Sun.’s Devo - God’s Rod

Read: Isaiah 10:1-11:16; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 23:6-8 The people in political offices and who sit in the Supreme Court in our land need to read the first few verses of Isiah 10. If they are unjust and make unfair laws that tax the poor; if their laws don’t give justice to the poor; if they prey on widows and take advantage of orphans they should be trembling. God will not let it continue. Judah and Israel had the same problems we are having in our nation. They thought their reign would never end but God planned to use Assyria to be his rod of discipline. Assyria thought that they were the powerful ones and that they conquered the world by their own power. Little did they know that they were on the list of destruction when their part was done. When Assyria had taken the world, God would cause a plague to kill them in a single night. He would consume their glory quickly. But, a remnant of God’s people would remain and return to Him. From David’s family, God would grow a new Branch that would bear fruit from the family of Abraham. It would start with Jesus and branch out to many descendants. This branch of people would be filled with The Spirit of the Lord: widsom and understanding, counsel and might and knowledge and the fear of the Lord. These are the seven Spirits of God. This people would delight in obeying the Lord. They will want justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. They will destroy the wicked and wear the belt of righteousness and truth. When the righteous come to power, which is beginning to happen in our land as we weed out the evil, then the wolf and the lamb will live together…etc. I used to think this pertained to the millennium but it is also talking about a time when the world is at peace again like when Solomon ruled. Enemies become friends, even in the animal kingdom. Even Israel and Judah will reconcile. During this time the Lord will reach out his hand and bring his remnant back to him. All in exile will come home. I see this happen in this next revival that has been prophesied for years - a billion soul harvest. The ones in darkness will see the light. Then it says that they will join forces and fight Philistia on the east and they will occupy the lands of Edom and Moab and Ammon will obey them. These were age old principalities that had been their enemies forever. Philistia means “wallowing” which makes me think of shame and condemnation. Edom is another name for Esau who despised God’s future for him. Moab was the son of Lot, the result of incest. Both had children who hated Israel and God’s people. These three nations stand for principalities that fight against God’s people. The last things Isaiah saw was God making a path through the Euphrates River like he did with the Red Sea. This would be for his people to leave Assyria and come home. Paul wrote to the Corinthians a third letter to tell them that he was coming but he was not coming on their expense. They had accused him of using trickery to take their money and he wanted them to know that was not his intention. He wanted their hearts not their money. The super apostles had slandered Paul’s name and caused the people to have doubts about him. Paul was trying to bring truth to them. Paul was afraid that when he got there he was not going to find them in the spiritual condition they needed to be. Lord, when you come for us, I pray that you will find us spiritually alive and in love with you and your son, Jesus. Thank you for your disciplines and your love. May we love your Word and walk in your ways.