Scripture

In that day, the Lord will take his terrible swift sword and punish Leviathan, the swiftly moving serpent, the coiling, writhing serpent. He will kill the dragon of the sea.

Observation

The Lord will kill Leviathan, the sea dragon. The Lord will watch over His vineyard so that no one can harm it. He will burn up any thorns that grow up in the vineyard.

The time is coming when Israel will take root and fill the whole earth with fruit.

The Lord exiled Israel to call her to account. He did this to purge her wickedness. All the pagan altars will be crushed to dust.

Then the Lord will gather his scattered people together, and they will return to the land.

Application

Leviathan, the dragon of the sea, represents the forces of evil that oppose God’s order. it may symbolise political powers such as Babylon, Israel’s great enemy. It may also represent spiritual powers such as satan that seek to destroy human beings and separate us from God.

Often we can feel overwhelmed buy the evil in the world, whether it is nations oppressing people or terrorism, or just our own personal struggles. The good news is that in the end, God will destroy every evil thing. He will cast satan and all of his followers into a great pit forever.

The Lord has provided salvation for those who love Him. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the price for all of our sins, the things that separate us from God.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the knowledge that you have defeated every evil force in the world. There will be a time when you will welcome me into your heavenly realm where there is no sin or death or00 mourning. Amen.

Scripture

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you; all whose thoughts are fixed on you.

Observation

In the day of God’s favour, the people of Jerusalem will rejoice because their walls are God’s salvation. The Lord keeps in perfect peace all who trust in him. The Lord is our rock.

God smooths the path for the righteous. But the unrighteous people will only respond to the Lord’s actions in defending His people.

Those who die in the Lord will live; their bodies will rise again. The Lord’s life-giving light will fall like dew on His people in the place of the dead.

Application

God’s peace is a gift to all who trust in Him. The Lord is our eternal Rock, and we can stand securely in our trust in Him because He never changes.

If we trust the Lord, the world has no hold over as. What can the enemies of the Lord do to me? They can kill my body, but my spirit is secure in the Lord.

I have peace because I know that God’s hands carry me through times of anxiety, turbulence, and destruction

If God loves me enough to send Jesus to die for me, He will never let me down

God is love. He is faithful and and he does not change.

In times of joy, I trust the Lord.

In times of morning, I trust the Lord.

In times of adversity, I trust the Lord.

When I am fit and healthy, I trust the Lord.

When I am sick, I trust the Lord.

Prayer

Lord, you are utterly trustworthy. Thank you for your unfailing love. Amen.

Scripture

We hear songs of praise from the ends of the Earth, songs that give glory to the Righteous One.

Observation

In my Bible, the section consisting of chapters 24 through to 27 are labelled “The Little Apocalypse.”

The Lord will destroy the earth and make it a wasteland. The earth will be emptied and looted.

The earth suffers for the sins of its people who have violated God’s laws. Fires consume people and crops. There is no celebration, only mourning.

Throughout the earth, only a remnant is left like the stray olives left on the tree. But from the ends of the earth there is praise and worship of the Righteous One.

The Earth staggers and even the sun and moon will fade. but the Lord will come and rule from Jerusalem.

Application

The word translated as “earth” in this passage also means “land”, ie Israel. It is not clear whether a universal apocalypse is envisaged here, or if the main focus is Israel – or it could be both.

Even in the midst of this terrible disaster, the Lord leaves a remnant. He will punish the wicked, pursuing them to the point of death. But He leaves a remnant who praise God right through the turmoil.

There always seems to be great instability in the world. It really does feel sometimes that the earth is breaking up and staggering like a drunk (vs. 19-20) . The more access we have to news and social media, the worse things seem.

But God is in control. He is faithful, and He loves His people. Therefore we can praise Him and worship Him and rejoice, regardless of how bad things seem.

Prayer

Lord, I rejoice that nothing can shake me out of the safety of your arms. You hold on to me, even when I am not aware of it. You will punish the wicked and vindicate your people. I will rejoice in you every day. Amen.

Scripture

In the end her profits will be given to the Lord. Her wealth will not be hoarded but will provide good food and fine clothing for the Lord’s priests.

Observation

The city of Tyre, one of the great Phoenician seaports will be destroyed.

Tyre was called the market place of place of the world. Ships travelled as far as Tarshish, which is modern day Spain; trading goods across Europe and the Middle East.

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has brought this disaster on the city. He has spoken against Phoenicia, ordering her fortresses to be destroyed.

For seventy years, Tyre will be forgotten, but then it will come back to life as a prostitute to all the kingdoms around the world. The Lord will take her wealth and use it to provide good food and fine clothing for his priests.

Application

Wealth is deceptive because it makes us arrogant and invincible.

There is nothing wrong with wealth of itself. We need to be reminded that the average person in Australia lives better than kings did just a few centuries ago. The problem is that we can put our faith in our possessions rather than the Lord.

Tyre is warned in this passage that its wealth will be given to the Lord for His purposes. They failed to honour the Lord, and so the thing they took pride in is removed from them.

The way to true prosperity is to offer all of our goods and cash back to the Lord to be used for his purposes. I do not own my possessions; I am a steward or a manager of the Lord’s business.

To have this attitude to money and to wealth is a great freedom. We don’t have to worry about pursuing even more money. It is the Lord’s and He will provide what we need, and lead us in the right ways to manage our affairs wisely.

Prayer

Thank you Father for giving me stuff. Please help me to manage it to your glory. Amen.

Scripture

Then the watchman said, “Babylon is fallen, fallen. All the idols of Babylon lie broken on the ground.”

Observation

Disaster is coming to Babylon as the Elamites and Medes lay siege to it. The Lord is bringing to an end the groaning caused by Babylon.

The watchman looks day after day, seeing nothing. Then a messenger comes with the news that Babylon is fallen and all of its idols are broken.

Edom looks for daylight from this, but the night will soon return. Within a year the glory of Kedar will come to an end.

Application

Babylon was the centre of a great empire that included Israel. In the Bible, it is a symbol for the political and commercial powers in the in the world system

The mighty empire of the Babylonians fell, and its false gods could not save it.

No matter how secure and and prosperous we may feel, our safety and prosperity rely on God. Anything else that we build our lives on will eventually fall and and let us down.

The false gods and idols that Babylon relied on, and all of its military might and physical resources, could not save it.

Only God can provide us with eternal security. Only God can take us out of this world and carry us safely to the next.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the promise of your perfect protection. Every idol will fall, but you, O God, live forever. Amen.

Scripture

Then the Philistines will be thrown into panic, for they counted on the power of Ethiopia and boasted of their allies in Egypt.

Observation

Isaiah was commanded by the Lord to take off his sackcloth clothing and sandals and to walk naked and barefoot for three years. This was a prophetic sign for Ethiopia and Egypt. The king of Assyria will take away the Egyptians and Assyrians as prisoners. They will walk away naked and barefoot.

The Philistines will panic because they had been boasting about their alliances with Egypt and Ethiopia. If the king of Assyria can do this to them, what will he do to the Philistines?

Application

Over and over the Bible warns us not to trust political rulers. For Israel, the warning was not to rely on their military might or their foreign allies. For us the message is the same – do not look to human powers such as governments as our source of security.

Our hope and faith must be in Christ alone. When all around is falling, He will stand firm.

The tendency is to put our trust anywhere but in God – our possessions, our job, the government, the church. Christ is our hope. Anything else is idolatry.

This does not mean that we live in our own little bubble. No, we live in society like anyone else, but our source of peace is Christ.

Prayer

Lord forgive me for trusting in false gods which cannot save me. You alone are my salvation. Amen.

Scripture

The Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians. Yes, they will know the Lord and will give their sacrifices and offerings to him.

Observation

The Lord is advancing against Egypt, riding on a swift cloud. The Lord will send a hard and cruel master to rule over the Egyptians. The water of the Nile will dry up, and the whole nation will be in despair.

A spirit of foolishness will come over the leaders and officials, and Egypt will be left weak.

The cities of Egypt will come under the influence of the Lord. They will even begin to speak Hebrew and they will offer sacrifices.

The Lord will make Himself known to the Egyptians. He will strike them and then He will heal them. Assyria, Egypt and Israel will be allies, and the Lord will bless them.

Application

The prophet is looking at God’s blessing of Egypt in his own context. Several Egyptian cities did in fact become centres where Jewish people lived in large numbers.

Much later, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the gospel was preached in Egypt, and many people were saved. Much of North Africa was influenced by christianity. In a very real way, The Lord made himself known to Egypt.

Although the country is Muslim dominated these days, there is a big Christian population. The Lord continues to bless the people of Egypt.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for your eternal purposes. Your promises never fail because you never fail. Amen.

Scripture

Then at last the people will look to their Creator and turn to the Holy One of Israel. They will no longer look to their idols for help or worship what their own hands have made.

Observation

The Lord will destroy Syria, which will share the fate of Israel’s departed glory.

In Israel, the whole land will look like a grain field after the harvest. There will only be a few people left to tend the land.

Then at last, God’s people will return to Him, giving up their idols and false gods.

Even though the armies of the enemies roar like the ocean, God will silence them and they will run away. In the evening Israel waits in terror, but by morning its enemies are dead.

Application

God’s purposes are always redemptive, that is they seek to draw us back to Him.

The Lord did not punish Israel out of vengeance. He sent them into exile to force them to abandon their idols and turn back to Him.

When we go through difficult times, we can choose to battle them on our own ability, or we can draw close to God and listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit.

I have found that in the darkest and most troubling experiences of life, the Lord is always there. He does not necessarily remove the suffering, but He does give us hope to sustain us.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for your promise never to abandon us. Please help me to always turn my attention to you in every circumstance. Amen.

Scripture

But now the lord says, ”Three years, counting each day, the glory of Moab will be ended. From its great population, only a few of the people will be left live.”

Observation

Isaiah continues his prophecy regarding Moab.

Women cry out for protection against their enemies and their relentless attacks.

When the oppression and destruction end, God will appoint one of David’s descendants as King over the Moabites. He will rule with mercy, truth, justice, and righteousness.

In three years, the Lord says, the glory of Moab will be ended, and only a portion of the population will remain alive.

Application

Moab and Israel were often at war with each with each other. Many prophecies were spoken against Moab, but now the date for destruction is stated – within three years.

It is inconceivable to us that a nation that was big enough to trouble Israel over centuries could be destroyed as thoroughly as Moab was going to be. Yet this was the fate of many nations in that era. A war might not directly kill many, but the side effects of famine and disease that often follow war could do this. Policies of taking people into captivity as slaves could also depopulate a country.

When God’s grace turns to judgement, the result can be catastrophic. I must walk in the grace of the Lord in order to maintain his favour.

Prayer

Lord, I approach your throne in humility and with respect. Thank you for adopting me into your family. May I always walk in your favour. Amen.