You will be a Shelter from the storm

Ruach Breath of Life

As storms of all kinds rage across the world, and we pray for the Lord to bring His deliverance near to many in great need of it, let's take deeply to heart these words. They are primarily taken from the prophet Isaiah and the Revelation that brings the New Testament to its climax. We exalt and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done such wondrous things, things planned long, which humble our pride but serve to make ready a people prepared for You. Therefore strong peoples will honour You; and cities of ruthless nations will revere You, for You have been a refuge for the poor, and a refuge for the needy; You will be a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. The breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall, but You still silence the uproar of the nations and the war chants of the ruthless. We grieve for the many who will not turn to You, or receive Your gracious offer, foolishly preferring the broad and easy way, despite it leading only to destruction through the gates of hell. For straight is the gate that leads to life, and hard and difficult the narrow way You summon us to walk along. The proud and self-sufficient, who refuse Your offer of an eternal inheritance, will have no place at Your banqueting table, nor any part in the final victory of Your Kingdom of Light. (Matt. 7:13-14; Col. 1:12) For it will be on Your mountain LORD Almighty that You will prepare for all a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine, with the best of meats and the finest of wines; and on this mountain that You will sovereignly destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, and swallow up death forever. (1 Cor. 15:54) You will walk round about us and wipe away the tears from every person’s face; (Rev. 7:17; 21:4) and especially from those who have suffered most, as You take away the shame and insults Your people have endured. In that day we will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in You, and You saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in You, We will rejoice and be glad in Your salvation. (From Isaiah 25) Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (Rev. 20:6)