Song of Praise to God

ISAIAH CHAPTER 26

This entire chapter is a song of praise to the Lord. Please read the entire chapter; it is a beautiful tribute.

The first verse praises the Lord and tells of when Christ establishes his kingdom. This chapter is a psalm of trust, praise and meditation and once more God reveals the future to Isaiah.

Verse 3 says that we cannot avoid strife in the world, but when we fix our thoughts on God, we can know perfect peace even in turmoil. Supported by God's unchanging love, we are not shaken by the surrounding chaos.

Verse 7 & 8 tell of times when the path of the righteous does not seem smooth, but we are never alone.

Verse 10 tells that even wicked people receive God's benefits, but that doesn't teach them to do what is right.

Verses 16-19 tell us that the people realized the pain of being away from God's presence, yet they were assured they could live again. No matter how difficult times may be, we have hope when we keep our trust in him.

Verse 19 tells that some people say there is no life after death. But others believe there is, but not a physical life. Isaiah tells us that our bodies shall rise again.

Verses 20 & 21 say that when God comes to judge the earth, the guilty will find no place to hide. Even Jesus said the hidden will be made known because his truth, like a light shining in the dark corner, will reveal it.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? If you want peace, then keep your thoughts on God and your trust in him. Never despair, stay on God's path. And don't hide your shameful thoughts and actions from God, confess them to him and receive his forgiveness. All of these things apply today, just as they did long long ago.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Pray for Gabe. Pray for Logan during her difficult pregnancy.
Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.