Psalm 48:2-8 ~ (Revised Standard Version)
[2] beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
[3] Within her citadels God has shown himself a sure defense.
[4] For lo, the kings assembled, they came on together.
[5] As soon as they saw it, they were astounded, they were in panic,
they took to flight;
[6] trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in travail.
[7] By the east wind thou didst shatter the ships of Tarshish.
[8] As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes for ever. [Selah]
Isaiah 2:12-20
12 For the Lord of hosts has a day
against all that is proud and lofty,
against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;
13 against all the cedars of Lebanon,
lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan;
14 against all the lofty mountains,
and against all the uplifted hills;
15 against every high tower, and against every fortified wall;
16 against all the ships of Tarshish,
and against all the beautiful craft.
17 And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled,
and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low,
and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
Yesterday we discussed Job, Isaiah and spiritual voyages. We looked for God to uplift us in troubled times and talked about how Jesus spoke of Heaven as growing from a seed into a beautiful tree. Spiritual voyages looking for the Lord in earnestness, will always end in God's grace and salvation.
In another era, we might not be able to believe what the Holy Spirit wrote about the destruction of a port or a fleet of ships. God tells us not all will be built up. We could imagine it when we think of the city of New Orleans - 2 hurricanes and now a spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Yet really, this is not what this speaks of.
New Orleans wouldn't have to be hit numerous times, if it was God's punishment. God is at work, but this isn't His retribution.
Nahum 1:9
What do you plot against the LORD?
He will make a complete end;
trouble will not rise up a second time.
The ships of Tarshish are struck only once by God's hand. The destruction worked so well, we know only Tarshish was on the Mediterranean. The ships of Tarshish are an analogy. What man sees as a sure thing, as enduring, God does not. God protects Jerusalem time and time again:
Exodus 14:30
Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.
Joshua 6:20
When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.
1 Samuel 7-10
While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites.
2 Kings 6:18
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
Judges 7:22
When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Mehol
2 Kings:42-44
42 A man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain. "Give it to the people to eat," Elisha said.
43 "How can I set this before a hundred men?" his servant asked.
But Elisha answered, "Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the LORD says: 'They will eat and have some left over.' " 44 Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.
2 Samuel 5:23-25
so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." 25 So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
2 King 20:4-6
Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: 5 "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.' "
Luke 7:12-18
12As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry."
14Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" 15The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people."We look to you Father God, for Your blessings. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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