Our True Nationality; Is 13-16

May the mumbling commence!

Hope is always and ever on the horizon for those the Lord has chosen.  Isaiah spoke when the people of Israel were under siege from many different nations.  The Israelites were in the process of being taken away into captivity because of their unfaithfulness to the Lord.  But, just because Israel was unfaithful does NOT mean that the Lord can be unfaithful.  Unfaithfulness is something that the Lord our God cannot do.  Read below from Isaiah 14:1-2 –

            The Lord will have compassion on Jacob;

                        once again he will choose Israel

                        and will settle them in their own land.

            Aliens will join them

                        and unite with the house of Jacob.

            Nations will take them

                        and bring them to their own place.

            And the house of Israel will possess the nations

                        as menservants and maidservants in the Lord’s land.

            They will make captives of their captors

                        and rule over their oppressors.

Yes, the Lord will have compassion on those He loves – even when they are unfaithful to Him.  The Lord will once again walk alongside them when they choose to seek Him again.  Others will see the Lord’s presence in their lives, and other peoples will join in to receive the blessing of the One and Only God.  The tables will be turned on those who choose to continue to despise the Lord and His people.  Captors will become captives, and oppressors will become subjects. 

Notice that there is no mention of the oppressors becoming oppressed.  Oppression is never a part of the plan of the Lord.  There is no righteousness in oppression.  It is not time for payback or getting even in the eyes of humanity.  It is time for a return to the Lord.   Look to the words of the Lord through Isaiah in Chapter 16:4b-5 –

            The oppressor will come to an end,

                        and destruction will cease;

                        the aggressor will vanish from the land.

            In love a throne will be established;

                        in faithfulness a man will sit on it –

                        one from the house of David –

            one who in judging seeks justice

                        and speeds the cause of righteousness.

The oppressor will come to an end.  Destruction will cease, and the aggressor will vanish from the land.  Instead, a throne will be established on the rock-solid foundation of faithfulness to the Lord and on justice and righteousness.  He will be a king after God’s own heart.  Let us give thanks for the only one capable of ruling so justly – Jesus the living Christ.  Even as we celebrate the birth of our country – which we should love and care for (because our fortunes are tied up with it) – let us remember that all human governments will ultimately fail.  Our only hope lies in the Lord.

Enough mumbling for today…

Peace Out