March 13
The Lord Reigns
“stretched out upon all the nations.”
—Isaiah 14:26
Read Isaiah 14:24-27
Up until today’s chapter, Isaiah has dealt with prophecy directed against Babylon. In verse 24, however, Isaiah directs his attention to the world power of his own day, the Assyrians. The reason this prophecy follows the one directed against the Babylonians may be to impress the two remaining tribes of Israel that the judgments of the Lord would certainly be fulfilled. Assyria had been utterly destroyed and this took place in “my land” (v. 25) during the war against the north of Israel.
Through Assyria’s humiliation by Babylon, Judah would be delivered. But there is more to it – in verse 26 we read that the Lord’s hand “is stretched out upon all the nations.” Many of the nations conquered by the Assyrians would be set free, which would impress the nations that no power controls world events but God alone. Who can anull the decisions of the Lord (v. 27)?
We also see this happening in the present day: world powers are lifted up and brought down by the Lord. Developments in world history today run their course according to God’s sovereign plan.
How must we discern the Lord’s reign on the earth today?
This devotional was taken from “The Time of Your Life” a daily devotional published by the Youth & Educational Committee of the FRC. To order a printed copy of this book, contact: bookorders@frcna.org.