Isaiah 25 (résumé): Praise to the Lord!

Isaiah 25 is a prophetic celebration of God's victory over death: "He will swallow up death forever and wipe away the tears from all faces". The chapter starts exalting God for his faithfulness and for God having been a refuge for the poor and needy... a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. It then goes on to foretell a messianic banquet: "A feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine... and God will swallow up death forever." And those who trust in God will be glad and rejoice in his salvation... "surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us."

Isaiah 24 (résumé): The Lord's devastation of the earth

 Isaiah 24 is often described as Isaiah's apocalypse! For it describes a future devastation of the earth by God: "The Lord is going to lay waste the earth... and the devastation will affect all groups and classes equally... the earth will be totally plundered... a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt... cities lie desolate... terror and pit and snare await you O people of the earth... the earth reels like a drunkard... so heavy is the guilt of its rebellion... in that day the Lord will punish... kings will be herded like prisoners bound in a dungeon."  

Isaiah 23 (résumé): A prophecy about Tyre

Isaiah 23 is a prophecy of the destruction of Tyre which was a commercial giant: "Wail, O ships of Tarshish! For Tyre is destroyed and left without house or harbour." This destruction of Tyre is God's work in response to their arrogant pride: "Who planned this against Tyre?... The Lord Almighty planned it, to bring low the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth." Isaiah then says that Tyre will be silenced for 70 years prior to returning to trading: "Tyre will be forgotten for 70 years... at the end of 70 years she will return to her hire as a prostitute and will ply her trade... yet her profit and earnings will be set apart for the Lord". 

General Conference

This month of May we will be holding our annual General Conference, as we do every May, when our pastors and leaders gather together to discuss the work of the Lord, to give new ministers probationary status etc. Please pray for this Conference on the 22nd and 23rd of May in João Pessoa on the coast. Please pray for all decision making. We have some delicate issues to handle.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible Study and lawyer Murilo brought an excellent study on 1 John 5:1-12. Granddaughter Beatriz (Bia) led the worship accompanied by Davi.

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