Scripture Nugget 1.20.2017
Scripture Read – Isaiah 12-17
Nugget Isaiah 12:1-6, 13:4b, 9,11, 14:1
“You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. … The LORD of hosts is mustering an army for battle. … See, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the earth a desolation, and to destroy its sinners from it. … I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pride of the arrogance, and lay low the insolence of tyrants. … But the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land; and aliens will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob.”
Devotional thought: Give thanks to God for His two sides that are never separated. God loves love, hates sin but always compassionately and mercifully provides for a remnant of redeemed believers to lead others to His grace. Those who believe, those who come to believe and are part of the remnant can’t help but rejoice, give thanks and proclaim the salvation they have received. These are the great Army being gathered for battle, lovers of God to battle sin by loving others – being the compassionate, being the inviters who receive the newly redeemed and restored into the house of God. God provides a seat at the holy table for all, God provides the way for all to sit in holiness at His table, and each will say, “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me. Surely God is my salvation!” This will be an example and encouragement to those who haven’t chosen to take their seat yet.