Devotion for 20 November

A brief prayer is offered that you can add to your daily prayers this week. The scripture is from our Sunday Service Bulletin for today.  Today is the second of two sermons on the OT prophets.

The Lord God has given me
    the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
    him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
    he awakens my ear
    to hear as those who are taught.
⁵ The Lord God has opened my ear,
    and I was not rebellious;
    I turned not backward.
⁶ I gave my back to those who strike,
    and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
    from disgrace and spitting.

⁷ But the Lord God helps me;
    therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like a flint,
    and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
⁸     He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
    Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
    Let him come near to me.
⁹ Behold, the Lord God helps me;
    who will declare me guilty?
Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;
    the moth will eat them up.

¹⁰ Who among you fears the Lord
    and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
    and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
    and rely on his God.

Our sermon today talked about how a real friend has the ability to talk and listen in a way that comforts and pleases us. Much the way verses 4 and 5 describe the prophet’s abilities. Isaiah must have been a real friend to have. A real friend also stands up for you when you are in trouble, are disgraced, or being shamed; your real friend vindicates you. The message in verses 8-10 is that a Messiah is coming that will vindicate believers. Those who believe and have faith have a real friend in Jesus. Sometimes when we need comfort we can feel Him wrap His loving arms around us and say: “my child, I am here for you”.