Verse of the Day 3/10

Verse of the Day 3/10

Isaiah 48:17-18 Thus says the Lord,

    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
"I am the Lord your God,
    who teaches you to profit,
    who leads you in the way you should go.
¹⁸ Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!
    Then your peace would have been like a river,
    and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;   English Standard Version (ESV)

Like yesterday, the day here in North Carolina today began with a pink, then orange then bright sunny skies.  Not only that the birds were in full chorus, Daffodils are blooming, redbuds are budding and it seems as if all creation is singing praise to God for springtime even if it is officially 11 days away.  All creation is praising God with the possible exception another one of God's creation; man.  Many are getting up heading out blind to the sunlight and deaf to the birds, they are too focused on what is on the calendar for today, phone calls, appointments and wondering if they will be able to get it all done.

In reading today's verses from Isaiah, for those who read God's Word and pray  and praise Him daily, we realize that He is the One who truly teaches us "for profit", for our benefit and what is best for us.  He is the One who can lead us in the way that we should go to accomplish all those things, the things that are best for us and will bring the most glory to Him. Perhaps a song of joy or prayer of thanksgiving at the end of it.  Unfortunately, unlike the birds, most of mankind's vocal cords will remain silent and not singing praise to God and will fail to hear His call.

I'm reminded of the Simon and Garfunkel song "The Sound of Silence" which speaks of people bowing to "the neon gods they've made".  They don't hear the voice from God's Word that would reach us and teach us in the way we should go.

Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence

As you head out today (hopefully into the sunshine of a bright day), take some time to listen to His creation sing and perhaps join the chorus with a song of praise to our God.  The old Fanny Crosby hymn brings it all together and would be a good one to sing.

Praise him, praise him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
Sing, O earth, his wonderful love proclaim!
Hail him, hail him! Highest archangels in glory!
Strength and honor give to his holy name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard his children.
In his arms he carries them all day long.

Refrain:
Praise him! Praise him! tell of his excellent greatness.
Praise him! Praise him! ever in  joyful song.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Isaiah 48:16-19 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ "Come near to Me, hear this:
I have not spoken in secret from the beginning;
From the time that it was, I was there.
And now the Lord God and His Spirit
^[a]Have sent Me."

¹⁷ Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
The Holy One of Israel:
"I am the Lord your God,
Who teaches you to profit,
Who leads you by the way you should go.
¹⁸ Oh, that you had heeded My commandments!
Then your peace would have been like a river,
And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
¹⁹ Your descendants also would have been like the sand,
And the offspring of your body like the grains of sand;
His name would not have been cut off
Nor destroyed from before Me."