Time for taking stock

Norah Summers September 30, 2026 4 2

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Listen to this daily worship

Isaiah 30:15-18 (NIV-UK)

15 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.
16 You said, “No, we will flee on horses.”
    Therefore you will flee!
You said, “We will ride off on swift horses.”
    Therefore your pursuers will be swift!
17 A thousand will flee
    at the threat of one;
at the threat of five
    you will all flee away,
till you are left
    like a flagstaff on a mountaintop,
    like a banner on a hill.’

18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
    Blessed are all who wait for him!

‘Don’t panic!’

Another quote, not from Scripture, nor from poetry, but I’m sure it makes us remember Corporal Jones of Dad’s Army when he would call out and start agitating in all directions.

Isaiah the prophet is having a lot of trouble with a rebellious people, who are panicking about the state they have got themselves in, as well they might, given their disobedience and disregard for the prophet’s warnings.

But in the midst of all the litany of their evil ways (which God has told Isaiah to record!) there comes this little phrase -

‘Come back and quietly trust in me’ says God.

Dire threats are not having much effect, but here instead is an invitation – come back!

There is a place of peace, of obedience, of goodness, of trust, and God is there.

All they have to do is come back.

And not panic.

Prayer:

Loving God,

thank you that wherever we are,

whatever we have done – or not done –

wherever we have strayed,

you are always ready to invite us back

to your place of peace,

of obedience, of goodness, of trust.