Tues.’s Devo - Good News for the Remnant -

Read: Isaiah 22:1-24:23; Galatians 2:17-3:9; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 23:15-16 The Valley of Visions was Jerusalem, the city of the prophets. Isaiah saw the day when Jerusalem would be under siege and starving. He tells the people that this was planned by the Lord long ago. That is why he can see it before it happens. God had sent his prophets to tell them to repent, but they partied instead. They would receive judgement for their sins. *** Isaiah confronts Shebna, the palace administrator for building a great sepulcher for his body when he died. He would never be buried there because he was going to be taken captive to Babylon where he would die. He would be pulled out of his high position and be replaced by Eliakim. God will dress Eliakim in Shebna’s royal robes and give him his title and authority. God will give him the keys to the house of David and he will be in charge of opening and closing doors. He will bring honor to his family name and be given great responsibility. This is also referring to the transfer of authority fro, Satan to Jesus. *** The last verse in Chapter 22 is so prophetic of today. The Lord says that he is going to pull out a nail that seemed to hold everything up and when He does, it is all going to come crashing down. This global mafia that has been governing world events is being dismantled and the whole house of cards is falling apart. Hallelujah! God is building his Kingdom in its place. *** Tyre was the city of international trade. It was attacked and left in ruins. This was the crash of their economy. There will be no escape for the guilty when Babylon falls. Tyre will lie in ruins for 70 years then be rebuilt and be just as sinful as before but her wealth will be given to provide food and fine clothing for God’s priests (which are us!). *** Isaiah sees God destroying all the surface glory and all the worldly systems and sin being judged. But, the remnant is rejoicing and praising the Lord when this happens. The gods of the earth will be punished and put in prison. God will then rule the earth with great glory! *** Paul talks about the new life we have entered when we gave up being a slave to the law. He reminds us that we have been crucified with Christ and now he lives in us and through us. Then, he gave us his Holy Spirit. *** Paul reprimanded the believers for still trying to live under the law. Abraham was found righteous by his faith. The law hadn’t even been given, so the law was not the way to righteousness. The law revealed sin. Only faith in Christ can make us righteous. *** Lord, may we remember that it is by faith we are saved and not by anything we can do to be saved. May your spirit in us be what guides us today and shines through us to others we meet.