OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!

In Isaiah 8, the prophet is warned by God that Assyria will soon sweep through and destroy Damascus, Samaria and even Judah.  God anticipates that the people will react by preparing for battle, making plans and forming alliances, but He announces through Isaiah:  “they will fail”.  [v.10   All references from The Voice Bible]

Eternal One: Don’t call for an alliance, like all the rest of this people do.

        Don’t fear what they fear, or dread what they dread.
         After all, only the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, should      terrify you.
        Only God is holy. Only God should leave you trembling.
         Look what I’m going to do in Zion:
        The Eternal will be for you a sacred place,
        But for both houses of Israel I’ll also be a stone that blocks their way
        and a rock that trips them up;
        For those who live in Jerusalem, I’ll be a trap and a snare.  

       Many will stumble over them. They will trip and be broken;
        they’ll succumb to capture and be grabbed up.  [vs.12-15]

This is a good word for those of us who live in chaotic, governmental disarray and fear of either anarchy or World War III. 

…only the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, should terrify you.
        Only God is holy. Only God should leave you trembling. 

Then, Isaiah adds his personal testimony:

As for me, I will wait for the Eternal, even though He feels absent, 

even though He has hidden His face from the family of Jacob. I will put all hope in Him. [v.17]

 

Isaiah continues:

People might tell you to ask the fortune-tellers, consult the babbling astrologers, conjure the dead to tell the living what’s to come, but shouldn’t they ask their God?  Go to God’s teaching and His testimony to guide your thoughts and behavior! If any response disagrees with the word of God, then it’s muddling and wrong and not the least bit illuminating. It leaves the people bedraggled and desperate, drifting here and there.  [vs.19-21]

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Lyrics by Rich Mullins

When He rolls up His sleeves
He ain't just putting on the ritz
(Our God is an awesome God)

There's thunder in His footsteps
And lightning in His fists
(Our God is an awesome God)

And the Lord wasn't joking
When He kicked 'em out of Eden
It wasn't for no reason
That He shed His blood
His return is very close
And so you better be believing that
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

And when the sky was starless
In the void of the night
(Our God is an awesome God)

He spoke into the darkness
And created the light
(Our God is an awesome God)

Judgement and wrath
He poured out on Sodom
Mercy and grace
He gave us at the cross
I hope that we have not
Too quickly forgotten that
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

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Almighty, Sovereign, Ever-watching God!

Help us to put our trust in You!  You're the only One who is holy!  You are still the Commander of Heavenly Armies!  You are the only One who knows the future!  You - and You alone - are trustworthy!  Amen.