June 16, 2022 - Isaiah 47-48

The Lord continues, through his prophet, to announce judgment against Babylon and, then, he addresses his people and says, “The former things I declared of old; they went out from my mouth, and I announced them; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead brass, I declared them to you from of old, before they came to pass I announced them to you, lest you should say, ‘My idol did them, my carved image and my metal image commanded them’” (48:3-5).

God would have us to know that he alone is the Lord and that he alone can announce future things. He declares and, then, he acts so that his people will know that he alone is God. He will not have his name profaned or his glory given to another: “For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another” (48:11).

We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator;

in grateful devotion our tribute we bring;

we lay it before you; we kneel and adore you;

we bless your holy name: glad praises we sing. -- Julia C. Cory (1902)