December 11th
Read Is 28:14–29
Isa 28:14-16 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem! (15) Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”; (16) therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’… 21 For the LORD will rise up as on Mount Perazim; as in the Valley of Gibeon he will be roused; to do his deed—strange is his deed! and to work his work—alien is his work! (22) Now therefore do not scoff, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord GOD of hosts against the whole land. (23) Give ear, and hear my voice; give attention, and hear my speech.
Do you think the Israelites and the Jews thought they were making a pack with death and Sheol as they turned away from the Lord their God? Probably not. They probably didn’t give it a second thought. Just like many Christians today who have turned away from their faith and adopted strange beliefs and teachings which are not scriptural and many times perversions of Scripture. They don’t think what they are doing is making a covenant with death and hell. Yet they like the Israelites before them are doing just that.
These people probably think they’re good people. Most people do think they are good people. They go to work, take care of their family and help their neighbor. Most people probably think those people are good people. They haven’t wronged them, yet.
But most people think nothing of breaking the commandments: You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Why is that? Because we don’t see anyone getting hurt by breaking these commandments. But it does hurt someone. It hurts God. It breaks his heart to see his creation following false gods, not keeping his name pure and worshiping creation instead of his Son Jesus.
For those who refuse God’s Son, Jesus of Nazareth, God will do his alien work. That work is to punish and destroy. He doesn’t desire the destruction of man or see him perish in the fires of hell. That’s why he sent Jesus. But he will do it though it is alien for him to do so.
So that we may not perish and so we may trust in the Lord our God, our Father in heaven has sent his rock. He has “has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’” This is Jesus Christ our Lord. See his promise. Whoever believes in him will not be destroyed but will live forever. This promise is for you. You can trust in it.
Heavenly Father, turn away your anger from us, your alien work and do your proper work among us, granting us faith in your Son Jesus Christ, that we may receive from you grace, mercy, peace, forgiveness, salvation and life. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.