04.30.09
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General
| 18:22
Scripture: Isaiah 14:10 (NIV): "They will all respond, they will say to you, 'You also have become weak, as we are; you have become like us'."
Thought: To me, God Almighty has the power to bring us all to one common "ground".
Question: Do I sense my soul's "weakness" and my life's brevity?
"They will all respond..." No ruler, king or leader who is a departed spirit (yesterday's verse) is left out of this moment of dialogue between the newly arrived "King of Babylon", or, as was discussed in yesterday's blog, Lucifer, "Morning Star, son of the dawn" (also see verse 12 ahead). All will communicate their full realization to "him" as he arrives in "the grave": "You also have become weak...you have become like us."
To me, the point clearly becomes this: Who is the Determiner of the fate of all these rulers? Who has brought them all together into this place of the grave (Sheol)? Who has the power to make all these leaders "become weak", including Lucifer? It is God Almighty, of course--Creator of the universe and Source of all life to both men and angels.
"You have become like us..." Whether it is Belshazzar, the last literal king of Babylon, which the prior context refers to, or Lucifer, the devil and power behind all evil spirits, which the upcoming context refers to, it doesn't matter. Both are lowered into Sheol! Both, and all the other kings and leaders as well, are lowered into the grave--subject to the awesome power and authority of God Almighty. And we are, too, of course. This truth ought to grip us all: where do my loyalties lie? To whom have I yielded my life and heart? What principles of life am I living by?
These leaders say they are "weak." While on earth they did not feel this way! It behoves each of us to consider the eternity that lies ahead. Our days on the earth are brief and quickly pass, and the attitudes we exhibit while here may not prepare us at all for eternity. (James 4:14: "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.") A "mist" is indeed "weak"! Plus, this "mist" vanishes!
This is the human plight. We are all weak--only like the vanishing mist. Our entire life becomes only our single, brief chance to make the most important decision ever: do we belong to God, as we have opportunity to, by receiving Jesus Christ as our one and only Savior?
Prayer: Maker of us all, my Father and God, You are in full control of everyone's life! We must all pass through death. Thank You, Father, that I know I have new life with Christ on "the other side." Help those who are not yet sure of this to come to Christ before it is too late! Amen.
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04.29.09
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General
| 18:04
Scripture: Isaiah 14:9 (NIV): "The grave below is all astir to meet you at your coming; it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you--all those who were leaders in the world; it makes them rise from their thrones--all those who were kings over the nations."
Thought: To me, death is certain--and so is a place of the dead: there is an existance after this earthly life.
Question: Where are all the "kings" of the earth now?
While yesterday we viewed the exultation of the people and land of Israel over how God had restored them, today we see the stirrings in the grave over the arrival of the "King of Babylon." Belshazzar will be greeted in "the grave below"--met by "spirits of the departed"--"all those who were leaders in the world." But also, if we look ahead in our context to verse 12, we will see who this "you" really represents: it is Lucifer! (In the King James version, especially). As the spirit of arrogance began with Lucifer it was seeded into many leaders, including Belshazzar, the last reigning King of the City of Babylon. These leaders willfully continued to choose rebellion against God in their thrusts to dominate the world, and each of these rulers is subject to "the grave", one by one, each in their own time, until, even Lucifer, Satan, is consigned to the same fate.
Upon arriving "below" (into Sheol, the "place of all dead"), the "King" is met by "all those who were kings over the nations" or "leaders in the world." I suppose they have come to compare notes with Belshazzar! But what will be their motive to greet Lucifer? If we read on in this chapter into verse 12, we will find out. It appears they desire to mock him.
This is an interesting verse as it relates to the spirit world. It mentions thrones in "the grave", ("Sheol"). It implies communication existing there and the ability to meet and greet other spirits or comrades. Whether or not these factors are fully understood by us, however, is not the primary issue. What is most important is that we see all these leaders, including Belshazzar of Babylon, ending up there! They are mortal and have a destiny--we are mortal and have a destiny as well. When once we arrive at "death's place", are we equipped to pass God's judgments? That is the question. As we study verses following today's verse, we will become increasingly aware that anyone who defies God will suffer a horrible fate. We will discover that death is the great leveller of all mankind. Earthy "power trips", and opportunities to control others or exercise authority or oppression over them, will be gone. All the leaders are there in "the grave" together in the "same boat". It's as though they should say to each other, "Now what?"
As Christians, born again in Christ and waiting to be joined fully to Him after our lives here on earth are finished, we know with certainty that as soon as we die, we immediately enter the presence of God. (II Corinthians 5:8: "We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.") In Christ the fear of condemnation after death is utterly removed. Hallelujah!
Prayer: Father, as I think about "the grave" and death, which is a separation from this earthly life, I am so happy and comforted to know that in Christ I am safe from condemnation. Thank You, Father, for the gift of Your precious Son, Jesus Christ! Amen.
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04.28.09
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| 18:12
Scripture: Isaiah 14:8 (NIV): "Even the pine trees and the cedars of Lebanon exult over you and say, 'Now that you have been laid low, no woodsman comes to cut us down.' "
Thought: To me, the best cure for our environment is to be rightly related to God.
Question: Can I exult that the enemy has been "laid low" in my life?
The land, our environment, is truly a great mirror of the people's status with God. When the people are disobedient and rebellious to God, the land sees a rise in the stresses of pollution and misuse. But when the people are brought back into line, as the Israelites have been in this context, even the forests experience relief.
"Now that you have been laid low..." is a reference to 1) the King of Babylon (Belshazzar), 2) Satan, the great enemy and the 3) wicked rulers of all time. When God becomes victorious, "no woodsman comes to cut us down." No longer are the trees sought in abundance for the construction of military "machinery"! No longer do the trampling of many soldiers or the flames of war-induced fires rage their destruction either.
These truths illustrate the kind of natural harmony and order that God not only originally created for our world, but also can return us to if and when we are "in step" with Him. If one reads the books of Exodus, Deuteronomy and Leviticus, it can readily be seen that God's law extended over all these areas of land use, preservation and conservation. One example of this is the command, known as the Sabbatic Year, to sow fields for six years only then let the fields lie fallow on the seventh year. (See Exodus 23:10 and 11: "For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused...Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove." And Leviticus 25:4 and 5: "But in the seventh year the land is to have a sabbath of rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest.") As is true of all God's commandments, when obeyed, great blessings and prosperity are promised; when disobeyed, trouble, famines and the entrance of many other "evils", begin to multiply. What's best for our environment is simply for the people in it to obey God!
Today's verse is a display of exultation over the enemy being crushed. God has instituted victory! The enemy is "laid low"! (I like it when the enemy is "laid low"!)
Prayer: Lord God, I pray with praises of exultation! You have overcome all enemies! You have "laid low" Satan, our greatest arch enemy! Your victory will ultimately bring perfect order back to our planet. Praise the Lord! Amen.
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04.27.09
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General
| 19:07
Scripture: Isaiah 14:7 (NIV): "All the lands are at rest and at peace; they break into singing."
Thought: To me, only God, giving us His true rest and peace, can create the deepest, truest joy of song.
Question: Have I acquired God's rest and peace as given in Christ?
Now that 1) the LORD has had compassion on Israel (verse 1), 2) settled them in their own land (also verse 1), 3) caused them to possess the nations as servants (verse 2), 4) given them relief from suffering, turmoil and cruel bondage (verse 3), and 5) broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers (verse 5), the LORD will bring "rest" and "peace" to His people. And now that God has done all this for Israel, what will they do? "...they break into singing." I'm sure I would, too!
We sing when we are free; at least, the happy songs! We were created to exult in God's great goodness just in this way; through praises, thanksgivings and joy. But only when we are liberated from the bondage of sin, oppressive rule and the binding grip of our enemy, can we truly "break into singing." Indeed, it is just as though we have finally realized the "broken" "rod of the wicked" applies to our situation and allows us to "break" free into liberation.
"All the lands are at rest and at peace." This is always what we all want, is it not? We seek it so keenly that some in our day and age will even succumb to the future AntiChrist who will preach universal "peace and safety" as his theme song, but whose wicked spirit will only bring "sudden destruction." (I Thessalonians 5:3: "While people are saying "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.")
But this in Isaiah 14 is the true, authentic "rest and peace" of God. He is the Author of it and therfore its Source and only Provider. Every good gift comes only from God! (James 1:17: "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.")
True, joyful singing, true rest and true peace are found only in God. And we, today, can only access these by coming to God through Jesus Christ, His only Son. (The two "onlies" in that last sentence remind us that the way to God is narrow. Only "a few", says scripture, will find it. (Matthew 7:14: "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.") But once we do find it, we will truly "break into singing."
Prayer: Dear God, my Source and Provider of true rest and peace, I exult in Your gifts! Why You have chosen to bless me so well is beyond me, but I am grateful, Father, to be included because of Jesus Christ. I know any and all who come to Him will never be turned away from Your eternal rest and peace. Thank You! Amen.
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04.26.09
Posted in
General
| 17:02
Scripture: Isaiah 14:6: "which in anger struck down peoples with unceasing blows, and in fury subdued nations with relentless aggression."
Thought: To me, "the rod of the wicked", the rule of the enemy, indeed oppresses the whole earth in anger and with fury and aggression.
Question: Do I long for the ruling reign of Jesus Christ?
What kind of rule and rod was broken by the LORD (Isaiah 14:5 -- yesterday's blog)? It is "the rod of the wicked", as seen yesterday. (And in the verse before that we saw that this particular "wicked" one was the "king of Babylon" in this context.) Here is that rod's description in today's verse: it strikes people down "in anger", it does so "with unceasing blows" and "in fury" subdues those nations. It continues its oppressive ways "with relentless aggression."
So is the way of worldly authority! Though a king may perhaps desire to rule benevolently, he is actually unable to because of flawed human nature. An imperfect sinner, (which we all are, Romans 3:10: "As it is written, (in Psalm 14 originally), 'There is no one righteous, not even one',"), cannot hope to rule a people with kindness he lacks, or justice he fails to produce, or wisdom he is lacking. Only God is good! Only God's perfect righteousness is sufficient to the task. We need the rule of Jesus Christ!
Unfortunately, before this can take place, (during the thousand year millenial rule of Christ), the spirit of antichrist will fill one last man to oppose God and rule nations with a "wicked rod." (See I John 2:18: "Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.") That spirit of antichrist is an angry spirit. Satan and his hatred of God, in "fury", inspires, indeed indwells, the AntiChrist, pushing him along in his hatred, as he has indwelt other evil leaders in the past. Since Satan, with his spirit of the antichrist, has no power to combat God The Father or Jesus Christ, God's Anointed and Resurrected Son directly, he pours his hateful fury out on "the nations." We, the people, are the ones who suffer! The earth becomes the battleground for the venting of Satan's anger. Satan continues pounding away at us "with unceasing blows". He vents himself "with relentless aggression."
We know Satan's anger, don't we? His corruptive viewpoints are all around us. His tempting reasoning lies within each of us as well--in our fleshly human natures. How we need the blood of Christ! How we need God to "break the rod" of Satan's rule!
Prayer: Almighty Father, wash me now in Your Son's blood that the anger and fury of Satan has no more place in me! Come soon, Lord Jesus, to reign as King of kings, that Satan's "wicked rod" of rule will finally be forever broken on this planet! Amen.
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04.25.09
Posted in
General
| 15:47
Scripture: Isaiah 14:5 (NIV): "The LORD has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers,"
Thought: To me, it is better for God to break the enemy's rule than to merely take it away from him or never let him have it in the first place.
Question: Why does God let Satan live and reign?
For the LORD to break "the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers" is to completely destroy the evil authority that had previously been in place. Now in place comes the "rod of iron" of Christ's rule. See Psalm 2:7 through 9: "I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, 'You are my Son; today I have become Your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter. You will dash them to pieces like pottery'." See also Revelation 2:27, (the voice of Christ and a quoting of Psalm 2): " 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'--just as I have received authority from my Father." And Revelation 12:5: "She (Israel) gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne." And Revelation 19:15 and 16: "Out of his (Christ's) mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has his name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
That God would first permit evil kings, rulers and even Satan himself to rule and oppress both Israel and all of us today, is indeed a mystery. But the resulting triumph, to me, seems to produce a bolder emphasis on Christ's goodness and authoritative power than if there had never existed the wickedness to compare it to. To break Satan's, or Babylon's, or any other evil ruler's power, is to make a clear statement: no other system will work but God's! God has overruled. He has let evil have its day, but now it will be utterly "broken" so that it may never exist as a threat ever again. Good triumphs over evil: this is the glorious message!
God prefers a resurrection story over a story of avoidance of evil and death. He wants to demonstrate His absolute good power, not apart from, but in the very center of, the darkest of evil authority. Is this not why you and I are not yet free of struggle, pain, disease and suffering? But we can and will be in Christ, our Lord and Savior, Whose bravery and love for us moved Him to plunge straight forward into death and hell! Afterward came victorious new life--for us all!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we like to skirt around suffering and death. We like to seek ultimate health and acquire a sense of total well-being all the time. But You willingly gave up all of that on a personal level when You gave us Your only Son. And He, too, following Your own pattern, gave His life up freely and willingly, that we might enjoy the victory of the "broken rule" of Satan. You met death, hell and Satan face to face courageously, Father. Thank You for that! Amen.
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04.23.09
Posted in
General
| 17:22
Scripture: Isaiah 14:4 (NIV): "You will take up this taunt against the King of Babylon: 'How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended!' "
Thought: To me, knowing our enemy will be stripped of power and sent to his doom one day soon ought to give us confidence today.
Question: Do I sense the fury (intense anger) of my enemy today?
Who is the "you" of this verse? It is Israel--the Jews who were once so down trodden by their many enemies; not only in Isaiah's day, but also all through our modern history (see yesterday's blog). Israel will "take up" a "taunt against the King of Babylon." Who is this King of Babylon? Belshazzar, mentioned in Daniel 5:30 as being killed, is the literal and last reigning King of Babylon. This definitely refers to him. But we may also apply this verse more broadly and say that Satan is the King of Babylon, and that the spirit of evil Satan promotes has resided in many worldly "kings". Inrael will finally be in a position to take up a taunt against their oppressor! They can mock and insult their abusers now because God has reduced the enemy to nothing.
Here are the words of Israel's taunt: "How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended!" We sense the victory in these words, don't we? The "how" of these statements refers directly and powerfully to God: God has accomplished this great victory!
Oppression, (as Webster says, "unjust or cruel exercise of power or authority"), will not go on forever. Realizing all that the Jews had gone through up to this point--to the death of Belshazzar--plus realizing our course of modern oppression against them, (see yesterday's blog), it will certainly be a great day of rejoicing when her enemies are all destroyed!
We too, as Christians, can identify with the oppression Satan brings. Our entire planet groans (Romans 8:22: "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time") under the load of his grip as the ruler of the kingdom of the air (Ephesians 2:1 and 2: "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient). What a sense of release when finally Satan is deposited in the Lake of Fire! (Revelation 20:10: "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever"). We will see his smallness--we will revel in God's greatness--and we will all be able to say, "How Satan has come to an end! How his fury has ended!"
Prayer: Father God, how I thank You for the promise contained in this verse: one day we will be able to "taunt" our greatest enemy, Satan. It is only through Your Son's blood that we can--I am so thankful for Your great power as given through Jesus Christ. Amen.
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04.22.09
Posted in
General
| 17:49
Scripture: Isaiah 14:3 (NIV): "On the day the LORD gives you relief from suffering and turmoil and cruel bondage,"
Thought: To me, suffering, turmoil and cruel bondage will one day be eliminated for good!
Question: Who is The One Who relieves my suffering?
Yes, there is a "day" coming--a marvellous, victorious day--when the LORD will "give...relief" to His people, Israel. It is a "day" we will all share in with rejoicing, peace and fulfillment as our portion. As seen from the context here in Isaiah, it is a day which follows on the heels of the defeat of Israel's enemy, Babylon.
When once the enemy is cut off and destroyed, God's dawn can commence! All through the prophetic language in Isaiah we have seen the literal history of events woven together with the future predictions yet to take place. So is this also true here: when Babylon is destroyed, Isaiah's Israel will be set free, and, when Satan is thrown down, all of mankind will be joyfully relieved of his many, cruel devices.
Israel will be relieved "from suffering and turmoil and cruel bondage." As we well know, Israel's history is replete with recorded instances of their suffering. Anti-Semitism rose up in the Middle Ages as blame for the death of Christ was placed on Jews. During the High Middle Ages this led to persecution of the Jews in such a way as to culminate, at its peak, in The Crusades, the first of which took place in the year 1096. Subsequent Crusades occurred in 1147, 1251 and 1320. In 1290 all English Jews were banished from France and in 1396, 100,000 more Jews were moved from France. In 1421 thousands were moved from Austria. When the Black Death plague devastated Europe in the mid-1400's, the Jews were blamed, and ensuing violence broke out against them. In 1552, during the Goa Inquisition, Jews in India were subjugated by Hindus. In the seventeenth century, Portuguese invaders to South India committed massive atrocities against the Jews there. Under Catholic rule, up until 1870, Jews were required to live in separate communities called ghettos, and suffered many forms of political pressure under the rule of the Papal States. Muslims have exercised certain binding rules upon Jews, the Moors massacred Jews, and Arabs and North African leaders murdered Jews. Pogroms, organized massacres of helpless people, primarily Jews, followed when blame was put upon Jews for the disappearance of an Italian monk in 1840, an event known as the Damascus Affair. These pogroms spread through the Middle East and North Africa during the late 1800's and early 1900's. The Holocaust came, of course, at its peak, between 1941 and 1945. Six million Jews were killed. Even in Russia and the Soviet Union where many Jews fled for safety, persecution rose up against them. Unfair laws, anti-Jewish riots and the development of anti-Zionism all took place against the Jews in Russia in the early decades of the 1900's. It seems that no portion of the civilized world is free from the curse of anti-Semitism!
Only God can break the grip of this ugliness. And He will!
Prayer: God of all Love and Comfort, You have saved us and will save Israel--thank You! How we all long to see an end to all suffering, turmoil and cruel bondage! Our hope hangs on You, Lord God. Amen.
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04.21.09
Posted in
General
| 18:38
Scripture: Isaiah 14:2 (NIV): "Nations will take them and bring them to their own place. And the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD's land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors."
Thought: To me, nothing is more certain than the fact that, one day, God will turn the tables on Satan!
Question: Will I be found on God's side when He overcomes the evil enemy?
We are continuing to observe the treatment of Israel by God after they have been disciplined by Him at the hands of enemies. Now that God has allowed the City of Babylon to finish its course of conquest over Israel and now that Babylon's usefulness to God is ended and they have been utterly destroyed, God directs His loving favor to His people, Israel.
"Nations will take them and bring them to their own place." A day will come when Israel's regathering, begun somewhat recently in our time, but to continue further into the last days, will be fully completed. This verse, I believe, is referring to this latter time. We have yet to see "nations" who "will take them and bring them" back to their homeland. What a way God demonstrates His faithfulness and compassion to His people! God will motivate certain nations to act kindly on Israel's behalf. Again we see the hand of God sovereignly "directing" the nations.
"...the house of Israel will possess the nations as manservants and maidservants..." Where once persecuted, dispersed, down-trodden and denationalized, Israel will, under God's care, overcome its past. The whole "house of Israel", now fully regathered, will "possess" or own these nations as servants. Nations who once oppressed Israel will now serve her. What's interesting to me is where this will take place: it will occur "in the LORD's land." To me, this is a clearly millenial reference: the land will come under the LORD's rule only during the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ. Then Israel will be able to be called "the LORD's land"--and only then.
"They (Israel) will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors." Just which nations these are that will become "captive" to Israel is indicated ahead in verse 4: "You will take up this taunt against the King of Babylon: 'How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended.' " Primarily, it is Babylon, Israel's most recent enemy. But one could include all of Israel's enemies in this prophetic promise, whether they precede Babylon or follow in its pattern later; hence the reference in this verse to plural "nations." The spirit of oppression, seen in many instances, emanating from its first source, Satan, and seen strongly in Babylon, will one day be utterly defeated.
And for us, today, the same lesson can be drawn: one day, the Devil will be completely cut off. What a wonderful day that will be!
Prayer: King of kings, I know You have Your Day in mind for Israel--a Day we will all rejoice to see. Thank you, Father, for Your unparelleled power to make this happen! It is not "we" who "shall overcome some day"--it is You, Father God, Who has already laid the foundation of overcoming power! Amen.
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04.20.09
Posted in
General
| 17:37
Scripture: Isaiah 14:1 (NIV): "The LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land. Aliens will join them and unite with the house of Jacob."
Thought: To me, the LORD's compassion is what unites peoples together.
Question: How many times has God "chosen" to love and forgive me?
Though Babylon, who represents to me the pagan unbeliever, is severely judged, Israel's judgment is limited and tempered with compassion. God will not annihilate His chosen ones. And Love chooses its loved one again and agin, as shown here. Love blesses the loved one so that even others will benefit--others on the fringe looking on.
With Babylon utterly destroyed, the reason for Babylon's destruction becomes God's focus now: Israel. The enemy is removed--now God can direct His lovingkindness to His chosen people. For Babylon there was only wrath; for Israel there is compassion and regathering.
"...once again he will choose Israel..." In determined love, God again "chooses" Israel. Love is a choice. It is an act of the will. God wills to love Israel: "The LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel..." Israel ought to be overjoyed that God has selected them and chosen to love them again and again! And so should we as the "elect" of Christ's body: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last." (John 15:16a). What a privilege to be chosen!
"...and will settle them in their own land." Though God had at one time permitted strangers and foreigners to beseige the land, now it is within His plan and timing to destroy those foreigners and return Israel to their rightfully owned land. Israel to this day is still seeking to "settle...in their own land"! One day they will--this verse is doubly prophetic: during Isaiah's day this was fulfilled and it will be completely fulfilled at some future point when Christ returns to rule the earth.
"Aliens will join them and unite with the house of Jacob." This portion has been spiritually fulfilled wonderfully. Christ broke down the barrier between Jew and Gentile and the establishment of His body, the church, is the actualization of that fulfillment. Ephesians 2:11 - 22 describes the union of Gentiles, the "uncircumcised", with the Jews, the "circumcised": verse 15b: "His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace", and verse 16: "and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." Then verse 19: "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,..."
Prayer: Wonderful Father, thank You for the uniting power Christ brings to our fractured world! In Him is all true peace! Thank You for Your love, Father, as displayed to us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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