Shalom,
Psalm 50:1-6:
1 THE MIGHTY One, God the LORD, speaks and calls the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 3 Our God comes and does not keep silence; a fire devours before Him, and round about Him a mighty tempest rages. 4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that He may judge His people. 5 Gather together to Me My saints [those who have found grace in My sight], those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. 6 And the heavens declare His righteousness (rightness and justice), for God, He is judge. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
The world of unbelievers may continue to try to silence the people of God, but God WILL NOT be silent! If God's people won't praise Him, then rocks will do it (Luke 19:40)! If God's people won't speak what He desires, then He will use a donkey (Numbers 22:28)! The voice of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible will NOT be silenced by anyone! I choose to be a voice of God in the earth today. How about YOU? Here is "Everything That Has Breath" from Hillsong:
In Philemon we read again the account of Onesimus and how Paul is interceding for him with Philemon. I LOVE verse 8 from the Message Bible:
8 In line with this I have a favor to ask of you. As Christ's ambassador and now a prisoner for Him, I wouldn't hesitate to command this if I thought it necessary, but I'd rather make it a personal request.
Paul had every right to demand this of Philemon, but he wanted Philemon to do what was right of his own choice. There would be blessing in that for Philemon! That is JUST like our wonderful God! He has every right to demand obedience of us, but He gives us the choice! When we make the right choices, we walk in all of the BLESSING of God! I LOVE that!
As you read Isaiah 13-14, remember that Babylon symbolizes the world system that man has built for himself, in defiance of the One, True God! Jerusalem and Babylon are really contrasting cities! Jerusalem is the chosen city of God, and Babylon is the wicked city of man. One will last forever, the other - destroyed, forever! I think I will stay on God's side. How about You?
Shalom in Him!
