Daily Reading // Isaiah 39:1-8
READY // SILENCIO
Take a moment to quiet your mind and prepare your heart for your time with the Lord.
READ // LECTIO
Read the passage above up to three times aloud. Allow yourself to feel the words as they are read.
REFLECT // MEDITATIO
Now direct your focus on the words, phrases concepts or sentences that got your attention. What is God speaking to you today through His word?
Isaiah 39:8 So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good!" For he said, "At least there will be peace and truth in my days."
This is certainly one of the most selfish statements in the whole Bible.
What Isaiah said, “Because you wanted to show off to the Babylonians, they will be back in future generations to destroy this city. Your children’s children will suffer greatly from your foolish actions.”
What Hezekiah heard, “You’re good. The repercussions of your actions won’t have a negative effect on you. Who cares about coming generations?”
Sadly, Isaiah was right. King Nebuchadnezzar and the army of Babylon totally destroyed Jerusalem until ‘there was not one stone upon another’. The inhabitants of Jerusalem were carried off into exile.
There is some Hezekiah in us. When it comes to national debt, we are passing on trouble to future generations. We are saying, “As long as we can live the way we want, they can pay for it.” Many of the ways we treat our environment also pass on trouble to future generations. Do we understand the selfishness of our actions?
RESPOND // ORATIO
Pray in response to what the Lord has spoken to you.
Lord, Rid me of the selfishness that seeks my benefit at the expense of my children and my children’s children. Amen.
Tomorrow’s reading -> Psalm 19:1-14