This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations. For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back? (Isaiah 14:26-27)
Today’s passage comes from a section of Isaiah where he was prophesying God’s judgment on the nations (chapters 13–23). And that gave his listeners a problem: for some, because they found his words hard to believe, since these neighbours were incredibly powerful; for others, because they wanted to make alliances with those very neighbours against the might of the spreading Assyrian empire. But against all of this Isaiah says: politics isn’t your answer, only God is. And his hand is stretched out to act over all the nations. And only when he’s done that will his kingdom come (chapters 24–27).
Still today, the answer to our own nation’s and all the nations’ problems can’t be found in politics or political parties, of whatever kind, but only in Jesus. So let’s pray for God to stretch out his hand over the nations once again.
ME – Pray that your own hope would be increasingly set on Jesus alone, and not on a political party or your job or your pension. Remember: what we set our hope on that isn’t him has a way of being shaken.
US – Our church is made up of people from many nations. Set your focus to pray for one of the nations represented.
OTHERS – Declare that God is the God over all the nations and pray especially about the conflicts happening across our world, pleading for a speedy, just and lasting peace.
Don’t forget the daily prayer gatherings: