Psalm 4:4b – 5 “Meditate within your heart on your bead, and be still.  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.”

This week my bible study group looked at the passage of Isaiah Chapters 30 and 31.  It’s a message of God’s judgement on those who do not put their trust in Him, and throughout the passage you can read of God’s earnest desire for His people to look to Him and find their true security in the face of adversity, which only He can provide.  These chapters echoed the message of last week’s passage, Chapters 28 and 29, which contain a wonderful parable which portrays how God desires us to walk in His guidance. (Isaiah 28:23-29)

Trusting in God in the face of adversity, or any situation in which we find ourselves uncertain about future outcomes, or that cause us fear or anxiety, can be difficult.   Clearly we see from scripture that God’s people have always struggled with complete reliance on God in spite of His continued proof of ability to come through seemingly insurmountable odds.  While I didn’t identify with the people in the Isaiah passage who wanted to ignore God’s truth and would rather have their ears tickled, I could identify with them in the sense of  their “planning”.

“Woe to the rebellious children,” says the Lord, “Who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit.”  Isaiah 30:1

I’ll admit it; I’m a planner.   And further to that, I confess that at times, God has been my “back-up plan”.  But God’s word is clear on how He wants His people to live – in complete reliance on Him, seeking His counsel, and listening and obeying Him as He leads.  God’s plans rarely, if ever, resemble man’s plans or the seemingly logical ways of the world and so-called experts.  We are called to reject these ways, which ultimately are the “Ways of the World” and walk in God’s Way.

“Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses are flesh and not Spirit.” Isaiah 31:3a (Israel was looking to Egypt for protection from the Assyrians rather than seeking God).  This passage highlights the futility of looking to earthly means and reasoning rather than God who is sovereign above all things.

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.” Isaiah 31:21

God has told them previously in Isaiah 30:15, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quiet confidence shall be your strength.” 

My morning reading reiterated the truth presented over the last couple of weeks; given that this message is being resounded, I guess I need to have it solidified in my life…being presented with situations in which we must trust in God is not an overly pleasant thought, it’s not something one would look forward to, but certainly one that is unavoidable and will ultimately be for our own good in the end.  Just a “reminder to self” here for when one is in the thick of it!

The Bible tells us to wait on the Lord for His wisdom, in quietness and with an obedient heart, and to trust in Him.

Psalm 4:4-5 “Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.” The outcome of this – Psalm 4:8 “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Proverbs 4:21-26 “My son, let them not depart from your eyes – keep sound wisdom and discretion; so they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck.  Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble.  When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.  Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.”

The reaction of God’s people in the face of trouble in the Isaiah passage was to flee.  But God’s word tells us we are to trust.

Taking time to seek God, in quietness, in waiting on the Lord, being in His Word and with an open heart and an obedient spirit, we can rest and have confidence in Him.  He is our proven hope. not just in the face of adversity but in our everyday lives; in our everyday tasks (like in the parable of Isaiah 28) He gives us wisdom and guidance to live in this world but not be “of the world”.

When we fully embrace these truths and walk in them, those around us will look and know that we walk with God.