Dancing with What Brung Ya

Daily Reading: Isaiah 17-18

Scripture Focus: In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 17.7)

Devotional Thought: "You’ve gotta dance with them what brung ya." Darrell Royal, Head Coach of the Texas Longhorns football team, once made that statement concerning his offensive linemen.

A football coach understood it.  Why didn't Israel?  God had brought Israel out from...

• A single man given the promise of blessing.

• A family on the brink of starvation.

• A ragtag group of slaves, marched out of Egypt under the leadership of a hot-headed murderer.

• A frenzied and idolatrous mob.

• A wandering multitude who had no place to call home.

God had brought Israel out to...

• A significant nation on the world stage.

• A land flowing with milk and honey.

• A united and self-ruling people.

• Custodians of God's Law.

• A people settled in peaceful pastures.

But, Israel had forgotten God.  They weren't dancing with the one who had brought them out.  God had a plan to bring them back.  It involved harsh treatment by oppressing powers.  God was confident that they would indeed remember "to dance with him what brung ya."  In that day, Israel would "look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel."

Are you dancing with him what brung ya?

Prayer: Lord, you have indeed blessed me!  You have delivered me from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of light.  You have given your life in exchange for my death.  I will not forget, O Lord.  I will always dance with you!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 52.1-9

1 Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day.

2 Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.

3 You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah

4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.

5 But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah

6 The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying,

7 "See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!"

8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.

9 I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.