Isaiah 14:24-32: a reflection

24The LORD of Armies has sworn, saying, “Surely, as I have thought, so shall it happen; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: 25that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and tread him under foot on my mountains. Then his yoke will leave them, and his burden leave their shoulders. 26This is the plan that is determined for the whole earth. This is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. 27For the LORD of Armies has planned, and who can stop it? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” 28This burden was in the year that King Ahaz died. 29Don’t rejoice, O Philistia, all of you, because the rod that struck you is broken; for out of the serpent’s root an adder will emerge, and his fruit will be a fiery flying serpent. 30The firstborn of the poor will eat, and the needy will lie down in safety; and I will kill your root with famine, and your remnant will be killed. 31Howl, gate! Cry, city! You are melted away, Philistia, all of you; for smoke comes out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks. 32What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people will take refuge.

As Isaiah declares God's judgment on the nations, he states a truth about the certainty of God's purposes: The LORD of Armies has sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought, so shall it happen; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand. And he asks: The LORD of Armies has planned, and who can stop it? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back? What God has purposed will surely come to pass; his plan will stand, and none can stop it or turn back his outstretched hand. God's purpose is certain, sure, unstoppable; what he has determined will stand, whatever powers may array themselves against it. No one can thwart the purpose of God.

Notice the certainty of God's purpose: as he has purposed, so it shall stand, and none can turn it back. God's plans are not tentative, not subject to being thwarted by the powers of the world; what he has purposed will surely come to pass. His hand is stretched out, and no one can turn it back; his plan stands, and no one can stop it. The nations may rage and scheme, but they cannot overturn what God has determined. His purpose is sure, certain, unstoppable. Who can stop it? None. Who can turn back his outstretched hand? No one. What God has purposed will stand, whatever is arrayed against it; his purpose is certain and cannot be thwarted.

That is worth resting in, for God's purposes are certain and cannot be thwarted, and this is our security. We can fear that the purposes of God might be overturned by the powers of the world, the schemes of the wicked, the chaos of events; but God has sworn that as he has purposed, so it shall stand, and none can turn back his hand. God's purpose is sure, unstoppable, whatever is arrayed against it. When you fear that God's good purposes might be thwarted, remember that what he has purposed will surely stand, and none can turn back his outstretched hand. Rest in the certainty of God's purposes, which will surely come to pass and cannot be thwarted by any power, as the LORD has sworn that as he has purposed, so it shall stand, and asked who can turn back his hand; for God's purpose is sure and unstoppable, and the powers of the world cannot overturn what he has determined, so that his good purposes are our security.

Lord, as Isaiah declares your judgment on the nations, he states a truth about the certainty of your purposes: the LORD of Armies has sworn, saying, surely, as I have thought, so shall it happen; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand. And he asks: the LORD of Armies has planned, and who can stop it? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back? What you have purposed will surely come to pass; your plan will stand, and none can stop it or turn back your outstretched hand. Show me the certainty of your purpose: as you have purposed, so it shall stand, and none can turn it back. Your plans are not tentative, not subject to being thwarted by the powers of the world; what you have purposed will surely come to pass. Your hand is stretched out, and no one can turn it back; your plan stands, and no one can stop it. The nations may rage and scheme, but they cannot overturn what you have determined. Who can stop it? None. What you have purposed will stand, whatever is arrayed against it. Let me rest in that, for your purposes are certain and cannot be thwarted, and this is my security. I can fear that your purposes might be overturned by the powers of the world, the schemes of the wicked, the chaos of events; but you have sworn that as you have purposed, so it shall stand, and none can turn back your hand. When I fear that your good purposes might be thwarted, help me remember that what you have purposed will surely stand, Lord, and none can turn back your outstretched hand. Help me rest in the certainty of your purposes, which will surely come to pass and cannot be thwarted by any power.