If only you had paid attention to My commandments?
Then your peace would have been like a river,
and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
Isaiah 48:18
Take a seat by the river for a moment and let’s dangle our weary feet in the cool waters. If you’re thirsty, don’t be afraid to take a drink from its flow. Is there anything more calming than the sound of the flow of water or waves breaking on the beach? I don’t think so. The resonance has a way of drowning out unwanted noise while amplifying the welcomed whispers that could be easily missed. The birds seem to sing louder when they are by water. The rustling leaves have a way of harmonizing with the melody of the water’s rumble. Serenity is the song that fills the air.
“If only!” What a sad sound those two words make! “If only you would have paid attention to My Word!!!!!” “If only you would have had a heart to obey.” “If only you would have stayed on My paths!!!” “If only” clearly says that life could have been a lot better. “If only” screams that this was not God’s choice for His people. And “if only” says that a consequence of actions is inevitable.
Isaiah’s words fall on stony ground. They fall on the hearts of people who are sure nothing bad can happen to them. Somehow they are sure that although their lives are filled with compromise, and although they have incorporated the religious ways of the pagans, they hold on to enough godliness to live free from God’s judgment. Little do they understand the nature and ability of God.
I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing peace and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these. (Isaiah 45:6b-7)
These words have perplexed many through the years, but there is no need to be concerned. If we understand God’s nature and consider what He said, we will see that this statement is in total harmony with who God is. Did you notice that God said He forms the light, which in turn creates darkness? God set His laws in motion. He gave His people His word as a lamp to their feet and a light to their path. Everything and everyone that lives by that light is in the light. Anything contrary to it is dark. By defining what is light, God creates darkness!
It is also interesting to note that God did NOT say, “I formed the light and created darkness.” He speaks these words in the present tense. God’s Word does not change. How can it be that He continually forms light and creates darkness? The answer is quite simple; when we cry out to know God’s will in the situations of our lives, we are asking God to give us His light to walk by. Once God illuminates our path, we know that anything that is outside the parameters of His will is darkness.
This truth has been my stay for many years. In 1974 I asked God to show me His will for my life so that I could make the most of my time here on earth. And show me He did!!! The encounter I had with the Almighty has kept me from making some miserable mistakes. Job offers in the worldly business sector with amazing salaries quickly lost their luster when scrutinized by God’s will for my life. For others who are called to be in the business place and know this is their God-given role, to go into full-time ministry would be an equal disaster. God’s will is to be the definer and ordainer of our steps!
Isaiah can teach us much about being a servant of God. On Tuesday he shares words from the heart of the Servant who has worked and toiled, but wonders if he has made any kind of difference.
But I said, “I have toiled in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;.” Isaiah 49:4a
By the eyes of faith, Isaiah saw the Christ who was to come. Surely these words are accurate when we look at Jesus’ life. Here is the One who literally gave up all that He was and had in order to do the will of His Father. Although we see the times when He fed great multitudes and often had to stay out of town because of the press of the ancient paparazzi, the end of His life as He died on the cross was anything but successful by natural standards. His support group as He hung dying consisted of one disciple and a few faithful women. Even after His resurrection, when He told His followers to wait for what the Father had promised, only 120 bodies occupied the room when the promise was fulfilled. A gathering of one hundred and twenty people is a far cry from the vast multitudes who enjoyed the bread and fish dinners that came from His hands.
The words of God’s faithful Servant are encouragement to all ministers who have spent their lives pouring out God’s word, sometimes seeing momentary success, but often followed with rejections or disappointments of one kind or another. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has questioned if in the eternal scheme of things, I’ve done anything worthwhile at all. Our hope lies in the words of the preincarnate Christ:
“…yet surely the justice due to me is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.” Isaiah 49:4b
I’m sure Isaiah found refuge in this statement. As we continue our journey with Isaiah, we hear the futility of his words. He speaks to a stubborn, stiff-necked, obstinate people who have just enough religion to make them comfortable, and enough of the world’s ways to make them condemned! But Isaiah knows His God. He knows His nature. He knows He is faithful to His word. He is filled with loving-kindness, compassion and mercy, and He is able to do what He says He will do. In spite of all that his eyes see in the natural, Isaiah has the ability to sit by the river of God and hear the voice of the Spirit. His complete trust in the merciful nature and ability of God spurs him to speak of the glories that will someday come.
As we continue to walk in a world that is on the brink of godly disaster, may we learn from this great prophet of God and hear the words of God’s faithful Servant. May we continually seek God’s will in every situation and let Him define what is light. May we walk in His illumination so that peace may flow like a river in the immensely difficult times to come. And may the fruit of righteousness grow in our lives so that we may stand unashamed when we must give an account of for our deeds on this earth.
Take a seat by the river for a moment and let’s dangle our weary feet in the cool waters. If you’re thirsty, don’t be afraid to take a drink from its flow. Is there anything more calming than the sound of the flow of water or waves breaking on the beach? I don’t think so. The resonance has a way of drowning out unwanted noise while amplifying the welcomed whispers that could be easily missed. The birds seem to sing louder when they are by water. The rustling leaves have a way of harmonizing with the melody of the water’s rumble. Serenity is the song that fills the air.
“If only!” What a sad sound those two words make! “If only you would have paid attention to My Word!!!!!” “If only you would have had a heart to obey.” “If only you would have stayed on My paths!!!” “If only” clearly says that life could have been a lot better. “If only” screams that this was not God’s choice for His people. And “if only” says that a consequence of actions is inevitable.
Isaiah’s words fall on stony ground. They fall on the hearts of people who are sure nothing bad can happen to them. Somehow they are sure that although their lives are filled with compromise, and although they have incorporated the religious ways of the pagans, they hold on to enough godliness to live free from God’s judgment. Little do they understand the nature and ability of God.
I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing peace and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these. (Isaiah 45:6b-7)
These words have perplexed many through the years, but there is no need to be concerned. If we understand God’s nature and consider what He said, we will see that this statement is in total harmony with who God is. Did you notice that God said He forms the light, which in turn creates darkness? God set His laws in motion. He gave His people His word as a lamp to their feet and a light to their path. Everything and everyone that lives by that light is in the light. Anything contrary to it is dark. By defining what is light, God creates darkness!
It is also interesting to note that God did NOT say, “I formed the light and created darkness.” He speaks these words in the present tense. God’s Word does not change. How can it be that He continually forms light and creates darkness? The answer is quite simple; when we cry out to know God’s will in the situations of our lives, we are asking God to give us His light to walk by. Once God illuminates our path, we know that anything that is outside the parameters of His will is darkness.
This truth has been my stay for many years. In 1974 I asked God to show me His will for my life so that I could make the most of my time here on earth. And show me He did!!! The encounter I had with the Almighty has kept me from making some miserable mistakes. Job offers in the worldly business sector with amazing salaries quickly lost their luster when scrutinized by God’s will for my life. For others who are called to be in the business place and know this is their God-given role, to go into full-time ministry would be an equal disaster. God’s will is to be the definer and ordainer of our steps!
Isaiah can teach us much about being a servant of God. On Tuesday he shares words from the heart of the Servant who has worked and toiled, but wonders if he has made any kind of difference.
But I said, “I have toiled in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;.” Isaiah 49:4a
By the eyes of faith, Isaiah saw the Christ who was to come. Surely these words are accurate when we look at Jesus’ life. Here is the One who literally gave up all that He was and had in order to do the will of His Father. Although we see the times when He fed great multitudes and often had to stay out of town because of the press of the ancient paparazzi, the end of His life as He died on the cross was anything but successful by natural standards. His support group as He hung dying consisted of one disciple and a few faithful women. Even after His resurrection, when He told His followers to wait for what the Father had promised, only 120 bodies occupied the room when the promise was fulfilled. A gathering of one hundred and twenty people is a far cry from the vast multitudes who enjoyed the bread and fish dinners that came from His hands.
The words of God’s faithful Servant are encouragement to all ministers who have spent their lives pouring out God’s word, sometimes seeing momentary success, but often followed with rejections or disappointments of one kind or another. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has questioned if in the eternal scheme of things, I’ve done anything worthwhile at all. Our hope lies in the words of the preincarnate Christ:
“…yet surely the justice due to me is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.” Isaiah 49:4b
I’m sure Isaiah found refuge in this statement. As we continue our journey with Isaiah, we hear the futility of his words. He speaks to a stubborn, stiff-necked, obstinate people who have just enough religion to make them comfortable, and enough of the world’s ways to make them condemned! But Isaiah knows His God. He knows His nature. He knows He is faithful to His word. He is filled with loving-kindness, compassion and mercy, and He is able to do what He says He will do. In spite of all that his eyes see in the natural, Isaiah has the ability to sit by the river of God and hear the voice of the Spirit. His complete trust in the merciful nature and ability of God spurs him to speak of the glories that will someday come.
As we continue to walk in a world that is on the brink of godly disaster, may we learn from this great prophet of God and hear the words of God’s faithful Servant. May we continually seek God’s will in every situation and let Him define what is light. May we walk in His illumination so that peace may flow like a river in the immensely difficult times to come. And may the fruit of righteousness grow in our lives so that we may stand unashamed when we must give an account of for our deeds on this earth.
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