Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Opening Scripture

He has founded his city on the holy mountain. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are said of you, city of God: “I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me – Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush – and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”

Indeed, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her.” The LORD will write in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.” As they make music they will sing, “All my fountains are in you.” Psalm 87

Opening Prayer

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for rest and the promise of a new day. I praise You for Your loving kindness, Your thoughtful provision, and Your comforting presence. Help my hope and security be in You today, not in what I do, or what I have, or what others think. May Your Spirit guide me in the way I should go. Help me to appreciate Your blessings and see You at work around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Isaiah 40:6-8

A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

Reflection  

Today’s passage can be viewed as a second divine calling and commissioning for Isaiah. Chapter 6 describes the prophet’s assignment for the first phase of his work: proclaiming judgment. Chapter 40 describes the prophet’s assignment for the second phase of his work: proclaiming comfort.

A voice (presumably God) says, “Cry out.” The listener (presumably Isaiah) asks, “What shall I cry?” The message states a clear distinction between the creation and the Creator. People are temporary and changing. God is eternal and unchanging. The nation of Judah would wither and fall, but God’s promise that He would eventually restore them was sure and secure.

Since the prophet’s first commissioning took place in Chapter 6, it can be assumed that Isaiah was already serving the LORD before his vision of the heavenly throne room. Isaiah had likely functioned in his role as a prophet under Uzziah before he died, and then during the reign of Uzziah’s son, Jotham.

King Uzziah (also known as Azariah) became king at age 16, when his father Amaziah was murdered. According to 2 Kings 15, Uzziah reigned for 52 years and “did what was right in the sight of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.”

There was one glaring issue, though, that Uzziah did not address. “The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there” (2 Kings 15:4). As we saw previously, it was left to Hezekiah to take on the difficult job of destroying the pagan “high places” that were so popular with the citizens of Judah.

At some point, Uzziah contracted leprosy, and his son Jothan served as regent in his place. Jotham was 25 when he stepped in to reign, and he served as king of Judah for sixteen years. “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.” It is likely that most, if not all, of Uzziah’s 52 years as king included his son Jotham’s reign.

It is clear from his relationship with King Hezekiah that Isaiah was well known and well connected to the royal court. His easy access to those in highest authority – both in the palace and temple – indicate a position and person of recognized influence. While his message was not always embraced, his character and integrity were unquestioned.

Isaiah stands in stark contrast to the “lying prophets” described in Jeremiah. “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The LORD says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’

“But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word? See, the storm of the LORD will burst out in wrath, a whirlwind swirling down on the heads of the wicked. The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come you will understand it clearly. I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied’” (Jermiah 23:16-21).

Because Isaiah lived in Jerusalem during such traumatic events, his concern for “Zion” and the royal line of David was greater than that of other prophets. Thus, in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, when “Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them,” it was less of a concern than when the Assyrian commander showed up delivering dire threats at the walls of Jerusalem. Things got very personal at that point!

Throughout human history – through rebellion and repentance, through war and peace, through famine and abundance, through disease and healing, through rebuke and restoration – God has working out His great plan of redemption in and through His people. That is still true today.

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

Throughout the Book of Isaiah, Jerusalem – Zion, the City of God – represents Israel’s collective identity as the LORD’s chosen people. The modern Western mind cannot appreciate how unthinkable it was to the people of Judah that, despite their continuous sin and rebellion, Yahweh would ever allow the destruction of the city or temple that “housed” His presence.

Though they had been warned repeatedly by the prophets about their wickedness, the collective apathy of the Israelites was perhaps fed in part by the words of the psalmist in our Opening Scripture. “He has founded his city on the holy mountain. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are said of you, city of God.” Naturally, those who were born and lived there were “special” and protected as well. Their names were in the “register” like elite, life-time club members.

What does it mean to be “special”?

For some people, it means “the rules don’t apply to me.” For whatever reason, they see themselves as “above the law” and therefore exempt from the same requirements and expectations as everyone else. They have a basic disregard for the shared responsibilities of living together in a safe and healthy community.

For some people, it means a “VIP status” that provides access “behind the velvet rope.” Due to wealth, fame or prestige, they are granted entry into exclusive and restricted areas with privileges that are unavailable to the masses. Their sense of “specialness” is reinforced by privilege and the way they are treated.

For some people, it means “I need extra help.” Due to an impairment or disability, they recognize that they need “assistance” to do what others take for granted. They embrace a humility that welcomes support, yet in no way diminishes their inherent value and worth. This “specialness” stands in stark contrast to the previous two groups.

Certainly, there is a “specialness” about Abraham’s descendants that was ordained by God from the beginning. The problem came when the Jews got confused about the nature of their specialty. They seemed to believe that God chose them because they were special. The truth is that they were only special because God chose them. The Jews specialness was tied exclusively to Almighty God and His purpose for them to serve as a blessing to the nations.

Today, many individuals and groups seem to assume an unhealthy sense of “specialness” that is contrary to God’s plan and counter to God’s purpose. May that never be said of us! Instead, may we individually and collectively humble ourselves before the Lord and renew our commitment to serving Him in joyful devotion.

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3).

This week’s collective prayer: God, may I be useful to You in Your harvest. Amen.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!