The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Isaiah 21:2-4,
"A dire vision has been shown to me:
The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot.
Elam, attack! Media, lay siege!
I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.
At this my body is racked with pain,
pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor;
I am staggered by what I hear,
I am bewildered by what I see.
My heart falters,
fear makes me tremble;
the twilight I longed for
has become a horror to me."
In this prophecy against Babylon, Isaiah says he had been shown "a dire vision". He describes the vision briefly and then speaks of how it affected him. That effect was substantial in how he described his reaction to the vision: his body is racked with pain, pangs likened to a woman in labor, he is staggered and bewildered, his heart falters and he trembles. It all has become a horror to him.
In verse 10 Isaiah points out that what he has seen and heard was from the Lord, "I tell you what I have heard from the Lord Almighty, from the God of Israel." Obviously the Lord knew how it would affect him, but he had chosen Isaiah for an important calling to be his prophet during a time of calamity he was bringing on that part of the world at the time.
I am reminded that there are those times when the Lord may call us when things become very difficult in life. While serving him in those times may not be fun and entertaining, they are important and that calling from him is important.
Don't always assume that the tasks of serving the Lord he has called us to will be amusing and delightful. Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind there can never be anything in life more meaningful and fulfilling than our faithfulness in serving him, even in the difficult times.
Afterall, look what Jesus did for us when his Father called him to be a sacrifice of atonement on our behalf! The writer of Hebrews tells us, "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death..." Hebrews 5:7. The reminder of the verse speaks of his "reverent submission."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"A dire vision has been shown to me:
The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot.
Elam, attack! Media, lay siege!
I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.
At this my body is racked with pain,
pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor;
I am staggered by what I hear,
I am bewildered by what I see.
My heart falters,
fear makes me tremble;
the twilight I longed for
has become a horror to me."
In this prophecy against Babylon, Isaiah says he had been shown "a dire vision". He describes the vision briefly and then speaks of how it affected him. That effect was substantial in how he described his reaction to the vision: his body is racked with pain, pangs likened to a woman in labor, he is staggered and bewildered, his heart falters and he trembles. It all has become a horror to him.
In verse 10 Isaiah points out that what he has seen and heard was from the Lord, "I tell you what I have heard from the Lord Almighty, from the God of Israel." Obviously the Lord knew how it would affect him, but he had chosen Isaiah for an important calling to be his prophet during a time of calamity he was bringing on that part of the world at the time.
I am reminded that there are those times when the Lord may call us when things become very difficult in life. While serving him in those times may not be fun and entertaining, they are important and that calling from him is important.
Don't always assume that the tasks of serving the Lord he has called us to will be amusing and delightful. Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind there can never be anything in life more meaningful and fulfilling than our faithfulness in serving him, even in the difficult times.
Afterall, look what Jesus did for us when his Father called him to be a sacrifice of atonement on our behalf! The writer of Hebrews tells us, "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death..." Hebrews 5:7. The reminder of the verse speaks of his "reverent submission."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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