Sat.’s Devo - The Glory of Our Future

Read: Isaiah 60:1-62:5; Philippians 1:27-2:18; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 24:11-12 Isaiah saw forward to the day that Jerusalem would once again become the light of the world. God’s glory will shine from her. All the other nations will be black compared to her. They will all come and visit her to see her treasures. Israel’s children will come back home to live in Jerusalem. The wealth of other nations will be brought to Jerusalem which is a picture of the whole body of Christ. *** Isaiah saw ships coming from distant lands that trusted in the Lord. They were loaded with people and gold and silver. Foreigners will come and rebuild Israel’s towns and their kings will serve Israel’s king. This is the mercy and grace of God. Israel’s gates will stay open to receive the wealth of many lands. The evil kings will be led as captives to Jerusalem. The nations that refuse to serve Israel will be destroyed. *** Lebanon was where Solomon got cedar to build the Temple the first time. Now, all of those trees will be theirs to use as they need to rebuild the Temple. The offspring of the ones who tormented them will bow before them and those who despised you will kiss your feet. What a turn of events. Israel who was once avoided will become the place attended to. All their needs will be supplied by the most powerful nations. They will be given a ruler who is righteous and peace will return to them. All their needs will be met in God. *** All of the people will be righteous! What? This sounds too good to be true, but every Word will be fulfilled on the earth. Our families will increase to be mighty nations. *** Chapter 61 is a transition into Isaiah’s commission. Jesus quoted this chapter as his commission and it is also our commission. Jesus stopped in the middle of verse 2 and didn’t proclaim the day of vengeance because that day was not here yet. But, now that day has come. God is declaring war against his enemies. *** The rest of the chapter is glorious as it describes the rebirth of the world under his righteous rule. God will reward his faithful ones and they will realized that they are truly blessed. Never again will we feel like we have been forsaken by the Lord. We will be called the Lord’s Bride, a city not forsaken. *** Israel and America are synonymous in the Bible. They were both nations built by God for his purpose to spread His name through the earth. We can take the promises of Israel for America. *** Paul reminds us that though we live on earth, we are citizens of heaven. We are not a part of this system of the world. We are not to be intimidated in any way by the world because they ware going to be destroyed but we are going to be saved. He instructs them how to live among God’s kingdom which is to live in love and humility with each other. We stand up to the world but we serve one another in the community of Christ. *** Lord, help us to navigate through these trying times. May we be bold as lions against your enemies yet harmless as doves to your chosen. May we work with your army to fight evil. Let your kingdom come!