Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, January 11.

 

Zion is another name for Jerusalem, as it is the name of the mountain that dominates the geography (ref. Isaiah 2). As Psalm 125:2 describes, “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.” Yet, in Isaiah 22:1-5, Jerusalem is called a valley:

 

The oracle concerning the valley of vision. What is the matter with you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops? You who were full of noise, you boisterous town, you exultant city; your slain were not slain with the sword, nor did they die in battle. All your rulers have fled together, and have been captured without the bow; all of you who were found were taken captive together, though they had fled far away. Therefore I say, “Turn your eyes away from me, let me weep bitterly, do not try to comfort me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people.” For the Lord GOD of hosts has a day of panic, subjugation and confusion in the valley of vision, a breaking down of walls and a crying to the mountain.

 

This oracle of judgment is the only place in the Bible where Jerusalem is called the valley of vision, though in Joel 3:12-14 it is called by two similar names, “Let the nations be aroused and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat [God judges], for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. … For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” The valley motif is connected to God’s judgment, finding its fulfillment at Armageddon in the Jezreel Valley (Revelation 16:16; Zechariah 12:11).

 

Seize the moment and trust God in the valley – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

 

 

God bless you!

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YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.