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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise Paul quoted Isaiah when he said, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame’” (Rom 10:9–11). I praise you today for your Son, Jesus Christ. He is the “precious cornerstone” which you laid in Zion (Isa 28:16). Through his blood, I am forgiven, and through his sacrifice, I am redeemed. I am now a living stone, built up as a spiritual house, to be part of a holy priesthood (1 Pet 2:4–6). Hallelujah! Today in Your Word Today you shared with me the first part of Isaiah’s “Book of Woes” (Isa 28–33). The historical context was the time of political turmoil which preceded Assyria’s invasion of Judah and the siege of Jerusalem in 701 bc. The revival led by Hezekiah in 715 had cooled, and by 705, the year of Hezekiah’s rebellion against Assyria, many in Judah had returned to their sinful ways. During this time of crisis, Isaiah pronounced a series of “woes” against the leaders and the people of Judah. A “woe” was a threatening cry of lament. It was an indictment of sin and an expression of sorrow at the certainty of God’s impending judgment. Isaiah warned Judah that they were trusting in their wealth and their foreign alliances (Egypt), but neither of these could help. Only you could save them from the coming wrath of the Assyrians. The leaders of Judah refused to listen and they scoffed at Isaiah’s message (Isa 28:14–15). Your response was similar to what you told Ahaz when he refused to ask for a sign—you foretold the coming of the Messiah. He would give sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf (Isa 29:18). His death on the cross would confound the wisdom of the wise and the discernment of the discerning (Isa 29:14). This teaches me that Jesus is the ultimate answer to the scoffers of this world. Those who are wise will build on His firm foundation, and they will never be shaken (Isa 28:16). Reflection You said, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Isa 29:13 NIV). This teaches me that people’s words may conceal the true condition of their heart. Is my heart in harmony with what I say about you? Request Father, I don’t want to be a scoffer. Help me to delight in your word and respond to your rebuke. May my heart always be close to you. Thanksgiving Thank you for the insights into the ministry of Christ that come from Isaiah’s prophecies. It reminds me that your Son is the center of divine revelation (cf. Heb 1:1–4). In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “How Firm a Foundation” — John Keith. Meditation Verse: Isaiah 28:11.