August 19

 
“Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and its Holy One, to the despised One, to the One abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers, “Kings will see and arise, princes will also bow down, because of the Lord Who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel Who has chosen You.” (Isaiah 49:7)

 
In this compelling, prescient passage, through the infallible, pure, powerful Word, God is speaking to His beloved Son, Jesus, Who is our Lord Master. In today’s verse, the Father makes a series of promises to His only Son. You can imagine that when Jesus read these words with human eyes as a young man in the Synagogue, He certainly knew that they were written directly to Him by His Righteous Father. It was a letter penned centuries before His earthly birth by the great prophet Isaiah, but one that read as though it were written on the very day His eyes scanned the scroll. Through Isaiah, Jesus is warned in advance that in His human life, He will be despised and even abhorred. He is given notice that He will become the ultimate Servant and give up His life so that the very ones who despise Him – and by extension you and I – may have a chance to escape the certain wrath of God. But the Perfect Father also reminds His beloved Son of His faithfulness, and that even through the certainty of the suffering, He had faithfully carved out a place of ultimate honor for His sacrifice. And that honor is the singular position of King of kings and Lord of lords – the One to Whom all kings, princes, and people of all nations will one day bow down. Jesus was thus chosen long in advance to rule and to reign throughout all eternity, because of the plan of His Righteous Father Who has taken the Name and describes Himself as Faithful!

 
Before the King at Midday

 
“Blessed Jesus, King of All and Way-maker for Your elect, it always seems too little to merely thank You for Your sacrifice for me. And even though I may be found guilty of many things, may I never be accused of not having sought You in my life, humble and contrite with a sincerely broken spirit. May I fall before You in thanksgiving for Your sacrifice and incomprehensible love for rescuing the likes of me. Blessed be Your Name! And thank You again for Your amazing grace. Amen.”