Isaiah 57:13-21

For Reading and Meditation:     Colossians 4:2-6

From what we have been seeing over the past few days, it is clear that although the psalmist was struggling with doubts about the goodness of God,he took a stand on something he knew to be right. He realised that if he were to speak as he was tempted to speak, the immediate consequence would be the hurt of God's...

"I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before Me, and the souls; which I have made." Isaiah 57:16

Our heavenly Father seeks our instruction, not our destruction. His contention with us has a kind intention toward us. He will not be always in arms against us. We think the LORD is long in His chastisements, but that is because we are short in our patience. His compassion endureth...

The greater part of mankind pass through the earthly stage of their existence without anything that can appropriately be termed the knowledge of God. To others, however, it is given in some most solemn moment to find themselves suddenly in the presence of God and to be overwhelmed with the perception of his holiness, power, sovereignty, and omniscience. The scales fall from their eyes, and they behold that sublime and offended Majesty in whose august presence they, in willing...

God is love; and we were called into being that in our measure we might manifest forth this truth, by loving one another. But we are an apostate race; and each one, so far from seeking to be the servant of all, is bent upon serving himself of all. Men are consecrated first and foremost to the augmentation of their own gains. Ordinarily they understand by covetousness some extraordinary development of the passion for gain. But the question is not, what definition of it is given in man's code,...

The wicked are sometimes seen flourishing as a green bay tree. Their cup of worldly prosperity runneth over. To the spectator their days appear to flow by in pleasantness and peace. They conform to the world's code of morals, and their praises are on the tongues of all. They fare sumptuously every day and fancy that they are to sit down at the banquet of everlasting life. Peace and prosperity are within their gates, if we may believe appearances. But we refer to believe God. He knoweth all...

Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. § Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. § My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. §  “Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not...

I am the Lord who heals you.Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. § You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. § All things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like...

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— these, O God, You will not despise. § He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. § Thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would fail...

Thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” § The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise. § Though the Lord is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar. § Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,...

Thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. § Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud...