In Repentance and Rest is Your Salvation

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it” (Isaiah 30:15, NIV).

When Isaiah received these words, Judah was under imminent threat of attack from the Assyrians. Instead of looking to God for protection, king Hezekiah looked to make an alliance with Egypt. Verse 15 is a direct response to that desire. Going to Egypt was not going to help them out of this mess. Only God was able.

How often do we do the same thing? When we feel that we are in danger, we instinctively take inventory of what resources we have available on hand and look at what we can do address the situation ourselves. While we profess faith in God with our mouths, in practice we often show that our faith is more in ourselves. Do you know what I’m talking about?

When I catch myself doing this this verse helps me in two ways. First, it reminds me that God is where my help comes from. Why would I want to look to myself, or someone or something when I am able to go to the Creator of heaven and earth for help? Psalms 121:1-2 (NIV), I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. When I am not looking to Him first, I need to repent.

Second, it reminds me that my relationship with God is based solely in grace. My salvation is not in what I do, or in being good enough. Just the opposite in fact. When personal difficulties, family problems, financial challenges, or struggles with sin camp like the Assyrian army outside my city, my salvation is in achievement or success or understanding, but in rest, quietness, and trust. Our problems, circumstances, or moral failings do not determine our relationship with God. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection does; and that has nothing to do with us. So we can rest knowing that God loves us. We can be quiet when the world says we should be clamoring for help because we can trust that God is both willing and able to help us.