Study Desk

In that wonderful day when the Lord gives his people rest from sorrow and fear, from slavery and chains,

Is this the one who destroyed the world and made it into a wasteland? Is this the king who demolished the world's greatest cities and had no mercy on his prisoners?'

"The kings of the nations lie in stately glory, each in his own tomb,

The Lord of Heaven's Armies has spoken— who can change his plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him?"

What should we tell the Philistine messengers? Tell them, "The Lord has built Jerusalem; its walls will give refuge to his oppressed people."

The Lord has sent a spirit of foolishness on them, so all their suggestions are wrong. They cause Egypt to stagger like a drunk in his vomit.

Just to speak the name of Israel will terrorize them, for the Lord of Heaven's Armies has laid out his plans against them.

In the year when King Sargon of Assyria sent his commander in chief to capture the Philistine city of Ashdod,

He will bring honor to his family name, for I will drive him firmly in place like a nail in the wall.

They will give him great responsibility, and he will bring honor to even the lowliest members of his family."

The Lord held out his hand over the sea and shook the kingdoms of the earth. He has spoken out against Phoenicia, ordering that her fortresses be destroyed.

The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God's instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant.

Then the glory of the moon will wane, and the brightness of the sun will fade, for the Lord of Heaven's Armies will rule on Mount Zion. He will rule in great glory in Jerusalem, in the sight of all the leaders of his people.

He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The Lord has spoken!

God will push down Moab's people as a swimmer pushes down water with his hands. He will end their pride and all their evil works.

In that day the Lord will take his terrible, swift sword and punish Leviathan, the swiftly moving serpent, the coiling, writhing serpent. He will kill the dragon of the sea.

In that day the great trumpet will sound. Many who were dying in exile in Assyria and Egypt will return to Jerusalem to worship the Lord on his holy mountain.

Then at last the Lord of Heaven's Armies will himself be Israel's glorious crown. He will be the pride and joy of the remnant of his people.

So now God will have to speak to his people through foreign oppressors who speak a strange language!

God has told his people, "Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest." But they would not listen.