June 23 Isaiah 1-5 The Criticality of the LORD's Protection

Today's reading is about the injustice in Judah that rendered its religiosity distasteful to God. The LORD promises coming judgment. In Chapter 5, God says, "I will take away its hedge and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled."

The context of those comments are within a passage where God is referring to His people as a vineyard. Apparently, God provides a hedge of protection around His people - most presumably from the wiles of Satan and his minions - the LORD provides protection - but he can also remove it. Yes, the judgment will come to Judah in the form of real live visible humans called the Babylonian Empire, but only because the LORD has allowed world events to make them strong and Judah weak. Alternatively, david's and Solomon's empires grew and were at peace because of the blessings upon them and the calamities and wars between their adversaries that made them weak.

Those happenings are on a large regional stage, but the same holds true for us in our personal lives. We need the hedge and walls from Satan's attacks that only God can provide. Obedience and prayer bring the LORD's protection. We should pray daily (or more) for God's protection. Satan is real and so are His attacks. We are puny against him - but God isn't - Satan is puny before God. We need God's protection - be obedient and pray for it.