubbornly refused, and tried to solve problems in their own ways, trusting in their own strength.
How many times do we as Christians rely on our own wisdom and strength, or the wisdom and strength of earthly leaders to solve our difficulties? It’s one of the things that continues to give Christians a bad name among non-believers. We know this cycle is futile. We know all kinds of troubles will come, and increase as earth’s history wraps up (see Matthew 24). We know the love of many will grow cold as a result.
We have seen these things escalate over the past several years. Chaos, corruption, anger, and fear beget more of the same. Sinful, fallen humanity cannot save itself through its own wisdom or might, yet we keep turning to charismatic men (or women), seeking their leadership instead of God’s. How long will we allow ourselves to be deluded?
I love this advice given in the book of Isaiah: “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7). Jesus’ second coming is very near and we must be wisely spending the time developing a trusting, confident relationship in God as our loving, all-knowing Father. It’s the only way we can have the peace and quietness that He desires for us as He matures and prepares us to give the loud cry that Jesus is coming soon.
Psalm 20:7 says “some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” Let David’s prayer be ours, and let it not be said “but you would not.” (Isaiah 30:15b)
-Kirsten
PS: Do you know someone who would be blessed by this message? Please feel free to share the link so they can be encouraged too!