“Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant, and Israel whom I have chosen. 2 Thus says the Lord who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring; 4 they will spring up among the grass like willows by the watercourses.’ 5 One will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; another will write with his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and name himself by the name of Israel.” Isaiah 44:1-5 NKJV
Our Lord and King,
You God chose to keep speaking to Israel, even though they do not listen, and as if an individual and also as a nation. As in Isaiah chapter 43, from yesterday, you give Isaiah a message of comfort and the promise to see them through their troubles. Troubles of their own fault. But how generous and kind. The promise to pour out Your Spirit and blessing into each individual. And this is not because of anything they have done to deserve it. It is Your choice, because You chose them.
You are still calling to whoever will listen and still speaking. Sending water to the thirsty whose life is dry ground. We understand the difference of rain on dry ground!. The difference it makes to one thirsty for the love and forgiveness of the one who created us in our mother’s womb. To have Your indwelling Spirit comforting us, speaking Your encouragement to us, reminding us we are never alone. Isaiah giving the same message of hope and a future to a people who were in dire straights. Its their choice to take You up or ignore.
And me God? I have learned how much I need You, Your Spirit and Your help every step of the way. My gratitude is unending.
IN Jesus name we pray, Amen,
Worship Saturday 22nd August 2026
Seems to be a week of more traditional hymns . . . this makes a great ballad as well as a congregational hymn.
A wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Saviour to me;
He’s hiding my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of his love
And covers me there with his hand,
And covers me there with his hand.
A wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord;
He taketh my burdens away,
He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved;
He giveth me strength as my day.
Chorus
With numberless blessings each moment he crowns
And filled with his fullness divine;
I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God
For such a Redeemer is mine.
Chorus
When clothed in his brightness, transported I rise
To meet him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, his wonderful love,
I’ll shout with the millions on high.
Chorus
Lyrics: Fanny Crosby