05.20.09
Isaiah - Day 274
Scripture: Isaiah 14:23 (NIV): " 'I will turn her into a place for owls and into swampland; I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,' declares the LORD Almighty."
Thought: To me, it is effortless for God to sweep an entire population away into destruction if needed.
Question: Is my life in danger of becoming "a swampland"?
Here is the fate and destiny of the once great city of Babylon. Because of her evil persecution and assaults against God's chosen people, Israel, God deals a heavy-handed response. Babylon's king is destroyed, his sons and heritage are cut off, the name "Babylon" is completely removed and now the entire area where "she" (Babylon) once stoon is reverted to a wild zone: "a place for owls and into swampland." It will become a place unfit for human occupation--only certain animals can survive there now. Babylon has become a wilderness.
"I will sweep her with the broom of destruction..." This is a well-worded description, isn't it? Sweeping is an action to clean out a place, and God has set out to do His "housecleaning." The filth of Babylon is on its way out! God even names His "broom": it is "destruction." Sometimes the only way to progress toward improvement is to tear down the former and utterly replace it. God is doing just that with Babylon; she is not worthy of rehabilitation at all--it's "trash the whole thing and start over fresh!" Except there is no "new Babylon." God elects to allow the area to go wild where only animals dare live--a "swampland", useless to mankind.
We need to remember Who is in control of our planet! We need to remember Who has authority over our cities! We need to remember Who sets up and brings down our leaders--kings, presidents, governors, what have you. We need to remember Who decides whether or not the next generation will live and carry on the family name. We need to remember that God commands holiness among His people and He will utterly destroy evil in His time. His Name is the LORD, Almighty.
Prayer: God and Father of all, I thank You for Your strong, sovereign control. I rejoice that wicked places and evil intentions are swept away in destruction by Your command. I also greatly rejoice that Jesus Christ, Your Son, is a wonderful, safe harbor from any destruction or condemnation due to sin or failure, as I confess it to You. I make my claim in that harbor, Lord! Amen.
s :
05/31/2009, at 07:16 [ Reply ]
I liked the application of Marcy's. 'Sweep my heart, God and make it purely yours!' Not only does God sweep the evil of the world but He sweeps "me" and makes me a vessel to be used by Him.
Marcy Fearey : Sweeping
05/23/2009, at 09:15 [ Reply ]
Is. 14:23-- I was really enjoying thinking of the image of the broom and the sweeping. God makes himself so much more understandable by these images. I think, instead of the broom of destruction, I would pray for the broom of cleansing, but even if I prayed for God to bring HIs broom and sweep out my heart and life and leave it clean for Him to make me HIs vessel, wouldn't it still be in a way a broom of destruction? Wouldn't everything he swept away be destroyed? But the difference wuold be, I would not be destroyed, just the dross and impurities would be gone! I don't think I have pondered God with HIs broom before. What a great idea and something I definitely need!
'Sweep my heart, God and make it purely yours!'
P.S. I thought your queston sounded something that the blotter would ask!