READING FOR MARCH 30, 2026: ISAIAH 44, ROMANS 13, PSALM 15:11-22 ISAIAH 44 God’s last words of the previous chapter: “I will turn Jacob over to destruction and Israel to abuse.” The first words of this chapter, though, are hopeful: “But now.” God reminds His people that He chose them. He says He formed them in the womb (which likely has significance about the prenatal value of people from God’s perspective). Thus, Jacob need not worry ultimately. That’s also true for us who have been born again by grace through faith in Jesus. God promises to sustain His people and their descendants. His people will also find their prime identity as belonging to the Lord. Here’s a question for us: Do we identify ourselves primarily as an American, a man or woman, a parent or grandparent, or as belonging to the Lord? Unless we build our lives around who we are in Christ, we are building our lives on a sandy foundation that will crumble (Matt. 7:24-27).
In verses 6-8 God emphasizes His pre-eminence as God. There is no entity or power that can compete with Him. That might sound radical or fanatic, but it’s mostly logical. If God created and sustains everything and can tell us what is going to happen in the future, why is it weird or psychologically unbalanced to trust Him totally. Just dabbling in Christianity means we don’t understand who God reveals Himself to be.
Verses 9-20 are one of the most comprehensive statements in the Bible about idols. Let’s see how this applies to us. The late pastor/author Tim Keller has written the clearest to our culture about idolatry. He defines it as “anything more important to you than God. Anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God. Anything you seek to give you what only God can give. Anything that is so central and essential to your life, that should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living...For example, money can be a surface idol that serves to satisfy more foundational influences. Some people want lots of money as a way to control their world and life, and such people usually don’t spend much money and they live very modestly. They keep it all safely saved and invested so that they can feel completely safe in the world. Others want money for access to social circles and to make themselves beautiful and attractive. These people do spend their money on themselves in lavish ways. Other people want money because it gives them so much power over others. In every case, money functions as an idol, and yet because of various deep idols, it results in very different patterns of behavior. The person using money to serve a deep idol of control will often feel superior to others and use money to obtain power or social approval. In every case however, money idolatry enslaves and distorts lives.”
Verse 18 is frightening because it tells once we make our idol, God will prevent us from seeing the folly of trusting in that idol. We must avoid starting down that road at the outset. The anti- dote for idolatry is to consider all that God is and has done for us. He creates, sustains, and redeems us. No job, relationship, or personal achievement does that. God guarantees that His purposes will come to pass. No idol can promise that. By way of giving a concrete example, God states 200 years before the fact that Cyrus, the ruler of Persia, will help restore Jerusalem. Does any idol know who will be president of the United States in 2226?
READINGS FOR MARCH 30, 2026 CONTINUED: ROMANS 13, PSALM 25:11-22
ROMANS 13 This chapter addresses the very timely question of how a Christian should interact with the government currently in authority. During the early church the government was not at all friendly to Christianity. Pilate allowed the crucifixion. Disciples such as Paul, (imprisoned in Rome), Peter (imprisoned by Herod), and James (executed by Herod) suffered unfairly at the hands of the government for being followers of Jesus. So, how did Paul advise Christians to cope?
He could not be clearer: honor and obey civil authorities and pay all requested taxes. He totally echoed what Jesus said about civil authority being established by God (John 19:11) and that taxes requested by the government should be paid (Matt.22:19-22).
The only time it is appropriate to disobey human authority is when it directs us to violate God’s Word: “The high priest interrogated them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name...’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men”’ (Acts 5:27-29).Otherwise, we should not only obey the authorities, but we should pray for them: “First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Tim. 2:1-3). PRAY FOR LEADERS OF ALL COUNTRIES, not just ours.
This stance appears to refute both Liberation Theology and Christian Nationalism. Liberation Theology has been described as committed to social movements, even revolutions, dedicated to overturning the structures of society, including government, to liberate the economically oppressed. Christian Nationalism is the belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity (Forgot about slavery, rebellious beginning, and the founders’ enlightenment philosophy?), and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way.
There were rumblings in both these directions in Jesus’s day. How did He respond? “My kingdom is not of this world, If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews: but as it is My Kingdom is not of this realm” (John 19:36). After his direction to obey the government, Paul completes the chapter by telling us to love our neighbors, keep God’s commandments, and practice personal holiness in word, thought, and deed. Do we honor God when we obey the speed limit and comply with our neighborhood association? YES.
PSALM 25:11-22 Verse 11 brings out a reason for asking for forgiveness we don’t often consider: God’s reputation. When God forgives His glory abounds in our eyes. Verse 12 reminds us that only those who fear God have the benefit of His direction, which is always the best path for us and our children (vs.13). Verse 14 reiterates what Jesus told in his parables: the secret truths of God are only available to those who have placed their faith in Him. As we turn completely to Him, we are then in a position to ask for His presence (vs.15-16). Often it is in our greatest troubles where we most earnestly seek both God’s forgiveness and rescue (vs. 17-18). Remember, no matter how formidable our challenges, it is always right to seek refuge in God. He is bigger than any problem or combination of problems (vs. 19-20). Waiting for the Lord’s deliverance takes integrity of character possible only by God’s grace (vs. 21.) Yet, in our troubles, remember there are others who also need God’s deliverance (vs. 22).
