Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"O LORD, be gracious to us"
Text: Isaiah 33:2
A HUMBLE PRAYER FOR GRACE
Isaiah was informed that God would deal with the plundering Assyrians. This knowledge brought some measure of comfort. But Isaiah was all too aware of the sins of Israel and Judah. Hence, he prayed that God would be gracious to His people.
“O LORD, be gracious to us;
We have waited for You.
Be their arm every morning,
Our salvation also in the time of trouble.
At the noise of the tumult the people shall flee;
When You lift Yourself up, the nations shall be scattered;
And Your plunder shall be gathered
Like the gathering of the caterpillar;
As the running to and fro of locusts,
He shall run upon them.”
Isaiah 33:2-4
1. A precious and humble prayer.
a) For the LORD to show graciousness to His people.
b) On the part of the faithful remnant:
i) They had waited on the LORD.
ii) They had been faithful to Him.
c) Features of “graciousness”:
i) God would be their arm of strength each morning.
ii) He would provide salvation (deliverance) in their time of trouble.
2. The nations
a) The Assyrians led a confederation of nations.
b) These included (Psalm 83:6-8)
i) Edom
ii) Ishmaelites
iii) Moab and the Hagrites
iv) Gebal, Ammon and Amalek
v) Philistia and Tyre
c) These nations would be scattered by the LORD.
3. The plundering of the wicked nations.
a) Compared to the voracious appetite of the caterpillar.
b) Compared to the insatiable appetite of the locusts.
c) In like manner the LORD would consume the wicked enemies.