“Awake, awake! Rise up, Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath, you who have drained to its dregs the goblet that makes people stagger. 18 Among all the children she bore there was none to guide her; among all the children she reared there was none to take her by the hand. 19 These double calamities have come upon you—who can comfort you?—ruin and destruction, famine and sword—who can console you?” Isaiah 51:17-19 NKJV
“Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength! Put on your garments of splendor, Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again. 2 Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, Daughter Zion, now a captive. 3 For this is what the Lord says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.”” Isaiah 52:1-3 NKJV
Good Morning O Lord,
Sometimes my body is awake but my mind is still snoozing. Here You are calling YOur people who are awake in dreadful circumstances to awake to the true situation. One they are ignoring, or perhaps are in this generation of Israelites ignorant of? Sometimes we just do not see things as they are.
Isaiah paints a clear picture of their actual situation and then their choice for the future if they wake up to it. I thank You God for the times You have pulled me back, prodded me, sent someone to speak to me or picked me up and opened my eyes. Paul calls us to be careful how we live and to wake up and rise from the dead (Ephesians 5:14-15).
Without money we were redeemed but at great cost to You, Lord. So grant us good sleep to repair and minds and bodies and keep us alert and awake to Your will to rest in Your ways when our eyes are open!
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Thursday 27th August 2026
Written in 2016 and based on Psalm 103 a wonderful read to go to sleep on . . .
Wake up my soul and bless your God
Turn every sense to praise
And sweetly speak His holy name
And sweetly speak His holy name
And sweetly speak His holy name
Who blesses all your ways
The lord forgives your every debt
Let sickness hold no fear
His hand redeems you from the pit
His hand redeems you from the pit
His hand redeems you from the pit
And brings his goodness near
Let thoughts of worry and distress
Slip from your troubled brow
A crown of love and tenderness
A crown of love and tenderness
A crown of love and tenderness
From God adorns it now
To Moses and to Israel
He showed his righteousness
His justice shall be shown as well
His justice shall be shown as well
His justice shall be shown as well
To all who are oppressed
His love transcends the clouds, the air
The stars and spheres above
Let fragile frames forget their care
Let fragile frames forget their care
Let fragile frames forget their care
And marvel at his love
The hosts of heaven praise his name
Great servants of his word
On earth, let thankful souls proclaim
On earth, let thankful souls proclaim
On earth, let thankful souls proclaim
The glories of the Lord
Lyrics: Stuart Townend