Isaiah 14:5-8 -- On Smiting versus Singing

"The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.

He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.
The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.
Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us."
Isaiah 14:5-8


These verses are talking about the gathering of Israel and the Millennium.  I really like the symbolism here, with wicked, angry leadership on one side, and quiet, restful rejoicing on the other: Smiting versus Singing.  Seems to me that the singing side is way the heck better, right?  And yet, we swing so far to the other side sometimes, we risk corrupting ourselves with evil.

Today, let's stay as far as we can away from the smiting side.  Let's not be angry, or worry about being in control.  Let's remember that attempting to force others to do what we want is a bad idea.  ... Let's stick with God and make the trees happy. :)