July 23 - Isaiah 21-24
One thing that struck me today about these prophecies is that Isaiah declares how he is distressed by the vision God showed him of the destruction which was coming. In other words, the messenger was not separate from the message, but it placed a burden on Isaiah's heart to have to be the one who bore such depressing news. I know that many times I would like to preach only joyful messages as a preacher, but God will just not allow me to leave out the judgment and the destruction that comes from sin. It is a burden to my heart, but I know it is God's will.
In chapter 22 we have a very relevant insight about the protection of God. It says that "He removed the protection of Judah." (22:8) This allowed the enemies to conquer them. The leaders were trusting in their efforts like building a supply of water for the siege, but they should have been looking to God to restore His protection. (22:11,12) In the end they just decided to eat and drink for tomorrow they would die. What a philosophy of life! If they would have turned to God, He would have given them real life. This is so relevant for the war against terrorism today. The bombings in London show once again that we can't protect ourselves from this kind of attack. We must turn to the Lord for His protection. However, in order to do that we must trust Him. Many people do not want to trust Him. They just want to eat, and to drink, and to be merry until they die.
Isaiah 24 is a complete description of the Tribulation time. Read it closely. Notice that it is a time of shaking. The shaking is punishment and harvest. The Jews will come to Christ. The rest of the world will be put through the time of punishment. Few people will be left by the time Jesus comes back to reign from Zion. (24:23)
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 25-27.
In chapter 22 we have a very relevant insight about the protection of God. It says that "He removed the protection of Judah." (22:8) This allowed the enemies to conquer them. The leaders were trusting in their efforts like building a supply of water for the siege, but they should have been looking to God to restore His protection. (22:11,12) In the end they just decided to eat and drink for tomorrow they would die. What a philosophy of life! If they would have turned to God, He would have given them real life. This is so relevant for the war against terrorism today. The bombings in London show once again that we can't protect ourselves from this kind of attack. We must turn to the Lord for His protection. However, in order to do that we must trust Him. Many people do not want to trust Him. They just want to eat, and to drink, and to be merry until they die.
Isaiah 24 is a complete description of the Tribulation time. Read it closely. Notice that it is a time of shaking. The shaking is punishment and harvest. The Jews will come to Christ. The rest of the world will be put through the time of punishment. Few people will be left by the time Jesus comes back to reign from Zion. (24:23)
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 25-27.