Thursday, May 19, 2011

Thurs., 5/19/11 Devotion (Isa. 19:24-25)

Today's encouragement comes from Isaiah 19:24 & 25, which finds the prophet writing these remarkable words:

"In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria--a bles-
sing in the midst of the land, whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, say-
ing, 'Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.' "

We should be so encouraged by the New Covenant's promises of the church's universality, and realized victory. For Isaiah to prophesy these words must have seemed extremely preposterous to his contempor-
aries. But, because of the coming of the "Rod from the stem of Jesse [Christ]," (Isa. 11:1 ff.)--the fulfillment of this prophecy was not only possible, but inevitable. (For a good NT explanation of the folding to-
gether of all nations into the church, see Eph. 2, esp. vv. 11-13.)

Let us revel in the wonderful strength of our Savior; and thank God for His comprehensive rule of the entire world.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Which of these two is more fit to take place, God's justice or man's reason? . . . The plumb line of our reason is too short to fathom the depth of God's justice." --Thomas Watson, in, "A Body of Divinity"]