Terror

The earth is filled with violence and destruction today. Hatred, wars, terrorism and large scaled devastation are in front of our eyes daily. The spiritual and physical degeneration of men is on exhibit all around us. The prophet Isaiah saw similar situations, and gave us much food for thought. Isaiah prophetically saw the ruin of earth and its inhabitants, but also showed us the opposing move of God. We will be looking in Isaiah 24 and 25.
In Chapter 24, great devastation has come upon the whole earth. The cause of this wasting is the corruption of man:
"The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away; the haughty people of the earth languish. The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance (engraved, inscribed commandments, prescribed limit, set time), broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are desolate. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left."  Isa. 24:4-6
In Isaiah's vision, because of man's pride and wickedness, a curse has come to the earth to destroy it. However, spiritually, in the midst of the devastation, a cry and a song go forth to glorify the majesty of the LORD:
"Therefore glorify the LORD in the dawning light (KJV: "in the fires"; Hebrew: "Owr"- from the East which is the region of light, the original light of creation, revelation, root: to shine, become brighter), the name of the LORD God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea. From the ends of the earth we have heard songs: "Glory to the righteous!" (v. 15-16).
Isaiah reveals that this exalted praise comes in the middle of the devastation. It is born out of the light, the "owr" light of Christ, the same light that He commanded His disciples to be, and the "owr" light of revelation.
However, Isaiah sees something that interrupts this moment of spiritual rebirth for him. He is horrified by what he sees. He cries, "I am ruined, ruined! Woe to me! The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously, indeed, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously."  (v. 16). The Hebrew word used here for "treacherous", and "treacherously", is the word bagad. The pictographic meaning of each of the letters of the word could mean "a house within which is gathered those whose way of life is self-willed and proud". The translated meaning of the word bagad is: transgressor, deceitfully, unfaithful man, offend, to be covered or act covertly and fraudulently, to oppress, to afflict, perfidy (meaning: fraudulent, deceptive, covert methods used in order to attack, and do violence on the unsuspecting). We especially see perfidy today in the form of terrorism, which operates under various agendas: political, social, religious, racial, economic, financial. It is terrorism, or perfidy, committed by individuals, groups, nations. Not only are there natural terrorists committing perfidy, but spiritual as well. Jesus warned of those who are inwardly ravening wolves, who come among the flocks of believers disguised in sheep's clothing (Mt. 7:15-16). These are false prophets (religious imposters; uttering falsehoods under the name of divine prophesies), according to Christ, with an agenda of destruction, however, we are able to identify them by their fruits. Satan, himself, is the king of perfidy, disguising himself as an angel of light in order to destroy God's people (2 Cor. 11:14-15).
Isaiah's eyes are drawn in terror and hopelessness to this treachery of men. However, the LORD assures Isaiah and us that He has already ordained His opposition:
"Fear (pakhad: sudden alarm, great terror, the fear God causes, God as the object of fear and reverence, revere, tremble, make shake)) , and the pit (pakhath: to dig a hole in a path to catch animals), and the snare (pakh:calamities, to spring a net, that by which anyone falls, to plot against anyone, a sheet of lightning) are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall be that he who flees from the noise (voice, crying out in a loud voice of joy or sorrow) of the fear shall fall into the pit, and he who comes up from the midst of the pit shall be caught in the snare; for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth are shaken."  v. 17-18
Those who are treacherous have already been prophetically caught, and will not find escape from their ordained future. Jesus spoke of the Day of the LORD coming upon the whole earth like a snare, or "pakh" in Hebrew. God's people must be watchful, He warned, and pray that they escape from these snares meant to capture and destroy the treacherous. God's people are meant instead to be worthy to stand before the Son of man (Lk. 21:31-36).
In Chapter 25 of Isaiah, once again, because God has already planned and determined the end of those who bring the devastating curse upon the earth, great and magnifying praise is declared:
"O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels (purpose, plan, devise, determine) of old (distance, long ago, remote) are faithfulness and truth...therefore the strong people will glorify You;,,,for You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat..."  Isa. 25:1-4 (excerpt)
The praise here has its source in the fact that God has already done the work. His plan and purpose was set in motion and accomplished in past time and distance. That plan if faithful and it is true, and it will come to pass. The fear that God uses against the treacherous ones is the noise, or sound of a voice. One of the great sounds of a voice is the sound of praise, whether from heaven, or from the earth. In many instances of terror and despair, King David lifted his voice in praise to God, his Deliverer (example: Psalm 57).
The prophet in Chapter 25 exposes "the terrible nations", and "the terrible ones" (v. 3-5). The Hebrew word here is arets. It is translated: oppressor, violent, striking terror, terrifying, ruthless, harass. However, these "terrible ones" have been disarmed and made powerless like a strong wind that blows ineffectually against a wall (v. 3-5). How has the Almighty God already defeated these terrible ones? He overcame the terror of their most powerful weapon - He overcame death itself:
"He will swallow up death forever, and the LORD God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. And it will be said in that day, "Behold this is our God...this is the LORD; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."  v. 8-9  (excerpt)
When I first read these two chapters from Isaiah, my eyes were on the devastation of the curse, the treacherous ones, and the terrible ones. I almost missed the overcoming praise, and the victory obtained in God's plan formed from before the beginning. He sent Christ to disarm the power of the enemy, and as Christ comes again, His prepared snare will capture those who are determined to deal very treacherously.
The suffering is great, but the majesty is even greater. The Terror has indeed come to the earth, but it can never overcome the power of the light of Christ, which is also the light inside each of us. It is very easy for our eyes to be caught in the Terror, but that is not the place where the power of God resides. Be caught up into the majesty, and the praise, and the omniscient counsels of old, instead. As we see the Terror all around, the place of praise is also sounding. The Book of Revelation shows us that as seals, trumpets, bowls of wrath, and thunders are being released upon the earth from heaven, the greatest praise ever heard is also coming forth. Now, more than ever, it is the time to press into the presence of our Father. Receive His Son in a new, deeper way, because worthy is the Lamb:
"And they sang a new song, saying:

"You are worthy to take the scroll,

And to open its seals;

For You were slain,

And have redeemed us to God by Your blood

Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

And have made us kings

And priests to our God;

And we shall reign on the earth."



 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,:

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

To receive power and riches and wisdom,

And strength and honor and glory, and blessing!"

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth, and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that are in them saying:

"Blessing and honor and glory and power

Be to Him who sits on the throne,

And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"

Rev. 5:9-13 (Listen Here)

Be reconciled anew with the Father through His Son. Don't let Terror pull your eyes away from the One Who overcame the world (Jn. 16:33, 1 Jn. 4:4). During these days, there are many important things required from the people of God, but sometimes, in the midst of the Terror, we forget the beauty and power of praise, as revealed here by Isaiah. Disarm Terror's power by keeping your eyes and praise even more so on the finished work of our Father, and of His Son, and of His Holy Spirit.

Our Father has already seen it, known it, provided for it, and done it.

"I Will Praise You in This Storm"

Walls

I was troubled thinking about the threatened survival of many churches, and the pastors who lead them. Then the thought was brought to me:

"If you're not thankful for what you have, you'll lose it."

 

Then I saw as thanks and appreciation were given, walls of protection began to be built around. Perhaps that's why it is stated that "in everything" we are to give thanks, and it is described as "the will of God".

The giving of thanks, appreciation, and gratitude are of great importance to God, and are repeatedly commanded to us in scripture. I'm sure it is not commanded for us to do for His benefit, but for ours.

Are we thankful for our children, even when the relationship gets difficult? Our parents? Our spouses? The place of provision, our employment, that has been appointed for us? Our churches? Our pastors? The stunningly blessed nation with which we have been entrusted?How would our lives be impacted if we were to suddenly lose these people and things? If we are not actively thankful, it could happen, it has happened.

When difficulties or disappointments come, isn't our first reaction to complain and fret? Don't we look for whom to blame? When we pray in these challenging moments, don't we pray for the other person, or the situation to be "changed"? "Please God, change my wife, my husband, and bring her/him to repentance." What if we build walls of thanksgiving around them instead, even when the situation has become difficult? Isn't it just at these times that those walls are most needed?
How did Paul build a protective wall around the churches in the foreign territories that he risked life and limb to establish?
"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers...For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy which we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?"   1 Thess. 1:2, 3:9-10
"I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus..."  1 Cor. 1:4
"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all,...that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers."  Rom. 1:8-9
"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy..."   Phil. 1:3-4
"I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers..."  Philemon 1:4
Paul's thanks to God for these young churches and saints, who were always facing threats and dangers because of their faith in Christ, did not flow from their perfect state. For some of these churches, Paul goes on to give serious correction. Paul was surrounding these infant churches with the protective wall of thanksgiving.
In another part of scripture, on the occasion of a written decree of a powerful king ordering the persecution to death for the worship of God, Daniel continued kneeling before God three times a day in prayer and the giving of thanks, a practice that he had established since he was very young (Dan. 6:7-10). A wall of protection was established around him as he was sentenced to death in a den of lions. Not only was he spared, but the king reversed himself and ordered the worship of God in all his kingdom. "So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian."   Dan. 6:28
If I had been Daniel, no doubt I would have been praying to God according to the dire circumstances that had come upon me. However, Daniel had developed a habit, or way of life, that involved thanks to God "in everything". Daniel was saved by the walls of protection constructed in his thanksgiving to God.
We are instructed by scripture to enter God's courts and gates with thanksgiving and praise. Could that be because the walls around His courts and gates are constructed from thanksgiving and praise? As we become that same thanksgiving and praise, we are able to pass through them, and enter. Similarly, to enter the walls of the New Jerusalem, only those who bring their glory and honor, could do so (Rev. 21:24).
The walls that encircle the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, derive from a root word that translates, "break forth, produce fruit from seed, to bear or bring forth, be born, be delivered, be in travail". These walls are so great, that it requires a twelve-layered foundation underneath it. Could it be that those mighty walls, garnished with precious jewels, were conceived in the seed of thanks? Jesus talks about a mighty work that was accomplished in thanks:

Out of ten Samaritan lepers that Jesus sent off to the priests, one returned to thank Him (Lk. 17:12-19). Jesus asked him, "But where are the nine?" ...And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."
Our thanks to God "in everything" is the ultimate expression of our faith. As the new year approaches, I have determined to make a new effort to develop the Daniel habit of giving God thanks "in everything". Out of the seed of this thanksgiving, I look forward to seeing the  fruit that will come forth, and the great protective walls that will rise up out of the ground.

Our Father constructs walls of protection from our thanksgiving.