Watch

King James Daily Bible Study Devotional

Message Title: Watch
Date: Tuesday July 19, 2011
Chapters: Isaiah 21-22, Proverb 19, Psalm 39
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-july-19
Details of Today's Chapters: The burdens of Babylon and other countries, the burden of the valley of vision, and the coming grievous distress is foretold of Jerusalem.

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” - Mark 13:30-37.

The word watch is defined as paying attention, close observation, to be on guard, and vigilance for keeping or protecting against danger. While we do not know the hour in which Jesus will return we do know that He is coming and we better be paying attention to the signs. The truth is, God does not give us the exact timing of anything, but does promise that it will come to pass, He is gracious to give us an advanced warning before He brings them to pass. Jesus Christ commands something from all His servants, we ought to be on watch at all times in expectation of His return. This applies to Christ's coming to us through death, as well as on judgment day.

The destruction of Israel was inevitable, they could expect it to come very shortly, little did the rest of the surrounding countries know that they too were about face the same fate as Israel. Through Isaiah God warns these nations that they too will face destruction, this time Isaiah foretells the burdens of Babylon. Babylon is called the desert or plain of the sea, for it was a flat country, and full of lakes and was abundantly watered with the many streams of the river Euphrates.

“The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land. A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it. My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me. Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield. For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.” - Isaiah 21:1-6.

We are to keep watch, be prepared for what is to come, but enjoy what God is providing for us in the mean time. God will take care of His people, we just have to keep our eyes on Him and trust in His Word. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” - Philippians 3:13-15.

Now, we learn of the judgment to come of Jerusalem and Israel, known as “the burden of the valley of vision,”. When God threatens His people with judgment, He expects and requires that they will humble themselves under His mighty hand, and if they do not do so, His judgments will follow them to the grave. Isaiah seeing this vision grieves for his people.

“All thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in thee are bound together, which have fled from far. Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people. For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains. And Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield.” - Isaiah 22:3-6.

Hearing of what is to come of our world can be very grieving and scary, as we approach 2012 many people fear what is to come of it from the many predictions given of it, but we have nothing to be afraid of, God will take care of His people. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” - Hebrews 10:35-37.

The same promise God gives to us was given to the Jews, after Isaiah foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and Israel he gives them a promise. Those called to places of trust and power, should seek to God for grace to enable them to do their duty. Eliakim's advancement is described.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house. And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.” - Isaiah 22:20-25.

Eliakim means resurrection of God, Hilkiah means God is my portion, our Lord Jesus describes His own power as Mediator, as a nail in a sure place. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” - I Timothy 2:3-6.

The soul that comes to Him can not perish, which is by faith hung upon Christ. He will set before the believer an open door, which no man can shut, and bring both body and soul to eternal glory. But those who neglect so great salvation will find, that when he shuts the door no one can open it, whether it be shutting one out of heaven, or shutting one up in hell for ever. “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death....He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” - Revelation 1:18, 3:5.

While we can not know the hour in which Jesus will come we can enjoy life and be prepared for His coming, if you do not have Christ in your life you are not prepared, and just saying that you know who Christ is does not mean you have Christ in your life. The only way to have Christ in your life is to ask Him to come into it, then and only then will your name be in the book of life. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” - Romans 10:9,10.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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