The prophet Isaiah has disturbed us all and stirred such good things in our hearts. What is one thought from the book of Isaiah that you walk away with? For me, it is the unholiness that runs right through me. Isaiah 30:11 ~ I have been confronted with the Holy One and I have so much hope! My ears have been opened and I'm so very grateful in the midst of my mess. "No matter what is happening to you, your worst problem is in you. And that problem is not how badly you feel, it is how poorly you love. Your failure to love Me above all else and to love others at any cost to yourself defines your unholiness. When you recognize your unholiness and own it without excuse, your ears will be opened to hear My words of comfort and hope. And those words will set you on the narrow road to relating with holy love. There is no other kind." 66 LL.
Isaiah 64:4 A GOD WHO WORKS FOR THOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIM
Since before time began no one has ever imagined, no ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who happily do what is right, who keep a good memory of the way you work. But how angry you've been with us! We've sinned and kept at it so long! Is there any hope for us? We're all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. Our best efforts are grease-stained rags.
Isaiah 65:1 HERE I AM FOR YOU EVEN IF YOU IGNORE ME
I've made myself available to those who haven't bothered to ask. I'm here, ready to be found by those who haven't bothered to look. I kept saying 'I'm here, I'm right here' to a nation that ignored me. I reached out day after day to a people who turned their backs on me.
Isaiah 65:17 YOUR TROUBLES AND PAIN ARE THINGS OF THE PAST
I'm creating new heavens and a new earth. All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten. Look ahead with joy.
Isaiah 66: 2 GOD IS LOOKING FOR QUIET HEARTS who REVERENTLY RESPOND
God's Decree ~ There is something I'm looking for: a person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say. But, your acts of worship are acts of sin: ... Well, I choose to expose your nonsense and let you realize your worst fears. But listen to what God has to say to you who reverently respond to his Word: "Your own families hate you and turn you out because of me. They taunt you, 'Let us see God's glory! If God's so great, why aren't you happy?'
"But there is something I'm looking for:
ReplyDeletea person simple and plain,
reverently responsive to what I say.
Lord, please help me be what You are looking for... a woman who is simple and plain. A woman who is obedient. You know every single one of my thoughts and everything I do before I even think or say it. Help me to do what is right while I'm on Your "footstool". Thank You for giving me a new day to start over. It's my husband's birthday today, so please help me start over loving him the way You do. In Your precious son, Jesus' name.
xoxo
The Bible I'm using has this to say in the intoduction to Isaiah:
ReplyDelete"If "holy" was ever a pious, pastel-tinted word in our vocabularies, the Isaiah-preaching quickly turns it into something blazing." It goes on to say that it's an authentic, intense life...firsthand living. And this: "Holiness is a furnace that transforms the men and women who enter it. 'Holy, Holy, Holy' is not needlepoint. It is the banner of a revolution, the revolution."
Bev, me too...unholy before a Holy God. But I'm joining you in wanting a revolution...radical change from the old way of doing things. Flesh. Instead, an encounter with Him that changes my desires. Changes me!
Bev, you have asked searching questions as we've read through Isaiah. If we aren't "wrestling", it isn't because you haven't challenged us. I just sense your desire to "pass on" what He's showing you...a desire to see us holy and whole...transformed. Just want you to know I love you for that. THANKS!
Grateful today for y'all.
FG
Isaiah is like a Reader’s Digest Bible--39 chapters of judgment, confronting our treason against our Holy God followed by 27 chapters of love, hope, comfort and future. (66 LL paraphrased: You spend 39 chapters telling me You are holy and I am not...it sounds like You're getting ready to tell me we're through, and then You spend the last 27 chapters telling about our wonderful future together and how much You want me to look forward to it.
ReplyDeleteWe can't look at Holiness without feeling how far we fall short, and that is the beginning of our transformation. Isaiah is so full of hope at the same time. It tells of the One who brings good news, the day of Grace.
Who is like this? Who do I know who loves me this much? None but Thee, Lord.
An Isaiah (60:1-3) blessing for my Pearls: “God's bright glory has risen for you. The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness, But God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you.”
Is anyone else doing BSF next year which is the study of Isaiah? I can't wait to delve into these chapters deeper. And after reading it fresh, I imagine I'll enjoy the second semester immensely more :)
I love that quote in the beginning of your Bible for Isaiah, FG. Nothing pastel or powder puff about holiness in Isaiah...
ReplyDelete"authentic, intense life, first-hand living." I have heard that phrase "first-hand living" twice today in reference to holiness and later to faith as a personal experience-makes me sit up and take note.
I join you in thanking Bev.
Bev, you challenge me to put the Word to the test, to probe my heart, to ask if the walk matches the talk.
FG - Holiness is not needlepoint. It is the banner of a revolution. That so makes me smile. I love it! Thank you for your weighty words---always.
ReplyDeleteA little worried about Jeremiah. That book hurts.
ReplyDeleteI weep with Jeremiah and feel God's deep sorrow over His own...and their wanton back-turning. Isaiah has touched on it, but Jeremiah really shoves it down my throat.
What do I take from this book...the thing that keeps running through my mind is to open my closed fist so that God can fill it. He can't fill a closed fist. I'm working on that. Saying yes to Him. Just opening up my hands and asking Him to fill me with Himself. Nothing more. Just more of Him.
I feel so...I guess, drained. Not depressed. Just longing for the time when this world will move away from sorrow and celebrate with joy. I even feel a longing for God's Joy to be restored.
How does He put up with us?
Ang...happy birthday to your husband and may God answer your prayer of faith more than you can imagine.
All of you are walking through some hard books right now. These love letters from the books of prophecy make me want to rend my robe and wear sackcloth. Which doesn't mean much if I don't really change my sin and put God first. Repent. Love. Seek. Hear. See. Respond.
Be brave, pearls, the weeping prophet is next. We MUST do this thing. Don't turn away. Embrace the feelings that God's Spirit stirs in your heart. God is speaking through them, even today...especially today.
Praying for all of us to have our Holy Spirit stirring in us to hear what He is saying to us. No flesh excuses. Spirit rising.
Great post! Tnx.
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