today's meditation (Micah 4) Finding Help

(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...)

(Micah 4:1-13) And it will come about in the last days 

     That the mountain of the house of the Lord 
     Will be established as the chief of the mountains.
     It will be raised above the hills,
     And the peoples will stream to it.
2   Many nations will come and say,
     “Come and let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord 
     And to the house of the God of Jacob,
     So that He may teach us about His ways,
     And that we may walk in His paths.”
     For from Zion will go forth the law,
     And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3   And He will judge between many peoples 
     And render decisions for mighty, distant nations.
     Then they will beat their swords into plowshares,
     And their spears into pruning hooks;
     Nation will not lift a sword against nation,
     And never again will they train for war.
4   Instead, each of them will sit under his vine 
     And under his fig tree,
     With no one to make them afraid,
     Because the mouth of the Lord of armies has spoken.
5   Though all the peoples walk,
     Each in the name of his god,
     As for us, we will walk 
     In the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.

6   “On that day,” declares the Lord,
     “I will assemble those who limp 
     And gather the scattered,
     Those whom I have afflicted.
7   I will make those who limp a remnant,
     And those who have strayed a mighty nation,
     And the Lord will reign over them on Mount Zion 
     From now on and forever.
8   As for you, tower of the flock,
     Hill of the daughter of Zion,
     To you it will come—
     Yes, the former dominion will come,
     The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.

9   “Now, why do you cry out loudly?
     Is there no king among you,
     Or has your counselor perished,
     That agony has gripped you like a woman in childbirth?
10 Writhe and scream,
     Daughter of Zion,
     Like a woman in childbirth;
     For now you will go out of the city,
     Live in the field,
     And go to Babylon.
     There you will be rescued,
     There the Lord will redeem you 
     From the hand of your enemies.
11 And now many nations have been assembled against you 
     Who say, ‘Let her be defiled,
     And let our eyes gloat over Zion!’
12 But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord,
     And they do not understand His plan;
     For He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
13 Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion,
     For I will make your horn iron,
     And I will make your hoofs bronze,
     So that you may pulverize many peoples,
     And dedicate to the Lord their unjust profit,
     And their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God is sovereign and has a plan.  The Israelites went into exile back then because of their disobedience, and they will again be under "Babylon" during the Tribulation.  At the end of the seven remaining years of the Jewish Age, Jesus will come again to fulfill all their covenants.  Verses 9-13 briefly discuss the Tribulation, while verses 1-8 describe the Millennial kingdom that follows it.  For now, as a nation, without believing in the Lord, the Israelites will be without a king.  

Why do people cry out in despair when they think there isn't any hope or "king" to help?  Why do people feel or think that God is not present?  This happens because as sinful people we tend to forget about God when we rely on ourselves.  All one needs to do is open their eyes to see that the Lord Jesus is right here and wanting to help, wanting to be our personal Savior, Lord and King.  And as verse 5 says, those who believe in the Lord have eternal security.  And because we believe in Him, we will desire to walk with Him in His will, relying on Him to help and guide us in all things.

today's meditation (Dan.8) Trusting God

(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...)

(Daniel 8:1-27) In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, subsequent to the one which appeared to me previously. 2 I looked in the vision, and while I was looking, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam; and I looked in the vision, and I myself was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a ram which had two horns was standing in front of the canal. Now the two horns were long, but one was longer than the other, with the longer one coming up last. 4 I saw the ram butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand against him nor was there anyone to rescue from his power, but he did as he pleased and made himself great.

5 While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a prominent horn between his eyes. 6 He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. 7 And I saw him come up beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and smashed his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was no one to rescue the ram from his power. 8 Then the male goat made himself exceedingly great. But once he became powerful, the large horn was broken; and in its place four prominent horns came up toward the four winds of heaven.

9 And out of one of them came a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. 10 It grew up to the heavenly lights, and some of the lights, that is, some of the stars it threw down to the earth, and it trampled them. 11 It even exalted itself to be equal with the Commander of the army; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was overthrown. 12 And because of an offense the army will be given to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will hurl truth to the ground and do as it pleases and be successful. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, while the offense causes horror, so as to allow both the sanctuary and the army to be trampled?” 14 And he said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be properly restored.”

15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one who looked like a man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.” 17 So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; and he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.”

18 Now while he was talking with me, I was dazed with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand at my place. 19 And he said, “Behold, I am going to inform you of what will occur at the final period of the indignation, because it pertains to the appointed time of the end.

20 The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.

21 The shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 The broken horn and the four horns that came up in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power.

23 And in the latter period of their dominion,
     When the wrongdoers have run their course,
     A king will arise,
     Insolent and skilled in intrigue.
24 And his power will be mighty, but not by his own power,
     And he will destroy to an extraordinary degree 
     And be successful and do as he pleases;
     He will destroy mighty men and the holy people.
25 And through his shrewdness 
     He will make deceit a success by his influence;
     And he will make himself great in his own mind,
     And he will destroy many while they are at ease.
     He will even oppose the Prince of princes,
     But he will be broken without human agency.
26 And the vision of the evenings and mornings 
     Which has been told is true;
     But as for you, keep the vision secret,
     Because it pertains to many days in the future.”

27 Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up and carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was no one to explain it.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

These prophecies are important.  It helps us see that these events did take place exactly as it is laid out here.  This should give us confidence that the Lord is sovereign and all-knowing.  And as He is sovereign and all-knowing, we can trust in Him with all our heart, soul and mind.  

Even when there are horrible things happening around us, as things of darkness try to attack the Light, the Lord will always have the victory.  So those who are believers are always with the Lord and will share in this victory.  If I die, I'll be with Jesus in heaven.  And if I live, He is always with me, helping me and guiding me.  

(Romans 8:28)  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

today's meditation (Ez.25) Being Confident in the Lord

(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...)

(Ezekiel 25:1-17)  And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against the sons of Ammon and prophesy against them, 3 and say to the sons of Ammon, ‘Hear the word of the Lord God! This is what the Lord God says: “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into exile, 4 therefore, behold, I am going to give you to the people of the east as a possession, and they will set up their encampments among you and make their dwellings among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk. 5 I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels, and the sons of Ammon a resting place for flocks. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” 6 For this is what the Lord God says: “Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, and have rejoiced with all the malice in your soul against the land of Israel, 7 therefore, behold, I have reached out with My hand against you and I will give you as plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and eliminate you from the lands. I will exterminate you. So you will know that I am the Lord.”

8 ‘The Lord God says this: “Because Moab and Seir say, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations,’ 9 therefore, behold, I am going to deprive the flank of Moab of its cities, of its cities which are on its frontiers, the glory of the land, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim; 10 and I will give it as a possession along with the sons of Ammon to the people of the east, so that the sons of Ammon will not be remembered among the nations. 11 So I will execute judgments on Moab, and they will know that I am the Lord.”

12 ‘The Lord God says this: “Because Edom has acted against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has incurred great guilt, and avenged themselves upon them,” 13 therefore this is what the Lord God says: “I will also reach out with My hand against Edom and eliminate human and animal life from it. And I will turn it into ruins; from Teman even to Dedan they will fall by the sword. 14 And I will inflict My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel. Therefore, they will act in Edom in accordance with My anger and My wrath; so they will know My vengeance,” declares the Lord God.

15 ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Because the Philistines have acted in revenge, and have taken vengeance with malice in their souls to destroy with everlasting hostility,” 16 therefore this is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to reach out with My hand against the Philistines and eliminate the Cherethites; and I will destroy the remnant of the seacoast. 17 I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes; and they will know that I am the Lord, when I inflict My vengeance on them.”’”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God has given us a free will, and because mankind chose to bring sin into the world, there is death, evil and suffering.  Even though people commit crimes with selfish and evil intentions, God can and does use these for good.  Nothing happens without His knowledge or permission.  And one day He will bring about perfect justice.  It often seems like the wicked get away with their crimes, but we have to know and be confident in the fact that the Lord is sovereign.  

today's meditation (Ez.8) Putting God First

(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...)

(Ezekiel 8:1-18)   Now it came about in the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there. 2 Then I looked, and behold, something like the appearance of a man; from His waist and downward there was the appearance of fire, and from His waist and upward like the appearance of a glow, like gleaming metal. 3 And He extended the form of a hand and took me by the hair of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner courtyard, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located. 4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the appearance which I saw in the plain.

5 Then He said to me, “Son of man, raise your eyes now toward the north.” So I raised my eyes toward the north, and behold, to the north of the altar gate was this idol of jealousy at the entrance. 6 And He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations which the house of Israel are committing here, so that I would be far from My sanctuary? But yet you will see still greater abominations!”

7 Then He brought me to the entrance of the courtyard, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. 8 And He said to me, “Son of man, now dig through the wall.” So I dug through the wall, and behold, an entrance. 9 Then He said to me, “Go in and see the wicked abominations that they are committing here.” 10 So I entered and looked, and behold, every form of crawling things and animals and detestable things, with all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. 11 And standing in front of them were seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them, each man with his censer in his hand; and the fragrance of the cloud of incense was rising. 12 Then He said to me, “Do you see, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each man in the rooms of his carved images? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the Lord has abandoned the land.’” 13 And He said to me, “Yet you will see still greater abominations which they are committing!”

14 Then He brought me to the entrance of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and behold, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. 15 And He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Yet you will see still greater abominations than these!”

16 Then He brought me into the inner courtyard of the Lord’s house. And behold, at the entrance to the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the Lord while their faces were toward the east; and they were prostrating themselves eastward toward the sun. 17 And He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Is it a trivial thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they have committed here, that they have filled the land with violence and provoked Me to anger repeatedly? Yet behold, they are putting the twig to their nose! 18 Therefore, I indeed will deal in wrath. My eye will have no pity nor will I spare; and though they cry out in My ears with a loud voice, yet I will not listen to them.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

The pre-incarnate Lord Jesus showed visions to Ezekiel that began on the outside of the city, and progressed to the "heart" of the Lord's house, which should have been the heart - the influence - of the city.  To me I see this as an allegory of how God looks at our hearts.  And when we become believers and accept the Lord into our hearts, the Holy Spirit becomes our influence - as we allow.  

The Holy Spirit seals the hearts of a believer for eternity so one cannot lose their salvation, but it is possible to quench the Holy Spirit.  As a person intentionally, habitually sins without remorse - God will stop listening to their prayers.  God hates sin and cannot have a relationship with sin.

We quench the Holy Spirit any time we place something or someone ahead of God.  Why would we choose to rely on ourselves, another person, something from nature, or something we have created, when we know that God created us and everything around us?  Yet it is so easily to fall into that mindset.  "I've got this."  "I am enough."   Or to say regarding another person, "You complete me."  "You are my soulmate."  

Jesus should literally be our soulmate.  Only He is able to complete us.  And the Lord is sovereign, so He's "got this".  We need Him, and in Him, He is not just "enough" - He is everything!  He wants to help us and guide us through everything.  And He deserves all the credit, glory and thanks for every single blessing!  

today's meditation (Ez.6) Embracing the Lord

(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...)

(Ezekiel 6:1-14)   Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them  3 and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the Lord God! This is what the Lord God says to the mountains, the hills, the ravines, and the valleys: “Behold, I Myself am going to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. 4 So your altars will become deserted and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will make your slain fall in front of your idols. 5 I will also lay the dead bodies of the sons of Israel in front of their idols; and I will scatter your bones around your altars. 6 Everywhere you live, cities will be in ruins and the high places will be deserted, so that your altars will be in ruins and deserted, your idols will be broken and brought to an end, your incense altars will be cut down, and your works wiped out. 7 The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the Lord.

8 “However, I will leave a remnant, in that you will have those who escaped the sword among the nations when you are scattered among the countries. 9 Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be taken captive, how I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes which committed infidelity with their idols; and they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed, for all their abominations. 10 Then they will know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain that I would inflict this disaster on them.”’

11 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Clap your hands, stamp your foot and say, “Woe, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, which will fall by the sword, famine, and plague! 12 Anyone who is far away will die by the plague, anyone who is near will fall by the sword, and anyone who remains and is spared from these will die by the famine. So I will expend My wrath on them. 13 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when their dead are among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, under every leafy tree and under every massive oak with thick branches—the places where they offered a soothing aroma to all their idols. 14 So through all their dwelling places I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land more desolate and waste than the wilderness toward Diblah; so they will know that I am the Lord.”’”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Whoever or whatever we embrace and deem as our high place, if it isn't the Lord Jesus Christ, then it will be torn down.  Everything that has been created is temporary, feeble and fallible.  At some point in time, everyone will KNOW that Jesus is the Lord!  It is one thing to know and realize this, it is quite another to know and embrace the Lord!

The Lord God, the Creator of all things, is sovereign and above all.  He is eternal, omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent.  He is the only One who can stand.  By putting Him first in our lives, we are able to stand with Him!  Salvation in Him is awesome, eternal and secure.

today's meditation (Jer.47) Finding Peace

(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...)

(Jeremiah 47:1-7) The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh conquered Gaza. 2 This is what the Lord says:

     “Behold, waters are going to rise from the north 
     And become an overflowing torrent,
     And overflow the land and everything that is in it,
     The city and those who live in it;
     And the people will cry out,
     And every inhabitant of the land will wail.
3   Because of the noise of the galloping hoofs of his stallions,
     The roar of his chariots, and the rumbling of his wheels,
     The fathers have not turned back for their children,
     Because of the debility of their hands,
4   Because of the day that is coming 
     To destroy all the Philistines,
     To eliminate from Tyre and Sidon
     Every surviving ally;
     For the Lord is going to destroy the Philistines,
     The remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.
5   Baldness has come upon Gaza;
     Ashkelon has been destroyed.
     Remnant of their valley,
     How long will you gash yourself?
6   Ah, sword of the Lord,
     How long will you not be quiet?
     Withdraw into your sheath;
     Rest and stay still.
7   How can it be quiet,
     When the Lord has given it an order?
     Against Ashkelon and against the sea shore—
     There He has summoned it.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

When the Lord has determined something, it will happen.  But the Lord is also fair and just in all circumstances.  He gives everyone opportunity to go to Him for forgiveness of sins and salvation.  Just as God asks the Philistines in verse 5, "How long will you gash yourself?"  How long will a person worship and trust in other gods?  And in verse 3, how long will a person depend on their own strength, in their own way, even after they are debilitated from fighting?

The Lord, who is all-knowing, already knows who is going to become a believer or not, and He knows when.  So at the right time, when Jesus returns, there will be physical peace on earth.  For now, we can find an inner spiritual peace in the Lord Jesus.  No need to rely on our puny strength, He wants to guide us in His almighty power and strength.  No need to harm ourselves to get anyone's attention, the Lord sees and knows everything, He wants to bring us healing, restoration and peace!

today's meditation (Jer.45) Considering Our Blessings

(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...)

(Jeremiah 45:1-5) This is the message which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at Jeremiah’s dictation, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying: 2 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says to you, Baruch: 3 ‘You said, “Oh, woe to me! For the Lord has added grief to my pain; I am weary with my groaning and have found no rest.”’ 4 This is what you are to say to him: ‘This is what the Lord says: “Behold, what I have built I am going to tear down, and what I have planted I am going to uproot, that is, all the people of the land.” 5 But as for you, are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I am going to bring disaster on all flesh,’ declares the Lord, ‘but I will give your life to you as plunder in all the places where you may go.’”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Oh how we complain when things aren't going well for us.  Instead, we should continue living as we should and consider all our blessings.  The Lord is so good!  He is sovereign!  And He knows what He is doing!!!

today's meditation (Is.66) Being Humble and Contrite

(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 66:1-24) 

1   This is what the Lord says:
     “Heaven is My throne and the earth is the footstool for My feet.
     Where then is a house you could build for Me?
     And where is a place that I may rest?
2   For My hand made all these things,
     So all these things came into being,” declares the Lord.
     “But I will look to this one,
     At one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word.

3   “But the one who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a person;
     The one who sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
     One who offers a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood;
     One who burns incense is like one who blesses an idol.
     As they have chosen their own ways,
     And their souls delight in their abominations,
4   So I will choose their punishments 
     And bring on them what they dread.
     Because I called, but no one answered;
     I spoke, but they did not listen.
     Instead, they did evil in My sight
     And chose that in which I did not delight.”
5   Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word:
     “Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you on account of My name,
     Have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, so that we may see your joy.’
     But they will be put to shame.
6   A sound of uproar from the city, a voice from the temple,
     The voice of the Lord who is dealing retribution to His enemies.

7   “Before she was in labor, she delivered;
     Before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy.
8   Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things?
     Can a land be born in one day?
     Can a nation be given birth all at once?
     As soon as Zion was in labor, she also delivered her sons.
9   Shall I bring to the point of birth but not give delivery?” says the Lord.
     “Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.

10 “Be joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who love her;
     Be exceedingly glad with her, all you who mourn over her,
11 So that you may nurse and be satisfied with her comforting breasts,
     So that you may drink fully and be delighted with her bountiful breasts.”
12 For this is what the Lord says: “Behold, I extend peace to her like a river,
     And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
     And you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and rocked back and forth on the knees.
13 As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you;
     And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
14 Then you will see this, and your heart will be glad,
     And your bones will flourish like the new grass;
     And the hand of the Lord will be made known to His servants,
     But He will be indignant toward His enemies.
15 For behold, the Lord will come in fire,
     And His chariots like the whirlwind,
     To render His anger with fury,
     And His rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For the Lord will execute judgment by fire 
     And by His sword on humanity,
     And those put to death by the Lord will be many.
17 “Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go to the gardens,
     Following one in the center,
     Who eat pig’s flesh, detestable things, and mice,
     Will come to an end altogether,” declares the Lord.

18 “For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all the nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory. 19 And I will put a sign among them and send survivors from them to the nations: Tarshish, Put, Lud, Meshech, Tubal, and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have neither heard of My fame nor seen My glory. And they will declare My glory among the nations. 20 Then they shall bring all your countrymen from all the nations as a grain offering to the Lord, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord. 21 I will also take some of them as priests and Levites,” says the Lord.

22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth,
     Which I make, will endure before Me,” declares the Lord,
     “So will your descendants and your name endure.
23 And it shall be from new moon to new moon 
     And from Sabbath to Sabbath,
     All mankind will come to bow down before Me,” says the Lord.
24 “Then they will go out and look 
     At the corpses of the people 
     Who have rebelled against Me.
     For their worm will not die 
     And their fire will not be extinguished;
      And they will be an abhorrence to all mankind.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

This chapter is full of prophecies and details which demonstrate that the Lord is Sovereign, the righteous Judge, and Creator of everything!  And this mighty God who is full of glory, is not impressed with anyone trying to do things their own way, in their own strength, trying to be super-religious and self-righteous.  

The Lord looks to those who are humble and contrite in spirit, who tremble at His word!  We should realize our need for Him.  We should realize that what He says in His word, the Bible, is true and relevant in any age.  The all-knowing Lord and Savior has given us a manual for life.  If we say we trust in Him, then we should trust His word to the point that we follow what He says, knowing with confidence that He will look to us!