Wed.’s Devo - Great Promises Are Ours

Read: Isaiah 22:1-24:23; Galatians 2:17-3:9; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 23:15-16 Jerusalem was called the ‘valley of visions’ because the prophets gave their divine words and revelations there. Isaiah predicted Jerusalem’s fall to Nebuchadnezzar. In his vision he saw bodies lying all over the city streets dead by starvation and disease. The leaders had fled only to be caught, and some surrendered without putting up a fight. The city was full of confusion and terror. The Elamites shot arrows from their chariots. Jerusalem was surrounded but instead of crying out to the Lord for help, they tried to survive on their own strength. When the prophets told them to repent and be sorrowful for their sins, they threw parties and danced. They mocked their words of warning. Isaiah had a special word for Shebna, the palace administrator. While he was having a monument built in his own honor, God was planning to crumple him in a ball and toss him into a foreign land. No one would be there to look at his monument. God will send Eliakim to take his place. He will wear Shebna’s royal robes and be given his title and authority. He will be given the keys to the house of David to open and shut doors. He would take care of all the people left until his time is over. Then God will uproot him. All the kingdoms of the earth are shaken. The Babylonians took over the Egyptians and the Israelites, then the Assyrians took over the Babylonians. Tyre, the most wealthy import/export city fell to rise in 70 years. All her wealth would be given to the Lord to provide good food and fine clothing for the Lord’s priests. God and his armies were going to loot the whole earth and scatter the people. Only a remnant will be left of the nations. Those who were left would shout and sing for joy and praise the Lord. God will punish the gods in the heavens and they will be put in prison to be punished. The sun and the moon will not compare to the glory of the Lord who will reign in Jerusalem. This is all a picture also of what will happen in the end of the ages when Jesus returns to judge the earth and reign as king. In Galatians, Paul gives the secret to living an abundant holy life. He gave up trying to meet all the requirements of the law and just started living for God. He realized that his old man was crucified with Christ, yet he still lived. He lived by the power of the Spirit of Christ that lived in him. The Galatians were being duped into thinking that they had to jump through hoops to please God. Paul reminded them that they had received the Holy Spirit by faith which is just how they got salvation. Lord, may we rest in the presence of your glory knowing that your grace is sufficient for us. Your spirit is alive in us and we can do impossible things through you.