Mon.’s Devo - The Free Gift

Read: Isaiah 22:1-24:23; Galatians 2:17-3:9; Psalm 60; 1-12; Proverbs 23:15-16
The “Valley of Visions” is Jerusalem, the place of divine revelation. This prophecy was either for the time when Babylon or the Assyrians took Jerusalem. Either way, it was a siege and hunger killed the people more than the sword.
Isaiah called out Shebna by name who was the scribe and in charge of the palace. He was building a grand sepulcher for himself and his family. Isaiah asked him why he was spending so much time building a tomb for his family when it was for naught. He was planning to betray Israel to save himself but the ball that he rolled would roll back on him.
God would give his office to Eliakim who would be given the keys to the city to open its door or shut them. He would be a type of Jesus in this manner. He would be a father, a counselor and a friend just like Jesus.
They carried their keys on their shoulders just as Jesus would carry our sins and our sicknesses on his shoulders. Just like Eliakim, Jesus would be nailed with a peg in a firm place, (the cross) and be given the seat of honor in the house of his father in heaven.
Tyre was the seaport that held the wealth of all the nations in its treasury houses. It was a very wealthy idolatrous city and stands for Satan’s headquarters on the earth. It was about to fall for 70 years and when it resurfaced, it would be for the purpose of making profits to be set apart for the Lord and they would go to those who lived before the Lord, for abundant food and fine clothes. This is a picture of the wealth of the wicked going to the righteous. We are seeing that happen in our day.
Chapter 24 is a picture of the Great Tribulation. There will be no escape for those who have rejected salvation. God will punish the spiritual powers and the unrighteous people. They will be locked up awaiting judgement while God reigns in Jerusalem in his glory.
Paul’s words to the Galatians make it obvious that it is hard for man to accept the fact that we can do nothing to be righteous. It comes by faith and by believing Jesus was the son, died for our sins and is risen from the dead. He did all the work so we could freely receive righteousness. When Jesus died, we died. When he rose, we rose. He is seated with God in the heavens and so are we.
Lord, help us to get this truth that Paul taught into our spirits so we can live an abundant life with you.