only with your eyes

The Word for today:
Isaiah 24, 25

mark this: Isaiah 24:1--
Behold, the LORD will empty the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants.
and this: Isaiah 25:9--
In that day the people will proclaim, "This is our God. We trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, in whom we trusted. Rejoice in the salvation he brings!"
and this: Psalm 91:7-8
A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.

As chapter 24 opens, Isaiah takes a definite turn.

We saw nations dealt with, one by one, in chapters 13 through 23:
Babylon in chapters 13-14;
Moab in 15-16;
Damascus in 17;
Ethiopia in 18;
Egypt in 19-20;
Babylon (again), Edom, and Arabia in 21;
the Valley of Vision in 22;
Tyre in 23.

But in chapter 24 the whole world (1) is in view and undergoes what Jesus described as "great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be (2).

During this period the whole world will be shaken and sifted to see if a kernel of faith remains; twisted and squeezed like a hand towel to see if there's a drop of faith left in the fabric:
Behold, the LORD will empty the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants. (3)

But those of you who have cast your lot with Jesus will never know that day:
You have obeyed my teaching about not giving up your faith. So I will keep you from the time of trouble that will come to the whole world to test those who live on earth (4).

On that day--the day of the LORD (5)--sin and death will be defeated, and the teardrop wiped away:
He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces (6).

The Great Tribulation will be the death throes of death. But it will not touch you whose salvation is Jesus, who will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." (7)

Because Jesus already went through the Great Tribulation for you,
A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. (8)

Because Jesus already went through the Great Tribulation for you,
It will be said on that day, "This is our God. We trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, in whom we trusted. Rejoice in the salvation he brings!" (9)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1) Revelation 3:10; (2) Matthew 24:21; (3) Isaiah 24:1; (4) Revelation 3:10/NCV; (5) Isaiah 13:9; (6) Isaiah 25:8; (7) Psalm 91:2; (8) Psalm 91:7-8; (9) Isaiah 25:9