Monday, January 26, 2009

HIStory - Isaiah 13

“I have commanded My consecrated ones,
I have even called My mighty warriors,
my proudly exulting ones,
to execute My anger.” (vs 3)


This chapter may not be as outwardly devotional as many of the others, yet several things are particularly striking to me this morning. Chapter 13 is a prophecy about Babylon – a wicked and pagan nation. The Sovereign God had used Babylon in the discipline of His people. (10:23). Here, in chapter 13, we have God sovereignly directing another pagan land to bring just vengeance upon Babylon. Truly "the king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes." (Pr 21:1)

Matthew Henry says:“The persons brought together to lay Babylon waste are here called God’s sanctified ones designed for this service and set apart to it by the purpose and providence of God. It intimates that in God’s intention, though not in theirs, it was a holy war; they designed the enlargement of their own empire, but God designed the release of His people.”

Over the past few months I’ve been studying Babylon, Media, and Persia with Joshua in Ancient History. The names of Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus are fresh in my mind. These are real people, real places and real events. These things actually happened. “The testimony of the LORD is sure” (Ps 19:7). This particular prophecy was fulfilled approximately 200 years after it was announced and it was fulfilled exactly as God declared it would be. God's Word is glorious!
The reality that these pagan kingdoms “designed the enlargement of their own empire, but God designed the release of His people”, makes my heart leap. History is His story and “His sovereignty rules over all.”

Our current history is His story as well. He remains the King of Kings and the LORD of Lords in 2009 AD just as He was in 732 BC. His sovereignty still rules and His design is still for His glory and for the good of His people. That encompasses things internationally, nationally, statewide, locally and personally. We have a firm foundation and we have a good foundation. How I pray He will increase our faith in His rule over us and how I trust that He is once again designing the release of His people in His perfect time. I need not fear the events of history I need to rest in the God of history!

Resting this day,
Lori

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