WE SHALL NOT DIE - Reading With the People of God #17ნიმუში

A Time to Feast and a Time to Mourn

This chapter displays a stunning judgment from God against his own people. It bears two distinct messages: punishment on Judah (vv. 1-14) and specific punishment for Shebna (vv. 15-23), showing that God sees the actions of nations and individuals and holds them both accountable. In Isaiah 22, the shocking verdict comes like a thunderbolt: God threatens Jerusalem with destruction just like any Gentile nation. In fact, they are actually more accountable and guilty of their sins because they had been so clearly instructed and warned by the prophets. God wanted the people to repent and look to Him in faith (v. 11). But instead of deep, heartfelt repentance and trusting in the Lord, the people made faithless military preparations and feasted.

There’s nothing wrong with celebrating happy occasions and enjoying a good meal with friends and family. However, this chapter is a good reminder that for the people of God, deep repentance, true brokenness, and trusting fully in Christ are essential to spiritual growth and victory. Ask God to search you and show you if there is any deep-seated sin pattern that is destroying your life. When the Spirit reveals it to you, repent, trust in Jesus, and find joy in the beauty of holy love. That’s better than feasting on an In-N-Out burger any time!!

Two Dreams That Set the Stage for the Entry of Gentiles into the Church

In Acts 10, we see through the dreams of Cornelius and Peter that the significant barrier between Jews and Gentiles is overcome as God leads Peter to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, and the Jewish Christians begin to realize that God is offering salvation to all people through the work of Jesus. God can make all things clean; and from here on in Acts, we begin to see that the gospel overcomes all obstacles, whether ethnic, cultural, religious, or political (see Justin S. Holcomb, ACTS Study Guide).

How should these verses affect us? First, this passage obviously shows that God has no favorites. The gospel extends to everyone. Now all alike are welcomed into God’s family on exactly the same terms. Secondly, God invites all of us to be part of His dream to share the gospel to the entire world. God used Peter, a Jew, to associate with Gentiles, to eat with them, and eventually to preach to them. There are times when God will ask things of us that require us to go out of our comfort zone. Are there people in your life that God is calling you to share the gospel with that you may not feel comfortable doing that? Those are exactly the people He wants you to hang out with, to get to know, and to share the loving and powerful presence of Christ.

Primer contributed by Norm Hudspeth; Ministering Elder