READING: Isaiah 10-12 – Assyrian Arrogance, Peaceable Kingdom, & Praise

Sorry that this post is out of sequence. My Apologies!

VERSE FOR THE DAY: Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the LORD God is my strength and my might; He has become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2)

“Ah, you who make iniquitous decrees, who write oppressive statutes, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be your spoil, and that you may make the orphans your prey!” (Isaiah 10:1-2) God is still dealing with Judah. Assyria was the rod of His fury with which He was beating them. But when the LORD has finished punishing Judah, He will “punish the arrogant boasting of the King of Assyria and his haughty pride.” There were two punishments for Assyria: when they laid siege to Jerusalem the angel of the Lord killed 185,000 of them in one night, and the rest of them went home; later they were subdued by the Babylonians, who were in turn subdued by the Medes and Persians.

All of this is getting ready for the peaceable kingdom of the Messiah! “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest on Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.” Jesse was the father of David, through whom the Messiah came.

Chapter 11 is completely devoted to this peaceable kingdom. He will punish the wicked with the rod of His mouth and kill them with His breath. “With righteousness He shall judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.” Righteousness and faithfulness will be the belts around his waist and loins.

To show just how peaceable this kingdom is, Isaiah writes, “The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.” The cow and bear shall graze together, the lion will eat straw like the ox, “for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”

In that day, the Lord will bring the remnant of Judah and Israel back from Assyria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the coastlands of the sea. “He will raise a signal for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” The hostility among the tribes will be gone. Ephraim will no longer be jealous of Judah, nor will Judah be hostile to Ephraim.

“You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O LORD for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me.” Since “The LORD GOD is my strength and my might, with joy I will draw water from the wells of salvation. Shout aloud and sing for joy, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

God’s faithfulness is always great toward His people when they are faithful to Him.

How faithful are we? How faithful am I?

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PRAY FOR YOURSELF:   

Almighty Father, I pray that I may always be faithful to you without complaining or saying woe am I. Give me the grace I need to live for You, is my prayer, in Jesus’ holy Name, AMEN!

MY PRAYER FOR YOU (and for me)

Father, I pray for all who read these words that we may be humble before You, that You may bless us, and point us into the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake, and that we may indeed draw water from the wells of salvation with Joy. And it is in Jesus’ holy name that I pray, AMEN!