“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” Isaiah 65:17-19 NKJV
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:6-9 NKJV
Father God,
I am a person who likes to know how things work and what things mean and even how they fit together. Not always to the smallest detail but generally. So Isaiah is intriguing. To his listeners he prophesied about events hundreds of years off. He also prophesied of the coming of the Messiah some seven hundred years in the future! So why am I surprised he speaks of things that are in even my future. And I can tell how or when they fit in!
The Israelites needed to know that You, beyond trouble, You, God would have mercy and never stop being their God. They would have future. We, because of Jesus, can know You intimately and through Your Spirit, that You will never let us go. You have also prepared and provided a place for us with You (John 14). Isaiah also gives us glimpses of that future to come. When there will be no more suffering or weeping and a new heaven and earth so unlike this one we will not remember it! And there will be no violence, or need to kill. Even inch of the earth, all peoples, will know, respect and live in You.
I do not know how or when You will do all this, but I am glad You give us glimpses and promises of a glorious future. Because of Jesus we can trust You and Your Word. And I remember what Paul said, as a comparison, that Your foolishness is greater than our wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25). And You God are never foolish.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Wednesday 17th June 2026
It was in revisiting the lyrics to this hymn I realised I have been singing about the present and the future almost as if it has all already happened – in absolute faith that it will.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty
God in three persons blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore Thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim, falling down before Thee,
which wert and art and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see
Only Thou art holy there is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love and purity
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty
God in three persons blessed Trinity.
Lyrics: Reginald Heber