Thursday, September 14, 2017

Thurs.’s Devo - The End of Judgment

Read: Isaiah 15:1-18:7; Galatians 1:1-24; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 23:12
Isaiah is given a glimpse into what is going to happen when God judges Moab. He sees ahead to the time when their people have fled or have been taken captive, their provisions have dried up, they have lost their wealth, and even the ones who have escaped are not safe. When they cry out to God for help, God responds with hope. He promises that he will establish his throne again in their midst.
Before this, Moab was prideful and conceited but in a moment she will be humbled. Isaiah laments for Moab as their joy will be totally gone. God says that this will happen in three years.
Next, Isaiah gets a picture of what will happen to Damascus which is in Judah. It will be left deserted in ruins because they had forgotten the God of their salvation.
The last lament is to the land of Ethiopia. He parallels all this judgment to the end of time when God will raise up an ensign (the cross) and the blowing of a trumpet which points to his second coming. At that time, God will be given the redeemed of the land as a present. He describes these people as a people scattered, obstinate, born in fear, and spoiled by prosperity. These people will be brought to the place of the name of the Lord of hosts. These will be the redeemed of the Lord who have give up all to serve him.
Paul has found that the Galatians, like the Corinthians, have been influenced by false prophets and wrong doctrine. He confirms to them who he is and his testimony so they will know he is the real thing.
What we can learn from today’s reading and what is going on in our nation can be summed up in the last verse of our Psalm: “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.”
Lord, help us to keep our eyes on you and not the false news we hear around us. You are the judge of the whole earth. May you judge your enemies and set your righteous on high.

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