Devotion for the Second Thursday in Advent
December 8, 2011 by Lillie
Isaiah 13:9-11 (ESV)
9 Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. 10 For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light. 11 I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.
Heavenly Father, You have warned us in Your Word of the awful destruction that awaits those who are not saved. Cleanse our hearts, purify our actions, clothe in Your righteousness, and forgive us for our sins and iniquities so we are not destroyed when Jesus returns in glory. In His name. Amen.
Lillie, when I looked up this same verse in a book, it sais “…to make the earth” instead of “land.” Do you take this verse to mean the whole earth? I’m not sure how to interpret it. Thanks!!
David,
In different versions of the Bible, the same word is rendered land and earth. Verse 11 talks about punishing the world–I compared in several translations and all used world in that verse. So I think it is talking about the whole earth, the world as we know. Those who are saved will go to glory, but those who have not accepted Christ will go to utter destruction. We don’t like to believe that. Often people say, “A loving God wouldn’t send anyone to Hell.” But the Bible is very clear that we have a choice. God doesn’t send anyone to Hell–he lets them reap the consequences of their own choices. He gives us every chance to repent, but if someone refuses to repent, God lets them suffer the consequences.