"The Lord has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people find refuge."

Isaiah 14-18

"The Lord has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people find refuge." Isaiah 14:32

I continue with my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, on Lesson 7, Day 1, I examine Isaiah 14:28-32 where we see an oracle in the year "King Ahaz died." Here we see how an old nemesis of Israel - Philistia - falls prey to "smoke" from the north and the oracle indicates that "[God] will kill [Philistia's] root with famine, and your remnant it will slay." The oracle goes on to state: "[w]ail, O gate; cry out, O city; melt in fear, O Philistia, all of you!" My Isaiah commentary* indicates that "[i]n the end all tyrants must succumb to one simple reality: all existence comes from almighty God, for “in him we live and move” (Acts 17:28)." While Philistia suffers God's wrath, we see how God protects the needy and afflicted (Isaiah 14:30, 32). 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, YOU are my refuge and strength - regardless of what the world throws at me, I know I have Your comforting arms and You will never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such protection and loving arms.  My sin is great and it is daily - worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

*Davis, Andrew M.. Exalting Jesus in Isaiah (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 138). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. 

Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked. By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life.

Psalm 17

Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked. By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. v13-14

As I posted yesterday, our focus should always be upward, towards the eternal and towards His glory.  When we live a life for Jesus, we are promised to have "trouble".

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Yet trials from God are GOOD for us:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James1:2-3

As I posted here, God is a righteous and perfect judge, so all that we experience, good and bad is by His design and for His glory...and of course, for our good.

So, just as David writes in Psalms, all of us will have trouble in this world when we focus on the eternal and on Jesus.  Help us focus on how these troubles are for God's glory and our good.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love, grace, mercy, etc. for me.  I am not worthy of such a God as I continue to be impatient with people in my life.  Thank You for all the ways that You bless me Jesus and please forgive me for how I lack the grace for others as You have poured out on me.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion...

Misplaced Passions
Proverbs 3

My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion...v21

As I posted a couple of days ago, sin is real, on the "prowl" and it wants to and can "devour" us.  God is where I should place my full trust and faith as my protector.  I have my God, His Word, the Holy Spirit, and the church, including my brothers and sisters in Christ, to protect me and my family.  Help me be the Spiritual Leader of my household to protect my family from sin.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and ONLY You have and can protect myself and my family from sin...yet I often place my faith in my own abilities or I get lazy and fall down in my duties as Spiritual Leader of the household.  Forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer and the remaining side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.

Jude 1

Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them. v10

This is of course a warning for all believers and it is just as relevant today as it was when Jude penned this letter.  The patterns of this world (Romans 12:2) lead to sin and destruction and we to easily fall into these patterns when we don't understand the character of God and his design and plans for us.  We need to draw close to God so that He can protect us! 

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

See also scripture in Jeremiah, etc. here . 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great and only You can protect me from the sin of this world and how this WILL destroy me if I am left on my own.  I have felt the power of Your hand in my life and want it daily, every day...please help me Jesus!  Thank You for Your many blessings Jesus but please forgive me for my harshness with my family!  Help me please!  Please help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.