Isaiah 12
Reflect
Isaiah 12 is a response to the messianic prophecies of Isaiah 11. Why will God’s anger be turned away? Why will Israel know the salvation of God? Because a Saviour is coming! And it will be cause for praise and celebration for all people. They are directed to proclaim, sing, and shout in response to God’s salvation.
Friends, we are living in “that day.” Jesus, our Saviour, has come! Does your life and my life reflect the kind of joy, proclamation, and praise that Isaiah writes about here?
Theologian John N. Oswalt, in reflection on this chapter and the woeful history of Israel, says: “Whenever Israel focuses primarily upon her needs, she is in difficulty, for supply of those needs becomes the ultimate goal. All else, including the Sovereign of the universe, becomes but a means to that end. This attitude is a sure prescription for spiritual disaster. Thus, praise and thanks are essential for a robust spiritual life… It is only in this way that we can refocus our attention upon how much we have received from a loving Father and in that appreciation stop attempting to use him as our servant.”
In this season of Advent, is there a way you need to refocus your attention, to acknowledge the ways that God has already met you? Today, will you offer praise and thanksgiving to the only One who saves?
Pastor Melissa
Pray
- Pray through the prayer section in our program.
- Pray for Karen Alksne, our Congregational Life Ministry Associate.
- Pray for our Congregational Life Pastor, Mike Bartusek and his family.