Isaiah 33:5–6: “The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; / He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. / Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, / And the strength of salvation; / The fear of the LORD is His treasure.”

August 27th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

These words of comfort are as true today as they were when Isaiah said them more than 26 centuries ago. Living during turbulent times, economical, political, or even just personal, can be confusing and frightening. But God promises to give us insight and awareness, which will make us stable during those times, or as another translation puts it, they will be “the foundation of your times.” Godly wisdom and knowledge act as an anchor in difficult times and gives us understanding of events happening around us so that we can know what to do, what kind of decision to make.

We live in times of great new advancements in almost every area of technology; but with almost every new development that comes, we seem to uncover a corresponding threat to people or the environment or both. The promise found in these verses is that in the storms of life, godly wisdom will provide confidence and comfort, as well as guide and protect us from greater pitfalls. The fear of the LORD, or reverential respect for God and what He wants us to do, will be a great treasure in our life, creating a firm foundation for us to stand on, which makes us stable, no matter what is happening around us.

In Southern California, there is a straight road from the city of Highland to San Dimas called Baseline Road. It follows the baseline used in the original survey of the area, a straight line that has not moved or changed in more than 150 years. The dictionary definition of a baseline is “a line serving as a basis, as for measurement, calculation, or location.” When God’s Word is the baseline for our lives, we have a reference point that does not shift, no matter what the circumstances. God is the reliable baseline, foundation, and stability that will make sense out of any confused and conflicted problem that arises in our lives.

“LORD, we are so thankful for the stable reference point You have given us this day.”