Old Testament reading: Isaiah 27-28
O that ambiguous Leviathan! We first read of him in Job 38, and you may recall my comments on him from Job 41 on Day 200 (Yes, I still believe in dragons!). The Septuagint here renders Leviathan as “the Dragon.” I believe Isaiah 27 corresponds nicely with the imagery of Revelation 12 in light of the context of our readings in Isaiah 24:21 and the long awaited salvation of the Lord. In Isaiah 27:1, the Leviathan (dragon) will be defeated by the Lord in the day of salvation. In Revelation 12, the great dragon, (“the Devil and Satan” v 9), is defeated and cast out of heaven. Note the associated references to salvation in Revelation 12:10. Continuing in Isaiah 27 we read of the restoration of Israel, who will “fill the face of the world with fruit” (v 6). Chapter 28 is a curse upon Israel, represented as she often was by the name Ephraim, the largest of the ten northern tribes. Verses 7-8 paint a vivid picture of the error of those who deceived through wine and strong drink. This condemnation continues in verses 9-15 as these drunken scoffers are mocking the instruction of the prophet as “precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line.” The picture here is one of a teacher instructing children, imparting a little knowledge, then repeating it over and over until that instruction is instilled in their minds before moving to the next set of truths. But it was due to their own wickedness that Isaiah had to teach them as little children. In verse 16 we see the Lord, our stone of foundation, proven, precious and sure.
New Testament reading: 2 Peter
“If you do these things you will never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10). 1 Peter 1:5-7 contain what are commonly called “The Christian Graces.” I hope our readings have encouraged the development and growth of these beautiful marks of the child of God. Note the conditional nature of God’s promise in this text. After commanding the brethren to be diligent to add “these things” (an imperative), the promises of neither being barren nor unfruitful, the promise of never stumbling, and the promise of being supplied with an abundant entrance into the kingdom are given. We must do the first in order to be the recipients of the second.
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