READ

See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. The fearful heart will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear. No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected. For fools speak folly, their hearts are bent on evil: They practice ungodliness and spread error concerning the Lord; the hungry they leave empty and from the thirsty they withhold water. Scoundrels use wicked methods, they make up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just. But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand.

Isaiah 32:1–8

REFLECT

I may not be a king, but I am a leader and I can be a righteous person. A righteous person is like a shelter, a refuge, a stream, or shade to help people see the truth and hear it. Giving others the truth will help fearful people know and understand what is keeping them in fear. Truth will also help those who stammer to speak fluently and clearly.

The righteous is then contrasted with the fool. Those we consider our heroes (the nobles) are actually fools. In this world today, we respect scoundrels. They contradict the truth with  lies. Their methods are slander, evil, keeping needy people hungry, unsatisfied and thirsty. In other words, they withhold what people need. Generosity is the opposite of this foolish behavior.

RESPOND

Help me be this kind of leader, Lord. Generous with your truth so others are fed and given shelter. Help me not withhold the living water and the truth that will set them free. Teach me to be a righteous leader rather than a fool and help me to recognize fools when I encounter them.

My child, don’t leave your people hungry or without spiritual water. Give them what they need. Be a shelter to them. Help them discern the truth and be able to articulate what they believe. Be generous. Give freely of ME and of your knowledge.