When the Earth Experiences Thy Judgments

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When the Earth Experiences Thy Judgments

In his love and respect  for the Lord,  Isaiah presents a song  about people.     He contrasts the different kinds  of people  —  the righteous  and the wicked.     A part  of Isaiah’s song is  in Isaiah 26:8-10,

Indeed,  while following the way  of Thy judgments,  O LORD,   
We have waited  for Thee eagerly;
Thy name,  even Thy memory,  is the desire  of our souls.

At night  my soul longs  for Thee,
Indeed,  my spirit within me  seeks Thee diligently;
For  when the earth experiences  Thy judgments   
The inhabitants  of the world  learn righteousness.

Though the wicked  is shown favor,
He does not learn  righteousness;
He deals unjustly  in the land  of uprightness,
And does not perceive  the majesty  of the LORD.

Isaiah was one  whose soul longed  for the Lord.     He really looked  for God  to lead him  in all the ways  of righteousness.     Furthermore,  Isaiah realized  he was a sinner,  and he knew  that the LORD would discipline His children  when they went astray.     But,  Isaiah was not one  to bitterly reject  the LORD’s discipline.      Instead,  he knew  that discipline was given  in love  to show him the way  of righteousness.     That is why he sang,  “For when the earth experiences  Thy judgments,  the inhabitants  of the world  learn righteousness.”

Discipline is  for the purpose  of learning.     That is why  it is a part of love  and why Paul says  in 1 Corinthians 11:32,

But when we are judged,  we are disciplined  by the Lord  in order  that we may not be condemned  along with  the world.

It was because Isaiah loved the LORD  and wanted to be saved,  that he gladly looked  to the LORD  for guidance  and accepted God’s discipline.    It was his learning tool.

But,  sad to say, the wicked take things in life  quite differently.     Isaiah points out  that even when the wicked  are blessed with favors,  they never learn  to be righteous.     They arrogantly  keep on sinning  because they simply don’t understand  the majesty  of the LORD.     They don’t want  to admit their blessings are  from the LORD.     They would rather consider their blessings  things that are due to them  or something they earned.

And,  when discipline is given  to the wicked,  they become bitter  and rebel  with hatred,  insisting on having things  their way.    They have no desire  to draw near  to the Lord  in love  and fellowship  or to learn God’s ways.

So,  where are we  in life?

Do we thankfully choose  to see God’s discipline  as His love seeking  to save us eternally?     Or  do we always complain  and feel bitter  about the discipline we receive?     Do we want  to learn how  to live  as a child of God?     Or do we despise  being told how  to live righteously?

As we consider the paths we take  in life, we need  to ask ourselves  what our goal really is.

Hopefully,  our goal is  the blessings  of heaven,  where we will want  to praise our Savior  for His faithful love  in guiding us.     Then we will say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  thank you so much  for patiently guiding  and disciplining us   unto eternal life.     Your grace is  so good.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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