“THE RIGHTEOUS man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; and merciful and devout men are taken away, with no one considering that the uncompromisingly upright and godly person is taken away from the calamity and evil to come [even through wickedness]. He [in death] enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walks straight and in his uprightness.” Isaiah 57:1-2 ->me: This passage gives so much peace, comfort, and hope in just 2 verses. No one considers that God takes His beloved ones home to save them from the evil that is coming. The word for ‘devout’ is translated from ‘men of unfailing love’. The death of the righteous (those right with God) is never simply the inevitable end that comes to all; neither is it ever accidental or untimely; but always purposeful deliberate. A ‘taking away’ in order to be spared from evil and brought into His peace and rest; and entering into comfort. Those who are ‘right with God’ display an upright life as others watch them. At the same time I read these verses I think about those saints who suffer horribly or were martyred for their faith…either way there is comfort in knowing that you are right where God needs/wants you. If I am still here under persecution but strong in my faith and following the Lord in every way, then I can rest assured that I am still needed, and being used, by the Eternal God and that when the time is right HE will take me away into His rest.
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