God's Purpose

Daily Reading: Isaiah 23

Scripture Focus: The Lord of hosts has purposed it. (Isaiah 23.9)

Devotional Thought: Lana and I moved into our new home with the understanding (from the brochure and map given us by the sales agent) that when the neighborhood was finished, the streets would completely circle the sixty-three acre lake in our community, traversing a bridge in the back of the neighborhood.  We thought, "How nice it's going to be when they finish the neighborhood and we can walk all the way around the lake!"  It didn't work that way.  We soon were made aware that the developers had backed away from that plan as being too costly.  We tried to make an issue of it, but it soon became evident that the developers had made up their minds.  The "fine print" was on their side.  The money would not be spent.  There would be no bridge.

That's  a "First World Problem" isn't it?  But, it does teach us something.  When those in charge purpose something, that's how it's going to be.

Isaiah saw that about God's judgment against the proud and godless Tyrians.  In speaking of their downfall, Isaiah said, "The Lord of hosts has purposed it."

But, did you know that God has purposed things for his children, too?  Things that you can count on because he's in charge?  To the captives in Babylonia, Jeremiah wrote, "I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29.10-11).  After seventy years of captivity, God did that very thing!

Are you in captivity now, child of God?  Rejoice, for the Lord has purposed your deliverance!

Prayer: O Lord, you are "my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."  In you I trust!  Amen.  (Psalm 18.2)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 55.9-15

9 Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it;

11 ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace.

12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me-- then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me-- then I could hide from him.

13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.

14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.

15 Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.