Day 196 - O Lord, You Are My God

Daily Reading:  Isaiah 25-27

O, Lord, you are my God;

I will exalt you and praise your name,

for in perfect faithfulness

you have done marvelous things,

things planned long ago.

Isaiah 25:1

Footnote:  Isaiah exalted and praised God because he realized that God completes his plans as promised.  God also fulfills his promises to you.  Think of the prayers he has answered, and praise him for his goodness and faithfulness.

You will keep in perfect peace

him whose mind is steadfast,

because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 26:3

Footnote:  We can never avoid strife in the world around us, but with God we can know perfect peace even in turmoil.  When we are devoted to him, our whole attitude is steady and stable.  Supported by God's unchanging love and mighty power, we are not shaken by the surrounding chaos (See Philippians 4:7).  Do you want peace?  Keep your thoughts on and your trust in God.

But your dead will live;

their bodies will rise.

You who dwell in the dust,

wake up and shout for joy.

Your dew is like the dew of the morning;

the earth will give birth to her dead.

26:19

Footnote:  Some people say there is no life after death.  Others believe that there is, but it is not physical life.  But Isaiah tells us that our bodies shall rise again.  According to 1 Corinthians 15:50-53, all the dead believers will arise with new imperishable bodies -- bodies like the one Jesus had when he was resurrected (See Philippians 3:21).  Isaiah 26:19 is not the only Old Testament verse to speak about the resurrection; see also Job 19:26; Psalm 16:10; Daniel 12:2, 13.

When its twigs are dry, they are broken off

and women come and make fires with them.

for this is a people without understanding;

so their Maker has no compassion on them,

and their Creator shows them no favor.

Isaiah 27:11

Footnote:  Isaiah compares the state of Israel's spiritual life with dry twigs that are broken off and used to make fires.  Trees in Scripture often represent spiritual life.  The trunk is the channel of strength from God; the branches are the people who serve him.  Tree branches sometimes waver and blow in the wind.  Like Israel, they may dry up from internal rottenness and become useless for anything except building a fire.  What kind of branch are you?  If you are withering spiritually, check to see if you are firmly attached to God.

Keep reading -- 169 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV