Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"You have been a strength to the poor"
Text: Isaiah 25:4
THE ROLE OF THE LORD
Many had taken the role of the LORD too much for granted. Isaiah took time to share his reflection about God’s role in life.
“For You have been a strength to the poor,
A strength to the needy in his distress,
A refuge from the storm,
A shade from the heat;
For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
You will reduce the noise of aliens,
As heat in a dry place;
As heat in the shadow of a cloud,
The song of the terrible ones will be diminished.”
Isaiah 25:4-5
1. Three aspects of God’s work were highlighted:
a) The strength that God gives:
i) To the poor.
ii) To the needy in distress.
b) The refuge that God provides:
i) In a storm.
ii) War may indeed be compared to a terrible storm.
c) The shade that God gives:
i) High and unrelenting heat can take a great toll.
ii) The LORD provides adequate shade from the heat.
2. The tough circumstances that exist during war.
a) Enemies are called “terrible ones”.
b) They assault cities.
c) Their attacks may indeed be called “a storm”.
d) The walls of cities cannot withstand severe attacks unless God protects.
3. What God can do to help.
a) He can reduce the impact made by alien (foreign) enemies.
b) Note the use of imagery:
i) Noise
A reference to frightening war cries of foreign enemies.
ii) Heat
The “heat of battle is in mind”.
iii) Song of victory of foreign enemies.
Their songs can be demoralising to their victims.
c) God can help diminish the impact of war caused by these enemies.