Come Near Me and Listen
“12 “Listen to me, Jacob,
Israel, whom I have called:
I am he;
I am the first and I am the last.
13 My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,
and my right hand spread out the heavens;
when I summon them,
they all stand up together.
14 “Come together, all of you, and listen:
Which of the idols has foretold these things?
The Lord’s chosen ally
will carry out his purpose against Babylon;
his arm will be against the Babylonians.[a]
15 I, even I, have spoken;
yes, I have called him.
I will bring him,
and he will succeed in his mission.
16 “Come near me and listen to this:
“From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret;
at the time it happens, I am there.”
And now the Sovereign Lord has sent me,
endowed with his Spirit.
17 This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.
18 If only you had paid attention to my commands,
your peace would have been like a river,
your well-being like the waves of the sea.
19 Your descendants would have been like the sand,
your children like its numberless grains;
their name would never be blotted out
nor destroyed from before me.””
Isaiah 48 describes how the people of Israel, exiled in Babylon, are led back and restored by God’s guidance. More than merely recounting a historical event, this passage reveals God’s faithfulness to His people—He remembers them, raises them up anew, and opens the way for a fresh beginning.
When we read Scripture, we are not to use it mechanically to predict the future or find quick answers in the midst of uncertainty. Instead, our task is to grasp God’s will in a personal relationship with Him and respond in obedience. This also applies to how we pray for our children: rather than merely seeking their success and achievements, we should pray that they trust in God and live in relationship with Him.
As we look back on the year 2024, let us once again review our year before God, placing our hope securely in Him. We believe He knows our weaknesses and failures and renews us by His grace. We also trust He will lead us with the same faithfulness in the coming year.
Prayer: Lord, we thank You for upholding and guiding us throughout 2024. We praise You, who loves us even in our weaknesses and failures and continually renews us. Help us listen more deeply to Your voice and live every moment in relationship with You. As we greet the new year, we place our hope in You. We also entrust our children and our families to You. Lead them to walk with You in their lives, we pray. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)
Devotional content is available on the Our Daily Bread website.