Because of this news I'm doubled up in pain, . . . baffled by what I hear,undone by what I see. Absolutely stunned, horror-stricken, I had hoped for a relaxed evening, but it has turned into a nightmare. (Isaiah 21:4-5, MSG)
Isaiah, whom I would describe as dignified, wandered around naked for three years in one of God's living parables. I'm not sure how I have missed that in reading Isaiah before. (Chapter 20:1-3). I was tempted to write about that until I read the riveting paragraph in the next chapter.
He described it as a hard vision. In the 21st century, it reads like something we would see on the nightly news in time of war. Plunder, attack, siege, moaning and groaning. Vietnam aired nightly when I was in high school and college and it feels like we've been fighting in the Middle East for years without end, just shifting from one country to another (that is not meant as a political comment, btw.) In addition to the news, we are inundated by violence on screen, in TV series and movies. Long term exposure leads to a numbness, and I'm one of the worst.
Isaiah wasn't. The vision made him physically sick and gave him nightmares. He couldn't believe what he saw, and he couldn't understand it.. It's been awhile since I felt that way about something I watched. How about you?
Even stranger, the bad news happened to Israel's aggessors. Elam, Media, Persia, Babylon, Edom, Arabia--the betrayers were betrayed. The plunderers were plundered. The battles happened in the sands of the Negev desert, probably in conditions close to those of our recent conflicts.
In Isaiah's shoes, I might have rejoiced to see the fall of my nation's enemies. I certainly didn't lose any sleep when the leaders of the Iraq regime were picked off one by one. But Isaiah felt their pain. In an earlier chapter, he wrote glowing words about the road that would run through the desert from Egypt to Israel. He rejoiced in that vision. Not this one.
I like the Isaiah of this chapter. If he lived today, he would stay current on international news. He would weep over the destruction one nation throws at another.
He certainly wouldn't close his eyes.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Thursday, October 3, 2013
THE ONE WHO MADE US (Isaiah 17)
Yes, the Day is coming when people will notice The One Who Made Them, take a long hard look at the Holy of Israel. They'll lost interest in all the stuff they've made. (Isaiah 17:7-8, MSG)
The idea is not unique to the Terminator franchise, but they spoke to the issue well. Humans fear that some day the things we have made will turn on us.
The irony is that humans in general treat the One who made us the same way. We rebel. We don't respect Him. We don't even admit He made us. We creep closer and closer to the miracle of procreation, with cloning and in vitro fertilization.
Unlike the Terminator machines who come close to exterminating the human race, we can never kill God. What we do is even worse--we ignore Him.
God could kill us with a single word--a thought. He doesn't have to tolerate our rebellion. He doesn't because He loves us.
But the day is coming when everyone will acknowledge the Creator God. They will bend their knees to His right to govern them. They will be judged. Those with Jesus as their Defense attorney join Him in glory; those without that defense, head to the lake of fire.
The One Who Made Us us also the Holy. As our parent, He has the responsibility of disciplining us. As the Holy, He has earned the right to judge our behavior. He not only is the Holy in heaven, where His lordship runs things. He is also the only perfect, holy man. With Jesus' death and resurrection, He bought our pardon.
For now we can squander our time on our toys, on what we've made. What exists at the top of your list? Right now, I suppose it's writing. I've "made" a growing list of books. It could be our children, a business we've grown, a hobby.
None of those things are wrong in and of themselves. But if they shine so brightly that they eclipse the Holy Creator, I'm blinded to the truth.
A long hard look--look long. Take your time. Study the tiniest details and open your mind to as much of the whole picture as you can grasp. Humans experience of God resembles the blind men with an elephant. One of them comments on the trunk, another the tusks, another the leathery legs, and so forth. But the more we look, the more we will see. Look hard--look at the things about God that you'd rather ignore--like His holiness.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full on His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace--Helen H. Lemmel
The idea is not unique to the Terminator franchise, but they spoke to the issue well. Humans fear that some day the things we have made will turn on us.
The irony is that humans in general treat the One who made us the same way. We rebel. We don't respect Him. We don't even admit He made us. We creep closer and closer to the miracle of procreation, with cloning and in vitro fertilization.
Unlike the Terminator machines who come close to exterminating the human race, we can never kill God. What we do is even worse--we ignore Him.
God could kill us with a single word--a thought. He doesn't have to tolerate our rebellion. He doesn't because He loves us.
But the day is coming when everyone will acknowledge the Creator God. They will bend their knees to His right to govern them. They will be judged. Those with Jesus as their Defense attorney join Him in glory; those without that defense, head to the lake of fire.
The One Who Made Us us also the Holy. As our parent, He has the responsibility of disciplining us. As the Holy, He has earned the right to judge our behavior. He not only is the Holy in heaven, where His lordship runs things. He is also the only perfect, holy man. With Jesus' death and resurrection, He bought our pardon.
For now we can squander our time on our toys, on what we've made. What exists at the top of your list? Right now, I suppose it's writing. I've "made" a growing list of books. It could be our children, a business we've grown, a hobby.
None of those things are wrong in and of themselves. But if they shine so brightly that they eclipse the Holy Creator, I'm blinded to the truth.
A long hard look--look long. Take your time. Study the tiniest details and open your mind to as much of the whole picture as you can grasp. Humans experience of God resembles the blind men with an elephant. One of them comments on the trunk, another the tusks, another the leathery legs, and so forth. But the more we look, the more we will see. Look hard--look at the things about God that you'd rather ignore--like His holiness.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full on His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace--Helen H. Lemmel
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
RECOVERY ROOM (Isaiah 14)
When God has given you time to recover from the abuse and trouble and harsh servitude that you had to endure, you can amuse yourselves by taking up this satire, a taunt against the king of Babylon. (Isaiah 14:3-4, MSG)
I love this verse. Get this, everyone who has ever experienced abuse or hard times or oppression: God gets it. He understands. He doesn't expect us to get up and walk away as if nothing ever happened.
He gives us time to recover, That fact has so many implications. For one thing, He knows what I went through. He doesn't explain why He allowed it to happen--but He saw. He cared.
For another thing, anyone who has suffered from abuse, trouble, servitude, needs time to heal and recover. I'm a big believer that forgiveness is a process. God allowed and shared my feelings of anger. But I prayed for my enemies--and in time that helped me to see their stunted lives. In time--a long time--I was able to commit an act of forgiveness.
How strange, but how satisfying, that God breaks into that time of healing by offering amusement at the cost of the our enemies.
God may not ask us to write a satire--although if you want to write one, that would be fine too. But is it all right to make fun of our enemies? To laugh at their misfortunes? This passage suggests that's okay.
And you know what? As I prayed for my enemy, I saw his disasters. A part of me rejoiced. Another part felt sorry for him. As long as he refused to repent, he had a lifetime of unhappiness ahead of him.
When the Germans tore down the Berlin Wall--when Iraqis tore down the statue of Saddam Hussein--maybe God was there, celebrating the victory against oppression.
I know He celebrates when one of His children is delivered.
I love this verse. Get this, everyone who has ever experienced abuse or hard times or oppression: God gets it. He understands. He doesn't expect us to get up and walk away as if nothing ever happened.
He gives us time to recover, That fact has so many implications. For one thing, He knows what I went through. He doesn't explain why He allowed it to happen--but He saw. He cared.
For another thing, anyone who has suffered from abuse, trouble, servitude, needs time to heal and recover. I'm a big believer that forgiveness is a process. God allowed and shared my feelings of anger. But I prayed for my enemies--and in time that helped me to see their stunted lives. In time--a long time--I was able to commit an act of forgiveness.
How strange, but how satisfying, that God breaks into that time of healing by offering amusement at the cost of the our enemies.
God may not ask us to write a satire--although if you want to write one, that would be fine too. But is it all right to make fun of our enemies? To laugh at their misfortunes? This passage suggests that's okay.
And you know what? As I prayed for my enemy, I saw his disasters. A part of me rejoiced. Another part felt sorry for him. As long as he refused to repent, he had a lifetime of unhappiness ahead of him.
When the Germans tore down the Berlin Wall--when Iraqis tore down the statue of Saddam Hussein--maybe God was there, celebrating the victory against oppression.
I know He celebrates when one of His children is delivered.
Monday, September 30, 2013
BLUE-COLLAR MESSIAH (Isaiah 11)
Each morning he'll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots, and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land. (Isaiah 11:5, MSG)
I want to know this Savior.
Isaiah 11 describes the day when the green shoot will come out of Jesse. Commentators agree that it refers to the Messiah, the Son of David. Reading his words makes me hungry for the day He will rule the earth.
Although the Messiah is a king--he is from the stump of Jesse, the Davidic line--he is a working-man's leader. Instead of suit coat and tie, he dons work clothes and boots. He doesn't only tell others what to do. He builds righteousness and faithfulness with His own hands.
His priorities focus not on the rich and the privileged but for the invisible. "He'll judge the needy by what is right, render decisions on earth's poor with justice." (Isaiah 11:3-4)
When I read, "He won't judge by appearances," I was reminded of Martin Luther King's famous 'I Have a Dream' speech. This Messiah will definitely judge us by the content of our character and not the color of our skin. He chooses the poor in spirit, those who are lost, the sinner and not the saint.
This man chose me. Not because I'm white, because I longed for perfection, because I'm smart. He didn't reject me because I'm overweight and self-centered. He chose me because of all the things I'm lacking, all the reasons why the world passes me by.
I love Him because He first loved me. I love Him because He knows me inside out and loves me anyway.
Of course this Messiah needs work boots. He is a carpenter, after all.
I want to know this Savior.
Isaiah 11 describes the day when the green shoot will come out of Jesse. Commentators agree that it refers to the Messiah, the Son of David. Reading his words makes me hungry for the day He will rule the earth.
Although the Messiah is a king--he is from the stump of Jesse, the Davidic line--he is a working-man's leader. Instead of suit coat and tie, he dons work clothes and boots. He doesn't only tell others what to do. He builds righteousness and faithfulness with His own hands.
His priorities focus not on the rich and the privileged but for the invisible. "He'll judge the needy by what is right, render decisions on earth's poor with justice." (Isaiah 11:3-4)
When I read, "He won't judge by appearances," I was reminded of Martin Luther King's famous 'I Have a Dream' speech. This Messiah will definitely judge us by the content of our character and not the color of our skin. He chooses the poor in spirit, those who are lost, the sinner and not the saint.
This man chose me. Not because I'm white, because I longed for perfection, because I'm smart. He didn't reject me because I'm overweight and self-centered. He chose me because of all the things I'm lacking, all the reasons why the world passes me by.
I love Him because He first loved me. I love Him because He knows me inside out and loves me anyway.
Of course this Messiah needs work boots. He is a carpenter, after all.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
THE FIST OF GOD (Isaiah 9-10)
Even after all this, God is still angry, his fist still raised, ready to hit them again. (Isaiah 10:10)
Yesterday I looked at the Rock of God--either a hiding place of refuge or an immoveable obstacle.
Today Isaiah talked about God's fist.
Strangely enough, one of the most-often quoted prophecies about the coming Messiah lies between the two passages: Isaiah 9:6. Say it with me: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting father, the Prince of Peace.
But instead of the healing, encouraging Prince of Peace (the Message uses the word "wholeness"), verse 8 talks about the "Master." God is depicted as a harsh school headmaster, trying to discipline the rebellion out of Israel, fighting fire with fire and with fist still raised, ready to strike agtoain.
God sent them prophets but they were too arrogant to listen (if anyone is interested, this passage includes the verse that the Cahn's The Harbinger is based on but I won't get into political rhetoric, for or against.)God used the Philistines to punish them. God's fist was still raised.
Next, God went after the leaders, chopping off the head and tail. The people got the leaders they deserved. God's fist was still raised.
The people indulged insatiable lusts--food, drugs, power, things, you name it. Civil war ensued. God's fist was still raised.
Lastly, they legislated evil. God's fist was still raised.
It is tempting to apply this to America, but I'm not sure we should.
What I do think is truth-for-any-age from this passage?
God is angry when we go from sin to sin. The Bible tells us He disciplines us because He loves us. That punishment may reach greater and greater levels.
It is by God's mercy that we are not consumed by His holy fire or crushed underneath His rock.
Instead, His rock shelters and His fire purifies us and provides comfort.
Even after all this, God is still angry,
his fist still raised, ready to hit them again.
Yesterday I looked at the Rock of God--either a hiding place of refuge or an immoveable obstacle.
Today Isaiah talked about God's fist.
Strangely enough, one of the most-often quoted prophecies about the coming Messiah lies between the two passages: Isaiah 9:6. Say it with me: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting father, the Prince of Peace.
But instead of the healing, encouraging Prince of Peace (the Message uses the word "wholeness"), verse 8 talks about the "Master." God is depicted as a harsh school headmaster, trying to discipline the rebellion out of Israel, fighting fire with fire and with fist still raised, ready to strike agtoain.
God sent them prophets but they were too arrogant to listen (if anyone is interested, this passage includes the verse that the Cahn's The Harbinger is based on but I won't get into political rhetoric, for or against.)God used the Philistines to punish them. God's fist was still raised.
Next, God went after the leaders, chopping off the head and tail. The people got the leaders they deserved. God's fist was still raised.
The people indulged insatiable lusts--food, drugs, power, things, you name it. Civil war ensued. God's fist was still raised.
Lastly, they legislated evil. God's fist was still raised.
It is tempting to apply this to America, but I'm not sure we should.
What I do think is truth-for-any-age from this passage?
God is angry when we go from sin to sin. The Bible tells us He disciplines us because He loves us. That punishment may reach greater and greater levels.
It is by God's mercy that we are not consumed by His holy fire or crushed underneath His rock.
Instead, His rock shelters and His fire purifies us and provides comfort.
Even after all this, God is still angry,
his fist still raised, ready to hit them again.
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