Slices
Prepare
Thank God that he has given his Spirit to those who trust in Jesus, and pray for the Holy Spirit to be at work in you as you read God’s Word.
Bible passage
Israel the chosen
44 ‘But now listen, Jacob, my servant,
Israel, whom I have chosen.
2 This is what the Lord says –
he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you:
do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
5 Some will say, “I belong to the Lord”;
others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand, “The Lord’s,”
and will take the name Israel.
The Lord, not idols
6 ‘This is what the Lord says –
Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;
apart from me there is no God.
7 Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
and what is yet to come –
yes, let them foretell what will come.
8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?
No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.’
Explore
A repeated refrain here – and not for the first time in our readings from this part of Isaiah – is ‘do not be afraid’ (vs 2,8). We’re reminded again that God has chosen his people and made them and formed them in the womb. He will help them (v 2). He will be their rock (v 8). There is no God but him (v 6). This reminds me of the time when Jesus calmed the storm in Mark 4:35–41: Jesus’ disciples were so afraid, yet Jesus was in full mastery of the wind and the waves; they did not need to fear (though we can understand why they did!).
Why did God’s people not need to fear? Because God will send his Spirit and pour out his blessing on future generations (v 3). This links to a prophecy in Joel 2:28–32 that Peter also spoke when he addressed the crowd at Pentecost in Acts 2:17-21. After Jesus had died and just before he ascended into heaven (Thursday of this week remembers that day), he promised his disciples that they would be clothed with ‘power from on high’ and be his witnesses (Luke 24:48,49), just as God talks about witnesses in our passage here (v 8). That’s us too!
Respond
Pray for God’s Spirit to be upon any sons and daughters you have, either directly or in your wider or church family.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 1 Kings 22; Psalms 60,61
Pray for Scripture Union
Praise God for Nic’s amazing journey of faith. Although she didn’t grow up knowing Jesus, she now follows him and helps him to be revealed to other young people with no church connections. (This week's prayers relate to this story in Connecting You)
