I Believe; Help My Unbeliefಮಾದರಿ
“He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in….” (Isaiah 40:22)
Isn’t it obvious from creation that we’re like teeny-tiny grasshoppers to him who stre-e-e-tched the horizon like his transparent tent? We can lie back in that tent and glory in the stars. And (here Israel gets another shoulder-shake) speaking of stars, how big IS your God? Perhaps only as big as the star-gods worshipped by those around you? Nah! Bigger than stars! Just look up. Who created and sustains all this?
Oh, and this sounds a bit like shepherd language–that personal naming thing again. I love it. Like an army general, he musters the galaxies–stars beyond number. He calls each one by name and not even the tiniest of them misses the roll-call.
One of our most fingered books is The Baby Name Book. Sitting around the table with our kids we had some crazy conversations about names. Well, just imagine God’s Naming Book. A name for each of the stars… and your name too!
What belongs to you, but other people use it more than you? (I know, I know…it’s a childhood riddle.) Whisper it aloud, as if spoken by God himself.
Prayer
Glorious God, thank you for loving me by name. Enable me by your Spirit to deeply love and authentically worship you.
Scripture
About this Plan
Isaiah 40 is a pocketful of comfort for a languishing people. It’s served up in two courses: messages to renew hope and questions to reorientate worship. Main course–God’s good news; dessert: God’s glory. It wasn’t just Israel that was languishing; we all need this kind of nourishment to worship well.
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