June 8th

Deuteronomy 12     Isaiah 40     Psalms 97-98     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Hope in the Lord

Last week we joined the crowds on the Downs to cheer on the Olympic torch relay procession as it made its way across Bristol. The prophesies in the following chapters of Isaiah continue the picture of preparing a processional highway for the Lord coming to Jerusalem. The main theme is the proclamation that God is about to restore the exiled Jews in Babylon to their own land, which is ultimately fulfilled in the future coming and glory of God in the New Testament.

In this familiar passage Isaiah describes the majesty of God and then moves on to describe his goodness. Such a God is able to deliver and restore his people if they will trust him and draw their strength from him.

V31 gives a promise to those who ‘hope in the Lord’. ‘Hope in this context means to trust or to look expectantly. The Lord promises that those who hope in the Lord will exchange weakness for strength. The Hebrew word is used to denote a change of clothes (Gen 35 v2 Judges 14 v12) In the same way that we get up in the morning and put on new clothes for the day, we can look at God’s majesty and goodness and can choose to clothe ourselves with Christ  (Col 3 v 12)

 And as we do God will renew our strength to run the race he has set before us. ‘We will soar on wings like eagles, will run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint’.

Take a moment to choose to ‘hope in the Lord’ and to allow him to renew your strength.

 (husband and wife)

June 7th

Deuteronomy 11     Isaiah 39     Psalms 95-6     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds

In the book of Deuteronomy Moses emphasises to his listeners the importance of a personal engagement with the God who has delivered them from slavery and provided for their needs.

In ch 5 v2 he reminds them that the covenant was ‘made not with their fathers but with them.’ and in today’s passage (v2) that it was not their children but they themselves who saw Gods great deeds.

As we come before God today let’s remember that he doesn’t want a relationship by proxy with us, or a dry academic assent to the truths of Scripture but he longs for a living daily fresh personal encounter with each one of us, so that we can tell our own story, of his amazing love for us.

In v18 he gives advice as to how to nourish this relationship both for ourselves and those we have care of. We are to ‘fix his words on our hearts and minds, tie them as symbols on our hands and bind them on our foreheads. Teach them to our children…talk about them when we walk along the road when we lie down and when we get up..’

Orthodox Jews take these verses literally and tie the phylacteries to their foreheads and left arms. They also attach the mezurot (small wooden containers in which passages of Scripture are placed) to the doorframe of their homes.

These verses are a wonderful encouragement to make our faith part of everyday living. God is involved in any and every situation that we may find ourselves in today. Whether we are on the school run, on the squash court, in the board room, or in the supermarket queue we can pray and call to mind passages of Scripture and know the blessing that comes as we ‘hold fast to him’ (v27).

(husband and wife)