Victory is Coming

O. T. #1652  "Victory is Coming"
March 20, 2020
Isaiah 44-Part 3
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee. Isaiah 44:22

LET IT GLOW

After 70 years in captivity, God was going to blot out Israel's sin of idolatry. He would pardon it as a thick cloud is scattered. It is only Christ who can pardon our sins.
When Babylon fell, there was singing in heaven. God glorified Himself whenever He redeemed Israel. What joy the Jews must have shown as they rebuilt Jerusalem and the Temple!

And there will be joy as the believers across the world gather together again to worship God after the coronavirus has been defeated. The church's foundation is Jesus Christ. When we return to Him as a nation, He will blot out our sins and we will know that He has redeemed us.

So take courage, dear on, God is in control and will hold us with His righteous right hand. He is our hope and strong hold. He is the God who saves and stand with wide open arms. Let us run to Him.
Hang in there, for victory is coming.


LET IT GROW

What is considered one of the greatest prophecies in the Bible? Read on to find out what is.

For a little historical background, Falwell said Cyrus, known as Cyrus II or Cyrus the Great,  was a Persian king of the Achaemenid dynasty. He was the grandson of Cyrus I and may have possibly been known to Isaiah in the prophet's latter years. He conquered his mother's father, Astyages, the Median overlord, and founded the Persian Empire. He soon marched through Assyria, and in 546 he overthrew Croesus and the kingdom of Lydia. In 539, his army conquered Babylon and deposed Belshazzar.

Isaiah prophesied from about 740-681 BC; he called Cyrus by name 150 years before he ruled (559-530 BC). Later historians said that Cyrus read this prophecy and was so moved that he carried it out. Isaiah also predicted that Jerusalem would fall more that 100 years before it happened (586 BC) and that the temple would be rebuilt about 200 years before it happened. It is clear these prophecies came from God, who alone knows the future. (Life Application Study Bible)

Cyrus became king of Persia, set apart by God's providence for divine purposes. He is featured as the Lord's Servant and shepherd of the sheep of Israel who gathered the lost sheep of the house of Israel back to their land (Micah 5:4). In 538, he decreed the rebuilding of the temple, as Ezra tells us. The returning Jews finished the work in 516 BC.

Normally, the term "shepherd" is applied to Christ (Ezekiel 34:23), God Himself (Is. 40:11), and the kings of Israel (2 Sam. 5:2). Falwell

If we read the end of our life's story, would it say that we remained a faithful servant of Christ to the end, that we fought the good fight of faith to the end?

LET IT GO
Father God, You are here beside me. Strengthen my body and soul. Let faith run over like tea poured in a cup. You are my Good Shepherd and I am Your sheep. Guide me on Your paths.