Prayer: Father, a short chapter today with powerful words. May I grasp the gravity of brevity. Amen.
Reading: Isaiah 4 key: vs. 1- “Seven women will grab hold of one man in that day, saying: “We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel. Only let us be called by your name— take away our reproach!” In that day the Branch of Adonai will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land excellent and appealing for Israel’s survivors. So it will come to pass that whoever is left in Zion and whoever remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. After Adonai has washed away the filth of the Daughters of Zion and has purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, then Adonai will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her convocations, a cloud by day, and smoke and shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all, glory will be a canopy. Then there will be a sukkah for shade by day from the heat, and for refuge and for shelter from storm and from rain.” TLV
Attention: In the opening verse, desperation has set in. Instead of turning to Adonai through the Messiah, “seven” women turn to man. Rather than identify with Messiah and “be called by the name of the Lord,” they turn to man to receive his name. The ultimate rejection of the Holy Spirit. Here recorded are the words of Yeshua, ““For this reason I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Ruach will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Ruach ha-Kodesh will not be forgiven, neither in this age nor in the one to come” (Matthew 12:31-32).
The judgement has taken place and only the ones who remain were the ones “recorded” in the book of life. We find in Revelation 20 mention of a judgement like this, “And I saw the dead—the great and the small—standing before the throne. The books were opened, and another book was opened—the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what was written in the books, according to their deeds (vs.12).” John the revelator concludes by saying, “And if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (vs. 15).”
Are Isaiah and John writing about the same event? There do seem to be similarities regarding both accounts. What does the Spirit of Adonai tell you?
Another observation deserves mention. Where have we seen mention of a “cloud by day and shining of a flaming fire by night?” In our study of Exodus, Moses records the manifestation of Adonai as, “Adonai went before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead the way and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light. So they could travel both day and night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never departed from the people (Exodus 13:21-22).”
I’m glad to know that Adonai never departed from the (Hebrew) people. He will never leave or forsake those who are His. We have that assurance from Messiah, “And remember! I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20b).”
Action: I choose to identify with Messiah as Savior and Lord.
Yield: I choose to yield to the sovereignty of Messiah.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit in living a lifestyle of intimacy with Adonai.
Relationship: I choose to live in intimacy with Adonai.
Prayer: Father, there is an ultimate judgement which culminates in eternity and brings eternal consequences. May we all be prepared for this final accounting. May we hear our names found in the book of Life. Amen.
Memory Verse: Revelation 20:12 “And I saw the dead—the great and the small—standing before the throne. The books were opened, and another book was opened—the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what was written in the books, according to their deeds.” TLV
Music Video: Chris Falson—I See the Lord https://youtu.be/reN-3g-myJM?si=Js2FIl_uakJiEKC_
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”