Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals:
Friday May 29 2026
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Obadiah 1:15-For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.
In the Old Testament, the phrase “the day of the Lord” was a phrase that was often used to refer to judgments that God would bring on the nations (especially the nation of Israel) as punishment for their sins and in attempt to bring them to repentance.
For example, consider what God says through Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 30:1-3-The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Wail, ‘Woe to the day!’ 3 For the day is near, Even the day of the LORD is near; It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles.
Here, the Bible makes it clear that this “day of the Lord” referred to how God was working through king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to punish the nations.
Ezekiel 30:10-Thus says the Lord GOD: “I will also make a multitude of Egypt to cease By the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
Another example is found in the Book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 13:6-Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
With this language, who was the subject of God’s anger and wrath on this “day of the Lord?”
Isaiah 13:1-The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
Zephaniah, another powerful Prophet of the Lord, writes about the day of the Lord.
Zephaniah 1:7-Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.
Who are the ones being punished on the day of the Lord in Zephaniah?
Zephaniah 1:4-I will stretch out My hand against Judah, And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place, The names of the idolatrous priests with the pagan priests—
We see from all of these examples (and others could be cited) that the phrase “the day of the Lord” was used in the Old Testament to describe God’s judgments in history on wicked nations of mankind.
However, these judgments foreshadow His judgment that He will bring on the entire world on the final day of the Lord. Some example of this are seen in what Paul wrote to our brothers and sisters in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:8; 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14) and Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3).
It is because the phrase “the day of the Lord” may be equally applied in scope to both national and global events that we can also better understand how the the Book of Revelation may apply equally against Jerusalem, Rome, and all nations at the end of time who oppose Him and His people.
The pressing question before us is this:
Are we ready for the day of the Lord?
Mark 16:15-16-And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Father, grant us a heart of wisdom to be ready for the day of the Lord, whenever it may arrive. Amen.
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