March 8: Isaiah 54:5; Isaiah 61:1–3; Isaiah 61:10; Isaiah 62:4–5; Hosea 2:19; Romans 8:35; Ephesians 5:32; Deuteronomy 33:3; 1 Kings 17:2–4; 1 Kings 17:8–9; Psalm 31:15; Proverbs 3:5–6; Matthew 6:25; Matthew 6:32; 1 Peter 5:7 - a podcast by Crossway

“For your Maker is your husband, theLordof hosts is his name.”

This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.—You shall no more be termed Forsaken… but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her… for theLorddelights in you… and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.—He has sent me… to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.

I will greatly rejoice in theLord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;… as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

“And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.”

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Isaiah 54:5(Listen)

5   For your Maker is your husband,
    the LORD of hosts is his name;
  and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
    the God of the whole earth he is called.

(ESV)

Isaiah 61:1–3(Listen)

The Year of theLord’s Favor

61   The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
    because the LORD has anointed me
  to bring good news to the poor;¹
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
  to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;²
2   to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
3   to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
  the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
  that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.³

(ESV)

Isaiah 61:10(Listen)

10   I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
    my soul shall exult in my God,
  for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
  as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

(ESV)

Isaiah 62:4–5(Listen)

4   You shall no more be termed Forsaken,¹
    and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,²
  but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,³
    and your land Married;⁴
  for the LORD delights in you,
    and your land shall be married.
5   For as a young man marries a young woman,
    so shall your sons marry you,
  and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
    so shall your God rejoice over you.

(ESV)

Hosea 2:19(Listen)

19 And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.

(ESV)

Romans 8:35(Listen)

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

(ESV)

Ephesians 5:32(Listen)

32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

(ESV)

My times are in your hand.

“All his holy ones were in his hand.”—And the word of theLordcame to [Elijah], “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”… Then the word of theLordcame to him, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.”

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on…. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”

Trust in theLordwith all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.—Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Deuteronomy 33:3(Listen)

3   Yes, he loved his people,¹
    all his holy ones were in his²hand;
  so they followed³in your steps,
    receiving direction from you,

(ESV)

1 Kings 17:2–4(Listen)

2 And the word of the LORD came to him:3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

(ESV)

1 Kings 17:8–9(Listen)

The Widow of Zarephath

8 Then the word of the LORD came to him,9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.”

(ESV)

Psalm 31:15(Listen)

15   My times are in your hand;
    rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!

(ESV)

Proverbs 3:5–6(Listen)

5   Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
6   In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.

(ESV)

Matthew 6:25(Listen)

Do Not Be Anxious

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

(ESV)

Matthew 6:32(Listen)

32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

(ESV)

1 Peter 5:7(Listen)

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

(ESV)