When everything looks pretty bleak…

In Isaiah 22, Isaiah turns to his own people. His own city. Jerusalem.

The city is under attack. The people are gathering up arms but know deep down, that defeat is inevitable. They are partying like there’s no tomorrow – because they actually believe there will be no tomorrow.

Isaiah is broken-hearted.

They’ve prepared themselves. They’ve torn down houses to rebuild the walls. They’ve created a reservoir to collect water for the siege. But one thing they have not done –

but you did not look to the One who made it,
or have regard for the One who planned it long ago. Isaiah 22:11

They have not done the most important thing of all. They have not turned to God. Instead of repenting for God for all that they have done wrong, they try to forget by eating and drinking and having fun.

There will be consequences. Of course there will. Some will be brought low. Some will be raised up into positions of authority.

As in Jerusalem, so in Tyre –

The Lord Almighty planned it,
to bring down her pride in all her splendour
and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.  Isaiah 23:9

Let’s turn our attention wider to the whole planet. This wonderful world that God created. This world that is suffering from greed and abuse and exploitation and destruction…

See, the Lord is going to lay waste the earth
and devastate it;
he will ruin its face
and scatter its inhabitants –
it will be the same
for priest as for people,
for the master as for his servant,
for the mistress as for her servant,
for seller as for buyer,
for borrower as for lender,
for debtor as for creditor.
The earth will be completely laid waste
and totally plundered.
The Lord has spoken this word.  Isaiah 24:1-3

We are all playing our part in the devastation of the world. We are watching it unfold before our eyes. Some of what is happening now is irreversible. And no one will escape. No one. Everyone will be equal. Everyone will suffer equally.

Let’s be clear. We may try to blame God for this, but God created a perfect world. This is all down to us –

The earth is defiled by its people;
they have disobeyed the laws,
violated the statutes
and broken the everlasting covenant.  Isaiah 24:5

And yet, Isaiah finds a way to praise God. He will always find something to praise God for. Because whatever is happening on this earth to these people, God is still God.

So here’s a list of the reasons Isiah finds to praise God in chapter 25:-

• you are my God
• you are perfectly faithful
• you have done wonderful things
• everything that you said would happen has happened
• you are strong
• you alone deserve to be honoured and respected
• you protect the poor
• you provide for the needy
• you are a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat
• you silence the attackers
• you have promised a better future
• you have promised a time where you will wipe away all tears

And then, when this new kingdom is established, as described in chapter 26 – then there will be plenty to thank God for:-

• a strong city – a secure place
• a place of salvation
• a place to welcome the righteous
• a place of peace
• God is the eternal rock
• a God of justice who will make all things right
• new life, new hope

Have a read through those lists again. See what particular speaks to your heart. See what stands out to you as reasons to praise God and thank God right now. Because God has not changed. Pretty much everything else has changed since the times of Isaiah, but God has not changed. He is the same God now as He was then.

He is unchanging. He is faithful. He is to be trusted.

You may have some tough stuff going on in your life right now. You may feel under attack. You may feel completely drained and weak and ready to give up. I know that I am consumed with anxiety and feelings of helplessness this morning. I don’t know where to put myself. I don’t know what to do. I don’t even know how to turn to God, how to find words to express this torment. So knowing that God is strong and God is a rock and God is a shelter from the storm are the three I will take me with on my run this morning.

And then there is this –

You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord for ever,
for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.  Isaiah 26:3-4