Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Opening Scripture

[Zechariah’s song after the birth of his son, John the Baptist]

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us – to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Luke 1:68-70

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 49:13

Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

Reflection  

In Chapter 49, the perfect Servant returns. After the sharp rebuke of Chapter 48, there is once again a message of comfort. This time the Servant addresses the entire Earth – “the islands and the distant nations” – because His mission is not only for the Jewish captives in Babylon, but the whole world. Everyone needs to hear the LORD’s plan of redemption!

While the Servant certainly has a role to play “to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself,” the LORD has declared, “It is too small a thing for you to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6).

The Servant has not been fully identified in Isaiah yet, but we continue to learn more about His character and mission. “Before I was born, the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword.” Clearly, Almighty God has been planning what He intends to do for a very long time.

The Servant is called “Israel” here – not the nation He is destined to redeem, but a figure who is the embodiment of all that God’s people were supposed to be. He is the One in whom God will display His splendor. In the Servant’s person and work, He epitomizes the ideal nation of Israel. For now, He is “hidden in the shadow of the LORD’s hand” like “a polished arrow concealed in God’s quiver.”

God’s great plan of redemption includes both the unique mission of His perfect Servant as well as the collective ministry of His restored people. The Servant will bring Jacob back and restore Israel to himself, and then He will be a light for the Gentiles to bring the LORD’s salvation to the ends of the Earth. God’s redeemed people will serve His purposes once more. “In the day of salvation,” those who have been set free will say to those still in bondage, “Come out!” and to those still in darkness, “Be free!”

As such, today’s passage is a song of rejoicing for all who will ultimately be redeemed by the faithful Servant of God. “Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.”

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Christians

Although the prophet Isaiah has not fully revealed the perfect Servant’s full identity at this point, you and I have the benefit of living on this side of the cross. We have been given the privilege of “reading ahead.” We have received John’s vision of the end of history in Revelation. The One whose mouth is like a “sharpened sword” is identified there in all His glory.

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:11-16).

The prophet Isaiah’s first listeners were being called on to repent, trust God, and look forward to the coming of the LORD’s Servant and His salvation. We who listen to Isaiah’s message today are called to do the same thing.

This week’s collective prayer: God, deepen my understanding of the Gospel. Amen.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!