“The city of confusion”
Isaiah 24:10 “The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.”
“The city of confusion” lay in “confusion” because they had turned away from God to embrace idols and to adore themselves. Their “city” was “broken down” because their idols could not help them and they didn’t have the strength to help themselves. Their “confusion” was so bad that “every house is shut up, that no man may come in”. Their “confusion” was so bad that “There” was “a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone” (Isaiah 24:11); that is, they didn’t know what to do, so they tried to blot out their “confusion” with a drunken stupor. The antidote to “confusion” is not to add more “confusion” or to intoxicate ourselves, but it is to “lift up” our “voice” and “sing for the majesty of the LORD” and to “cry aloud from the sea” (Isaiah 24:14); that is, lift our spiritual eyes and our voices above our troubles, above ourselves, and above those things we so highly esteem (idols) and declare, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” (Psalms 121:1). Looking “unto the hills” is allegory for looking above ourselves to the Almighty Lord our God. In our day, because of the Coronavirus , “confusion” abounds around us because we simply do not know what to believe, our leaders’ decisions are often inconsistent and confused, the so-called experts don’t agree, and our news media is throwing all this “confusion” at us and leaving it to us to resolve the “confusion”. Well, for me, there is a simple answer, “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Because of the concern for the health of our older members and those who have serious health issues, we will worship together via the internet until it seems safe for us to again meet together in the Church House. In the meantime, we must stay in touch with each other, check on each other, call each other on the phone, etc. We can defeat this awful “confusion” by “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), praying often, reading the Word of God, declaring the Word of God, and fellowshipping with one another; albeit, by electronic means if necessary. And, one of the most often quoted passages at this time, is “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14)! So, let’s prayerfully resolve to defeat this “confusion” by “looking unto” our Lord, Who is never confused!