Anyone else need that reminder again? The Lord reigns, and that’s reason to be glad. Yes, in the midst of a global pandemic, despite massive Saharan dust plumes, regardless of economic uncertainty, we can (and should) rejoice because the Lord reigns.
Isaiah 14 reminded me this morning that the Lord’s purposes cannot be turned back, negated, or annulled. Immediate context: it was part of His plan that the Assyrians would conquer Israel, and that the conquerors would be themselves conquered by another. Broader context and implication: The Lord knows His people, and though they suffer for the moment, He has their ultimate well-being in view. His plans will ultimately be accomplished, and nothing we do will alter that.
There are many things I wish I could change. At the end of the day though, the Lord reigns, not me, and I’m glad for that. Read Psalm 97, and see that the whole world rejoices that He reigns as well. (Or listen to the praise chorus from the ‘90s, and get that stuck in your head for the next three days.)
“The Lord of hosts has sworn: ‘As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand, that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and on my mountains trample him underfoot; and his yoke shall depart from them, and his burden from their shoulder.’ This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:24,26-27)
Thank you for that timely reminder. It doesn’t matter what I think or want. He reigns, and He is good, and He loves us. We have nothing to fear because of His truths.