(Isaiah 50:1-11)
1 This is what the Lord says:
“Where is the certificate of divorce
By which I have sent your mother away?
Or to whom of My creditors did I sell you?
Behold, you were sold for your wrongdoings,
And for your wrongful acts your mother was sent away.
2 Why was there no one when I came?
When I called, why was there no one to answer?
Is My hand so short that it cannot redeem?
Or do I have no power to rescue?
Behold, I dry up the sea with My rebuke,
I turn rivers into a wilderness;
Their fish stink for lack of water,
And die of thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness,
And make sackcloth their covering.”
4 The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples,
So that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
5 The Lord God has opened My ear,
And I was not disobedient,
Nor did I turn back.
6 I gave My back to those who strike Me,
And My cheeks to those who pull out My beard;
I did not hide My face from insults and spitting.
7 For the Lord God helps Me,
Therefore, I am not disgraced;
Therefore, I have made My face like flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
8 He who vindicates Me is near;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us stand up to each other.
Who has a case against Me?
Let him approach Me.
9 Behold, the Lord God helps Me;
Who is he who condemns Me?
Behold, they will all wear out like a garment;
A moth will eat them.
10 Who is among you who fears the Lord,
Who obeys the voice of His servant,
Who walks in darkness and has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
Who encircle yourselves with flaming arrows,
Walk in the light of your fire
And among the flaming arrows you have set ablaze.
This you will have from My hand:
You will lie down in torment.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
“Where is the certificate of divorce
By which I have sent your mother away?
Or to whom of My creditors did I sell you?
Behold, you were sold for your wrongdoings,
And for your wrongful acts your mother was sent away.
2 Why was there no one when I came?
When I called, why was there no one to answer?
Is My hand so short that it cannot redeem?
Or do I have no power to rescue?
Behold, I dry up the sea with My rebuke,
I turn rivers into a wilderness;
Their fish stink for lack of water,
And die of thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness,
And make sackcloth their covering.”
4 The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples,
So that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
5 The Lord God has opened My ear,
And I was not disobedient,
Nor did I turn back.
6 I gave My back to those who strike Me,
And My cheeks to those who pull out My beard;
I did not hide My face from insults and spitting.
7 For the Lord God helps Me,
Therefore, I am not disgraced;
Therefore, I have made My face like flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
8 He who vindicates Me is near;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us stand up to each other.
Who has a case against Me?
Let him approach Me.
9 Behold, the Lord God helps Me;
Who is he who condemns Me?
Behold, they will all wear out like a garment;
A moth will eat them.
10 Who is among you who fears the Lord,
Who obeys the voice of His servant,
Who walks in darkness and has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
Who encircle yourselves with flaming arrows,
Walk in the light of your fire
And among the flaming arrows you have set ablaze.
This you will have from My hand:
You will lie down in torment.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
In this chapter, we see how the Lord (Jesus) is our perfect example, as He speaks again about His first coming to earth in flesh. In dying FOR sin, He is our example in that we need to die TO sin. When we humbly ask for His forgiveness, He forgives and chooses to remember our sins no more. And in Jesus' example of rising from death, when we put our faith in Him, we receive eternal life.
Willingly going to the cross to suffer and die for sins, He is our perfect example of how to remain obedient to God, by looking to God for help. We do not have to fear anyone or anything but find comfort in knowing that God is near and will fight for us. To trust in the Lord is to rely on His help and guidance; not trying to do things on our own, and/or in our own way, but striving to do things God's way, by giving Him the control and allowing Him to do it FOR us, IN us, and THROUGH us.
Jesus is our perfect example in life of how to remain obedient. In fearing God, we will see and trust that what He says is for our benefit. We should trust in Him even for the right words to speak in order to lift up and encourage others. And every day, we should be listening to learn God's words so that we can continue growing and maturing. So the most important aspect in all of this, is not that we follow through on all the do's and don'ts... it is about embracing a personal relationship with God, and the evidence of this will be our obedience.
Therefore, Jesus is our perfect example to follow, in that He has a perfect, personal relationship with God the Father. Even though the Trinity is one God, we see in verse 4, that the Lord talks about listening to God as a disciple. And while here on earth, Jesus was constantly praying! Just so, in a close relationship, there will be a constant and consistent two-way communication. God hears our prayers. And for us to hear God is both through His Holy Spirit, as well as His written words to us. So, to know God's will is to desire to know more about the Lord, Himself, His heart, His desire, His great love, and His omniscient instructions for us to live by.
One can choose to walk in their own light that they create, which only leads to darkness and eternal death; or one can choose to walk in the light of the Lord, which leads to hope, eternal life, and a strength, wisdom, peace and purpose-filled unity, only found within a personal relationship with Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment