"Therefore the anger of the LORD burns against His people; His hand is raised against them to strike them down. The mountains quake, and the corpses lay like refuse in the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still."

God's anger is not turned away by anything but repentance. We can't outlast Him, and He will not stop for our crying [Prov 19:18]. We cannot turn Him or change His mind.

Yielding gets the pressure off, or He'll chastise us until death [Eccl 10:4]. He'll follow the sinner beyond the grave, because He's determined no peace for the wicked [Isa 57:20-21]. There is no refuge but the Lord.

"He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar,

And will whistle to them from the end of the earth; Surely they shall come with speed, swiftly." vs26

Chastisement will come. He's sharpened His glittering sword and appointed the weapons of humiliation. Sin will bring us down, and we shall not prosper. He'll break us in His love. No flesh will glory in His presence, so let us learn to Him quickly. Let's not be obstinate and refuse.

Remember His rebuke and turn back. Return unto your First Love. Trust the blood in full reconciliation. There's no strength in distance from the Lord. We must draw near to be entirely His. The counsel of the Lord shall stand. "No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the LORD."

"No one will be weary or stumble among them, No one will slumber or sleep; Nor will the belt on their loins be loosed,

Nor the strap of their sandals be broken; Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent; Their horses’ hooves will seem like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind." vs27-28

Nothing will stop chastisement from coming. There'll be no pleasure in human strength, self righteousness will not stand, and God's will must be done. We will live for Christ, or there'll be NO PEACE! Children will not deliver us, and marriage will not fill the void. Fancy jobs and promises of wealth will leave us empty. We will fall before the Lord as helpless. He will be our all in all.

→ Living for the glory of self is counter to the Lord. He won't give the Spirit for this purpose. Our life is about glorifying God, and in this He'll help us abundantly and freely [Eph 3:20-21].

Brothers, cease from striving. Fight Christ no longer. Bow to His dominion and be at peace. Submit like Job. Choose God's glory like Hannah, and it will be well [1 Sam 1:11].

"Their roaring will be like a lion. They will roar like young lions; Yes, they will roar and lay hold of the prey; They will carry it away safely, And no one will deliver. In that day they will roar against them like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks to the land, Behold, darkness and sorrow; And the light is darkened by the clouds." vs29-30

There's no hope anywhere, except in Christ. Let us be warned. God's shut the door on human wisdom. Christ will be praised, and we'll live uprightly, if there will be peace. We won't fight one sin but all of them. Our life will be about His glory. We'll endure chastisement, suffering patiently, and kiss the hand that struck us. God's will shall be our own, or there'll be no peace, and then we'll enjoy Him in all circumstances.