September 13
Isaiah 12:1-14:32; 2 Corinthians 13:1-14; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 23:9-11
Isaiah's description of judgment uses the term "day of the Lord" (Is.13:9). This is a technical term for a specific day of judgment which is used 30 times in the Bible. In Isaiah 13 it speaks of the day God would bring judgment upon the nation of Babylon. He would come upon them for their sin and horrific treatment of Israel. This judgment and overthrow of Babylon occurred in 539 BC. This day of the Lord is a past event, but the New Testament uses "day of the Lord" to speak of the future return of Christ and the judgment he will bring.
God's past judgments/days of the Lord become a glimpse of what is ultimately going to happen in the future. As one of my seminary professors said, "What God has done in the past is a promise and a model for the future, but he is too creative to do it the same way twice." When we read the stark account of judgment in Isaiah and throughout Scripture, we should live in light of what is to come. Paul tells the church in 2 Corinthians 13 they must, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” Everyone will face judgment and only those who are in Christ will be declared righteous, innocent, and pass into God’s presence for eternity. To pretend that we are fine without Jesus places us under God’s wrath and facing the same fate as Babylon. So let us live in light of Christ’s return and experience the peace that comes from the certain future that awaits us.
Father God, thank you that you will come in judgment and vanquish all evil and sin. Thank you that everything that opposes you will be destroyed and the sin in my own life will be finally addressed. Help me to live today considering the future and share the hope that you offer to others. Amen.
Question of the day: How should God's past and future "day(s) of the Lord" cause us to live differently today?
Isaiah's description of judgment uses the term "day of the Lord" (Is.13:9). This is a technical term for a specific day of judgment which is used 30 times in the Bible. In Isaiah 13 it speaks of the day God would bring judgment upon the nation of Babylon. He would come upon them for their sin and horrific treatment of Israel. This judgment and overthrow of Babylon occurred in 539 BC. This day of the Lord is a past event, but the New Testament uses "day of the Lord" to speak of the future return of Christ and the judgment he will bring.
God's past judgments/days of the Lord become a glimpse of what is ultimately going to happen in the future. As one of my seminary professors said, "What God has done in the past is a promise and a model for the future, but he is too creative to do it the same way twice." When we read the stark account of judgment in Isaiah and throughout Scripture, we should live in light of what is to come. Paul tells the church in 2 Corinthians 13 they must, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” Everyone will face judgment and only those who are in Christ will be declared righteous, innocent, and pass into God’s presence for eternity. To pretend that we are fine without Jesus places us under God’s wrath and facing the same fate as Babylon. So let us live in light of Christ’s return and experience the peace that comes from the certain future that awaits us.
Father God, thank you that you will come in judgment and vanquish all evil and sin. Thank you that everything that opposes you will be destroyed and the sin in my own life will be finally addressed. Help me to live today considering the future and share the hope that you offer to others. Amen.
Question of the day: How should God's past and future "day(s) of the Lord" cause us to live differently today?
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