23/02/2023 - THE DISCIPLINARY ARMY

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Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent; their horses’ hooves will seem like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind.  Isaiah 5.28

Isaiah goes on to warn Judah about the foolishness of forsaking the Lord. Now, the enemy would not come by chance, but rather authorized by the Almighty, who would reject helping the rebels due to the wickedness of their actions. The sin was to abandon the One who had delivered them from Egyptian captivity and made them a great nation. Likewise, anyone who was taken out of the kingdom of darkness and put into the Kingdom of Jesus, but abandoned the faith, will suffer the wrong done to the Kingdom of God (Hebrews 6.4-8).

The prophet speaks of the weapons of the Babylonians, which were symbols of the demons sent by hell to take us away from salvation. According to Isaiah, it would be impossible to overcome those adversaries, because their arrows were sharp. Now, outside the Word, it’s not possible to defeat the infernal army, unless there is true repentance and renunciation of sinful and forbidden pleasure.

Don’t play with your eternal happiness. It’s worth more than all the gold in the world. Once it has happened, come out of the lake of fire and brimstone will be impossible (Matthew 25.41,46; Revelation 20.10). Nothing beats having a clear conscience that you have never harmed anyone, and that your satisfaction comes from things authorized by the Word. So, refuse the devil’s suggestions, because his arrows are sharp to destroy you.

The prophet describes that the opponents would come to take over Judah and its residents, saying that their bows were straightened – ready to shoot when needed. This indeed happened. Later, they succeeded in delivering the coup de grace to the dying Judah, which was never the same again. Never play with the devil, for he will come with the apparatus to annihilate you (Jude 9).

The horses of Babylon, the great helpers in the wars of that time, were special. Their hooves were like stone – as they galloped, they let off sparks. No doubt there were some who mocked Isaiah, but when they tried to resist Nebuchadnezzar, they saw that this was not possible and that the prophet was more than right. Demons are strong enough not to fall before anything except the Name of Jesus, used by those in fellowship with the Lord.

When they spun around, doing laps on the battlefields, amidst their opponents, their wheels would spin, creating whirlwinds. Such ability could not be resisted, but Judah decided to pay to see. The sharp arrows struck the hearts of their braves. Because they did not have the Lord as their protector, they succumbed to the wickedness of their enemies. Watch out not to fall!

Even though they were warned, they preferred to continue on the path of easy and accursed enrichment, instead of bowing down before the One who always helped them and gave them victory. Many fell because of the conviction that came not from the Lord, but from one who was a servant of the enemy. Make amends with God now, and He will straighten out your life (Proverbs 3.5-8).

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares