Clouds and Blue Sky

 I just love reading the Bible. My daily Bible pulls Psalms and Proverbs out of the Old Testament for separate, daily readings. So going through the OT puts Job very close to Isaiah. Reading Job is like plodding through a cloudy, stormy day with just a flash of sunlight breaking through occasionally.
    Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:
    Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
    Job 23:10 But he knows the way that I take: when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

In between those golden moments are many dark clouds of recrimination and even self absorption and doubt. Now turn your attention to Isaiah 25. We will restrict our thoughts just skimming the  verses. Read the whole chapter for more. We notice a distinctly different pattern here.

    Yahweh, You are my God; I will exalt You. I will praise Your name, for You have accomplished wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.
    2 For You have turned the city into a pile of rocks, a fortified city, into ruins; the fortress of barbarians is no longer a city; it will never be rebuilt.
    3 Therefore, a strong people will honor You. The cities of violent nations will fear You. 4 For You have been a stronghold for the poor, a stronghold for the needy person in his distress, a refuge from the rain, a shade from the heat. When the breath of the violent is like rain against a wall, 5 like heat in a dry land, You subdue the uproar of barbarians. As  the shade of a cloud cools the heat of the day, so He silences the song of the violent.
    6 The Lord of Hosts will prepare a feast for all the peoples on this mountain—a feast of aged wine, choice meat, finely aged wine. 7 On this mountain He will destroy the burial shroud, the shroud over all the peoples, the sheet covering all the nations; 8 He will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face and remove His people's disgrace from the whole earth, for the Lord has spoken.
    9 On that day it will be said, "Look, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us.This is the Lord; we have waited for Him. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation." 10 For the Lord's power will rest on this mountain.

A chorus goes, "God, You are my God, and I will ever praise you." Right out of v. 1.  Sun light and blue skies, if you ask me. Then we read of judgment, on Babylon, I believe. Dark clouds. But then it turns back to praising God. Check the confidence in v. 4 and 5. Promises continue in v. 6 and 7. The sunlight is almost blinding when we get to v. 8. "He will destroy death forever." He will wipe away tears. Sounds like Revelation 21:4 doesn't it?

The praise accompanying the promise continues in v. 9 and 10. Not too hard to read, is it? Lots of light.  But we have to recall that chapters 24 and 25 were announcements of God's judgment. Darkness. 25:11 and 12 also pronounce judgment. More darkness.

Chapter 26 and 27 are filled with praise about the coming kingdom. More sunlight and blue skies. Chapter 28 turns to Samaria, which is affiliated with Epharim. This is part of Israel. Darkness. The chapter ends with a return to sunlight. But it does not stay light.

The next three chapters are dark times indeed. But don't stop. Read the next chapter as it returns to the Lord's exclamations of anticipation of His kingdom. It is almost like the Lord cannot stand to dwell on judgment too long. He has to get back to "the good stuff." The light. It is coming.

Look for the light. "Maranatha." "Even so come, Lord Jesus." (1 Corinthians 16:22; Revelation 22:20)