December 29, 2018: Day 28 – Isaiah 24

The depiction of a devastated land is one that is used often to describe what will happen to a place that is not faithful to the Lord.  It is the Lord who assures fertility both in people and in the land according to the Old Testament readings, especially in Deuteronomy.  When we looked at those books of the Bible we saw how closely our actions dictated how God was going to treat us.  When we disappointed God, then God withdrew His hand.

We also spoke about how we receive such a different message from that of unconditional love which we find in our Savior Jesus Christ.  Even while we were yet sinners…, that is the message that we receive.  This message is not to be interpreted as a green light for more sin, but rather as an opportunity to be dug out of the hole in which we sometimes find ourselves when we think that we are not worthy, nor will we ever be worthy enough so what is the point?  The point is that we will never be worthy enough, and only God makes us worthy through God’s actions, not our own.  We can climb out of the hole only by the grace of God, not by our strength, our skill in climbing, or our persuasiveness in asking someone to help us get out.  God gets us out of the hole, period.

Chapter 24 takes us through the typical Old Testament cycle of devastation to rejoicing, disobedience to obedience.  Notice that these two are absolutely linked according to the prophet Isaiah.  I find it especially interesting in vs.21 that the Lord will punish the host of heaven in heaven and on earth the kings of the earth.  Talk about a well rounded punishment, no one is spared, not even the hosts in heaven.