Isaiah 58:1 – 59:21

September 09, 2011

Truth—OR—Lies.
Honesty—OR—Deceit.
Pure motives—OR—Hidden intents.
Authentic—OR—Fake.

Another two chapters of comparisons. God uses Isaiah to point out their rebellion. They were attempting to be "religious" but they weren't authentic. Their reason for being "religious" was not to humble themselves and to honor and glorify God. Their religiosity was for their own selfish motivations, for the purpose of honoring themselves while appearing to honor God.

Shout it out! Tell my people the truth about what they are doing.

• They still come everyday looking for me.
• They say they want to learn my ways.
• They act like they are people that do what is right.
• They act like they are people who obey God's commands.
• They ask me to judge fairly.
• They seem eager for God to come near them.
• They say, "to honor you we have fasted."
• They say, "and you have not seen it?"
• They say they have humbled themselves.
• They say why haven't you noticed?

BUT!  The LORD says:

• You are doing what pleases yourself.
• Even on the days and during the time you "fast" for me.
• You are unfair to people.
• You exploit others.
• At the same time you are coming to me you are arguing and fighting with others.
• You are striking out at others with your wicked fists.

The LORD continues: "You cannot do these things as you do now and believe your prayers are heard in heaven."

This is what I (the LORD) want:

• Stop what you are doing.
• Free those you are falsely accusing.
• Don't keep them bound in the chains you put them in.
• Free those you have been unfair to.
• Stop forcing their hard labor.
• Be generous.
• Share what you have with others.
• Open up your hearts and lives with others.
• Do right by your relatives.
• Don't refuse to help others.

In other words—be a giver not a taker.

THEN—

• Your light will shine like the dawn.
• Your wounds will quickly heal.
• God will walk before you.
• The glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.  (Isaiah 30)
• You will call out.
• The LORD will answer.
• You will cry out.  (Psalm 140 - Hear our cry for mercy.)
• The LORD will say, "Here I am."  (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

What a difference between the LORD's response to those who refuse to submit to Him in Proverbs 1:18 - "I will not hear," and His response to those who do submit to Him, "Here I am."

IF—

• You stop making trouble for others.
• You stop accusing others.
• You stop be vicious and cruel.
• You instead start lifting others up instead of tearing others down.
• You start giving from a heart of love.
• You show empathy and compassion.

THEN—

• Your light will shine in the darkness.
• Your witness will be like the noon day sun.
• The LORD will always lead you.  (Psalm 32:8)
• He will satisfy your needs in dry lands.
• He will give strength to your bones.
• You will be productive.
• You will restore what has been destroyed.
• You will have joy.
• God will be the one who carries you and protects you.

Isaiah 59:1–2 - "Surely the LORD's power is enough to save you. (NIV- the arm of the LORD is not too short.) He can hear you when you ask for help. It is your evil that has separated you from your God. Your sins cause Him to turn away from you, so He does not hear you." (Proverbs 1:28)

• With your hands you have hurt others.
• Your hands are stained with blood. (unclean hands)
• Your fingers are guilty.
• Your lips have spoken lies. (Psalm 140:3)
• Your tongue mutters wicked things.
• You take people to court unfairly.
• You do not plead your case with integrity.
• You do not care about justice.
• You rely on empty arguments.
• You accuse people falsely.
• You tell lies.
• You conceive trouble. (strategize)
• You give birth to evil.

James 1:15 - "Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin when it is full grown, gives birth to death."

Psalm 7:14 - "He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment."

• You hatch evil like eggs from vipers. (Psalm 140:3)
• You set traps and weave webs. (Psalm 140:5)
• The things you do are evil.
• The acts of violence are in your hands. (Psalm 140:1-4)
• You are eager to do evil.
• You are ready and willing to harm innocent people.
• Your thoughts are evil thoughts.
• You leave a path of ruin and destruction. 
• You don't know how to live in peace.
• There is no fairness or justice in your lives.
• You are dishonest.
• Your ways are crooked.

Isaiah 59:8 - "Anyone who lives as they live will never have peace." Isaiah 59:8

Sin brings consequences. Fairness and goodness—gone. Light—gone. Only darkness is left.

Isaiah 59:15 - "Truth cannot be found anywhere, and people who refuse to do evil are attacked.  

But! The LORD is our Savior. He uses His power to save the people. Isaiah 59:16–19 - "He covered himself with goodness like armor. He put the helmet of salvation (Psalm 140:7) on his head. He put on the clothes of punishment and wrapped himself in the coat of his strong love. The LORD will pay back his enemies for what they have done. He will show his anger to those who were against him; he will punish the people in faraway places as they deserve. Then people from the west will fear the LORD, and people from the east will fear his glory. The LORD will come quickly like a fast-flowing river, driven by the breath of God." (Ephesians 6:10-18: The armor of God.)

Isaiah 59:21 - "My Spirit and my words that I give you will never leave you or your children or your grandchildren, now and forever." God's promise to those who have turned from sin.

"...The Christian life begins with obedience, depends on obedience, and results in obedience. We can't escape it. The orders from our commander-in-chief are plain: "Whoever has my commandments and obeys them, he is the one who loves me." Loving God—really loving Him—means living out His commands no matter what the cost." ~ From Loving God by Charles Colson

Addendum: 5/28/15 ~ So many of these verses mirror the words of what Jane (Her Name Was Jane) told us to read.  They also perfectly describe the reason for (and the actions behind) "the storm."


Next Entry: Isaiah 60:1 – 61:11