May 4

Isaiah 34
“John Brown’s body lies a ‘mouldering in his grave. . . “ Some union soldiers were singing the song in their camp in Virginia. Julia Ward Howe and others were visiting the camp. A clergyman asked Julia to write new words to the song. The result was a poem, published first in the Atlantic Monthly, called, The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The lyrics replaced the “John Brown’s body. . . ,” lyrics in the familiar tune. Most of us are familiar with the first verse:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.
Mrs. Howe took the Apocalyptic concept of the Scripture and applied it to the Civil War situation. I guess the Civil War was a necessary evil. It did produce the freeing of slaves, but it also produced a hatred in the country that has still not been completely healed. The war probably was an outcome of the wrath of God upon the country for the sin of the nation in allowing slavery. Is God’s glory seen in His wrath?
Isaiah 34 speaks of the Apocalyptic wrath of God as it is poured out upon the earth. Yes, His glory is seen there. His glory is also seen in the depths of Hell. How? God’s justice is displayed there. God’s justice will be displayed at Armageddon. I feel uncomfortable with it. It scares me. Yet, I acknowledge that it is logically necessary. There is a Holy God. Since there is an Eternal Holy God, a sin stands eternally before Him. If He is holy, then He must eternally punish that sin. Otherwise, His justice is mocked. Therefore, He eternally judges sin because His holiness demands it. If He did not judge, He would be neither just nor holy. That is part of His glory. So, when I hear people criticize the Bible because they say that the God of the O.T. is too harsh, I cringe. If He were not harsh toward sin, He would not be holy. If He were not holy, I would want none of Him. Yes, His wrath reveals His glory, but thanks be to God, His mercy triumphs over judgment in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because Jesus is the Eternal God-man, He was able to bear eternal death upon the cross and in the grave in my place. He justly extends mercy to me when I cling to Him upon the cross. Does the wrath of the apocalypse or Hell bother you? It shouldn’t bother you anymore than does the cross. It is part of His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john