I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
The Lord alone is God. Isaiah writes of God’s lament that we did not follow His commands. This lament tells us something about why we should obey God’s commands. We should obey God’s commands, not to avoid God’s judgement, but because obeying them will result in us experiencing peace and often prosperity. Here God tells Israel that if they had obeyed His commands that they would have had peace flowing like a river and their descendants would have been too many to count. He does not say that He would have blessed them with these things, but that they would have been the result of obeying His commands.
Isaiah goes on to speak of one who was called by God to preach His message. Isaiah may be speaking about himself, or he may be speaking of Jesus, or perhaps a bit of both. But no matter who he was speaking about there is a message here for us. He says, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.” We often feel that such is the case in our lives. What is the point of doing what God tells us to do? What is the point of telling people God’s message? They do not listen or respond. However, Isaiah does not stop there. He continues, “Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.” That is the message for us when it feels useless to obey God’s command to us to preach His word because no one is listening. We need to leave the response in God’s hand. His Spirit will move in people’s lives when the time is right. Isaiah goes on to tell us that God says, “I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” While the traditional interpretation of that is that He is speaking here to Jesus (and that is not wrong), I believe that He is also speaking to us. Isaiah further tells us that God says, “At just the right time, I will respond to you.” And such is truly the case. We must not stop witnessing to those around us and praying for them. Because at just the right time, God will respond to our prayers, and make use of our witnessing to lead those wandering sheep back to Himself.
We should no longer live as sinners do (even though that is what we are). They have lost all sense of shame and indulge themselves in all sorts of impurity. Instead we should put on our new nature, which God has given us and live according to what we have learned from Jesus and the Gospel. What does this encompass? It means no longer lying, but telling our neighbors the truth. It means not letting anger control us, putting aside our anger before the end of the day. It means working hard so that we have resources to give to those in need. Not using foul or abusive language, but rather having everything we say be good and helpful, an encouragement to those who hear them. It means remembering that we are God’s own and we should not bring sorrow to His Spirit. Finally, it means this: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Wow, that is so much easier said than done, yet it is what we are called to strive for.
I will try very hard to follow the example of the psalmist. It is my prayer that when I am in trouble (and even when I am not) that I will call out to the Lord for help, even when those around me mock me for it. I know that I am a fool and a sinner and that such is the source of my troubles, yet I know that when I turn to the Lord for help, He will rescue me. I pray that I may not be a source of shame for those who rely on the Lord. But, I also pray that I will not be ashamed of those who call on the Lord for help in their troubles, no matter why they are experiencing those troubles. I will keep praying to the Lord because His love is unfailing.
Today’s proverb tells us that wisdom is more powerful than strength and that knowledge is more important than prowess. Victory and success comes through listening to many advisers and choosing to follow good advice.