Preparation for Service - Isaiah 30

Preparation for Service

Isa 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

The LORD will wait, wait so that he may bless us. Have we patience to wait upon the LORD? Are we willing to seek him and to change our thoughts and behavior, to obey and to honor him? He could give us what we deserve and destroy us for our disobedience, but instead he waits.

2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The LORD is gracious towards us, especially in Christ Jesus. He gives grace and mercy to us, who are sinners and unworthy, so that he may be exalted. God is more than unconditional love. He wants us to change and through Jesus, we are given grace and mercy. He is the giver of good things. Honor him and fear him who could just as well destroy us, because of his holiness and judgment on sin. God is more than love. His love comes when we receive Jesus: love, grace and mercy. Blessed are all who wait on him, instead of carrying out their own thoughts and the thoughts of the devil. We do not wait on God by sinning defiantly. Wait on him as he waits for us to come in surrender to our flesh and rebellious will. Wait on God as he waits for us with loving arms.

Isa 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

Call upon the LORD with humble hearts and he will hear and answer. The God of Zion is also the God of the Gentiles, through faith in Jesus Christ. Are we calling to God in prayer? Listen and he will answer our call. He will dry our tears.

Psa 116:8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
Psa 116:9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

Isa 30:20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

Bread of adversity, water of affliction, the essentials of life were not being supplied, to get their attention. If we serve the devil, all is bitterness and empty, their is no nourishment in evil. Put away the lusts of the flesh, listen to the hearing of God's word and receive Jesus, the bread of life and the living water that springs forth, bringing life to others.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Isa 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

By knowing the word of God, the Spirit of God will direct our paths. We are to walk by faith and we are to know the voice of the master. Some leave the hearing of God's word in the Bible and hear other voices, they walk away from God to their destruction. The Holy Spirit will lead you into ministries and the fulfilling of your purpose from God.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We must wait upon the Lord and surrender our will to him.

Isa 30:22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

Notice that some things we must do: Get thee hence. We must put away some things. The idols, the things we cling to that are not fruitful for God's purpose. They are cast away as filthy rags. This includes our own self righteousness and our pride.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

We clean the house and fill it with the word of God and the Spirit of God, then we are equipped for service. Wait upon the LORD, for he waits for you.