Sunday, November 8 2020 Devotional

"For the ruthless shall come to nothing and the scoffer cease, and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off, who by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right... And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding, and those who murmur will accept instruction." ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭29:20-21, 24 What exactly is the Prophet is talking about? Let’s see. The ruthless are people who push forward with their agenda with no regard to who gets hurt: merciless, cruel in their determination to get done what they think should be done. Scoffers are people who ridicule what’s good and right. Those who watch to do evil are people who are constantly looking for opportunities to bring their evil agenda about, who “never let a crisis go to waste.” In biblical times, the gate of the city was also the courtroom, and that’s what it’s talking about here: an unjustly framed legal system used to pounce on people’s words and set traps for those who stand up for what’s right in court. So what Isaiah is saying is that eventually, in God’s time, when He has finally brought about His cleansing, the ruthless will come to nothing, the scoffers will stop ridiculing what’s right, those who are looking for opportunities to advance an evil agenda through an unjust abuse of the legal system and the courtroom will be cut off. And those who in their hearts have wandered away from God’s Word will will come to understanding, and instead of arguing with His Word they will accept and receive instruction in it. Isaiah is predicting a revival, an awakening of spiritual life in the nation. This is what we are praying for day by day. He has brought it about before; we pray He will do it again. Lord, send this fresh awakening to our nation today. Let it come soon.  We need it now! ...in Jesus’ name.  Amen! Pastor Dan Giles