Shining a light on the weekly Bible Lessons published in the Christian Science Quarterly®
God the Preserver of Man
A man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
Isaiah is prophesying the advent of a righteous king (see v. 1) and, using potent desert images, guaranteeing protection and care for everyone. A Christian scholar sums up this chapter as Messianic: “Isaiah looks down the corridors of history to see the arrival of a good king who will do what is right, repair what is broken, and restore justice to the oppressed. More than any other prophet, Isaiah speaks of this coming king, God’s anointed ruler. . . . No longer will wrong be called right, folly celebrated, evil triumph, and complacency and apathy rule the day. When this good king arrives, the world—with all of its problems—will be set right.”
Like the contemporary English adjective, the Hebrew noun rendered covert (sēter) implies secrecy. It is employed in the well-loved promise “He that dwelleth in the secret place [sēter] of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalms 91:1).
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Resources cited in this issue
RR: Compass: The Study Bible for Navigating Your Life. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2012.
Cit. 4: Hindson, Edward E., and Dan Mitchell. Zondervan King James Version Commentary: New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010.
Cit. 12: Patzia, Arthur G. New International Biblical Commentary—Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1990; Keck, Leander E., et al., eds. The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 10, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 & 3 John, Jude, Revelation. Nashville: Abingdon, 2015.
Cit. 17: Hubbard, Robert L., Jr., Robert K. Johnston, et al., eds. The New International Biblical Commentary: Old Testament Series. Vol. 17, Minor Prophets 1. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996.
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Scriptural quotations marked Contemporary English Version are taken from the Contemporary English Version, copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
Scriptural quotations marked New Living Translation are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scriptural quotations marked New International Reader’s Version™ are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version™, NIrV™. Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scriptural quotations marked Common English Bible are taken from the Common English Bible, copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible.
Scriptural quotations marked GOD’S WORD® Translation are taken from GOD’S WORD®. © 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God’s Word to the Nations Mission Society. Used by permission.
Scriptural quotations marked Good News Translation are taken from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version—Second Edition, copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
© 2024 The Christian Science Publishing Society. The design of the Cross and Crown is a trademark owned by the Christian Science Board of Directors and is used by permission. Bible Lens and Christian Science Quarterly are trademarks owned by The Christian Science Publishing Society. Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptural quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
