Stress Test Devotional April 27
April 27, 2024
ISAIAH 41:1, 8-13 | Listen to me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment. But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; 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”; do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Yes, all who are incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. 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. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.”
We tend to think of judgement individually, as a moment of personal accountability. It is like a court appearance or a summons to the principal’s office. But Judgement is also a world-wide reckoning. Many people in our world suffer from oppressive evils, such as brutal regimes. Some live under the control of groups that despise them for their ethnicity or their religious convictions.
For many of the exploited, Judgement means release from captivity and relief from injustice.
Read our passage and pray for all in our world whose suffering elicits God’s sympathy and eventually his Judgement.
