Sat.’s Devo -The Spirit of the Lord is Here

Read: Isaiah 10:1-11:16; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 23:6-8 Isaiah declared judgment on the unjust judges that denied the rights of the needy, preyed on the widows and took advantage of the orphans. That could describe the people who have governed our land until President Trump became president. For Israel, God was using Assyria to come against them and take them prisoner and ravage their land. Assyria would be the iron horse God chose to use against Israel, but they were not going to be rewarded for it. They would be punished; they were only God’s tool. Assyria was proud and arrogant and they would get what they deserved also. (They remind me of China.) God used Assyria to pick off the nations that were wicked but he was sending a plague among the Assyrian troops and a flaming fire to destroy them. It would happen in a single night. Only a few Israelites would survive God’s purge. This remnant would faithfully trust the Lord and return to him. God comforted them with the fact that in the end He would end their slavery and bring them back. Out of their few left (only a stump), God would grow a new Branch that would bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord would rest on him. He would embody the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord. In that day, He will bring justice and righteousness to the earth. His word will make the earth shake and his death will destroy the wicked. Fear and dread will be gone. Jesus will be a banner of salvation to all the world and the nations will rally to him. This time, he will part the Ephrates River for the people to cross over to it. My guess is that the land they will cross over to is the Garden of Eden, because that is where we are heading. ‘Euphrates’ means ‘fruitfulness’. It breaks into 7 streams which is the number for perfection and a description of the Garden. In Corinthians it is so easy to see what is happening. Paul always came to them as the humble servant, never asking for money or making a big deal about himself though he could have. These ‘super apostles’ came with a price, wearing expensive clothes and boasting of how important they were and the people bought it hook, line and sinker. The ‘super apostles’ didn’t come in righteousness, rebuking sin - they participated and taught them greasy grace. Paul is afraid that when he returns he is going to find them living in their past sins and condoning it. Lord, may we live in the Spirit of the Lord and be ready for what ever your plan is for us.