Tues.’s Devo - What’s Wrong?

Read: Isaiah 10:1-11:16; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 23:6-8
Isaiah gives a list of the things the people were doing that was upsetting to God. They made unjust laws that oppressed the people and deprived the poor of their rights. They preyed on widows and robbed people who had no parents. He asked them where would they run when judgment comes.
God was going to use the Assyrians to punish his people, but then he was going to punish the Assyrians for doing it. The king of Assyria pridefully thought that he had conquered the Israelites in his power, but God was going to show him that he had nothing to do with it. It was all God’s plan.
The same idolatrous idols of Assyria were found in Israel and Judah. They were all guilty.
One day, the Lord would show the whole world what He would do with his people. He spoke of the day that he would send Jesus to earth and put his Spirit on him. He would have God’s wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge and the fear of God. He would judge righteously with justice. With his mouth, he would bring down the wicked. He would cause the wolf to lie down with the lamb - he would totally change people and put people together that would never have been put together like Paul and Peter.
I know that this is also talking about he millennium but it is a picture of both. God always does things both spiritually and physically and in each generation it looks a little different.
In Corinthians, Paul is trying to let them see the difference in his ministry and the apostles that came through wanting great amounts of money to speak. He never charged them, yet they went after the ones that did. Apparently the other apostles had taught a very greasy grace and they had bought into it so they could keep living in sin. Paul is hoping that they repent before he gets there.
It is hard not to read today’s reading and not think of all the televangelists through the years that have preyed on widows social security checks and on anyone who would give just to keep their million dollar ministries going. Some of them were legit and others weren’t. It is our job to have discernment and listen to God’s voice to know when to give and when to not.
Lord, give us discernment and help us to judge righteously with Your wisdom and understanding. Let your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.