Tag: reason with Me
Come, let us reason together!
Scripture reading for July 16: Isaiah 1-4
The book of Isaiah is a rich resource of prophesy and New Testament truth. Jesus Christ said of Isaiah that he “saw my glory and spoke about it.” (John 12:41) Jesus began His ministry quoting from Isaiah 61:1-2 as recorded in Luke 4:18-19. Isaiah was a faithful prophet of the Lord during over 50 years of ministry under four different kings of Judah. His book is considered by some to be a miniature of the Bible as a whole. The first 39 chapters record Isaiah’s messages of judgment on the sins of a backslidden and lost people. The last 27 chapters contain a message of hope and consolation to those God has disciplined.
The first chapter contains a pattern of preaching that many of the prophets used and one that Isaiah adopted. He used a four-point sermon outline: (A) calling out sins, (B) threats of coming judgment, (C) call to repent and return to God, and (D) promises of healing and restoration if they repented.
The charges against Judah sound familiar! The people of Judah were raised and delivered by God Himself, but they willfully chose not know God or do His will. They turned their backs on God and rebelled against their own Maker! (Isaiah 1:2-9) The results were sores and infection, a land under judgment, drought, and cities burned with fire! God likened them to Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities He had destroyed by fire because of their gross wickedness.
Because His people had provoked God in their rebellion and He called for judgment! He was sick of their hollow religious meetings and meaningless offerings. He hated their festivals and hypocrisy. He promised to hide His face from them and would not respond to their prayers. (Isaiah 1:10-15)
In mercy God asked them to turn from their sins while He waited. Their hands were full of innocent blood and their land full of idols. He called to them to seek justice and righteousness and begin to encourage the oppressed and help the fatherless and widow. God was concerned with social justice and particularly with the needy and weak who were being exploited. (Isaiah 1:16-17) He tried to reason with them about the stain of their sins. As red blood stains a white garment and is difficult to remove, God promised to blot out the stain of their sin and make them white as snow or white like a clean wool garment! (Isaiah 1:18-19) Repentance would bring healing, cleansing and blessing.
Take time to examine your own life in light of God’s mercy and grace he has extended to you. Do you have stains from sin, neglect of God, or putting on a religious show? God is listening for your call and ready to heal, cleanse and restore His blessings.