Much of what we read in Isaiah 16 - 18 concerns
divine judgment on the disobedient - Moab - chapter 16, Damascus and
Israel - chapter 17, Sudan - chapter 18. In the face of God’s holy
judgment upon sin, we must never forget that “He is the God of our
salvation, our Rock, our Stronghold” (Isaiah 17:10). God does not wish
to pass judgment upon us. He calls us to Himself, that He may be
gracious to us (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:17). This is the love of God. His
love is everlasting. He reaches out to us, in love, so that we, loving
Him, might rejoice in the fact that we are His beloved - “loved with
everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).
“At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem”, the keynote of the service was joyful thanksgiving. They gathered together “to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving” (Nehemiah 12:27). “On that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy” (Nehemiah 12:43). They sang “songs of praise and thanksgiving to God” (Nehemiah 12:46). This joyful thanksgiving is only a foretaste of the greater joy and thanksgiving of heaven: “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). In the city of God, “the glory of God” will be shining with everlasting brightness (Revelation 21:23). The Church of God will be “prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). The beautiful picture of the godly wife in Proverbs 31 gives us an outline of what God is seeking to do in His people. It is summarized in Proverbs 31:30: “A woman who fears the Lord is to be ...
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