218 / 232
DARK HIGH NOON
We saw earlier that the coming of the Lord was with clouds
of darkness (Psalm 18:9, 11). These clouds of darkness will
cover up the sun, hiding people for protective purposes.
“‘In that day,’ declares the Sovereign Lord, ‘I will make the
sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight’”
(Amos 8:9). God will also be answering the petition in the
book of Isaiah:
“Make your shadow like night; at high noon. Hide the fugi-
tives, do not betray the refugees”
(Isa. 16:3).
END OF JEWISH JUDGEMENT
By this time, the Jews will have finished drinking from the
cup of God’s wrath (Isa. 51:22), and then it will be their ene-
mies’ turn (Isa. 51:23)! The Lord prepares to strike:
“O Lord, your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it.
Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame; let
the fire reserved for your enemies consume them”
(Isa. 26:11).
The Lord reassures Israel that the fire will not harm them:
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over
you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze”
(Isa. 43:2).
The flames will be thick, but as Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego found they were immune to the fiery furnace under
the protection of the Son of God (the Messiah), so will the Is-
218