September 1
‘But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.’ Hosea 12:6
Bible reading: Isaiah 30:18-26 (Go to the Bible passage)
We must, of course, be deeply aware of the fact that in this passage Isaiah addresses the ‘people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem’. This is a promise of salvation for Israel that has not yet been fulfilled. It is wonderful to know that God will really dry the tears of His chosen people on the day ‘when the Lord binds up the bruises of His people and heals the wounds He inflicted’ (:26). But it is also a word for us who rely on faith and are thus blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith (Galatians 3:9).
So, this tremendous words apply to us too: ‘Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you!’ (:18).
It is a terrible self-deception to think that - because God is a God of grace - everything will be alright, in spite of us carrying on in our own ways. Only when we have learned to mourn on our willful ways (Isaiah 57:17,18) – noble as they may seem – God can grant us life and peace again. ‘How gracious He will be when you cry for help!’ says the prophet Isaiah.
God knows exactly who we are and He knows that prosperity and other blessings usually become a curse to us, because through these we can become terribly conceited, and will not ask for God anymore…
‘Blessed are all who wait for Him!’ The kingdom of God must make way, even when we are complacent about our alleged economic achievements. But the salvation of God only breaks new ground through people. People who have forsaken all their own desires to turn genuinely to God. These are not people who sing their psalms hidden away in some corner. These are people who maintain love and justice, and always wait for their God.

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