It was a good ending for the children of Israel who eventually came to their promised inheritance after being let go by the Egyptians. Israel became God's choice possession, however, they were soon dislodged from their inheritance because of sin. They were troubled and tormented by the enemies because they rebelled against God. They went down again to Egypt and the Assyrians oppressed them. However, God arose in judgment against their oppressor because of the oath and covenant He made with Abraham. For God will not forever chide but He will have compassion on His people and arise to show them mercy because He has decided to favour them. And no one can restrain Him or stay His hands when He arises in zeal and step in to intervene for His people against their enemies, then, contention will cease (Jeremiah 50:24b-25) and He will repay the enemies for evil done against His people. The bible says in Jeremiah 50 verse 29b, "Repay her according to her works: According to all she has done to her. For she has been proud against the LORD. Against the Holy one of Israel." Judgment of God will come on evil perpetrators (Jeremiah 30:16, Zechariah 1:18-21). For the Lord is the God of recompense and He will surely repay (Jeremiah 51:54-56). The bible also says, ..."voice of those who flee and escape from the land of Babylon, Declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God. The vengeance of His temple (Jeremiah 50:27b-28b). And why is her judgement coming so swiftly? It is because she has done awfully against the LORD. Judgement will come on her gods, soothsayers, mighty men, horses, and chariots (weapons and instruments of war), and she will experience drought; because her water of defence will be dried up when God rises up against her (Jeremiah 50:38).
In fact, it is the vengeance of His temple and only those who stand at the gate (judgement) like Phineas who would be able to turn away the wrath of God (Numbers 25:10-11, Isaiah 28:6). When Eliashib the priest conspired and allied with Tobiah to gain access to the things, places and people of God, the enemy successfully gained undue access through evil confederacy. Though Nehemiah was not around when the incident occurred, but immediately he returned, he took action and his reaction was noteworthy (Nehemiah 13:4-9). If he had not taken that appropriate action, problem would have ensued. God will arise and not be appeased by anything when enemies of His people (enemies without) get support from enemies within to plunder and desecrate just as it happened in the case of Tobiah and Eliashib. God will arise and enter into judgement with the elders of His people and their princes (Isaiah 3:13-15). God is a God of mercy though but He still urges everyone to repent or face the consequences of his or her evil acts. It is either one submits to His hands or bear His wrath which is always furious. There is no need pleading for mercy when there is no turning away and forsaking of sins. The foremost prayer that God wants to hear is the prayer of penitence from anyone who realizes and acknowledges that he has sinned against God, and needs pardon and forgiveness in order to avert His wrath and judgment. God loves sinners, but hate their sins. He is their creator, He loves them and passionately desires that they turn from their evil ways, but if they fail to do so, that is, see themselves as sinners, confess their evil deeds, forsake them and genuinely repent, then, instead of receiving God's mercy and forgiveness, God will arise against them in judgment.
Habakkuk, the prophet also lamented the woes of his days because law was powerless and justice was delayed. The wicked surrounds the righteous and pervert judgment (Habakkuk 1:2-4). Consequently, he queried God's silence and tolerance of wickedness which would as well be seen as injustice because the wicked devours a person more righteous than him (Habakkuk 1:12-13, Isaiah 24:16). But God had repeatedly warned against violence and evil in His message to the house of David (Judah) and had commanded them to execute justice for the oppressed (Jeremiah 22:3, Ezekiel 46:18). God being just and impartial will arise when the princes disobey Him because He sees the ways of men (Job 34:21). He will also hear the cry of the afflicted (Job34:28) whenever they cry out for help because of the multitude of their oppression. And here is the conclusion about the oppressors and God's judgment; God will repay everyone according to his work (Job 34:19), "Yet He is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor. For they are all the work of His hands." Therefore, God will arise in battle against the enemies of His people (Isaiah 28:21). Babylon shall be plundered; her loud voice silenced and she will fall because God will plead the cause of His people who call on Him (Jeremiah 51:44, 35-36, 48). The Psalmist says in Psalm 55:19, "God will hear and afflict them, Even He who abides of old. Because they do not change. Therefore, they do not fear God." Also, in Psalm 58:10-11, the bible says, "The righteous shall rejoice when He sees the vengeance. Men will say surely there is a reward for the righteous, surely He is a God who judges in the earth."
For the LORD their God is the LORD of hosts and He will fight and avenge for His people. God's name is great in Zion and He has caused His judgement to be heard from heaven, He will arise in judgment to deliver the oppressed of the earth (Psalm 76:1-10). Prior to the time of Israelites release from captivity in Egypt, God told Moses "I am the LORD" (the controller, overseer, ruler, owner and the sovereign one in charge of the affairs of man) I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name LORD, I was not known to them." (Exodus 6:2-3). Then, God told Moses to tell Pharaoh that "by these you shall you know that I am the LORD." Little wonder the magicians of Pharaoh tried to outmatched the LORD God of Israel but the could not. The hand of the LORD shall be known to His servants and His indignation to His enemies, hence, no one will strengthen himself in iniquity (Ezekiel 7:13b). Zephaniah also prophesied "For the Lord God will intervene for them and return their captives" (Zephaniah 2:7b). God will surely intervene for His people and deliver them because the enemies have reproached and made arrogant pride against them (Zephaniah 2:10-11a). The Lord is righteous and will do no unrighteousness, He brings His justice to light, He never fails (Zephaniah 3:5). And all we will have to do is to bow down and worship just like the children of Israel when they heard that God has decided to visit them. They believed God who saw them in their affliction (Exodus 4:30-31) "And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; and when they had that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped."
And when God visits His people and takes over their battles, even strangers in their midst will envy them and desire to be joined to them. In Isaiah 51:3, the bible says, "the Lord will comfort Zion and make her wilderness like Eden. And her desert like the garden of the LORD." Though He was once angry but His anger is turned away. The mercy of God will cause a drastic turn around that will bring about a great positive change for them, and not only that, they would be settled in their own land and will no longer be dislodged from their inheritance. Another interesting thing that will happen as noted in Isaiah 14:3 is that the LORD will give them rest from their sorrow, fear and hard bondage in which they were made to serve. They will as well take them captives whose captive they were, and they will rule over their oppressors (Isaiah 14:2b). When God rises in battle and delivers His people, He will defend and make all their crooked path and places straight (Isaiah 40:4, 42:16) because His utmost goal is restoration and rest for His people. While Jesus was physically here on earth, they hated Him, mocked, ridiculed, and plotted to kill Him, but unknown to them that they are birthing (paving way) for the redemption of entire human race. They thought they have perfected their evil scheme to get rid of Him by requesting that He should be crucified (John 19:2-6). And their evil wish was granted, Jesus was crucified among thieves (John 19:14b-18). But when He declared "it is finished" after He has taken the sour wine, the glory and the beauty of the church emerge (John 19:29-30). And that is the reason why Paul, the apostle remarked that if the prince of this world know he would not have crucified the King of glory. If they had known the God of heaven and earth, the LORD, powers of darkness will not dare Him nor challenge the Lordship of His Son, Jesus Christ. If the enemies too know that God, the LORD will arise, fight and eventually bring the best out of the horrible situations caused by troubling His children, they would not have bothered them.
Habakkuk, the prophet also lamented the woes of his days because law was powerless and justice was delayed. The wicked surrounds the righteous and pervert judgment (Habakkuk 1:2-4). Consequently, he queried God's silence and tolerance of wickedness which would as well be seen as injustice because the wicked devours a person more righteous than him (Habakkuk 1:12-13, Isaiah 24:16). But God had repeatedly warned against violence and evil in His message to the house of David (Judah) and had commanded them to execute justice for the oppressed (Jeremiah 22:3, Ezekiel 46:18). God being just and impartial will arise when the princes disobey Him because He sees the ways of men (Job 34:21). He will also hear the cry of the afflicted (Job34:28) whenever they cry out for help because of the multitude of their oppression. And here is the conclusion about the oppressors and God's judgment; God will repay everyone according to his work (Job 34:19), "Yet He is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor. For they are all the work of His hands." Therefore, God will arise in battle against the enemies of His people (Isaiah 28:21). Babylon shall be plundered; her loud voice silenced and she will fall because God will plead the cause of His people who call on Him (Jeremiah 51:44, 35-36, 48). The Psalmist says in Psalm 55:19, "God will hear and afflict them, Even He who abides of old. Because they do not change. Therefore, they do not fear God." Also, in Psalm 58:10-11, the bible says, "The righteous shall rejoice when He sees the vengeance. Men will say surely there is a reward for the righteous, surely He is a God who judges in the earth."
For the LORD their God is the LORD of hosts and He will fight and avenge for His people. God's name is great in Zion and He has caused His judgement to be heard from heaven, He will arise in judgment to deliver the oppressed of the earth (Psalm 76:1-10). Prior to the time of Israelites release from captivity in Egypt, God told Moses "I am the LORD" (the controller, overseer, ruler, owner and the sovereign one in charge of the affairs of man) I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name LORD, I was not known to them." (Exodus 6:2-3). Then, God told Moses to tell Pharaoh that "by these you shall you know that I am the LORD." Little wonder the magicians of Pharaoh tried to outmatched the LORD God of Israel but the could not. The hand of the LORD shall be known to His servants and His indignation to His enemies, hence, no one will strengthen himself in iniquity (Ezekiel 7:13b). Zephaniah also prophesied "For the Lord God will intervene for them and return their captives" (Zephaniah 2:7b). God will surely intervene for His people and deliver them because the enemies have reproached and made arrogant pride against them (Zephaniah 2:10-11a). The Lord is righteous and will do no unrighteousness, He brings His justice to light, He never fails (Zephaniah 3:5). And all we will have to do is to bow down and worship just like the children of Israel when they heard that God has decided to visit them. They believed God who saw them in their affliction (Exodus 4:30-31) "And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; and when they had that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped."
And when God visits His people and takes over their battles, even strangers in their midst will envy them and desire to be joined to them. In Isaiah 51:3, the bible says, "the Lord will comfort Zion and make her wilderness like Eden. And her desert like the garden of the LORD." Though He was once angry but His anger is turned away. The mercy of God will cause a drastic turn around that will bring about a great positive change for them, and not only that, they would be settled in their own land and will no longer be dislodged from their inheritance. Another interesting thing that will happen as noted in Isaiah 14:3 is that the LORD will give them rest from their sorrow, fear and hard bondage in which they were made to serve. They will as well take them captives whose captive they were, and they will rule over their oppressors (Isaiah 14:2b). When God rises in battle and delivers His people, He will defend and make all their crooked path and places straight (Isaiah 40:4, 42:16) because His utmost goal is restoration and rest for His people. While Jesus was physically here on earth, they hated Him, mocked, ridiculed, and plotted to kill Him, but unknown to them that they are birthing (paving way) for the redemption of entire human race. They thought they have perfected their evil scheme to get rid of Him by requesting that He should be crucified (John 19:2-6). And their evil wish was granted, Jesus was crucified among thieves (John 19:14b-18). But when He declared "it is finished" after He has taken the sour wine, the glory and the beauty of the church emerge (John 19:29-30). And that is the reason why Paul, the apostle remarked that if the prince of this world know he would not have crucified the King of glory. If they had known the God of heaven and earth, the LORD, powers of darkness will not dare Him nor challenge the Lordship of His Son, Jesus Christ. If the enemies too know that God, the LORD will arise, fight and eventually bring the best out of the horrible situations caused by troubling His children, they would not have bothered them.
