Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, July 3

Isaiah 30 is our scripture passage for this Sunday.  The pivotal verses from this week’s passage are verses 15 & 18:

For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel,

 “In returning and rest you shall be saved;

in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,

and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.

For the LORD is a God of justice;

blessed are all those who wait for him.  Isaiah 30:15& 18

Rather than turning to God, the people “add sin to sin” (v1) by not asking for God’s guidance and provision.  Instead they seek aid from Egypt, the very nation that had enslaved them.  In the long run any help other than God’s guidance and help is “worthless and empty” (Is 30:7)

Isaiah 30 is a mirror into our own lives.  In what or whom are we trusting?  The question in Isaiah 30 is not ‘what do we believe’, but, what are we planning, what are we doing, how are we living our lives?  In a daily, practical way are we trusting God and waiting on him?  How often do we make decisions and go through our day without ever seeking him, without ever praying.  Not doing so is foolish and dangerous.  

This chapter also gives us a beautiful picture of the surprising grace of God.  All we read in Isaiah 30 declares to us the faithfulness and power of God on behalf of his people.  Sometimes we imagine God prefers punishment to pardon, but Isaiah reminds us God waits to show grace, he exalts himself in showing mercy. 

God is waiting on us, and we are challenged by Isaiah to follow God’s example, to wait on him.  “Blessed are those who wait on him” (Is 30:18). 

God’s ways are counterintuitive.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Is. 55:8-9).  God’s ways make so sense apart from the understanding God gives us through the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:14). 

In Isaiah 30 the counter-intuitive ways of God are of full display for us to see and trust.  Instead of frantically running around planning and pursuing our own designs God help is found in: returning (repenting), rest (resting on God), quietness (stop our frenzied self-help), and trust (the result of all these). 

How can God be so gracious and merciful to proud rebels?  How can he be “a God of justice” (Is 30:18) and show such grace? 

In Christ!  Look to the cross to see the mercy and justice of God on full glorious display!  “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” “What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things  (Romans 5: 8, 8:31-32)

In worship we humbly and actively return, rest, and quietly trust.  This Sunday we will sing He Will Hold Me Fast.  Let this hymn be your prayer as you prepare for worship:

When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast;

When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast.

I could never keep my hold Through life’s fearful path;

For my love is often cold; He must hold me fast.

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast;

For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast.

Those He saves are His delight, Christ will hold me fast;

Precious in his holy sight, He will hold me fast.

He’ll not let my soul be lost; His promises shall last;

Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast.

For my life He bled and died, Christ will hold me fast;

Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast.

Raised with Him to endless life, He will hold me fast

‘Till our faith is turned to sight, When He comes at last!