The Lord Be With You Today!
Isaiah 65:13-15
Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
(In the earlier verses the Lord has just described
those people who refuse to acknowledge Him and His salvation.
He has called them repeatedly, and they refused to come to Him.
Now He declares He will cause vastly different outcomes for them
than His people will experience.)
"My servants will eat, but you will go hungry;
My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty;
My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.
My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts,
but you will cry out from anguish of heart
and wail in brokenness of spirit.
(In stark and uncompromising contrast, the Lord describes
the differences in the future for His servants, His people,
and those who continue to refuse to turn to Him.
Across the spectrum of physical want to spiritual need,
the people who follow His path of deliverance from Babylon
will experience a life of freedom and provision,
as opposed to those who choose to remain in their bondage there.
Though the Lord has promised deliverance to His people,
He also assured those who disobey Him severe consequences.
The differences are dramatic and drastic.)
You will leave your name for My chosen ones to use in their curses;
the Sovereign Lord will put you to death,
but to His servants He will give another name."
(Even the name of the rebellious will become repulsive
and God's people will refer to them in their solemn declarations
when they say if we disobey God we will become like those defiant ones.
But for His servants, the Lord will give a new name that He gives them,
perhaps even referring to the expansion of the name of God's people
from only Jews to one that includes Gentiles.
For us today, the Lord reminds us here that disobedience to Him
is deeply serious and carries grave consequences.
Today, He gives us the promise of supply and provision,
of joy and gladness, of victory instead of defeat, of life instead of death,
and a new name by which He Himself names us.)
May the Lord richly bless you this day!
In Christ's love,
Blessings!
Sally
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