has stood the test of time. Is my life built on a sure foundation?
Isaiah 28:16-29:24
Therefore, thus says the Lord God: "Behold I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily (be dismayed). Also I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet . . . your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand" (v. 16-18). The cornerstone is the firm base or foundation stone that anchors what is being built. The "cornerstone" laid in Zion is the Messiah--the firm base we build our lives on as believers. (Is my life built on Him or on my own merits, goals, and accomplishments?)
"Now therefore do not be mockers, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts, a destruction determined even upon the whole earth" (v.22). As we have been reading in Isaiah, the "day of the Lord" will affect the entire world--no one will escape. We must be anchored in Him as we will either have faced death by then or will be living in that time. (Will my foundation survive either death or the day of the Lord? Remember this in Isaiah 26:20? "Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past.")
God compares Himself to a plowman and reassures us that He is likewise an expert in refining and knows exactly how and how long to "mill" us. Black cummin, wheat, barley, and spelt are crops mentioned in this passage. Different crops require different methods of harvesting. "For the black cummin is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cartwheel rolled over the cummin; but the black cummin is beaten out with a stick, and the cummin with a rod. Bread flour must be ground; therefore he does not thresh it forever, break it with his cartwheel, or crush it with his horsemen. This also comes from the Lord of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance" (v. 27-29).
A Few Highlights from Chapter 29:
"Yes, it shall be in an instant, suddenly. You will be punished by the Lord of hosts with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with storm and tempest and the flame of devouring fire" (v. 6).
"For the Lord has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, namely the prophets . . the whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed" (v. 10-11).
"Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me" (v.13).
We come out of these chapters in Isaiah with the reality that God is serious about sin and will deal with it. He knows those who are His--those who rejoice in Him and rely on Him; those who love Him with all our being, those who hear His voice and follow Him. We can continue this theme in Psalm 108: "O God, my heart is steadfast" (v.1). Can we join David in saying that we will "awaken the dawn" with our praises for God? Will we sing His praises among people, among nations? Are we familiar with His mercy, His truth, His glory--as David was?
Proverbs 25:21-22 -- the Lord will reward us for showing mercy toward our enemies and we will be "heaping coals of fire on his head".
2 Corinthians 11:1-15
The simplicity of the gospel of Christ---there is nothing complicated about the way to salvation. However, there are "false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ" (v. 13). Paul says not to be surprised that this occurs, "For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works" (v. 14-15).
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