Let the Redeemed of the LORD Say So - Day 257 Through the Bible

A hike, a picnic, a gathering of wildflower bouquets with a friend from Mt. Celo Church this week - Roaring Fork Falls

My Lessons and Applications from Today's Readings

(Ellipses are mine and are used for contemplation.)

Watchmen in the Tower / the Destruction of the Mighty - Isaiah 21 and 22 (What it Says- Summarized) - Isaiah continues with his vision of burdens, the destruction of the great nations and peoples around Judah (Arabia and Dumah), and now the greatest are seen as fallen - mighty Babylon and the Valley of Visions itself, Jerusalem.  The watchmen have been stationed in the tower during a time of preeminence for Babylon - of both fame and wealth - but now they witness the destruction.  And then Jerusalem is seen as destroyed - not by the sword - but by famine under siege, by fear, by their illusory self-sufficiency.  This Chosen People and Nation, the place of the prophetic visions, of seeing God in His sanctuary, of where God was, where His name was great...seeks to protect itself, relying on its own armor from the House of the Forest, storing water in reservoirs, fortifying the wall...but forgetting God.  "But you did not look to its Maker, nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago."  The LORD calls for "weeping and mourning, baldness and girding with sackcloth", but the people choose wine and feasting instead.  "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" God says there will be no atonement for them for this sin.  The steward Shebna is brought low by God for "pride, vanity and resting in his own security."(Matthew Henry)  The LORD raises up Eliakim who will be "a father of Jerusalem...so he shall open, and no one shall shut, and he shall shut, and no one shall open."  On that day, says the LORD, "the burden that was on it will be cut off for the LORD has spoken.

Remembering God, Crying Out to Him, and Thanking Him - Psalm 107 (What It Says - Summarized) - As a segue to the OT vision of burdens, a contemplation of the Psalm makes us wonder how much of the destruction could have been avoided if the people and nations had remembered God and glorified Him - especially those of His Chosen Nation and People.  "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good...for His mercy endures forever...Let the redeemed of the LORD say so...then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble...and He delivered them out of their distresses...He led them forth by the right way...that they might go to a city for a dwelling place.  Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness...and for His wonderful works to the children of men, for He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.

Repentance Leading to Salvation - 2 Corinthians 7 - (What It Says - Summarized) - Paul has chastised the church at Corinth through his letter which made the Corinthians experience godly sorrow - a sorrow that led them to repentance, which leads to salvation.  This godly sorrow produced "diligence, a clearing of themselves, indignation, fear, vehement desire, zeal, vindication."  Paul encourages believers to..."cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit...to perfect holiness...in the fear of God...because of God's promises to us."

My Lessons and Applications: The OT account is the pattern of human behavior we see when reading through the Bible in a year in its entirety - this vanity, arrogance, and pride that lead to illusory self-sufficiency that inevitably leads to the idolatry of self and the disregard of God.  Destruction and ruin are always the end result of this.  This is such important knowledge of our human history with God.  Today's Psalm encourages, admonishes us to remember, cry out to, SAY SO, thank God for the blessings HE has given us, the mercies HE has shown us, HIS goodness, HIS deliverance.  Failure to do this brings us back into the destructive pattern that is throughout the OT.  Note the diametrically opposite response of the Corinthians.  They humbled themselves under the apostle's chastisement; the Chosen People of Judah despised the prophet's vision; the Corinthians were diligent in returning to God, transforming, changing their behavior in godly sorrow for their sin - which led to salvation and fellowship with God.  The Jews chose to rely on themselves, never thinking of God, actually showing their unbelief by refusing to be sorrowful over their sin but rather enjoying what life was left to them since they were going to die.  One group longed for eternal life with God; the other showed no belief in a life after death.  How does my perspective of eternal life transform my earthly life?  What does the world's disregard of Biblical sin say about their true beliefs regarding God and eternal life?

"A practical disbelief of another life after this is at the bottom of the carnal security and brutish sensuality which are the sin, and shame and ruin of so great a part of mankind.
That soul cannot perish, nor that concern fall to the ground, though ever so weighty, that is by faith hung upon Christ.  

Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

The great difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and it is blessings that make it difficult.  Troubles nearly always make us look to God; His blessings are apt to make us look elsewhere.

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest