The end of the Evil World

ISAIAH CHAPTER 27

Isaiah tells of coming of the day the Lord will take his terrible, swift sword and punish Leviathan, the serpent, the dragon of the sea. And in that day the people will sing of the pleasant vineyard and the Lord would watch over it and tend to its fruitful vines. Each day he would water them and day and night would keep enemies away. The Lord's anger against Israel would be gone and if he found briers and thorns bothering her, he would burn them up. The enemies would only be spared if they surrendered and begged for peace and protection.

The time is coming, says the Lord, when his people would take root. Israel would bud and blossom and fill the whole earth with her fruit. The Lord punished Israel only a little, but her enemies he devastated. He did this to purge away Israel's sin. And when he was done, all the pagan altars were crushed to dust.

The people of Israel are like the dead branches of a tree, broken off and used for kindling, for its people had turned from God. But the one who made them will gather them together like handpicked grain and bring them to the threshing floor. In that day the great trumpet will sound and the many who were dying in exile in Assyria and Egypt will return to Jerusalem to worship the Lord on his holy mountain.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: "That day" refers to the end of the evil world as we know it. Leviathan was a seven-headed monster and in this chapter Isaiah compares slaughter of the wicked to the conquering of a great enemy. "To thresh" means to "judge".

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? There is lots of imagery in this small chapter. A large sea monster represents the evil that God will destroy in the people. The trampled vineyard being restored means a new earth that God will care for and protect and it will no longer be worthless, but will produce good for the whole world. Gentiles will also come to know the Lord through Israel.

Trees were often used in scripture to represent spiritual life. So the trunk is strong like God, and the branches are people who serve him. Some branches waver and blow in the wind. Some dry up from internal rot and become useless. What kind of branch are you? If your spirituality is withering, perhaps you need to have a God check-up!

To "thresh" means to judge and God's purpose is not for vengeance, but for purging the evil. He wants to make us better and more faithful and better equipped for fruitful service. Trust your God to have your best interests at heart!

Yours in Christ,
Mary


Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Pray for Gabe. Pray for Logan during her difficult pregnancy.
Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.