Prayer: Father, the attitude of the rebellious is prominent in the focal scripture today. When I rebel against You, I bring His discipline upon myself. Amen.
Reading: Isaiah 47 key: vs. “Sit in silence, go into darkness, daughter of the Chaldeans. For you will no more be called the mistress-queen of kingdoms. I was angry with My people. I profaned My heritage. I gave them into your hand, but you showed them no mercy. You made your yoke very heavy on the aged. You said, “Forever, I will be the eternal mistress-queen!” You did not lay these things to heart or remember their end. Now then, hear this, voluptuous one, dwelling securely, saying in your heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me! I will not sit as a widow, or know the loss of children. These two things will come upon you in a moment, in one day— loss of children and widowhood— they will come upon you in full measure in spite of your many sorceries and your many spells. You felt secure in your wickedness, You said, “No one sees me.” Your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, so you have said in your heart, “I am—there is no one else beside me!” TLV
Attention: My wife and I enjoy watching old reruns before retiring for the night. One of our favorites is to watch Leave It to Beaver. I do not know how many times one of Beaver’s friends will talk him into doing something he has been told not to do.
Have you ever had someone invite you to sin with them and they told you, “No one will know?” When we sin, we usually love company. Then we do not feel so bad. Adam and Eve are prime examples.
God used nations like the Babylonians and Chaldeans to bring judgement upon an obstinate nation He loved. He had reached His limit and His “anger” compelled Him to give His favored nation into their hands. Nations like Egypt, Babylon, and Chaldea, were harsh and overbearing with the “aged.”
We are not particularly light and easy on the aged either. The aged are a particular people group which Adonai has a special love for (Leviticus 19:32).” Others included in God’s particular care are widows, orphans, the poor, the sick, prisoners, and the foreigner (Matthew 25:31-40; Jacob 1:27; and Isaiah 58:6-14). Babylon and the Chaldeans were judged for their treatment of the aged. It is interesting, that that which they said would not happen to them (widowhood and loss of children) is exactly what Adonai brought upon them (vs. 9).
The consequences of rebellion are costly. The prophet Samuel recorded these words of Adonai, “For rebellion is like the sin of divination and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:23a). Attitude is everything with Adonai. May we not become rebellious as we receive correction.
Action: I choose to be obedient to God’s Word so that I may avoid discipline.
Yield: I choose to yield to God’s instruction.
Engage: I choose to engage with God’s Word and process of transformation.
Relationship: I choose to live in obedience to God’s Word.
Prayer: Father, what peace we forfeit when we do not comply to Your Word in obedience. May I not be rebellious like in former days. Amen.
Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 15:23a “For rebellion is like the sin of divination and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry.” TLV
Music Video: Michael W. Smith—Draw Me Close to You https://youtu.be/7d_oYr-P16M?si=660JPU8cPHdrzGEt
Remember, “Abide in Jesus, today!”