Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Opening Scripture

The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh; he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness. Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed. Nahum 1 (selected)

Opening Prayer

Almighty God, You are holy and worthy of praise. You are my Father, and I walk humbly in Your love. You are my Shepherd, who guides and protects me. I make myself available to You to accomplish Your will in me. I surrender every attitude, thought, and action to You. You are my Provider, and I trust You to meet my needs. Forgive me when I disappoint You and fall short. Help me to forgive others, that I might reflect Your forgiveness. Show me my sin, so I can confess it to You. Don’t let my feet stray from the path of righteousness. Protect me from Satan’s temptations, lies, and deceptions. Strengthen my faith and trust in You alone. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Isaiah 40:9-11

You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Reflection  

Let’s pause for a moment to put things in historical context.

When we read through the book of Jonah, we saw how God used the reluctant prophet from the Northern Kingdom to declare His divine warning to the people of Ninevah (Assyrians). They repented and God relented, but that was only for a generation or so, in the first half of the eighth century B.C. They quickly returned to their established culture of extreme wickedness, cruelty, and pride. God showed them mercy and grace, but they relapsed into sin.

Later, in the second half of the eighth century B.C., the prophet Isaiah, from the Southern Kingdom, was used by God to help Hezekiah navigate the threat of the Assyrian invasion of Jerusalem. God miraculously destroyed the Assyrian army and King Sennacherib returned to Ninevah, where he was murdered by two of his sons.

A hundred years later, the prophet Nahum (whose name means “comfort”) offers his declaration of Assyria’s destruction and God’s provision for His people (Opening Scripture). Nahum ends with the epitaph: “King of Assyria, your shepherds slumber; your nobles lie down to rest. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them. Nothing can heal you; your wound is fatal. All who hear the news about you clap their hands at your fall, for who has not felt your endless cruelty?”

In 612 B. C., the city of Ninevah fell once and for all to the Babylonians, Medes, and Scythians, finally fulfilling the numerous predictions by God’s prophets. That was indeed good news to Zion! It is a good reminder to everyone that it is Almighty God who reigns over all creation, including earthly powers.

“But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children – with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:17-19).

In all of this, God maintains his eternal covenant with His people. Atonement is made, sins are forgiven, and right relationship is restored. God remains faithful and unchanging. His word endures forever. God is the ultimate synthesis of sovereign power and tender mercy. His authority and majesty are unfathomable. He is a mighty warrior who cares for the weak. “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”

Such news must be shared! Shout it from the mountaintop! There is an urgency and importance to the proclamation of this royal decree. “Behold your God!” The LORD is coming and His reward is with Him.

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:12-13).

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

Even as Isaiah was prophesying God’s eventual comfort after divine punishment, the Southern Kingdom was in a season of material prosperity and moral decline.

After Sennacherib returned to Ninevah and Hezekiah recovered from his illness, the king of Juday became “very great in riches and honor.” Hezekiah built treasuries for his gold, silver, shields, and precious stones. He built storehouses for his spices, grain, wine, and oil. He built pens and stalls for his cattle, flocks, and herds. He built villages and acquired great riches. What could possibly go wrong?

The curse of prosperity. When Hezekiah died, his son Manasseh became king.

“Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, following the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshipped them.

“He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, arousing his anger. He took the carved image he had made and put it in God’s temple. Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites” (2 Chronicles 33).

Like the Assyrians, after being shown compassion by Almighty God, the people of Judah quickly returned to their established culture of extreme wickedness, cruelty, and pride. God showed them mercy and grace, but they relapsed into sin.

That is how quickly things can go bad. In fact, while the Bible gives no account of the prophet’s death, ancient Jewish tradition says that King Manasseh had Isaiah sawed in two. We know that “Manasseh shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end – besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the LORD” (2 Kings 21:16). The writer of Hebrews tells us that some of God’s faithful were “sawed in two.” Perhaps Isaiah was in that group.

In seasons of calm or conflict, each generation must seek after the Lord. Regardless of local circumstances or world events, each generation must seek after the Lord. In times of poverty or prosperity, each generation must seek after the Lord. Despite the blessing of family godliness or the curse of family ungodliness, each generation must seek after the Lord.

Look for an opportunity today to proclaim the good news, “Here is your God!” 

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

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!