Isaiah 59:1-21

For Reading and Meditation:     Isaiah 7:13-17

Some religions, such as Hinduism, claim that their gods incarnate themselves, but those so-called incarnations are rooted in fantasy, not in fact. The Incarnation of Jesus Christ is not just a great idea - it really happened. There were eyewitnesses and a written record. The genius of Christianity is that it is not...

See the spider's web, and behold in it a most suggestive picture of the hypocrite's religion. It is meant to catch his prey: the spider fattens himself on flies, and the Pharisee has his reward. Foolish persons are easily entrapped by the loud professions of pretenders, and even the more judicious cannot always escape. Philip baptized Simon Magus, whose guileful declaration of faith was so soon exploded by the stern rebuke of Peter. Custom, reputation, praise, advancement, and other flies,...

There are desperate crisis times in life when Satan launches all his heaviest artillery against the Lord's people. The sky is dark, the earth trembles and there does not seem to be a single ray of hope. But God has promised to send reinforcements to His people in the moment of extremity. The Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against the Devil in the nick of time.

Enslaved by the Egyptian tyrant, the outlook for the people of Israel was bleak. They were cringing under the lashes of...

The position of the church in the world is like that of the low countries. Its ground is all recovered ground; dyke's compass it about; and against these the mighty ocean mutters, dashes, rages, as its mood may be. The law of all waters is opposed to its existence; Pacifics, Atlantics and Antarctics, seem ever to be uttering a protest against it. Anon, they, or their representative waters, arise in strength and precipitate themselves upon it. A flood is always ready for the Church; at every...

Isaiah had a vision of the Lord upon his throne surrounded by the seraphim; and the seraphim seem to have had a vision of the renewed earth, of what it shall be in the day when the glory of Christ shall be everywhere perceived, and when there shall be the manifestation of the sons of God. We are yet but in the seed-time; but it is interesting to observe that the seed is carried to all shores and scattered among all nations, and that everything is fast hastening to the hour when, at the new...

The-Lord-Is-My-Banner. § When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! § The Lord has revealed our righteousness. Come and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God. § We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. § Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. § The captain of their...

When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. § “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. § And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of...

God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering. Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. § The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God. § Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death.My God shall supply all your need...

In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul. § While I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering.Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. § But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help...

If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. § But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.Because I live, you will live also. § If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now...