Monday December 10, 2007

Text for the Day -- Isaiah 24:1-3
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Now the LORD is about to lay waste the earth and make it desolate,
and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants.
And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest;
as with the slave, so with his master;
as with the maid, so with her mistress;
as with the buyer, so with the seller;
as with the lender, so with the borrower;
as with the creditor, so with the debtor.
The earth shall be utterly laid waste and utterly despoiled;
for the LORD has spoken this word.

Devotional
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These verses begin a portion of Isaiah called the Apocalypse. They
describe a universal judgment by God of the whole earth. The issues
in Israel had become so blatantly sinful and God forsaking that the
solution seemed to be a total cleansing if they were to be healed. In
this situation the prophetic message becomes an apocalyptic message.
There will be an ending that will seem total, but out of a remnant
God will bring a new beginning.

Prayer
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Help me to discern the times, Lord, and witness to this age of your
will. Amen