Our City is Now Strong
by Liz Griffin
What a picture of protection and security! A city with high walls which are the Lord’s walls, His salvation. There is a way into this city through the gate. But if we are safe inside, we long for others to be able to come in too. We cry out from our hearts ‘Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter’ (Isaiah 26:2). Jesus later on said He was the gate. He is the way people can come into God’s presence and be saved.
But just before this verse, in Isaiah Chapter 25, we read about some high and fortified walls which were built of pride and God destroyed them. It is when God brings down those hateful walls (that mighty stronghold of the enemy) that everyone in Judah will sing for joy. They will rejoice in the salvation of the true and living God.
Isaiah goes on to speak directly to the Lord ‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you’ (Isaiah 26:3)! I first became aware of these words when I learnt them as a ‘scripture in song’. Isn’t it amazing how some songs get into your spirit and never leave you? I was recently praying healing for an elderly lady and I mentioned I had been reading these words that morning in the Bible. She became quite excited and said ‘My grandmother had those words in a picture frame in her house. I can see it now it was black with gold words’. It seemed to be a vivid memory the Lord was giving her. I wondered how many have had the privilege of having such a blessing as a young child.
Isaiah tells us why we can put our trust in God. It’s because He’s so strong and dependable and will never let us down. I know that Isaiah had a life transforming experience of the presence of the Lord when he was in the temple. We read about it in Isaiah Chapter 6. Isaiah spent the rest of his life fulfilling the Lord’s call upon him to bring prophetic words. He was able to confidently exhort us all to ‘Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock’ (Isaiah 26:4).
Prayer: How blessed we are to know the way to security and peace through You, Lord Jesus. Help us to focus our thoughts on You rather than a million other things which would pull us into anxiety. Thank You that You are the eternal Rock for us and we can shelter in Your shadow of protection, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Liz Griffin lived for 20 years as an expatriate in South Africa, Bahrain and Japan, as her husband Paul worked for an international oil company. Paul and Liz became involved with Ellel Ministries in 1991 as part of the ministry team and joined the full-time team at Ellel Grange in 1995. Paul and Liz teach and minister to those seeking healing in their lives and together have written two books, 'Anger - How Do You Handle It' and 'Hope and Healing For The Abused'.
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