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The Bible is full of discouragements, griefs, and losses. We aren’t promised an easy life. If we live long enough, we will experience unexpected heart breaks and situations more difficult than we can imagine. In the midst of that, we have a choice to make. We have to decide what we are going to do. If you have ever been in one of those difficult situations, you might have been unprepared, thinking, “How will I get through this?” We might try many different things. But I want us to know how to handle those situations before they happen. I want us to see the path ahead as clear as day so that, even though we are looking through tear filled eyes, we don’t have anxiety about what the next step will be.

Today, we will be looking at the story of Hezekiah and Jerusalem. This story is a beacon of hope, reminding us that the righteous live by faith. Not a faith that is blind to reality, but one that sees beyond the immediate, to the God who promises, the God who delivers, and the God who saves. Today, I would like for us to study, not just this story of the siege and how God overcame the enemy. But I want us to learn anew what it means to say, "The righteous shall live by faith." I also want us to see the implications of these events on our lives.

The Challenge to Faith
Isaiah 36:1–10 (ESV) — 1 In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. 2 And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem, with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field. 3 And there came out to him Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder. 4 And the Rabshakeh said to them, “Say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? 5 Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me? 6 Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 7 But if you say to me, “We trust in the Lord o

Imagine, if you will, a world where every city lies in utter ruin, every garden turned to dust. Now imagine, just as vividly, a desert bursting into bloom, streams of water cascading through parched lands, and a road so holy, no evil dares to tread upon it. This is not the script of a fantasy film; this is the vivid world of Isaiah chapters 34 and 35.

Many people grapple with the concept of divine justice, especially the idea that God will judge sin and wickedness. There is often a fear or misunderstanding about God’s nature concerning His judgments. Isaiah 34 vividly portrays the certainty and severity of God's judgment against sin, providing a clear picture desolation, where the land of Edom becomes a chilling monument to God’s fierce judgment.

On the other hand, many people struggle with the idea of salvation. In a world filled with brokenness, despair, and personal failures, many yearn for hope and renewal but often feel it is out of reach. Christians often struggle with living a life of holiness in a world that offers many paths and choices, some of which lead away from God. There is a constant battle against sin and a search for guidance. Isaiah 35 offers a powerful counterpoint to despair—the promise of divine restoration and joy. It speaks to the transformative power of God’s grace that can turn barren areas in our lives into flourishing gardens, offering hope and encouragement to persevere in faith.

There is an inherent human desire for security and a fear of the unknown future, which can lead to anxiety and apprehension about what lies ahead. In these chapters, we find clarity on our current state and future reality. They are about us—our spiritual journeys, our battles with sin, and our ultimate hope in God’s promises. They are about the very essence of the Christian life, marked by trials but destined for triumph.

Judgment on All Nations (Isaiah 34:1-4)
Isaiah 34:1–4 (ESV) — 1 Draw near, O nations, to hear, and give attention, O peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that fills it; the world, and all that comes from it. 2 For the Lord is enraged against all the nations, and furious against all their host; he has devoted them to destruction, has given them over for slaughter. 3 Their slain shall be cast out, and the stench of

As we sit here, you might be coming with concerns about the directions in which our leaders are taking us, or perhaps you’re burdened by the contentious atmosphere that seems ever-present in our political conversations. You may even wonder, "What difference can I really make?" or "How should I respond as a Christian to the things I see and hear each day?"

Today, we will delve into the Scriptures to discover not just God’s expectations for those who govern, but also His assurances to us in times of uncertainty. We will see through the lives of ancient kings and prophets, through the wisdom imparted by apostles, that our Almighty God is actively involved in the affairs of nations. And He calls us to a stance that is neither passive nor anxious but anchored firmly in the truth of His Word and the hope of His Kingdom.

So, as we prepare to open the scriptures, let’s ask God to speak to us, to calm our spirits and to equip us to be salt and light in a world that desperately needs the seasoning of grace and the illumination of truth. Let us pray that today, we will leave here not just informed, but transformed—ready to live out our heavenly citizenship with courage, wisdom, and love.

Join me as we turn to God’s Word, seeking His perspective above all, that we may know how to navigate the complexities of this world while keeping our hearts fixed on the eternal promises of the next.

God's Will for Government and Leaders
In the Bible, God expresses clear expectations for those in positions of authority. These expectations focus not only on their policies but fundamentally on their character and dedication to justice and humility. We see a compelling example in King David, who, despite his significant failings, was described as "a man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22). David's leadership, characterized by a heart inclined towards God and a willingness to repent, underscores the type of governance God endorses.

The book of Deuteronomy provides further instruction on God’s vision for leadership. In Deuteronomy 17:14-20, kings are admonished to avoid accumulating excessive wealth or engaging in practices that could lead their hearts astray. They are instructed to keep and read a copy of the law all their lives so that they may rule with humility and a

Have you ever found yourself yearning for genuine change? Not just superficial adjustments, but deep, lasting transformation that alters the very fabric of your being and reshapes your interaction with the world around you? This is the promise that we will see today as we engage with God's Word, a promise rooted in the timeless truths of Scripture and as relevant now as it was in the days of Isaiah.

In a world rife with injustice, indifference, and insincerity, where can we find the blueprint for authentic righteousness, peace, and joy? How can we, as individuals and as a community, tap into a source of transformation that not only renews us internally but also empowers us to effect positive change in our surroundings?

Today, we will uncover how Isaiah 32 speaks into these profound questions, offering us a glimpse of a reality shaped by God's righteousness. We will explore the promise of a righteous king and the warning against complacency, culminating in the extraordinary promise of the Spirit's outpouring—a transformative power that brings forth life, justice, and joy.

By engaging with this passage, we stand to gain not just knowledge but a renewed perspective on how we can live out our calling as followers of Christ. We are invited to embrace a vision of transformation that challenges the status quo, beckoning us to rise above mediocrity and complacency, and step into a life marked by divine purpose and power.

So, I invite you to lean in, open your hearts and minds, and prepare to be challenged and changed by the powerful word of God. For in His word, we find not only the blueprint for our lives but the very means of grace that empowers us to live it out.

The Righteous King and Princes (1-8)
Isaiah 32:1–8 (ESV) — 1 Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice. 2 Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land. 3 Then the eyes of those who see will not b

Have you ever found yourself yearning for genuine change? Not just superficial adjustments, but deep, lasting transformation that alters the very fabric of your being and reshapes your interaction with the world around you? This is the promise that we will see today as we engage with God's Word, a promise rooted in the timeless truths of Scripture and as relevant now as it was in the days of Isaiah.

In a world rife with injustice, indifference, and insincerity, where can we find the blueprint for authentic righteousness, peace, and joy? How can we, as individuals and as a community, tap into a source of transformation that not only renews us internally but also empowers us to effect positive change in our surroundings?

Today, we will uncover how Isaiah 32 speaks into these profound questions, offering us a glimpse of a reality shaped by God's righteousness. We will explore the promise of a righteous king and the warning against complacency, culminating in the extraordinary promise of the Spirit's outpouring—a transformative power that brings forth life, justice, and joy.

By engaging with this passage, we stand to gain not just knowledge but a renewed perspective on how we can live out our calling as followers of Christ. We are invited to embrace a vision

What does God see when he looks down upon His creation? Do you think his eyes pause on the grandeur of palaces or the shimmer of wealth? Probably not. His eyes are caught by the shadowed alleyways, the forgotten doorsteps, the faces of children, women, and men who society has overlooked. Scripture reveals to us that God's heart is profoundly stirred by the plight of the poor and vulnerable.

James 1:27 (ESV) — 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 2:5–7 (ESV) — 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

Proverbs 14:31 (ESV) — 31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

There is no doubt that God loves the poor. But what happens when His people, those called by His name, become rich and turn a blind eye to the needs around them? What does it say about our understanding of His kingdom, our alignment with His heart, when we ignore the silent cries of the needy among us?

But, wait a minute. We live in a time when everyone pretends to be poor so that they can swindle us. There are con artists on every street corner and we have had plenty come into our building looking for a handout. Should we just give our money to anyone who asks? Maybe it’s not so much that we love our money, but we don’t agree with the idea of letting some ungodly, immoral person take advantage of us. Should we give our money and let them use it for who knows what? Let’s evaluate what the Bible really says about giving and caring for the poor.

The Biblical Pic