Verse of the Day 4/15

Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains may depart

    and the hills be removed,
  but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
    and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,"
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.   English Standard Version (ESV)

Often as I read the  Bible and various devotionals there will be days, sometimes several, where certain topics or trains of thought will keep recurring.  Since Sunday and my trip to Zion National Park, it has been mountains.

As I was walking through the park on various trails, I was amazed at God's creation, the beauty and splendor of  it all as it seemed to change by the hour of the day.  The rocks themselves didn't change but the shades and hues of the rocks did as light was reflected from different angles.  As I walked I began to think how long these mountains had remained the same.  Then I looked at the base of the mountain and some of the larger boulders there.  How long had they been sitting in place?  Perhaps they had been there, sitting in place from the time the first explorers went through the park.  But through the ages they have changed, the canyons and valleys are evidence of that.

Monday morning I read today's verse, it is a reminder that God and His love are more permanent than the mountains.  They will go on for eternity, never changing, steadfast, and immoveable.

Commenting on Psalm 46, John MacArthur writes, ""When earth changes and when mountains move (or) shake (or) totter (or) slip . . . " . These are poetic allusions to earthquakes. Since "the earth" and "mountains" are regarded by men as symbols of stability, when they "dance" great terror normally ensues. But when the most stable becomes unstable, there should be "no fear" because of the transcendent stability of God."

It is hard to imagine those mountains disappearing, falling into the sea or turning to rubble in the valley.  Let it be harder to imagine for us for God's steadfast love for us to change through the different seasons, the symbolic floods and earthquakes in our lives.  His love "won't walk away from you".  The Message (below)

--   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 54:9-17The Message (MSG)

^9-10 "This exile is just like the days of Noah for me:
    I promised then that the waters of Noah
    would never again flood the earth.
I'm promising now no more anger,
    no more dressing you down.
For even if the mountains walk away
    and the hills fall to pieces,
My love won't walk away from you,
    my covenant commitment of peace won't fall apart."
    The God who has compassion on you says so.

^11-17 "Afflicted city, storm-battered, unpitied:
    I'm about to rebuild you with stones of turquoise,
Lay your foundations with sapphires,
    construct your towers with rubies,
Your gates with jewels,
    and all your walls with precious stones.
All your children will have God for their teacher—
    what a mentor for your children!
You'll be built solid, grounded in righteousness,
    far from any trouble—nothing to fear!