Isaiah 30:15 (NIV) This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”
Time and again, the prophet Isaiah tried to warn the people of Israel of their need for repentance. It’s interesting to note that the word repentance used in this sense was more than just dodging sin or avoiding it. The word implies fully turning around and returning to God. Also noted in this text, the term quietness indicates an absence of panic or overwhelming fright. In short, Isaiah tells the people to stop panicking and fully turn away from all sins and return to trusting God.
The next two verses, Isaiah 30:16-17 (NLT) chronicle the ways in which the Israelites were attempting to solve their problems on their own. Their tactic was to simply run away; flee; hide. Isaiah warns them in v. 17 (NLT), You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a hill or a tattered banner on a distant mountaintop. You see, this type of situational panic (e.g., run and hide; ignore the problem) didn’t work for the Israelites then, and it won’t work for us today. Evil will follow you; it will chase you. Thankfully, Isaiah reminded the Israelites that they have a solution—and that solution is available to us today:
Isaiah 30:18 (NIV) Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
This is still the same true message for us today. Sin is anything that would turn us away from keeping our focus and attention on our Savior. Are you feeling as if you are a lonely flagpole on a hill—no one to help you or comfort you? Are you perhaps so worn and weary from trying to handle life’s challenges on your own that you feel like a tattered banner far away on some distant mountaintop where no one sees or cares? It’s time—beyond time—time to turn around and return to the arms of your gracious and compassionate Heavenly Father. It’s time to trust your Heavenly Father.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Forgive us when we panic amidst our circumstances, or try to take matters into our own hands. Teach us to trust in you, for you are our salvation, our source of justice, and our strength for each day. Guide us in understanding that true repentance is totally and completely turning away from anything that distracts us or draws our attention away from you. Find us faithful to you in all circumstances.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The devotional Lonely Flagpoles and Tattered Banners appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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