Thursday, July 14, 2022

today's meditation (Is.47) Having True Hope

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Isaiah 47:1-15) 
1   “Come down and sit in the dust,
     Virgin daughter of Babylon;
     Sit on the ground without a throne,
     Daughter of the Chaldeans!
     For you will no longer be called tender and delicate.
2   Take the millstones and grind flour.
     Remove your veil, strip off the skirt,
     Uncover the leg, cross the rivers.
3   Your nakedness will be uncovered,
     Your shame will also be exposed;
     I will take vengeance and will not spare anyone.”
4   Our Redeemer, the Lord of armies is His name,
     The Holy One of Israel.
5   “Sit silently, and go into darkness,
     Daughter of the Chaldeans;
     For you will no longer be called 
     The queen of kingdoms.
6   I was angry with My people,
     I profaned My heritage 
     And handed them over to you.
     You did not show mercy to them,
     On the aged you made your yoke very heavy.
7   Yet you said, ‘I will be a queen forever.’
     These things you did not consider 
     Nor remember the outcome of them.

8   “Now, then, hear this, you luxuriant one,
     Who lives securely,
     Who says in her heart,
     ‘I am, and there is no one besides me.
     I will not sit as a widow,
     Nor know the loss of children.’

9   But these two things will come on you suddenly in one day:
     Loss of children and widowhood.
     They will come on you in full measure 
     In spite of your many sorceries,
     In spite of the great power of your spells.
10 You felt secure in your wickedness and said,
     ‘No one sees me,’
     Your wisdom and your knowledge, they have led you astray;
     For you have said in your heart,
     ‘I am, and there is no one besides me.’
11 But evil will come on you 
     Which you will not know how to charm away;
     And disaster will fall on you 
     For which you cannot atone;
     And destruction about which you do not know 
     Will come on you suddenly.

12 “Persist now in your spells 
     And in your many sorceries 
     With which you have labored from your youth;
     Perhaps you will be able to benefit,
     Perhaps you may cause trembling.
13 You are wearied with your many counsels;
     Let now the astrologers,
     Those who prophesy by the stars,
     Those who predict by the new moons,
     Stand up and save you from what will come upon you.
14 Behold, they have become like stubble,
     Fire burns them;
     They cannot save themselves from the power of the flame;
     There will be no coal to warm by 
     Nor a fire to sit before!
15 So have those become to you with whom you have labored,
     Those who have done business with you from your youth;
     Each has wandered in his own way;
     There is no one to save you.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
Just because the Lord allows us to be tested by something or someone, doesn't give that "something" or someone an excuse to continue on in sin.  Everyone who is not saved by Jesus' forgiveness, mercy and grace, will stand trial for everything they have done.  
If one has put their faith and trust in people or in nature or in objects made by people... it is hopeless.  Horoscopes, astrology, Ouija boards, Tarot card readers, "white" or dark magic...  none of these will save or help you.  None of these things are from God.  It is the opposite of trusting in God.  In fact, it is dabbling in the occult, which is part of Satan's realm.  Anything that is not from God or of God, is part of Satan's kingdom.  This all leads to eternal death.
Yet it is never too late to turn (or return) to God, our Redeemer, the Lord of armies, the Holy One of Israel... Jesus Christ!  This all leads to eternal life.  This is true hope!  Let us be and let us live out what the term "Christian" describes - Christ follower!  And if we follow Jesus Christ, we should remember that He Himself said, 
I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) 

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