Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.
Isaiah 51:18 (NIV)
“Among all the children she bore there was none to guide her; among all the children she reared there was none to take her by the hand.”
Isaiah 51:18 (MSG)
“And nobody to help you home, no one among your friends or children to take you by the hand and put you in bed.”
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“There is no one to guide her among all the sons she has borne, nor is there anyone to take her by the hand among all the sons she has reared.” -AMPLIFIED
“Guidance, like all God’s acts of blessing under the covenant of grace, is a sovereign act. Not merely does God will guide us in the sense of showing us his way, that we may tread it; he wills also to guide us in the more fundamental sense of ensuring that, whatever happens, whatever mistakes we may make, we shall come safely home. Slipping’s and straying’s there will be, no doubt, but the everlasting arms are beneath us; we shall be caught, rescued, restored. This is God’s promise; this is how good he is.” ~J. I. Packer (Knowing God)
In yesterday’s text, Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, reminded Israel that they had drunk from the cup of His wrath, or judgement, down to the very bottom. They had experienced it to the point that they were staggering and falling, like someone who was intoxicated. But God insists that now it is time to wake up. Now is the time to get up. They have had enough of His judgement.
“Wake up! Wake up! Get up, Jerusalem! You have drunk enough from the cup Yahweh handed you.
It was the cup of his anger, and you’ve drained it dry—the intoxicating bowl that makes men stagger!” -Isaiah 51:17 (The Passion Translation)
In today’s passage, we find the condition of Israel while she was under the influence of God’s judgement. This was the state that Israel had been in, drunk and intoxicated on God’s judgement, but we will find that this will not be the case anymore. Over the coming days, we will see God telling Israel that He is taking that cup of judgement away from her and giving it to her abusers.
“Ah, poor Jerusalem! No one comes to guide her along. Of all her people, all the ones whom the city nurtured and raised to adulthood, none take her hand now in her stupor of pain.” -(VOICE)
Notice the compassion that God feels for Israel. He sees her pain. And He sees her problem.
God points out to Israel, that they are lacking a good leader, someone to guide them. Their priests, and kings, for the most part, had done a poor job in leading her in the ways of the Lord. Now, there is basically no one left to guide her. Remember, she has been intoxicated from the cup of God’s judgement, her thinking is clouded. She needs someone to help her and guide her in the way she should go.
“Not one of her sons is left alive to help or tell her what to do.” -(TLB)
“The closer we walk with God. The clearer we see His guidance.” ~Marcus Lamb
Israel was lacking good leadership and guidance. There was no longer anyone left to lead and guide her from among her children. Further along in the book, though, we find Isaiah reminding Israel that Adonai will always be her Guide. Isaiah tells Israel:
“And the Lord will continually guide you,
and satisfy your soul in scorched and dry places,
and give strength to your bones;
and you will be like a watered garden,
and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.” -Isaiah 58:11 (AMP)
David had some experience with allowing God to be his guide. He wrote this contemplative psalm from personal experience, recording for us what God had told him.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you.
Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bridle and rein to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in and relies on the Lord shall be surrounded with compassion and lovingkindness.” -Psalm 32:8-10 (AMP)
“Many say they can’t get God’s guidance, when they really mean they wish He would show them an easier way.” ~Winkie Pratney
Again, we turn to David, who imparts to us these words of wisdom about God teaching us the way and directing us. David wrote:
“IMMENSELY good and honorable is the Eternal; that’s why He teaches sinners the way.
With JUSTICE, He directs the humble in all that is right, and He shows them His way.
KIND and true are all the ways of the Eternal to the people who keep His covenant and His words.” -Psalm 25:8-10 (VOICE)
“Does it make sense to pray for guidance about the future if we are not obeying in the thing that lies before us today? How many momentous events in Scripture depended on one person’s seemingly small act of obedience! Rest assured: Do what God tells you to do now, and, depend upon it, you will be shown what to do next.” ~Elisabeth Elliot
My friend, Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, will be our Guide, if we allow Him. This means though, that we need to listen and obey Him when He directs us in the way we should go. Do not ask if you do not plan on obeying. Remember, He guides the humble in all that is right. He will show them His way.
“The righteous God always guides us on the right path.” ~Lailah Gifty Akita
My Prayer:
Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, you have promised that you will be my Guide. You have said that you will instruct and teach me in the way I should go. Lord, I humbly accept your leadership and guidance in my life. For I know you will never steer me wrong. I am reminded that your thoughts are not my thoughts, and your ways are not my ways. But, Lord, you have promised that you have good plans for my life, plans for a hope and a future. I choose to trust your guidance. I choose to believe that you will do what is best for me and bring about your perfect will in my life. Thank you, Lord.
Growing with God 