Monday, July 14, 2014

Praying for our Enemies... Isaiah 15-16; Revelation 7

May the mumbling commence!

How do we react when our enemies stumble?  It’s an important question.  Look at an answer from Isaiah chapter sixteen:

Moab's refugees at Sela send lambs to Jerusalem as a token of alliance with the king of Judah.  The women of Moab are left like homeless birds at the shallow crossings of the Arnon River.  "Help us," they cry. "Defend us against our enemies. Protect us from their relentless attack. Do not betray us.  Let our outcasts stay among you. Hide them from our enemies until the terror is past." When oppression and destruction have ceased and enemy raiders have disappeared, then David's throne will be established by love. From that throne a faithful king will reign, one who always does what is just and right. (Verses 1-5)

Israel’s enemies are begging at the door for quarter.  How do they respond?  Read from later in chapter sixteen:

Gone now is the gladness; gone is the joy of harvest. The happy singing in the vineyards will be heard no more. The treading out of grapes in the winepresses has ceased forever. I have ended all their harvest joys.  I will weep for Moab. My sorrow for Kir-hareseth will be very great.  On the hilltops the people of Moab will pray in anguish to their idols, but it will do them no good. They will cry to the gods in their temples, but no one will come to save them. 
The Lord has already said this about Moab in the past.  But now the Lord says, "Within three years, without fail, the glory of Moab will be ended, and few of its people will be left alive." (Verses 10-14)

It’s a cause for weeping not jubilation.  Let’s care for our enemies and pray for them.  Then, love will reign.  The just and the right will be done… God’s will.

And God will protect and keep us.  Read from the end of Revelation chapter seven:

Then one of the twenty-four elders asked me, "Who are these who are clothed in white? Where do they come from?" 
And I said to him, "Sir, you are the one who knows."
Then he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.  That is why they are standing in front of the throne of God, serving him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will live among them and shelter them.  They will never again be hungry or thirsty, and they will be fully protected from the scorching noontime heat.  For the Lamb who stands in front of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to the springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away all their tears." (Verses 13-17)

Only Jesus can wash us clean… so that we might serve the Lord God day and night.  All our needs will be met.  We will be protected.  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!

Enough mumbling for now…


Peace Out

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