Whose

Isaiah 34:11-15

But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.

Now that we have settled the jackal and the ostrich from before, let us look at all God has in store. Remember, it is a time of devastation, of barrenness, of want, of nothing. Herein has the hand of the Lord has been stretched out; it came upon the land for the contention of Zion and for the sake of his people. You know how often do we like to question the Lord. He brings Moses to his brother and there is fighting in the camp. He appoints the Levites and there comes some strange fire in among them. Yet to this day some contention still remains. Thus, is it so, even when God begins bringing them from their scattering among the people east, north, south and all paces unto which he has brought them. There is going be contention still in that house. See the fate of it now for yourself. It is stretched out from the "line of confusion" and "the stones of emptiness." Perhaps some of you remember the recent contention that broke out in Israel over a little place called Palestine. How the news showed a line of abandoned vehicles stretched out for miles with not one in sight.

Now tell me again about how God is not true to his Word. I hear absolute silence. Nobody has nothing to say. It sounds very much like the stones of emptiness, does it not. My, the Mosaic requirement of stoning the disobedient children seems to have been fulfilled at last. Yet here is there rest for the land. Surely some will come looking for the princes and nobles in that place. But there are none to be found. For behold, has not the Lord settled it. Perhaps some of you would like to tell the Lord "what are you doing" as in Daniel. Yet that is not your place. Now, in the emptiness and the lack, the appointed creatures have crept in. See, you can talk about the four and twenty elders and the four living creatures surrounding the throne all you please. God has appointed these a place all of their own where they are just at home. Somebody ought to praise the Lord right quick.

Here comes the comorrant diving into the land. Under Levitical law it was traditionally considered unclean due to some scavenger-like ways. It dwells upon the seacoast, often on its own. A shark-like bird, it depends only on the God's provision to survive. Yet here it is in a desert place, a sight for sore eyes and a long way from home. Notice also who comes in with it. Now, the bittern comes creeping in from the marshes. Traditionally it's home nesting grounds have been in the wake of God's judgement associated with horrible events. Look with me at the list if you will: Babylon, Idumea, and Ninevah. Notice how the bird's very name suggests a spirit of bitterness much as the very ground from which it breeds. How many of you know the marshes of desolation that suck you under, and take you away to your destruction. The root of bitterness springing up within you will defile many. So often, the temptation comes after such things to wonder if God really is good. But oh, yes, he is.

For such provision then can he be trusted. How some of you need only reach out and grab hold of the providing hand of God today. See the owl and raven living here also. They all move together as though in a flock, do they not. Our little ravens provided for God's prophet Elijah for as long as God fed them. Now, the owls are slightly more problematic being elusive creatures of the night. They first appeared in the wreckage of ancient Babylon spreading their wings silently over the night sky whispering 'anybody out there.' Imagine sitting there dying in the marshes only to look up and see something like a pelican and a muddy old marsh bird waiting to be fed. Then night comes and there is food for all with plenty to be had. The situation no longer appears as a trap of the devil meant to destroy you and take you away. Here are the sea and the marsh in the middle of a wasteland. Then comes the river to wash away the mud that kept you bound and set you free. I almost feel like I am seeing things. Then along comes the owl whispering 'who.' The desert places spring forth. The ground becomes pools as the region is filled with the deep places of God.

And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls. The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.

Lest you should forget where you now are, the text has to remind us of this place again. There are thorns in the places that the great thrones of the earth used to sit. Here, in the places of military sit the nettles and brambles. See, ought of the desolation into which the wilderness crept. Nature sure makes a pretty sight with its green leafy vines and dangerous prickly things. Does not our God make all things beautiful in their time. Such is seen in the temptation of Jesus where the devil offered him all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for his worship. Yet what nonsense is that. See, they were God's all along. He has only relocated himself and with him his people as well. Now come the nettles creeping in softly. Those of you that are best known as tree-huggers know these best for their soothing and healing when applied to a wound. See, it almost looks like a trap, but such it is not. The thorns and the brambles came not up to sting and to hurt you.

Herein, protection is found for all that find rest in the Lord. I can see those dangers of the desert creeping in now as though to take some captive within; then too are they getting caught up in the thorns along the path. Yet the strongholds and fortresses along with their kingdoms rest in the Lord's hands. With him they are kept secure. Has he not reserved even the buildings, beautiful ruins though they be. See the purpose now they serve. Here comes a dragon with a big beady eye. It has guarded well the treasures and kept them secure. Never mind it was often hunted and scorned from the pages of ages and long regions of men. Yet through it all, God has kept them. You can talk of the extinction of the dinosaurs all you please. But here those whom God has kept are holding their court in the absence of men. My, would you look at that. There are owls everywhere in great detail and in large variety apparently. You might wonder who keeps order in such a place and time as this.

Is it not the dragons, the rulers of men, holding court for the assembled owls. But you might be tempted to say, 'how can these things be for I thought civilization collapsed.' Oh, my friends, you mean to tell me you forget the One by whom all things still hold together. So also, is there trade and profit among them. For the ambassadors of the beasts by the sea meet together here with the beasts of the desert. Look now, there is a satyr no longer abandoned but still with his fellow. Those of you that know anything about mythical creatures will be the first to tell you. Satyrs are like the succubus and incubus of the nether worlds. They are loosely associated with their close cousin being the satire and diatribe.

Often these are associated with beings of little to no self control. It should be seen here that these creatures are neither demonic nor are they possessed by an evil influence. Rather, here they serve and worship the Lord freely else would he not have blessed them as such. So, what then of the fellow of such a one. How many know that the screech owl cries a different type of who. The screech owl, often rendered as Lilith in the original text, finds rest for herself in the habitation near. Perhaps of the Lilith you know little save for the creature abandoned. Yet God has prepared for her a place. Herein there remains the rest promised for the people of God. Abandonment to an evil fate and little dominion are seen here no longer. For faithful service to the Creator, God has honored her. There is plenty for Lilith along with her mate. In fact, no longer would any ever be desolate. Somebody shout my rest and my place is now with the people of God. Hear now the great whooooo of the Lord.

There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.

Now, I might not know too much about owls. But I sure can tell you all about the Lord. Perhaps the creatures got lost on Noah's ark or stranded on Mount Ararat. At times, they might even have wondered if God could keep them all together. As the years of the ages passed, would God do just as he said. Sure, at times they felt mighty lonely seeking both time and space for themselves. Yet here on earth, has God prepared for them an appointed place. There with the vultures is the final resting place of the doomed. Under his wings shall you find refuge under the shadow of the Almighty. How sweet it is to simply rest at the feet of Jesus. Before whom they cry like so many angels singing 'Holy are you Lord' now before the throne. What a reminder to let God settle your accounts. How the whole earth rings with his footsteps of glory. See now the great who of the Lord.