No Other

I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. (Isaiah 42:6-8 ESV)

To whom do we look for salvation and deliverance? Seriously, in whom do we place our trust? The US or the EU or the UN? Barack or Angela? Donald or Hillary? “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”

Where do we go for hope? Seriously, where do we find answers to our crises? Fox or MSNBC? Rachel or Rush? Huffington or Drudge? “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”

Where is our security? Seriously, where is our source of well-being? The euro or the yen? Bitcoin or gold? Social Security or 401k? REIT or Roth? “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”

Where do we go for truth? Seriously, how do we know what is real? Construct or opinion? Harvard or Oxford? Karma or dogma? Science that changes or feelings that coddle? “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”

Know this. God is the I AM. He, and no other, will be glorified. He, and no other, is our hope. He, and no other, is sovereign. He, and no other, cares for us as a father cares for his children. He, and no other, is true. He, and no other, is worthy of our praise.

Father, forgive me for looking anywhere else for security or wisdom. You alone are sovereign; you alone are true; you alone have shown me that you care. Be my hope today, my sole hope. I ask this as one who lives in your Son by grace. Amen.

[Read the daily devotional in Isaiah 42:1-9.]

Sing a New Song - Isaiah 42:10-17

The reading today makes me wonder what song we will be singing on the day when Jesus comes at last.  It will most certainly be a new song, one like the human ear has never heard before.  The melodious notes will be so pleasing and many will wonder why we never heard this sound before and then realize why as Every Knee Shall Bend.  The music will be played on heavenly instruments which will make a new and most joyful noise.

 Sing to the LORD a new song, 
   his praise from the ends of the earth, 
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, 
   you islands, and all who live in them. (Isaiah 42:10)

This is a wonderful way to begin the week.  I want to carry this visual with me today and tomorrow too. I need to believe the promises of scripture and I must cling to everything God says.  How else can we move forward with confidence, reaching out to those who won't hear this miraculous symphony unless they know Jesus?

What do you see in your minds eye when you reflect on the words in Isaiah 42?  What words of praise do you imagine will be sung?  There will most likely be words none of us have heard but we will instantly understand them.  Praise be to God. Come, Lord Jesus.

Read the Isaiah text for today here.