Advent and Paradox

(I wrote this while listening - over and over.)
The Piano Guys "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

A sadness permeates me this advent.  I know the reasons – life…sin. But the ache begins to resemble a longing.  And the cello in The Piano Guys “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” cries my longing.

Yes, this is a season of joy.  But waiting for the coming of Christmas, of the coming of Christ, is also a longing time.  2000 years ago they waited for freedom from captivity.  We are not so different, only our captivity is different.  They longed to be free, we long to be free, and so we should.

The kingdom is here and not yet.  Paradox.  Christ came and brought freedom to captives.  The freedom He offered in the flesh 2000 years ago was not what people expected.  Similarly the freedom He offers today is frequently not what we expect or what we plead for.  We live in a world of sin and suffering, with an enemy that seeks to steal, kill and destroy.

For the first time, my observance of advent is more focused on the longing than any of the trappings of Christmas.  We will decorate.  We will celebrate.  But the joy and sorrow of this year, the changes, the stumblings, the growth, are all tangled together leaving me overflowing with paradoxical emotions.

Come, Lord Jesus is a cry and a comfort.  I begin to understand that I’m waiting, not just during advent, but I’m waiting for much longer and for much more than the coming of Christmas. For Christ’s return.  For a new world.  For complete freedom. 

I rejoice that I’m finally grasping part of the bigger picture.  I shouldn’t be too comfortable here because this is not my home.  As I live and work and love and laugh and weep and struggle I SHOULD be longing.  For the first time I don’t just sing the words, but I FEEL the words.  Come, please come, Emmanuel.  God with us.

The Motivation behind the Oracles

"My heart cries out for Moab" Isaiah 15:5

In these oracles we should never forget that all people are God's people.  He loved and loves not only Judah and Israel but ALL men - Assyrians, Philistines, Moabites, Egyptians, Cushites, etc..  He warns for the purpose of repentance.  His intent is always redemption and salvation for all.

This is true even today.  He doesn't force repentance, but He does graciously and repeatedly extend the opportunity.

I wrote this on a Sunday morning, and then our pastor preached on Jonah.  Is this the only prophetic book that records a repentance?  Jonah prophesied about 40 years before Isaiah.  Ninevah was in Assyria, the enemy that was pounding on Judah's door during the time of Isaiah.  Evidently, the Assyrians were cruel beyond belief, so cruel that Jonah's unwillingness to go there is understandable in human terms.  

Unlike the 66 chapters of Isaiah's prophecies, we have one line from Jonah.  

"Yet forty days and Ninevah will be overthrown."

Maybe he said more and it's not recorded.  Maybe he just spent a day walking the city and shouting this prophecy.  What happened next illustrates for us the reason God sent prophets.

"Then the people of Ninevah believed in God... (and the king issued a proclamation) 'Let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.  Who knows, God may turn and relent, and withdraw His burning anger so that we shall not perish?' When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked ways, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them.  And He did not do it." Jonah 3:5,8-10

This is the heart of God!!  Jonah defines it for us later on (even though he's complaining).

"For I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity." Jonah 4:1

I believe this is God's hope and desire for all nations and all people.  This is why He sent prophets, and this is why Isaiah wrote the oracles against the nations.  God's desire was that the nations would hear the warning, believe in God, and repent.  

As we were reminded in chapter 14, what God intends will stand.  His intent is repentance and His desire is to 'relent concerning calamity.' But God holds back from forcing repentance.  He does not grab us and slam redemption into our chests, forcing us to embrace it.  He offers.  He warns.  He knows ahead of time who will accept and who will reject.  I believe He grieves.

"My heart cries out for Moab."  And Assyria.  And Israel.  And Judah. 

And Iran.  And ISIS.  

"For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You."  Psalm 86:5

Who is God?

After chapter 13, I leap at the first words of chapter 14! "The Lord will have compassion ... and will choose." Me! I'm reading this with my name substituted for Jacob's.  Never forget that no matter how great God's wrath and anger appear when He is punishing for sin and wickedness, His compassion for His children is equally as great.  

It's somewhat unique that much of this chapter is written as a taunt that reveals attitudes as well as events.  I find verses 13-14 most revealing.

"But you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God... I will make myself like the Most High."

Matthew Henry says the following: "It is a gracious ambition to covet to be like the Most Holy, for he has said, Be you holy, for I am holy; but it is a sinful ambition to aim to be like the Most High, for he has said, He that exalteth himself shall be abased, and the devil drew our first parents in to eat forbidden fruit by promising them that they should be as gods."

We should strive to be holy as God is holy, but we must never strive or put ourself in a position to try to be God.  This may seem obvious, but I'm not confident I'm in the clear.  Does my pride ever lead me to judge what God does as faulty?  Do I ever think I have a better plan than what I see God doing? Do I ever reject God's ways?

I don't think I'm likely to raise a throne or a banner to myself or consciously proclaim myself to be like God.  But I feel I need to be watchful of the heart attitudes that creep in and lead me to consider myself the sole authority and the one with the best ideas.  When I grumble about what God is doing, perhaps I need to check my heart and make sure I'm not acting as the clay berating the potter.

I more frequently fall into this when I see things happening around me that I conclude can't possibly be the will of God.  But look at verses 24 and 27.

"Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand."

"For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it?"

The times that I doubt God's plans are the times I must be careful not to think of myself as God or more highly than God.  When I think I could run things better.  When I suspect God is impotent. When I doubt God's goodness as I look at circumstances.  

This is hard!  Divorce, illness, death, financial devastation, floods (literally!), fire, job loss.  How do I reconcile the plans of God with the things that from my perspective seem solely destructive, negative or full of evil?

I believe that this is why knowing the character of God is crucial.  When we can't see the goodness of God, we need to be able to remember who He is.  From our study so far in Isaiah, here is what I have gleaned about God's character:

-God always has a plan for redemption.

-God is for the poor, the widow, and the orphan.

-God is for justice and righteousness.

-God invites us to walk with Him.

-The Lord alone will be exalted.

-The Lord is holy.

-God is with us.

-God is light, salvation, strength, song.

He planned it.  It will stand.  He is good.  

That's all I have to stand on.

Isaiah 12

Hanging this on my wall and reading it aloud while I slog through the oracles ;-)

Isaiah 13 - the First of the Oracles

We are diving into some difficult chapters now, the oracles against the nations.  There are days that I have to remind myself, why exactly am I studying Isaiah?

If I believe that all scripture is inspired by God, I have to believe that ALL scripture is inspired by God.  That means Isaiah too including all the chapters on judgment and coming destruction.

With that settled, how do I approach these chapters?  I offer two suggestions that helped me not be discouraged by chapter 13.  Go back and reread chapter 12.  In fact, reread chapter 12 after each of the next 10 chapters at least. 

I'm using three primary resources while studying Isaiah, besides different Bible translations.  This book has been the most valuable of the three.

 I stumbled over it in a box of books someone gave me to donate for them.  What a gift from God just for me!  The second is  Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah found free online.  It's a lot to wade through but provides good insights.  The third is Walvoord's Bible Knowledge Commentary which fills in a lot of the unfamiliar historical information.  I guess a fourth would be my Strong's Concordance app.

 

I'm also asking the same question I have been: what does this teach me/reveal to me about the heart of God?  Even chapters that dwell on what God hates reveal to me in the process the things God loves.  Additionally, I can ask what the passage reveals to me about people.

A fast reading through chapter 13 in the Message reminds me:

Judgement belongs to the Lord.

God's power is greater than I could ever grasp.

God WILL take care of things in the end.  He has a plan and He has it under control.

I should never take God lightly.  Fear of the Lord is a real thing.  (Maybe I need to reflect more on that.)

Things God does not tolerate: sin, evil, pride.

This oracle against Babylon is directed at the most important city in the Assyrian empire as well and the capital of the empire that will conquer Assyria.  Babylon is also a symbol of world empires opposed to the Lord. (Rev. 17-18)

The Lord of hosts is mustering a host for battle.  The description that follows is either thrilling or terrifying depending on your point of view.  I don't want to be on the wrong end of the Lord's weapons of indignation!  But if our Defender strikes such fear in those who oppose us, what do we EVER have to be afraid of!  I see this theme of who we should fear being repeated in Isaiah.   Do you fear the Assyrians? The Philistines?  Do I fear a certain presidential candidate? My boss? Terrorists? Disease?

God's wrath is not indiscriminate.  He is slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and gives countless opportunities for repentance.  Yet His holiness demands justice for sinners, punishment for evil and wickedness, and an end to arrogance.  We who live under the New Covenant need not fear his wrath.  Yet we should not make the mistake of thinking God has relaxed his standards of holiness.  His holiness is the same; His justice demands that sin be punished.  The description of wrath we read in chapter 13 is the full wrath Jesus took for us.  Maybe that will help us consider that sacrifice a little differently.

The Wells of Salvation

“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

Isaiah 12:3  

I've been surprised to discover that salvation is a theme of Isaiah.  I think of salvation as a New Testament concept, but in the beginning of chapter 12 the word is used three time including the image of the 'wells of salvation.'

The word for wells means a fountain, a spring, a well, or my personal favorite, a source of satisfaction.  The Old Testament if full of imagery related to wells, springs and fountains.    

-springs in the midst of valleys

-fountains of living water

-a fountain shall come forth

-fountain of life

In a desert land water is literally life.  In Bible times, water determined where you lived and how you travelled.  If the spring dried up, you moved because death came quickly without water.  Although I know that I need water to live, I take it for granted.  I rarely if ever feel an urgency about water, or my urgency is based solely on the thirst of the moment.  

These illustrations have lost some potency for us because we haven't experienced the thrill of water in the desert.  I've even lived in the desert where I ALWAYS travelled with water, but I still never had a time I couldn't get my hands on clean water for a few coins.  In this current age, we live disconnected from the spring that keeps us, our family and our livestock alive.  We have never lived with the dependence on a well for our physical salvation.

Do I live with this kind of dependence on the Lord? He IS the source of life, but just as I take for  granted the clean water flowing on command as I turn the faucet, do I also take salvation for granted? Do I go daily to the well to draw? Do I experience joy related to the well of salvation? I can relate to the satisfaction of a cold glass of water when I'm hot, tired and thirsty.  Where is my source of satisfaction when my spirit is tired and thirsty?  Do I remember the well?

Why Does Jesus Delight in the Fear of the Lord?

"The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.  And He will delight in the fear of the Lord."  Isaiah 11:2-3

The study of Isaiah has convinced me that I don't understand the fear of the Lord and that I probably lack the fear of the Lord.  I'd be ok with that and go on my merry way, except for this prophecy of Christ in chapter 11.  If Christ not only had the spirit of the fear of the Lord but DELIGHTED in the fear of the Lord, then I'd best take it seriously!

To help my understanding I often turn to Strong’s Concordance (I have an app and it’s the best $5 I ever spent!)  First I discover that in the King James no delight is mentioned; instead the phrase is translated, “of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord.” 

Next I look to the Hebrew word.  In this case, I’m more confused than ever!!  The word is ‘ruwach,’ and it means to blow/breath, literally to smell, by implication to perceive, figuratively to anticipate, enjoy.  It’s usually translated accept, smell, or make of quick understanding, but a quick scan of the places where it’s used shows that it is most commonly translated ‘smell', as in the smell of battle, the smell of raiment (the way Isaac recognized Jacob), and the smell of incense or perfume before the Lord. 

Or here is another use:  "And as for the perfume which you shall make, you shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord.  Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.” Exodus 30:37-38

This is a perfume, a recipe given by the Lord, to be put in the tabernacle and will be holy.  “Whoever shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people.” “Whoever copies it for personal use will be excommunicated.” 

How in the WORLD does this word for smell get translated ONE time to ‘of quick understanding’ followed by ‘of the fear of the Lord’? And where do smell, quick understanding and delight connect? I need more help, so I look at the phrase in several versions.

“Fear-of-God will be all his joy and delight.”

“And shall make Him of quick understanding, and His delight shall be in the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord.” 

John Walvoord's Bible Knowledge Commentary “To fear God is to respond to Him in awe, trust, obedience and worship.”

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah: "The believing fear of God is a special preservative against the disquieting fear of man. We must look upon God as the Lord of hosts that has all power in his hand and all creatures at his beck. We must sanctify him accordingly, give him the glory due to that name, and behave towards him as those that believe him to be a holy God. We must make him our fear, the object of our fear, and make him our dread, keep up a reverence of his providence and stand in awe of his sovereignty, be afraid of his displeasure and silently acquiesce in all his disposals. Were we but duly affected with the greatness and glory of God, we should see the pomp of our enemies eclipsed and clouded, and all their power restrained and under check. Those that are afraid of the reproach of men forget the Lord their Maker.”

Do I feel like I understand any better?  Let me give it a whirl.  God is holy and as such He is set apart from us.  God asks for our trust, our obedience, our reverence, and our worship.  In Old Testament times, He gave His people specific instructions for how to worship, including this special perfume that was to be carefully crafted and used ONLY for worship, before the testimony, in the tent of meeting, where God promised to meet with man. (Ex 30:34-36) God gave them instructions to define a heart attitude: "Some things are reserved just for Me because I am different than everything else."  Approach a holy God with a heart that acknowledges the difference, that acknowledges the set-apart-ness.  With a breath He could destroy us. Instead He seeks us, invites us, redeems us.

Delight comes from understanding that I owe Him everything, and I deserve nothing.  Fear of the Lord is the wonder, awe-inspiring comprehension of all God can do, all He could do, all He does do and all He restrains Himself from doing.

Who will I lean on?

It’s easy for me to condemn the pride of the King of Assyria expressed in chapter 10 verse 13:

"By the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this, for I have understanding.”

How arrogant!  But really, am I guilty of the same? How often do I pat myself of the back for how well I handled something?  Am I wise in my own eyes? Do I rely on my own understanding, even being unwilling to step out in faith where God has prompted because I don’t see or understand how it’s all going to work out?  Am I clinging to my own understanding rather than trusting in the Lord?

 

“In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.”

Isaiah 10:20 ESV

When we were trying to teach my daughter to swim, she was calm on the steps and calm when holding precariously onto the side.  If her Daddy walked with her into the deeper water she cried and wrapped both arms and legs around him.  He'd peel her off so he could teach her to kick, and she was terrified.  She was so sure she was safer alone on the steps or clinging by her little fingers to the side than in the strong arms of her daddy.  She wanted to feel in control even though letting go and trusting her daddy was a much safer place to be.

I want to trust in what I understand too.  I'm uncomfortable letting go of the precarious hold I have and relying on something I can't see.  I'd rather depend on my own strength, my own wisdom, my own understanding that have to let go of control and understanding and trust God to provide.  Maybe verse 20 will become a prayer, that I will no more lean on (myself, my husband, the latest book, my job, well-meaning advice), but I will lean on the Lord, the Holy One, in truth.

Light in the Darkness

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.”  Isaiah 9:2

I always hated in school when we were asked to describe the theme of a book or a poem.  I love to read, but I’m just not good at seeing themes and symbols.  However, Isaiah is making some obvious to me, light and darkness being one of them.

The word used here for darkness means literal darkness, but can also mean misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorry or wickedness. The root word it is taken from means to darken as in withholding light.  Even more interesting to me is that the phrase ‘dark land’ means shade of death, the grave or shadow of death. 

I’ve felt like I’ve been in darkness. Darkness by definition means seeing is not possible, and there have been times I haven’t been able to see the way forward.  Depression has been my darkness.  Sin and anger have been my darkness.  Unforgiveness has been my darkness.

Darkness is overcome by light.  Light is the hope in the darkness, the cure of darkness.  Here the word for light means illumination, luminary in every sense, happiness, morning, sun. In Revelation Jesus refers to himself as the Bright Morning Star.  John calls Jesus the Light.  It sounds trite and cliché to say Jesus is the light in darkness, but it is also truth.

The darkness of wickedness (my unforgiveness for example) is overcome by the light of Christ who forgave ALL my sins and asks me to forgive others.  As I submit and repent, light shines in my darkness.

The darkness of hopelessness is lightened by the presence of Christ.  Even when or especially when physical death is immanent, Christ is the reminder of eternal life, that this world is just a shadow of eternity.

The people of Isaiah’s time faced a darkness of distress and anguish, a darkness of very real fears of a very real enemy, and a darkness of ignorance through rejecting God, His ways and His prophets and looking to man for solutions.  Isaiah prophesied that these people in darkness would see a great light.  We read with the knowledge that he is foretelling Christ, but to the people light symbolized hope, help, even deliverance.

When we say Jesus is the light, we are saying He is what overcomes darkness. Whatever the darkness we walk in, Christ has the answer.  Christ is the answer.  Not the answer that we have decided will fix everything, but the presence that changes everything.  “Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.”

A Beautiful Fear

“It is the Lord of hosts who you should regard as holy.  And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread.

Then He shall become a sanctuary.” Isaiah 8:13-14

Is that ‘then’ important?  Is it only after we learn and commit to regard God as holy, only after we fear Him that He becomes our sanctuary?

Is this in part because our fear can keep us safe? Good parenting often involves a little fear.  I don’t really care if the motivation to obey me is fear of getting in trouble when that means they won’t play with matches or cross the street alone.  My children may not understand WHY I am putting certain boundaries on them.  At the time, their understanding is less important than their obedience since my goal is to protect them and keep them safe.

As our children grow older, hopefully the fear factor morphs into a trust factor.  Maybe they fear a little less getting into trouble and begin to trust that our rules are meant for their benefit.  Or they just fear being grounded so they come in before curfew! I still prioritize obedience over understanding since my goal is still to protect them.

As a child of God, am I guilty of prioritizing understanding over obedience? If so, I’m acting just like my teenagers when they throw fits and tell me my rules are ridiculous.  I’m acting just like I did with my parents when I challenged their rule about no boys in the house when they were gone. “Ugh! What a stupid rule! Don’t they trust me?”

Is it possible that in many situations I am incapable of understanding why the Lord has laid out certain instructions? I somewhat recoil from the idea of ‘fearing’ the Lord, but maybe there is such a thing as a healthy fear, a fear that keeps me on the straight and narrow when I face temptation.

One of our ladies at Bible study shared that she so respected and loved her father, that while at college her ‘fear’ of him kept her from making certain poor choices.  Her fear was breaking her father’s heart.

I think that is a beautiful fear.  Could I be so in touch with the heart of God and so overwhelmed by His love for me that concern over grieving my Father motivates my daily decisions?

Do not just fear breaking His law; fear breaking His heart.

How Dare He! (Isaiah 7)

     I’ve read Judges, Kings and Chronicles more than once, so it takes a lot to shock me.  But King Ahaz shocked me! He was outlandish, audacious, brazen. There are many other adjectives that I could apply to him, but instead I’m just going to list some of his ‘accomplishments.’ (from 2 Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28)

·         Did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord
·         Made his son pass through the fire (abominations of the nations)
·         Sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, hills, under every green tree
·         Asked king of Assyria for help
·         Took silver and gold from the house of the Lord and sent to king
·         Sent plan of Damascus altar to his priest and instructed him to build it
·         Offered his burnt offering, meal, drink and peace offerings on this new pagan altar
·         Moved the Lord’s bronze altar to another side of his altar
·         Instructed priests to use his new altar for all sacrifices
·         Used the Lord’s altar as his private altar
·         Cut apart the temple utensils (those made to the Lord’s specific instructions)
·         Made molten images for the Baals
·         Was very unfaithful to the Lord
·         In distress became more unfaithful to the Lord
·         Sacrificed to the gods of Damascus
·         Closed the doors of the house of the Lord
·         Made altars for himself in every corner of Jerusalem
·         Made high places in every city to burn incense to other gods

God extended an opportunity of repentance and restoration even to the affront that was King Ahaz.  He sent Isaiah with specific words for Ahaz and with the singular offer to ask for a sign.  Not many in scripture are given permission by God to ask for a sign.  But Ahaz rebuffed God’s offer, he remained in his unfaithfulness, he refused to repent and return.  Ultimately, he rejected the Lord as his God.

God ALWAYS desires restoration of His people.  He ALWAYS has an offer.  But He stops short of forcing people’s hands, of forcing obedience, of forcing repentance.  I’m currently praying for several people I wish God would push to repentance, but as I pray I see a picture of the Lord extending His hand to them ready to grasp and pull them up.  But they have to reach out.  They always have a choice.

The good news: no one, not even Ahaz, is beyond the care and compassion of the Lord.   He always pursues. He always offers redemption.

Yes, Lord!!

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”  Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8

Why does this verse prick my heart?  I want to be one that without hesitation responds, “Here I am, send me!” when the Lord calls.  I want to be like Isaiah or like Mary who asked one question and then responded, “I am the bondslave of the Lord; may it be to me according to your word.”  However, I fear I would make excuses like Jeremiah.  Or come up with lots of reasons why I should not be chosen like Moses.  Or worse, run in the opposite direction like Jonah.

Thankfully, I know how Jeremiah, Moses and Jonah responded to the call of God because they made the Book too!  The Bible is not just full of success stories, accounts of those flawless individuals who made no mistakes, never wondered, never doubted and never feared.  Gloriously, the Bible is full of human failures, human mistakes, human doubts, human unbelief.  In summary, the Bible is full of human sin.

God answered Jeremiah’s concerns with a personal experience, and further opportunities show Jeremiah’s growth and confidence when he obeyed without question some specific and seemingly crazy instructions.  God countered every argument/excuse Moses came up with, and Moses proceeded to become a remarkable yet imperfect leader who spoke face to face with God just as a man speaks to his friend. And God demanded Jonah’s full attention in a most unlikely way, transforming a recalcitrant servant of God into an effective if volatile prophet.

How will I respond when I hear the voice of the Lord?  I HOPE with, “Here I am; send me.” Nevertheless, the story is always less about me and more about the Lord.  If He can bring a prophet from the belly of a fish, He can overcome the doubt, fear and sin of a disciple hiding behind her insecurities and rationalizations.  It is less about what I think I can do and more about what God WILL do through someone who will say, “Yes!”

Isaiah 5 – Woes of Today

Woe to you who focus on accumulating stuff yet ignore the people around you with real needs.  You miss out on the blessings that accompany following God’s priorities.

Woe to you who focus on indulgence and instant gratification, choosing immediate pleasure over lasting joy and hope.  You miss out on the blessing of seeing God at work; He’s working, you’re just too distracted to see it.

Woe to you who have concluded the end justifies the means, living by lies, trampling over others and promoting sin to get what you want.  You miss out on the blessings that come from waiting on the Lord and seeing His plans fulfilled.

Woe to you who turn evil on its head, calling darkness light and wickedness good, all in an effort to downplay sin.  You miss out on the blessings that accompany truth and light.

Woe to you who focus on your own intelligence, depending on your wits to help you succeed and placing all your hope in clever plots.  You miss out on the blessings of humility and dependence.

Woe to you who look to man’s provision and man’s capabilities looking only for results while ignoring character and integrity.  You miss out on what is lasting – the growth of a soul that lives for eternity.

A Cloud by Day

Then the Lord will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. (Isaiah 4:5)

I think it’s hard for us to grasp the significance of the cloud and the fire described here.  I think first of the cloud and fire in Exodus, the signs the people had to follow so they always knew where to go.  I’ve sometimes wished for my own cloud or fire.  Could the Lord show me in such a clear, unmistakable way which direction to go?

I believe there’s another aspect to this cloud and fire that I miss because I’ve lived my entire life with immediate access to shelter and even air conditioning or heat as needed.  I’ve camped a couple of times where I’ve been cold for a few hours.  But even then if I was really desperate I could have crawled out of my tent, climbed into the vehicle a few feet away and cranked up the heat.

A couple of weeks ago, my family hiked over 5 miles in Palo Duro Canyon.  It was about 95 degrees that day. 

We cheered EVERY cloud that passed overhead! (There weren’t many.) We were just hiking for a few hours before heading back to our air conditioned car and an unlimited source of water, but we still stopped in every patch of shade and welcomed every shadow.

Israel is primarily a desert land, and for the people in this land a cloud is not just comfort but protection.  At night the temperature in the desert drops sharply, so fire is a necessary source of warmth as well as light to see and provides a measure of safety.  This cloud and fire aren’t just making the people more comfortable, they are a key to survival.

The Lord is reminding the people of something He repeats throughout scripture: I will be your shelter.  I will be your protection.  I will be your refuge from the storm. As true for us in our ‘storms’ and ‘deserts’ as it was for the people of Israel.

My Source of Support

“For behold, the Lord God of hosts is going to remove from Jerusalem and Jacob…” Isaiah 3:1

A list follows.  A list of things the people depended on.  To me it sounds like He’s stripping them of everything and turning things upside down.  “Capricious children will rule over them.” (v4)

Why?

Sometimes God humbles his people by removing sources of support, especially when we are not trusting in Him.  We are susceptible to looking to other people, other things for our support.  It’s easier to trust in our bank account balance than in daily provision from the Lord.  It’s easier to call a friend than to pray to the Lord. 

Some have called this process ‘a severe mercy.’ We might be more familiar with the term ‘tough love.’ Sometimes the Lord has to practice tough love with us.  Sometimes I’m depending on my street smarts to keep me safe, relying on my own wisdom to handle conflict, depending on my husband to make me feel loved and trusting in my financial smarts to guarantee we’re provided for in the future.  None of those things are wrong in and of themselves. It is wise of me to teach my daughter some safety principles as she begins driving more on her own.  It is obedient for my husband to do things daily to show his love for me.  It is right to strive to be good stewards of the resources God has given and to plan for the future.

But things happen.  The economy in this country could fall apart due to war, computer hackers or irresponsible leadership – all things VERY beyond my control.  When a crisis happens, my response reveals what I’m really trusting in.  If I fall apart when the economy falls apart, my confidence has been in my bank account not in my Lord. 

The key is for me to insure that I am not relying on these other supports INSTEAD OF relying on the Lord.  What am I looking to for protection and safety? What am I relying on and depending on? What am I proud of? What am I trusting in? 

If I answer honestly from my heart, does the Lord make the list?

The Light of the Lord

“Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” Isaiah 2:5

I’m a pretty practical person, so abstract image like this can frustrate me.  I want to know what this looks like TODAY, for me.  Clearly this is an invitation, but what is the Lord inviting me to do?  How do I walk in the light? 

Light can only be understood in terms of darkness.  The word used here is the same word used in Genesis 1 when God said, “Let there be light.”  It is translated light, morning, day, or my personal favorite, illumination.

If the Lord desires for me to walk in the light, I should AVOID walking in the darkness.  Throughout scripture, light and darkness are used as illustrations or analogies for good and evil.  In John paints a vivid picture for us in his gospel:

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:4-5

“There was the true light which, coming into the work, enlightens every man.” V 9

“And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil.  For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”  John 3:19-21

“I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

Light is grouped with life, truth, and deeds ‘wrought in God.’ Darkness is associated with evil.  I still wanted a little ‘light’ shed on this for me ;-), so I went to The Message.

^19-21 “This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”

Oh, how this resonates!! Living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so I can see God at work!  Walking in the light is very much walking in the truth.  It is not always easy or pleasant to seek the truth.  Many times our natural response is to hide, to avoid exposure especially of things that are painful.  But the longer I follow Jesus, the more convinced I am that Satan is the one who is behind hiding and secrets.  I think the Lord is always for bringing things into the light, for in the light is LIFE.

What am I offering?

"Bring your worthless offerings to me no longer." Isaiah 1:13

All the things listed in verses 11-15 are things God asked of His people. He specifically prescribed the sacrifices and the offerings that He here calls worthless, an abomination and a burden.  What changed?

Leviticus describes in detail all the sacrifices and ceremonies God laid out for His people as part of the old covenant.  I think a clue to what the people of Isaiah's time missed can be found in Lev. 16:31, following the instructions for the day of atonement:  "It is to be a sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls."

I think it is possible that the people were just going through the motions.  Maybe they were the Pharisees of that day.  They were bringing offerings, sacrificing animals, burning incense, celebrating the feasts, but their hearts were not in it.  Their souls were not humble.

What is that today?  Where am I going through the motions, but my heart is not in it? Sunday mornings, worship, tithes, offerings, teaching, serving and prayer are all GOOD things, but Psalm 51:17 reminds us what comes FIRST.  "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart"

One of the things the book of Isaiah shouts loudly to me is that God's heart is for the hearts of His people.  His warnings plead with His people to look to the state of their hearts.  Am I too focused on WHAT I'm doing or WHAT I'm offering?  Have I forgotten that He wants my heart?

Not Knowing

“Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. An ox knows it’s owner, and a donkey it’s master’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Isaiah 1:2-3

Isaiah dives right in with warnings, with chastisement.  This is not cheery reading.  Why is it here?  What does this teach me about the heart of God?

God is desperately worried about His children, here the children of Israel.  He’s calling them out in very strong terms. I’m no farm animal expert, but my understanding is that donkeys and oxen aren’t the brightest crayons in the box.  In essence He’s saying even the donkey and ox know better than His people.

He’s addressing their rebellion by saying they do not know and they do not understand.

Do all sins begin with the not knowing?  In our times, not knowing might be the greatest rebellion.  Not knowing means I choose to know something else.

“Inconsideration of what we do know is as great an enemy to us in religion as ignorance of what we should know.”  Matthew Henry

I am frequently guilty of not considering what I know.  In other words, I choose to ignore what I know when it’s inconvenient to my pursuit of what I want.

The beginning of Isiah has more questions than answers for me.  But questions have the potential to reveal my heart.  And the passion and concern expressed in Isaiah 1 convinces me that my heart is of great concern to my God.

Verse 4 challenges me to assess my personal discipleship. Is there anything I have abandoned, despised or forsaken, relinquished or turned away from?

-Have I abandoned fellowship with God?

-Have I forsaken time with God? (I can try to pretend that forsaken time with God does not mean I’ve forsaken God, but really in any relationship if I give up spending time with a person, I’ve given up the person.)

-Have I relinquished reading my Bible? Prayer?

-Have I left spiritual practices behind?

-Have I scorned or despised anything of God?

-Have I turned my back in the act of turning to something else?  How frequently have I ignored God and my spiritual life?

-Have I turned away or aside from God? Have I chosen another (person or thing) to pour my time, energy and love into? Who or what am I following?

I think God is  trying to convey to me in the strongest possible way that rebellion is serious.  Sin is serious.

In the Old Testament, in Isaiah, we read of judgment for iniquity but also of the promise of forgiveness. (v18) I live under that the new covenant where my sin is forgiven and wiped away!  Hallelujah! However, I still need to remember my sin is serious primarily because my sin is an obstacle to knowing God. And oh how I want to know God!! 

Walking with Isaiah

Starting this week, our Ladies Bible study will begin studying the book of Isaiah.  I'm thrilled, but I suspect others may be asking, "What are you thinking?"

Isaiah is intimidating.  66 chapters.  Numerous unfamiliar allusions and names and places.  Additionally, the first chapters are all about sins, warnings, consequences.  It’s not your feel-good Bible reading. 

So why Isaiah? 

Because I think Isaiah has a lot to teach us about the heart of God.

As we journey through Isaiah, we will read and ask, “What does this passage teach me about the heart of God? What does this passage teach me about God?”  Discipleship is knowing God and walking with God.  As we walk together through the book of Isaiah, if we read with eyes to see what God is passionately for and against, with ears to hear what He’s communicating to His people, and with a heart that’s is attending to what God feels for His people, we will walk away with a greater understanding of the Holy One.

(For some background on the time of Isaiah, read II Chron 26-32)

Resolutions 2015

My Hope is Found

I love new beginnings, and January 1^st is the grandest of new beginnings!  A fresh start! I have new (unrealistic?) enthusiasm for what I can do this year.  I know it won’t play out as glorious as I envision today, but today the vision is exhilarating!

For over a decade I’ve prayed about a verse to focus on each year.  Last year I simplified to a word.  This year the word came early, in November.  Hope.

I’m almost 50, and there are some things I’m coming to terms with that I probably won’t do and that probably won’t change.  At times I’m discouraged that it’s too late, that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.  Hope is a very personal, interior word for me.  It reaches into the depths of my heart with the whisper that “In Christ alone my hope is found.”

My soul, my heart cries from within that the Lord is my portion.  What I’ve been allotted is by definition all I need to thrive, to live the abundant life.  The Lord is enough.

Because He is enough, I can hope. I can wait expectantly for what is to come.  I could rewrite the verse to say, “Therefore I will look forward with reasonable confidence, confidence in Christ, not myself or others or circumstances.”

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

It’s fine and dandy to ‘say’ I hope, to intellectually acknowledge that in Christ alone my hope is found, but sometimes I want or need to feel it.  The path to feeling it involves drawing near to Christ.  I must pray.  I must dwell in the Word of God.  I must carve out time to be still.  I must unplug so I have a chance to hear the still, small voice.  The good news is that those practical steps give me a way to take action.  The bad news is that discipline and consistency is beyond challenging for me.  I want to be like Samantha Stephens from Bewitched and wiggle my nose for results.  This journey has no short cut.

I went rock-climbing with my family Christmas Eve.  No, really!!

I wasn’t sure I’d make it to the top, and there were several moments I thought I’d reached the end of what I could do.  I think the key to climbing a wall, to climbing a mountain, to walking with Jesus, to life, is to not look down/back.  As Ann Voskamp writes,

Failing? What feels likes losing is really gaining experience.

Forward!

Falling apart? Fall forward into whatever. comes. next.

Forward!

Fearful? Fear is always the first step forward of faith.

Forward!

Whenever you are lost, FORWARD is always the way Home.

I made it to the top of the rock because I kept looking forward and reaching forward.  This year, when I feel stuck, when failure looms large, when hope shrinks small, I purpose to move forward. When my prayer life falters, I will move forward and pray today.  When I’m weeks behind in my scripture reading, I will move forward and read today.  When it’s June and I’ve only memorized one stinkin’ verse, I will move forward and start on the second. When I’m frazzled, overwhelmed and just want to watch an entire season of Bones on Netflix while downing a bag of chips, I will move forward and take five minutes to breathe in stillness.

“This I call to my mind, therefore I have hope:

the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:21

Amen.