*DAILY MANNA* *THURSDAY, MARCH 19 2020* *THE FALL OF THE ARROGANT* *TEXT:* ISAIAH 10:1-19. _

*DAILY MANNA*
*THURSDAY, MARCH 19 2020*

*THE FALL OF THE ARROGANT*
*TEXT:* ISAIAH 10:1-19.
_*🔑KEY VERSE* "And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?" (ISAIAH 10:3)._

Arrogant and godless man is infirm and helpless in the face of the fury of the elements such as when there is a severe earthquake or a devastating hurricane that comes with massive flooding. Trees are uprooted, buildings are brought down and entire heavily-populated settlements are swept away. We look small and present a pitiable sight when these disasters visit us.

If man can scarcely survive the onslaught of nature, how will he stand in the greater fury of the Almighty? That was the message the Lord had for the people of Judah, Israel and Assyria in the days of Isaiah the prophet when they had all gone astray. The kings and governments made laws that alienated the weak of the society from their right to the good things of the land. They also worshipped idols to whom they ascribed their successes, prompting the Lord to ask derisively: "Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith?"

God declared a two-pronged war against two nations. He would use Assyria as "the rod of [His] anger" to judge Samaria for forsaking the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and going after idols which had left the children of Israel vulnerable in the hands of enemy. But the Lord said He would follow that up with a punitive action on Assyria which arrogantly assumed that its prowess was responsible for a successful military campaign in Israel.

Today all that is left of the great Assyrian Empire are stone relics, a testimony to the fulfillment of God's promise to "punish the... stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks." God's action on Assyria's pride was because the land refused to acknowledge Him as the Source of its power. Divine judgement led to its extinction. It symbolically foreshadows the eternal judgement that awaits unrepentant sinners who trust in themselves.

*✍THOUGHT FOR THE DAY* Extinction follows rejection of God.

*COVER TO COVER* NUMBERS 35-36.

*MEDITATION*

"Judgement must begin at the house of God" I Peter 4:17.

*1. Judgement on those in position of authority* vv1-5
Making unrighteous laws, craftily making policies, rules or decisions that will exploit, oppress, enslave the vulnerable and unjustly favour friends will in the final analysis lead to heavy judgement.
*Lord*, I will not abuse any privileged position of authority given me🙏
*Lord*, give your children in the position of authority grace to be truly just and be examples to others🙏

*2. Judgement on the "saintly" Judah* vv5-6
At times God may use the godless or wicked as a rod of correction to the sleeping, sinning, sinking, sensual "saints" in order to awaken them to righteousness.
*Q* Are you being oppressed and humiliated by the godless? Check first to make sure that your life is right with God. If your life is right, pray this prayer:
*Lord*, I reject every oppression of the wicked in my life and command every yoke to be broken in the mighty name of Jesus🙏
*3. The wicked and boastful Assyria* vv7-16.
a. The Rod of correction (Assyria) overstepped its bound by adding extreme cruelty to divine mandate v7.
b. He boasted of his exploits against the "saintly" Israel thinking that his power brought him victory vv8-15.
c. God promised him severe and devastating judgement (not correction unlike Israel's case) vv12,15,16.
*Lord*, destroy all the power of the wicked and witchcraft doing what you have not asked them to do in my life and destiny 🙏
*4. And the saints laugh last* vv12, 17,18.
a. Observe that while the "righteous" Israel was passing through chastisement, the wicked were temporarily having a field day v12.
b. Observe that at the end, the chastised Israel was restored, refined, reformed and refired; and while the wicked was devastated with consuming pestilence and diseases. Assyria is no more, Israel remains vv17-19.
*Lord*, release your power and fire on your children and cause them to tread and triumph over their adversaries🙏

*HYMN* I dreamed of the great judgement morning

1. I dream'd that the great judgment morning
Had dawn'd, and the trumpet had blown;
I dream'd that the nations had gathered
To judgment before the white throne.
From the throne came a bright shining angel
And stood on the land and the sea,
And swore with his hand rais'd to heaven,
That time was no longer to be.
*Chorus:*
And O, what a weeping and wailing,
As the lost were told of their fate;
They cried for the rocks and the mountains,
They pray'd, but their pray'r was too late.
2 The rich man was there, but his money
Had melted and vanished away;
A pauper he stood in the judgment,
His debts were too heavy to pay.
The great man was there, but his greatness
When death came was left far behind;
The angel that opened the records,
Not a trace of his greatness could find. [Chorus]
3 The widow was there and the orphans,
God heard and remembered their cries;
No sorrow in heaven forever,
God wiped all the tears from their eyes.
The gambler was there and the drunkard,
And the man who had sold them the drink,
With people who gave him the license--
Together in hell they did sink. [Chorus]
4 The moral man came to judgment,
But self-righteous rags would not do;
The men who had crucified Jesus
Had passed off as moral men too.
The souls that had put off salvation--
"Not to-night; I'll get saved by and by;
No time now to think of religion!"
At last they had found time to die. [Chorus]