Isaiah - Verse By Verse

Isaiah - Day 152

versebyverse | November 19, 2008 20:51

Scripture:  Isaiah 8:9 (NIV):  "Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered!  Listen, all you distant lands.  Prepare for battle, and be shattered!  Prepare for battle, and be shattered!"

Thought:  To me, evil will have its day only to be completely defeated in the end. 

Question:  Have I believed that Christ "shattered" Satan on the cross?

As is true in many places in the book of Isaiah, sections of scripture can refer to more than one era, more than one event.  For example, the river that overflows, as mentioned in the previous two days in verses 7 and 8 of this chapter, some believe refers to the River Euphrates, and the event of its overflow through the "king of Assyria with all his pomp" (verse 7), refers prophetically to one of the earth's final battles in that area.  Indeed, all the nations will come against Israel in the end days, and all nations will conspire there at Armageddon (near the Euphrates) together to destroy Israel.  

In today's verse we almost see an encouragement to this activity:  "raise the war cry, you nations..."  It is as though iniquity must ripen and be given its "day".  But it is a brief day, to be sure.  They will "be shattered"!  "All you distant lands" makes an inclusion of all surrounding nations--everyone will be against Israel in that day.

Yet twice repeated is the concise prophecy, "prepare for battle, and be shattered!"  Who will be strong enough to shatter "all" the "distant lands", and all the "nations"?  

Who else but the LORD God Almighty Himself?  He will rise up to defend His people and Israel will be saved!

Yes, He may bring judgment to Israel through Assyria, but He will also save Israel from the attack against her.  Yes, He may permit a horrible world war (Armageddon), but He will save His people out of it.  May that be a lesson for us today:  though as His children we may find Him judging sin in our lives, yet He does so to ultimately save our souls.  Our enemy, Satan, will be shattered!  And, for emphasis, God will say it again:  Satan will be shattered!

Prayer:  Lord, thank You for the hidden lessons in Your word that give us confidence as Your children.  Just as You demonstrated deep loyalty to Israel, and will yet show that loyalty in days to come, so You are loyal and faithful to Your children today and forever.  I am Your child--thank You for remaining faithful to me!  Amen.   

 

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