Coffee With The Lord

Israel was in deep trouble!  They had rebelliously gone their own way and had reaped God’s judgment!  They needed a savior desperately, and the Lord promised to be that for them.  This morning during “Coffee with the Lord” I read a wonderful passage In which the Lord declares what He would do for them as their Savior

What the passage declares reminded me of our wonderful Savior… We all needed One!  We have reaped the consequences of our self-will and sin!  The promise He made to Israel as their Savior has rich application and significance for us!  As the old gospel song declares… “Oh what a Savior!”

Here’s the rich taste of His promise in Isaiah 53… I savor its words and relish it’s promises… It has wonderful application for each one of us!

“But now thus says the Lord, He who created you… He who formed you: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior… Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.  Fear not, for I am with you… everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made… Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. ¹¹ I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior… Also henceforth I am He; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back? … I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King… Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert… For I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise… I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”  (From Isaiah 43)

What a wonderful testimony to the mercy and grace of God!  “Oh what a Savior!  Oh hallelujah!

When a family member – especially a son or daughter – betrays you that is a very dark and troubling day!  It knocks the props right out from under you!  It leaves you feeling embattled, betrayed and disillusioned!  Where do you turn?  Where can you turn?  Psalm 3 addresses that issue!  The traditional preface to the Psalm reads, “A psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.”

These were David’s words in that crisis – that soul-shaking experience…

“O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, ‘There is no salvation for him in God!

“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head!  I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.  I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me!  I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.  Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God!”  (From Psalm 3 ESV)

This wonderful Psalm has been set to music!  A wonderful ladies ensemble, the Sisters, has recorded it… Here is the URL for their rendition of it.  If you’re experiencing the pain and shock of betrayal right now, why not join them as they sing the words of this Psalm to God,  Himself…