Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 Search Archive Print This Article Do you hear what I hear... Thursday, December 20, 2001 Isaiah 7:9-14 "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, "Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test." Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Civil war in Israel. King Ahaz has given up hope, and God is not happy with him. So Isaiah brings him a stirring halftime talk and shakes him up, wakes him up. And out of that little speech comes one of the most quoted prophecies of the Old Testament. Signs from God are precious, solicited or not. Those glimpses of heaven from here on earth, those epiphanies, moments to dance on the streets of gold are as good as it gets down here. And standing firm in my faith without a moment or two like that once in a while...whew, talk about living in the desert! Even the word "enthusiasm" is rooted in experience of God, in theus; to breathe in what God breathes out rushes new life into me, into my lungs, my mind, my heart. What do those words do for you? ..."and the virgin will be with child, and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel..." O Lord, open my eyes and ears. Let me see you and hear you, listen to you breathing warm into me. How sweet the sound of your whispering in my ear. Give me the sense to listen and hang on every word, Lord. Every word. "; Add      Edit    Delete