The last shift of worshippers stand in the temple and lift their hands in praise. The Hebrew word for praise is taken from the same root as the word hand. Raising their hands is like forming a symbolic link: a connection between themselves and their maker. Blessing the LORD is the last thing they do every night. Receiving blessing from him is the first thing they do every morning.
LORD, we want worship to be the last thing on our mind … and gratitude for your blessings to be the first thing.
The LORD speaks to his people as if they are a deserted wife that he divorced for unfaithfulness. He promises to restore the relationship and never to desert us again. He tells us to get ready to make our tent bigger so that we can accommodate more children than we can imagine. And great shall be their peace.
LORD, thank you for your promise of steadfast love.
The unity which David commends here is not simply the uniformity of doctrine or name, but the fellowship of kindred hearts. When believers get this right, we are the most productive in sharing the gospel. People want to see a church like this. It causes them to dare to believe that there is something in the “Jesus thing.”
LORD, bond us to one another in peace and love, so that those who see our fellowship want to share our discipleship.
The Servant shall be high and lifted up and exalted (52:13). But first he will be despised and rejected by men (53:3). Kings shall shut their mouths because of him (52:15). But first he must go to the cross with his own mouth shut, like a lamb led to the slaughter (53:7). He will know eternal life and prosperity , but first he must allow God’s will to happen, which means he will be crushed (53:10). He will make many to be accounted righteous (53:11), but first he must pour out his soul to death, and be numbered with the transgressors (53:12).
LORD, thank you for the ultimate sacrifice: infinite purity made into a sin offering to rescue us from our own defilement.
The LORD’s promises to David included the promise of strength and power for his future son who would reign, symbolized by a horn.
The LORD would also prepare a lamp for that anointed ruler, perhaps symbolizing that he would walk in the light of truth.
And the LORD would crown him with glory, in stark contrast to his enemies who will be clothed in shame.
LORD, we accept your appointed ruler, David’s son, your Son, and our Savior.
Isaiah envisions a time when the king returns and establishes peace and redemption among the people. He calls on his readers to awake to this reality before it happens. He calls on believers to share this good news of restoration and revival. It will be an enormous miracle, but God has done things like this before. History is evidence that we can trust the gospel.
LORD, give us voices to proclaim your good news.
Isaiah’s readers were tempted to blame God for all the wrong that they had experienced. Isaiah defended the LORD by reminding his people that God was not the author of their pain. It was the result of the people’s own wrong choices. Yet, if the people insisted on continuing to walk in their own light instead of trusting God, they would lie down in torment on judgment day. The choice is ours as well: blame God for the consequences of life outside his will, or surrender to his will and receive eternal life by grace.
LORD, forgive us for trying to light our own path. Teach us to trust you.
Theoretically, a night watchman’s job is to look out for possible threats to the field. Mostly, a night watchman just watches nothing, and waits until morning. The psalmist picks up on that reality to describe his hope for redemption. Out of the depths he cries for mercy from God, and waits in hope for God to act. It may be a long wait, but he has nothing else to do. Salvation is not coming from anywhere else.
LORD, we wait for you, and we trust in your forgiveness. Our hope is in your pleniful redemption.
The Servant who will restore Israel will gather his children from all the nations. The Israelites will look upon the masses saved and wonder, because this is God at work. His redeemed will return with singing, accompanied by kings. It is too light a thing for the Servant to simply restore those who were lost from Israel. He will bring back people from every nation. His salvation will reach to the end of the earth.
LORD, thank you that your salvation has reached us.
Rooftops were not a good place for a garden in the psalmist’s day. Grass there would wither quickly, and there was not enough soil for a crop. The psalmist looks upon Zion’s enemies, who were oppressing his people. He saw them as high and mighty, but unable to bless, or be blessed. That is why he likened them to grass on a rooftop.
LORD, make us into people who bless others, not people who are always condemning others.
Psalm 134
Isaiah 54
Psalm 133
Psalm 132
Isaiah 51:1-52:12
Isaiah 50
Psalm 130
Isaiah 48-49
Psalm 129
