My Daily Guide
DIVINE PROTECTION
"For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy,
now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth
at him." Psalms 12:5
Divine protection is promised to the children of God, the redeemed. The above
passage is in perfect harmony with, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose
mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3
When our mind is focused on God then Satan has no place to harass us. You may
have heard "an idle mind is the Devil's workshop." Remember, he has promised to
keep us in "perfect peace." David said, "the Lord leads me beside the still
waters."
When we place our full trust in the Lord, we are then given divine protection.
". . .When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall
lift up a standard against him." Isaiah 59:19. God assures us
that "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God
is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but
will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear
it." I Corinthians 10:13.
THE MARKS THAT MAR A NATION
Text: Isaiah 3:1
INTRODUCTION: Jerusalem or Judah neither accepted the pardon, and beginning with chapter 2 and through chapter 5, Isaiah sees the judgment of God upon sin and rebellion. In chapter 3, which is our text, we see the cause of God's judgment, The Marks That Mar A Nation.
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THE CHILDREN RULE THE PARENTS: Verse 5 - "And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable."
- It is strange that the first indication of the downfall of man, over 700 years before Christ was born, was the behavior of children against the "ancient" or the older generation.
- There has always been a problem with young people, but the situation is worse with each generation. There is an attitude among the youth of our day that the older folks don't know anything, therefore, they refuse to listen.
- THE RICH RUN THE GOVERNMENT: Verse 6 - "When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou has clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand."
- The wretchedness in Judah and Jerusalem comes to such a state that the highest office is given to someone, simply because he has a respectable coat to wear.
- The general theme is, "I like that man and believe he would make a good leader."
- THE HYPOCRITE RUINS THE CHURCH; Verse 8 - "For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory."
- In both work and word they had been against God. His people cared nothing how their words and works had appeared before God.
- Has not the generation of our day followed the Jew in this awful state of disregard for God? Or even more openly speaking against Him.
- God is unchanging and our works and words should forever honor Him. Anything less is an abomination to His precious name.
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THE STYLES REMOVE THE VIRTUE: Verse 16 - "Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet."
- Again it is a strange thing that the fashion of women was the mark of the downfall of Jerusalem and Judah.
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