in the midst of many peoples
like dew from the LORD,
like showers on the grass,
which do not wait for mortals
or depend on any human being.
8 The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples,
like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which mauls and mangles as it goes,
and no one can rescue.
9 Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies,
and all your foes will be destroyed.
10 "In that day," declares the LORD,
"I will destroy your horses from among you
and demolish your chariots.
11 I will destroy the cities of your land
and tear down all your strongholds.
12 I will destroy your witchcraft
and you will no longer cast spells.
13 I will destroy your idols
and your sacred stones from among you;
you will no longer bow down
to the work of your hands.
14 I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles
when I demolish your cities.
15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath
on the nations that have not obeyed me."
Questions to consider:
- Read the poem of verses 7-9 aloud. What are the two different images portraying the remnant?
- In what do people now trust for their strength? How will God assert His strength?
- What is the basis of your confidence about yourself and life?
Possibilities for prayer:
God finds it problematic when people find their confidence in things other than him (idols and witchcraft, for example). For us, those two things might not be such huge issues, but things like our intellectual or athletic ability, our beauty or financial success, might be things that serve as the basis for our confidence. Today, let’s give those things over to God. Let’s reorient the way in which we find value in our lives, and center that on the fact that God loves us, desires good things for us, and has called us to be world-changers. Those other things are fleeting, unlike God’s never-ending, unfailing love.
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