Sat.’s Devo - God’s Restructuring

Read: Isaiah 22:1-24:23; Galatians 2:17-3:9; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 23:15-16 Isaiah is given a terrifying prophecy concerning Jerusalem, the Valley of the Vision, the city of the prophets. He sees the city racked by poverty and disease. Some of the people were mourning and sad while others were recklessly partying as their means of escape. *** The people didn’t understand that it was the Lord who was doing all this. He was fighting against them using foreign armies and kings. Instead of crying out to Him, the only one who could stop it, some sought to self-medicate while others sought to defend themselves. None seemed to chose to repent. *** In verse 19 he tells king Jehoahaz that he would be removed from office, after only reigning for three months and replaced by Jehoiakim. He would wear his royal robe and have his title and authority. He would be a father to the people of Jerusalem and Judah. To him, God would give the key to the house of David. He would be able to open doors that no man would shut and shut doors that no-one would be able to open. He would bring honor to his family name. His father was Josiah. He began as a good king but like the nail that fell to the ground in verse 25, Jehoiakim was taken to Babylon and then returned to rule. When he returned he did not follow the Lord, but worshipped idols and led the nation to sin. He ruled 10 years and ended in a very violent death. He was replaced by Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Jehoiachin. *** God has a message for Tyre. Tyre was a very wealthy city on the coast. Old Tyre was on the coastland and New Tyre was on an island out from the shore of Old Tyre. New Tyre survived Old Tyre about five years and then was also destroyed. They were the marketplace of the world until God destroyed its harbors. *** Tyre would be forgotten for 70 years then she would revive and be as evil as she was before. But, in the end, she would be given to the Lord. Her wealth would not be hoarded anymore, but given to the priests to provide good food and fine clothing. *** The earth would be completely emptied and looted. This is the result of the sins of the people who twisted God’s instructions and violated his laws. The earth had to pay the price for they sins. Their joy will be turned to gloom and joy into sorrow. *** Isaiah heard songs of joy being sang in the eastern lands as the people gave glory to the Lord. They were the songs of the exiled who returned to their God. He sees the earth is being destroy with earthquakes, fires and volcanoes. The gods in the heavens and the proud rulers of the earth will all be rounded up and put in prison. They will finally be punished. Then the glory of the Lord will rule in Jerusalem in the sight of all the leaders of his people. *** I feel that we are right here in history. We are at the place where fires, earthquakes and all sorts of crazy things are happening to destroy the earth. God is cleansing and destroying principalities and strongholds of the enemy. The ones that got away with murder and all sorts of evil will finally be rounded up and thrown in prison. Hallelujah! *** Paul is arguing his case for grace. If they received the Holy Spirit by faith then why were they trying to do everything else by the law. Paul explained that we are crucified with Christ and he now lives in us. Christ was sinless and singleminded toward God. That is the power we have in us. We can too be sinless and singleminded toward God if we let Christ rule in us. *** God’s promise to Abraham was to bless the world. It was always God’s plan to include the Gentiles and the whole earth. He set the Jews up to be an example to the world of what God would do for his family. Jesus, our mediator made a way to come to God and be a part of his family. *** Praise be to God! Thank you for welcoming us into your family. Thank you for being a good and loving Father. Be with our nation and the other nations as we go through this cleansing and restructuring. Help us to hold on and not get weary or afraid. Thank you for being with us and never forsaking us