Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Isaiah+041

 

Chapter 41 (ESV)

 

8 But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, “You are my servant,
I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
10 fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

11 Behold, all who are incensed against you
shall be put to shame and confounded;
those who strive against you
shall be as nothing and shall perish.
12 You shall seek those who contend with you,
but you shall not find them;
those who war against you
shall be as nothing at all.
13 For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.”

14 Fear not, you worm Jacob,
you men of Israel!
I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord;
your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
15 Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge,
new, sharp, and having teeth;
you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,
and you shall make the hills like chaff;
16 you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away,
and the tempest shall scatter them.
And you shall rejoice in the Lord;
in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.

 

 

REFLECTION:

  1. Silence – Read/Listen – Meditate – Pray – Contemplate
  2. The people of Israel were in exile at this time far from their homeland. There were rumors of a new power rising in the East. And the people were in panic.
  3. What are you afraid of right now? Afraid of what’s happening in the world? Terrorism? Economic Collapse? Nuclear proliferation? Your children? Your way of life?
  4. With your fears in mind as you read this passage, what is the word or phrase that touches you today as you read and meditate on this passage? What is your emotion as you read this word or phrase? How is that related to your current situation? What does God tell you to do?
  5. Make your prayer to God based on these “do not fear…do not be afraid” phrases (verses 10, 13, 14). What would you say to the Lord? What does God want you to do?

 

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

 

HYMN:

Whom Shall I Fear – youtu.be/qOkImV2cJDg