The Friday after the Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on October 25, 2024 by under
Scripture: Isaiah 30:15-19 (NKJV)
30:15 For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
“In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” But you would not,
16 And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses”—therefore you shall flee! And, “We will ride on swift horses”—therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!
17 One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain and as a banner on a hill.
18 Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you.
Devotion
Waiting is not easy for us. As sinners, we often become impatient waiting for God’s deliverance. Perhaps you are asking yourself right now, “Why does God allow me to be oppressed for so long? Why does He delay in taking away my affliction?”
God will surely answer your prayer for deliverance. Isaiah writes in our lesson for today, “He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you.” However, God may not answer your prayer in the way that you expect or want. We want our afflictions removed right away, but God gives His people this promise: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” God will deliver you out of your trouble, but He will do it in His own way. He will strengthen your heart so that you cheerfully endure affliction. He will give you quietness and confidence in the peace of God which passes all understanding (Phil. 4:7).
All who wait upon the Lord’s deliverance are blessed. In rest we shall be saved, because Jesus Christ is our rest. He is our Shiloh (rest), for through Him we have the forgiveness of sins and victory over our enemies. Therefore, “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Ps. 27:14).
Collect: Lord, we beseech Thee to keep Thy household, the Church, in continual godliness; that through Thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve Thee in good works, to the glory of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
