October 20, 2020

Good morning!

Diving into Isaiah 47

Go down, sit in the dust, 

Virgin daughter Babylon; 

sit on the ground without a throne, 

queen city of the Babylonians. 

No more will you be called 

tender or delicate.

Take millstones and grind flour; 

take off your veil. 

Lift up your skirts, bare your legs, 

and wade through the streams. 

Your nakedness will be exposed

and your shame uncovered. 

I will take vengeance;

I will not spare no one. 

(Why does God punish the wicked if he used them for his purpose: I think back to the first few chapters of Isaiah when he spoke his judgements against all the nations. He told them wickedness was in their hearts. It was already apart of their thoughts and they just needed the opportunity. 

If God dislikes what his people do; How much more does he dislike the actions of the wicked. 

Our Redeemer--the Lord  Almighty is his name--is the Holy One of Israel. 

Sit in silence, 

go into darkness, 

(What is darkness? Is is just a state of being blind and you lack knowledge. You will do anything. Degrading yourself. If light is knowledge then darkness is no knowledge. A lack of wisdom. You stubble around unable to see where you are going. It is not so much wickedness but you can do wicked things because you have no light. Jesus is called the light of the world. He shows us things. He exposes things. A person in darkness cannot comprehend things.)

Similar to:  A person knows better because they have light. 

Versus a person in darkness cannot comprehend what is good or bad.)

wickedness or evil: it is the opposite of God and it is not out of his reach. He controls it. 

Satan, the prince of darkness. (he resides in this place)

obscurity; concealment: (something is hidden from you)

The darkness of the metaphor destroyed its effectiveness.

lack of knowledge or enlightenment:

heathen darkness.

lack of sight; blindness. (a person who does not see things good)

queen of kingdoms.

I was angry with my people

and desecrated my inheritance; 

I gave them into your hand, 

and you showed them no mercy.

Even on the aged you laid

a very heavy yoke. 

You said, I am forever 

the eternal queen!

But you did not consider these things

or reflect on what might happen. 

Now then, listen, you lover of  pleasure, 

lounging in your security 

and saying to yourself, 

I am, and there is none besides me. 

I will never be a widow

or suffer the loss of children.

Both of these will overtake you

in a moment, on a single day:

loss of children and widowhood. 

They will come upon you in full measure, 

in spite of your many sorceries

and all your potent spells. 

(Do you think people today are casting spells and sorceries; many normal people do not believe but it does exist. I think most believers don't entertain it so we think it don't exist. But when I read this I have to believe that there are  people who are into sorcery and spells. It seems so science fiction because I cannot image someone who lives in that type of darkness.)

Sorcery is the art, practices, or spells of a person who is supposed to exercise supernatural powers through the aid of evil spirits; black magic; witchery.

Spells does not have a formal definition but I think it has something to do with what the person is saying. When they cast their spell (they speak things; or they say things). Think about today; when people want to persuade others with words. They will put a spell on you and make you do as they please. But if you have light you recognize right away what is coming out of their mouths. 

You have trusted in your wickedness

and  have said, No one sees me. 

Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you. 

when you say to yourself, 

I am, and there is none besides me. 

those stargazers who make predictions

month by month, 

let them save you from what is coming upon you. 

Surely they are like stubble;

the fire will burn them  up. 

They cannot even save themselves

from the power of the flame. 

These are not coals for warmth; 

this not a fire to sit by.

That is all they are to you 

these you have dealt with and labored

with since childhood. 

All of them go on in their error; 

there is not one that can ever save you. 

Have a great day!