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Isaiah 30:15 - Finding Rest and Strength.

Isaiah 30:15 - Finding Rest and Strength.

Isaiah 30:15 (TNIV) This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy 
One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in 
quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. 

Isaiah 30:15 (NLT) This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One 
of Israel, says: "Only in returning to me and resting in me will 
you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you 
would have none of it.  

Isaiah 30:15 (GWT) This is what the Almighty Lord, the Holy One 
of Israel, says: You can be saved by returning to me. You can have 
rest. You can be strong by being quiet and by trusting me. But you 
don't want that.  

Isaiah 30:15 (MSG) God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this 
solemn counsel: "Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and 
stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come 
from settling down in complete dependence on me-- The very thing 
you've been unwilling to do.  

INTRODUCTION 

   When Assyria threatened Judah, the leaders did not 
immediately turn to God for help but trusted in diplomacy. Their ambassadors 
went through dangerous territory (30:6-7) to go to Egypt, but Egypt 
could not help Judah. Egypt was as helpful as a shadow (30:1-5), a 
wall about to fall down (30:12-13), or a broken clay vessel (30:14). 
The Egyptians were only men, not God (31:1-3). Are you trusting 
things that cannot help you while the Lord waits for you to come to Him 
for help (30:15, 18)? 
   Those who wait on the Lord for help will experience 
blessings, such as answered prayer (30:18-19), God's guidance (30:20-21), 
cleansing (30:22), fruitfulness (30:23-26), victory (30:27-33; 31:4-9), 
and a song (30:29). 
   The horses of Egypt can never take the place of the chariots 
of God (Ps. 20:7-8). [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren 
Wiersbe re Isa. 30 and 31] 

COMMENTARY 

   This verse describes the revealed heart of God toward 
humanity: "Return to me" was always God's heart toward his people even 
when they were in rebellion and were rejecting his call to come under 
the shelter of his wings. Despite the hardened condition of the 
people's hearts at the time Isaiah penned these verses, God declared this 
to be his desire - to receive the penitent, to extend salvation to 
them, and to grant them rest, quietness, and strength. What a shining 
promise to us today! Wherever we are in life, whatever mess we have made 
of things, or however bleak the outlook, God calls to us, "Return 
to me!" He knows that only in him can we find true rest for our 
souls as we live in this hectic world. He calls us to repentance so 
that we can experience his salvation. He calls to us to be quiet, 
still, and confident in him so that we can experience his strength. 
   Oh, LORD, thank you for always calling me to return to you. 
My desire is to walk in harmony with you. But sometimes I become 
distant from you. Even then, I know that you haven't distanced yourself 
from me. You are ever waiting for me to return, to repent, and to 
find rest in you. [Praying Through The Bible By Fuller] 

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

   In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. When 
you're in a tough situation, your mind tends to go into overdrive. You 
mentally rehearse possible solutions at breakneck speed. Your brain 
becomes a flurry of activity! You scrutinize your own abilities and 
those of people you might call upon for help. If you find no immediate 
solution to your problem, you start to feel anxious. When you find this 
happening, return to Me and rest in quietness. Take time to seek My Face 
and My will rather than rushing ahead without clear direction.  
   I want you to have confidence in Me and My ways - patiently 
trusting in Me even when you can't see the way forward. Whereas anxious 
striving drains you of energy, quiet confidence will give you strength. 
You can trust that I will not forsake you in your time of need. Keep 
communicating with Me about your situation, and be willing to wait - without 
pushing for immediate resolution. Those who wait for the Lord will gain 
new strength. (Isa. 30:15; Deu. 31:6; Isa. 40:31) [Jesus Today by 
Sarah Young] 

   Let Me fill you with my Love, Joy, and Peace. These are 
Glory-gifts, flowing from my living Presence. Though you are an earthen 
vessel, I designed you to be filled with heavenly contents. Your 
weakness is not a deterrent to being filled with My Spirit; on the 
contrary, it provides an opportunity for My Power to shine forth more 
brightly. 
   As you go through this day, trust Me to provide the strength 
that you need moment by moment. Don't waste energy wondering whether 
you are adequate for today's journey. My Spirit within you is more 
than sufficient to handle whatever this day may bring. That is the 
basis for your confidence! In quietness (spending time alone with Me) 
and confident trust (relying on My sufficiency) is your strength. (2 
Cor. 4:7; Isa. 30:15) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] 

   Receive My peace. It is My continual gift to you. The best 
way to receive this gift is to sit quietly in My Presence, trusting 
Me in every area of your life. Quietness and trust accomplish far 
more than you can imagine: not only in you, but also on earth and in 
heaven. When you trust Me in a given area, you release that problem or 
person into My care.  
   Spending time alone with Me can be a difficult discipline 
because it goes against the activity addiction of this age. You may 
appear to be doing nothing, but actually you are participating in 
battles going on within spiritual realms. You are waging war - not with 
the weapons of the world, but with heavenly weapons, which have 
divine power to demolish strongholds. Living close to Me is a sure 
defense against evil. (John 14:27; Isaiah 30:15; 2 Corinthians 10:4) 
[Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] 

   Rest in My presence when you need refreshment. Resting is not 
necessarily idleness, as people often perceive it. When you relax in My 
company, you are demonstrating trust in Me. Trust is a rich word, laden 
with meaning and direction for your life. I want you to lean on, 
trust, and be confident in Me. When you lean on Me for support, I 
delight in your trusting confidence.  
   Many people turn away from Me when they are exhausted. They 
associate Me with duty and diligence, so they try, to hide from My 
Presence when they need a break from work. How this saddens Me! As I 
spoke through My prophet Isaiah: In returning to Me and resting in Me 
you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength. 
(Pro. 3:5; Isa. 30:15) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] 

ONE LINER

The man caught up with this world is not ready for the next one. 
[Your Daily Walk SB] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE:

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2010/20100921-1355.html

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20050324-0916.html

CURRENTLY LIVE BIBLE STUDY SERIES BY PASTOR JOHN BRADSHAW

Revelation Today - The Mysteries Revealed: 
https://www.revelationtoday.com/ 

RECENT BIBLE STUDY SERIES BY PASTOR DOUG BATCHELOR

Heroes of Faith - Stories of Salvation: 
http://www.theheroesoffaith.com/